Zoro drew his three swords, the cold gleam of steel reflecting the chaos erupting around them. A crooked grin spread across his face—the kind worn by someone about to enjoy himself.
"If you've got time to spare, I can keep you company for a quick fight!" Zoro said, settling into his stance.
"Hmph!" Kaido narrowed his eyes. "You're far too bold for a mere subordinate of the Straw Hat…"
He could overlook Luffy's actions. The brat had enough power to back up that arrogance.
But these two punks? How dare they bark in front of him?
If he didn't teach them a lesson, what would happen to his reputation as one of the Yonko?
Gripping his Hassaikai with both hands, Kaido leapt into the air and spun the weapon above his head, coating it in Armament Haki until black lightning crackled from it. As he descended, he swung his kanabo down with overwhelming force.
"Kosanze Ragnaraku!" Kaido roared.
Both Zoro and Sanji dodged as quickly as they could. They knew that if it hit, it could be fatal.
Before anything else could happen, a translucent spherical space appeared on the ground.
ROOM.
In the next instant, several figures materialized.
"Kaido!"
Ace's eyes burned like embers when he saw him. Without hesitation, he attacked.
"Wait, don't do it, Ace!" Marco tried to stop him—but it was too late.
"Hiken!!"
The flaming fist surged forward like a horizontal meteor, scorching the ground black and leaving smoke in its wake.
Kaido watched the attack with disdain.
"Roger's son…"
With a casual swing of his club, he dispersed the fiery fist as if it were nothing more than mist.
In the next instant, he vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of Ace.
"…You're far too weak. Raimei Hakke!"
Ace's pupils shrank. His Observation Haki barely kept up with the movement, but his body couldn't respond in time.
BOOM!
The kanabo, coated in Armament Haki, smashed into his face with brutal force. The impact shattered the air. Ace's nose caved in under the blow, and he was launched like a projectile, blasting straight through the city wall behind him and disappearing into the distance.
"So weak it makes me want to cry…" Kaido took a swig from his gourd. "Is he really Roger's son?"
Then he raised his head and roared:
"Straw Hat!!"
"Ace!" Marco went pale, instantly transforming.
The phoenix's cry echoed through the Flower Capital. Blue flames engulfed his body as he dove toward Kaido.
At the same time, Zoro and Sanji charged in.
"Phoenix Talon!" Marco attacked.
"Ifrit Jambe! Boiling Specter!" Sanji, now wreathed in flames with scales forming beneath his skin, delivered a blazing kick to Kaido.
"Nitoryu: Gyuushin!" Zoro slashed fiercely.
Kaido didn't even move to dodge the three attacks.
BOOM!
The combined impact sent him flying backward, demolishing more than a dozen houses along the street.
"Captain Kaido!" King dove down from the sky to assist him.
Zoro activated his future sight. In fractions of a second, he foresaw the attack and leapt to intercept.
CLANG!
Swords clashed against a Haki-coated beak. Shockwaves exploded outward violently.
"Don't interfere, King," Kaido ordered as he rose from the rubble.
In truth, he had never really been down.
There wasn't a single visible wound on his body besides the scar on his chest. His durability was monstrous, comparable to Big Mom's.
"Tch…" Marco clicked his tongue. "Only a Yonko can face another Yonko!"
"Worororo!" Kaido laughed loudly. "That wasn't even a warm-up!"
Black and red lightning erupted around him as he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
The crushing pressure made the air tremble.
In the blink of an eye, Kaido appeared in front of Sanji.
He used no elaborate technique—only brute force.
His club came down violently.
Sanji tried to block, crossing his arms in defense, but it was useless.
BOOM!
The impact was devastating. He was launched hundreds of meters away, blasting through the city gate before vanishing from sight.
"Sanji!" Marco froze for a split second.
But there was no time to mourn.
Kaido was already charging again.
Marco spread his wings, forming a shield of blue flames.
"Blue Bird!"
BOOM!
He managed to block the strike—barely.
"You're not completely insignificant…" Kaido grinned cruelly. "But you're still far from enough!"
Conqueror's Haki exploded outward again, crushing Marco and slamming him into the ground like a child.
Zoro tried to break past King's defense to help, but King gave him no opening, and the two became locked in a fierce duel.
"What a nuisance…"
Kaido had no real interest in chasing them down. This was merely punishment for their audacity.
Then his eyes fell upon the others.
Kozuki Sukiyaki.
Hiyori.
Robin.
Law.
Moria wasn't there—upon seeing Kaido, he had vanished as if he had never been present.
Robin smiled with striking calm.
"There's no need to be so anxious. Luffy will arrive soon."
"How bold…" Kaido muttered, noticing the copy of the Road Poneglyph in her hands.
He understood immediately.
"So you found the location."
"I have a question, Kaido," Robin said calmly. "If you knew where the Road Poneglyph was, why didn't you take it?"
"Hmph. Without all four, it's useless. And someone still needs to know how to read it. Having just one copy is enough."
He didn't attack Robin.
Beating the others was fine.
But hitting Robin? She might be Luffy's woman. He still wanted to lure the brat in—attacking her would be shooting himself in the foot.
Despite his brutality, Kaido was no fool.
Then the sky darkened.
Everyone looked up.
A gigantic black warship floated above the Flower Capital.
"…Pluton?"
A sound echoed.
The Drums of Liberation.
In an instant, a white figure appeared above Kaido.
"Hey, Kaido!"
Luffy grinned broadly as he threw a punch.
Kaido had been distracted by Pluton. For a split second, he didn't react.
BOOM!
The fist slammed into his face with absurd force. His elongated features compressed grotesquely under the impact.
That brat… attacked me by surprise?!
His body seemed to soften. The blow bypassed part of his monstrous defense, dealing real damage.
Blood sprayed as he was hurled violently into the ground.
CRASH!
His head was driven deep into the earth.
The entire ground of the Flower Capital cracked under the impact.
(End of Chapter)