Under the perception of his Observation Haki, Issho, known as Fujitora, sensed that both Kaido and Big Mom had regained consciousness, though Big Mom's injuries were clearly more severe.
Fujitora slowly drew his cane sword and spoke in a calm but firm tone, "I do not wish to take your lives. However, if I do not abandon you here, retreat will become impossible. So, I must ask you both to die."
Kaido roared in fury, violently pulling at the Sea Prism Stone chains binding him, the sound of metal clashing echoing loudly. "If you want to kill me, then come and try!"
Fujitora remained composed. "Your strength is indeed overwhelming. In a direct battle, I might not defeat you. But in your current state, bound and weakened, ending your lives is still within my power."
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Still, I am a man who enjoys a gamble. Today, I will wager everything, and the price will be your lives."
The moment he finished speaking, his blade flashed.
Blood erupted instantly from the throats of Kaido and Big Mom.
At the same time, far behind on the pursuing dragon, Charlotte Katakuri's pupils shrank sharply. "Bastard! Fujitora, what are you doing to Mama!"
"Lord Kaido!" "Mama!"
Cries of rage echoed from the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates. However, the distance between them was still too great. No matter how furious they were, they could not close the gap in time.
"Damn it!"
King immediately rushed forward, his wings cutting through the air as he charged toward Fujitora.
But before he could reach him, a massive meteorite descended from the sky, drawn down by gravity, crashing directly toward King.
King drew his blade and slashed upward, splitting the meteorite cleanly in two.
Meanwhile, on the warship, Kaido and Big Mom coughed violently. Blood poured from their necks without restraint.
Fujitora let out a low chuckle. "Do not worry, they are not dead yet. But if you continue your pursuit, their lives may slip away at any moment."
As he spoke, he used his gravity ability to tear apart sections of the deck beneath them, lifting the broken platforms into the air.
Ulti shouted furiously from a distance, "Fujitora! What are you planning to do with them!"
Kaido's breathing became labored as blood seeped into his lungs. Even for someone known as the strongest creature, such injuries were fatal.
Fujitora's strike had been precise. He had not taken their heads, but had severed their carotid arteries and tracheas.
Without proper blood flow, the brain would quickly lose oxygen. At the same time, blood flooded into their lungs, leading to suffocation. Even monsters like them could not ignore such damage.
Still, Fujitora understood that killing them outright would only drive their crews into a frenzy of vengeance. That would make escape impossible.
This was his gamble.
If Kaido and Big Mom lived, their crews would be forced to save them instead of continuing the pursuit.
"Whether you survive now depends on your own fate," Fujitora said quietly.
With a wave of his hand, the floating slabs carrying Kaido and Big Mom were hurled downward toward the sea.
"Kaido!" "Mama!"
King and Katakuri prepared to intercept, but Fujitora moved faster.
Two enormous meteorites descended once more, driven by overwhelming gravity, crashing onto Kaido and Big Mom and forcing them deeper into the sea.
Two thunderous impacts echoed as they vanished beneath the surface, blood quickly spreading through the water.
Seeing this, the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates immediately abandoned their pursuit and rushed to rescue their leaders.
Non-Devil Fruit users dove into the sea one after another, racing against time.
Fujitora seized the opportunity and led the Marines away, retreating without hesitation.
Beneath the ocean, Kaido and Big Mom sank rapidly.
Bound by Sea Prism Stone chains, suffering from fatal wounds, and crushed by the weight of the meteorites, they were dragged deeper into the dark water.
Big Mom's consciousness began to fade.
Blood loss, suffocation, and the freezing sea drained her strength.
"So this is… death…"
Images of her children flashed through her mind. Doubt crept in.
Perhaps forming an alliance with Kaido and Marco had been a mistake.
Even as an Emperor, she could feel the gap between them growing.
If she died here, what would become of her family?
Her thoughts slowly dimmed.
After some time, the suffocating pressure suddenly eased.
A group of Fish-Men, led by Namur, dragged both Kaido and Big Mom out of the sea.
On the surface, Charlotte Perospero quickly used his Devil Fruit to create a vast layer of candy syrup, which hardened into a temporary platform across the water.
"Cough… cough…"
Kaido regained consciousness first, violently coughing up seawater. However, due to severe blood loss, his body felt heavy and weak.
"Kaido-sama!"
King rushed forward and slashed apart the Sea Prism Stone chains binding him.
Nearby, Yamato looked at the deep wound on Kaido's neck, her expression tense. Though she opposed him, seeing him in such a state still unsettled her.
Freed from the chains, Kaido instinctively pressed his hand against his neck, trying to slow the bleeding.
"Treat his wounds immediately!" King ordered urgently.
Normally, Kaido's body would recover from almost any injury, but this was different. A wound to the neck was fatal even for him.
On the other side, Katakuri's face darkened as he looked at Big Mom.
Her condition was far worse.
She had already fallen unconscious from excessive blood loss.
"We must operate on Mama immediately!" Charlotte Galette shouted.
Katakuri nodded, his voice firm despite the tension. "Return to Egghead Island at once."
Only there, with the most advanced technology available, did they have a chance to save her.