"Worororororo..." Following an unusual roar, the cloud layer was violently torn open.
A massive azure dragon head emerged from the churning clouds, bearing his signature eerie smile. His unique laughter echoed between heaven and earth:
"Worororororo... It's quite lively here. You don't mind if I join, do you?"
The gigantic Azure Dragon form brought an unparalleled sense of oppression.
However, most of those present were the world's top powerhouses, so they felt no fear regarding Kaido's identity.
The moment Charlotte Linlin saw Kaido, old grudges and new hatred instantly surged in her heart:
"Kaido!!!"
Her voice, filled with intense fury, instantly drowned out the clamor of the battlefield:
"You bastard! Are you trying to steal a Devil Fruit from me again?!"
Damn it! Last time, you showed up just like this and snatched away the Azure Dragon Devil Fruit!
Now you've transformed into the Azure Dragon and rushed over here —are you planning to steal the next one too?
Kaido's figure rapidly descended, shrinking in mid-air. By the time he landed, he had reverted to his human form, creating a three-way standoff with Charlotte Linlin and Garp.
A smile was on his face, mixed with a hint of sighing:
"Linlin, it must have been decades since we last met..."
At the mention of this, Charlotte Linlin's expression briefly flickered with hesitation, then immediately returned to anger:
"Stop talking nonsense! If you help me get the Ope-Ope no Mi this time, the favor you owe me will be wiped clean!"
"If it wasn't for me back then, you wouldn't have had the chance to get such a powerful Devil Fruit!"
"That's a lifelong debt!"
The moment Kaido appeared, Garp's eyes narrowed instantly, and the smile on his face vanished for a brief second.
There weren't many beings in this world who could make him feel troublesome, but two Emperors of the Sea teaming up was definitely among them.
However, this solemnity came and went quickly, immediately replaced by his even louder laughter:
"Hahahaha..."
"Another one shows up?"
On his tightly clenched fists, Armament Haki boiled like Blake flames:
"Perfect... I'll catch all you scum of the sea in one sweep!"
Garp's reaction perfectly demonstrated his deep-seated confidence—
Even if he rationally knew the danger, emotionally he was convinced he could defeat any powerful enemy.
More hype than a movie!
This world is actually very strange; rational people, even if highly talented, often cannot become top powerhouses—Doflamingo, for example.
Conversely, all those who become top powerhouses usually have a reckless streak deep down.
It's not that they are unaware of the power gap between themselves and their opponents; they are simply confident they can win.
This is why many bizarre incidents occur—for instance, there can only be one one-armed redhead in the New World...
Because Haki is a manifestation of will, in this world, only those who lack proper self-awareness regarding their own strength and that of their enemies can become top powerhouses.
Of course, there are quite a few such people, but most of them have fallen.
Facing the aggressive Charlotte Linlin and the suddenly fired-up Garp, Kaido rested his spiked club on his shoulder:
"Linlin, now isn't the time to talk about this, is it?"
"How about we team up to take out this old guy first, and then discuss the Ope-Ope no Mi?"
"You bastard, you really came here for the Ope-Ope no Mi!"
Charlotte Linlin was furious for a moment, then turned toward Garp, reassuming her battle stance.
Kaido was right; regardless of how the two of them might fight over it later, the Ope-Ope no Mi could not be left to the Marine.
Facing Garp alone, she was somewhat lacking, but adding Kaido changed everything.
Charlotte Linlin sneered:
"Garp! Prepare to die, old man!"
"Heavenly Fireball!"
"Thunder Bagua!"
The moment Charlotte Linlin launched her attack, Kaido simultaneously charged toward Garp. He knew exactly who the primary enemy was.
Charlotte Linlin's slash tore through the atmosphere, and Kaido's spiked club, wreathed in Blake lightning, descended from the sky.
Two attacks, each powerful enough to easily obliterate a town, converged on Garp from two directions: the ground and the sky.
"Fist of Impact!"
"Fist of Collision!"
Garp's fists instantly turned into countless afterimages, striking left and right. The fierce punch winds and Haki simultaneously clashed head-on with the two Emperors of the Sea.
Boom! An energy storm several times more violent than before erupted at the center of the island.
The ground, already ravaged by the battle between the two Admiral/Emperor-level powerhouses, seemed to be crushed again by an invisible giant hand. Massive cracks spread across the entire island from the point of conflict, like a spiderweb.
Amidst the deafening noise, the ground beneath Garp's feet collapsed, forming a massive pit over a hundred meters in diameter.
The shockwave instantly leveled the few remaining abandoned buildings in the distance.
Although Garp laughed heartily, his fists blurred into afterimages, shattering all incoming attacks.
However, facing the combined fierce assault of the two great pirates, he was finally suppressed in the engagement.
Every one of his punches was still fierce and powerful, yet they could only barely neutralize the opponents' attacks.
He was continuously forced backward by the scattered energy currents, leaving deep footprints in the scorched earth with every step. The tide of battle had turned.
Blake sat in a lounge chair within the alternate dimension, watching the scene before him leisurely—this time, there wouldn't be an Imu suddenly unleashing Haoshoku to shatter the dimension.
Stella, who was accompanying him, had also witnessed many grand scenes and showed no surprise or fear regarding the battlefield before them.
She methodically placed the tableware on the tea table, serving Blake exquisite refreshments so he could enjoy the spectacle more comfortably.
Oda once said in an interview that no Admiral or Emperor-level powerhouse could simultaneously face the siege of two opponents of the same rank.
When he said this, there were only a handful of Admiral/Emperor-level powerhouses on the sea: the three Admirals, the Four Emperors, Garp, Sengoku, Rayleigh, and a few others.
Of course, after figures like Rocks and Harald appeared later on, many people doubted Oda's original statement or felt that these individuals should be placed in a separate rank.
After all, the process of Rocks eliminating the civilian Admiral at Mary Geoise seemed far too easy, suggesting that dealing with another one might not be a big deal either.
However, the Garp currently before them clearly hadn't reached that level yet.
Nevertheless, at their level, even if they are outmatched, they cannot be defeated in a short amount of time.
Forget Garp, even Bogard hadn't been defeated by Katakuri and Cracker; he hadn't even drawn his sword.
The battle between the parties once again fell into a stalemate for the time being.
The fight among the several individuals lasted for several hours. Although none of them were visibly injured, Garp's breathing had started to become heavy, and dust was visible on his clothes.
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