BOOM!
The deafening sonic boom echoed across the heavens.
The shockwaves from the meteor's rapid descent rippled through the sky, pressing down on the entire battlefield like a divine hammer.
As the colossal meteor tore through the thick leaden clouds, descending like a god's judgment, many onlookers swallowed hard. Some even slapped themselves repeatedly, desperate to confirm whether this was a dream—or a nightmare.
But no matter how many times they blinked or pinched themselves, the answer remained the same: this was terrifying reality.
Faced with a ten-thousand-meter meteor crashing from the sky, the battlefield erupted into chaos. Pirates and soldiers alike turned and fled in panic.
"Young master, we should run too!"
Torrebol, watching from a distance, was pale with fear as he saw Doflamingo frozen in place.
"Run?" Doflamingo muttered, eyes glazed. Then he screamed, almost deranged:
"No! I'm the Joker! I clawed my way here through blood and fire—I won't lose now!"
"Kaido will stop it! He has to!"
"Kaido! If you don't act now, when will you?!"
"Shut up, clown!" Kaido roared, his face twisted with fury.
He had known this new admiral would be troublesome.
But in his mind, no matter how troublesome, he would still crush Impel Down with ease.
Now, that belief was crumbling.
The arrogant brat still hadn't moved. Still stood there. Still drinking.
But Kaido had no time to dwell on it. He looked up at the sky and bellowed:
"Brat! If this is your trump card, you'll be sorely disappointed!"
"I carried Onigashima through the sky—why would I fear a mere rock?"
His voice thundered across the battlefield. His pride as a Yonko burned.
He unleashed his full power.
"Flame Clouds Ascend!"
"RISE!"
BOOM!
His massive dragon form coiled upward.
Flame clouds erupted from his body like a volcanic blast, surging into the sky to meet the falling meteor.
CRASH!
The impact sent shockwaves rolling like a category-12 hurricane.
People were blown off their feet. Those strong enough to stay upright looked up in horror.
The flame clouds shattered on impact.
The meteor kept falling.
Though its descent slowed, it didn't stop.
Kaido had underestimated it.
He could lift Onigashima with ease—but this was no passive island.
This was a ten-thousand-meter meteor, falling with the full force of gravity.
Even if he could stop it eventually, it would be after it had already crushed him into the sea.
And Kaido would never accept such humiliation.
"STOP!"
Kaido roared, throwing everything he had into one final effort.
His massive body surged upward, Armament Haki coating his claws.
He abandoned all pride and charged the meteor head-on.
BOOM!
His hundred-meter dragon form collided with the meteor.
Flame clouds exploded from within him, forming a massive vortex that wrapped around the meteor's base.
The size difference was staggering.
But under Kaido's desperate assault and the swirling firestorm, the meteor's descent… stopped.
The final shockwave dissipated.
The battlefield fell silent.
Those who had been fleeing froze in place.
All eyes turned skyward.
"He stopped it! Hahaha! I knew Kaido could stop that damn rock!"
Doflamingo snapped out of his daze, laughing maniacally.
He felt victory within reach.
Even King and Queen, watching nearby, felt a surge of pride.
They had come here expecting to crush Impel Down.
Instead, they'd been dragged into chaos.
But now, Kaido had stopped a godlike strike with his own strength.
Even if it looked desperate, it was still a show of dominance.
"Arrogant brat! Show me what else you've got! If you've got anything left, now's the time to embarrass yourself—because you won't get another chance!"
Doflamingo cackled again.
Everyone turned to Luo Yu—still standing, still drinking.
Had he finally run out of tricks?
But Luo Yu simply took another sip, then raised a finger to the sky.
"That was just the beginning. You're all too impatient."
"Why don't you look up again?"
The crowd froze.
Their nerves, just beginning to relax, snapped taut again.
A chilling thought struck them all at once:
Was that not the only one?
They looked up.
Above the first meteor…
A second shadow loomed.
Even larger.
Darkness fell over the sea.
It felt like a solar eclipse—like the heavens themselves were collapsing.
And then they saw it.
Another meteor.
Even bigger.
Only now did they realize—
That first one wasn't divine judgment.
It was just the appetizer.