On top of a tall building in the center of Egghead Island, Kaido stood, drinking and observing the island.
It was very similar to the current Wano Country, essentially a massive factory.
Amidst the dense, steel-like forest of factory buildings, workers moved in and out like mindless drones in a hive. They were an indispensable part of these hives, yet also the most insignificant.
"It's quite lively."
Kaido wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth, unfazed by the sight. He simply thought that brat Roa's weapon production capacity was still increasing.
A strong person should relentlessly trample the weak.
"But..."
Kaido looked up and saw the gigantic figures walking on the roads between the factories.
They were two giants, laughing and swaggering about.
And not just the giants; along the roads they walked, a squad of fuzzy Mink soldiers were also patrolling.
"Tch!"
He grunted unhappily, but an undeniable envy was in his eyes.
That brat Roa really had some hidden talents among his subordinates!
Giants, Minks, Fish-men... did he also want to create a multi-racial country like that old hag Big Mom?
Oh, and there were more than just those guys.
Kaido turned his head.
Behind him stood a youth who was very short in comparison.
He had fiery red hair, a blank expression, and eyes as calm as still water.
"An artificial human?"
Kaido's eyes filled with a bit more envy.
Compared to the giants and Minks, this guy was the one most worth paying attention to!
Because, with continuous technological iteration, it was only a matter of time before the scientists under Roa mastered the ability to mass-produce these lineage factor artificial humans!
"Hey, how about you come work for me?"
Kaido shamelessly tried to poach him, as he really didn't have any impressive executives besides Hanaza and Sion.
While he had recruited many powerful pirates in the past year, their strength was still not enough.
They couldn't even compare to Roa's luxurious lineup, let alone Big Mom's.
For one, that brat Katakuri had also made a name for himself in the past year, shining brightly in the pursuit of pirates who refused to join the Charlotte Family. He had single-handedly taken down several renowned pirates and was now a monster famous throughout the New World!
With this comparison, Kaido longed for greater power, which was why he had appeared here.
To Kaido's offer, Red Spark, one of the first five Calamity Knights and the highest combat power Roa had stationed on Egghead Island, didn't even lift his eyelids. He remained silent.
"Tch."
Kaido clicked his tongue again, feeling annoyed.
Completely ignoring my invitation, huh?
Should I say it's to be expected of that little brat Roa's subordinate? Just as arrogant as him.
"Hey, hey, hey, that's a bit much, Brother Kaido. I sent him to receive you," a complaining voice came from the sky. "And you're already trying to poach him? That's just hurtful."
Kaido suddenly looked up.
In the sky, Roa, flapping his wings, slowly descended. However, this time he wasn't fully in his hybrid form. He had only grown a pair of black wings—this wasn't difficult. In his human form, when he fully activated his Calamity Authority, horns would also grow out.
Almost seventeen years old, Roa was tall and slender, already over two meters in height. Combined with his striking handsomeness and unusual paleness, he looked like a fallen angel descending from the heavens.
"You're slow to arrive!"
As if he had never tried to recruit Red Spark, Kaido snorted and complained.
"But... your offer won't work on them."
Roa also acted as if he hadn't heard Kaido's words. He pointed to Red Spark, who had already knelt to greet him, and said with a smile, "They have no emotions, no fear, no greed. Neither threats nor promises mean anything to them."
The corners of Kaido's mouth turned downward.
After a year, he's just as annoying as ever!
"Wait," Kaido suddenly realized something. "How did you get here, brat?"
Where are the Den Den Mushi?
There were quite a few of them left on the island, serving as part of its defense.
But the Den Den Mushi that should have been carrying Roa hadn't appeared on the sea!
"Haha, I just moved recently," Roa said with a laugh, flapping his wings and rising. "Come on, Brother Kaido, I'll show you my new home."
New home?
Kaido was a bit puzzled, but he instantly shifted into his Dragon-Human form and chased after Roa on a flame cloud.
The two shot up into the sky, one after the other.
Soon, they plunged into the thick clouds.
Within the clouds, Kaido's expression had already changed.
His Observation Haki had sensed something.
And when he finally broke through three layers of clouds and reached the high-altitude sky, Kaido was still somewhat stunned.
"This is!"
Before his eyes was a floating island surrounded by clouds, suspended high in the sky.
As they flew higher and looked down, the full view of the island became clear.
On the island was a city with towering buildings!
"The floating island, City of Calamity! I've always been envious of Uncle Shiki being able to fly his ship everywhere, so I made one too."
Roa flapped his wings, hovering not far from Kaido, deliberately drawing out his words in a mocking tone. "Not bad, right?"
Kaido's face tightened.
Compared to this, what status could his palace in the Flower Capital of Wano Country possibly have?
Although he could also use his flame clouds to lift an island into the sky, it wouldn't last. A floating city like this would kill him trying to keep it up for a few days.
Roa, what have you been doing in the past year?!
"Alright! Let's put these irrelevant things aside for now!"
Kaido snorted, pulling out his Kanabo. "Let me see just how far you've come!"
"Sigh."
Roa sighed.
He didn't know why Kaido was so persistent.
The gap between them was already obvious, wasn't it?
Could he be a masochist?
Oh, right. Didn't Kaido have suicidal tendencies in the original story?
Fine. I don't get it, but I'll respect it.
I'll humor him. That's what a good brother does.
"I won't hold back then."
Roa raised the corners of his mouth.
"Come on!!"
The Haki lightning on Kaido's black iron club surged.
He couldn't quite put his finger on his own state of mind. Perhaps he just wanted to see how big the gap between him and Roa had grown!
Only by clearly seeing the gap would he be more motivated to desperately catch up!
Without any hesitation, Kaido stomped on his flame cloud and charged straight at Roa.
"Thunder Bagua!!"
A familiar opening move.
So Roa slowly drew his Tiger Soul sword.
The flame-like black patterns on the crimson sword instantly released wisps of dark red air upon being exposed to the atmosphere.
As the sword was fully unsheathed, this air seemed to even distort the surrounding air!
Within this air, Kaido seemed to see an endless sea of blood, and countless vengeful spirits wailing in it!
What?
That sword!
Kaido's pupils suddenly shrank.
Was it this bone-chilling before?
"Here I come, Brother Kaido."
Roa flashed a mouthful of pearly white teeth.
The wings on his back vanished as he completely deactivated his power. Then, he used a burst of Air Walk to propel himself forward.
He instantly appeared in front of the charging Kaido, and the raised sword came down.
The two weapons clashed in the air.
Boom!
The sky shook, and giant ripples exploded from the air, turning into a storm that swept across the heavens.
Even faster than the wind were the bursting Haki lightning bolts.
The clouds below were instantly pierced, leaving a massive hole, and even the huge floating island trembled, pushed to one side.
Then...
Swoosh!
A black figure fell.
Let's rewind to one minute ago.
On a wide training ground somewhere on the floating island.
"Hahahaha! Is that all you've got, Dylan!"
The giant, over thirty meters tall, laughed heartily. The massive Kanabo in his hand was wrapped in black lightning, which he swung at lightning speed.
The sharp flying slashes that fell from the sky were easily shattered.
"It's not the same as a year ago!"
Loki stared at the figure rapidly flying in the sky, a wide grin on his face.
"Now, I'm the stronger one!"
"Is that so?"
The winged dragon circling in the sky suddenly swooped down at an astonishing speed, like a black bolt of lightning. It instantly circled behind Loki.
The wings, like gigantic swords, were wrapped in surging Haki, and it swung one down at the back of Loki's head.
"Don't you dare look down on me! What do you think I've been practicing for this past year with my Observation Haki and Life Return!"
Loki displayed an agility that was completely unfitting for his size, and he swung his club at Dylan.
Boom!!
Black lightning shot out everywhere, and the deafening crash made the observing Doflamingo wince.
Then...
Swoosh!
Dylan was sent flying.
"Hahahaha! How about that! That's my power!"
Loki stumbled backward two steps and laughed triumphantly, "Even Internal Destruction Armament Haki isn't as invincible as it seems!"
"Not bad!"
Dylan, who had been sent flying and then stabilized himself, wasn't discouraged. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Your Observation Haki is great, and Life Return really suits you!"
Using willpower to command the body instead of nerves could greatly increase a giant's reaction speed.
"Tch, don't act all high and mighty in front of me!"
Loki, like a young punk, carried his Kanabo and looked displeased. "Do you know how badly you beat me up in the last year!"
"If you want revenge, you can try anytime."
Dylan was completely unfazed.
He was just happy that he had helped the Boss train another powerful subordinate.
Loki, who had been ready to fight again, lost some of his enthusiasm upon seeing Dylan's expression.
Forget it. After all, this guy has always given his all when teaching me.
At the same time, the onlookers were also amazed.
"This guy!"
Doflamingo couldn't stop clicking his tongue. "He's already surpassed Dylan?"
"Ze hahahaha! Wasn't that to be expected?"
Teach laughed heartily. "Loki is a natural-born monster, inheriting the powerful physique of the Ancient Giants! It's only natural for his strength to soar now that he's made up for his Haki shortcomings."
Monster, my foot!
Doflamingo ground his teeth, feeling annoyed.
It's only because he got a piece of Enma from me. Otherwise, how could his beginner Armament Haki possibly stand up to Dylan's Internal Destruction Haki?
"Why compare yourself to this monster?"
Capone Bege also shook his head. "We should just focus on practicing our Haki."
Teach was eleven, Doflamingo twelve, and Bege thirteen. They had also begun their Haki training.
On the other side, King, who was also watching, had a strange expression.
He's already closer to us than Dylan?
Too fast!
"Hmph, still a long way to go."
Instead, Bullet, who was standing not far from him, snorted.
King couldn't help but turn to look at Bullet.
Damn it!
Do I really not have Conqueror's Haki?
Just at that moment, a violent roar came from the sky.
Before anyone could react to what was happening, a black figure suddenly fell, crashing right into the center of the training ground.
The solid ground was instantly pulverized, and the violent shockwave sent Loki flying.
"Huh?"
Loki got up, covered in dust, and exclaimed, "What the heck was that!"
The next moment, the scattered smoke was swept away by a fierce wind, and a black figure shot back up into the sky.
"Kaido"
"It's Kaido!"
Teach cried out in surprise.
"I see. Are they fighting again?"
King looked up, fully understanding the situation.
"Kaido?"
Loki also looked up.
Even Moria and Enel, who were silently training further away on the training grounds, couldn't help but look up.
Who would want to miss a rare battle between powerhouses?
In the sky.
Roa looked down at the flying Kaido, casually standing still on a cushion of air.
It was only when Kaido's iron club came crashing down that he calmly swung his sword again.
Boom!
Amid the roar, Kaido was sent flying once more.
"Damn it!!"
Kaido released flame clouds to wrap around his body, forcing himself to stabilize.
The ferocious Dragon-Human face was filled with unwillingness.
He's not even using his Devil Fruit ability, and he's already this hard to deal with?
That brat!!
Compared to last year, he's gotten a lot stronger again!
The anger in his heart didn't slow Kaido down.
The next second, he shot back, his iron club turning into a storm.
"Gunthari: Dragon Strike Force!"
A strange red light flickered in Roa's eyes.
Then, he walked through Kaido's club storm with nonchalant ease.
"Future sight?"
Kaido cried out in surprise.
Does this kid also know this technique?
"Of course."
Roa smiled and swung his Tiger Soul. A deep gash was torn open on Kaido's chest.
At the same time, a dark red shimmer appeared on the sword of Roa's Tiger Soul.
"Urgh!"
Kaido grunted.
He opened his mouth and let out a scorching blast of fire. "Boro Breath!"
Facing the incoming pillar of fire, Roa just swung his sword again.
The dark red air instantly transformed into a massive shockwave, which, like a heavy hammer, crushed the flames and slammed into Kaido's body.
Kaido's massive body was flattened by the invisible hammer like a pancake. His face was distorted, looking quite comical.
That's a Rocks' move!
Kaido's mind could only process this thought before his body was sent flying like a cannonball again.
"He's been sent flying!"
This scene made Teach, who was watching from below, exclaim repeatedly. "The gap in power is even more exaggerated now! How strong has the Boss gotten? That's Kaido!"
The others also looked on in awe. The gap in power was even more obvious than a year ago!
A year ago, the Boss had to use his ability to suppress Kaido!
"Oh! You flew so far!"
Roa shielded his eyes with his left hand, looking into the distance, his right hand resting the Tiger Soul on his shoulder.
"But, it's not over yet, Brother Kaido."
"Huh?"
Kaido, who had flown out and stabilized himself with his flame clouds, looked down in bewilderment.
Ignoring the pain all over his body, he saw that he was covered in dark red air. Blood was gushing from the wound on his chest like from a pump. Some blood was even being sucked out from the cracks between his scales.
The blood was being devoured by this air, which in turn became even more sinister.
Kaido roared, "Get lost!"
He let his Haki surge.
Powerful Haki could dispel all kinds of abnormal abilities.
The black and red air was immediately repelled.
It then returned to Roa's sword like a homing bird.
Roa's smile was warm.
After the Tiger Soul's evolution, the most noticeable change was that it became sharper and more durable—extremely sharp and extremely durable.
Next, the intensity of the blood aura it released greatly increased, and it could now fully merge with Haki, forming a special dark red air.
Finally, the blood-devouring ability, which Roa had thought was no longer very useful, was also strengthened.
Not only did the speed of blood absorption increase significantly, but the blood aura released also inherited this trait.
Although the absorbed blood couldn't make the Tiger Soul evolve further or be stored, it could be temporarily attached to the blood aura to enhance its power.
"What in the world is that!!"
Kaido, who was shooting back, roared while chugging down more booze.
"A Black sword, not bad, right?"
Roa smiled. "I think I should be qualified to be called the World's Strongest Swordsman now."
Although many of the older generation of pirates used swords, he was the only one who had forged a Black sword.
If he wasn't the World's Strongest Swordsman, who was?
A Black sword?
Kaido knew that Roa had been practicing to forge a Black sword, as he had personally witnessed him get his hands on the Shusui sword back in the day.
But... so soon?
Even Kaido knew that a Black sword was a symbol of a top-tier swordsman!
In all of history, very few swordsmen had managed to achieve this!
And yet, this brat Roa had done it!
Calling himself the World's Strongest Swordsman really wasn't an exaggeration!
In that case, let me see for myself what kind of power a Black sword holds!
"Great Thunder Bagua!!"
Kaido's face became even more ferocious, and the color of his scales deepened as he entered a full-on slaughter mode.
The Haki lightning on his iron club constantly clashed, even erupting into a dazzling flash of light.
A meteor came hurtling toward Roa.
Roa finally held his sword with both hands. The dark red air wrapped around it instantly turned into a storm, gushing out almost maniacally, even taking on a phantom-like shape similar to flames.
Then, Roa swung his sword forward.
"Tiger's Devour!"
The dark red air immediately roared out, transforming into a gigantic, hundred-meter-tall tiger's head the next second. It opened its mouth and lunged at Kaido.
This was a true Tiger's Devour!
Facing the biting tiger, Kaido simply roared in rage and swung his iron club.
The dragon and the tiger clashed in the sky.
The atmosphere trembled, and the sky wailed.
Thick Haki lightning, like a spiderweb, instantly covered the heavens.
A thunderous crash silenced the entire world.
The violent shockwave shook the floating island below, causing it to fall.
"Waaaah! It's an earthquake!"
Amidst the shaking, Bege exclaimed in a panic, "They're going too far! The City of Calamity is going to fall!"
"That's insane!"
Loki looked up. "Is that Haki for real?"
Forget Roa, not a single one of their Haki was worthy of even holding a candle to Kaido's! Not even Bullet's!
Only after they truly began practicing Haki did they realize how vast the world of Haki was!
Then...
"Ergh!!"
The tiger's head, still biting the ferocious dragon-human, shot through the air.
"You damn punk!!"
Kaido, who was being bitten and torn to shreds by the tiger, roared in frustration.
Has the power gap really grown this much?
My full-power attack wasn't even enough to make that brat Roa use his Devil Fruit ability!
"This is enough, Brother Kaido," Roa said, lifting his beloved sword. The tiger's head that was still chewing on Kaido instantly transformed back into dark red air, returning to the sword.
"You need to work harder."
Even without his dragon form, his human form was more than enough.
The current him, even without his Devil Fruit ability, wasn't much weaker than his one-year-ago self.