Thick smoke choked the streets, and blood stained every corner of the kingdom. Buildings lay in ruins, collapsing under the heat of a massive fire. Even though the Oren Kingdom had nearly ten thousand troops and their opponent was just one man, the battle was a total slaughter.
Reckton's face turned ashen. A cross-shaped vein pulsed on his forehead and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, trembling with pure rage.
Kaido swung his spiked club. With a single sweep, dozens of soldiers were sent flying like scraps of paper, their screams filling the air. With every swing of that blood-soaked club, those who were grazed fell wounded, and those who took a direct hit died instantly.
Looking around, thousands of soldiers lay in pools of blood. The survivors were paralyzed with fear, shrinking back as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over them. The aggression they had felt moments ago was gone, replaced by a soul-crushing dread.
"Wororororo! Come on! Why aren't you moving?" Kaido scanned the crowd, laughing. "Hey, I haven't even finished warming up yet!"
The soldiers turned pale, hastily averting their eyes. That demonic face was now seared into their minds—a shadow that would haunt them forever.
"What are you standing around for?!" Frank roared, his voice cracking with fury. "Go! All of you, move! Where's your honor as warriors of this kingdom?"
The soldiers hung their heads in shame, their feet rooted to the spot. Frank cursed their inaction. He gripped his golden greatsword, glaring at Kaido with eyes burning with a mix of anger and desperate fighting spirit.
"Get out of the Oren Kingdom, Kaido! You don't belong here!"
Bang!
Kaido slammed his club into the ground, shattering the stone pavement and sending debris flying. "You've got more guts than the rest of these cowards, but... you're still too weak."
Enraged and humiliated, Frank charged. He swung his sword with both hands, his heavy steps shaking the ground like an angry rhinoceros. He poured every ounce of his strength and conviction into a massive, heavy blow aimed straight at Kaido's head.
"Die! Round Dance!"
It was a strike powerful enough to cleave a building in two. Seeing Kaido remain motionless, Frank let out a triumphant laugh—but it didn't last long.
Kaido opened his mouth and bit down directly on the golden blade.
"How is that possible?!"
Frank's smile froze. He strained with both hands, his face turning a deep shade of red, but the sword wouldn't budge an inch.
Crack!
With a slight flex of his jaw, Kaido snapped the master-crafted blade into pieces. Frank stared in disbelief, his world crumbling. Kaido, still holding the metal shards in his mouth, squinted at the stunned warrior.
Spit!
A metal shard shot out like a streak of light, piercing Frank's throat. His eyes widened as he clutched his neck. Blood seeped through his fingers and his body temperature began to plummet. A wet, gurgling gasp escaped his throat as he struggled to breathe. After a few desperate moments, he fell powerlessly to the ground, his white armor stained crimson as a pool of blood spread beneath him.
"Frank has fallen!"
The army descended into an uproar. Their wavering hearts finally gave out, and fear took over completely. Soldiers abandoned their weapons and armor, fleeing in a panicked scramble. They trampled over one another in a desperate bid to escape the chaos.
Reckton watched his army crumble from the high platform, his expression grim. He tried to raise his arm to rally them, but he suddenly froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as a massive shadow loomed over him.
He turned his body stiffly, his voice trembling. "Kai—"
"Pfft!" Kaido's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Surrender... or die?"
Reckton felt a bone-chilling cold wash over him. Looking at that fierce, sinister face from only inches away, his Adam's apple bobbed. He slumped to the ground in total despair, reluctantly whispering a single word.
"Surrender..."
"Wororororo!" Kaido laughed heartily. "Even a proud King knows when to bow his head? I'm telling you, violence is the only thing that matters in this world!"
The war for the Oren Kingdom was over. Inside the royal palace, Kaido sat high on the throne, looking down at the trembling ministers and nobles.
"First," Kaido began, taking a long pull from a bottle of sake, "the Oren Kingdom will pay an annual tribute of one hundred million Berries to Snow Country."
He looked down at the terrified faces. "Second, Snow Country takes thirty percent of the profits from your arena. Third, you'll organize an army of five hundred men to help me escort my warships and supplies."
He leaned forward, his gaze settling on King Reckton. "No problems with that, right?"
Reckton trembled, stammering nervously, "No... no problem."
Kaido's eyes narrowed. "I'm advising you all to be sensible. If you try to play any tricks behind my back, I'm sure the Sea Kings would love a taste of your flesh."
The ministers prostrated themselves, pressing their heads to the floor. "We'll follow your instructions perfectly!"
Kaido stood up. His immense aura was so overwhelming that several ministers collapsed in terror. He sneered at them derisively. "My people will be in touch in a few days. Don't disappoint me."
With that, Kaido strode out of the palace. He leaped into the sky, transforming into a massive Azure Dragon. Riding on a trail of flame clouds, he departed the Oren Kingdom.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The ministers rushed to help Reckton, who was convulsing on the floor. They realized his royal robes were completely soaked in cold sweat.
"He... he's gone, hasn't he?" Reckton's eyes were filled with lingering fear. It took a long time for him to recover, and when he did, a surge of resentment took over. "Damn it! I'm the King of the Oren Kingdom, and I just groveled to a pirate! This is a total disgrace!"
"Your Majesty," a minister said worriedly, "the whole nation is depending on you. Please, don't do anything reckless!"
"Are you telling me to be a pirate's dog?!"
"Your Majesty..."
"Shut up!" Reckton glared at them, a sneer on his face. "You're all useless. Instead of giving me advice, you just stood there and watched your King beg. Well, listen up."
He smiled sinisterly. "We're a member of the World Government. We pay a Heavenly Tribute every year that's worth tens of millions. Kaido isn't just attacking us; he's slapping the World Government in the face! If they want to keep their reputation, they won't let this go!"
The ministers looked at him in shock. "Your Majesty, do you mean...?"
"Exactly!" Reckton's eyes flashed with madness. "Contact the World Government immediately! Just you watch! They'll send the Marines to take Kaido down!"
He laughed maniacally, already imagining the day the pirate would fall. "Hahaha! Kaido, you won't see this coming! I've still got the World Government in my corner!"