Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!
Thunder boomed, making the entire island tremble.
"What's happening?!"
"Someone's fighting? Are you kidding? This is the territory jointly protected by a Warlord of the Sea, the Sea Scourge, and Golden Lion!"
"I... I saw it!"
"What is it? Tell us!"
"It's, it's, it's... it's the Emperor 'Kaido of the Beasts'! Doflamingo-san is fighting him!"
"..."
People were terrified, especially upon hearing the name "Kaido of the Beasts." Everyone knew that name was synonymous with a lunatic, a monster, a murderer, a battle maniac...
"Can Doflamingo repel 'Kaido of the Beasts' and protect this place?"
This was the question that quickly came to mind, followed swiftly by the answer, "Impossible." No one denied that a Warlord of the Sea possessed catastrophic combat power and immense strength comparable to a nation, but their opponent was an Emperor, one of the world's powerhouses.
Run!
Run as far as possible!
The people made their decision.
Meanwhile, on the coastline, Doflamingo was still struggling to hold on.
Kaido's fighting style had absolutely no technique; there were only three types... charging attacks! Furious charging attacks! And continuous, furious charging attacks!
He completely disregarded defense and stamina consumption, and he didn't need to, for he was a body of steel, an immortal body.
Kaido's fighting style was even more monotonous than that of Chinjao, whom Doflamingo had defeated. It relied purely on immense strength, beast-like instincts, and extensive experience accumulated from either defeating others or being defeated. It was utterly simple and brutal, yet it left Doflamingo scrambling, almost unable to resist. One could imagine the frustration in his heart.
Having witnessed Weevil's talent and Big Mom's talent, Doflamingo had thought he would adapt to the inherent inequalities and disparities in natural abilities between people. But today, encountering Kaido and witnessing the talent of "Kaido of the Beasts," it was truly on the level of a beast! No, even a beast would struggle to match it!
"What should I do?"
"How can I harm him?"
"..."
Doflamingo had too many thoughts, though his will remained unyielding, never showing fear.
Graagh!!
"Doflamingo!"
With a deafening roar, Kaido charged again.
"Damn it!" Doflamingo couldn't help but curse. He didn't possess Kaido's near-infinite, tireless energy. After dealing with Kaido for twenty minutes, his clothes were drenched in sweat, but he had to force himself to keep fighting. "You still dare to say you're not an unreasonable brute, 'Kaido of the Beasts'! You brainless bastard!"
Clang! Thump! Bang-bang!
Rumble, rumble, rumble...
Two massive figures continuously grappled, like ancient beasts fighting. The bustling harbor instantly turned into ruins. Ships, houses, streets, trees... everything was flattened, pulverized into dust.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Another series of sonic booms.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~~
The silk giant finally couldn't withstand Kaido's savagery and collapsed into a pile.
"Huff, huff~" Doflamingo, on the verge of exhaustion, gasped for breath, his teeth almost shattering. "Black Knight!"
Rustle, rustle~
A silk clone identical in appearance and proportion to Doflamingo appeared, standing in front of him.
"A cheap trick!" Kaido scoffed, going straight for Doflamingo. "You dared to refuse me, and you dared to attack me. Now prepare to face my wrath!"
Suddenly.
Jihahahaha~~~
"Your wrath? Don't be ridiculous, brat! You should prepare to face my wrath!"
A drifting voice from the sky above. A shadow rapidly descended, followed by the dazzling golden form of Golden Lion.
"You finally made it," Doflamingo truly breathed a sigh of relief.
Before his forced meeting with Kaido, he had made a contingency plan, contacting Shiki, who was active not far from here, to act as reinforcement.
This was also why he didn't rely on "Sky Walk" to escape, even knowing he was no match for Kaido.
Besides not wanting his property destroyed by Kaido and being unsure if Kaido could catch up to him, it was because he had an ace up his sleeve named "Golden Lion."
Kaido glared at Shiki, who looked extremely arrogant with his cigar. The hand gripping his spiked club subtly revealed his inner apprehension, but "Kaido of the Beasts" was still "Kaido of the Beasts": "Old geezer! Wororororo... You want to interfere in my affairs?"
"You're the one who interfered in my affairs first! Doffy is an important business partner of mine; I'll never allow anyone to harm him!" Shiki unstrapped his famous swords, Oto and Kogarashi, from his waist, and the arrogant demeanor of an era's dominator erupted. "Don't think that just because some people equate you with me as a so-called Emperor, you're on equal footing with me. Who do you think you are?!"
"Kill!!!"
Their conversation broke down, and Kaido instantly flared up, swinging his spiked club at Shiki.
Jihahahaha~~~
"I've captured you once, and I can capture you again! This time, I'll completely end your so-called 'immortality'!"
"Lion's Threat: Rend!"
Whoosh, whoosh~~~
Golden sword energy, vast in scope and widespread in its reach. The sharpness and keenness of the blade made observers feel a prickling sensation on their backs.
With just one move, Shiki flawlessly demonstrated to the world why he was the World's Strongest Swordsman!
Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!
Crack! Crack!
Kaido's spiked club shattered, and the island's coastline splintered. Thick smoke instantly rose and enveloped the area.
Soon after...
"That was quite the force," Kaido, whose weapon was broken and who had been sent flying a hundred meters, was unharmed, like a fierce tiger shaking off dust from its body. He glared menacingly at Shiki. "You didn't mention it, and I almost forgot. We... have a grudge!"
Jihahahaha!
"Come at me and get your revenge!" Shiki, with his rooster-like crest impaled with half a ship's helm, still looked as spirited as ever.
Doflamingo hovered in mid-air, saying, "Let's stop here. If we keep fighting, the World Government's intervention will arrive very soon." He paused briefly, then looked at Kaido. "As per our agreement, I'm not dead, so you can wait at ease."
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