He had already fought Kaito twice. With Kaido's broad experience and brutal instincts, he quickly sensed Kaito's location and struck directly at the weak point.
"Why," Kaido growled.
Kaito's expression remained calm. His purple eyes showed no fear, only a quiet curiosity as he watched the flames swallowing the sky.
The torrent of scorching fire slammed against Susanoo's forehead, exploding into a blazing sea that engulfed half of the massive construct. In the center of the flames, powerful ripples surged outward from Susanoo's head.
Cracks formed with sharp clicks.
Kaito heard it clearly.
A glass-like fracture spread across Susanoo's forehead.
"Impressive. As expected of a Yonko, Kaido. What a pity."
Rinnegan ripples pulsed gently. The fracture sealed itself at a speed visible to the naked eye, restoring Susanoo to its original, unbroken form.
"It is time to finish this," Kaito whispered as hand seals formed seamlessly. Chakra surged through his body.
"Ice Release, Ice Rain."
Ice needles burst from Kaito's mouth like a storm of crystalline rain.
Where the ice struck the wall of flames, the fire froze instantly. The remaining force surged outward, swallowing the burning column whole.
In a blink, the towering stream of flames transformed into a massive pillar of ice.
"Ice, how is that possible. Another ability," Kaido roared angrily.
Susanoo lifted its blue flame blade and brought it down in a single sweeping slash.
The ice pillar cracked instantly. Splitting lines raced across its entire length at blinding speed and reached Kaido in the span of a heartbeat.
Then it shattered into glittering fragments and fell like frozen rain.
Susanoo's wings beat once, and the massive construct appeared before Kaido in an instant.
"Kaido, even in your prime you were not my match. Now you are wounded and weakened. Submit to me and become my subordinate. If not, I cannot guarantee you will leave here alive." Kaito stood atop Susanoo's forehead, voice calm and steady.
"Hmph, impossible. You want me to surrender, never. I am Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Four Emperors," the azure dragon roared, its voice shaking the heavens.
"In that case, you have no one to blame but yourself."
"Show me what you call rude," Kaido growled. His roar rolled through Wano like thunder. He took a deep breath.
"Kurozumi, what are you doing down there. Get up here. If I die, you will not survive either."
"Damn him," Orochi cursed in the palace courtyard before shooting into the sky.
He had no choice. Their alliance meant Kaido's fall would drag him down as well.
"So you still have time to beg for help," Kaito remarked lightly as Orochi ascended.
"Enough talking. I am injured and cannot use my full strength. We attack together and crush this fool," Kaido snapped.
"Hmph, very well. I will help you this once."
Orochi's body shifted, revealing the Zoan-type Mythical Snake form. Eight separate heads writhed around him, each with its own awareness. The central head carried his primary consciousness.
"Calling for backup now," Kaito smirked.
"You dare mock me," Kaido roared as he lunged forward again. Orochi followed closely behind.
"How fragile. You think adding another snake will change the outcome. Perfect. I can end both of you here. Then the entire Beasts Pirates will belong to me," Kaito said coldly.
Purple ripples spread across his eyes as Susanoo surged upward.
Kaido's massive tail swept down, the force heavy enough to crush mountains. Orochi's eight heads snapped forward, their fangs glinting with murderous light.
Susanoo's blades swung in arcs of brilliant blue flame, releasing waves of sword aura that filled the entire sky.
The clash came like the collision of two worlds.
The impact exploded across Wano with a thunderous roar. A massive shockwave spread outward, tearing the clouds apart. The sky itself vibrated.
A dome-shaped explosion expanded instantly, its violent storm winds ravaging everything within reach.
Then a blinding white light burst at the center. The entire sky turned pale.
On the ground, hurricane-level winds tore across the land. Villagers clung to anything they could grab, terror etched onto their faces.
Cracks spread across the earth like spiderwebs.
"What a terrifying battle. And we are so far from them," Shinobu whispered, her hands trembling on the hilt of her blade.
As the light faded, the battlefield came into view again.
Kaido's tail pressed against Susanoo's blades. One of the blue flame swords pierced straight through Orochi's heart.
Orochi's eight heads gnawed at Susanoo, but no matter how sharp their fangs, they could not leave a mark.
Kaido glanced at the dying Orochi and snorted. "Useless."
Susanoo flung Orochi's body aside.
Kaido swung his claws upward to block as Susanoo's feathered mantle and blades descended in a flurry.
Metallic clangs rang through the sky as sparks flew in every direction.
Kaido unleashed everything at his disposal: azure dragon strikes, storm winds, dragon breath, claws, and tail.
The two figures clashed repeatedly, drifting farther and farther from the Flower Capital, nearing the edge of Wano.
A streak of glowing blue sliced Kaido's abdomen.
Blood burst into the air, only to evaporate into steam before Kaido's body regenerated, restoring him instantly.
"Brat, I will never forgive you," Kaido roared, chest heaving.
"Surrender while you still can. Otherwise I will not hold back," Kaito said, frowning slightly.
"Never. Die," Kaido bellowed. His abdomen swelled.
The dragon's jaws opened. A blinding mass of concentrated energy gathered between his fangs.
A brilliant white beam shot toward Kaito.
"What a waste. Such talent should not be thrown away," Kaito sighed.
Susanoo raised its twin blades. Sword aura flickered wildly as the two sword barriers took form.
They sliced forward, cutting directly into Kaido's beam.
The impact was titanic, stronger than a high-pressure cannon. The moment they collided, Susanoo was blasted backward at overwhelming speed, vanishing from Kaido's sight in seconds.
"Hah, it is finally over," Kaido exhaled, his tense body loosening with relief as Susanoo disappeared.
A sharp tearing sound cut through the air. Lightning crackled behind him.
Kaido turned his head.
A grey thunder blade filled his vision. There was no time to evade.
The blue flame blade materialized at his neck.
Kaido's Armament Haki erupted in a final desperate defense.
It was all he had left.
---