Chapter 138: Pandemonium (5)

The thunderous noises bombarded the sky as Smoker and Kaidou's battle seemed to know no end.

"Blast Breath!!"

A blast of concentrated flame soared through the midnight sky. As the surrounding was momentarily illuminated by said light source, the bizarre movement of lingering smoke all over the area could be observed.

Smoker, as if having become a ghost, hovered throughout the sky, silently. His eyes, focused on the azure dragon who was without a doubt was the apex of the world of the beasts, was filled with a grim determination—to take it down tonight without failure.

How far have they gone up? Are they still in Wano even? Smoker couldn't tell; the range of his Observation Haki wasn't that impressive anyway.

How were his friends faring? There were tons of pirates to deal with. Will they be alright?

'...Of course they would be.'

There existed no doubt in Smoker.

'There is no way they would lose to those pirates.'

Kaidou, the azure dragon, was now flying at him at a rapid pace. The creature's enormous size was becoming more and more evident as the dragon's head alone was several times greater than Smoker's size.

Smoker didn't seem fazed, however. Instead, he gathered the smoke up on his palm as he propelled himself upward to attain an additional distance between him and Kaidou.

Then, he blew said smoke on his palm.

"White Dragon."

The blown smoke suddenly expanded in volume. As if they were alive, they wriggled and swirled as they flew toward the approaching azure dragon.

Then revealed, the three white dragons which the smoke suddenly condensed into. Roaring, they coiled around the azure dragon and bit on its hard azure scales.

Though they weren't strong enough to leave an injury to Kaidou, they were enough to impede Kaidou's movement. And this momentary halt was what Smoker was aiming for.

'Tekkai. Soru. Geppo.'

Smoker now had his fists in contact with an X-shaped scar on the azure dragon. The remainder of the smoke within the area swirled into Smoker as if they were being sucked in by a black hole. The clear sky and the dim moon were quickly revealed.

'Devil fruit power. Armament Haki: Internal Destruction. Conqueror's Haki: Infusion. Seimei Kikan: Steampunk.'

Kaidou, having foreseen how devastating this attack would be, widened his eyes as he quickly shielded himself with Armament Haki at the last second, knowing that it was far too late to dodge the attack.

Then struck,

"Black Galaxy Gun!"

An impact unlike any other, that caused the air itself to explode and form an intense storm as the azure dragon's body disappeared in an instant, leaving only the speckles of blood that filled the storm with metallic scent.

Kaidou, in his Zoan form, dropped hundreds of meters as his body bled all over.

"""K-Kaidou-san?!!"""

Numerous ships of Beast Pirates appeared in sight. The pirates cried in disbelief as they saw their governor-general in a state that they'd never seen before.

Then, the huge azure dragon landed straight on ten ships, causing them to break into pieces and members within to be crushed to death.

CLANG!

Beyond this disastrous fall of Kaidou, Maynard and Canasta rapidly clashed their blades. Jumping from ship to ship, they seemed to be in a world of their own.

"SMOKER!!"

Shrinking into his hybrid form, Kaidou roared as he saw Smoker dropping down from the sky above. On his hand appeared his kanabo, which instantly became imbued in the combination of Armament Haki: Emission and Conqueror's Haki: Infusion.

Kaidou then jumped, right where Smoker was falling toward. Smoker, whose right hand was 'yanking' the layer of cloud above him, drew said cloud around his fist before swinging it at Kaidou's kanabo.

"BRACE FOR THE IMPACT!!!"

All the ongoing fights momentarily halted as Smoker and Kaidou's attacks struck each other. A blinding light occurred along with the crackling black lightning, before all the nearby ships of Beast Pirates were blasted away.

Then, as the clash between the two ended and the light faded, ten figures blurred into the scene.

CLANG!

Canasta's attempt to stab Smoker was prevented by Maynard. Pinochle's outstretched index finger was stopped by Rosinante's palm. The gigantic Jack who appeared from the top was blasted back by Bastille's zanbato. Queen's laser beam, which was blasted from his mouth, was deflected by Hina's metal construct. King, who attempted to slam his blazing body onto Smoker, had his movement impeded by numerous plants that Aramaki grew in an instant.

'White Clone.'

And onto the sides of those five executive members of Beast Pirates, the smoke-made clones of Smoker appeared. However, before they could do anything, Kaidou swung his kanabo, dispelling all of them and causing everyone but Smoker to be flown back from the impact.

BANG!

In this chaos, Doll sniped a bullet at Pinochle who was falling down the sky. Having foreseen the attack with Observation Haki, Pinochle flipped his body to let the bullet go through, but ended up allowing a knee kick from Rosinante, onto his face.

"Dos Fleur!"

Canasta, who was in a stalemate with Maynard's blade, suddenly found two hands popping out from his back. Widening his eyes, he quickly backstepped from Maynard and swung his sword at said arms. The arms disappeared before they managed to do anything on Canasta, but as Canasta's guard was forced down, Maynard slashed Canasta through abdomen—though it was a light one due to Canasta's operation of Armament Haki plus him being in his hybrid Zoan form.

"Heya there!!"

Canasta didn't even have the chance to register his wound as X Drake's axe came from the above at the next moment. He backstepped once more, and found that he's just jumped out of the ship.

"...!"

Canasta's eyes widened. From afar, he saw Doll pointing her firearm at him.

BANG!

Pinochle, who was above Canasta all of a sudden, grabbed the latter by the neck and threw him up. Rosinante appeared a second after, blasted a Shigan at Pinochle.

Pinochle's body bent abnormally as Canasta was now flying in the air. Pinochle then propelled himself up from midair, indicating the use of Geppo.

"As I expected..."

Rosinante's eyes narrowed.

"Where did you learn Rokushiki from?"

"..."

Rosinante then twisted his body to the side and let Canasta's blade stab the empty air. Maynard, appearing next to Rosinante right after, swung his sword at Canasta, who quickly blocked it with his own—just barely.

Then happened,

"DUCK, EVERYONE!!"

Yet another clash between Smoker and Kaidou occurred, one that caused the entire air to screech. The water rippled before a huge tide arose, causing the fights to halt so that the executive members were able to jump and prevent the water from crashing down on top of them.

BOOM!

One Beast Pirates ship blew up into pieces as Smoker crashed onto it. Within the dust, Smoker shot himself at Kaidou who was flying at him in his hybrid form.

'That, without a doubt, must be...!'

Smoker's eyes narrowed as red, burning cloud was found to be draped around Kaidou's neck. Kaidou's eyes seemed to have become enigmatic, swirling chaotically.

Then, their attacks struck each other.

BOOOOOM!

Robin was flown back from the ship she's been on, but she quickly grew loads of hands that joined one another, which reached all the way from the edge of the ship to her hand, and pulled herself back to the ship.

One pointy-nosed member of Beast Pirates—one who received the enhancement from the 'Tontatta Project' of Queen—attempted to attack Robin while she was airborne. However, Hyogoro quickly reached for the pirate and blasted his punch that was imbued with Armament Haki: Emission.

Right after Hyogoro's punch, Senor Pink hugged said pirate's torso.

"Nyannyan,"

Then, the two of them plummeted onto the ship that was still full of pirates,

"SUPLEX!!"

BOOM!

As the pirates cried from Senor Pink's endeavour, Smoker and Kaidou's attacks came to an end—with Smoker being blasted back once more. Smoker was flown far back to an extent where no one on the sea could view him by the eye anymore. Kaidou jumped before morphing into a gigantic azure dragon.

"YOU AREN'T GETTING AWAY, WHITE HUNTER!!!"

Kaidou then shot himself at Smoker, and too disappeared.

And the fight between Maynard and Canasta was ongoing.

"Tornado,"

Maynard rapidly spun in the air, accumulating rotational force onto his blade. He then kicked his legs against the air and blasted himself at Canasta,

"Slash!!"

CLANG!

"Tch...!"

Canasta met Maynard's attack with his blade. From the built-up exhaustion, Canasta has weakened notably; he, from the blow just now, was sent skidding back until he reached the railing of the ship they stood on.

"It seems that I am nearing my limit."

Huffing, Canasta mumbled.

"However, I am not the only one."

Maynard, who stood across Canasta, too was catching his breath. He stabbed his blade on the deck and supported his weight; he was experiencing a light dizziness from the shortness of breath.

"Just go down already, you freaking pirate!"

"Impulsive, aren't you?"

Canasta took in a deep breath as he sheathed his sword. He then leaned his body forward with his right hand holding onto the hilt of the sheathed sword.

"...Dear stranger, you have proven yourself to be a worthy foe. What is your name?"

"..."

Maynard raised his blade and held it with two hands. There was a slight pause before he answered,

"...Maynard."

"Maynard, I see."

The furs around Canasta's body stood up and his muscles inflated as he woke up an every inch of his body into its optimal state.

"I am 'Thousand Blades' Canasta... the samurai and the honoured Tobiroppo of Beast Pirates. Let me ask you one more question,"

Canasta's eyes met Maynards's.

"Do you know why I'm called 'Thousand Blades?'"

Canasta didn't tell the answer, and there was no need for one. Both Maynard and Canasta simply thought,

' 'This... will be the final clash!' '

Then, Canasta vanished, as he dashed at Maynard an incredible speed.

"Iaido,"

He, at the next moment, appeared behind Maynard, with his blade clicking into the sheath.

"Howling of the Beast!"

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Numerous sparks were seen all around Maynard and Canasta, which indicated that countless number of clashes occurred within the split second.

Maynard revealed a stoic expression. He did manage to parry a good number of attacks, but a good amount of light wounds appeared all over his body; this meant that Canasta's speed was faster than him.

Plop.

A blood dripped down from Maynard's arm. Maynard's form swayed. His body then leaned forward, about to fall—before he managed to take a step forth and keep himself standing.

"He... h."

Canasta, who turned his head and smirked victoriously, then froze as the blood gushed out from his mouth. Slowly, he looked down at his chest and found a deep gash, one that cut through his heart.

"...How?"

Canasta whispered. His eyes shook in disbelief.

'He... managed to parry most of mine while landing a slash this deep...?'

"Rankyaku: Heavy Slash."

Maynard, without turning around, simply said,

"What's the point of cutting thousand times if you can't land one properly?"

Thud.

Canasta fell in his pool of blood, leaving Maynard as the sole one standing on the ship.