Rocks had run rampant across the seas for over a decade, daring to challenge the World Government's might and accumulating countless treasures. In his previous life, Rocks fell at God Valley, and the Rocks Pirates subsequently disbanded. The treasures rumored to have been hidden by Rocks were never found.
Kaido had once gone ahead to Hachinosu in search of the treasure, but he ultimately found nothing. Even after Ochoku later occupied Hachinosu, there was no rumor of him ever acquiring the treasures left behind by Rocks. If he could find out where Rocks's treasure was, Kaido could avoid a decade of detours!
"I can't let you pass and disturb our Captain!"
A flying slash came whistling through the air with an ear-piercing sound. Kaido raised his club and shattered it, the slash transforming into shimmering white mist. Kaido focused his gaze and saw Rayleigh approaching with a leisurely gait. Rayleigh held a long sword, his glasses gleaming, and his hair fell casually over his forehead.
"Rayleigh," Kaido said with a half-smile. "The Roger Pirates' second-in-command—Rayleigh, the Dark King. It seems I'll have to defeat you to get past. I hope you can give me some entertainment."
"Vajra Arrow!!"
Kaido made a baseball-batting motion, and a pillar of Haki rushed toward Rayleigh. Rayleigh was surprised; it was peculiar for a blunt weapon to emit such a strange slash. Though he was shocked, he could tell this move wasn't simple. His expression turned serious, and he unleashed a slash to block it.
Kaido wasn't surprised. As the Roger Pirates' second-in-command, Rayleigh's strength was second only to Roger's. He charged forward, his spiked club imbued with Conqueror's Haki and wrapped in flickering black lightning. He swung it forcefully at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh was startled. "Conqueror's Haki coating!?"
He had only seen Roger use this technique. Even Rayleigh was still in the exploratory stage of learning it. Now, Conqueror's Haki coating appeared on the twenty-one-year-old Kaido. How could Rayleigh not be shocked?
Rayleigh initially wanted to avoid the attack, but Kaido's speed was too fast. He reached him in a breath. Rayleigh decisively infused his sword with Haki, intending to meet the blow head-on!
Boom!!
A dazzling purple light cast an eerie shadow over the surroundings. A domineering force erupted, causing the ground to collapse and crack. Rayleigh's expression was grave; he actually saw Roger's shadow in his opponent!
He blocked Kaido's assault, forcing Kaido back, but his hands were numb and aching. A trickle of blood flowed down the blade to its tip. Rayleigh knew the young man before him shouldn't be underestimated and needed to be treated seriously. But besides caution, his eyes also held a hint of excitement.
To grow stronger and constantly break through one's limits, only a hearty battle can unleash human potential and turn the impossible into the possible!
In their initial clash, Rayleigh knew he was inferior in strength, but Kaido was inferior in technique. Kaido also noticed the issue. Unlike robust giants like Ochoku, Kaido could meet strength with strength due to his extraordinary physique and the Azure Dragon Fruit. However, Rayleigh focused more on Haki training and combat techniques.
It wasn't that Ochoku was inferior to Rayleigh, but rather their focuses were different. Roger and Shanks could stand at the pinnacle of the world with physiques not much different from ordinary people precisely because they acknowledged their "weakness." This allowed them to specialize in Haki training and reach a realm unattainable by most.
Is it truly because my physique is too strong that it restricts my own development? Kaido pondered this, but he quickly overturned the idea. This innate physique is the foundation that allowed me to surpass most people at the starting line. Now I'm thinking of denying it—how ridiculous!
Physique is innate capital, and Haki can also be continuously trained. I'll temper this body to be even more indestructible, train my Haki to its peak, and awaken the Azure Dragon Fruit!!
Then, I'll start a great war that will go down in history! I'll bring down those arrogant Celestial Dragons!
Kaido burst into laughter. The struggles he had in his previous life with training Haki to the level of Roger and Shanks vanished, and he became increasingly clear-headed.
If his Haki had been stronger during the Onigashima battle, how could he have lost to Straw Hat? If his Devil Fruit had awakened, he wouldn't have feared even a relay battle. If his physique had been stronger, how could Oden and Roronoa have breached his defenses!?
Get stronger, get stronger, get stronger!!
Reborn, he would break fate, break his own limits, and surpass Roger! Kaido laughed maniacally, becoming increasingly frenzied. He swung his spiked club, delivering powerful, heavy blows toward Rayleigh. He used Armament Haki coating and Conqueror's Haki coating alternately!
Rayleigh didn't dare relax. His nerves were taut as he responded calmly. Kaido had brought him too many shocks, but as the Roger Pirates' second-in-command, he wouldn't easily concede defeat.
"Kaido, I'll help you!"
Linlin's voice rang out, followed by a burst of flame. Rayleigh and Kaido both leaped back simultaneously.
Boom!
The flames blasted a large hole in the ground!
Kaido cursed, "Linlin, are you trying to blow me up too!?"
"Sorry, sorry!" Linlin casually laughed, shrugging it off. She landed beside Kaido, carrying a large sword. Her figure was tall and slender, yet she lacked any sense of propriety.
"They don't seem friendly. Do you need help, Rayleigh?"
Jabba walked over at this moment. Although he said that, he had already prepared to fight alongside Rayleigh.
"Of course, Jabba." His companion's arrival made Rayleigh breathe a sigh of relief. "You've come at just the right time."
Kaido and Linlin stood side by side, exchanging a smile. "Should we use that move, Kaido?"
"It's exactly what I want."
Kaido held his club with both hands, and Linlin held her sword with both hands. Their bodies were slightly lowered as they adopted a striking stance.
"Whoa, whoa, that stance!?"
Rayleigh and Jabba, who had recently visited the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf, immediately recognized that this posture was remarkably similar to the Giants' unique combined attack!
Combined attacks require extremely high standards. They don't only demand an overwhelming advantage in size from the users, but also require their strength and physical tempering to be able to withstand the backlash of the combined attack. At best, weapons are damaged; at worst, the users are injured!
Kaido and Linlin were tall for humans, but far from reaching the Giant Race's minimum height of twelve meters. However, considering their abnormal physiques and monstrous strength, perhaps it made sense!
Alarm bells rang in Jabba's mind. He saw Kaido and Linlin infuse their weapons with strength and Haki. The surrounding aura changed dramatically, with blazing dark red and deep blue light, and the ground began to tremble!
"Rayleigh! Get out of the way!!!" Jabba roared.
At the same time, Kaido and Linlin forcefully struck the atmosphere. "Conqueror of the Seas!!!"
Two domineering forces intertwined into a red and blue energy vortex, absorbing all surrounding light and changing the very color of the sky and earth! The terrifying energy vortex destroyed all obstacles in its path, piercing through half of God Valley and shooting toward the distant sea. It raised waves tens of meters high as it skimmed the surface!
At this moment, all the powerhouses on God Valley noticed this energy pillar.
"No mistake, it's Linlin and Kaido's combined attack!"
"Only those two monsters could forcefully negate the Giant Race's unique advantage!"
"What astonishing power! Even someone as strong as Rocks probably couldn't take that move without injury, could he?"
Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Silver Axe, John, and the other powerhouses on God Valley had various expressions. This was also why, even when Kaido was at odds with Shiki and others, they still maintained their apprehension toward him.
But the moment Kaido defeated Ochoku, their apprehension toward Kaido deepened even further. They absolutely couldn't let Kaido and Linlin continue to cooperate! This thought almost simultaneously emerged in the minds of Golden Lion and the others.