The "Gundari Ryuseigun" was also known as the Kanabo Barrage.
Despite Kaido's brutish appearance, his combat instincts were razor-sharp.
Against an old-timer like Zephyr, stamina and recovery were always their greatest weaknesses.
As an awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, Kaido's greatest strengths were precisely endurance and recovery!
Exploiting your opponent's vulnerabilities with your own advantages—that was the essence of battle.
This strategy had served Kaido well against veteran fighters, with near-flawless success.
Only Whitebeard was the exception.
That damned old man's fists hurt like hell!
Combined with his Tremor-Tremor Fruit abilities infused with Conqueror's Haki, every punch struck directly at his internal organs.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit bypassed his hardened scales to shake his insides apart, while Whitebeard's monstrous strength enhanced by Conqueror's Haki Infusion made the combo unbearable even for Kaido.
Under Whitebeard's full assault, he truly couldn't withstand that relentless barrage.
But the old man's body was visibly declining now.
The frequency of his Conqueror's Haki Infusion during battles had dwindled.
It wouldn't be long before the title of "World's Strongest" would belong to Kaido instead.
Zephyr, that old geezer, was a pure physical combatant without Conqueror's Haki, nor did he possess Whitebeard's fruit ability to bypass his scales.
Kaido believed that with his own strength, he could simply pound this old man to death!
Facing Kaido's storm-like attacks, Zephyr merely grinned slightly.
Then, his arm wrapped in Armament Haki so dense it made even Kaido click his tongue in surprise, he declared.
"Black Arm - Barrage!"
The moment his fist collided with the spiked club, Kaido felt an overwhelming force beyond his expectations—a power that reminded him of that old hag Big Mom.
No, it was even more domineering and fierce than hers!
Zephyr looked at Kaido, a savage smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey Brat! Did you think this old man couldn't deal much damage just because I lack Conqueror's Haki and a Devil Fruit ability?! But today, I'll teach you a lesson—when Armament Haki is honed to its peak, the power it unleashes is no weaker than any Conqueror's Haki Infusion!"
At this point, the dense Armament Haki on Zephyr's body, which was almost tangible, solidified once again under Kaido's astonished gaze.
The force transmitted through his fist made it difficult for Kaido to even grip his kanabo properly.
Meanwhile, Zephyr's muscles bulged as he stared at Kaido and laughed heartily.
"Let me tell you something brat! Relying solely on that Conqueror's Haki won't get you to the top!"
"Black Arm·Iron Fist!"
The moment Zephyr finished speaking, an inexplicable fear surged within Kaido's heart.
Staring at the terrifying black Armament Haki, feeling the primal terror in his bones, Kaido's lips curled into a manic grin of excitement.
"Wororororo! You old bastard, you've really given me one hell of a surprise! This feeling—this is exactly what I need!"
"Kosanze Ragnaraku!"
A black-purple lightning bolt streaked across the sky as the clouds darkened like spilled ink.
Thunder coiled around Kaido's kanabo, his Conqueror's Haki transforming into a crimson-black glow as he swung it toward Zephyr with overwhelming force.
Before the kanabo even made contact with Zephyr's fist, a bolt of lightning as thick as two or three meters struck Zephyr directly.
The rampant electricity numbed his entire body, rupturing blood vessels and leaving severe burns across his flesh.
Yet, despite the pain, Zephyr wore nothing but an exhilarated smile.
How long had it been since he last enjoyed such an intense battle?
Not just a life-or-death fight against a top-tier Pirate like Kaido—ever since his asthma worsened, even sleeping had become a struggle, often waking him up gasping for air.
This sensation of clashing with a supreme powerhouse made Zephyr feel as though his long-cold blood was boiling once more.
But before facing Kaido, he had been a teacher to those brats.
He hadn't forgotten what truly mattered!
"JAKE!"
Without hesitation, Zephyr shouted Jake's name.
At this moment, Jake had already braved the shockwaves of their battle, using Geppo to force his way to a spot a hundred meters below them.
Hearing Zephyr's call, a brilliant golden light erupted from Jake's body.
"Blessing of Protection! Holy Light Protection! Purify! Healing Prayer!"
As four radiant lights flickered over Zephyr, the paralysis from the lightning strike vanished instantly.
His wounds visibly healed, and his vigor surged, once again overwhelming Kaido.
Another bolt of lightning struck, shattering Zephyr's thin protective shield in an instant—but at that very moment, Jake deliberately detonated the shield.
The Holy Light's power made even Kaido taste the agony of being struck by lightning.
His entire body went numb, yet Kaido's face twisted into an excited, savage grin.
He raised his kanabo again, but before he could even swing it, Zephyr's fist hammered him into the ground.
To avoid harming the residents in the town, Zephyr's punch sent Kaido crashing into the dense forest outside the settlement.
The terrifying impact was so powerful that even the Marine soldiers in the town could feel the aftershocks of the force.
Dust and debris erupted dozens of meters into the air.
King, glancing at Jake not far away, frowned.
Flames enveloped the longsword in his hand as he swung it towards Jake's direction.
But at that moment, Kaido's voice rang out once more.
"King! Stand down! That brat's ability is quite interesting! Wororororo, that old bastard Zephyr suddenly got a lot stronger. If I could harness that power for myself, I'll truly become the King of the World! But before that, let me smash Zephyr into paste!"
The next moment, the dust was violently dispersed by an overwhelming aura, revealing Kaido in his hybrid beast form.
He raised his spiked club, a savage grin stretching across his face.
****
Meanwhile
On the Grand Line, Sengoku stood at the bow of a ship—a high-speed vessel crafted by Vegapunk—racing towards the North Blue, towards the Kingdom of Prince, at full speed.
A flash of golden light streaked across the sky, covering thousands of meters in an instant.
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