Upon receiving Makoto's order, Kaido, very annoyed, transformed into his Azure Dragon Form and quickly flew to Kuri.
The giant azure dragon hovered in the sky, its body wrapped in black flame clouds, blotting out the sun.
He looked down—
And saw Oden pulling the feces-covered human trunks of Kin'emon, Raizo, and others out of the Rebirth Pool, while swinging his sword at the surrounding fish-man guards.
Kaido certainly recognized this man… Kozuki Oden, Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division, who had jumped ship to the Roger Pirates ten years ago.
And Kaido had also read the newspaper a few days ago, knowing that the Roger Pirates had now disbanded.
So it was normal for Oden to return to Wano Country… oh no, this was now the New Amazon Lily.
Seeing Kaido, Oden looked up and demanded, "Are you the one who turned Wano Country into this?!"
Kaido, in his Azure Dragon form, rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath: "Idiot."
'Did I have that kind of ability?'
Kaido didn't waste words with Kozuki Oden and attacked directly.
The azure dragon hovered over Kuri, its body wrapped in black flame clouds, blotting out the sun.
Kaido didn't waste words with Oden and attacked directly.
Kaido opened his massive mouth, and a scorching blast breath surged from deep within his throat. Orange-red flames, like a breached flood, poured down on Oden.
Bolo Breath!
Oden's eyes sharpened. He pushed off the ground with his feet and darted sideways like an arrow released from a bow.
The blast breath landed where he had been standing, exploding with a boom. The ground was scorched into a huge crater, rocks flying, dust filling the air.
"Before we fight, tell me one thing."
Oden steadied himself and shouted at the azure dragon in the sky.
"Where are my wife and child?!"
Kaido ignored him.
A second blast breath had already been unleashed.
Oden's expression darkened. He said no more, gripped his sword with both hands, and charged at Kaido.
Their battle unfolded in the ruins of Kuri.
Kaido's azure dragon form was enormous. Each of his attacks carried world-destroying power.
Dragon claws tore down, dragon tail swept, blast breaths erupted, blasting the surrounding ground beyond recognition.
But Oden was too fast.
Using his top-tier Observation Haki, he weaved through the gaps in Kaido's attacks, each dodge perfectly timed, each counterattack precise and deadly.
"Get out of my way!"
Oden roared. The famous blade Enma in his hand erupted with dazzling light.
Dark red Haki wrapped around the blade as he slashed at the dragon's claw.
Squelch—
Blood splattered.
A deep gash appeared on Kaido's dragon claw, the pain making him roar.
"..."
Kaido shook his injured dragon claw, his anger growing.
He opened his huge mouth and unleashed another Bolo Breath.
Oden didn't retreat but advanced, charging towards the Bolo Breath.
The moment the flames were about to consume him, he leaped up, riding the heat wave of the Bolo Breath, and slashed at the dragon's neck.
Kaido turned his head to dodge, but the blade still left a gash on his cheek.
After several exchanges, Oden gradually gained the upper hand over Kaido.
His swordsmanship was fierce and strange. Each slash was infused with Conqueror's Haki, its power astonishing.
Although Kaido's azure dragon form possessed immense power, he was no match for Oden in speed and agility. Even comparing overall strength, he was far inferior to Oden at this time.
"You're probably not the one who took over Wano Country, right?"
Oden forced Kaido back with a slash, standing on the ruins, the tip of his sword pointing at the azure dragon in the sky.
"I don't think you have that kind of ability."
Kaido's expression darkened horribly.
This idiot had hit the mark, but it was still very unpleasant.
Just then, Makoto and his group also arrived leisurely from Flower Capital.
Yamato walked beside Makoto, looking at her father being suppressed by Oden in the sky, her face full of shock.
"That samurai... can actually suppress my dad?"
Her tone carried a hint of disbelief.
Although Yamato was a 'filial daughter' who often mocked her father, she still acknowledged Kaido's strength.
In her eyes, although Kaido wasn't very smart, he was definitely a good fighter.
Apart from Makoto, she had never seen anyone else who could suppress her father.
Makoto smiled and said nothing.
Although Oden's mind wasn't right, his strength was undeniable.
In the original work, he was the only person in the entire One Piece World who could leave a permanent scar on Kaido.
Seeing that Kaido was about to lose, Makoto spoke lazily.
"Idiot, why not use hostages?"
Kaido was stunned.
Then, he immediately noticed Kin'emon, Raizo, and the others lying on the ground, whom Oden had just pulled out of the Rebirth Pool.
Those human sticks lay in the muddy water, reeking. Some were unconscious, others still moaning weakly.
The corner of Kaido's mouth curled up slightly.
He opened his huge mouth and blew towards the direction of the human trunks.
Transparent wind blades, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, swept towards those defenseless human trunks.
"Stop!"
Oden's face changed dramatically.
He didn't have time to think... his body moved instinctively. He abandoned his attack on Kaido and rushed towards those human trunks at top speed, placing himself in front of those wind blades.
"Paradise Totsuka!"
He slashed with his sword.
At the critical moment, he saved those human sticks.
However—
Kaido had been waiting for this opportunity.
The moment Oden turned his back to him, he dispelled his azure dragon form and reverted to human form.
His body flipped in mid-air, his hands gripping his kanabo tightly. Conqueror's Haki wrapped around it, dark red lightning crackling on the club's surface.
"Thunder Bagua!"
The kanabo, with the force of thunder and lightning, swung towards the back of Oden's head.
At the critical moment…
Oden's Observation Haki caught the killing intent from behind.
He didn't even turn his head.
He slashed backhandedly.
Enma, also wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, slashed behind him.
The kanabo and the sword collided.
Boom—!
The shockwave spread outward, blasting a huge crater into the ground.
Rocks flew, dust filled the air.
Kaido's pupils contracted sharply.
He didn't expect that Oden, while blocking the Bolo Breath, still had enough strength to counter his Thunder Bagua.
And—
Not only did he counter it.
His sword was now swinging towards Kaido's abdomen.
Kaido's body couldn't dodge in time.
Just as the sword was about to hit Kaido's abdomen—
Suddenly, a hand reached out.
That hand held no weapon, nor did it assume any stance.
It simply swung casually.
Smack.
The palm struck the blade of Enma.
An immense force transmitted through the blade. Oden felt his hand go numb, his entire arm shaking from the shock.
Enma flew from his grip, spinning in the air a few times, and fell to the ground with a clang.
Oden staggered back several steps before barely steadying himself.
He looked up, incredulously at the man standing before Kaido.
Of course, he knew who this was.
Having sailed and traveled for five years, he had naturally heard of the [King of the World].
"Nishikawa Makoto..."
Oden muttered the name, his eyes full of shock.
He was shocked not only by Makoto's appearance…
But also by that blow.
He had blocked his full-power slash with just a casual swing.
Cold sweat beaded on Oden's forehead.
But before he could react…
Makoto raised his foot and kicked Oden in the chest.
Bang!
Oden's body flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, crashing through a stone wall behind him, rolling on the ground several times before barely stopping.