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ROAR—!
Kaido cried out in pain. The immense force from the blow to his jaw travelled through his entire dragon body. Caught off guard, his whole body tilted backwards!
Be gone!
Atlas struck again with ferocity. Thunder and fire flared on his leg as he delivered a side kick.
The very space seemed to tremble as it once again struck Kaido's abdomen!
BOOM!
With that one blow, Kaido's Azure Dragon form was sent flying backwards as if drunk, moving completely away from the G-5 base.
"Huff~ huff~ Worororo!!"
"This is..."
The flame clouds beneath Kaido's feet swelled again. His massive body rapidly shrank, transforming into his human form, although he still retained a green face, sharp fangs, and was covered in dragon scales.
Dragon-Human Hybrid Form!
"Getting more and more interesting!"
BOOM!
The moment he finished speaking, an earth-shattering aura surged from his massive body, shooting straight into the clouds. A terrifying spiritual pressure swept out in all directions!
Conqueror's... Haki!!!
In that instant, the entire space seemed to freeze. The world became a black-and-white scroll.
The wind ceased its howl!
The sea ceased its churn!
Even though they were far from the centre of the battle, the many Marine soldiers at G-5 could not withstand the impact of this powerful aura.
Their vision went black, and they instantly fainted. Only a few of the more skilled officers, including Smoker, were still gritting their teeth and desperately holding on, enduring the relentless pressure on their minds.
"Kaido..."
Atlas watched the ferocious Kaido, completely unshaken. The pure white "Justice" coat on his back billowed, his eyes narrowed, and he grinned, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth.
"Conqueror's Haki? I have that too!"
BOOM!
An equally tyrannical aura erupted from his body. A will of the soul, powerful enough to make all living things tremble, spread out like a mighty army of a million, swift and fierce as it rushed to meet Kaido head-on!
VMMMM—!
The two domineering wills collided violently.
In that moment, black and red lightning danced wildly across the space.
The mountains, seas, and clouds churned violently, and a terrifying sonic boom spread out in all directions.
The sea below went from absolute stillness to extreme turbulence, and waves hundreds of feet high shot into the sky. The rolling thunder in the heavens grew even more furious!
"That's..."
"Some impressive Haki! Hahahaha!"
Kaido threw his head back and laughed wildly. He suddenly pulled out a massive, spiked kanabo club from behind him, purple electric currents coursing over it.
[Hassaikai!]
"But, if this is all you have..." Kaido said, raising the Hassaikai in his hand.
A fierce wind howled, and the coiling electric currents flowed rapidly, making the previously plain club suddenly brim with majesty.
"It's still not enough!!"
"Hassaikai!"
Do you think... Am I still the same person I was back then?
Back then, he had been sent flying by Kaido's Thunder Bagua, at best barely able to take the hit without falling. But today was different from the past!
Atlas sneered, his head snapping up. His right fist was wreathed in explosive flames as he struck out to meet the attack!
"Explosive Fist!"
RUMBLE!
Fist met club. A terrifying power radiated from the point of contact, and the roar of thunder and fire was incessant.
"He's not using Conqueror's Coating..."
Atlas's pupils contracted. The veins on his arm bulged, and his entire right arm suddenly swelled as his back muscles flexed.
"Are you looking down on me!!?"
POW!
His ferocious fist sent the Hassaikai flying and continued onward, its explosive power slamming into Kaido's cheek!
STUMBLE—!
Under this immense force, Kaido couldn't help but stumble backwards.
The flame clouds beneath his feet cushioned his retreat, and he finally steadied himself, ready to swing his kanabo again.
But Atlas would not give him the chance. The battlefield is ever-changing, and openings appear in an instant.
So, even though Kaido managed to stabilise himself, he was destined to take a beating from Atlas.
POW-POW-POW—!!
Atlas closed the distance, his fists moving as if wound up. A storm of afterimages instantly engulfed Kaido.
Face, throat, chest—every part of him was met with Atlas's fists. Charred fist prints covered every dragon scale.
Kaido's massive body was now like a toy in his hands, being hammered without any ability to fight back.
Suddenly!
Kaido's eyes snapped open. His right hand tightened, gripping the massive Hassaikai. His arm muscles bulged, and black and red lightning, mixed with purple plasma, became incredibly active.
"Raimei Hakke!"
This blow was incredibly fast. Raimei Hakke was a move known for its speed and power.
Supplemented by the unique spiritual shock of Conqueror's Haki, the Hassaikai viciously smashed into Atlas's head!
BANG!
Even though he had used Armament Haki to defend in time, the brain is the control centre of the nervous system.
Under the dual paralysis of the electric current and the Conqueror's Haki, Atlas couldn't help but shudder, and his entire body plummeted toward the sea below at an incredible speed!
"Brat, you're still... too green!" Kaido looked at the sea, where a giant splash had erupted, and couldn't help but taunt with satisfaction.
The burns on his body were also healing at a visible rate, but the remaining bloodstains still showed that he hadn't taken the punches as easily as he claimed.
"Hmm?"
Just as Kaido relaxed, his Observation Haki detected no movement from Atlas below. Feeling that something was wrong, he immediately became alert.
"Is that so?"
Suddenly, an ice-cold voice came from behind Kaido.
SWISH!
Kaido instinctively shot backwards, his green-fanged face instantly turning to look in disbelief at the suddenly appeared Atlas.
Aside from the steam rising from his body, he was completely unharmed, without even a single trace of blood!
"Did you not eat your breakfast?"
"KAIDO!!!"
Atlas sneered, clenching his fists again. His body suddenly swelled, and a dense layer of Armament Haki coiled around him.
The clearly defined muscles leapt into view, and mysterious patterns snaked across his body. The intense feeling of power was so strong it seemed to warp the very air.
[Life Return: War God Body!]
"With just that much strength, your Conqueror's Coating is nothing special!"
"Brat..."
"Don't celebrate too soon!"
Kaido bared his fanged maw, swinging his Hassaikai once more to meet the black-and-red fist.
They were deadlocked for a few seconds, then their eyes met, and with a tacit understanding, they both kicked out!
BOOM!
The two powerful waves of Armament Haki clashed, and the two disproportionately sized legs slammed into each other.
ROAR—.
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a giant mythical beast, a Hō, formed from seawater, lunged at Kaido from behind, its gleaming fangs looking as if they could tear through his flesh!
CLANG!
Kaido's dragon tail quickly coiled with Armament Haki. With all his might, he blocked the sharp fangs from behind!
"Marine brat, not bad strength. You've...Earned the right to make me get serious."
With a roar, Kaido's form changed. His swelling body instantly broke through Atlas's offensive, and the giant Azure Dragon coiled in the air once more.
In terms of pure strength, the Hybrid Form could not compare to the full Dragon Form. Only Kaido in his Dragon Form could forcibly break this stalemate.
ROAR—!
The Azure Dragon roared, thunder from the heavens stirring fire on the earth. With a flash of light, Kaido instantly transformed back into his Hybrid Form, Hassaikai in hand.
"Three Worlds..." Kaido suddenly leapt above Atlas, his Hassaikai spinning wildly, Conqueror's Haki coiling around it.
Countless black lightning bolts shot out, and the intense shockwaves warped the surrounding space.
"Conqueror of Three Worlds, Ragnarok!"
Atlas clenched his fists, his Armament Haki beginning to flow, perfectly controlled—like blood under the fascia, its current smooth, yet fierce and domineering!
While his iron club wasn't quite that exaggerated, when coated with Conqueror's Haki, its power was not to be underestimated.
"Rokushiki Secret Art: Thunder-Fire: Tenbu Horin!"
Also enhanced with thunder and fire—at their level of power, they could use the thunder of the heavens and the fire of the earth as their own, as long as their abilities were properly developed!
RUMBLE!
Before fist and club even met, their Haki had already begun to clash. The continuous roar of explosions echoed around them.
The black clouds in the sky churned, and the soaring shockwave seemed to cut into the heavens like a sharp blade!
"Kaido...Your tolerance is nothing special!"
A powerful Conqueror's will raged in his mind. Atlas's eyes widened, and he charged forward, veins bulging all over his body as he kicked straight at Kaido's ribs.
Kaido didn't dodge, meeting the attack with a front kick of his own.
POW!
Their legs collided head-on. A terrifying shockwave erupted, spreading wildly in all directions. The sea below was thrown into a thousand-layered frenzy of giant waves.
Some passing Sea Kings were instantly killed by the shockwave, and their countless carcasses floated on the surface, only to be pulverised into dust moments later.
POW! POW! POW!
Separating again, Kaido slung his Hassaikai behind him and charged forward once more. The sound of flesh hitting flesh was like a symphony, rising and falling.
Both were powerhouses who pursued the ultimate physique.
The exhilarating feeling of a visceral, fist-to-flesh fight filled them. With every punch and every clash of Haki, a deep fist print was left on the other's body, only to return to normal in the next instant.
A brutal, fist-to-flesh brawl! This was a man's romance!
THUD!
With a dull thud, both were sent stumbling backwards, taking several steps in the air to barely stop themselves.
In terms of pure strength, Atlas undoubtedly had the upper hand. But Kaido's Conqueror's Coating was no longer as unrefined as it had been a few years ago.
He could now coat not just his weapon, but any part of his body for an attack!
If it weren't for the fact that Atlas's own Armament Haki had no weaknesses in quality or technique, he wouldn't have been able to fight Kaido to this extent.
.......
G-5 Base Port.
GULP—!
Francis swallowed hard. Every sound from the distant battle made his heart leap into his throat.
Having been undercover with the Beasts Pirates for a time, he knew very well the terrifying strength of the Emperor of the Sea, Kaido.
"Maybe..."
"We should retreat first? Rear Admiral Maynard?" Francis asked the Rear Admiral beside him, his voice filled with worry.
"Huh—!?"
"What did you say? Are you telling us Marines to desert?" Maynard glanced at Francis, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his tone somewhat contemptuous.
He was a muscular, broad-chested man. His black hair was tied into a ponytail on one side, and he had a thick black beard.
He wore a white cap featuring the Marine Corps seagull symbol and a pair of light-coloured sunglasses.
He was the highest-ranking officer on the G-5 base, aside from Atlas. Whether they retreated or held their ground was his decision.
Atlas's fleet did not just guard the G-5 base in the New World; it had its own permanent garrison, and Maynard was the base's second-in-command.
No matter how much Atlas trusted Smoker, he was still only a Commodore and not qualified to command G-5 temporarily.
"You..."
Francis was at a loss for words. Only Marine warships were present; without Maynard's permission, he couldn't take one, even if he was much stronger than Maynard.
After all, he couldn't bear the consequences of the Marines' retaliation if he stole a ship. All I can do now is pray that Vice Admiral Byakko can repel Kaido...
PURUPURUPURU—!
Suddenly, Maynard's expression changed. He pulled the Den Den Mushi from his coat pocket and answered without hesitation.
"Yes, this is Maynard."
"This is Sengoku. Has Vice Admiral Byakko intercepted Kaido?" Sengoku's deep voice came through the receiver, his mood clearly not good.
"Vice Admiral Byakko is currently engaged in battle with Kaido. There are no casualties at G-5 base at present," Maynard said calmly, looking at the storm-tossed, wave-battered battlefield in the distance.
"And Francis?"
"Safe and sound."
"Phew~ Very good. Garp is already on his way to provide support. Tell Byakko to hold on a little longer. We'll capture Kaido this time!" Sengoku said, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Yes, Admiral Sengoku!"
Aside from the Marines, the powers on the sea were all stirring. That was Kaido, one of the three Emperors of the Sea!
Both the Big Mom Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates had dispatched scouts to the waters near G-5 as soon as Kaido had left Onigashima.
Even Morgan's World Economy News Paper had quickly mobilised. He would not let such a major event, one that could drastically change the world situation, slip through his fingers.
They had a premonition. This time, Kaido was probably... going to be arrested by the Marines again!
Why say 'again'?
Kaido was notoriously stubborn. He had been arrested by the Marines several times, but he always managed to escape unharmed, earning him the title of the immortal cockroach of the pirate world.
For a time, the battle between Kaido and Atlas had captured the attention of the entire New World.
(T/N: Please give me some power stone, I hope it can at least reach the top 100)
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