Kaido Beats Sengoku! (1/5)

Naval Headquarters, Marineford

It was a clear, sunny day.

"Marshal, look at those seagulls gliding over the sea. Could it be a sign of peace spreading across the ocean?" Stucky, Sengoku's adjutant, pointed to the group of seagulls flying low over the waves, his voice filled with admiration.

"Heh, seagulls always have been symbols of peace. I hope in my lifetime, I'll witness the day when the pirates are all wiped out," Sengoku chuckled, stroking his beard as a warm breeze blew through.

"With you at the helm, Marshal, the Marine will be unstoppable!"

"Indeed! Under your leadership, the pirates' days are numbered!"

"You are, without a doubt, one of the greatest Marine Marshals of all time!"

"Greatest? I'd say you're the strongest Marine ever!"

Flattery surrounded Sengoku like a rising tide, and despite knowing the words were hollow, it still lifted his spirits.

Suddenly, the bright blue sky darkened, and thick clouds rolled in, crackling with lightning.

"What's going on with the weather?" one officer muttered, squinting upward.

Just then, a bolt of lightning cracked through the sky, hurtling straight toward Sengoku.

"Armament Haki!" Without hesitation, Sengoku coated his body with Haki, bracing himself for impact. The lightning struck, a puff of smoke rising from his head. When the smoke cleared, his once immaculate hair now stood comically on end, a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke curling from it.

The officers around him stifled their laughter, their faces turning red from the effort of holding it in. One shock was bad enough, but before anyone could relax—

CRACK!

Another bolt of lightning came down, aiming directly at Sengoku again.

This time, the alarm was visible on everyone's faces. Once might be chance, but twice?

Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "Great Buddha Form!"

His body transformed into a massive golden Buddha, his arm raised and covered in Armament Haki to meet the incoming bolt. The clash sent sparks flying, but this time, the lightning dissipated with minimal damage.

Sengoku's mind raced. The first lightning strike had pierced through his Haki. This wasn't a natural storm. Someone was behind this.

A low growl echoed from the dark clouds above, and the air shimmered with heat. The center of the cloud glowed fiery red, and from it emerged a massive fireball, descending toward them like a small sun.

"That's... Dragon's Breath!" one of the officers gasped in horror.

Sengoku's expression darkened. "Kaido!"

With a roar, Sengoku unleashed his own counterattack. "Buddha Light Shockwave!"

Golden energy exploded from his palms, surging upward to meet the fiery dragon's breath. The sky erupted into a chaotic clash of light and flame as the two forces collided, shaking the very air.

"Someone alert Sakazuki! We need him here now!" Sengoku barked as the Marines scrambled to obey.

The ground quaked as the shockwave of Sengoku's attack met Kaido's fiery breath. The sky above Marineford burned with the intensity of their clash.

In his office, Sakazuki, tending to a bonsai tree, heard the explosion. His eyes narrowed as he peered out the window. "Kaido..." he muttered, smashing through the window and rocketing into the sky with Moonwalk.

Meanwhile, from the clouds, Kaido descended in his full dragon form, his massive claws slashing toward Sengoku. Thunder crackled across his scaly body.

"Old man! Come and face me!"

Sengoku raised his fist, meeting the dragon's claws head-on with a thunderous crash. "Kaido! Did you forget the beating I gave you last time? How dare you attack Marineford again!"

Sengoku's voice boomed with authority, though he knew full well that Kaido's power in dragon form was not something to take lightly.

"You old fool! I didn't come here for a reunion," Kaido snarled, his claws pressing against Sengoku's Buddha fist, forcing the Marshal back.

Sengoku stumbled, the strength of the dragon pushing him into the ground. His heart pounded. What was Kaido's goal? Why now?

"Kaido! What is the meaning of this? We've done nothing to provoke you!" Sengoku shouted, both to stall for time and to buy a moment for the rest of the Marines to gather.

The Marine elites quickly formed up beside Sengoku. One Admiral, seven Vice Admirals, ready for battle.

But Kaido's eyes never left Sengoku. "Don't play dumb with me, Sengoku!" he growled. "Is Monkey D. Finn one of yours?!"

The name hit the gathered officers like a cannonball.

"Finn?" someone muttered.

The realization dawned on them all at once. Finn had only recently tangled with Big Mom. And now Kaido?

Sengoku cursed internally. It was never quiet for long when a Monkey D. was involved.