New World, Pollock Atoll.
Black smoke billowed high into the sky, and flames raged among the ruins. Sephiroth stood tall before Kaido. Both were covered in blood—their own and their opponent's.
At the beginning of the fight, they relied on Kenbunshoku Haki to predict movements and Haoshoku Haki to clash with each other. But after fighting all night, they now only relied on Busoshoku Haki to attack.
Mental exhaustion had taken its toll on them. Although their bodies were still solid, their Haki abilities had drastically decreased.
Kaido took a deep breath, his forehead furrowed. A dense red light began to gather inside his mouth.
"Hot Abyss!"
An incredibly hot burst of flames shot toward Sephiroth, but he countered it with a fiery slash from the Ming Yan sword in his left hand.
BOOM!
The two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion that enveloped the entire city. Three-quarters of the island had been destroyed. The ground had sunk, houses were flattened, and the remaining residents had long since fled. This was the bitter reality for the weak.
Behind the sea of fire, Kaido moved quickly, jumping from one side to the other, using the smoke as a screen to attack Sephiroth.
This trick wouldn't have worked at the beginning of the fight, but now, with their minds exhausted, Kaido was sure Sephiroth couldn't predict his movements.
And he was right. Sephiroth, with his mental fatigue, could only rely on low-level Kenbunshoku Haki, just to sense Kaido's aura. However, Kaido was much faster. Sephiroth could only rely on instinct and his Haoshoku Haki defense.
Swoosh!
A giant figure leaped out of the sea of flames. Kaido, with his club raised, swung it down.
"Great Thunder Bagua!"
It's here! Sephiroth thought.
His pupils widened. He mustered his remaining Haoshoku Haki, wrapping it around both of his swords.
"Two-Sword Style: Heavenly Dragon!"
Sephiroth shot forward, moving faster than Kaido had imagined. Four straight slashes, one sharper than the next, hit Kaido's body.
The fourth slash created a deep wound in Kaido's chest, and he was thrown through the wall of "The Dusty Barrel Bar."
Blargh!
Bottles of wine fell and shattered on Kaido's body.
"Oh, oh, oh! So careless! I didn't expect your speed and strength not to decrease at all," Kaido got up, blood flowing from his wound.
"I didn't expect you to be this strong," Sephiroth replied, walking inside.
Kaido grabbed a wine barrel, about to drink from it.
Slaash!
Sephiroth, from a distance, released a fiery slash from the Ming Yan sword, hitting the wine barrel, turning it into a fireball.
Kaido, covered in wine, was set on fire.
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