"What do you MEAN!?"
Unease flooded Kaido's chest as he stared at Kai's calm expression.
Something's wrong.
But his momentum couldn't be stopped. Not at this distance.
Too late to turn back.
His expression turned savage. Purple-black flames flared higher across his body.
Almost there.
Relief mixed with vicious anticipation.
Just overthinking. He's MINE.
"DIE!" The scream tore through his mind. "Just DIE ALREADY!"
Universal Pull
Disdain deepened in Kai's eyes.
A contemptuous smile curved his lips.
"Just..." His voice stayed light. Almost bored. "...stop right there."
The Rinnegan spun.
Unimaginable force erupted from his raised palm—acting directly on Kaido's massive form.
Rinnegan: Universal Pull Prison.
Kaido's vicious fangs stopped centimeters from Kai's hand.
Centimeters.
Might as well be light-years.
The ancient black dragon thrashed. Muscles strained. Wings beat frantically.
Nothing.
Couldn't move forward. Couldn't pull back.
Frozen in place.
Marine Terror
When Kaido charged, most Marines collapsed.
Sat hard on the deck. Eyes squeezed shut.
We're dead.
No way to survive this.
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
Some cracked their eyes open hesitantly.
Then froze.
An enormous black dragon head filled their entire vision. Foul breath washed over them from nostrils the size of cannons.
It stopped.
Relief flooded through—
Then understanding hit.
"Wait..." A Marine's voice came strangled. "It... it STOPPED!?"
"How is that POSSIBLE!?"
Their gazes dropped slightly.
Saw Kai. One hand raised. Holding back hundreds of meters of ancient dragon.
With one palm.
"One... one HAND!?"
"White Dragon Admiral stopped Kaido with just ONE HAND!?"
"That's... that's INSANE!"
No joy at surviving. No relief at escaping death.
Just overwhelming shock.
Repulsive Force
"Get..." Kai's voice came cold. "...the hell AWAY FROM ME!"
He withdrew the attractive force.
Left only repulsion.
BOOM.
The sound barrier shattered.
Kaido shot backward like a cannonball—blasted tens of thousands of meters in seconds.
Wings beat desperately. Fighting against the force trying to launch him into orbit.
If I stop resisting...
...I'll hit outer space.
Even with his terrifying flight speed—faster than almost anything except Kizaru's light and Enel's lightning—it took dozens of wing beats to close the distance again.
Kaido's Realization
His massive dragon eyes locked onto the distant figure.
Emotions warred inside him:
Wariness.
Hatred.
Madness.
Never felt this helpless.
Even against Whitebeard—the World's Strongest Man—Kaido had felt he could fight.
This is different.
Like staring up at a mountain. Knowing you could never climb it.
Should I...
Retreat whispered in his mind.
Then he saw the pirates still fighting below. Thought of his Four Emperors status.
No.
Can't run.
If he fled now—tail between his legs—how could he maintain his position in the New World?
The Four Emperors ruled because they stood at the absolute peak. Strongest pirate crews. Unmatched power.
That's what I am.
Since becoming a pirate, Kaido had never been defeated. Against the other Emperors, he'd fought to stalemates. Slight advantages either way.
But never lost.
My status.
My pride as an ancient black dragon.
I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED.
Transformation
"ROAAAAAAAAR!"
The dragon's roar shook the entire sea.
Infinite anger. Madness. Pain.
As if enduring something unbearable.
His massive form began shrinking.
Hundreds of meters collapsed into ten.
Human shape returned. But purple-black flaming wings remained on his back—keeping him airborne.
Kai Rises
Kai watched the transformation without speaking.
His Rinnegan rotated slowly.
Repulsive force acted on his own body this time.
He rose smoothly into the air—positioning himself level with Kaido.
No leg movements.
Not Geppo.
Horror filled Kaido's eyes.
"White Dragon..." For the first time, he used the title. Respect between the strong. "...what kind of Devil Fruit user ARE you!?"
Those black flames.
This levitation.
Nothing makes SENSE.
Kai's expression turned mischievous.
"A fruit?" His tone stayed light. "I ate the Divine Tree Fruit."
"Divine Tree Fruit!?"
Kaido's mind raced through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in Mary Geoise. Thousands of entries. Every known fruit documented.
No Divine Tree Fruit listed.
After a moment, he gave up trying to figure it out.
Doesn't matter what it's called.
His expression hardened.
"White Dragon..." The words came grudging. "I admit you're strong. I'm not confident I can defeat you."
He paused.
"But no matter what..." His voice turned savage. "...today I'll make you pay a price."
His eyes blazed with fury.
"Even if I can't kill you..." A vicious smile twisted his face. "...I'll make you watch all your Marines die before your eyes."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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