Kaido's club was getting closer and closer to Karl, and every cell in Karl's body was frantically sending warnings.
It wouldn't feel good to be hit by that.
At this extremely dangerous moment, Karl's heart suddenly calmed down, as if the whole world had become quiet.
Karl subconsciously closed his eyes. He had a premonition that even without his eyes, he seemed to be able to sense the trajectory of the club's attack.
Just as Kaido's spiked club was inches away from Karl, Karl suddenly turned sideways, narrowly dodging the blow. The wind generated by the swinging club blew Karl's ice-blue, shattered hair.
Observation Haki, achieved!
Kaido was somewhat surprised that Karl could dodge that attack.
"Wurorororo..."
"Not bad, but not enough!"
Kaido laughed loudly, and Karl, who had already dodged the attack, suddenly had a bad premonition, and it was very strong.
Kaido, whose first attack missed, suddenly exerted force in the opposite direction. The trajectory of the spiked club reversed, and its speed was even greater than before.
Karl couldn't help but curse.
No, does this club absolutely have to hit?
Although Karl was extremely vigilant and had a premonition of the impending attack, his body simply couldn't react in time. Karl took the blow with his bare flesh.
Although Karl's newly awakened Observation Haki could sense Kaido's attack, his body couldn't support him in making a reaction.
Karl was hit by the club and flew backward like a meteor, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
He didn't stop until he flew several hundred meters and crashed into a rock.
Karl slid down from the rock, supporting himself with his long blade to stand up with difficulty, and spat out another mouthful of blood, looking rather miserable.
"Wurorororo..."
"Karl, you brat, is that all you've got? I thought you had made more progress."
Kaido walked over, carrying his spiked club, his tone full of mockery.
Karl really wanted to shut Kaido's mouth; he was too good at provoking hatred.
"Hmph!"
Karl spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes fixed on Kaido, his anger completely unconcealed.
"Wurorororo..."
"Yes! That's the look! That's the look he should have!!"
Kaido's excitement grew even stronger. It turned out that beating children was also so interesting. It seemed that if he was bored in the future, he would come and give them a beating. Oh, right, there was also that foolish daughter; he would beat them both then!
Thinking of this, the smile on Kaido's face became even more ferocious.
Karl suddenly felt a chill down his spine, a bad premonition.
On Yamato's side, she suddenly sneezed, but she didn't pay attention, rubbed her nose, and continued with her business.
This time, Kaido struck first, swinging his spiked club down towards Karl's head.
Karl reacted quickly, immediately raising his blade to block.
Karl gritted his teeth and held on. Seeing this, Kaido lifted his spiked club and swung it again, sending Karl flying.
Kaido was now completely in a playful mood, mercilessly beating Karl.
Karl, who was sent flying, quickly adjusted his body in the air. Upon landing, he slid a distance with his long blade inserted into the ground before stopping.
Karl stomped hard on the ground and charged towards Kaido. Their weapons expanded continuously in the air, emitting a buzzing sound.
Although Karl could defend against Kaido's attacks, the spikes on the spiked club still caused many wounds on his body.
Although it wasn't serious injury, the feeling of his skin being cut was really unpleasant.
Under these circumstances, Karl suddenly felt a power quietly emerging within him.
It was a power belonging to his own essence, unleashed through certain techniques after his body reached a certain threshold—a power entirely from within himself.
Being suppressed and beaten by Kaido made Karl's stomach churn with unvented anger.
"Ha!"
Resisting Kaido's renewed attack with all his might, Karl let out a roar and actually knocked Kaido's spiked club aside.
Then, under Kaido's shocked gaze, Karl's fūshen (wind spin) was instantly covered by a layer of black substance, accompanied by a buzzing sound.
Afterward, Karl stomped hard on the ground, using the recoil to instantly leap up. Besides the black substance, countless pure white ice crystals grew on the blade like bamboo shoots after rain, then he slashed towards Kaido's abdomen.
The sharp blade cut across Kaido's abdomen. Ice crystals rapidly grew on the wounded area, then suddenly exploded like bombs.
Karl landed, panting heavily. That single strike had almost exhausted two-thirds of his stamina.
After the ice crystals exploded, Kaido suddenly let out a loud cry, as if he had suffered a serious injury.
Karl, who had been looking solemn, suddenly got wide eyes, speechless at Kaido's act.
He was well aware of his own attack's capabilities. If that could break Kaido's defense, then he, Karl, would be considered a strong person on the seas; he'd set sail immediately!
After his loud cry, Kaido suddenly turned around. Despite the cry, his face still held that disdainful smile.
Some ice crystals remained on the spot where Karl had struck. Kaido casually brushed them away, and they disappeared, leaving only a shallow white mark.
"Wurorororo..."
Kaido's loud cry turned into a hearty laugh.
"Karl, you brat, you don't seem surprised."
Karl rolled his eyes. "Tch, boring!"
"Wurorororo..."
"Karl, you brat, you're very good. I approve of you!"
Kaido was not at all angry at Karl's teasing; on the contrary, he was very happy.
To have awakened all three types of Haki at this age, Karl's talent could be said to be unparalleled, even stronger than that old woman Charlotte Linlin, but that old woman only thought about having children and wasted such good talent.
As if recalling past events, Kaido no longer had his previous domineering demeanor, but instead looked somewhat melancholic.
Kaido sat down, untied the wine gourd from his waist, took a deep gulp, then turned to look at Karl.
"Karl, you brat, let's chat."
Karl was a bit bewildered by Kaido's rapid change in attitude, but he still sat down next to him as he wished.
The five-foot-tall Karl truly looked like a tiny bean sprout in front of the massive Kaido.
The two sat there, neither speaking first.
"Karl, you brat, what's your dream?" Kaido suddenly asked.
"A dream, huh?"
"I want to become the strongest in the world, so strong that everyone fears me, and then, well, find two more wives."
Karl thought seriously for a moment before stating his dream.
Becoming strong was to control his own destiny in this dangerous and cruel world; beyond that, there was no other purpose.
As for finding wives, that wasn't something difficult to say; he just said it.
Hearing this, Kaido burst into laughter, not expecting the brat's dream to be so interesting.
"Wurorororo..."
"My daughter isn't enough for you, you damn brat?"
"Hey! Kaido, what are you laughing at!! I'm contributing to the revival of the Oni clan!!"