Kaido's roar tore through the sky:
"Brat, let's see what you've got to drive me back!"
"Thunder Bagua!"
His massive body twisted midair, kanabō crackling with lightning as he hurled himself toward Luo Yu like a living thunderbolt.
BOOM!
Luo Yu raised his gourd with a calm tilt of the head. In the next instant, his dormant Conqueror's Haki erupted without restraint—an overwhelming tide crashing head-on into Kaido's assault.
BOOM!
The two forces collided with cataclysmic force. The shockwave exploded outward like a hurricane, lightning arcs crackling in every direction. The clash was deadlocked—neither side giving an inch.
Doflamingo and the others lit up with glee. That Conqueror's Haki had always overwhelmed them. Now, finally, it was being held back.
They knew: if they could exhaust Luo Yu's arsenal, victory might be within reach.
But to Kaido, this was humiliation.
A Yonko—stalled by a rookie admiral who was still sipping from his gourd?
Unforgivable.
"You dare mock Kaido of the Beasts? I'll crush you!"
With a roar, Kaido transformed into his hybrid dragon form. His muscles bulged like boulders, arcs of lightning dancing across his arms.
This time, he infused his strike with Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
"Roaring Thunder Bagua!"
BOOM!
The enhanced strike tore through Luo Yu's Conqueror's Haki like paper.
Kaido, now a streak of lightning, crashed into Luo Yu's Susanoo with devastating force.
The kanabō, wrapped in lightning, slammed down.
BOOM!
The platform shook violently. The shockwave sent combatants flying in all directions.
Even Doflamingo and the others turned to see—had Luo Yu's turtle shell finally cracked?
CRACK!
A sharp sound rang out.
Spiderweb fractures spread across the Susanoo's armor.
Kaido's kanabō had been stopped—but only just.
Luo Yu didn't flinch. He had expected this.
Kaido wasn't just a brute—he was one of the strongest beings on the sea, a master of Haki, Devil Fruit, and raw power.
Susanoo and Armament Haki alone wouldn't be enough.
Time to gamble.
Luo Yu still had 270 million in bounty credits.
He issued a command to his system:
"System, redeem the Susanoo trial version."
Ding! Deducting 100 million bounty… Success! Congratulations, Host. You've obtained the full version of Susanoo!
A warm surge of power flooded Luo Yu's mind.
He had expected a trial version—perhaps the third-form Tengu armor.
But what he got was the complete form.
A hidden jackpot.
Kaido, meanwhile, was laughing maniacally:
"So that turtle shell of yours isn't so tough after all! Let's see how long you can keep standing!"
Doflamingo was ecstatic. He and Blackbeard had barely cracked Luo Yu's defenses before.
Now, seeing cracks in the new armor, he felt victory was within reach.
But Luo Yu remained calm, sipping from his gourd:
"You're celebrating too early. Try breaking through first."
"Ultimate Technique: Triple Encore!"
BOOM!
The shattered Conqueror's Haki reformed—this time as a massive Qilin beast coiled in the sky.
Above, nine layers of magic circles bloomed like celestial flowers.
Behind Kaido, the Hundred-Armed Kannon appeared, jaws wide open.
Three devastating forces—Qilin, Skyfall, and Zero-Point Impact—converged on Kaido like a divine judgment.
BOOM!
The battlefield was swallowed in a cascade of destruction.
The shockwave swept across the sea, sending everyone scrambling for cover.
Even Doflamingo forgot about Yamato, eyes locked on the storm.
Luo Yu took the moment to complete his system command.
The full Susanoo was his.
He had expected a decent upgrade—but this was a game-changer.
"BREAK!"
Kaido roared from within the storm.
A violent hurricane exploded outward, tearing through the shockwave and scattering the dust.
Kaido emerged—scorched, his scales singed, his face blackened—but still standing.
His blue-scaled armor gleamed beneath the soot.
Doflamingo's eyes lit up.
That same technique had once crushed him.
Now, Kaido had taken it head-on—and survived.
Was this the turning point?
Was the battle's outcome finally clear?