Chapter 235

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*****

I stood with my sword poised, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. Surrounding me were two mythical beasts straight from ancient lore. To my right, Kaido's enormous Azure Dragon form coiled in the sky, exuding a malevolent aura that seemed to darken the very heavens.

To my left, Admiral Raylene, in her fearsome White Tiger form, floated effortlessly on the clouds she conjured, her presence no less imposing than Kaido's. It was a tense, three-way standoff. I had challenged them both, daring them to come at me together, but the very nature of their pride and power ensured that they would never ally.

"Bolo Breath!" Kaido was the first to shatter the stalemate. He unleashed a devastating blast of energy aimed directly at Raylene's massive white tiger form. But Raylene was ready.

"White Fang cannon!!!"

In a flash, a beam of equal intensity shot from the tiger's maw, colliding with Kaido's attack. The two forces met in a violent explosion, the shockwave rippling through the seas with a force that could be felt for miles.

Kaido's frustration was palpable. His arrogance had been his shield for years, a self-declared overlord of the seas, unchallenged only because the truly strong had no reason to target him.

Though he boasted of his invincibility, I knew the truth—there were a select few in this world who could bring him down, even with his formidable dragon form.

"You Marine, stay out of this!" Kaido roared, his massive body coiling, muscles tensing for a strike. "He is my prey! I don't like it when someone comes between me and my prey."

Raylene, however, showed no fear. She understood Kaido's strength, knew that his mythical fruit might give him a slight edge in brute force, but she also knew that her own mythical Zoan was not to be underestimated.

The earlier clash had revealed something crucial—she held an advantage in haki. In a true battle to the death, the outcome was far from certain. But it wasn't Kaido who gave her pause; it was the young man standing between them, his weapon drawn, the aura around him causing her feline instincts to tingle with unease.

"Tch, if you're dead set on facing me, I don't mind burying you alongside this little brat to—"

Before Kaido could finish his taunt, I had already moved. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance and delivered a powerful, haki-infused kick to his massive jaw, sending him reeling.

I'd had enough of Kaido's arrogance, and the beating he'd given Doflamingo earlier still burned in my mind. This was the perfect opportunity to test my skills, to see just how far I'd come since acquiring Akatsuki.

"Little Bastard…!" Kaido roared, rage fueling his massive form as he righted himself, but I was already upon him, launching my next attack.

"Twin Dragons!" I called out, and the sky answered. Lightning cracked as the heavens tore apart. Two colossal dragons, one crimson, the other pitch black, manifested from the arc of my blade, roaring as they surged toward Kaido.

But my instincts, sharpened by countless battles and honed by Future Sight, warned me of Raylene's movement. She was fast, and she intended to catch me off guard by attacking from my flank. Without hesitation, I redirected Shusui to intercept her while continuing my original strike with Akatsuki toward Kaido.

Shusui gleamed with a black aura as I swung it toward Raylene's exposed flank. But just as my blade was about to connect, Raylene's head whipped around with terrifying speed, her jaws snapping shut around Shusui. The impact was like striking solid steel; her teeth clamped down on the blade, preventing it from biting into her exposed flank.

Kaido growled and met my sword strike with his massive horns—a deep, rumbling clash that sent vibrations through my sword and up my arm. But I was not deterred. With a swift motion, I twisted Akatsuki in the opposite direction and drove it toward his eye.

Kaido reared back in shock as his observation haki was nowhere near fast enough to trace the trajectory of my lightning infused slash. Realizing the danger out of instinct, he retreated just in time to avoid the strike from Akatsuki, but the tip of my blade still grazed his brow, drawing a thin line of blood. The sight of it sent a thrill through me—Kaido could be hurt.

"Howling Tiger!!!"

Raylene, however, was ready. With a snarl, she opened the maw of her tiger form, and a beam of massive energy erupted from within her, aiming for me this time around. I simply chuckled and sent my own attack while infusing Haki into Shusui.

"Death's Sonata!!

A massive flying scythe formed as it launched towards the incomin attack. The attacks clashed mid-air, sending shockwaves across the battlefield that rippled through the seas below. The scythe ripped through the white tigers attack before dissipating.

Kaido's eyes narrowed as he studied the blade in Ross's hand, a growing unease gnawing at the back of his mind. He had initially dismissed the ominous feeling as nothing more than the presence of a powerful weapon, likely a Supreme Grade blade, but nothing he hadn't faced before. After all, his dragon scales had withstood countless attacks from the mightiest swords in the world. Yet, what had just transpired was beyond his comprehension.

The blade had sliced through his defense with an ease that sent a shiver down his spine—a sensation he hadn't felt in decades. He was certain Ross hadn't infused the blade with Conqueror's Haki; Kaido had enough experience to sense that. Yet, the cut had been deeper, sharper, more devastating than anything he had encountered before.

"What kind of blade is that?" Kaido's voice, though outwardly composed, carried an edge of disbelief that he couldn't completely mask. The words were more for himself than anyone else, an attempt to rationalize the irrational.

His usually unwavering confidence faltered for a few seconds as he replayed the moment in his mind. The blade hadn't just cut—it had torn through his legendary scales as though they were mere paper.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this was no ordinary sword, not even among the fabled Supreme Grade blades. It was something else, something far more dangerous, and it exuded an aura that defied explanation.

Kaido's heart, as hardened as it was, beat a fraction faster. He had faced countless enemies and survived countless battles, but never had he felt this level of unease from a single weapon. His eyes remained fixed on the blade, his usual bravado replaced by a wary caution. He wouldn't underestimate it again—nor the one who wielded it.

I didn't hesitate. Using the chaos to my advantage, I dashed forward, closing the distance between myself and Kaido with a burst of speed. My blade, Akatsuki, glowed with a menacing crimson light as I swung it with all my might, aiming for Kaido's thick, scaled neck.

Kaido's eyes widened slightly as he shifted his massive form just in time to avoid a direct hit. But I was faster than he anticipated. Shusui followed immediately after, infused with conquerors haki, aiming for his exposed flank.

The blade connected, tearing through scales and drawing first blood. Kaido roared in pain and fury, his massive tail whipping around to strike me, but I leapt back, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow.

"You little bastard! You can infuse Conqueror's Haki into your attacks?" Kaido roared, his voice echoing with both fury and disbelief as the pain coursed through his massive body. The attack had been shallow, but it was enough to confirm what he had dreaded—I could genuinely harm him.

I smirked, my grip tightening on my blade as I prepared for the next exchange. "Of course, Kaido. What did you think? That I would just swing my sword mindlessly against your near-indestructible scales until I wore myself out? No, I'm not that foolish. But don't worry—I'm not the one who'll be taking your life today. Doffy has given you his word on that."

As I spoke, I could see the anger flaring in Kaido's eyes, a fire kindling behind his draconic pupils. But before he could react, I raised my sword to the heavens. In an instant, a massive pillar of black lightning descended from the stormy skies, crashing directly onto Kaido's dragon form.

The bolt struck with a deafening crack, the force of it sending shockwaves through the air. Kaido's massive body convulsed as the electric surge coursed through him, roaring in pain as the raw energy of the lightning assaulted his nerves and muscles.

The ground beneath us trembled as Kaido struggled against the attack, his scales crackling with residual electricity. The storm above seemed to respond to the clash of wills below, the clouds swirling with ominous intent as if nature itself recognized the intensity of the battle. Despite the agony etched on his face, Kaido's defiance was unwavering, his eyes blazing with a mix of rage and newfound caution.

I could see it now—the doubt creeping into his mind. For the first time in years, Kaido was faced with an opponent who could genuinely challenge him, who could bypass his nearly invincible defenses. He wasn't invulnerable anymore, and that realization was a bitter pill for him to swallow.

But I wasn't done. As Kaido reeled from the lightning strike, I positioned myself, ready to press the advantage. "You're in for a world of pain, Kaido. This isn't a fight you can simply brute force your way through. I'll make sure of that."

Kaido snarled, the sound resonating deep within his chest. He wasn't just angry now—he was wary, and that wariness was what gave me the edge. The battle had only just begun, and I was determined to see it through to the end.

Raylene took advantage of Kaido's distraction, her tiger form bounding forward with lightning speed. Her claws, glinting with haki, slashed at Kaido's side, rending his scales with a force that made even the mighty dragon stagger. She didn't stop there; her body twisted as she brought her other set of claws down, aiming to tear through his thick dragon scales.

But Kaido was far from defenseless. With a feral snarl, he lashed out, his massive jaw snapping shut around Raylene's shoulder, sinking his teeth deep into her flesh. Raylene roared in pain, but instead of retreating, she used the momentum to bring her full weight down on Kaido, forcing him to release his grip. She followed up with a powerful swipe, her claws carving deep gouges into his snout.

Seeing an opening, I darted forward, my blades a blur as I launched a flurry of strikes at Kaido. Each swing was infused with haki, and each strike aimed to bypass Kaido's formidable defenses.

I struck again and again, relentlessly, as Kaido struggled to fend off attacks from both sides.

Kaido's eyes burned with fury. He knew he couldn't afford to let this continue. With a mighty roar, he released a shockwave of Conqueror's Haki, the force of it rippling outwards, pushing me and Raylene back.

The sheer pressure was enough to crack the ground beneath us, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze as Kaido's haki dominated the battlefield.

"You think you can overwhelm me?" Kaido growled, his voice reverberating through the air. "I am the King of Beasts! No one can stand against me!"

But to his surprise, Raylene was undeterred. With a roar that shook the very heavens, she released her own Conqueror's Haki, the force of it clashing with Kaido's in a brutal battle of wills.

The air crackled with power as their haki clashed, neither willing to back down. The sheer force of their combined haki caused the sky to darken, the clouds swirling ominously above as the very atmosphere seemed to bend under the pressure.

Kaido's eyes flickered with surprise as he felt Raylene's haki pushing back against his own. "You… You have Conqueror's Haki?" He snarled, his voice laced with disbelief. "Why would someone like you join the Marines? Why would you waste your potential hunting down pirates?"

Raylene's eyes narrowed as she met Kaido's gaze. "Why? To hunt down scum like you," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "The world doesn't need more tyrants. It needs people who can stand against them."

Kaido's fury only intensified. "You think you can stop me? You think you can stand against the strongest in the world? I'll crush you both!"

As Kaido and Raylene prepared to clash, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The two of them were strong, incredibly so, but they had yet to face the full extent of my power. With a smirk, I released my own Conqueror's Haki, the force of it slamming into both Kaido and Raylene with the weight of a tidal wave. The very seabed beneath us cracked and shattered as my haki surged, the sheer intensity of it overwhelming the battlefield.

Kaido's eyes widened in shock as he felt my haki crushing down on his own, the pressure enough to make even him falter. Raylene, too, felt the weight of my haki pressing down on her, her feline eyes narrowing as she realized just how outmatched they were.

"Kid, you're more dangerous than I thought," Raylene retorted as she was forced back by the overwhelming force of my Conqueror's Haki. "Now I understand why Vice Admiral Garp warned me to be cautious of you. Maybe I should stop hunting this mindless brute and focus on you instead."

Despite the intensity of my Haki overpowering both her own and Kaido's combined wills, Raylene hesitated for a moment, considering her next move. However, after a brief pause, she turned her attention back to Kaido, deciding he remained the primary target.

"Kaido," Raylene taunted, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Why didn't you join the hunting competition? Were you too scared of getting beaten by Linlin and Shiki?"

Kaido snarled in response, but before he could answer, I was already upon him. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance, my blades cutting through the air with deadly precision. Kaido barely had time to react as I brought Akatsuki down in a sweeping arc, the blade slicing through his scales and drawing a deep wound across his chest.

Raylene took advantage of Kaido's momentary distraction, her White Tiger form pouncing forward with a roar. Her claws, glinting with haki, tore through Kaido's side, the force of the attack sending the dragon staggering back. But Kaido was not one to be easily bested. With a bellow of rage, he unleashed another torrent of Bolo Breath, the fiery energy scorching the earth as it tore towards Raylene.

Raylene nimbly dodged to the side, but Kaido was already moving, his massive tail sweeping through the air in a brutal arc. The tail struck Raylene with the force of a battering ram, sending her crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact. The ground cracked and shattered beneath her, but she quickly recovered, pushing herself back to her feet with a snarl.

Kaido didn't give her a chance to recover. He was already upon her, his massive claws slashing down with the intent to rend her apart. Raylene dodged the first strike, her form blurring as she moved with lightning speed.

But Kaido was relentless, each strike coming faster and more powerful than the last. It was all Raylene could do to keep up, her White Tiger form barely managing to avoid Kaido's deadly attacks.

But I wasn't about to let Kaido have all the fun. With a burst of speed, I closed the distance between us, my blades cutting through the air as I launched a series of powerful strikes at Kaido's exposed side.

"Dark Descent !!!"

My blades connected, each strike sending a shockwave through the air as they tore through Kaido's scales.

Kaido roared in fury, his massive form twisting as he turned to face me. But I was already moving, my blades a blur as I danced around him, each strike precise and deadly. Kaido struggled to keep up, his massive form was too slow to match my speed. I could see the frustration in his eyes, the realization that he was outmatched.

Raylene, launched herself at Kaido once more. Her White Tiger form moved with the speed and grace of a predator, her claws flashing as she tore into Kaido's side. Kaido roared in pain, his massive tail lashing out in an attempt to knock her away, but Raylene was too quick. She darted to the side, avoiding the tail and launching herself at Kaido's throat.

But Kaido was far from finished. With a bellow of rage, he unleashed another wave of Conqueror's Haki, the force of it rippling outwards and knocking Raylene back. The sheer power of his haki was enough to crack the island beneath him, the air itself seeming to tremble under the weight of it.

But I was ready. I met Kaido's haki with my own, and lightning clashed as the two forces clashed in a brutal battle of wills. The air crackled with energy as our haki clashed, the sheer force of it causing the very seas to boil.

"Tatsumaki!!!"

Kaido's eyes narrowed as he felt my haki pushing back against his own. He knew he couldn't afford to let this continue. With a roar, he lunged at me, his massive claws slashing through the air with the intent to tear me apart.

But I was faster. I dodged to the side, my blades flashing as I struck at Kaido's exposed side. The force of the strike was enough to send Kaido staggering back, but he quickly recovered, his massive tail sweeping through the air in an attempt to knock me out of the air.