The dust gradually settled, revealing the scarred and ravaged island. The kilometer-long dragon body had vanished, replaced by a savage, humanoid figure. He was covered in azure scales, with wild, flowing hair surging with violent power. Four black horns stabbed towards the sky. His lower body took on a beast-like posture, with legs bent backward, and his feet fused the characteristics of eagle talons and tiger paws, treading the air constantly. His thick, muscular tail slapped heavily against the ground, emitting dull thuds.
Kaido shook his head, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He patted his still-dizzy head with a hand, then grinned. "That really packed a punch, Garp! That one hit me good." His voice held a note of pain, yet also betrayed unconcealable excitement.
"It seems that after not seeing you for a few years, the apprentice brat from the Rocks Pirates has become quite durable," Garp responded, standing not far away with his arms crossed. "I just wonder how many punches like that you can take."
"Wororororo..." Kaido let out his signature laugh. "That's it, come on! Fight me with all you've got, Garp!" Battle intent flashed in his eyes. Finally, he could fight without holding back.
"Borai: Hachibun!"
With a fierce roar, lightning instantly coiled around Kaido's entire body, activating his physical prowess to the extreme. His speed skyrocketed, reaching near-teleportation levels. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Garp. His massive spiked club, the Hassaikai, whistled through the air, aimed directly at Garp's face.
"Gunkotsu: Impact!"
Facing this thunderous strike, Garp didn't budge an inch. His right fist, under the effect of Busoshoku Haki, turned pitch-black like ink, meeting Kaido's club head-on.
"BOOM—!"
Two terrifying forces collided, erupting in a deafening blast. The shockwave transformed into a gale-force wind, sweeping outwards in all directions, plowing deep trenches into the already devastated ground. Strangely, Kaido's Hassaikai and Garp's fist never truly made contact, maintaining a slight distance. In that gap, the air was compressed to its limit, forming a visible barrier of shock.
"Worororo... that's it, come on!" Feeling Garp's immense power, which seemed to slightly surpass his own, Kaido let out a manic laugh and began swinging his club at Garp relentlessly. Garp showed not the slightest intention of yielding, responding with his own iron fists.
Boom—!
Boom—!
Boom—!
Instantly, the sounds of their colliding attacks echoed across the entire island. Every impact sent tremors that whipped up violent winds.
Boom—!
After another collision, Garp seized an opening in Kaido's defense. In a flash, his other fist connected with Kaido's jaw. The heavy blow sent Kaido stumbling back several steps, and then...
"Daidai: Raimei Hakke!"
Kaido gripped the Hassaikai with both hands. Haoshoku Haki, substantial as matter, coiled around it. Dark red lightning crackled across the weapon's surface with a heart-palpitating crackle. He poured all his strength into it, causing the club to erupt with a blinding light, as if he were holding a supernova about to explode.
"Gunkotsu: Impact!"
Garp met the challenge without backing down, clenching his right fist. Haoshoku Haki condensed into a vortex of crimson energy around it. The power was so immense it distorted the surrounding space, completely swallowing the light and creating an eerie dark zone.
"BOOM—!"
Two world-shattering forces collided mid-air. The resulting shockwave instantly engulfed the entire island. The ground undulated like waves, ancient trees were torn out by their roots, and the boulders at the island's center were pulverized into dust by the residual energy. Kaido's burly frame was blasted back dozens of meters, his feet plowing two half-meter-deep furrows in the earth.
At the island's edge, Bullet and the others felt the tremors emanating from the center. They were all rendered speechless with shock.
"Damn it... is not having enough strength the reason I can't even get close enough to watch?" Bullet growled, punching a deep fist-shaped imprint into a nearby reef. He had only recently awakened Kenbunshoku Haki and couldn't sense the situation at the island's core at all.
"Big Brother Kaido will definitely win!" King said, watching the massive tremors occasionally rippling from the island's center, a flicker of worry in his eyes.
"Muhahaha, of course! It was sensing Captain Kaido's powerful, peerless-in-the-world strength and potential that made me join the Beasts Pirates!" Queen responded beside him.
"The Captain will definitely win!" Sebastian and Gavin said simultaneously.
Urouge, Moria, and Enel, who had only recently joined the Beasts Pirates, were also watching the island's center with intense focus. The outcome of this battle would likely determine their future.
"This is... a true battle between the strong?" Enel murmured to himself, a light of longing shining in his eyes.
Bullet clenched his fists. "One day, I'll become that strong too!"
Urouge, however, smiled. "It seems joining the Beasts Pirates was the right choice."
"Dammit, is this the level of the top fighters on this sea?" Moria said, awestruck, witnessing this caliber of combat for the first time.
Meanwhile, at the island's center, the battle had entered a white-hot stage. Kaido and Garp's figures moved rapidly across the battlefield, every collision triggering earth-shattering explosions.
"Wororororo... Garp, you haven't disappointed me!" Kaido roared with laughter, the wounds on his body healing at a visible rate.
Garp shook his slightly numbed fist, his trademark hearty grin spreading across his face. "Kid, this is just the warm-up!"
The shockwaves from their battle continued to spread, making the entire small island tremble. The distant sea surged with towering waves, and the clouds in the sky were shredded to pieces by the concussive blasts.
BOOM—!
Another earth-shaking collision. This time, Kaido was finally sent flying, crashing heavily into a distant mountainside.
"Cough... cough..." Kaido crawled out of the pile of rubble, a blazing fighting spirit burning in his eyes. "Splendid! Truly splendid!"
The fight raged on. Their figures flickered across the island continuously. Each exchange made heaven and earth change color; the sea churned with waves dozens of meters high. Kaido's spiked club and Garp's iron fists clashed again and again, erupting in dazzling sparks.
"Boro Breath!"
Kaido suddenly opened his maw, unleashing a torrent of scorching fiery breath that incinerated everything in its path. Seeing this, Garp immediately cloaked his entire body in Busoshoku Haki, taking the blow head-on.
"Tekkai: Steel!"
The flames dissipated. Garp stood there, completely unharmed. He grinned. "Is that all the heat you've got? You can't even singe my beard!"
***
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