There are differences among the Four Emperors!

The dragon looming in the sky is a nightmare for the weak, but for the man named Edward Newgate, it's just a large prey.

After landing a punch filled with the power of tremors, Whitebeard didn't stop. He raised his naginata and slashed another terrifying strike at the roaring dragon.

With a deafening boom, the energy contained in the massive slash destroyed everything in its path. Against Kaido's gigantic dragon form, Whitebeard didn't even need to aim—his Observation Haki locked on and easily hit the target.

Kaido had just blocked the punch imbued with tremor power when the huge slash followed immediately, sending his massive dragon body flying backward. The sheer force contorted Kaido's dragon face slightly.

"This old man… is too ridiculous," Kaido thought, recalling the days when they were in the Rocks Pirates together.

Before he could think more, Whitebeard was already leaping toward him with his naginata. Seeing Whitebeard's calm expression, the fury in Kaido's eyes almost turned into a tangible blaze.

"Boom!"

Raging flames suddenly spewed from Kaido's mouth, turning half the sky red. But Whitebeard effortlessly cut through the flames and charged out from the fire.

Just as he emerged, Kaido, now in his dragon-human hybrid form, was already prepared. Holding his spiked club, black and purple lightning crackled around it.

"Conqueror of the Inferno!"

Kaido swung the club violently, sending a massive shockwave directly at the emerging Whitebeard.

"Huh?!"

Facing the sudden strike, Whitebeard's gaze sharpened. He clenched his fist, quickly covering it with the glowing white energy of his Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

Boom!

The deafening clash created a huge shockwave between the two. Whitebeard's attack rhythm was momentarily slowed by the collision.

"Hah! Who would've thought an old geezer like you could return to your peak? But shouldn't an old man like you retire quietly? Fighting like a youngster at your age—aren't you afraid you'll die at sea one day?" Kaido sneered from afar.

"Gurararara! Kid, words alone won't defeat me. It seems your ally's already been taken out," Whitebeard replied, glancing toward the direction where Nicolas was.

Hearing Whitebeard's words, Kaido's expression darkened. Though Big Mom was useless, she was still his ally and powerful in her own right. Now that she was taken down, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. But as for feeling sad or regretful? Not a chance.

After all, their relationship was more of a mutual benefit, without much real affection.

"That woman getting taken down was inevitable. She had all that talent and power, yet wasted her time having kids. The weak don't survive in this world," Kaido said coldly.

"Indeed, in the New World, the weak have a hard time surviving!"

As Whitebeard finished his words, he suddenly appeared before Kaido with his fist raised. Caught off guard, Kaido could only barely block, but was still sent flying by Whitebeard's punch.

Crash!

Kaido was smashed into a distant lake, sending water splashing everywhere.

"Thunder Bagua!"

Kaido then transformed to his hybrid form and leaped out of the water, swinging his spiked club coated in Conqueror's Haki with lightning speed at Whitebeard. The rapid strike, combined with Conqueror's Haki, could instantly overwhelm 99% of the world's top fighters.

But Whitebeard clearly belonged to that remaining 1%. Always maintaining his Observation Haki, Whitebeard effortlessly blocked every one of Kaido's attacks with his naginata.

Dozens of rounds of fierce exchanges followed. The collision of Conqueror's Haki between the two was so intense that the surrounding climate started to change, with black and red lightning flashing with each clash.

Even with his rapid attacks, Kaido couldn't break through Whitebeard's defense. Instead, his own wounds started accumulating.

Though Kaido's monstrous regeneration kept him in the fight, injuries are still injuries. Against a stronger opponent, accumulated wounds could ultimately decide the battle's outcome.

Whitebeard noticed Kaido's healing speed but didn't care. He continued his relentless assault.

With the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and his monstrous strength, Kaido was forced into a defensive position. Kaido had considered counterattacking but realized Whitebeard wasn't giving him the chance. The idea of trading blows with Whitebeard—taking hits to deliver hits—also crossed his mind.

But seeing Whitebeard, still energetic after a prolonged battle, Kaido abandoned that plan. That tactic might work against the aging Whitebeard, but not against him in his prime. After all, the older Whitebeard nearly killed him with one strike, let alone this peak version.

Kaido, who usually relies on taking hits to land fatal blows, found himself at a disadvantage against Whitebeard.

Despite being overpowered, Kaido didn't lose his composure. His awakened Mythical Zoan form was his ace in long battles. If he could turn this into a war of attrition, his recovery and endurance would eventually give him the upper hand.

In terms of stamina, how many in the world could match him?

And dragging out the fight didn't mean he'd always be on the receiving end.

Boom!

Kaido took a direct punch from Whitebeard, creating some distance between them.

Ignoring the blood trickling from his mouth, Kaido gripped his club with both hands, coated it with Conqueror's Haki, and swung it fiercely at Whitebeard. In that instant, Kaido's figure vanished, leaving only a streak of black and red lightning.

"Supreme Thunder Bagua!"

Kaido's perfectly executed counterstrike was the reward for taking Whitebeard's punch.

Whitebeard hadn't expected Kaido to take his hit head-on just to counterattack.

But so what? He's Whitebeard! He is HIM!

Besides, only such a fierce fight could truly make his blood boil!

"Gurararara! Bring it on, brat!"

Whitebeard laughed as he swung his naginata downward at the charging Kaido.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, a massive figure was sent flying. The resulting shockwave tore through the area, upturning the ground.

Whitebeard calmly wiped a trace of blood from his face. A small wound—courtesy of Kaido's last attack.

Lying among the shattered rocks in the distance, Kaido looked down silently at the wound on his chest.

Though they were both Emperors, even among them, there's a difference in power.