In the territory of the Beasts Pirates, on Bannila Island.
"She really is incredibly powerful, that woman, Boa Hancock." Queen squinted his eyes, looking as though he might fall asleep at any moment.
Currently, Queen's massive frame was bound by Seastone chains. The other end of the chains was gripped firmly by Ivalis, who said coldly, "The Beasts Pirates are finished. The main reason is that you followed the wrong man, Queen the Storm."
Ivalis bore quite a few wounds himself, though he was in better shape than Queen. Aside from him, Jack the Drought had been defeated at the hands of Jinbe and Beckman, Elburn had fallen to his old rival Fallon, and Jack had been completely countered and neutralized by Poseidon Shirahoshi.
The only battle left undecided was the clash between Hancock and Kaido.
"Well, maybe you're right. After Red Hair died, you didn't jump onto Whitebeard's ship like most people did. Instead, you chose Alucard, the very enemy who killed Red Hair. I've kept an eye on you because of that."
Queen spoke again, but Ivalis acted as though he hadn't heard a word. His gaze was entirely locked onto Hancock and Kaido, who were locked in fierce combat in the distant clearing. He muttered under his breath, "He truly deserves to be called a 'mad dog' by the Captain. Given the current state of the Immortal Pirates, if he wanted to leave, no one could stop him. Yet, he still chooses to fight."
"But that only proves he's a capable one among dogs."
Suddenly, a dark shadow rose from the ground, catching everyone off guard. Snapping out of their shock two seconds later, the members of the Immortal Pirates quickly called out, "Captain!"
Meanwhile, despair washed over the remnants of the Beasts Pirates. It was over. Kaido might have stood a chance of escaping on his own, but now, any hope of running was completely gone.
"ALUCARD!!!"
Kaido roared at the top of his lungs. He was about to charge toward Alucard when Hancock anticipated his move and intercepted him. Swirling pools of the River of Death enveloped her figure as she drove a razor-sharp kick straight into Kaido's abdomen. It tore open a deep wound, only for it to heal within seconds.
Alucard took a seat on a nearby boulder, watching the battle play out like a spectator at a theater, showing no interest in intervening.
At least, not yet.
"Still that same absurd regenerative ability... But why exactly? He isn't an ability user, is he?"
The right lens of Ivalis's sunglasses was shattered, and his exposed right eye flared with deep frustration.
Ever since the World Government figured out how Alucard's powers worked, Kaido's physical capabilities had become the next great enigma.
Why couldn't he die? It was impossible for him to have the same ability as Alucard, yet blades couldn't cut him, and bullets couldn't pierce him. He couldn't even drown when submerged in seawater, and rumors whispered that Kaido wouldn't even die if he consumed multiple Devil Fruits. What on earth was the secret behind his body?
"Who ever told you Kaido-sama wasn't an ability user?" Queen's sudden remark instantly drew everyone's attention.
"What did you just say?" Ivalis demanded urgently.
"Want to know?"
Storm Queen gave a sly grin. "Unchain me first. Having this thing wrapped around me feels terrible."
Beckman walked over and intervened, "Ignore him, Ivalis. He's obviously trying to break free so he can make a run for it."
Queen smacked his lips. "Your Captain is already here, do I even dare to run? It really is just because these chains are uncomfortable. Come on, unlock them."
Beckman wanted to object further, but Ivalis raised a hand to stop him, saying, "In his current state, I can stop him myself without the Captain even having to lift a finger. Unlock him."
With that, Ivalis pulled out the key and unshackled Storm.
"Ohhh~~~"
Storm stretched his limbs, laid flat on the ground, and said listlessly, "Ah, lying down like this is the most comfortable..."
"Speak. Now," Ivalis commanded coldly.
"Oh... Right, actually, it's..."
"Shut up!!!"
A sharp, furious reprimand cut off Queen just as he was about to explain. It didn't come from Kaido, nor did it come from anyone in the Beasts Pirates, it came from Hancock.
Having just dodged a punch from Kaido, Hancock partially turned her head, glaring fiercely as she snapped, "I will handle this insolent fool myself! All you foul men, shut your mouths!"
The moment the words left her lips, her expression shifted entirely, her cheeks flushing with a slight crimson tint. "Of course, that doesn't include you, Master~"
With that, Hancock commanded her familiars to block Kaido's incoming assault. Utilizing the crimson tide of the River of Death, she leaped over twenty meters into the air. She extended her left hand, reshaping the blood into a massive bow, and drew back her right hand, pulling the string taut in a flawless archery stance.
The instant Hancock released her right hand, countless arrows forged from the River of Death rained down, striking Kaido's colossal frame. Several arrows plunged violently into the earth around him, blasting dirt and debris over ten meters into the air.
Hearing Hancock's outburst, many present wanted to retort, "Why do you care so much about what we talk about?"
But seeing the sheer, threatening menace in Hancock's eyes, everyone wisely held their tongues. Hancock's strength and status were undeniable, and more importantly, with Alucard already on the scene, Kaido's defeat was a foregone conclusion. There was no need to offend this ultimate, prideful Empress just to satisfy their curiosity about a secret.
As the smoke kicked up by Hancock's arrows gradually dispersed, the ground where Kaido stood was revealed to be completely riddled with craters.
Kaido's body began to stitch itself back together just as it had before, but the very instant the regeneration started, it ground to a sudden halt.
His regeneration had been suppressed. Hancock's technique had actually worked!
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