If this were the Kaido from before they met, Kael Draven wouldn't have stood a chance against him.
But now, everything was different.
Their Conqueror's Haki had reached perfect equilibrium, neither overwhelming the other.
And even as they clashed, glowing attribute spheres the size of basketballs continued to fall from Kaido's body, feeding Kael's power like a torrent of divine energy.
Ding!
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed 1,599 points of base Strength!]
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed 1,361 points of base Strength!]
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed 601 points of base Agility!]
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed 329 points of base Agility!]
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed 1,900 points of base Endurance!]
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed 1,881 points of base Endurance!]
Every time a new attribute orb fell, Kael's strength, speed, and stamina surged upward in massive leaps.
Kaido's contribution to his growth had gone far beyond what any "teacher" could offer. He wasn't a mentor anymore he was a walking treasure trove of battle experience, a one-man training dungeon!
"Hohohohoho! You ready? I, Kaido, am coming at you for real this time!"
As Kael's physique strengthened at a speed visible to the naked eye, Kaido grew increasingly excited. He tightened his grip on his massive kanabo club, his arm muscles bulging with monstrous energy. Then, with a deep rumble, thick layers of Armament Haki began to spread across the weapon, coating it in a shimmering black hue until it gleamed like polished obsidian.
This was one of the advanced techniques of Armament Haki Hardening and Coating. By wrapping Haki around a weapon, a fighter could greatly enhance its destructive power. And if nurtured long enough, such a weapon might even evolve into a Black Blade, permanently infused with the spirit of its wielder.
But that wasn't the only trick up Armament Haki's sleeve.
It also had a second, more devastating application Emission, the external release of Haki to strike at an opponent's insides. Unlike surface reinforcement, emission didn't just block or clash; it penetrated, detonating inside the enemy like a spiritual explosion.
Kaido's grin widened. "Thunder Bagua!"
With a roar, he charged forward. His muscles tensed, his arms swung down, and his kanabo screamed through the air like a falling meteor.
Kaido wasn't careless. His strike was full of power but carefully aimed at Kael's arm instead of his torso. Even in combat, he showed restraint a brutal warrior, but not a fool.
Kael's chest tightened with emotion. Kaido really is a gold-class teacher…
For a man of Kaido's strength to control his attacks just to avoid crippling him it was almost touching.
Kael clenched his teeth and braced himself. He didn't dodge, didn't flinch. Instead, he wrapped his entire body in Armament Haki, meeting Kaido's strike head-on.
BOOM!
The impact roared like thunder.
A burst of shockwaves swept through the air, and the surrounding sea frothed violently.
Kaido's club slammed into Kael's forearm. The moment it struck, the advanced-level Armament Haki shot into Kael's body, spreading like molten metal through his chest, tearing through muscle fibers until half his torso turned purple with bruises.
The pain was excruciating like his body was being shattered from the inside out. Kael's jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached.
But in his mind, the familiar mechanical chime echoed again.
Ding!
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed Advanced Armament Haki Attribute!]
[Congratulations, host! Absorbed Advanced Observation Haki Attribute!]
At the same moment Kaido's twin Haki surged through his weapon, Kael's system devoured the attributes like a beast feasting on power.
Ding!
[Absorbed 4,999 base Strength!]
[Absorbed 4,361 base Strength!]
[Absorbed 3,601 base Agility!]
[Absorbed 3,329 base Agility!]
[Absorbed 5,900 base Endurance!]
[Absorbed 4,881 base Endurance!]
The power poured into him like a raging flood. Kael felt his body harden, his muscles tighten, his veins glow with raw vitality. It was intoxicating like standing beneath a divine waterfall of energy.
He laughed through the pain, his voice wild.
"Damn it hurts but it feels so good!"
"Keep going, Kaido! Don't you dare stop now!"
Kaido blinked in surprise. The young man's body was bruised from head to toe, yet his eyes were burning brighter than ever.
Kaido couldn't help but feel respect. For all his monstrous strength, even he had never seen someone this insane someone who welcomed pain just to grow stronger.
"Well then," Kaido said with a toothy grin. "If that's what you want, I won't hold back! Get ready here it comes! Descent of the Underworld!"
Still, the big man couldn't resist giving a teacher's warning first.
That, too, was part of his strange, rough-edged kindness.
Kaido leaped high into the air, his enormous shadow falling over Kael. As he descended, his kanabo erupted with blinding black lightning.
"Armament Haki Full Hardening!"
But this time, Kael didn't retreat. His eyes blazed crimson as he gathered his own Haki, coating his fists until they gleamed jet-black.
"Then let's see whose Haki breaks first!" he roared, thrusting his fist upward like a rising dragon.
BOOM!!!
The two attacks collided midair. The sound was like metal crashing against metal, sparks bursting in all directions.
The pirate ship beneath them cracked apart under the shockwave. Its hull split in three, wooden fragments scattering across the churning waves.
Kael had withstood Kaido's full-force strike.
Kaido landed heavily, dust swirling around him. For a moment, he just stared then burst into roaring laughter.
"Hahahaha! You actually blocked that! You really did!"
His respect for Kael deepened. He had once thought Kael's rapidly growing Conqueror's Haki was a fluke, but now he knew better.
The man's talent was real terrifyingly real.
In less than a minute, Kael had absorbed and mastered what Kaido had spent decades refining:
Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
Advanced Armament Haki.
Advanced Observation Haki.
It was unbelievable and yet, Kaido couldn't bring himself to feel bitter.
After all, this man had given him the greatest gift of all: a ship full of rum.
In Kaido's mind, that made them even.
And for Kael, the system notifications kept ringing like a triumphant drumbeat.
Ding!
[Absorbed 11,599 base Strength!]
[Absorbed 9,361 base Agility!]
[Absorbed 19,361 base Endurance!]
[Absorbed 62.33% of Advanced Armament Haki Attribute!]
[Absorbed 73.96% of Advanced Observation Haki Attribute!]
Both teacher and student stood grinning amidst the wreckage one fueled by endless rum, the other by the thrill of limitless growth.
For now, the lesson was over.
But this training session would become a legend the day Kaido met the man who could learn faster than anyone alive: Kael Draven.
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