"Wororororo! Are you looking to challenge me?!"
Kaido's eyes gleamed with savage light as he eyed the three approaching figures.
A fight right after waking up? Perfect!
His Conqueror's Haki burst out—wild, domineering, and utterly overwhelming.
It surged forth like a tidal wave, crashing down on the trio.
The earth groaned beneath their feet, and lightning crackled through the sky.
Kaido's Haki was so intense it felt almost tangible, like a storm wind pressing from every direction.
The very heavens trembled.
In this moment, Kaido looked every bit the demon king poised to destroy the world.
Thud! Thud!
The surviving soldiers nearby—barely clinging to life—collapsed one after another, eyes rolling back, completely helpless under the pressure.
At the front, even Sakazuki and his two comrades couldn't stop a cold sweat from breaking out across their foreheads.
Kuzan had once witnessed the legendary Edd War between Golden Lion Shiki and the Pirate King, Roger, from afar…
But standing face to face with a Yonko—that was something else entirely.
The crushing pressure clawed at their hearts.
"Move!"
With a low growl, Sakazuki pulled his hat down and lunged forward.
His body was still battered and bruised, but this—this was the best chance they'd ever have to drag this damned emperor into custody!
But he wasn't the fastest.
That title belonged to the man of light—Borsalino.
His body transformed into photons and shot into the sky.
Between his hands, dazzling light condensed into a mirrored surface, blazing so brightly it was like a second sun had risen.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Laser blasts poured out from the mirror like divine spears hurled down by a god.
They struck Kaido square in the chest, unrelenting and merciless.
"Now that stings a little!"
Kaido's massive form was pushed back, sent skidding through the air.
He couldn't halt his retreat, his body shoved along by the force of the assault, looking—at least for now—like he couldn't counter.
When the laser barrage finally ceased…
The searing heat of magma rushed in.
Akainu's lower body erupted like a living volcano, launching himself forward like the first fiery ember from an explosion—blazing fast.
A magma hound's head slammed into Kaido's chest, jaws snapping and tearing, trying to rip him apart once and for all.
With a roar, Akainu's entire arm detonated like a volcanic eruption, hammering a second, explosive punch into the same spot.
The ground shook from the terrifying shockwave.
Boom!
Kaido's chest burst open, flesh and blood flying—only to immediately carbonize in the intense heat.
His body, struck like a downed warplane, spiraled toward the earth.
CRASH!!!
Crack! Crack!
Where Kaido landed, the ground fractured—spiderweb cracks spreading wider and deeper.
But it wasn't over yet.
A long-prepared Kuzan was already closing in.
"Ice Age!!!"
An icy cold so extreme it could freeze entire islands erupted around Kaido in an instant.
Scorching heat and bitter cold assaulted him at once.
Even Kaido's monstrous body couldn't handle it—fine cracks spread across his skin like fractured porcelain.
In the next moment, a massive block of ice entombed him where he fell.
The surrounding land turned white with frost.
...
"Kaido-sama got pinned down?!"
Queen rubbed his tiny eyes in disbelief.
"King! Am I seeing this right?!"
"This is bad, real bad! Kaido-sama must still be hurt from that fight with Whitebeard! That's why!"
"King, we gotta jump in and help!"
Panic-stricken, Queen popped a few secret pills—though honestly, they weren't doing his head any favors right now.
"Idiot! You think Kaido-sama is you?!"
King, however, had noticed the smile Kaido wore while taking those hits.
Besides, even if Kaido's defense wasn't at its peak today, that didn't mean just anyone could wound him.
No—Kaido hadn't defended at all.
"Don't go ruining Kaido-sama's fun!"
...
Watching from the sidelines, Doflamingo couldn't help but grimace.
Was this all an act?
Is he about to give three Admirals a personal lesson today?
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Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg