The sky was burning, and the earth trembled under the weight of the conflict.
Shocking ravines tore the streets apart. Bodies and blood were everywhere, and shallow puddles turned into crimson pools. Cries, pleas for help, and the sounds of slaughter merged into a single, horrific roar. The Marines and pirates numbly swung their blades, determined to sever each other's heads.
Kaido stood on a mountaintop, the breeze making his hair dance. He clenched his fist until his knuckles popped, twisting his neck to look down at Ochoku charging up the slope. A playful, sinister expression crossed his face.
"Tsk. You're just in time to help me stretch my muscles," Kaido chuckled.
Ochoku was fast, moving with the agility of a monkey. As he ran, Haki already enveloped his long saber. "Kaido, it's time for you to leave!"
"You're overestimating yourself!"
Kaido unleashed his Haoshoku Haki. A surging red light flickered in his eyes, and black lightning crackled around him.
"Thunder Bagua!!"
BOOM!!
The massive impact transformed into terrifying energy. The mountain beneath their feet collapsed and shattered into dust.
Whitebeard looked on, shocked. "Did I see that right? Was that... just now?!"
Shiki and Saint Garling both looked over warily. Amidst the surging black lightning, countless rocks fell like volcanic projectiles, smashing down in all directions. A figure flew backward out of the smoke like a cannonball, streaking across the ground. It formed a trench hundreds of meters long, the dirt scorched black as if struck by a lightning bolt.
"How is that possible? Ochoku was sent flying?!" Silver Axe couldn't believe his eyes, his face twisting into a grimace.
Shiki was equally shocked by Kaido's massive jump in strength. However, seeing Silver Axe's terrified expression, he couldn't help but laugh.
"You can't even beat a junior crewmate! I told you a long time ago that you're outdated, Silver Axe!"
"Shut up, Shiki! The Devil Fruit is mine!!"
"Bring it on! I don't mind making this your burial ground!"
The two were at each other's throats, refusing to give an inch. Their swords and axes clashed, and the immense force shattered the ground beneath them.
On the dilapidated street below, Ochoku lay in a pit, his chest bruised purple. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his muscles trembling.
"Damn it...! Was that... the power of a Devil Fruit?!"
Ochoku struggled to his feet, using his long saber for support. He looked at Kaido, who was carrying a spiked club and radiating Haki as he walked toward him. Ochoku's expression was a mix of surprise and uncertainty; not everyone knew the true extent of Haoshoku.
"You're just a junior, yet you dare to look down on me!" Ochoku snarled, staring at Kaido like a hawk. With a hum, Haki imbued his saber with a layer of dark light.
"Stop using your seniority to try and suppress me, Ochoku! I'll show you the real world!!"
Clang!
Kaido suddenly accelerated, covering hundreds of meters in just a few breaths. He arrived in front of Ochoku with a sense of boundless darkness and brutality. A bloody light trailed from Kaido's eyes, a sinister sneer curled his lips, and his club, imbued with Haoshoku, smashed down with terrifying force.
"Descent of the Three Worlds: Ragnaraku!!"
Bang!
Like a clap of thunder, crimson lightning tore through the sky, bathing the island in a bloody hue. The earth trembled violently as spiderweb-like cracks spread through the ravines. Thick smoke billowed into the streets, and raging fires burned fiercely.
Kaido strode out of the smoke, spiked club in hand. Behind him, Ochoku lay on the ground, covered in blood, his eyes unfocused. His long saber, which he had carried for years, was broken in two.
At this moment, everyone stopped to look. There was astonishment, shock, jealousy, and fury.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. "There's no mistake. That kid actually knows how to use Haoshoku Haki."
Conqueror's Haki is possessed by only one in several million people; such individuals have the aptitude to become kings. Those who can use it in combat are few and far between—a realm only attainable by those who stand at the world's apex. Even within the Rocks Pirates, only Rocks and Whitebeard were known to use it.
Furthermore, Whitebeard had only mastered it two years prior, and even he couldn't conjure black lightning threads as effortlessly as Kaido just had. Six years ago, when Whitebeard went on behalf of Rocks to recruit Kaido, he had seen the potential. Brutal, cunning, and untamed... plus that physique. He seemed to be looking at another version of himself.
Whitebeard looked at Kaido, a grin spreading across his face. "I didn't expect it would be you who reached this realm."
"Worororo! Whitebeard, are you surprised?" Kaido laughed loudly, challenging the giant man. "There are too many irrelevant people here today, so it's not a good time for a duel! Just wait—someday I will defeat you!"
As he spoke, terrifying black and red lightning intertwined in the distance. The gloomy sky rumbled, and thick lightning struck down. Further out, the sea surged, and massive waves crashed against the shore. Burning warships were slowly engulfed by the deep sea.
"The World Government's reinforcements have arrived! Hmph, I'll leave this place to you all!" Kaido snorted and began running toward the west side of God Valley.
"Hey, Kaido!" Big Mom shouted from behind, but John's cutlass was her only answer.
Whitebeard also noticed the continuous emergence of strong presences in the western part of the island. It seemed the Roger Pirates and the Marines were all besieging Rocks.
"Get out of the way, Celestial Dragon! I don't have time to waste here with you!" Whitebeard knew he couldn't delay. Although Rocks was an idiot, it wasn't time for him to die yet. Moreover, he felt Kaido's intentions were impure. His skillful use of Haki indicated it wasn't something he had just learned. Kaido was hiding his strength.
"It seems I've been underestimated..." Unlike most of the Celestial Dragons, Saint Garling was handsome, with striking red hair. "Pirate, you are the first ant who could fight me to this extent."
Whitebeard snorted, wielding his naginata, which was wreathed in crimson-black Haki. He clashed with Saint Garling once more.
Big Mom didn't want to prolong the fight, and neither did Captain John. Unlike the overbearing Silver Axe, John was only interested in treasure. God Valley not only had Devil Fruits, but it was also rumored to have massive hoards of gold hidden on the island. Besides, he wasn't confident he could beat Big Mom anyway.
John decisively drew his saber and retreated, waving his hands. "Let's stop here, Linlin. I don't want to be your enemy."
Big Mom glared fiercely at him, then chased after Kaido. John chuckled to himself and took two of his subordinates to search for the treasure.
Kaido charged like a wild beast, smashing every building in his path. His physique was already formidable, and after consuming the Azure Dragon Fruit, his body had undergone a massive change. He had considered transforming into a dragon and flying over, but the mythical beast form was an enormous target for the Marines.
Human power has its limits. No matter how strong Rocks was, he couldn't survive being besieged by everyone at once. However, Kaido had no intention of helping his captain. He was eyeing Rocks' personal treasure.