Luffy's blunt assessment of Gion's capabilities hung in the air. The truth behind his words was undeniable—her swordsmanship, while excellent by most standards, fell short of true legends like Mihawk "Hawkeye."
Though she had mastered the internal destruction aspect of Armament Haki, her overall proficiency lacked the depth and raw power necessary to truly challenge someone of Kaido's caliber. And regarding Observation Haki, she hadn't developed any advanced applications like future sight that might have given her an edge in combat.
All these factors combined placed her firmly in the category of formidable, but not exceptional.
Gion wasn't alone in facing such limitations. Hancock confronted similar challenges, despite her fearsome reputation. Her Mero Mero no Mi ability was indeed devastating—capable of instantly petrifying men captivated by her beauty. Even Marshall D. Teach, who had risen from relative obscurity to claim the title of Emperor, reportedly harbored concerns about facing her directly.
But against Kaido, her greatest asset was significantly diminished. The Emperor was a pure battle maniac, focused solely on the thrill of combat rather than physical attraction. Her beauty was irrelevant when facing his Thunder Bagua.
As for Koala, she was still the youngest among the female warriors. Having consumed her Devil Fruit less than a year ago, the impressive display of power she had just demonstrated was the culmination of intense training under extraordinary circumstances. Her potential was evident, but her current abilities remained unrefined.
After silently evaluating each of his companions, Luffy concluded that among the four women, only Yamato truly satisfied his expectations. Having awakened her Conqueror's Haki and learned to apply it in combat, her strength had reached the upper echelon of fighters in the world—becoming one of Luffy's most powerful allies.
Gion ranked second on his team behind Yamato, roughly equal to Hancock in overall combat capability. Even looking forward, once Hancock mastered the application of Conqueror's Haki, Gion would likely remain third in their hierarchy of strength.
The realization prompted a sympathetic sigh from Luffy. Some qualities simply couldn't be acquired through dedication and training alone. If you weren't born with certain talents—like the potential for Conqueror's Haki—no amount of effort would manifest them later in life.
"Alright, everyone fall back," Luffy called out, his voice carrying clear authority despite its casual tone. "We've gathered enough evidence of you fighting Kaido."
A slight smile played across his lips. "I've got all the proof I need for promotions and salary increases when we return to headquarters."
His expression shifted to one of genuine interest as he turned his attention to Kaido. "It's my turn now. I want to experience firsthand what Yamato has learned from the World's Strongest Creature."
The four women couldn't entirely hide their disappointment at being sidelined. Yamato particularly seemed reluctant to abandon her confrontation with Kaido—the battle that represented years of conflict and resentment. But she understood the reality of their situation; even with her newly awakened mastery of Conqueror's Haki, she remained outmatched against her father.
If she truly hoped to defeat him independently someday, her current strength fell significantly short of what would be required.
"Damn it," she growled, frustration evident in her voice. "I'll leave that bastard Kaido to you for now. But you better teach him a proper lesson on my behalf!"
Luffy nodded without hesitation, his expression serious despite the casual set of his shoulders. "Understood. I'll take it from here. Take Viola and Mansherry and move to a safe distance."
He stretched his muscular frame, working out any lingering tension before removing the white Marine coat of justice from his shoulders. With a casual motion, he handed it to Mansherry, who stood nearby watching with undisguised concern.
The small fairy princess's face reflected her anxiety. She had witnessed how Gion, Hancock, and the others struggled against Kaido even while working together, which made the Emperor's overwhelming power unmistakable. Though she believed wholeheartedly in Luffy's strength, worry still crept into her expression.
Luffy noticed her concern immediately. With a reassuring smile, he gently patted her head.
"Don't worry," he said, confidence radiating from his relaxed posture. "I'm incredibly strong, you know that." His smile widened slightly. "And even if I were to face difficulties, don't I have the best doctor right here?"
His eyes met hers with genuine appreciation. "With your healing abilities, even if exhausting myself is necessary, Kaido can still be defeated today."
Mansherry nodded silently, her expression a mixture of determination and lingering concern.
The others gathered around them at this moment, preparing to withdraw from the battlefield. Koala, now more composed after her earlier explosive outburst, summoned a cloud of flame-tinged mist that expanded beneath their feet. The mystical cloud—a manifestation of her Pink Dragon Devil Fruit—lifted them gracefully into the air, carrying them away from the imminent clash between titans.
Kaido had been observing their interactions with quiet interest. He found nothing particularly unusual about Luffy's clearly close relationships with the women. As one of the few warriors capable of actually hurting Kaido, it seemed natural that such a man would attract multiple strong companions.
What truly captured Kaido's curiosity was Koala's Devil Fruit ability. The flame cloud she had generated appeared fundamentally identical to his own Azure Dragon powers—differing only in coloration. This shouldn't be possible; even similar Devil Fruits never manifested exactly the same abilities.
Unable to resolve this contradiction through observation alone, Kaido opted for the direct approach.
"Marine Brat," he called out, his deep voice rumbling across the battlefield. "What's the story with that woman? Her ability is clearly the Azure Dragon Fruit—just with a different color scheme."
Luffy rotated his wrists casually, loosening his joints in preparation for battle. He saw no reason to conceal the truth behind Koala's powers.
"You're right," he confirmed. "What Koala consumed was essentially a replica of your Azure Dragon Fruit."
His eyes gleamed with a hint of pride as he continued. "It's Dr. Vegapunk's creation. I discovered it during a fortunate visit to his laboratory shortly before he was taken by the Revolutionary Army."
Since Viola was recording their conversation with her Den Den Mushi, Luffy deliberately emphasized that he had obtained the fruit before Vegapunk's abduction. This strategic clarification would prevent excessive scrutiny in the future when others inevitably witnessed Koala's abilities.
Even if the Five Elders themselves viewed the recording, their anger would be directed at Vegapunk for concealing such research from them rather than at Luffy and his allies. They would have no one immediately available to hold accountable—Vegapunk was already in Revolutionary custody, beyond their reach.
Let them search for Vegapunk and the Revolutionary Army, Luffy thought with satisfaction. It keeps their attention away from us.
"Vegapunk again," Kaido growled, his massive frame tensing with barely contained fury. "And that damned World Government..." His grip tightened around his kanabo until his knuckles whitened. "DAMN IT ALL!"