Crimson lightning tore through the sky, and the earth was stained scarlet. As soon as Kaido and Zephyr clashed, they both realized the other's formidable power. Their movements were so swift that ordinary eyes could barely follow them. They became streaks of light colliding, each impact producing a tremendous roar and causing large sections of buildings to collapse.
Black Arm Zephyr was world-renowned for suppressing evil with his fists, wielding Armament Haki with unparalleled skill.
"As expected of a future Admiral... but it's still not enough!" Kaido shouted. He exhaled a scorching breath, sending a torrent of fiery energy shooting directly at Zephyr.
Zephyr was startled. He bent his legs and sprung up, narrowly dodging the attack, only for a sudden dark shadow to appear above his head. He stared up in a daze, his pupils immediately contracting. Kaido's eyes were blood-red, his mouth full of sharp fangs, and a chilling, sinister smile hung on his demonic face. Blazing black lightning flickered on his club.
"Raimei Hakke!!"
Kaido's club violently smashed down. Zephyr frantically crossed his arms in front of his chest to block the blow.
Boom!!
Zephyr plummeted like a meteor. The immense force collapsed the ground and tore large cracks through the street. When the smoke and dust cleared, a massive crater marked the spot where he landed.
Whoosh!
Kaido landed, shaking the ground and sending out a wave of air that dispersed the thick smoke and the flames licking the nearby buildings. He stood up, looking at the crater with a playful expression. A hand emerged from the pit, gripping the edge and pulling forcefully as Zephyr jumped out. He was panting, blood trickled from his forehead, and his arms were heavily bruised. He stared grimly at the unruly Kaido. His fingers trembled slightly, and a trickle of blood ran down his fingertip, dripping onto the snow.
"Truly tenacious," Kaido sneered, his eyes full of mockery. "I like that unyielding look in your eyes."
"This small injury is nothing at all!" Zephyr glared angrily. He tore off his tattered shirt to reveal his bronzed chest, scarred with several marks. "I've fought countless pirates, and the scars I bear are innumerable. I've long grown accustomed to this level of pain!"
Blood flowed over his brow and down his nose, making him look incredibly ferocious.
"Is that so?" Kaido covered his face and laughed wildly. His fingers parted slightly and his expression suddenly turned frenzied. His pupils swirled into blood-red vertical slits, and blue scales emerged, covering his body and face like armor plates. Two demonic horns grew from his forehead, his body grew taller, and ferocious fangs protruded from his mouth.
Bang!!
Kaido stomped, breaking the building in front of him. His massive tail swept lightly, snapping a stone pillar like a twig. A huge shadow engulfed Zephyr.
"To deal with the powerful enemies of the future, I am trying to adapt to this 'Slaughter Mode.' Usually, it only activates when I'm drunk. You are not my starting point, and you certainly won't be my end!" Kaido's voice was like thunder, and the nearby buildings exploded from the sheer pressure of his roar. He licked the corner of his mouth, looking at Zephyr with disdain. "Let me show you my strength in 'Slaughter Mode'!!"
With that, Kaido stomped violently. A powerful aura tore through the floor, rushing toward the nearby buildings. With a rumble, the structure collapsed, kicking up a large cloud of dust. Using this force, Kaido appeared before Zephyr, his Haki entwined with dark lightning.
"Kundali: Ryuseigun!"
Zephyr's expression was solemn, but he didn't retreat. Haki flowed throughout his body, gathering in his fists. His eyes went wide as he roared, "Fist, Giant Tide Overwhelming Mountain!"
Red and black Haki intertwined and collided. The blazing light engulfed the surrounding buildings and mountains. The structures turned to dust at an incredible speed, and a scorching "sun" seemed to rise on the west side of Winter Island. For a moment, the local people were in an uproar.
"Is this the end of the world?!" People knelt dejectedly, staring blankly at the distant valley.
When the light faded, a massive crater appeared on the ground, looking as if it had been struck by a meteorite. Everything within several hundred meters was reduced to ash. Zephyr stood on the edge of the giant crater, bathed in blood. His expression was stern, and the veins in his arms coiled like vines.
He suddenly burst forth, using Geppo to kick off the air and glide across the ground. He turned into a streak of light, charging directly at Kaido. Kaido laughed loudly, his black hair dancing wildly as he met the charge. The two streaks of light collided and intertwined, fighting from the ground to mid-air, and then from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain. Fists and feet clashed, setting off a series of sonic booms that made the onlookers' blood churn.
Clusters of airwaves and lightning scattered, leaving everyone shocked. Their battle stirred the mist and broke mountain peaks. The snow on the peaks loosened and trembled violently. With a loud rumble, large chunks of snow rushed down. The ground beneath their feet trembled.
People's faces changed drastically as they saw the huge white wave appearing on the distant mountain.
"Avalanche!"
People fled in panic. The snow tide surged toward the town with destructive force, toppling and submerging the buildings.
Whoosh—!!
Just then, a streak of light with a bloody tail flame descended from the sky. It crashed through buildings, clock towers, and fortresses, plowing a charred trench through the ruined street all the way to the port pier. At the end of the trench, Zephyr lay on the ground spitting blood. His back was raw and bleeding from the friction, burning with pain.
Bang!!
Kaido followed closely, crashing to the ground and shattering the streets on both sides. He looked up, his eyes flashing with a chilling, bloody light. He exhaled a scorching hot breath and walked toward Zephyr with heavy steps. Each footfall sounded like a war drum.
Zephyr struggled to his feet. Multiple bones were fractured, and sticky blood flowed down his forehead, making it hard to see. He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with internal organ fragments.
"Don't struggle, Zephyr. You should be proud enough to have fought me for so long!" Kaido sneered. His hideous horns, crimson eyes, and the terrifying Haki entwined around his body made him look like a demon from the abyss. "But you alone cannot defeat me!!"
Kaido walked up to Zephyr and raised his club. He was about to swing it down when he found someone clinging to his arm. He glanced sideways at the obstruction; it was a Marine who had come with Zephyr.
Zephyr was shocked. "Wellen!!"
"Run, Vice Admiral Zephyr! As long as one person gets out alive and brings the information back, we hasn't lost!" Wellen's face was red with effort. Even while gripping Kaido's arm with both hands, he could feel the immense power vibrating through the pirate's skin. He wanted to restrain him, but how could he possibly stop Kaido?
Kaido exerted force to break free, grabbed Wellen's right foot with his left hand, and swung him around. He hoisted Wellen high and smashed him onto the ground. Wellen felt dizzy as his face made contact with the stone. A few breaths later, Kaido threw Wellen aside like a rag doll.
Looking at Wellen, who was bleeding from his nose and mouth with his skin torn, Zephyr let out a heart-wrenching wail.
"Wellen!!"
Drawing strength from somewhere unknown, Zephyr roared like an enraged lion and charged. Kaido remained expressionless, his forehead lined with black marks.
"Now everyone wants to die one after another?!" Kaido stepped back with his left foot and held his club with one hand. Lightning and Haki intertwined around the weapon before he swung it violently.
"Vajra Arrow!!"
A pillar of Haki crushed the air, raising a blizzard vortex as it roared toward Zephyr. Zephyr took the full force of the blast and was sent flying. He crashed through the ships docked at the port and flew far out into the ocean.