Chapter 73: The Second Wave
The swirling orbs of Blue assailed Kaido from every angle, tearing at his flesh. Of course, it caused no lasting injury. Even when they distorted his limbs, his monstrous body snapped back to normal almost instantly. This insane regenerative ability far outstripped Satoru's capacity to inflict lasting harm.
Faced with the energy spheres, Kaido unleashed another Thunder Bagua. The shockwave gave Satoru the split-second he needed. He vanished, reappearing at the port of the G-8 base. The Marines there spotted him immediately.
He felt a pang of guilt leaving Kaido to Kizaru alone, but he had no choice. The current Kaido was beyond his ability to handle.
"Sir?!"
The Marines were shocked. It was the first time they'd seen their commander in such a state—clothes torn, face etched with deep fatigue, several visible wounds.
They rushed to help the half-kneeling Satoru to his feet.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Satoru said, waving them off. "Now, listen. Everyone, evacuate this base. Get as far away as possible."
The order stunned them. Abandoning the base? It felt like admitting defeat.
"The enemy this time is too strong. Admiral Kizaru and I can't hold out much longer. You need to leave, now. That's the only way we can retreat safely."
His simple explanation painted a dire picture. The pirate's strength was beyond comprehension.
"Clarl! Organize the evacuation! Immediately!"
Seeing the Marines hesitate, Satoru barked the order.
"Yes, sir!"
With that, Satoru vanished again, returning to the hellscape of the main battle.
There, the tide had turned. Kizaru, who'd held a slight edge earlier, was now on the defensive. Kaido's condition was largely unchanged from the start, but Kizaru was flagging, visibly struggling.
Satoru reappeared behind Kaido. Another Black Flash, but this time concentrated to a single point on his index finger. He thrust it like a spear into Kaido's shoulder.
BANG!
A hot, painful current shot up Satoru's finger. The blow had wounded Kaido.
The severe pain made Kaido's massive body flinch—a momentary opening. Kizaru seized it. His light-sword stabbed forward, piercing clean through Kaido's torso.
This was the most significant damage they'd inflicted since teaming up.
"You... BASTARDS!" Kaido roared.
After his successful strike, Satoru had already retreated. But Kizaru, attacking a split-second later, left an opening.
Kaido's huge hand clamped down on the blade of Kizaru's light-sword. He dropped his club, clenched his other fist, and swung for Kizaru's face.
But rage made Kaido reckless. For a swordsman like Kizaru, the sword wasn't his life. He could reform it anytime with his power.
Realizing Kaido's intent, Kizaru released the sword instantly. His body dissolved into light, reforming high in the air.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
A storm of light descended once more, but this one was different. Far more potent than his initial barrage. If the earlier version was explosive light pellets, this was a torrent of high-velocity, piercing, searing lasers that relentlessly hammered Kaido's body.
There were no explosions, just terrible penetration. In seconds, Kaido was a bloody mess, his body pockmarked with laser-bored holes.
The move made Satoru reassess Kizaru. So this was the true Yasakani no Magatama. Not watered down at all. It was living up to its legendary name, and Kaido was taking every hit.
Yet the more wounded Kaido became, the more ferocious he grew. Though his injuries were healing, the pace was noticeably slower.
After unleashing that attack, Kizaru half-collapsed near Satoru, gasping for air. He looked ready to drop at any moment.
They'd wounded Kaido gravely, but at the cost of half their own side's combat power.
"What's the matter, kid?" Kizaru panted, a wry smile on his lips. "Looks like the two of us might end up staying here with this monster."
For all his usual laziness, Kizaru was a Marine Admiral. He held to a Marine's justice. He'd long been prepared to die in battle against pirates. He just hadn't faced a monster like Kaido in years, which had made him complacent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been pushed this far.
"No," Satoru said, his gaze fixed past Kaido. "Our reinforcements are here."
"Huh?" Kizaru was surprised. His Observation Haki hadn't sensed anyone new, only the retreating Marines.
But not long after his query, he felt it too—a bestial, overwhelming aura approaching fast through his Haki. It was immensely powerful, not far below Kaido's peak.
"I really didn't expect him to be the second to arrive."
"Isn't that normal?" Satoru managed a tired grin. "He is, after all, my nominal grandfather."
From the direction of the churning sea, a warship came into view, moving at impossible speed. Standing at its prow, a massive figure with a shock of grey hair and a fierce grin cracked his knuckles, his eyes locked on the towering form of the wounded Beast Emperor. The air itself seemed to grow heavier with the arrival of the Hero of the Marines. The cavalry had arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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