Kaido had been sentenced to death a full forty times. Even if they hanged him, he would tear the chains apart. Even if they dragged him onto the execution platform, he would shatter the guillotine blade. Even if they stabbed him with spears, it would end with the spears snapping instead.
He had sunk as many as nine massive prison ships. No one had ever been able to kill him. Not even Kaido himself.
And now, someone actually dared to say he could kill Kaido in a single move.
It was far too insane!
Even if that person was Roy, who had already defeated Whitebeard and taken the title of the world's strongest, it was still insane.
"That guy… has he lost his mind? Or does he think defeating Pops means he's invincible? You have to know, even Pops never killed Kaido. He only drove him back."
Someone among the Whitebeard Pirates spoke in indignation.
Whitebeard, meanwhile, looked at Roy with eyes full of delight.
"Gurarararara! To dare make a wager like this, is that brat planning to show his true strength? Good. Then let me witness your strongest power with my own eyes!"
Whitebeard knew very clearly that, in Roy's battle with him, Roy had not used his full strength at all—and yet Whitebeard had still lost.
If Roy truly used his full-power strike against Kaido, perhaps he really might be able to kill him.
Hidden behind the crowd, Teach's eyes instead revealed a smile.
"Zehahahaha, zehahahaha! That's it! That's exactly it! A pirate should stake everything for what he wants! Whether it's time, life, freedom, or even loyalty, none of it matters! As long as he can obtain what he wants, this guy is the same kind of person as me!"
On the Thunder God Pirates' side.
"Roy aniki…"
Tiger, who had been sitting on the Thunder God, heard Roy say that and his expression changed drastically. He was just about to step forward and stop him, but then he met Roy's calm gaze.
"Trust me, Tiger."
After hearing Roy's words, Tiger's expression shifted several times. In the end, he fell silent and chose to believe in Roy.
Beside Tiger, Kuma, who had not chosen to enter the battlefield, and the other Fish-Men also fixed their gazes tightly on Roy.
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
After Kaido heard what Roy said, he first fell silent for a while, then burst into wild laughter.
His laughter was so loud that it scattered the white clouds on the horizon.
"You've got guts like that, huh? I'm starting to believe you really did defeat Whitebeard head-on."
After his laughter stopped, Kaido grinned and spoke.
"Fine! I'll accept your wager! No one in this world has ever truly been able to kill me. If you can kill me, that would suit me just fine. Of course, that's absolutely impossible. You're destined to join my pirate crew!"
Kaido cherished talent and liked recruiting strong fighters. Toward a capable warrior like Shutenmaru, Kaido was willing to overlook past grudges and invite him to become his subordinate.
As for enemies who refused to obey, after defeating them, he would try to make them submit wholeheartedly before putting them to use.
In the original work, Luffy destroyed Kaido's trade by defeating Doflamingo, causing Kaido to hate him. But even after capturing Luffy, Kaido still did not kill him. Instead, he intended to turn Luffy into one of his own forces.
"That's not certain. You'd better use your strongest power. Otherwise, if you die just like this in a moment, it would be far too frustrating."
Roy folded his arms over his chest and spoke calmly.
"Hmph! I don't need you to tell me that, brat. I'll use my full strength anyway and see just what kind of power the current world's strongest possesses!"
As he spoke, Kaido gripped his spiked club with both hands, and his eyes instantly grew serious.
At that moment, his entire aura became powerful.
"Before we fight, I have a question. I'm afraid I won't get the answer after you die."
Roy clapped his hands and also assumed a stance.
"Tch. What question?"
"Your physique is very special. I'm rather interested in that unkillable body of yours."
Was it a Devil Fruit?
Kaido possessed the ability to transform into a dragon. In the manga, his dragon form was azure-blue in color and enormous in size, yet extremely agile. He could fire immensely powerful heat breath and possessed the power to ride clouds and mist, call forth wind, and summon rain.
"I see. Then after you die, I'll graciously accept your Devil Fruit."
"Hmph. Enough big talk, brat. I'm also very interested in that mantis, griffin, and dire wolf under your command!"
Although Kaido called him a brat, in reality, he had already raised his focus to the highest level.
After all, his opponent had defeated Whitebeard and dared to make such a wager with him. He had to be relying on something.
"After Whitebeard, now it's Kaido? Brats these days really are more impressive than the last. If only Luffy could become this strong too. After he becomes a Marine, he'll definitely be able to arrest all these people."
On the deck of the Marine warship, even with a world-class battle about to unfold before his eyes—one that could influence the entire direction of the sea from this point onward—Garp's mind still went blank, and his thoughts drifted far away.
"Katakuri nii-san! Katakuri nii-san! Can you see who wins in the end?"
On the Queen Mama Chanter, red light flashed in Katakuri's eyes. Then he shook his head and said to his younger brothers and sisters, "I can't see it. I can only see a blurry fragment of the future. My Observation Haki has not been trained to such a profound level yet. I can't perceive too many scenes from the future."
But no matter who won, it would have an enormous impact on the Big Mom Pirates.
Looking at that figure who was even younger than himself, Katakuri clenched his palm tightly.
"I'm still not strong enough."
On the ice, Roy and Kaido stood facing each other. The scene was extremely quiet.
A vast stretch of space had already been cleared around them. Everyone had retreated far back.
They all held their breath as they watched how things would develop next.
The reporters were also holding up their Transponder Snails, wishing they could record every bit of this historic moment.
First Whitebeard, then Kaido.
Roy the Thunder God had given them far too many surprises!
Just as the atmosphere gradually solidified—
"Take this, brat!"
In the next second, Kaido roared and broke the silence. His two arms instantly swelled, and he charged straight toward Roy with his spiked club in hand.
"Mimicry! Hundredfold Kaio-ken!"
(End of Chapter)
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