The Marines use pirates to level up.
Pirates, on the other hand, can level up by fighting Marines—or other pirates.
Most pirates live their lives constantly gambling with death.
Maybe that's why they grow so fast.
From the humanoid crater, Kaido burst out laughing, vaulting into the air with a thick, jet-black kanabo gripped in his hand.
Only now did Karl truly get a clear look at him.
Towering and massively built. Long black hair cascading down his back. Two massive, dragon-like horns curving from his head. A beard as long and wild as dragon whiskers. A red dragon-scale tattoo coiling along his left arm.
His upper body was bare, draped only in a purple fur-lined cloak. A violet sash tied at his waist with sacred rope, a sake gourd etched with the character "Heaven" hanging at his side. Loose dark-green trousers below, heavy golden chains swaying with each movement.
All in all, he matched Karl's memories almost perfectly—
Except his proportions were ridiculous.
Compared to his massive torso, his lower body looked… comparatively slimmer.
"…He actually looks shorter than his lackey Jack," Karl muttered.
Advisor Tsuru couldn't help but smile.
This kid's focus was certainly… unique.
What surprised her more, however, was that Karl showed no fear or shock at all in the face of such a monstrous enemy.
"Oi! Where are Aokiji and Kizaru?" Kaido bellowed.
"Why are a bunch of trash like you standing here instead?!"
"Watch your mouth!"
Gion's eyes turned cold. She gripped Konpira with both hands and slashed horizontally.
"Golden Edge Slash!"
Kaido yawned lazily.
Just as the blade was about to land, he suddenly exploded into motion, slapping toward Gion.
"Gion, careful!" someone shouted.
Gion's eyes flashed. She flipped midair, kicked off Kaido's arm using his own strength, and vaulted above him—bringing Konpira down in a clean arc.
A thin line of blood appeared across Kaido's chest. Blood spilled freely.
But after just a few breaths, the wound healed visibly, sealing shut in moments.
"Put some force into it," Kaido laughed.
"I almost felt that one."
The next instant, his kanabo swung.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Gion crossed her blade to block, but the overwhelming force still sent her flying. She tumbled several times in midair before regaining her balance and landing cleanly.
"Are you okay, Gion?!"
Tokikake rushed over anxiously.
Unfortunately for him, that was exactly the wrong thing to do.
"Get lost!" Gion snapped.
"I don't need your concern. Focus on your job, Vice Admiral Tokikake!"
He scratched his head awkwardly, face stiff.
Why does it feel like she's getting more hostile lately…?
Is it because of that kid?
Still, now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
After a brief rest, Gion realized something astonishing—
She was… completely fine.
"This must be Karl's Holy Light…" she murmured.
"This healing power is incredible."
She turned toward Karl and gave him a grateful smile before rejoining the Vice Admirals in their assault.
With two Admiral candidates and two Vice Admirals attacking together, Kaido still looked relaxed. He didn't even bother dodging—just tanked everything head-on.
An entire hour passed.
Kaido showed no signs of fatigue.
Meanwhile, Gion and the others were exhausted. Their Holy Light buffs were nearly depleted.
And yet—
None of them bore a single wound.
Even Kaido was puzzled.
Sure, he was a Mythical Zoan—but were these Marines Mythical Zoans too?
Their recovery speed was almost on par with his.
This is bullshit, Kaido thought.
"Kizaru. Aokiji," Tsuru called out.
"Your turn."
The two Admirals flashed forward, forcefully taking over the battlefield.
Finally, Kaido's expression sharpened.
"Whew… Kaido really is a pain," Vice Admiral Momonga said, exhaling heavily.
"If not for Karl's Holy Light, I'd have been injured long ago. Thank you."
Karl waved it off.
Gion stepped closer, smiling warmly, her breath carrying a faint fragrance.
"Thank you, little brother Karl. Without you, I'd probably be wounded already."
Onigumo and Tokikake followed suit with their thanks.
For a moment, it turned into a praise circle.
Tsuru looked at Karl with growing fondness.
With support like this… how could the Marines not prosper?
Karl simply smiled and nodded—saying as little as possible.
More than the praise, he was focused on the battle itself.
Watching was learning.
And best of all—
It required zero effort.
"Damn you, Kizaru! Roaring Thunder Bagua!"
Kaido's aura exploded outward.
He wrapped that terrifying presence around his kanabo and swung at Kizaru with blinding speed.
Kizaru's eyes widened. He immediately dispersed into light.
If he'd taken that hit head-on, even he would have been badly injured.
"This pressure…"
Karl clenched his fists, eyes burning as he stared at Kaido.
"That," Tsuru said calmly, "is Conqueror's Haki. One in millions possess it."
"To remain conscious under this pressure alone is already impressive."
A powerful desire welled up inside Karl.
So this is the aura of a king…
Someday—
he would possess it too.
After all—
Karl was going to become the King of Slacking.
If he'd checked his status panel at that moment, he would've seen his Willpower skyrocketing—jumping straight from C− to B+, instantly becoming his standout stat.
On the battlefield, Aokiji locked his gaze on Kaido and thrust his right arm forward.
Frigid air gathered violently, forming a massive ice phoenix that shot toward Kaido.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
The ground in its wake froze solid.
Kaido twisted around, pupils shrinking, and raised his tattooed arm to block.
The ice bird slammed into him, driving him back over a hundred meters before exploding into countless crystal shards, scattering prismatic light across the battlefield.
Half of Kaido's body was frozen solid. His lips turned blue, teeth chattering uncontrollably.
Kizaru, the absolute menace, flashed above him.
Pursing his lips, he spoke lightly:
"Yasakani no Magatama."
Light bullets rained down on the immobilized Kaido, detonating again and again.
Even from afar, Karl could feel the ground trembling.
"…Did he stop moving?"
The smoke cleared.
Kaido lay motionless in the crater.
"Kaido~ we're old rivals by now," Kizaru drawled.
"Playing dead won't work anymore~"
A deep laugh echoed.
"Wororororo~"
Kaido rose slowly.
"Magnificent!" he roared.
"Now this is a fight! Come again!!!"
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