The dust settled around the battlefield, revealing only two figures still standing:Lo Ye, in his immaculate white suit…And Kaido, gripping his massive iron kanabo with both hands.
The scene was quiet for a moment—too quiet.Even the sea breeze held its breath.
Kaido's lungs burned, but his eyes held fire. He wasn't like the others. He wasn't afraid of Lo Ye—he was excited by him.
"You're strong," Kaido growled. "Fight me for real."
Lo Ye flicked ash off his sleeve."And dirty my suit? No."
Kaido roared and charged.
The ground cracked beneath each of his steps.His club swung downward with monstrous force—enough to crush stone, bone, and maybe even steel.
But not Lo Ye.
With a single step, he sidestepped the blow.The club smashed into the dirt, leaving a crater.
At the same time—
BANG!
Lo Ye delivered a lightning-fast punch to Kaido's ribs.A clean hit.Sharp.Precise.
Isla, watching from above, tapped her fingers thoughtfully on her notebook.His form barely shifts… no wasted motion. He's predicting every strike.
Stussy rested her chin on her palm, eyes sparkling.She wasn't analyzing—she was admiring."He really makes fighting look beautiful."
Dahlia leaned forward on the railing, excitement buzzing through her."Come on, Kaido! Hit him harder! I want Lo Ye to get serious!"
Kaido spat blood and roared again, his body swelling with explosive strength.He swung again—faster, harder.
But Lo Ye moved like water.
He slid under the attack, pivoted, and drove his knee into Kaido's abdomen.
CRACK!
Kaido went flying back, smashing through a broken wooden stall.
"AGHH—!"
He struggled up, panting like a wild animal.No one had ever handled him this easily.Not at this age.
"I WON'T LOSE!" Kaido screamed, charging again.
Lo Ye stayed calm. He loosened his tie further.
And then—
For a brief moment, his golden Wushan Fire flickered across his right hand.
Kaido's eyes widened.
"You… you're using Haki AND… something else?"
Lo Ye didn't answer.Instead, he met Kaido's next strike head-on.
Their attacks collided.
The shockwave cracked the stone ground.Sand blew outward in a violent ring.The rookies who had regained consciousness screamed and ducked.
Lo Ye's fist overpowered Kaido's club—and then—
BOOOOM!
Kaido was sent flying again.This time he went through two walls.
Silence.
Even Rocks's high-ranking monsters stared in surprise.
Big Mom blinked.Shiki laughed.Whitebeard smirked.
Rocks himself scratched his chin."He's getting stronger… too fast."
As the dust settled, Kaido coughed and pushed himself up with trembling arms.
No hate.No humiliation.
Only respect.
"You…" Kaido wheezed. "You're a monster."
Lo Ye inhaled slowly.
"No. I'm clean."
Kaido's eyes flicked to the spotless suit and he huffed out a weak laugh, collapsing backward in defeat.
"Damn… that's cool…"
The battle was over.
Isla finally closed her notebook and whispered,"I want to learn more about him."
Stussy's eyes softened."So do I."
Dahlia jumped down from her perch, landing with a thud, her eyes blazing with excitement."He didn't even use real power. He's perfect."
As Dahlia approached, Lo Ye brushed a stray speck of dust from his sleeve.
She grinned."You're amazing, Suit Thug."
Lo Ye raised an eyebrow."You sound very impressed."
"Maybe I am," she said, leaning a little too close.Her breath brushed his cheek.
Lo Ye didn't move away.
He only replied:"Try not to get dirt on my suit next time."
Dahlia's smile widened with challenge.
Above them, Isla and Stussy exchanged glances.
For the first time, all three women realized something important:
They were not just observing Lo Ye.
They were starting to care.
And the chaos of Hachinosu would only feed those feelings.
Because the Suit Thug had won his test…
…but the real storm had only begun.