(100 Power Stone Bonus)
Chapter 81: Are You Having Some Sort of Misunderstanding About Yourself?
Kaido's massive dragon body began to shrink, compressing and reshaping itself—Hybrid Form!
This was the ultimate combat state of the World's Strongest Creature. It retained the overwhelming power and near-impenetrable dragon scales of his beast form while gaining the human-like agility and refined combat techniques necessary for a true duel.
Kaido revealing this form to Shimotsuki Ryuma was a clear declaration: he was finally fighting with everything he had.
"I just remembered..."
Kaido stared at the approaching Shimotsuki Ryuma. His gaze grew brilliantly sharp, filled with an unprecedented mix of savage joy and cold cruelty.
"The weight behind that name... Shimotsuki Ryuma."
"The Great Swordsman of Wano during the era of the 'Golden Country.' The legendary Samurai who slew a dragon, a man who never tasted defeat in his entire life, revered by later generations as the Sword God."
"Are you merely a samurai who inherited that name, or... are you the man himself!?"
Though Shimotsuki Ryuma had passed away centuries ago, the sea was vast and full of mysteries; nothing was truly impossible. It wasn't far-fetched to think a miraculous Devil Fruit power existed that could summon someone from the distant past into the present.
Shimotsuki Ryuma didn't offer a word in response. He simply drew his blade.
In an instant, he transformed into a streak of sword light. He vanished from his original spot and reappeared well within Kaido's striking range.
Shusui was held level, its tip aimed directly at Kaido's throat.
Kaido's pupils constricted violently. He swung his massive Hassaikai war club horizontally to parry the strike.
The moment the black blade collided with the kanabo, the very world seemed to lose its color.
A split second later, the skin between Kaido's thumbs and index fingers tore open completely. Blood sprayed into the air as his massive frame was sent flying by the sheer force of the blow. He crashed back into the rock wall at the mountain's peak, sending a rain of debris tumbling down.
BOOM!
The rubble exploded outward as Kaido walked out from the crater. His rage was palpable, and a thick, oppressive shroud of Conqueror's Haki began to coat his kanabo. Being pushed back repeatedly by Shimotsuki Ryuma had pushed his temper to the breaking point.
"Daikoku Toku: Raimei Hakke!!"
"Ittoryu: Iai!"
CRASH!
The two forces collided once more. A shockwave resembling a sky-high tsunami swept outward, devastating everything in its path.
Since they were now far from the Flower Capital, Shimotsuki Ryuma finally let loose, no longer holding back his true capabilities. His ferocious Flying Slashes, combined with his mastery of Armament Haki, were powerful enough to level entire mountain peaks.
"Wow, they're really going at it, aren't they?"
Yumesaki watched the scene through his Clairvoyance magic and couldn't help but comment.
Even though he had seen plenty of high-stakes battles in manga, seeing it happen in the real world was a completely different story. Watching it live was infinitely more satisfying than reading a panel or watching an animation.
A battle that literally shook the foundations of the world was incredibly exciting—the kind of thing that made one's blood boil, making you feel like jumping in yourself.
Unfortunately, that burning passion only lasted for a few seconds.
Yumesaki quickly calmed down.
It always came back to the same reason: he just wasn't interested in fighting or killing. Watching others scrap was fine, but doing it himself? No thanks.
"Hey, Hawkeye, how long do you think this fight is going to last?" Yumesaki asked Dracule Mihawk with genuine curiosity.
Hawkeye unleashed his Observation Haki, "watching" the distant struggle with a focused, lowered gaze.
He didn't answer Yumesaki. His entire heart and soul were currently captivated by the clash between Kaido and Shimotsuki Ryuma.
From time to time, he even projected himself into the fight, mentally calculating how he would counter those moves if he were the one standing there.
Whatever Yumesaki was saying didn't register at all.
Yumesaki could only shrug at the lack of response.
There was no helping it; top-tier experts like these were all obsessed. If they weren't obsessed, they never would have reached those heights in the first place.
Instead, Yumesaki turned his attention to Robin, who was walking toward him.
"What do you think, Robin?"
"I think you're making things difficult for me, Mr. Yumesaki," Robin replied with a faint, graceful smile. "With my level of strength, how could I possibly see the nuances between those two well enough to predict when it will end?"
Despite her massive growth in power, she was still far too weak compared to monsters like Ryuma and Kaido.
Rather than focusing on the duel, her mind was occupied with the logistics of toppling the World Government.
"Actually, Mr. Yumesaki, I've had a thought."
"What kind of thought?"
Robin continued, "Once Kaido is defeated, should we try to recruit him? If we bring Kaido into our faction, we could work together to oppose the World Government."
"Oh? You actually want to recruit Kaido?" Yumesaki asked, his smile turning a bit more meaningful.
"I don't see another way. The World Government is simply too powerful. If we want to bring them down, we need to gather as many experts as possible. Kaido, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Shanks... I wouldn't even want to pass up on Crocodile and the others."
Nico Robin began counting on her fingers. "Beyond them, there's Zephyr, Garp, Fujitora, Gild Tesoro, Prince Loki of the Giants... I'd even want to include Shiki the Golden Lion if possible."
Yumesaki let out a small chuckle. "You're planning to sweep up every powerhouse in the One Piece world, aren't you?"
Robin shrugged. "Is the World Government really that strong?"
Yumesaki replied, "I don't mind the idea, but are you sure a group like that will actually listen to you? Do you really think those people are the type to follow orders and play nice? You know they aren't exactly 'cooperative' individuals, right?"
Aside from Zephyr, Garp, and Fujitora—who were relatively reasonable—the others were a nightmare.
Whitebeard, Kaido, Shanks, Shiki, Big Mom, Crocodile, Gild Tesoro, Loki... every single one of them was more arrogant and wilder than the last.
More importantly, the bad blood between them was legendary.
Crocodile wanted Whitebeard's head. Shiki the Golden Lion had been thrown into Impel Down by Garp and Sengoku, losing both his legs in the process.
Trying to make them obey and fight together... it would be harder than trying to walk to the moon.
Yumesaki wasn't exactly optimistic about Robin's plan.
Robin chuckled softly. "With my strength alone, convincing them would indeed be an impossible task. But... what if you were the one to step in, Mr. Yumesaki?"
"Me?" Yumesaki pointed at himself, caught off guard that Robin's master plan revolved entirely around him.
"Aren't you overestimating me a bit? I'm no Rocks D. Xebec. I can't just suppress a pack of prideful warriors and generals like that."
Hearing this, Robin looked at Yumesaki with genuine bewilderment.
"Mr. Yumesaki... are you having some sort of misunderstanding about yourself?"
"The God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, is your bodyguard. The Master of Forbidden Techniques, Tobirama Senju, is completely obedient to you. Minato Namikaze views you as his savior. Tsunade is your friend. Orochimaru sees you as his only hope for eternal life."
"The Konoha ninjas are already naturally on your side."
"Lord Hawkeye Mihawk owes you a great debt. Shimotsuki Ryuma is willing to serve as your subordinate just to save Wano."
"Even Lady Serie is your friend."
"Your current military strength is already enough to crush any Yonko crew. Even a combined alliance between Kaido and Big Mom wouldn't stand a chance against you."
"Even if the Rocks Pirates were resurrected today, they would be suppressed by the forces under your command."
"Furthermore, you don't just possess the power to reverse life and death—you control access to limitless foreign worlds."
"On what basis do you think you can't suppress a group of arrogant warriors?"
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