Kaido's eyes flashed with ferocity.
His body instantly transformed into the hybrid form, his frame expanding.
The ferocious dragon head locked firmly on Shanks.
From his waist, the spiked club "Hassaikai" was drawn in a flash, raised high:
"Your life ends here!!!"
Lightning crackled along the spiked club as it came crashing toward Shanks.
This kind of opponent… best to eliminate him early.
Shanks had, at some unknown moment, drawn the "Gryphon" at his waist.
Stepping forward.
That overwhelming Conqueror's Haki erupted, sweeping across.
Scarlet lightning crackled around the blade, carrying an unparalleled sword intent as it slashed out:
"Then let's find out!!!"
Clang—
The spiked club and the blade had clearly not collided, yet the sound of clashing metal rang out.
The nearly tangible Haki compressed violently between the two weapons.
Chaotic air currents and lightning erupted.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
The island trembled, the ground shattered, and some unknown energy erupted from beneath the earth.
Beams of light shot into the sky, destroying everything nearby.
The ground at the center of the battle began to glow red.
The ultimate clash of Haki distorted reality itself, the ground beneath their feet cracking apart.
Boom!!!
An irregular beam of light shot into the sky.
It exploded above the island, the violent energy sweeping across heaven and earth.
Every cloud in sight was blown away.
...
Whoosh—
A beam of light appeared atop the Red-Haired Pirates' ship's mast, materializing into human form.
In that instant, Beckman, Yasopp, and the others aimed their guns at him.
Borsalino said dramatically:
"Scary~"
"Such a quick reaction, and this old man hasn't even done anything yet~"
"Really~~"
"Each one of you is as strong as a monster~"
Click, click—
Beckman cocked his gun twice, loading it:
"That's no place for you to stand."
"Very impolite of you."
"Newly appointed Marine Admiral."
"Kizaru, Borsalino."
Borsalino raised his hands:
"Already loaded, huh~"
"This old man has no ill intent~"
"Just here to see what one of the Three Emperors, Kaido of the Beasts, is doing meeting with Roger Pirates' remnants~"
Beckman clicked his tongue:
"Done watching now?"
Borsalino scratched his cheek with a raised hand:
"Mmm~"
"Looks like it's not a collaboration~"
"Then this old man will just head back to report~"
Golden light radiated from his body, dispersing into motes of light.
Beckman's eyes gleamed as he saw Borsalino about to vanish.
In an instant, he pulled the trigger, Armament Haki coating the bullet as it shot toward the still-fading Borsalino.
Whoosh—
The sound of a bullet slicing through air.
The bullet was fast—but the light was faster.
In just a few meters, it still didn't hit Borsalino.
The dispersing light particles opened a gap, deliberately letting the bullet pass through.
But Borsalino seemed to stagger, his form reassembling:
"Scary~"
"That was close~"
Beckman smirked, eyes locked on Borsalino:
"Quit lying."
"You're a Marine Admiral."
Borsalino pointed a glowing finger downward, light gathering rapidly:
"Oh?"
"Then what do you intend to do~"
Beckman smiled back at him:
"Naturally, to witness the power of a Marine Admiral."
"After all, the Captain himself is being tested. As the first mate, how could I slack off?"
A pained expression crossed Borsalino's face:
"So troublesome~"
"Really~"
"Why is everyone so energetic~"
Whoosh—
Bang—
The sound of a laser firing and a gunshot rang out without warning...
...
On the island.
In just moments, every building had been destroyed by the shockwaves.
Kaido gripped the Hassaikai tightly, moving it to his right side, lightning coiling around it.
He stomped the ground, his entire body leaving afterimages in the air as he charged Shanks:
"Roaring Thunder Bagua!!!"
Shanks took a deep breath as Kaido charged.
His left foot stepped forward, his right foot planted firmly, Gryphon twisting behind him.
For a moment, Kaido faltered… this stance…
Scarlet lightning danced along the blade, Shanks' eyes blazing red.
His body spun violently, using the rotational force to slash out a vicious crimson sword strike.
It collided with Kaido's spiked club in a test of strength.
Kaido's monstrous physique and Devil Fruit power gave him an overwhelming advantage.
His spiked club pressed down on Shanks' blade bit by bit:
"Almost thought Roger had come back to life."
"A perfect heir to Roger's swordsmanship and spirit."
"Practically 'another Roger.'"
Though the words sounded like praise, they were laced with mockery, Kaido's killing intent growing even stronger.
Shanks, at a disadvantage, just smiled:
"Thanks for the compliment."
Shanks was a natural left-handed swordsman; though he had retrained his right hand, the flaw now surfaced under Kaido's crushing strength.
The right hand holding Gryphon trembled slightly against the spiked club.
But Shanks remained unfazed.
Kaido's eyes narrowed. His words had failed to rattle Shanks...
Boom—
The clashing Haki finally lost all restraint, erupting in a massive explosion that blasted a crater hundreds of meters wide into the ground.
Both men were flung backward at high speed.
Roar—
A dragon's cry shook the sky.
Kaido transformed into a massive azure dragon, spiraling upward, energy gathering in his jaws.
He unleashed a searing crimson energy beam straight at Shanks.
Shanks raised Gryphon, bringing it down in a vertical slash.
There was no visible sword aura—yet the energy beam split apart with a thunderous crack!
As if some unseen power forced the beam apart, the halves blasted into the mountains behind Shanks.
Boom!!!!
The dragon soared high, inhaling deeply.
His body spun like a top, whipping up devastating winds as his chest swelled like a balloon.
A brilliant emerald glow condensed in his maw, reaching its peak before he roared:
"Tornado Blast!!!"
Countless emerald wind blades, each laced with Haki, spun toward Shanks like a giant meat grinder...
Shanks narrowed his eyes:
"Useless."
A violent surge of energy erupted around him, clearing debris from the air.
He swung Gryphon from his left side in a massive upward arc.
A flaming slash streaked across the sky, cleaving through the storm of wind blades.
Clang!
The slash struck Kaido's scales, sparks flying—but causing no injury.
Below, the emerald wind blades suddenly glowed red, exploding violently before they reached Shanks.
Flames and emerald light blossomed in the air like fireworks...
The attack had worked, but it was clear where Shanks still fell short.
Kaido's dragon eyes locked firmly on him.
Bang, bang, bang—
Flames erupted along Kaido's dragon body, spreading across his entire form...
-----------
The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total