Just as the Beast Pirates' fleet was about to land on Whole Cake Island, a familiar ship slowly emerged on the distant horizon—the Oro Jackson.
Kaido's pupils constricted violently, his Conqueror's Haki erupting uncontrollably, scattering the thunderclouds overhead for a brief moment.
Rhett appeared at the bow of the ship, waving with a boisterous laugh. "Yo! Kaido! Long time no see! You've grown some balls, huh?"
Lazily leaning against the mast, blood mist swirling around his fingertips, Rhett taunted, "The brat's all grown up. Wonder if your headbutt resistance improved though? Oh, and that little message I left you—still got it?"
Kaido's dragon whiskers bristled, his draconic eyes burning crimson. "Rhett... you're dead!"
Memories of the humiliation at God Valley—being toyed with, robbed, and branded—flooded his mind.
In an instant, he transformed into his hybrid form, his kanabo wreathed in black-and-red lightning, Conqueror's Haki condensed to its peak. "THUNDER... BAGUA!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
A cataclysmic shockwave tore toward Rhett.
"Tsk tsk, no need to be so angry, little worm." Rhett drew Kuroshio.
"Mist God Style: Phantom Slash."
Clearly, this Thunder Bagua still lacked refinement.
Rhett flashed to Kaido's side in an instant, his blade coated in advanced Armament Haki. "Mist God Style: Instant Slash!"
Kaido snarled, whirling around to meet the blade with his kanabo. "You think I'm still that weakling from God Valley?!"
"CLANG—!!!"
The metallic collision shattered the clouds. Rhett raised an eyebrow. "You have gotten stronger."
Like a ghost, Rhett reappeared behind Kaido, blood mist coalescing into a massive hand aiming for the back of his neck. "Observation Haki's improved, but—"
Kaido spun, his maw gaping wide. "BOLO BREATH!!!"
Scorching dragonfire erupted, vaporizing Rhett's blood mist in an instant.
"Tch, temper's worse too." Rhett clicked his tongue.
Kaido roared with laughter. "Rhett! Today, you pay for God Valley!"
Rhett materialized from the dissipating mist, a mocking grin on his lips. "Oh? Little worm, didn't learn your lesson last time?"
"Stop looking down on me!" Kaido bellowed, his tail smashing the ground as he launched himself like a cannonball at Rhett.
His kanabo, crackling with Conqueror's Haki, came crashing down—only for Rhett to dissolve into mist.
"Observation's still trash." Rhett's voice echoed from all directions, dripping with disdain. "My mist naturally blocks Observation. You didn't even notice? Bold move, fighting me on my turf."
"BOOM!" Kaido's strike cratered the ground, sending dust flying.
Kaido gritted his teeth, his draconic eyes darting wildly, but he couldn't pinpoint Rhett's presence.
"Over here."
"THUD!"
A massive fist of blood mist slammed into Kaido's gut.
"Guh—!" Blood sprayed from Kaido's mouth, his scales fracturing as he was sent flying, crashing through multiple ruins before skidding to a stop.
Not done yet. Rhett chuckled, clasping his hands together as the mist condensed into countless crimson blades.
"Blood Mist: Thousand Blade Execution!"
"SWISH SWISH SWISH—!"
A storm of blood blades rained down. Kaido roared, swinging his kanabo to deflect, but several blades slipped through, carving deep, bone-exposing wounds into his flesh.
"RAAAAH—!" Kaido howled, his scales corroding, flesh rotting, yet he refused to fall, his Conqueror's Haki erupting violently.
"I AM... KAIDO!!!"
He leaped, his draconic claws wreathed in Conqueror's Haki, slashing toward Rhett.
"DRAGON CLAW: KING'S WRATH!"
Rhett's eyes narrowed slightly as the blood mist solidified into a shield—
The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward. Yet, Kaido's attack only forced Rhett half a step back—the shield didn't even crack.
"Tch, not bad." Rhett tilted his head, flashing a vicious grin. "Still not enough, though."
Absolute tank. Every top-tier in this world's built different, goddammit.
Before Kaido could react, Rhett's hand shot up—
"Blood Mist: Worm Bind!" The same move he'd used to restrain Kaido at God Valley.
"SWISH!" Countless crimson chains erupted from the ground, coiling around Kaido's limbs, tail, even his neck.
"What?!" Kaido thrashed, but the chains only tightened, corroding his Haki.
"Save your energy." Rhett strolled closer, tapping Kaido's forehead. "Your Haki's crude. Might as well be tissue paper against me."
"Bastard... let me go!" Kaido snarled, his eyes bloodshot.
"Sure, whatever." Rhett grinned—then kicked Kaido square in the face.
"CRACK!!!"
Kaido's massive draconic form was sent flying hundreds of meters, plowing a trench into the ground.
As the dust settled, Kaido lay battered, scales shattered, barely conscious, but still growling. "Not... done yet..."
Rhett crouched beside him, patting his cheek. "Future 'Strongest Creature'? Currently getting ragdolled by me? Oho~ You've got ways to go."
Standing, Rhett reformed his blood mist into a club, testing its weight. "Want another bonk? Help you sleep better?"
Kaido glared, but couldn't even lift a finger.
His claws dug into the earth as he watched Rhett's retreating figure, roaring internally—
"One day... I'll kill you!!!"
"Meh, boring." Rhett shrugged, turning away as the mist spread beneath his feet. "Come find me when you're stronger, worm."
"THUD." Kaido was out like a light.
Ding! Today's unexpected Kaido beatdown: success.
As Rhett headed back, he heard his captain's voice.
"GYAHAHA! Got it, let's bounce!" Roger laughed, leaping back aboard.
Charlotte Linlin raged. "STOP THEM!"
But the blood mist had already sealed the sea.
The Oro Jackson cut through the waves, leaving Whole Cake Island behind.
"MAMA MAMA~ Roger... I won't forget this!" Linlin's roar echoed across the island.
Back on the Roger Pirates' ship, Oden raised the rubbing triumphantly. "That's everything! We're one step closer to the truth!"
Roger bellowed with laughter. "GYAHAHA! Good work! Let's party!"
"Tsk, some improvement," Rhett tilted his head, a vicious smirk playing on his lips. "But still not enough."
Damn, these Pirate Kings are all walking blood banks. Ridiculous.