"Up there!"
Before anyone could react, Shirogai had already charged his Dragon Claws with energy, a fierce grin spreading across his face as he slashed toward the sky.
His twin claws, wrapped in a dense layer of pitch-black Haki infusion, became streaks of darkness that tore through the air, meeting the descending purple surge from Kaido's Eight Trigrams Club with a thunderous impact.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Two overwhelming forces collided midair — their Conqueror's Haki bursting outward with a thunderous roar.
Sizzle… crackle…
The sky itself trembled. Their clashing Haki intertwined and erupted into blinding black lightning, splitting clouds apart and distorting the sea below.
BOOM!
The heavens divided — half swallowed by Kaido's raging purple Haki, the other drenched in Shirogai's suffocating darkness.
"This newcomer... he really possesses Emperors-level combat power!"
From below, King — who had doubted Shirogai's strength until now — finally lost his calm. The monstrous Haki in the air made his feathers stand on end.
"Captain…" he muttered, watching the black lightning swirl. His heart sank with unease.
"Unbelievable!" Queen stammered, sweat pouring down his face as he stared upward. "Where did this brat come from? How could someone with that level of power stay hidden?!"
Crack!
A flash of light — and Shirogai was blasted backward by Kaido's Thunder Bagua.
"Indeed… Captain is the strongest in the world," King exhaled with forced calm. "Let's just wait for him to finish this, then we'll question that man."
---
"Bastard!!!"
Kaido's roar thundered through the heavens. His aura grew even more violent, his bloodshot eyes locked on Shirogai as he flew backward.
"You brat! I finally get drunk, and you make me sober again!"
Kaido opened his jaw, unleashing another devastating Dragon Breath.
"Drinking too much isn't good for your health, Kaido!" Shirogai shouted back, stepping onto a glowing golden cloud and charging forward. His claws gleamed with killing intent.
"Dragon Claw: Divine Swing!"
With a roar, he turned into a streak of black lightning, crashing headlong into Kaido. His claw, shrouded in Armament Haki, cut straight toward Kaido's throat — a deadly, precise strike.
"Damn you!"
Even Kaido, the so-called Strongest Creature, felt the chill of death brush against him. His usually careless eyes narrowed, and with a sudden stomp, he launched backward atop his flame clouds.
Crack!
Shirogai's strike missed, leaving a deep crimson-black trail of energy across the air.
"Drunken Thunder: Underworld Guidance!"
Kaido's counterattack surged forth with monstrous fury.
"Kaido! You actually dodged that? What's wrong — afraid of dying already?" Shirogai taunted, darting forward again, lightning flashing around him.
"Dragon Claw: Divine Swing!"
"You damn brat!" Kaido roared, spinning his club, shrouded in Haki, to form an impenetrable storm of attacks. There was no room to retreat.
Shirogai's eyes glowed faintly — his Observation Haki reading every trajectory, but there was no time to evade.
"Then I'll meet you head-on!"
He crossed his claws before his chest, Haki crackling. A torrent of Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body, each swing of his claws summoning countless black dragons that collided with Kaido's spinning clubs.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each impact shattered the air, releasing black lightning across the heavens. The skies howled. The winds screamed. The entire Wano Country shook.
Terrified citizens hid in their homes, praying that the battle wouldn't destroy the island itself.
"Heheheheh… not bad, brat!" Kaido laughed through the shockwaves, sliding backward. Blood ran down his chin, but his grin was wild.
He steadied himself, wiping his mouth. "Why don't you join me? Stop fighting and become my right hand — Vice captain of the Beasts Pirates!"
Kaido's laughter filled the sky. "With two fighters of Emperors-level, we'd crush the World Government and reshape the world! Hahaha! Let those damned nobles taste real war!"
Shirogai's crimson eyes narrowed, the corners of his mouth curling.
"That's actually a tempting offer," he said coldly. "But that future you want… is already part of my plan."
Kaido blinked. "Your plan?"
"Join our Straw Hat Pirates, Kaido. You can still achieve that dream."
Kaido froze, then burst into booming laughter. "Me? Join you? HAHAHAHAHA! What an amusing joke, brat!"
Shirogai laughed as well, his voice cutting through the storm. "You see? Everyone can be satisfied that way!"
The two vanished in the same instant, reappearing midair as their weapons clashed again.
"Do you even know what I sacrificed to create the Beasts Pirates?!" Kaido roared, his purple Haki erupting as he swung the Eight Trigrams Club. "You dare ask me to join your pathetic crew? I am Kaido of the Beast, the strongest or the Four Emperors!"
"Four Emperors?" Shirogai replied, gripping the weapon with both claws, Haki flaring to the limit. "Is that title something to be proud of, or something that chains you down?"
His eyes glowed like burning stars. "Emperor, King, God — there's only room for one at the top!"
Black lightning surged across his scales as his Conqueror's Haki reached its peak. "You've been obsessed with glory for so long you've forgotten how to move forward. That's why you've never beaten the World Government!"
With a blinding flash, Shirogai vanished.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Three red streaks appeared across Kaido's chest, followed by more — each wound deeper than the last.
"RRAAAAGH!!!"
Kaido spun violently, unleashing his attack again, his Haki forming a massive, swirling defense. But even so, the air filled with blood. By the time he stopped, over a dozen deep wounds covered his body.
Whoosh—
Shirogai reappeared in the distance, his voice calm and cold.
"Azure Dragon, is that your limit?"
His claws gleamed as he leveled his gaze at Kaido.
"It's time for the title of 'Strongest Creature in the World' to change hands."
---