Faced with the descending barrage of Meteor Volcano, even someone as powerful as King, the Conflagration, had no choice but to dodge left and right.
However, retreat was not an option. King knew all too well that if he didn't stop Sakazuki, their ships wouldn't even make it close to the Marine warships before being completely annihilated.
The Beasts Pirates had gone all-in for this battle. If they were to suffer a crushing defeat here, not only would King fail to answer to Kaido, but he wouldn't be able to face himself either.
Under the relentless bombardment of Meteor Volcano, the pirate ships didn't turn back. Instead, they accelerated forward, braving the fiery onslaught. On the decks, the pirates roared and howled with manic fervor, their crazed energy amplified by the fiery glow of the falling magma. In that moment, the madness of pirates was on full display.
But for those on ships struck by the magma fists, there was no such madness—only despair. As their vessels were destroyed and they plunged into the sea, they barely had time to react before the next wave of Meteor Volcano rained down upon them.
The sea was filled with a cacophony of screams and wails, contrasting sharply with the triumphant roars of the pirates still aboard their ships.
High above, King leaped and darted through the air in his Pteranodon Beast Form, avoiding the descending magma fists. Hearing the agonized screams from below, his eyes narrowed. Suddenly, he accelerated into a dive, his long sword slashing downward toward Sakazuki, who was relentlessly unleashing Meteor Volcano.
Clang!
The sharp clash of metal rang out, followed by a terrifying shockwave that rippled across the battlefield.
"King, the Conflagration!"
"This path is blocked!"
As the two clashed, Gion (Momousagi) once again stepped in front of Sakazuki, her blade Konpira intercepting King's strike.
Gripping Konpira, Gion took a decisive step forward, channeling her immense energy into the blade.
In the next moment, Konpira gleamed with a sharp light as Armament Haki coated its surface, turning the blade pitch black.
"Momousagi, stay out of this!"
King roared in frustration as Gion blocked him once again. Not to be outdone, he pressed down on his sword with all his might. Flames erupted along the blade, transforming it into a blazing fire dragon.
"Fire Dragon Emperor!"
With a furious shout, the fiery dragon surged forward, its claws and fangs aimed at Gion.
Rather than meeting the attack head-on, Gion reacted swiftly, withdrawing her blade and evading the fiery onslaught.
The moment Gion sidestepped, Sakazuki was fully exposed in King's attack range.
But instead of showing excitement, King's pupils contracted sharply.
To his shock, Sakazuki had already ceased his Meteor Volcano assault and was now standing still, his molten fists raised high, his piercing gaze locked onto King.
"King, your time has come!"
Before King could react, Sakazuki's lips curled into a cruel smile. Taking a quick step forward, he coldly enunciated:
"Great Eruption!"
Boom!
Like a volcanic explosion, Sakazuki's magma fist expanded rapidly, its searing energy obliterating the incoming fire dragon. The massive molten fist then hurtled toward King with terrifying speed, growing larger and larger in his vision.
"Damn it!"
Caught off guard by Sakazuki's calculated move, King had no time to dodge.
As the massive molten fist loomed closer, King gritted his teeth. Tightening his grip on his sword with one hand, he reached back with the other hand, grabbing his own head like a slingshot.
"Tempura Udon!"
With a roar, King's head snapped forward like a laser beam, unleashing a powerful shockwave that collided with the incoming molten fist.
Boom!
The collision produced an earth-shaking explosion, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The massive warship beneath them sank slightly under the force, while the turbulent sea churned violently, as though an underwater volcano had erupted.
Just as King thought he had neutralized Sakazuki's Great Eruption, the molten fist suddenly exploded, fragmenting into countless smaller magma projectiles. These fiery fragments shot past King on both sides, raining down on the advancing Beasts Pirates' ships.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fiery projectiles struck the pirate ships in rapid succession. Deafening explosions filled the air as flames engulfed the sea, painting the waters a hellish red.
The leading ships of the Beasts Pirates didn't even have time to react before they were obliterated by the magma fragments. Pirates aboard the ships were either incinerated on the spot or thrown into the sea along with the shattered remains of their vessels.
"It's time to end this!"
Dragging his magma-coated arms, Sakazuki stepped forward, his gaze cold and murderous as he stared down King.
"After today, the Beasts Pirates will be wiped from the New World!"
Behind his mask, King's bloodshot eyes burned with fury as he watched ship after ship fall to the Marines' relentless assault. His grip on his sword tightened, veins bulging on his hands. If not for his mask, his eyes might have literally erupted in flames.
Sakazuki's overwhelming power had singlehandedly brought the Beasts Pirates to the brink of annihilation. King's pride and resolve refused to accept such a fate.
Though his rational mind told him that retreat was the only option, the thought of fleeing in disgrace was unbearable.
If he had to die, he would do so fighting, carving a path for the Beasts Pirates to escape this nightmare.
Determined, King's battle spirit reignited.
"Sakazuki, if you think you can erase the Beasts Pirates, you're gravely mistaken!"
With that, King charged forward, his sword blazing as he faced Sakazuki head-on.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the sky above.
The storm clouds, which had been scattered by Sakazuki's Meteor Volcano, began to gather once more, blanketing the battlefield. From these clouds, an immense and formless pressure descended, suffocating everyone below.
"Hmm?"
Sakazuki's pupils contracted as he sensed the overwhelming presence from above. His body tensed, and he instinctively looked up, his expression turning grim.
Gion and the other Marine officers felt it too—a pressure unlike anything they had ever experienced. They all turned their gazes skyward.
Above them, the storm clouds churned violently. Lightning crackled incessantly, illuminating the sky with blinding flashes.
"ROAR!!!"
A thunderous dragon's roar pierced through the storm, echoing across the battlefield.
From within the swirling clouds, a massive dragon claw emerged, tearing through the darkness.
As the claw revealed itself, the oppressive aura intensified, weighing down on everyone like an unshakable mountain.
Before anyone could react, the storm clouds began to churn even more violently, as if the heavens themselves were being stirred. The clouds scattered outward, revealing a massive, serpentine figure.
In the next moment, a fearsome dragon head crowned with curved horns emerged from the clouds, its blood-red eyes glaring down at the battlefield.
Its booming voice shook the air as it spoke:
"Sakazuki! Treating the Beasts Pirates like fodder—how bold of you!"
As the dragon's words echoed, the storm clouds dispersed further, revealing its full form.
Covered in shimmering blue scales and stretching hundreds of meters long, the dragon coiled in the sky, its sheer size and presence dominating the battlefield.
The sight left everyone below in awe and terror. The oppressive atmosphere reached its peak, suffocating every Marine and pirate alike.
Even Sakazuki and Gion, both among the strongest Marines, felt the weight of the dragon's presence. Their bodies tensed as they prepared for the worst.
Because the dragon wasn't just any beast—it was Kaido, the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates and one of the Four Emperors, the ruler of the New World. Second chapter of the day. More to come!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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