After issuing his challenge, Kaido twisted his massive torso, gripping his kanabo with both hands in a stance reminiscent of a seasoned baseball batter preparing for a decisive swing. His entire body became enveloped in a dark, pulsating aura as he simultaneously released both advanced Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
The areas on his waist, abdomen, and limbs that had begun to petrify from Hancock's Devil Fruit power suddenly cracked and disintegrated under the overwhelming force of his Conqueror's Haki, returning to their normal state.
Hancock's eyes widened in disbelief. Since acquiring her Mero Mero no Mi powers, this was the first time she had witnessed someone deliberately break free from her petrification. Though she was aware that those who had mastered Conqueror's Haki to its extreme could potentially resist Devil Fruit abilities, Kaido was only the third person she had encountered capable of such a feat.
"RAIMEI HAKKE!" Kaido roared, his voice reverberating across the battlefield as he swung his massive kanabo with terrifying force.
Undeterred by the approaching danger, Koala advanced fearlessly. She gritted her teeth, coating her dragon claws with the glossy black sheen of Armament Haki.
"You brute!" she shouted back. "Witness the power of my Fishman Karate—5,000-Tile True Dragon Strike!"
A second before the two attacks were about to collide, Luffy, who was observing the battle from nearby, shook his head in resignation.
"That idiot," he muttered under his breath.
Almost the moment those words left his lips, a pained scream tore through the air. Everyone watched as Koala's body was launched skyward like a meteor, her form drawing a perfect arc over their heads before disappearing into the distance.
Witnessing this one-sided exchange, not only Luffy but also Gion, Hancock, Yamato, and Viola were left utterly speechless.
No, Koala, Hancock thought with dismay. You don't challenge someone like Kaido head-on with a straightforward attack. What were you thinking?
"What?" Kaido snorted, clearly disappointed. "Is that truly the extent of your strength? What a waste of such a remarkable Devil Fruit."
He shook his head disapprovingly. The girl couldn't even withstand a single attack from him—she was far too weak to be of any interest. Despite possessing a powerful Mythical Zoan, her own capabilities were lacking.
Kaido promptly lost interest in Koala. A powerful fruit wasted on a weak user wasn't worthy of his attention. As he turned his focus back to the three women who had been giving him a more challenging fight, his Observation Haki suddenly flared in warning.
"DON'T YOU DARE UNDERESTIMATE ME!"
Koala's voice rang out as she suddenly reappeared from the direction she had been launched. She had used her dragon form's wings to arrest her momentum and circle back around.
"DRAGON CLAW FIST: DRAGON'S BREATH!"
This time, her dragon claws were not only covered in Armament Haki but also glowed with a peculiar energy. Instead of relying on Fishman Karate as before, she now employed the specialized martial art she had learned directly from Monkey D. Dragon himself—the rarely seen Dragon Claw Fist.
"Hmph, another useless attempt," Kaido scoffed.
Expecting another direct attack similar to her previous effort, he didn't bother with evasive maneuvers. He simply raised his kanabo once more, preparing to swat her away like an annoying insect.
But this encounter unfolded differently. The moment Kaido's weapon connected with Koala's Dragon Claw, it was unexpectedly repelled by a unique defensive technique integrated into her offensive movement—a principle of redirecting force that Dragon had perfected.
I understand now, Koala thought with sudden clarity as she maintained her attack. Direct Armament Haki strikes aren't enough against him. His internal organs repair faster than I can damage them with conventional attacks.
Instead of retreating, she pressed forward, channeling all her energy into maintaining contact with Kaido's body. The force she generated continued to build upon itself, eventually transferring entirely into the Emperor's massive frame.
"GO TO HELL, YOU BULL-HEADED BASTARD!" Koala screamed, her usually sweet demeanor completely transformed by the heat of battle.
With a final surge of power, she sent Kaido flying backward dozens of meters, his massive body creating a trench in the earth as he skidded to a halt.
Seeing her attack connect effectively, Koala straightened up, a flash of hope in her eyes. But that hope was short-lived.
In the next moment, Kaido casually patted his chest and stood, seemingly unfazed by her strongest technique.
"Not bad," he commented, the faintest hint of interest returning to his voice. "You've managed to pique my curiosity... a little."
"Are you kidding me?" Koala couldn't hide her astonishment. "How is his defense so ridiculous? He's not even injured!"
Hancock approached her side, holding her forehead with an expression of resigned exasperation.
"Foolish girl," she said with a sigh. "You just witnessed Yamato take one of Kaido's direct attacks and survive, didn't you? As a fellow Mythical Zoan user, you should understand better than anyone the defensive capabilities and recovery powers these fruits grant their users."
Koala touched her own nose, which was only bleeding slightly despite having been sent flying earlier, and realized Hancock had a valid point. Her own durability had increased significantly since consuming her Devil Fruit.
But this realization raised a troubling question: how were they supposed to defeat Kaido when even their combined efforts barely scratched him?
From what they had seen in the battle thus far, only Yamato had managed to inflict any meaningful damage on her father. Even Vice Admiral Gion's masterful Armament Haki couldn't penetrate Kaido's dragon scales effectively.
This pattern would inevitably drag the battle into a protracted stalemate—an outcome none of the women desired.
Kaido himself was beginning to grow bored with the fight. The minor injuries he'd sustained weren't enough to satisfy his craving for the thrill of genuine combat—he yearned for opponents who could truly hurt him, push him to his limits.
As if sharing a single thought, all combatants turned their eyes toward Luffy.
Despite their reluctance to admit defeat, they recognized they lacked an effective strategy against the Emperor without Luffy's intervention.
Seeing their expectant gazes, Luffy slapped his forehead in exasperation. He met Gion's eyes with a brutally honest assessment:
"I finally understand why you've remained a Vice Admiral for so many years," he said without sugarcoating his words. "Neither your Haki nor your swordsmanship can be considered truly top-tier—you're better than most but not among the absolute best."
His eyes narrowed analytically. "Since you weren't born with Conqueror's Haki, it's impossible for you to master certain advanced techniques. And your stubborn refusal to consume a Devil Fruit out of some misplaced sense of pride..." he shook his head. "With these limitations, becoming an Admiral was never truly within your reach."
Gion's face flushed crimson at Luffy's blunt evaluation. A complex mixture of embarrassment and frustration washed over her, but she found herself unable to formulate a convincing rebuttal. Deep down, she recognized the painful truth in his words.
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