Chapter 521: Kaido Attacks
In the Competitive Canyon, Morgans had just finished introducing the guardian Mythical beasts. A heavy silence fell as their overwhelming presence subdued the crowd. The guardian beasts fixed their gazes on the strongest contestants in the canyon, dismissing the weaker ones as insignificant.
At that moment, many of the less powerful contestants sprinted toward the safe zones with all their might. The eerie calm felt like the prelude to a storm, and they feared the consequences of lingering.
"It's so terrifying, meow!" Pizarro exclaimed, running toward a distant attic while letting out a stream of sighs. "That crow is incredible! I really want to keep one."
Shiryu, beside him, stayed silent, not bothering to comment on Pizarro's foolish daydream. He focused solely on running. Despite their somewhat clumsy escape, a spark of ambition burned in their hearts. Perhaps, if the stronger contenders fought to the point of mutual destruction, they could seize the final treasure. Timing would be key, and Pizarro believed his abilities were well-suited for sneaking past unnoticed.
This hope wasn't unique to Pizarro. Many in the canyon shared the same fantasy, particularly those with the most magic pattern users. Dreams were essential, after all.
"Worararara! Let's get started! I want to test the strength of this so-called strongest Mythical beast!" a booming laugh echoed through the canyon.
A massive cyan dragon soared through the air, diving from the sky toward the Sun Golden Crow. It was none other than Kaido of the Beasts.
His bold move stemmed from the Mythical Beast Fruit he had acquired on the island—an Azure Dragon Fruit that perfectly suited him. Though it shared the name of his original Devil Fruit, this Azure Dragon Mythical Beast Fruit was distinct. Unlike the multifaceted abilities of his Devil Fruit, this fruit had a singular power: Mokki, tied to the wood attribute, allowing the user to generate and control plants. It was a product of Orochimaru's research, one of eight clones each exploring a different path, using data collected from Kaido himself as a blueprint.
Upon consuming the fruit, Kaido's strength surged due to its high compatibility with him. His raw power now surpassed the minimum threshold of a demigod. With time and the right conditions, he could potentially unlock the fruit's full potential, reaching the level of a Superior Mythical King. However, this was no easy feat. The Mythical Beast Fruit offered only the potential, requiring time and a suitable environment to fully realize it.
Outside Mythical Beast Island, where the energy of Mythical beasts was scarce, Kaido could at best approach the level of a Superior Mythical King. Only on this island could he accumulate the power needed to reach that tier.
"Dragon Breath!" Kaido roared.
The Aruze Dragon soared above the Sun Golden Crow, unleashing a massive torrent of dragon's breath toward the small creature below. The sky churned, heat surged, and the world seemed to dim under the onslaught. The Sun Golden Crow, barely a meter tall, appeared frail and insignificant against the scorching flood.
The stark contrast stunned the global audience watching the live broadcast. Many felt a pang of sympathy for the tiny Mythical beast. A fiery red glow enveloped the Golden Crow as it lifted its head, its expression unreadable, watching the dragon's breath descend without reacting.
Kaaa!
When the dragon's breath was less than a meter away, the Sun Golden Crow opened its beak and emitted a harsh, grating cry. The faint sound was drowned out by the roar of the dragon's breath, but what followed left spectators in shock. The massive pillar of fire surged toward the Golden Crow's tiny beak, drawn in like water to a dragon's maw. Every bit of the dragon's breath was swallowed whole, creating a bizarre spectacle.
High above, Kaido witnessed the scene. Undeterred, he intensified his attack, expanding the dragon's breath and pouring out even more power. Having consumed the Azure Dragon Mythical Beast Fruit, his abilities were amplified by the Mythical beast's energy. The life attribute of the Azure Dragon further enhanced his dragon's breath, making it surge like fire fueled by oil. This combination rendered Kaido's attack extraordinarily potent, inspiring confidence in many onlookers that he could prevail.
Yet the scene below fueled his frustration. He was determined to see how much dragon's breath the tiny crow could consume.
Rumble!
The sky glowed fiery red as the colossal pillar of flame continued unabated. Other strong contestants watched silently, while the weaker ones kept fleeing. One minute passed, then two, then five. The dragon's breath showed no sign of stopping.
Finally, the sky cleared, and the fiery glow faded. Below, the Sun Golden Crow exhaled a smoke ring, as if puffing on a cigarette, and let out a burp.
"Burp…" Its hoarse voice reached Kaido's ears. "The quantity is impressive, but the taste is lacking."
Kaido's dragon face froze, his eyes widening. After a brief silence, he burst into laughter. "Worararara! You're impressive, Sun Golden Crow! Mythical Beast Island is too small for you. Join our pirate crew! Let's explore the world together, it's full of excitement!"
His thunderous voice echoed across the valley, audible to nearly everyone present. Many rolled their eyes at his audacity.
Was he serious? After such a fierce attack, he was now trying persuasion?
The staff of the Yamata Sect were particularly speechless—trying to poach a beast under the Yamata God Orochimaru's command was bold, to say the least. Even if the Golden Crow wanted to leave, it would likely join a group closer to the Yamata God Orochimaru, like the Flying Pirates, not Kaido's crew.
The sheer nerve of a Four Emperor to make such a public offer left many at a loss for words.
The Sun Golden Crow, unimpressed by Kaido's invitation, responded with a single word: "Scram!"
Even Kaido, thick-skinned as he was, felt a twinge of embarrassment. He had only been testing the waters, not expecting much. The allure of Mythical beasts was immense for him. This island was a paradise, and if he could claim its beasts, his ultimate dream might come true: To ignite the greatest war in history, toppling the World Government's nobles in a chaotic carnival where only the strong survived, and strength defined equality. It was a goal Kaido had never forgotten.
(End of this chapter)