To be honest,
Even though Orin knew they had this combo move, and that it seemed powerful...
He still didn't expect it to be this powerful.
No wonder in the manga, this was the move that nearly killed even blood-hacked Zoro in two seconds, and he only survived because Law teleported him away.
Even though Kaido was still young and not yet at the peak of the Emperors' power...
That didn't mean this dual Emperor combo attack would be weak.
When the Hakai flew toward his face, Orin even had the instinctive urge to dodge.
He was a classic schemer—dodging such a massive, telegraphed ultimate move should've been the smart play...
Taking it head-on didn't necessarily make you a high-tier pirate...
He could just kite them to death instead—no need to risk it...
So then...
"You think I'm some nobody?!!! Hit me with everything you've got!!!"
"Hakai!!!"
"Divine Departure!!!"
Thinking back to how his Conqueror's Haki hadn't advanced much lately...
Orin clenched his teeth, braced himself, and infused his blade with Conqueror's Haki Infusion. His entire body surged with Armament Haki as he swung forward with all his might.
Whether he would survive was still unknown—
But the sheer shockwave nearly overturned Whole Cake Island. The destruction to the terrain was no less than a peak Whitebeard Earthquake.
The island was torn apart, cracks spreading all the way into the sea!
Even though this terrifying combo wasn't aimed at the rest of the fighters, all three battlefronts were shaken.
Crocodile and Mihawk froze. They'd thought it was just a big move—nothing too serious. But after a few seconds, their faces turned grim.
Because they realized...
Orin hadn't dodged like he usually did in battle.
"Hey!!!"
He really took that terrifying combo head-on?!
What an idiot!!!
As the shockwave finally dissipated and the smoke cleared—
Everyone stared at that scar-covered figure, his shirt completely obliterated, bare-chested and proud.
He stood there defiantly, blade in hand, face shadowed and unreadable. Ignoring the horrific wounds, Orin looked like nothing had happened.
"What a terrifying monster!!!"
"He took that attack head-on and still has strength left?!?!"
"This has to be a joke—how do you kill a monster like that?!"
All eyes locked onto that long-haired figure. Orin slowly lifted his head, his face deadly serious, radiating a true warrior's aura.
But in the very next second...
"Pu..."
A spray of blood burst from Orin's mouth, mixed with some unknown fragments.
Pain...
Agonizing pain...
The only thing he could feel was suffering.
This might've been the worst injury he'd ever suffered—even his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.
And this was after using full-power Divine Departure to reduce the damage, stacking Armament Haki over his whole body, and using teleportation to absorb some of the Hakai's force!
Orin dropped to one knee, clearly exhausted. Saying he was gravely wounded wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Kaido and Big Mom had used up a lot of energy in the combo too. Seeing Orin's weakening aura, they finally felt a bit of relief.
This monster...
He'd finally been seriously wounded.
And they weren't the type to show mercy. They immediately moved in to finish him off.
Kick him while he's down—take his life!
When it came to someone like Orin, no tactic was too dirty.
Seeing this, Mihawk's pupils shrank. He raised his blade and surged forward, eyes filled with unwavering battle intent.
He glanced sideways at Orin, who still hadn't recovered—
"You freak... even you must be at your limit now."
He turned his gaze back, his hawk-like eyes locking onto the massive dragon man and the pink-haired woman wreathed in thunder and flames. His killing intent was so sharp, it felt like it could stab the eyes.
Suddenly, black-and-red lightning crackled from Mihawk's body as his aura exploded skyward.
And Yoru—the blade—seemed to sense the desperation of the moment. It actively guided this newborn Conqueror's Haki to wrap around its edge.
"Hey!!! Kaido!! Big Mom!!! That man is the one I acknowledge and aim to surpass!!!"
"If you want to kill Orin—then start with me, the man he defeated!!!"
Faced with that purest of sword intents and killing will—
A grim look appeared on both their faces.
This guy, Orin's right hand, the one they hadn't paid much attention to... he had that kind of presence?
"Hey!!! Kid!! With a spirit like that, and you're still content following someone else? What kind of king do you want to be?!"
"I want to become..."
"The World's Greatest Swordsman!!!"
As his words rang out—
A dangerous pressure surged straight into their minds.
Both Mihawk and Yoru now carried peerless sword intent and unshakable conviction.
In the face of that will to cut through all obstacles, even the defense of Mythical Zoan and steel like resilience had to give way.
Shhhk—
Mihawk's eyes stayed icy cold as he swung Yoru in both hands, unleashing a slash over a kilometer long.
Emerald-green sword aura, crackling with black and red lightning, tore forward without hesitation.
Crocodile, Katakuri, and even everyone else watching that sword arc—deep in their hearts, they all felt one thing:
That... has to be a slash that can cut through anything!!!
Fwoosh—
But just then, a black silhouette suddenly leapt in front of the attack—more specifically, in front of Kaido.
The one who stepped in was King, already in his beast form—trying to take that slash head-on for Kaido!
"Hey!!! King!!!"
Kaido roared furiously!
But it was too late. The moment King came into contact with the sword aura, he felt—for the first time—what it meant to be torn apart by pain.
This was not the Yoru of the past. This slash wasn't casual. And King wasn't Diamond Jozu.
Squelch—
Agony and cold sweat twisted King's face. His body was ripped and shoved backward, barely staying in one piece.
This slash wasn't something the current twenty-something King could block.
If not for the Lunarian's absurd physical gifts, he'd be dead, not just heavily wounded.
In the end, Kaido and Big Mom struck together to finally shatter the weakened slash and pull King back from the brink.
"Hey!!! You sword-wielding brat..."
Kaido glared with bulging veins and fury—but Mihawk didn't flinch in the slightest.
Even knowing he likely wasn't a match for Kaido and Big Mom, and might die here today—
Still,
To die on the path of becoming stronger... then let death come!
"Hey, Kaido!"
Cough...
A voice rang out from the battlefield. Orin stood there—blood on his lips, his expression terrifyingly calm, staggering slightly but refusing to fall.
"Emperor against Emperor. Commander against Commander."
"I'm not dead yet.
So what the hell do you think you're doing... to my comrades!!!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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