Chapter 289

Kaido was defeated?

The legendary Beast Kaido, known as the "Strongest Creature in the World," and a man destined to surpass even Whitebeard...

Defeated?!

The commanders of both the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates stood frozen, unable to process the sight of Kaido lying motionless in a massive crater.

The overwhelming impact of the scene left everyone in a state of shock, their minds unable to recover.

"Hey! Kaido! What are you doing? Get up!" Big Mom stomped forward, flames engulfing her Emperor's Sword as she roared in frustration.

As one of the former Rocks Pirates crew and now Kaido's ally in the Four Emperors, she had witnessed his rise to the top step by step.

Though she understood that in sheer numbers, they were no match for the Demon King's organization, she hadn't imagined that Kaido could lose in a one-on-one duel against that little brat, Zyhark.

This was something she couldn't have anticipated or accepted!

But Kaido, lying in the crater, didn't rise as she expected. He remained still, unable to move.

Across from the pirates, Ishtar watched calmly.

After all, if Zyhark didn't have such power, how could he be her Master in this world?

Compared to Kaido's defeat, Ishtar was far more intrigued by how Zyhark had managed to summon the Enuma Elish!

Yamato, standing beside her, wore a much more complicated expression as she gazed at her defeated father.

Although she had once harbored deep resentment toward him, since deciding to follow in Zyhark's footsteps as a hero, Kaido had mostly stayed out of her affairs.

This was evident in her now unshackled wrists, freed from the explosive cuffs.

During the Demon King's three-year disappearance, Yamato had roamed Wano, finally witnessing the hardships faced by its people and even giving the tyrant Orochi a good beating.

She came to understand the atrocities of the Beasts Pirates and learned from the citizens that Kozuki Oden was a "foolish lord" who had placed misplaced trust in invaders and power-seekers, disappointing countless people.

Before her resolve to emulate Zyhark, she had viewed Oden with reverence. Now, all she felt was disdain.

And so, the newly reborn Yamato set out on a new path: emulating Zyhark, who defied the might of the World Government for his people, she constantly challenged Kaido, aiming to liberate all of Wano.

In those battles, she realized one undeniable truth.

Her father, Beast Kaido, was an undefeatable monster!

Yet now, this monster had been bested in direct combat by her idol, Zyhark.

Zzzzzt.

A blue arc of lightning crackled beside her, breaking Yamato from her thoughts.

Standing amidst the drifting dust, Zyhark's blood-stained figure appeared, his once-handsome face now marked by a severe burn scar.

Though victorious, the toll of Kaido's ultimate Flame Dragon Torch had left him with severe injuries.

"Hey, Ishtar, how is it you still haven't finished dealing with your opponent after all this time?"

Ignoring the nerve-wracking pain searing through his body, Zyhark glanced over at the untouched second goddess.

"That old hag may not look like much, but her body's as tough as steel!" Ishtar snapped out of her shock at Zyhark's battered state, crossing her arms with a pout. "Besides, the people around her are pretty skilled too, so it's taking longer than expected."

Zyhark instantly saw through her motives; she was having too much fun playing around, relishing her chance to flaunt her goddess powers.

Though Katakuri and King were powerful in their own right, they could only serve as minor obstacles in a Yonko-level battle, at best providing support.

Moreover, Ishtar had Yamato, who wielded Conqueror's Haki, on her side!

"If it were Aqua, she would've wrapped this up ages ago."

Feigning a sigh, Zyhark chose the simplest approach, knowing full well it would light a fire under her.

"What did you just say?!" As expected, Ishtar's competitive spirit flared, an aura of burning fury surrounding her.

"You jerk! How dare you say something so outrageous—I'm furious now!"

"Watch closely, Zyhark! This goddess will finish them off in no time!"

With that, Ishtar leaped onto her bow, transforming into a streak of golden light that shot into the sky.

High above, her black hair whipped in the violent gusts. Suspended alongside her bow, Ishtar raised her arm with a flourish.

In an instant, the space around her trembled, a dark abyss emerging in the Haki-torn sky.

The depths of the abyss held countless brilliant galaxies, opening like the eye of a god, stretching across the heavens in the blink of an eye.

Just as the people of Wano and the distant seas had regained their composure after the earlier explosion, they looked up—and nearly fainted from the terror of what they saw.

From the depths of that galactic abyss, a golden sphere the size of an island began to descend.

Winds howled, tearing up dust and debris.

With a mere gesture toward the ground, the tiny figure in the sky unleashed the massive sphere, condensing it into a barrage of golden energy that poured into her unique bow.

Zzzzzt!

The highly compressed energy coalesced into a purple arrow that emitted a continuous roar.

"From the heights of heaven to the vastness of the earth."

Ishtar's gaze swept downward, focusing on Big Mom and her pirate crew below.

Her bow shifted ever so slightly, adjusting her aim.

"Feel the full might of the Goddess of Beauty."

"Star of the Mountain-Shaking Celestial Flame!!"

The gigantic energy beam, infused with the essence of Venus, ripped through the void, hurtling toward Onigashima with destructive force!

"Dammit, this idiot! I'm still here!" Zyhark, realizing the danger, ignored the backlash from his absorption ability, grabbing the stunned Yamato and transforming into a bolt of lightning to escape.

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit granted him unparalleled agility, but Big Mom and her crew weren't as fortunate and had no choice but to brace themselves.

A dark red wave of Conqueror's Haki surged over Onigashima's ruins.

There was no time to mourn Kaido. Next up was the Four Emperors' Big Mom!

"Like hell I'll lose to a lunatic like you!" Sensing the devastating power of the incoming attack, Big Mom roared in defiance, merging her three homies and Haki to unleash her strongest technique.

"3000-League Thunderous Ikoku!"

At the same time, the Sweet Commanders and All-Stars stepped forward, each unleashing their full power.

Despite their quick reaction, Kaido's defeat had left them at a disadvantage.

Before their attacks could even take shape, Ishtar's Star of the Mountain-Shaking Celestial Flame was upon them!

BOOM!!!

The compressed energy beam exploded with a blast radius of thousands of meters, engulfing the entire island of Onigashima in flames.

Rocks disintegrated, waves surged, and a tsunami of steam swept across the battlefield.

When the chaotic rumble finally subsided, and the steam dispersed, only the sound of seawater rushing into a vast void remained.

Looking down, there was nothing but an enormous crater on the sea's surface—Onigashima had been obliterated!

"You lunatic goddess! Were you trying to kill me too?!" In the sky above, Zyhark, still holding a bewildered Yamato, shouted angrily at Ishtar.

"Oh my, Zyhark, when did you get off the island?" Ishtar asked, resting her chin on her hand, a disappointed look on her face.

Then, with a sharp "thud," she felt two solid knocks on the back of her head.

"Try me, and I'll confiscate all your treasures!"

"Sumimasen, gomennasai~" The second goddess clutched her aching head, letting out tiny sobs.

"Hey, you're Zyhark, right?! That was incredible! I've always wanted to be someone like you!" Yamato's star-struck gaze sparkled as she looked at Zyhark, showing not a hint of the usual maidenly shyness.

"Huh? Weren't you aiming to be Kozuki Oden?" Zyhark asked, visibly surprised.

How had he suddenly become the object of Yamato's admiration?

He couldn't recall leaving any diaries or logs behind, let alone any that might have circulated within the isolationist Wano.

"Who would want to be a naïve fool like Oden? You're the one I truly aspire to be like!"

Remembering her past infatuation, Yamato blushed with embarrassment.

"Alright, alright, we can discuss that later. We have other matters to handle first," Zyhark said, his face turning serious, showing little interest in Yamato's backstory.

"What do you mean? I just finished off all the enemies. The battle is over!" Ishtar boasted, not missing a chance to praise herself.

"Not even close, Ishtar. The real fight… is just beginning."

Zyhark sighed softly, turning his gaze to the distant horizon.

"What… is that?"

Following his line of sight, Yamato and Ishtar spotted a large airship rapidly approaching through the thin clouds.

"If I'm not mistaken, that should be the Marines."

"The Marines? So they're the bad guys?!" Ishtar exclaimed.

Though she arrived late, she had learned the basics of the pirate world's factions from Meowth and others.

If they dared oppose her people, then they couldn't be up to any good!

As they spoke, the Marine airship entered Wano's territory, slowly coming to a halt before Zyhark, Yamato, and Ishtar.

There was no bustling crowd; only five towering figures stood at the bow, radiating an intense aura.

A gentle breeze lifted the differently-colored "Justice" cloaks adorning their shoulders.

From left to right were Fujitora, Kizaru, Akainu, Aokiji, and Aramaki.

These five represented the ultimate power of Marine Headquarters—the Admirals!

Without a word, the ship's deck suddenly lit up with a brilliant yellow glow.

Kizaru acted first, appearing high above, crossing his glowing hands in an attack stance.

It was one of his signature moves, the powerful and wide-ranging Yasakani no Magatama!

The barrage of laser beams filled half the sky in an instant.

With his crimson eyes flashing, Zyhark, weakened by the side effects of his ability, couldn't use his Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers or Haki again.

But he still had the strength to activate the King's Treasury.

Zzzzt.

Golden portals appeared behind him, unleashing countless divine weapons aimed precisely at the incoming laser barrage.

Explosions erupted mid-air as the two forces collided, creating a cascade of fiery blasts.

In the midst of the chaos, a laser beam slipped through, reaching Zyhark's side within moments.

"Oh, sasuga da na, Zyhark."

The laser dematerialized, revealing Kizaru's slightly sleazy smile.

While greeting Zyhark cordially, Kizaru's right leg, glowing with light, swung toward him without mercy.

Zyhark's eyes glowed red as he raised his arm to block, enduring the full force of Kizaru's Light Kick with sheer physical strength.

"Oh? Still have strength left after your fight with Kaido?"

Surprised, Kizaru eyed Zyhark's bare arm, which lacked Haki. "But it looks like you're at your limit, aren't you?"

With a blinding flash, he increased the strength of his kick.

Just before Zyhark was about to be sent flying, he glanced at Yamato in his arms and had a sudden idea.

"Yamato! Cover your entire body in Armament Haki, and channel Conqueror's Haki into your horns!"

Startled, Yamato paused for a second but quickly followed his instructions without hesitation.

"Got it!"

Trusting her idol completely, she stowed her club and released her Haki as Zyhark directed.

"Sasuga, Kizaru! Try this one on for size!"

Zyhark grasped Yamato firmly by the waist, performing a stylish sword-swinging motion.

"One-Sword Style: Honorable Blade Yamato!"

Swoosh!

Amid Yamato's startled screams and Kizaru's widened eyes, Zyhark unleashed a devastating Haki-charged slash with "Blade Yamato" in hand.

Caught off-guard, Kizaru was blasted thousands of meters away, streaking across the sky like a golden comet before crashing down in Kuri on the other side of Wano.

BOOM!

The mountain where Oden Castle once stood exploded, obliterated by the powerful impact.

Amid the swirling dust, Kizaru reformed from his light form, bleeding from the mouth, looking rather disheveled.

Though the strength hadn't been Zyhark's alone, it had been a double-Haki attack.

Even Kizaru, who attempted to dodge at the last moment with his light powers, hadn't completely escaped its effects.

Just as he raised his head, preparing to rejoin the battle, a sense of overwhelming danger made his radiance suddenly dim.

"Don't move, Kizaru."

A low, rumbling voice accompanied by the hum of an engine sounded behind him.

Kizaru turned, his pupils shrinking beneath his yellow-tinted glasses.

Behind him stood a tall blond man with a piercing gaze, arms crossed.

"Oh-oh-oh, the King's Engine, King."

Reluctantly, Kizaru raised his hands in surrender.

(End of Chapter)

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