Before Nero and Kaido could clash, two attacks struck them almost simultaneously.
"Damn brats! Have you forgotten there are others on this island?!" x2
It was Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin, holding their weapons and looking at them with displeased expressions.
Nero and Kaido didn't dodge, but instead blocked with Armament Haki in time.
Their defensive power in this state was already greatly enhanced, and with Armament Haki, they easily fended off the attack without leaving any marks.
"Mwahahaha! Is it going to be a free-for-all? Come on, all of you! I'm still far from having my fill!"
Nero provoked them, the demonic quality in her voice growing thicker, and her blood-red dragon eyes became even more crimson.
"Nani? Are you saying this old man alone can't satisfy you?"
Kaido's face fell upon hearing this, and he breathed heavily, flames flickering with each breath.
Nero didn't reply this time; a new change occurred in her dragon body.
Her dragon neck extended further, like an independent flood dragon, and flames rapidly grew from both sides where it connected to her body, eventually forming new heads.
Even among legendary dragons, this was the most ferocious appearance: a three-headed giant dragon, each head emitting earth-shattering roars.
Demonic Haki, like a bloodbath, instantly filled the entire world.
"Gurararara! What is that thing? It's truly outrageous!"
Whitebeard looked at Nero's current appearance and felt a long-lost pressure, along with a hint of a threat of death.
"Mama, Mama! The faint smell of blood even in the air, is this still Conqueror's Haki?"
Charlotte Linlin's smile was a bit strained; she had never seen Nero in this form before. If it came to a one-on-one fight, her chances of winning were very low.
Only Kaido wasn't smiling. The suffocating pressure made him feel as if malice surrounded him from all directions in the air.
By now, he had to admit that he alone was not worthy of Nero using her full power.
Humiliation! An immense sense of humiliation filled his entire body. Aside from his time on Rocks' ship, this feeling of powerlessness hadn't appeared in many years.
But Kaido didn't act rashly this time. Once he accepted the fact that Nero was stronger than him, his mind instead calmed down.
This battle was just the beginning; the future was long, and he would eventually become even stronger.
This was a monster that shouldn't exist in the world. The Nero he remembered was a cheerful and lively girl, but this monster was different.
Like a combination of all sin and evil, a tide of malice swept over, and the battle escalated further.
Blood-like flowing flames spread outwards from Nero, and the ground was covered in a layer of crimson magma.
"Crimson tide of blood, adorn the end!"
Nero's right claw lifted and then heavily slammed down. The entire dragon took a step forward, and the whole island trembled with an earth-shattering quake.
"Flames burn bones, blood engraves the eight consciousnesses!"
"Demonic wails, piled bones form a tower!"
"Step forward!!!"
"Mama, Mama! What do you say, Newgate? Shall we join forces?"
At this moment, Charlotte Linlin's hair had turned into burning flames, which also covered her blade.
She looked at Whitebeard, realizing that eliminating Nero first was the correct approach.
Thinking of this, she also felt a bit speechless about Nero. They were three vying for territory; she was called over just to make up the numbers, yet she was fighting the most enthusiastically. What for?
Whitebeard didn't make a move. He heavily plunged his Murakumogiri into the ground, crossed his arms, and a deep shadow covered his face.
"I won't join forces with you!"
"Oh, really?" Charlotte Linlin wasn't surprised by Whitebeard's choice. According to her understanding, it would be truly strange if he agreed.
"Do you want to reap the benefits, Newgate?"
"Who do you think I am?" Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki erupted, dispelling a portion of Nero's Haki in this space.
"Regardless of victory or defeat, I only want Fish-Man Island next. If you still want to contend with me, then I will be your opponent!"
Only after receiving Whitebeard's promise did Charlotte Linlin relax. The goal of this battle had basically been achieved.
As for Kaido, his strength and influence were still a bit lacking, so his chances of contending with her were small. Giving up a portion of the profits later would satisfy him.
It was Nero, whose fighting spirit was almost overflowing. To satisfy her, it seemed they would have to fight a good battle.
"Then, Kaido! Let's fight side-by-side for old times' sake! Mama, Mama!"
Kaido transformed into his hybrid beast form again and stood beside Charlotte Linlin. He didn't refuse her words; the alliance had already been agreed upon.
He didn't have a great need for territory right now. If one was strong enough, they could have as much of such things as they wanted.
He also understood his own position. If he took too much, he probably wouldn't be able to hold it by himself.
Most importantly, he only wanted to get even with Nero now; everything else had to come after that.
"You old hag! Don't you dare hold me back!"
hachisai-kai was raised high behind him, and Kaido began to charge his power.
"Mama, Mama! Who do you think you're talking to, boy?!"
Charlotte Linlin also assumed a stance similar to Kaido's, raising her Homies Napoleon behind her to charge her power.
Haki, like a vortex, continuously condensed and compressed within their weapons.
"Hmm, is it finally coming?" Nero's body slightly lowered, like a beast poised before hunting.
"Haoshoku!"
A light cannon composed of chaotic colors shot directly at Nero, melting the ground in its path.
All three dragon heads similarly gathered immense Haki, an ominous black, red, and white Haki, rushing towards the combined ultimate attack of the two, accompanied by Nero's roar... "What is that?"
Twenty nautical miles away, the outline of the island was faintly visible.
Various pirate crews and some invited guests of the Tea Party watched from afar the aftermath of the four individuals' battle.
Various natural disasters took turns: tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, heavenly fires, thunder, and an ominous aura that, along with the heatwave, they could clearly perceive even from their distance.
"What exactly is happening over there?"
"Can such disasters really be caused by humans?"
"Is this the clash of legendary great pirates?"
"If one were to accidentally step into this battlefield, an ordinary person would probably be instantly annihilated."
"No matter the outcome, to survive in the New World in the future, it seems we can only be under the command of these few."
"That truly is... reigning over the world!"
On the golden rose, Stella looked worriedly into the distance. Even from such a distance, she was almost unable to stand.
"Nero... is she alright?" Her expression was anxious. Despite understanding Nero's strength, she couldn't help but worry about her in such an environment.
"Ah, Miss Stella, please don't worry." Hathaway supported Stella's arm, looking at the scene of disaster in the distance, and said with full confidence.
"This level won't defeat Her Majesty."
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