37 Brontes vs Kaido (Part I)
A/N: If you want to see more chapters and support my work, go to my Patre@n to see more chapters ahead.
You can see more chapters ahead of everyone on my Patre@n:
WWW.patre@n.com/RK98
------------------------------
The warship cut through the waves with a sense of urgency, its deck bustling with the activity of marines working diligently.
Below deck, the precious cargo of seastone ore had been secured, ready for covert transport back to headquarters.
The mission was clear: escort the seastone safely and discreetly, a task of paramount importance to the World Government and the Marine.
The marine escort was led by none other than Brontes and Borsalino. However, this time, the mission's security was bolstered by the presence of enigmatic three figures from the World Government itself. Cloaked in white and their faces obscured by masks, they were the elite CP0 agents, shadows that dealt with darkness.
As the ship sliced through the ocean, one of the CP0 agents approached Brontes with a grave expression.
"Gentlemen, we've received the latest intelligence; the Beasts Pirates have made a move." He said, his voice barely more than a whisper, yet it carried the weight of an impending storm.
Borsalino let out a sigh, the light of helplessness flickering in his eyes: "The news still leaked." He muttered, a frown creasing his brow.
Brontes nodded, his gaze steady and unfazed: "It's normal. There is nothing that can be absolutely hidden in this world. It's not difficult to probe for this information as long as you're determined and willing to pay enough."
Borsalino's concern deepened as he pondered the possibility of a direct confrontation: "I wonder if that madman Kaido will come. If he comes personally, that would be troublesome. The whole operation may fall apart."
Brontes turned to face Borsalino, his surprise evident.
"Have you fought him before?" He asked.
"I fought him a few months ago alongside Sengoku-san. He's practically an indestructible monster. If he comes personally, you will be able to see his inhuman strength. But the two of us should be able to hold him off. I'm just worried he'll bring too many subordinates, which will make the situation even more dangerous for us." Borsalino explained, his voice tinged with a hint of concern.
"At that time, we would definitely need your support." Borsalino said, turning to the CP0 agents with a serious look.
The leading CP0 agent nodded, his mask hiding any expression: "This batch of Seastone ore is very important; we absolutely can't lose them. If something unexpected happens, we will take action."
Borsalino nodded in return, a semblance of relief in his posture: "That's good. If it were just us, it would be quite troublesome. It would be better if you guys help a little bit."
...
The uneasy marines braced for the worst, and as fate would have it, their fears materialized. The lookout's call sent a shiver down every spine on board.
Ahead, a massive pirate ship loomed, its figurehead a menacing dragon head, and on the bow stood a giant of a man. With two horns crowning his head, disheveled hair, and skin adorned with dragon scale tattoos, Kaido's presence was as imposing as the legends foretold.
"We are in big trouble; they already found us." Borsalino stated, his voice now a solemn echo of the danger they faced.
Brontes's response was equally serious: "Taking action now will reveal our identities. If Kaido knew that this transaction is done by the Marine, it won't end well."
Borsalino's annoyance was palpable as he concluded: "Perhaps in the future, we can only leave it to the World Government and the Underworld to handle their own transactions."
"Hand over the Seastone!" Kaido's voice thundered across the waves as the imposing pirate ship drew nearer.
Brontes, standing resolute on the deck, watched the approaching figure with a mixture of awe and calculation: "So this is young Kaido, the world's Strongest Creature. It's my first time seeing him in real life."
Brontes felt the oppressive aura emanating from Kaido. It was a tangible force, a weight that seemed to press down on them with the promise of destruction.
Brontes knew that in many ways, he could stand toe-to-toe with the mightiest of foes, but Kaido's sheer physical prowess was something else entirely. It dwarfed Brontes's strength, and that was no small feat.
The demand for the Seastone ores hung in the air, unanswered. To relinquish such a treasure was unthinkable; a billion Berries was not a sum the World Government parted with lightly.
These ores were more than mere commodities; they were the cornerstone of strategic power for both the Marine and the World Government. Surrender was not an option, not even to one of the New World's most formidable Overlords.
Kaido's patience, it seemed, was as short as his temper. With a roar that split the skies, his body underwent a monstrous transformation. Swelling in size, he became shrouded in a miasma of darkness, and then, with the might of a mythical beast, a colossal dragon took to the air, its shadow casting a pall over the warship as it dove menacingly towards them.
"Prepare for the impact!" Brontes shouted loudly.
"ZliZli!!"
In response to the threat, Brontes's own form crackled with energy, electric sparks dancing wildly around him.
With a surge of power, he launched himself skyward, and behind him, a thunder dragon of immense size and power appeared.
"Boom!!! Rumble!!!"
The clash was cataclysmic.
The lightning dragon, a creature of pure energy, collided with Kaido's draconic form. A tempest of lightning enveloped Kaido, the air alive with the sound of electric fury.
"ZliZli!!! Rumble!!!"
The spectacle was one of awe and terror. Kaido, suspended in the storm's heart, was a figure of raw power, his body shrouded in the electric onslaught.
Yet, when the tumult subsided, Kaido emerged unscathed, his gaze fixed on Brontes with a newfound intensity.
"Lightning, you must be that Marine's Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. I didn't expect the Marine would stoop to making deals with pirates." Kaido said with a sneer.
At the beginning, the Beasts Pirates had long been dismissed as a band of savages, with Kaido at their helm, a brute of little intellect who knew only battle and the bottom of a sake bottle.
But as the Wano Country arc unfolded, perceptions shifted. Kaido was no mere brawler; his strategic acumen was as sharp as any seasoned tactician's.
Kaido's insight into the Marine's ranks was not lost on Brontes. The revelation that Kaido had his own intelligence network.
"I didn't expect you to know about me. Being recognized by one of the New World's Overlords is indeed an honor." Brontes replied, his smile unfaltering despite the tension.
Kaido's voice, deep and unyielding, cut through the sea breeze: "Lightning is useless against me. Resisting the inevitable by fighting stupidly won't change anything. So why don't you cut the chase and hand over the Seastone ores?"
Brontes's smile broadened, a spark of defiance in his eyes: "This belongs to the Marine; how could we possibly hand it over to you? If you want Seastones, go invade Wano Country and get some by yourself. Or perhaps you're scared of Whitebeard, who is backing Kozuki Oden, Kaido?" He taunted, the smile turning into a grin.
The mention of Whitebeard seemed to strike a nerve. Kaido's eyes flared with fury, and without warning, he unleashed his devastating attack.
"Bolo Breath!"
A beam of pure energy erupted from his maw, searing through the air towards Brontes.
The beam tore through where Brontes had been standing moments before and collided with the ocean, sending a shockwave across the waves and a towering column of water skyward.
"Boom!!!"
"ZliZli!"
The air crackled with electricity as Brontes's form dissipated into lightning, reassembling above the chaos, unharmed.
Kaido, undeterred, charged forward, his head coated in the black sheen of Armament Haki. "Annoying Logia ability." He growled.
Brontes, poised and ready, summoned his power.
"Thor Spear!"
A spear of lightning coalesced in his hand, and with a mighty throw, it struck Kaido squarely on the head.
"Boom!! Rumble!!!"
The impact was explosive, but Kaido's defenses were formidable, and he continued his relentless advance, headbutting Brontes and sending him hurtling through the air.
Yet, as a master of the Logia fruit, Brontes was prepared, his body shifting into its elemental form to absorb the blow.
"It seems we're in for a real fight." He said, his voice light but his eyes serious.
In an instant, Brontes reappeared, perched daringly upon Kaido's snout. His hands raised, a ball of crackling energy forming in each palm.
"ZliZli!!!"
"Lightning Palm!" He shouted, and with a swift motion, he slammed the thunderballs into Kaido's eyes.
"Rumble!!!"
The impact was immediate. Kaido roared in pain, his massive body twisting in the air as he tried to shake off the assault.
"Roar!!"
The dragon's bellow echoed across the sea. It was a truth as old as time: even the mightiest of creatures had their vulnerabilities.
