Kaido let out a cold snort in response, his heavy footsteps thudding dully against the ground. An overwhelming pressure began to radiate from him—the Conqueror's Haki belonging to the strongest. The air seemed to solidify at that moment. The surrounding buildings shook violently, glass windows shattered one after another, fragments flying everywhere.
As Kaido advanced step by step, the Conqueror's Haki he released also continued to escalate. The ground beneath his feet couldn't withstand this power; spiderweb-like cracks spread outward from each point of impact. Even Sebastian and the others behind him were forced to retreat under this pressure, the weaker members collapsing one by one—
And this was with Kaido deliberately restraining his power.
Kuma and Ginny, facing Kaido head-on, bore an even more terrifying pressure. Ginny lasted only a few seconds before losing consciousness, slumping limply into Kuma's arms. Kuma gritted his teeth, holding the unconscious Ginny as he retreated with difficulty. Each step felt like battling against an invisible tidal wave.
The range of the Conqueror's Haki continued to expand, sweeping across the entire Kingdom of Sorbet like an invisible tide.
In the distance, people collapsed one after another. In the end, ninety-five percent of the kingdom's residents fell unconscious under this force. The streets were littered with the bodies of unconscious people. The entire kingdom fell into an eerie silence.
Kuzan, restrained by Seastone chains, though his strength was limited, kept his awareness as Conqueror's Haki primarily targeted the spirit. Even so, under this overwhelming pressure, he was also forced to retreat step by step, fine beads of sweat forming on his brow.
"Is this... true Conqueror's Haki?" Kuzan muttered to himself, unable to hide the shock in his voice. He had never felt such pure oppression before—as if the very heavens and earth were trembling before Kaido's power.
Kaido's gaze was sharp as a blade, locked onto Kuma. His voice was low and laden with pressure. "Did you think you could escape?" His Conqueror's Haki was still escalating. The air seemed compressed to its limit, making even breathing difficult.
Kuma's frame emitted a faint hum, clearly also enduring immense pressure. He looked down at Ginny in his arms, his gaze firm, as if having come to some decision.
Kuzan barely steadied himself, thinking with internal shock, 'This level of Haki... It's like facing an immovable mountain.'
Kuma reached out a hand towards Ginny. The moment before his hand could touch her, a black shadow flashed by. Ginny, who had been in his arms, vanished. Kuma quickly looked around, only to see Ginny being held effortlessly in the grip of Kaido, who had appeared behind him at some unknown moment, dangling her like a rag doll.
"You bastard! Give Ginny back to me!" Seeing Ginny in Kaido's grasp, Kuma could no longer restrain himself. He charged directly at Kaido.
"Here it comes!" Seeing Kuma charging at him, Kaido held Ginny in one hand, his other hand gripping the Hassaikai as he swung it directly at Kuma.
BOOM—!
Kuma dodged Kaido's kanabo at the last possible second. The terrifying force carried by the kanabo smashed a huge crater into the ground. After retreating to the side, Kuma tried to compress air to use an air cannon, but his movements were hesitant and restrained, worried about Ginny in Kaido's hand.
Kaido keenly sensed this. He directly handed Ginny over to Sebastian, then said to Kuma, "Kuma. Now, show me your full power. Let me see your strength. If you can satisfy me, I'll let Ginny go."
"Really?" Kuma asked hurriedly upon hearing this.
"That's right," Kaido nodded.
Kuma took a deep breath, his entire body tensing. He immediately launched an all-out assault. His hands moved swiftly, dozens of bubbles compressed with massive amounts of air shooting towards Kaido like cannonballs. These bubbles shimmered with a dangerous light in the sun, each one containing astonishing destructive power.
"Hmph. Having stayed in a place like the South Blue, your combat experience is sorely lacking," Kaido sneered contemptuously, lightly swinging his kanabo, the Hassaikai. A sharp shockwave sliced through the air, accurately striking every single bubble.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Consecutive explosions rocked the sky. The thick smoke produced by the explosions instantly enveloped an area of several dozen meters. Kaido stood perfectly still, a playful smile on his lips, watching with interest for Kuma's next move.
At the moment the smoke was thickest, Kuma's figure suddenly appeared behind Kaido. His palm was condensed with a massive amount of compressed air, emitting a heart-palpitating hum. "Oh?" Kaido tilted his head slightly. Kuma's attack grazed past his body, but the tremendous shockwave erupting from his palm still sent a slight numbing sensation through Kaido's frame.
Kaido immediately swung his kanabo in retaliation. Kuma, prepared, nimbly evaded. After retreating several dozen meters, Kuma spread his arms wide, then swiftly brought them together. His figure vanished instantly, charging at Kaido with astonishing speed.
BOOM!
A tremendously powerful air cannon struck Kaido head-on. The violent explosion affected an area over a hundred meters around. The ground was blasted into a huge crater, rubble flying everywhere. Seeing his attack had connected, Kuma let out a long sigh of relief, his taut nerves relaxing slightly.
However, the next second, a violent whirlwind suddenly erupted from the explosion's center, scattering all the smoke. Kaido stood there completely unharmed, not a single tear in his clothes. Kuma's heart immediately sank to the pit of his stomach, fine sweat beading on his forehead.
"Alright. The test is about done," Kaido said, rolling his shoulders. "Your current strength is fairly decent. You'd rank in the top five within the Beasts Pirates." With that, he gripped the Hassaikai with both hands. Red lightning began to crackle around the pitch-black kanabo, and the air grew thick with a suffocating pressure.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Kaido's body instantly appeared before Kuma. The kanabo, carrying destructive force, smashed heavily into Kuma's head. Kuma shot away like a cannonball, crashing through dozens of houses before finally coming to a stop, leaving a long trail of ruins in his wake.
Kuzan, watching from the side, saw this scene, his pupils contracting sharply. He immediately recalled how he, too, had taken that move head-on. The bone-deep pain seemed to return to his body, making him unconsciously touch his own cheek, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
Kaido sheathed his kanabo and slowly walked towards where Kuma had fallen. His footsteps were exceptionally clear in the silent battlefield, each step seeming to strike the hearts of everyone present.
As the dust cleared, Kuma could be seen struggling to prop himself up, trying to stand. Blood streamed from his forehead, his left arm bent at an unnatural angle. Yet, his gaze remained firm. "Not bad. To remain conscious after taking my Thunder Bagua. The Buccaneer Tribe's physique truly is formidable," Kaido said, looking down at Kuma, a note of appreciation in his tone.
"Now, time to fulfill my promise," Kaido continued. "I'm satisfied with this fight, so congratulations. Because of your efforts, Ginny will be released." He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold. "However, Kuma. As the loser, you will become a prisoner of the Beasts Pirates."
"I-is that so? That's good then... Ginny..." Upon hearing Kaido's words, Kuma's expression relaxed.
He turned his head with difficulty to look at Ginny, lying beside Sebastian, a faint, relieved smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Then his consciousness faded completely, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.
"Someone, bring these two. We're heading back," Kaido directly ordered his men, pointing at the unconscious Kuma and the weakened Ginny. Several pirates immediately stepped forward, carefully picking up the two. Kaido turned and walked towards the direction of the pirate ship, his black cape flapping loudly in the wind.
***
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