Kaido spat out a mouthful of blood-streaked saliva, the fluid tracing a crimson arc through the air, displaying his determination and tragic resolve.
The Haki on his Hassaikai, driven to its limits by his frenzy, condensed to an extreme, its radiance threatening to devour all surrounding darkness.
Meanwhile, the three Yonko, though each harbored different thoughts and intentions, found themselves forming a peculiar, subtle alliance when facing their common enemy, Saint Saturn.
This alliance might not be stable, but at this critical moment, it temporarily united them on the same front.
"...So they've joined forces."
The forced composure in Saint Saturn's pupils began to dissipate like thin ice under blazing sun, replaced by a trace of unconcealed gravity.
Narrowing his eyes, his gaze revealed unprecedented wariness.
He pondered inwardly that today's battle had likely exceeded his initial expectations, and escaping unscathed wouldn't be so easy.
The atmosphere felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, heavy and oppressive like solidified magma, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Every inch of air seemed infused with a viscous substance, turning sluggish and stagnant, as if the slightest movement could trigger a violent storm.
Saint Saturn's pitch-black eyes narrowed, resembling two profound black holes, shimmering with a mix of contemplation and vigilance.
His fingers, like withered branches, tapped lightly on his cane, producing a rhythmic "thump-thump" sound.
Each tap seemed to strike a warning bell deep within his heart, as he weighed the best escape plan, his mind racing through various possible countermeasures.
In that fleeting instant, as if time itself had frozen due to the sudden turn of events—
"BOOM-CRACK!!!"
A blinding flash of lightning erupted, like a dazzling firework bursting in the night sky or a divine whip of punishment flung in anger.
Whitebeard's towering figure, illuminated by the lightning, appeared as if thunder itself had descended upon the mortal world, charging forward with an unstoppable, overwhelming momentum!
The Murakumogiri in his hands seemed to come alive, entwined with blue-white electrical arcs that danced and flickered around the blade like agile serpents!
Where the blade passed, space shattered like fragile glass, spiderweb-like cracks spreading through the void as if in a frenzy, the entire space groaning in agony under the immense force.
"Old fool, standing still won't do you any good—let's get moving!"
Saturn's dark pupils contracted to pinpricks, his wrinkled face showing shock for the first time, his eyes betraying a hint of disbelief as his mind churned like turbulent seas.
To strike so decisively!
If it were Whitebeard in his prime, that would be one thing—after all, back then, he was like a towering mountain at sea, commanding awe.
But this old rival before him should've weakened with age.
The erosion of time is merciless to any powerhouse, gradually diminishing physical functions and sapping strength.
Yet, the might Whitebeard displayed now was even greater than during the God Valley era!
"Damn it!" Saturn raised his cane to block, dark smoke swirling around the staff.
The smoke, like demonic breath from the abyss, carried a mysterious and sinister power, attempting to fend off the impending attack.
"CLANG—!!!"
An ear-splitting metallic clash resounded through the skies, as if two colossal mountains had collided, roaring with a fury that shook heaven and earth!
The shockwave from the collision of the two terrifying forces, like a ferocious beast, upheaved the ground within a hundred-meter radius with overwhelming momentum.
Dust billowed, gravel flew, and the earth seemed minuscule and fragile in the face of such power.
Saint Saturn felt an irresistible force wash over him, enveloping him like a raging tide, leaving him defenseless.
His gaunt body was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, tracing a humiliating arc through the air.
He crashed through three thick rock walls before barely coming to a stop. Under his immense impact, the rock walls crumbled and shattered as if made of paper.
As the dust settled, Saint Saturn's disheveled figure rose from the ruins.
His originally exquisite black robe was now tattered and torn, covered with wounds and cracks of various sizes.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, flowing down his wrinkled cheek.
The cane in his hand trembled, telling of the tremendous pressure it had just endured.
Sent flying with a single slash!
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's heroic laughter echoed across the battlefield, full of domineering spirit.
"Why are you so distracted, old man?"
The Murakumogiri was raised once more, its tip pointed directly at Saint Saturn.
The cold blade edge glinted ominously under the sunlight. "If you don't show some real power soon, you won't be leaving here today!"
Whitebeard's voice lingered in the air above the battlefield, creating an invisible pressure.
"Whitebeard..."
A trace of sinister darkness flashed in Saint Saturn's pitch-black eyes, like a venomous serpent lurking in the depths of an icy pond, ready to strike at any moment.
He raised his hand, his movements carrying a deliberate composure, wiping away the glaring bloodstain at the corner of his mouth.
The blood appeared crimson beneath his fingertips.
"Edward Newgate... You'll regret what you've done today..."
Each word seemed squeezed from the depths of his icy heart, carrying endless chill as it spread through the air.
"Hah..."
Just as Whitebeard was about to speak, Big Mom cut him off.
"Elder! Don't just focus on fighting that old man! I'm itching for a fight too!"
Beside them, Charlotte Big Mom's eyes shone with dangerous light, like burning flames - fervent and mad.
Her massive body resembled a moving mountain of flesh, each step causing the ground to tremble.
The Napoleon Great Sword burst into towering flames that roared fiercely.
The flames of Prometheus and the thunder of Hera intertwined and coiled around each other like two entangled Dragons, dancing upon the great sword.
The fusion of flame and thunder power dyed the great sword a terrifying crimson-gold color, its dazzling radiance seeming capable of piercing through one's eyes, making it unbearable to look at directly.
"Mamamamama!"