The sounds of fighting and explosions echoed in his ears.
Kaido's eyes flickered with a fiery glow, and he bared his teeth in a sneer, saying, "The strong live, the weak die—that's the rule this sea has always followed! John, which one will you be?"
John, slightly tipsy, his nose a little red, had a chilling gleam in his eyes as he surged forward: "Such arrogant words, you brat! Do you think defeating Kaido means you can defeat me?!"
With that, John's long saber, imbued with Haki, shone like a blazing flame as he fiercely slashed at Kaido.
Kaido bared his teeth and unleashed his Thunder Bagua!!
Bang!!
As the saber and club collided, countless Haki fragments instantly splattered outwards!
Surging waves of air spread out from their bodies, and the ground suddenly caved in with a crack, countless cracks snaking outwards like chaotic serpents.
The earth shattered, and countless stones were thrown high into the air!!
Sensing the terrifying power of his opponent, though they appeared to be in a stalemate, John's face was ashen, and his heart trembled with shock at the immense strength of Kaido!
This brat has grown to such an extent?!
John's heart sank instantly.
"So, John, is this all your strength?"
Kaido taunted him, appearing utterly relaxed and casual, then suddenly increased the force in his hand, and Conqueror's Haki swept over like a tsunami!
Bang!!
John, like a cannonball trailing a fiery tail, slammed into the main street of the dilapidated town.
He slid hundreds of meters along the street, plowing up the earth and stones in disarray.
John painfully got back up, half his face covered in blood, flesh, and sand, looking incredibly disfigured and wretched.
Kaido casually swatted away the pirate minions surging around him, his footsteps leaving shallow prints on the mottled street, his strong, muscular physique radiating tension and aesthetic beauty.
"Someone like you doesn't even qualify to make me go all out... John, I thought you might at least give me some fun."
"You're looking down on me, you stinking brat! Don't get ahead of yourself just because you've gained a bit of power; this world isn't just about fighting alone!"
John grinned slyly, staring at Kaido's feet.
Boom boom boom!!
The explosion's flames instantly engulfed Kaido, tons of gunpowder blasting half the street into the air, and thick black smoke permeated the town.
John laughed maniacally: "Hahaha! Still the same as before, foolishly thinking you can be reckless with just your tough body? To deal with you, I'd already set up several explosive points nearby!!"
"Kaido!"
"Boss!"
"Boss Kaido!"
The Beasts Pirates were all watching this battlefield, and seeing Kaido engulfed by the explosion, their faces changed slightly, and they anxiously shouted into the black smoke.
"Still as underhanded as ever, John!"
Kaido slowly emerged from the flames, a bit of black gunpowder from the explosion clinging to his shoulder. His blue shirt had been completely burned away by the flames, revealing his bronze-colored body, as if made of diamond!!
"I knew it, that guy would be fine."
Wald breathed a sigh of relief, then became immensely proud.
Roya and Hiber exchanged glances, smiling as they said, "As expected of the man we follow; that scale of explosives had no effect on him whatsoever!"
Seeing Kaido unharmed, Bullet's face lit up with joy, marveling at Kaido's formidable physique: "So strong... Can a human body truly achieve that level?"
The Beasts Pirates cheered enthusiastically, while the John Pirates' faces were grim, their eyes filled with fear.
"How can you be unharmed?!"
John couldn't believe it. Even if he knew that perhaps tons of explosives couldn't kill Kaido, Kaido should definitely not be completely unscathed... But reality had cruelly slapped him in the face.
Kaido looked at John meaningfully and sighed.
"Indeed, fighting you is truly too boring. To think I had some expectations for you... John, how about it? If you work under me, perhaps I can spare your life out of old acquaintance."
"Work for you?! Are you insulting me? Who do you think I am!!"
John's face was ashen. He had been with Rocks for nearly a decade, and now Rocks was a thing of the past.
Countless admirers had joined John's crew out of admiration, and now John was to pledge allegiance to Kaido?
Overthrowing the superior?!
John would never tolerate such a thing happening!!
"Kaido, indeed, your growth speed astounds me, but I will never bow down to you!"
John's face was bloody, and viscous blood dripped from his chin onto his robe: "As a captain with thousands of subordinates, my pride will never allow me to surrender!!"
"Kaido, let's fight to the death!!"
John shrieked, his eyes bloodshot, suddenly filled with a crimson hue!
He poured all his strength and conviction into his long saber; instantly, the saber glowed with dark light, humming and vibrating!
Puffs of air emanated from John's feet, spreading outwards like ripples, constantly expanding and shaking.
The ground trembled slightly, and sand grains bounced like water droplets!
His entire body was enveloped in Armament Haki, like flowing flames, constantly compressing and injecting into his long saber!
A trickle of blood flowed from John's eyes and nose, dripping onto his toes.
John was oblivious, just laughing maniacally, as if possessed!
"Look, Kaido! This is the peak I can reach! I feel better than ever, power is continuously surging from my body!!"
John laughed loudly, and the ground beneath him trembled more and more violently!!
Kaido's expression was slightly surprised; he could feel John's life force rapidly draining away.
"So, that's what 'fight to the death' means?"
Kaido muttered, then a smirk played on his lips. He pointed his kanabo at John: "In that case... John, as a farewell gift, let me show you the world's number one combat power!!"
The shadow beneath Kaido's feet began to squirm, swell, and distort. In a blink of an eye, Kaido grew to about twelve meters tall, his forehead's sharp horns flashing with electricity, his fangs like a demon's, and the Conqueror's Haki emanating from his entire body gave his azure scales a layer of crimson luster.
Kaido's eyes rotated, suddenly forming blood-red vertical pupils, and the Haki wrapped around his hands flowed like fiery clouds.
Kaido held his club with both hands, assuming a striking pose, and the Haki swirling around his hands violently poured into his kanabo, Hassaikai!!!
Instantly, streaks of crimson-black lightning flashed along the club's body!
John bared his teeth, blood flowing down his face, a bloody mess, as he frantically swung his long saber: "Severing Ten Blades!!"
Kaido, like a cannonball, surged towards John, swinging his kanabo: "Adamantine Cone!!"
Boom!!!
A massive white light engulfed the entire Hachinosu Island, and the enormous impact completely pulverized and vaporized the ground within several hundred meters!
A row of coconut trees on the coast swayed violently, and the anchored warships were lifted high by the seawater before crashing down heavily!
As the dust gradually settled, a massive crater nearly a mile wide appeared in the center of Hachinosu Island. The distant town had a large "V" shape blasted into it, and the affected buildings were reduced to ruins, the rubble charred black.
John lay on the ground, his sword shattered, everything below his chest gone.
His pupils dilated as he looked at the azure sky, reflecting on his extravagant and wild life.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, John smiled with relief: "Impact... what a nostalgic move... Kaido, you win."
The light in his eyes gradually faded.