Boom—
A violent clash of Conqueror's Haki.
In the wilderness, a dragon bathed in thunder soared into the sky.
With a single roar, countless Wind Blades surged toward Caesar!
"Ruinous Wind!"
"Tempest Kick!"
Seeing this, Caesar swiftly raised his leg, unleashing a dozen slashes.
However, the Wind Blades came too fast, like a sudden downpour, instantly overwhelming the slashes Caesar had kicked out.
Noticing this, Caesar spread his wings wide, his body spinning abruptly. His wings sliced through the air, creating a dazzling, massive slash.
The enormous slash collided with the Wind Blades, and both dissolved into nothing.
Without giving Caesar a moment to catch his breath, a blinding white light suddenly pierced through the wind barrier, hurtling toward him at supersonic speed!
"Adamantine Bullet!"
"Staff Aura again, huh…"
Caesar's eyelids twitched as he threw a punch to counter it.
The Bullet…
Yamato's Kabura Arrow technique must have been inspired by this, right?
Boom—
With a single punch, Caesar shattered the Staff Aura, using the recoil to fly backward and dissipate the force.
Kaidou was right—battle truly is the best catalyst for growth.
Caesar could clearly feel that his Armament Haki, with each urgent punch, was becoming purer, like steel being forged.
Or perhaps it wasn't the Armament Haki itself that was changing, but his mastery over it, becoming more fluid and natural.
Using the analogy of chakra from the neighboring village, it was like the training of tree climbing and water walking—using less Haki to deliver more powerful attacks.
It would be impolite not to return the favor.
After briefly creating some distance, Caesar suddenly raised his hand, mimicking a gun gesture.
Crimson energy gathered, and several Blood Bullets, infused with Haki, shot out. The bullets tore through the air with a sharp whistle, only to be smashed apart by Kaidou's staff.
"Cunning brat! Even I would feel pain if that hit me!"
Kaidou laughed heartily. Though he called Caesar cunning, he deeply admired this fighting style.
Strength was the ultimate measure of a person's worth in his eyes!
Caesar was slightly out of breath. This intense battle had already lasted over two hours, and he felt his Haki was nearly depleted. Yet, Kaidou remained as vigorous as ever, showing no signs of fatigue.
This was one of Kaidou's most troublesome traits—his endurance!
In the original story, Kaidou had fought the Nine Red Scabbards, then clashed with Big Mom and the Supernovas, dueled Luffy, battled Yamato…
Then fought Luffy and Yamato together, defeated Luffy alone once more, and was finally taken down by Gear Five Luffy.
And throughout all of this, he had been using Flame Clouds to hold up Oni Island. He was practically a tireless monster of stamina!
It's often said that everyone in the pirate world is a stamina monster, capable of fighting for days on end. But that's without considering the factor of Haki. Without Haki, Caesar could also fight for days.
From the original plot, it's clear that even a stamina monster like Kaidou could only sustain such high-intensity Haki battles for a single night at most.
Right now, it was obvious that Kaidou was far from reaching his limit!
In fact, aside from transforming into his Beast Form a few times, he hadn't even shown his strongest hybrid form, remaining in his human form the entire time!
"The gap is a bit too big…"
Caesar forced a faint smile.
"Orohohoho… Of course it is!"
Upon hearing this, Kaidou chuckled, "You're already quite impressive. In this world, there aren't many who are qualified to fight me to this extent. If you could foresee the future and your Haki weren't still a bit immature, you might even be more troublesome than King."
"So many 'ifs'..."
Caesar licked his dry lips and grinned, "How do you compare to the other Four Emperors in terms of strength?"
"Without a doubt, I am the strongest!"
Kaidou grinned ferociously, "That old man Whitebeard is the only one who could threaten my life, but he's old and frail, unable to sustain a prolonged fight. Big Mom is the most terrifyingly talented person I've ever seen, but unfortunately, she doesn't cherish her talent, and her strength has long since declined."
"As for that kid Red Hair... his Haki and swordsmanship are both quite good. Although he's still a bit green, in a couple of years, he might become the most troublesome among them, but the outcome will be the same!"
"Quite confident, aren't you..."
Caesar chuckled, roughly understanding the gap between himself and Kaidou.
Moreover, according to Kaidou, although the Four Emperors are on the same level in terms of strength, they each have their own focus. It's not like the endless debates among fans about who is stronger or weaker, always trying to argue for a definitive result.
A pure comparison of strength is meaningless; many practical factors must be considered.
For example, Garp was beating Kuzan and the Blackbeard Pirates on Hachinosu Island, and the Garp fans were ecstatic.
But then he got stabbed by Shiryu and was captured by the Blackbeard Pirates, and the Garp haters laughed.
Can you say Garp isn't strong?
Strong, ridiculously strong!
With just one move, Fist Bone Impact, he achieved the same effect as Luffy's Gear Fourth: Great Ape King Gun.
But as Master Yip said, every master has their strengths and weaknesses. Strong individuals like Garp, Shanks, and Hawkeye clearly don't rely solely on physical prowess.
Kaidou can't compare to Kizaru in speed, nor can he match Whitebeard or Akainu in large-scale destruction. But when it comes to physical strength, among these Emperors and Admirals, he can definitely secure a spot in the top two!
"I think you're about at your limit..."
Kaidou suddenly charged at Caesar, "Come on, one last strike! Don't die on me, kid!"
His Spiked Club, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, swept toward Caesar's waist. Caesar gritted his teeth and swung his fist once more!
"Conqueror Thunder Bagua!!"
Boom!
Fist and Spiked Club collided mid-air. Caesar felt an overwhelming force surge through him, and his body was sent flying uncontrollably. He crashed through dozens of tall trees before embedding deeply into a massive rock.
"Ugh..."
His internal organs shook, and Caesar spat out a mouthful of blood. His bones briefly shattered but quickly regenerated under the influence of his vitality, becoming even harder and more resilient!
"Hmm?"
Kaidou looked at Caesar in surprise, "Such tenacious vitality. Truly befitting of a Vampire."
"I'm done!"
Caesar stood up from the crater, pulled out a small white flag, and waved it. He then turned and staggered off toward the direction of the Flower Capital.
During the fight, his adrenaline had surged, and he hadn't felt much, even feeling a bit exhilarated.
But now, with his internal organs trembling and pain spreading from his back to his entire cerebral cortex, he was instantly sobered by the pain.
Seeing this, Kaidou didn't stop him. He had already had his fill of fighting for the day. Caesar's Haki was nearly depleted, and continuing would just be a one-sided slaughter, which wasn't interesting. With that, Kaidou transformed into a Divine Dragon and flew off into the distance.
Unlike Roger and Whitebeard, Kaidou is inherently a result-oriented, ambitious figure.
Take his battle with Oden, for instance. Kurozumi Higurashi's underhanded tactics led to Oden's defeat, and while Kaidou's victory was not honorable, he didn't dwell on it. After all, besides being a warrior, he is also the leader of the Beasts Pirates.
Out of respect for his opponent, however, he still killed Kurozumi Higurashi and even bandaged Oden's wounds, allowing Oden's wife to visit him in prison.
The message was clear: I won dishonorably, so I'll give you a chance. Let's do it again!
But if you, Kozuki Oden, were foolish enough to be deceived by Orochi and chose to jump into the boiling oil, then that's on you!
As a warrior, it's a pity I couldn't fight you fairly. But as a leader, I won't pretend to be noble and miss the fruits of victory!
Of course, if I could fight an opponent with everything I have, fair and square, that would naturally be the best.
Since Kozuki Oden's death, it's only Caesar who has reignited that long-dormant sense of anticipation in him.
And this battle, he shouldn't have to wait too long.
At most… six months!
That's the expected time Kaidou has in mind after this battle.
"Three months!"
In the Flower Capital, at the Shogun's residence.
Caesar was voraciously devouring the mountain of food in front of him!
His bloodline was evolving, and his Haki was completely depleted. He was already starving.
"In three more months, we'll be able to leave!" Caesar said between bites, addressing Yamato beside him.
"Really?"
Yamato's expression was a mix of surprise and concern. "Isn't that too rushed? If we lose, we'll really be done for!"
"Who's joking? Who said anything about fighting to the death?"
Caesar scoffed. "From the beginning, all I wanted was the strength to rival the Four Emperors. I have no interest in fighting to the death with him. As long as he can't do anything to me, that's enough."
"There's no benefit in winning against him, and losing could mean death. I'd have to be out of my mind to fight him to the death. And even if I were to fight to the death, it definitely wouldn't be now."
Yamato looked at him expectantly. "Then when would it be?"
"When we set sail, starting from the beginning of the Grand Line, crossing the Red Line, and returning to Wano Country!"
Caesar laughed. "Kaidou is a physical monster. Three to five months probably won't be enough for me to surpass him completely. To be safe, I think a year would be about right, but I don't plan to wait that long."
There are still three years before Luffy sets sail.
Compared to Kozuki Oden, Luffy is the real deal—the number one charmer among pirates.
Caesar must take advantage of the time before Luffy sets sail to bring some forces under his command and recruit a solid foundation.
Like Skypiea…
It's almost the default choice for every transmigrator's base.
But there's no helping it. Skypiea is located 10,000 meters above sea level, making it even harder to invade than Wano Country. Plus, it has a massive gold reserve, making it undoubtedly the best place for a base.
Additionally, there's Nami, the top navigator, whom Caesar also plans to recruit first.
Who cares about the protagonist's crew? Caesar doesn't give a damn. Just because Luffy is the protagonist doesn't mean I'll go easy on you.
And the Empress…
I'm going to win her over!
I don't care about this or that.
Caesar had no interest in the Amazon Lily, but to be honest, he was quite intrigued by the Empress. After all, he was a normal man.
A nation of women with strength, beauty, and the ability to wield Haki...
Although the Haki of those women was somewhat lacking, mostly just Coating Hardening, the fact that the entire nation could use Haki was still quite impressive.
As Caesar ate, he pondered his plans after leaving.
Yamato rested her chin in her hands, quietly watching him eat.
Compared to before, Yamato now exuded a softer, more delicate aura.
The progress in their relationship had made her more dependent on Caesar, but her fierce spirit remained unchanged. When it came to battle, she was still the warrior stronger than any man.
The influence of love had not made her weak; instead, it had made her even more resolute and powerful!
Noticing Yamato's adorable expression, Caesar couldn't help but smile.
His gaze fell on Yamato's horns, and suddenly, he slapped his forehead. "Ah, right! There's something I need your help with!"
"Hmm?"
Yamato immediately sat up straight, like an obedient big dog. "What is it?"
"I need your blood."
Caesar gently pulled Yamato closer and kissed her soft earlobe. "You might feel a little anemic."
"That's okay! Go ahead!"
Yamato's cheeks flushed pink, but she still looked eager, leaning further into Caesar's embrace.
Without hesitation, Caesar gently pulled down Yamato's collar and let his Fangs pierce her fair shoulder and neck.
Yamato felt a slight numbness in her shoulder, accompanied by a tingling sensation that stirred up a whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
Finally, after drawing about 500cc of blood, Caesar stopped.
500cc of blood was nothing for someone as robust as Yamato, a member of the Oni Race. Even for an ordinary human, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Unlike King, who was over seven meters tall and had an abundance of blood—Caesar had once drawn over 2000cc from him—Caesar didn't want to make this silly girl suffer.
"Aren't you going to ask why I needed your blood?"
Caesar held Yamato close, licking the blood from his lips, and asked with a smile.
"You must have your reasons for doing this!"
Yamato replied with pure innocence. "Is that enough?"
Caesar nodded. "That should do it. If it's not enough, I can always take a bit more later."
What he needed was the Lineage Factor. In his previous life, a standard genetic test required no more than a few dozen milliliters, so 500 milliliters should be more than enough.
Yamato's face was still flushed as she looked at Caesar. "Then... do you want to take something else?"
"Hmm?"
Caesar narrowed his eyes and gave her a light slap on her firm bottom. "You've become quite naughty, Yamato!"
"Black Maria said you'd definitely like it..."
"Why do you always listen to her?"
"Because you really do like it."
"Is it that obvious?"
Caesar chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Being called out on his lustful thoughts by someone as innocent as Yamato was a bit shameful.
His long fingers gently caressed her toned legs, which seemed longer than a human life, and a wave of heat surged through him.
Both of them were young and full of energy, and they had developed a taste for certain activities.
However, just as Caesar was about to deepen their "exchange," he suddenly felt a wave of heat wash over his body.
Blood surged like molten lava, and in an instant, Caesar's skin turned fiery red.
"Huh?"
Yamato touched Caesar's face: "Caesar, are you blushing?"
"No..."
Caesar sat up straight, surprised as he examined his flushed skin.
Suddenly, a flicker of flame burst forth.
A blazing fire erupted from Caesar's back!
The bloodline of the Lunarian Race had awakened!
Sensing the change in temperature behind him, Caesar felt a surge of joy.
His skin was tightening, his muscles were growing stronger.
Caesar could clearly feel all these changes!
And then, in the next moment, with a single thought from him.
Whoosh—the flames vanished without a trace...
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