Chapter 522: Big Mom's Envy
"Worararara! It's not that easy, is it? Let me test your true strength!" Kaido's thunderous voice echoed once more.
His bold demeanor won admiration from many onlookers. Regardless of the outcome, submitting to a challenge would boost his reputation. More people would either join or challenge him, further expanding his influence.
Rumble!
A deafening roar filled the air. Around the Sun Golden Crow, countless trees and vines erupted from the ground.
Since his Dragon Breath had proven ineffective, Kaido decided to employ the wood-based abilities of his Azure Dragon Mythical Beast Fruit. The life attribute enhanced his control over plants, rendering other abilities like wind less effective. As for physical combat, Kaido hadn't considered it. His combat ceiling had been elevated by the Azure Dragon's powers, transforming him from a frenzied warrior into a mage-like fighter reliant on his abilities.
Moreover, Kaido had no intention of battling the guardian Mythical beast single-handedly for glory. He wasn't foolish enough to take on such a formidable foe alone.
Rumble!
Countless branches and vines surged toward the Sun Golden Crow. The terrifying spectacle sparked envy in someone far away, watching the Mythical Beast Conference from Cake Island.
Big Mom's eyes, bloodshot with jealousy, fixed on Kaido's mysterious figure in the live broadcast. She gritted her teeth, her frustration palpable.
Big Mom hadn't attended the Mythical Beast Conference. A sudden attack by Uchiha Madara, who had disrupted her territory and left her stranded in the sea, had soured her mood. Other factors also played a role. The conference's potential dangers were one concern. Additionally, a medium-sized magic mine had been discovered on an island at the edge of her territory, drawing the attention of rival powers. She needed to remain on Cake Island to oversee her forces and deter these threats.
Another motive was to test Katakuri's loyalty. As her most exceptional son, Big Mom couldn't deny, though she loathed to admit, that Katakuri's strength had surpassed hers. His ability to suppress her seizures with ease was proof. This shift in power made her feel her authority was under threat, especially as many pirates showed growing respect for Katakuri.
"Hmph! That brat Kaido will probably flaunt his power in my face later!" Big Mom muttered, her voice low and menacing, like a devil's whisper. "I hope Katakuri, my son, doesn't disappoint me!"
The dark atmosphere made Perospero, standing nearby, shiver.
In the Competitive Canyon on Mythical Beast Island, the Sun Golden Crow faced the onslaught of plants with an expressionless gaze. Spreading its wings, it unleashed a golden halo that enveloped its body, extending ten meters outward. The halo shimmered like flame or flowing water, dazzlingly bright, as if a golden sun had appeared on the ground.
Any plants that entered the ten-meter radius were incinerated instantly, as was the ground beneath the Golden Crow's feet.
"What is this?!" onlookers gasped, their eyes wide.
The Sun Golden Crow! Was this its true power?
Whoosh!
A golden flame transformed into a pillar of light, shooting toward the Azure Dragon in the sky. Before Kaido could react, a figure swooped in front of him, wings flapping, it was Flame Disaster King, a key member of the Beasts Pirates. Brandishing his katana, King summoned dragon flames to block the attack.
But the golden flame ignored his defense, burning through his body. In an instant, King was engulfed, severely injured.
"King!" Kaido's expression shifted as he grabbed King with his dragon claws, retreating from the golden light.
He glanced at his claws, shocked to see faint scorch marks. Even with his tough scales and Armament Haki, merely catching King had injured him. The light-like flames had penetrated his bones, causing both internal and external damage. It was an unusual trait.
King's instant defeat was no surprise. The flames' temperature, reaching thousands of degrees, wasn't necessarily lethal to Kaido or King, given their resilience. Normally, extreme heat required time to transfer and cause harm—like water needing time to boil despite a fire's heat. Their size and internal power gave them an advantage.
But the Golden Crow's flames bypassed this, penetrating like light through glass, uniformly subjecting every part of the body to extreme heat. The damage was instantaneous, with no buffer. Even King's Lunarian heritage, bolstered by his Mythical beast powers, couldn't withstand it. Kaido's dragon claws, enhanced by the Azure Dragon Fruit, were charred and partially necrotic.
Yet Kaido wasn't defeated so easily. His abundant vitality surged, healing his dragon claws in moments. He then channeled this life force into King, rapidly mending his injuries.
"Kaido-sama, I'm sorry. I'm too weak," King said, his face filled with guilt beneath his helmet. He had thought his Lunarian fire resistance and Mythical beast abilities would suffice, but he was gravely injured in a single clash.
"Kwahahaha! Don't worry, you'll grow stronger," Kaido reassured him. The healing was timely and didn't drain him excessively. He set King down casually.
King's gaze returned to the Sun Golden Crow below, and he made a silent resolve. Since arriving on Mythical Beast Island, he had noticed his Mythical beast powers, which grew slowly outside, developing rapidly here. Consuming the island's strange fruits, rich with Mythical beast energy, had further boosted his growth. This defeat underscored his weakness, and he decided to train on the island, no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, the Sun Golden Crow observed a tall figure in the sky, wrapped tightly in black clothing, King. Its curiosity stemmed from its origins.
According to the Yamata God Orochimaru, the Golden Crow was modeled after the near-extinct Lunarian race, and King was one of its last members, part of the Beasts Pirates. This connection piqued its interest.
But now, curiosity mingled with disappointment. Its dark eyes brimmed with doubt. King couldn't even withstand its basic attack. Was such a race truly worth modeling after?
(End of this chapter)