The moment the agonized shout rang out, the owner of the voice, a frantic figure, rushed toward the source of the noise. All they found was a devastating pile of rubble.
"Momonosuke!!"
The shout turned into a gut-wrenching wail of grief, and raw sobs escaped their lips.
No one could have possibly imagined that the Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball) Kaido, had swatted away with a single punch, would fly all the way here, causing such a tragic accident.
At the port, the once orderly expanse of land was now a true wasteland. The collision between the two Experts had cracked the earth repeatedly, and a chaotic, searing aura swirled everywhere. Each uncontrolled surge of energy was powerful enough to topple an entire building.
The battle between these two world-class fighters filled everyone present with terror. They trembled, constantly retreating, desperate to escape the immediate reach of the fight.
"This is terrifying… It's like watching two monsters fight!"
"This is just their bare-fisted, close-quarters combat, yet it's causing massive earthquakes!"
"The ground is shaking, the air is suffocating, and the heat radiating from their clash is unbearable!"
People shivered, crouched behind what little remained of the buildings, shielding themselves from the residual energy waves unleashed by the combatants.
"Bang!"
Collisions rang out incessantly, followed by heavy, ragged breathing after each brutal impact.
Kaido grew increasingly alarmed. Although his height and size far surpassed Ying Zheng's, he hadn't gained the upper hand in this brutal close-quarters fight. Instead, he was the one constantly being hit. Each punch tore into his body, ripping flesh and splattering blood.
The young man's fists carried an unfathomable, devastating power, seemingly capable of obliterating anything in their path.
"Kaido, submit to me!"
A low, commanding roar erupted from Ying Zheng's mouth as their fists collided again.
The resulting whirlwind scattered in all directions. The two men stood on the cracked ground, staring fiercely at one another.
"Kill me, and I will submit!"
"All my life, I only seek death. If you are strong enough, make me feel the threat and terror of death itself!" Kaido shouted, clenching his fists once more and swinging wildly at his opponent.
"Boom!"
Ying Zheng easily dodged, allowing Kaido's massive fist to crash into the ground. The earth shattered, dust exploded skyward, and Ying Zheng flashed forward, appearing right in front of Kaido.
He lifted his right leg and delivered a brutal, powerful kick.
"Bang!"
The strike connected with Kaido's neck, tearing his skin, spraying blood, and sending his gigantic frame flying backward.
But after a few breaths, Kaido rose again from the rubble. His form remained massive, imposing, still exuding the aura of an unstoppable demon god.
"Not enough. You're agile, your fists are strong, but it's still not enough to kill me!"
"Ying Zheng, come!" Kaido roared, lunging at the Emperor again.
"What a tenacious man," Ying Zheng said, his gaze hardening as he sighed gravely. Feeling the sheer bloodlust and raw fighting spirit of Kaido's attack, he couldn't help but admire the pirate's monstrous ferocity.
"Then, let me end this completely."
"Let you finally understand the difference between us!"
His muscles suddenly relaxed, and Ying Zheng briefly closed his eyes.
As Kaido's fist swung and neared him, Ying Zheng's eyes snapped open.
At the same instant, his Chakra energy erupted to its maximum, and Ying Zheng swung both hands in front of him.
"Yasogami Kūgeki (Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack)!"
Using the power of the Immortal's Way, he combined offense and defense in a single, heaven-shaking, merciless strike!
This ultimate Body Technique (Taijutsu), once wielded by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, was now unleashed by Ying Zheng.
Kaido's body instantly froze. His pupils constricted as if he could see the entire sky ahead of him filled with countless transparent fists, stretching endlessly in every direction, completely surrounding him.
"Life or death… leave it to fate!"
"But remember, Kaido, your own words."
"Submit to me!"
Ying Zheng's calm voice drifted to the pirate. Kaido barely had time to lift his head.
Then,
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Fists came crashing from all directions, infinite in number, instantly engulfing the King of the Beasts.
Even those hiding dozens of miles away were stunned, mouths agape. Half the visible sky was covered by the surging, chaotic aura. In just an instant, the air boiled, and the remaining rubble of distant buildings shattered into clouds of dust.
"Wh-what kind of attack is that?!"
"Each one of those strikes… could destroy a mountain!"
"Ka-Kaido… can he even survive that?"
Whispers spread among the Beasts Pirates. Even with their unshakable belief in their captain's strength, this scene shattered their confidence.
It was too overwhelming, too terrifying!
The endless fists relentlessly pummeled Kaido. Dust rose higher and higher, blanketing the entire port and extending for miles. Everything was obscured. Kaido's form was completely invisible; only the thunderous roar of the impacts echoed like rolling thunder.
After an unknown duration, the relentless pounding finally ceased.
The dust slowly began to clear. The first thing people saw was Ying Zheng standing there, his hands hanging at his sides, his expression calm and indifferent.
Clang! Clang!
Everyone collectively swallowed hard.
Ying Zheng's power had stunned every witness. From the very beginning of the fight, his confrontation with Kaido had been nearly one-sided domination.
They slowly shifted their gaze to the massive figure not far from Ying Zheng.
"Kaido!!!"
Seeing him, everyone shivered.
Blood and shattered flesh covered his body, giving him a grotesque, terrifying appearance, like a scene ripped from a nightmare. Kaido's body was almost unrecognizable, completely pulped by the countless, relentless strikes.
"Is… is he still alive?" a trembling voice finally managed to ask.
No one answered, yet in everyone's heart, the answer was clear. In this state, there was no way anyone could survive.
Whoosh!
A gentle wind swept through, clearing the dust across the surrounding miles, giving everyone a clearer view of the devastation.
At that moment, Ying Zheng spoke.
"Such tenacious life… I admire it."
"But death is only a breath away."
"Now…"
He walked slowly toward the motionless Kaido.
"Tell me… do you want to live or die?"
Face to face, Kaido's horribly disfigured and now even more terrifying face met Ying Zheng's indifferent gaze.
Kaido was not yet dead, but he was close. In his current state, even a small exertion from Ying Zheng could completely end his life.
The claims of "Who in this world can kill me?" and "Even I cannot die" were utterly empty words in front of the Emperor.
"Hah!"
Kaido's mouth curved in what seemed like a cold, bitter smile.
Ying Zheng's gaze sharpened, waiting.
"I… am defeated. I will…"
"Obey you!"
With that, Kaido closed his eyes, and his heavily wounded body finally collapsed to the ground.
Ying Zheng paused for a moment, then a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"A madman knows when to be sensible?"
"Interesting."
(End of Chapter)
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