The next day, the weather was fine, with a gentle breeze blowing across the sea, stirring ripples on the water.
Just as Kaido was sitting on the deck, about to start fishing...
"Situation! Boss Kaido! A large Navy warship has been sighted off the port bow! And it's heading straight for us!"
Suddenly, the lookout directly shouted to Kaido.
"The Navy?!" Upon hearing this, Kaido immediately stood up, looking at the distant black dot while instantly activating his Kenbunshoku Haki.
"Wororororo... Interesting. I didn't expect this guy to have the leisure to wander the seas. It seems that incident hasn't happened yet!" Kaido laughed.
"Boss Kaido, large Navy warships are generally only authorized for Vice Admirals and Admirals. And for them to dare approach us after seeing us... the opponent isn't simple! Should we avoid them for now?" Queen said, walking up to Kaido.
"Coward!" King directly retorted to Queen.
"What did you say, you brainless brute?!" Queen immediately raged at King.
"Big Brother Kaido, whether we fight or retreat, it's your decision," King said to Kaido.
Hearing this, Queen also quieted down, looking directly at Kaido.
"Wororororo... Since we've run into them, we can't just let it slide. Of course, we'll make a big scene," Kaido said without the slightest hesitation. "Men! Bring the ship closer for me!"
His power had just surged dramatically, and he needed someone to test his current strength. Kaido certainly wasn't going to retreat. If he left, it would only be after a good fight.
Even if he had to retreat in the end, with his abilities, he could easily get away.
"Yes, sir!"
The pirate underlings loudly replied.
"Let's start with a greeting!" As soon as Kaido finished speaking, he transformed into a kilometer-long azure dragon. Gazing at the distant warship on the sea, he opened his maw, a yawning abyss, where fierce flames coiled.
"Boss Kaido is mighty!" The pirates on the ship looked up at the dragon in the sky, a being both divine and demonic, with worshipful eyes.
"Boro Breath!"
A spiral vortex of fire, several kilometers long, shot directly toward the Navy warship.
This was an improved technique Kaido had developed after transmigrating. The spiral-impact Boro Breath was thirty percent more powerful than the original version.
The terrifying pillar of spiraling flame reached the Navy warship almost instantly, as if it would destroy the vessel the very next moment.
Yet, facing this fearsome assault, the sailors on the warship showed no panic whatsoever. Because standing before them was a Navy Admiral, known as the "Non-Killing Admiral," "Black Arm" Zephyr.
Zephyr, standing at the ship's bow, leaped with tremendous force. The powerful recoil caused the bow of the large warship to sink several meters into the water.
"This pirate is no ordinary one!"
Zephyr charged directly in front of the massive flame pillar. Then, the pitch-black Busoshoku Haki covering his hands enveloped his entire wrists.
"Black Arm: Shooting Star!"
Zephyr's right fist shot out violently, carrying a savage force that made the surrounding air hum.
Then, an invisible shockwave and the massive flame pillar collided.
"BOOM——!"
A tremendous roar erupted. A strange spectacle appeared on the sea: on one side, high-temperature flames continuously burned; on the other, an invisible force field blocked them, like an intangible wall wrestling endlessly with boundless fire.
The resulting hurricane-force winds from the powerful impact, like a Category 8 typhoon, immediately stirred up towering waves. For a moment, the nearby Navy warship seemed about to be swallowed by the sea. Even the Beasts Pirates' ship, still several kilometers away, was affected.
At that moment, Zephyr in mid-air paid no attention to his warship. On one hand, he trusted the sailors aboard. On the other, it was because a black shadow was rapidly approaching.
On the other side, seeing his Boro Breath blocked, Kaido grew excited.
"King, Queen, handle things here," Kaido said without waiting for their reply. He shifted back to human form in mid-air and charged swiftly toward his opponent.
...
"Wororororo... Long time no see, Zephyr!"
Kaido swiftly closed the distance to Zephyr, greeting him.
"Thunder Bagua!!!"
His Hassaikai, clad in jet-black Busoshoku Haki, swung directly at Zephyr's head.
"Kaido, I don't recall being on such familiar terms with a pirate apprentice like you. But since we've met, you can go spend your time in Impel Down!"
As a Navy Admiral and a former apprentice of the strongest pirate crew in the New World, the two had naturally never fought before, but they had certainly seen each other a few times.
"Black Arm: Blazing Star!"
Facing Kaido's attack, Zephyr didn't yield an inch. He clenched his fist and struck directly at the incoming spiked club.
"BOOM——!"
Their attacks collided directly, producing another massive explosion.
Both were sent flying backward by the tremendous recoil.
"Wororororo... Again! Kongo: Hanabi!"
Kaido laughed loudly, responding to Zephyr's attack. He swung his Hassaikai, releasing a pillar-like blast of energy directly toward Zephyr.
This time, Zephyr didn't take it head-on. Instead, he used Soru directly against the air, vanishing from the path of the Kongo: Hanabi and reappearing right in front of Kaido.
"Kaido, you'll spend the rest of your life reflecting on your sins in Impel Down!"
"Black Arm: Shooting Star!"
Saying this, he threw a punch aimed straight at Kaido's head.
"Wororororo... That place isn't for me!"
"Borai: Hachibun!!!"
Kaido instantly shifted a short distance backward, then swung his Hassaikai at Zephyr again.
"BOOM——!"
A powerful roar echoed once more. This time, Kaido didn't use force to neutralize the recoil. Instead, he let it carry him further back.
"Kaido, in the name of Justice, go to Impel Down and reflect on your sins!" Zephyr shouted at Kaido.
"Wororororo... Sins? Zephyr, are you joking? Who could be more sinful than those beasts living in Mary Geoise! If it's for Justice, why don't you take action against them?!" Kaido immediately retorted.
Hearing Kaido's words, Zephyr fell silent, but his offensive against Kaido did not weaken in the slightest.
"Wororororo... Zephyr, the Justice you carry is weeping!" Kaido roared at Zephyr.
"Boro Breath!"
Kaido opened his mouth wide, beginning to gather red energy within. Then, a massive spiral vortex of flame shot toward Zephyr.
Although the human-form Boro Breath wasn't as powerful as the dragon-form version, its force was still not to be underestimated.
"Enough talk, brat Kaido! Today, you will be captured!"
As if anticipating it, Zephyr dodged the Boro Breath attack early and flew rapidly toward Kaido.