Chapter 44 – The fall of Emperor
"Judgment: Akatsuki!"
"Rising Dragon: Flame Bagua (Shoryu: Kaen Hakke)!"
Kai and Kaido clashed in the sky as the night itself turned orange-red beneath their collision. Conqueror's Haki covered the entirety of Onigashima, even reaching the land of Wano.
Toki, Yamato, and King stopped their fight. Even all their exhaustion faded away at the cataclysmic battle happening in the sky.
"Well, looks like it's time to end the fun," Yamato said, a bit reluctantly. Then she turned toward King. She lowered her legs, bending her body forward.
King snapped out of his daze as he turned toward Yamato. His face turned pale as he gathered his flames onto his sword.
"Divine Swiftness—" Yamato muttered as the ground beneath her exploded.
BOOM!!
She vanished from her spot.
"Imperial Flame—"
King shouted as flames roared around him, yet he was a second too late. A kanabo covered in blood-red lightning of Conqueror's Infusion, layered with freezing frost energy and Advanced Armament, enlarged in his view.
"—Wolf Deity Fang."
Yamato muttered as her kanabo slammed into his chest.
BOOOOM!!
His flames were extinguished as ice spread across his body. He was sent flying toward the roof.
With a deafening BOOM!!, King crashed onto the roof of Onigashima. His body was covered in ice, his eyes rolled back, clearly unconscious. Blood-red lightning still crackled around him.
Yamato returned to her human form and turned upward.
Countless blood bats appeared beside her and merged into Toki's form. Both women silently stared at the still-clashing Kai and Kaido.
The flaming dragon and the miniature sun continued colliding, the Haki within each construct trying to suppress the other.
"WORORORO!! GIVE IT UP, KAIII!!!"
Kaido roared through the clash as his Haki flared without any restraint, bursting out of him.
"KAHAHAHA!! BE PREPARED TO CALL ME CAPTAIN, KAIDOOOOOO!!!"
Kai roared as his twelve wings and the halo above his head began to glow. His Conqueror's Haki also spread without any restraint.
"AGHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Both Kaido and Kai roared as the sky cracked apart. Blood-red lightning spread across the horizon, reaching all the way to Wano.
CRAAACK!! BOOOOM!!
All the clouds were blasted away.
Sea creatures, animals, birds, Beast Pirates, everyone on Onigashima, and even those along Wano's coastline fainted, foam forming at their mouths.
The only ones still conscious were Yamato and Toki.
Both stared at the mythical clash unfolding in the heavens.
The clash lasted for a few more seconds.
Then Kaido's Haki was overpowered.
Akatsuki tore through his Haki and the flaming dragon.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion erupted in the sky.
The entire night sky shone like dawn itself, illuminating Wano and the surrounding sea.
Ushimaru, Hyogoro, Asura, Kawamatsu, and countless samurai and citizens of Wano stared toward the heavens.
"The dawn..."
"Wano's dawn is finally here..."
Tears streamed down countless faces.
A man wearing a tengu mask stared at the glowing sky.
"Th-they... they did it... Wano is free from the tyrant..."
Back in the skies above Onigashima, Kaido was blasted downward.
His Flame Torch faded as the massive flaming dragon construct was torn apart. His Azure Dragon form also disappeared, returning him to his human form.
He crashed straight through one of Onigashima's massive horns.
KRAAAAAASH!!
The gigantic horn shattered as Kaido slammed into the skull of Onigashima.
Kai slowly flew toward the crater where Kaido had fallen.
His twelve flaming wings gradually faded until only two pairs remained on his back.
Kai stared down into the massive crater.
Kaido was covered in blood.
A massive scar stretched from his right shoulder to his left leg. His right arm had been completely severed, and one of his horns was broken.
This Kaido looked nothing like an Emperor.
He looked like nothing more than a dying beast.
"Wororo—cough—roro... agh..."
Blood spilled from his mouth as he laughed.
"Even in this state, you still want to laugh?" Kai asked while looking at him. Akatsuki rested on his shoulder.
Kaido stared at the boy wearing the Oni Mask before him.
"Worororo... cough... a loss... is... a loss..." he spoke while coughing blood.
"It... just means... I wasn't... strong enough..."
His vitality continued fading.
Even speaking had become difficult.
Yet there wasn't a trace of fear on Kaido's face.
Only the grin of an Emperor who had never feared death.
Kai stared at him quietly.
"Who said you can just quit like this?"
"Don't forget. I'm your new captain now."
"So, as your captain, my first order is..."
"You can't die just yet."
A grin appeared beneath Kai's cracked Oni Mask.
"Not before you see the world Yamato and I will build."
"Wororoororo... cough... what a damned order..."
Kaido laughed before falling silent.
His breathing grew slower.
"Do... don't kill King... and the others..."
"Cough... haa... haa..."
"Once they know... I lost..."
"They'll follow you..."
Kai laughed.
"Kahahaha! So those are your last words?"
"Too bad."
"You'll have to tell them yourself to follow me."
After saying that, Kai slowly walked toward Kaido.
"Be proud, Kaido."
"Because you are the first man to receive this pact."
"No man has ever made me want to use this."
"Not Roger."
"Not Shiki."
In Kaido's blurred vision, Kai reached forward and placed his hand on Kaido's left chest.
"Seraph Contract."
A pair of flaming wing markings appeared over Kaido's heart.
Thump!
His slowing heartbeat suddenly became powerful once again.
Warm energy flowed through every part of Kaido's battered body.
"Yo-you..."
Kaido muttered.
His eyelids became heavy.
Slowly...
They closed.
He entered a deep, healing sleep.
Kai grinned.
Just as he turned around—
WHOOSH!!
Yamato appeared before him in a burst of speed.
The moment she spotted both Kai and Kaido, her heartbeat skipped.
She opened her mouth...
Then closed it.
She wasn't sure what to say.
Kai noticed immediately.
He removed his Oni Mask and shrank back to his normal height.
"Don't hesitate, girl."
"Just say it."
Yamato looked at him nervously.
"Ar-are you going to kill him?"
Kai blinked.
A smile appeared on his face.
So this stupid girl still has some affection for her old man.
Kai stepped forward and looked directly into Yamato's eyes.
Yamato gulped.
She didn't know what she would do if Kai decided to end Kaido.
After all...
Her old man had caused too much suffering.
She should have been happy that Wano had finally been liberated.
But...
That man was still her father. No matter how he treated her. This guy was still the man who raised her.
Her eyes gradually became moist.
Kai smiled. Walked forward and wrapped his arms around her neck as he pulled her into a hug.
Yamato froze, completely caught off guard by the sudden hug.
Kai gently stroked her hair.
"Stupid girl..."
"Why would I do that?"
"Didn't Kaido and I make a bet?"
"Whoever won would become the captain."
"And there's no way I'm killing your father."
Yamato's tears finally slipped from her eyes.
She hugged Kai tightly and buried her face in his shoulder.
Kai smiled softly as he stroked her hair, allowing her to vent all the emotions.
---
Nevy Headquarters Marineford , the morning sun shone brightly over the harbor and sea.
Numerous Marine warships stood ready to depart.
Sengoku looked toward everyone gathered before him.
"Onigumo, you will be going to invite Moria."
"Kuzan, you will be going to meet Hawk-Eye Mihawk."
"Doberman, you will go to meet Crocodile."
He took a deep breath.
"Your mission is to invite them to become Warlords of the Sea."
"It is an order from the World Government higher-ups, and we need those pirates to keep the seas in check."
After a brief conversation, three warships departed from the port.
Sengoku then turned toward a dog-headed warship.
"Garp."
"You and Tsuru will be going to Amazon Lily."
"And let Tsuru do the talking."
Garp, who had been eating senbei on the deck, stopped.
A vein popped on his forehead.
"What do you mean by that, you bastard?!"
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to throw a few punches.
Just then...
A cold chill ran down his spine.
He slowly turned around.
Tsuru was glaring at him.
"We have a mission to do, right?"
Garp immediately nodded like a child being scolded by his parents.
Tsuru then looked toward Sengoku.
"I'll handle it."
"No need to worry."
Standing on the deck, Vice Admiral Momousagi Gion gazed toward the sea.
"I can't wait to meet her..."
"The Empress who defeated Kuzan."
Battle lust burned in her eyes.
As the Marines' strongest woman and an Admiral candidate, Gion was unwilling to accept that Hancock was stronger than her.
She wanted to witness that strength with her own eyes.
After a few minutes, the dog-headed warship also set sail toward the Calm Belt...
Completely unaware that an Emperor had already fallen...
And a new one had risen.
---
Grand line On a deserted island hidden deep within the forest stood the headquarters of the World Economy News.
Inside Morgan's office, Morgan anxiously walked back and forth.
"Damn it!"
"Why haven't my news seagulls sent back any information about Kaido and the Oni Samurai's battle?"
"Did something happen?"