The dragon head of Kaido's hybrid form twisted into a savage grin.
Working with Sakazuki would indeed bring huge gains, but they were all old foxes. Everyone knew what the other was thinking.
It was nothing more than cooperation, betrayal, cooperation again, then another fallout.
This time, the gamble was Sakazuki's appetite. And as expected, he was going to stir up chaos in Wano.
In that case, Sakazuki couldn't blame him.
The clouds ten thousand meters above slowly filled with lightning and began to darken.
Kaido's presence faded as well, restrained within a fixed range as he made his preparations.
* * *
The New World, Figar Island.
Above the ruined island, King ended the call and prepared to leave.
He did not bother looking at the wreckage below. Those were just bait. If killing this many people could trap and kill a future Marine admiral, it was more than worth it.
He flapped his wings and slipped the Den Den Mushi into his pocket.
Whoosh!
A laser beam pierced through instantly.
Boom!
The Den Den Mushi shattered and exploded.
King's pupils shrank as he muttered, "Kizaru…"
The words had barely left his mouth when golden light gathered not far ahead, and Borsalino's figure appeared.
"Oh my my~ That's quite the shocking thing I just heard~"
For a brief instant, King's mind went blank. When did he arrive?
But his body did not hesitate. His wings beat hard as he turned into a black streak and charged straight at Borsalino.
He twisted midair, using the spin to drive a powerful kick forward.
Borsalino raised his right arm. Haki coated it as he blocked the incoming pterosaur claw. Simultaneously, the flames surrounding King pierced through the arm and shot off into the distance.
Borsalino's eyes shifted slightly. "How scary~ As expected of the All-Star of the Beasts Pirates~ I almost died there~"
King narrowed his eyes. "Stop lying."
The muscles in his leg bulged as he poured in more force.
Feeling the sudden surge of power, Borsalino's pupils contracted and his mouth opened.
"Oh~~~"
There was clear surprise in his voice.
Whoosh!
His body turned into a streak of golden light and was kicked toward the sea.
Just before hitting the surface, the light burst apart like scattered petals. Countless rays arced upward and gathered above King's head.
Borsalino raised a finger and aimed at his forehead. "Speed is power."
Whoosh!
A compressed laser fired out and struck the Haki-coated forehead, stretching endlessly.
King was pressed down by the beam and sent straight toward the sea.
Boom!
Right above the surface, laser and flames exploded.
A massive fireball expanded outward. He steadied himself at its center, then beat his wings and tore through the flames, shooting back into the sky.
But once he reached high altitude, something felt wrong.
"Damn it."
Borsalino was gone.
Instinctively, King reached for the Den Den Mushi to warn Kaido, though his hand grabbed nothing. Only then did he remember it had already been destroyed.
The island below was completely erased. Nothing remained.
He did not dare waste time.
Turning into a streak of light, he flew toward the nearest island.
* * *
The New World, the Kalga Archipelago.
Islands lay scattered like a chessboard, rich in minerals. It was also one of Knox's key weapons manufacturing bases.
At some point, a massive floating fleet appeared several thousand meters above.
Inside the control room, Soter studied the wind data and calculations on the massive device.
He adjusted the fleet's formation and raised the communicator. "All personnel, move to assigned positions. Confirm target visibility. Prepare to drop payloads."
Voices responded one after another through the device.
When the final confirmation came through, Soter spoke again. "Release payloads. All units prepare for combat."
Moments later, shells rained down like a storm.
Every island in the archipelago was hit. Panic and blood spread everywhere.
"Die!"
A furious roar shot into the sky as several blue slashes, dozens of meters long, spun upward.
Right behind them surged a tall figure wielding a long sword, a great pirate swordsman charging into the air.
Soter glanced at him with mild interest.
He then lifted off and dove straight down. Loose components followed behind him, accelerating as they snapped onto his arms.
Boom, boom, boom…
The sword slashes shattered under Soter's iron fists as he smashed forward.
Boom!
At the same time, the entire fleet changed course and descended.
Doberman, Momonga, and the other vice admirals organized their forces, preparing to harvest the pirates and resources below.
Sakazuki had split his forces in two.
The group facing Kaido was made up of Enel, Law, Drake, and a few others. Mobile and aggressive, they were meant to face Kaido's side to confuse and put on a show.
The force targeting Knox was led by Soter, Doberman, Momonga, and the rest. They advanced steadily and struck their objectives head-on. This was the true goal of the operation.
Soter and the pirate swordsman collided and flew apart.
Weapons gathered behind him, swirling through the air. They followed his movements, interfering with the enemy again and again.
* * *
The New World, Wano.
Rumble!
Enel appeared above Onigashima.
It had not been long since his last visit, yet the massive smokestacks on the island had clearly multiplied.
After reaching a deal with Sakazuki, they had expanded the weapons factories without delay.
A lightning spear formed in Enel's hand. His Observation Haki swept outward, and his brows furrowed.
"They're all out. This feels wrong."
The golden rings around his wrists and ankles slowly melted and gathered along the outside of his right arm.
Without overthinking it, he hurled the lightning spear toward the dense cluster of factories.
Even if it was a trap, the factories were still the main target.
Spears of lightning formed one after another and shot downward.
Suddenly, he sensed something.
His pupils shrank. He did not look up. Lightning still gathered in his hand, but his body had already begun to turn into lightning.
Elemental transformation took only an instant. The attack arrived in the same instant.
From ten thousand meters away, lightning needed no time at all.
Boom!
A bolt struck him directly, linking sky and body, lingering without dispersing. The lightning carried Haki far stronger than his own and forcibly disrupted his transformation.
Kaido's dragon eyes were fierce as he gripped Hassaikai with both hands.
Merged with that lightning, he slid down from the sky at terrifying speed.
"Conquerer of Three Worlds… Ragnaraku!"
Above Onigashima, Enel was bound by lightning infused with overwhelming Haki. He could not shake it off and could not transform.
He swung his right arm. The golden liquid beside him formed into a shield and braced above his head, coated in Armament Haki.
All of this happened in a single moment.
Even Kaido's descent from ten thousand meters took only an instant with lightning driving him.
The massive kanabo, Hassaikai, crackled with black and red lightning as it smashed the golden shield out of shape.
It crushed Enel and slammed him into the island below.
BOOOM!
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