Chapter 294 Kaido and Aokiji

Chapter 294 Kaido and Aokiji

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Aoki crossed his arms, his Armament Haki flowing as it entangled his defense.

Bang!

The laser struck his arms with immense force, causing Aoki to retract slightly before he suddenly exerted power, deflecting the laser away.

At that moment, Charlotte Linlin strode forward, her eyes glowing purple, and swung her massive longsword down at Aoki.

Aoki's second body stepped in and countered with a powerful punch.

Boom!

The force of the clash sent shockwaves rippling outward. Charlotte Linlin took two steps back, her expression grim.

She had used a year of her life to amplify her strength, yet she still couldn't match the Dragon King.

Aoki clenched his fist, lightning and Armament Haki intertwining, and teleported toward Charlotte Linlin, aiming a punch at her head.

Charlotte Linlin's weapon shifted, an energy ring forming around the blade.

"The Sword of Light."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two clashed furiously, with Charlotte Linlin continuously retreating under Aoki's relentless attacks.

Meanwhile, Aoki's other body hovered in the air, condensing the surrounding lightning into massive, ferocious thunder dragons. Within moments, dozens of these beasts formed, roaring as they charged toward Charlotte Linlin.

As the thunder dragons neared, Aoki vanished from the battlefield.

Roar!

The thunder dragons' deafening roars shook the sky, their bodies enveloping Charlotte Linlin in a blinding surge of lightning. The blue light painted the heavens as the battlefield was engulfed in destruction.

When the lightning finally dissipated, Charlotte Linlin's figure was revealed. Her clothes were tattered, her body covered in severe burns, and she looked utterly miserable.

Two Aokis floated nearby, lightning crackling around them. Each extended a hand, summoning bolts of lightning that condensed into massive spears.

"Huff… huff…"

Charlotte Linlin's breathing was labored, her eyes cold and calculating.

One thing gnawed at her mind: why wasn't the Dragon King showing any signs of exhaustion?

She had already consumed significant stamina in this prolonged battle, and by all logic, Aoki's energy expenditure should have been far greater than hers.

Yet, the Dragon King wasn't even slightly winded. His breathing remained steady, his movements fluid and unbothered.

Throughout her life, she had faced countless strong opponents: her former captain Rocks, Roger, Garp, Kaido, and Whitebeard. All of them were top-tier powerhouses. Yet, even among them, the Dragon King stood out as the most monstrous of all.

Charlotte Linlin suddenly spoke, her voice laced with curiosity. "Well, well, well, Dragon King, what is your dream? Do you aim to become the Pirate King?"

Aoki paused briefly and looked down.

"It's not exactly a dream," he replied. "I have two immediate goals. One is to find ONE PIECE, and the other is to destroy the Celestial Dragons."

"Well, well, well," Charlotte Linlin laughed darkly. "Do you really intend to walk the two most difficult roads in the world together?"

"The two most difficult paths?" Aoki smiled. "I enjoy challenging tasks. The harder the challenge, the greater the reward."

A glowing orb appeared in Charlotte Linlin's hand, and as she swallowed it, her face instantly aged, becoming more haggard.

"I admit," she said, her voice now strained, "you are qualified to be the Pirate King. But…"

She didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she consumed the light, and her body began to change.

Pain flickered across her face as she transformed, growing into a towering giant over fifty meters tall. Her previously corpulent figure slimmed down, radiating terrifying power.

Aoki's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did she sacrifice even more of her lifespan to strengthen herself?"

Judging by the strain on her face, Charlotte Linlin had consumed no less than five years of her life for this transformation.

At 58 years old, she was still in her prime by the standards of the top fighters in the pirate world.

But sacrificing five years of life was no small matter, and more importantly, her body had to be able to endure the strain.

If she were a few years older, Big Mom likely wouldn't dare to sacrifice so much of her lifespan to strengthen herself.

This was a fight to the death.

Big Mom took two deep breaths, her expression gradually steadying. Yet, the aura she radiated was terrifying—a demon walking out of hell, violent and overwhelmingly powerful.

Aoki loosened his grip, summoning a massive lightning spear before stabbing it forward.

"Weiguo!"

Big Mom swung her sword, unleashing a colossal wave of sword energy. It sliced through the lightning spear in an instant and charged toward Aoki.

Aoki didn't underestimate the attack. Wrapping his fist in lightning and Armament Haki, he struck the sword energy with full force.

Crunch!

The sword energy trembled, forcing him back step by step.

Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed, darkening the battlefield.

It was Big Mom!

With her enhanced form, not only had her size increased, but her agility and speed had also drastically improved.

Boom!

Her powerful Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, assaulting Aoki's mind and momentarily slowing his movements.

Her massive longsword, now crackling with lightning and flames, came slashing down.

The air seemed to split apart, leaving a visible tear as the blade neared. The sharpness of its aura was suffocating, and black and red lightning danced wildly around it.

Aoki hastily raised his arms to defend.

An overwhelming force surged toward him.

Phew!

Aoki was sent flying. The longsword struck both of his bodies simultaneously, leaving a gruesome wound across his chest that nearly split him in two. Hot blood sprayed out, painting the air with crimson.

After flying dozens of meters, Aoki managed to steady himself.

Glancing down, he observed his chest. The deep wound was healing at an incredible rate, and within moments, his skin was completely restored without even a scar left behind.

This was the first time he'd been injured since the fight began.

The power Charlotte Linlin gained by sacrificing five years of her lifespan was indeed formidable.

"Huff, huff," Charlotte Linlin panted, her gaze heavy.

With her sharp eyesight, she clearly saw the rapid regeneration of Aoki's wound.

Even awakened Zoan users couldn't recover like that.

The rumors about the Dragon King's immortality… they had to be true.

Endless abilities, unprecedented strength, boundless stamina, and immortality.

Should such a monster even exist in this world?

Aoki's figure flashed, appearing beside Charlotte Linlin in an instant.

Even with her enhanced form and Conqueror's Haki, Charlotte Linlin could now only barely match his strength.

But it was still only a counterattack.

And Aoki had two bodies.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two clashed fiercely.

Aoki's fists, imbued with devastating power, smashed down with force that seemed to tear the sky and split the earth. Explosions filled the air, and shockwaves rippled outward.

Charlotte Linlin staggered back two steps, a metallic taste rising in her throat. She held it in for a moment but eventually spat out a mouthful of blood, her expression growing visibly weaker.

Aoki observed her closely. "Your power is decreasing."

Charlotte Linlin wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth but remained silent.

Her stamina was draining rapidly.

The strength gained from sacrificing lifespan wasn't without its cost—it drained her energy at an alarming rate.

"It looks like this battle is about to end," Aoki said, glancing around.

Not only was Charlotte Linlin herself nearing her limit, but the members of the BIGMOM Pirates had largely been defeated as well.

Yet, there was no fear in Charlotte Linlin's eyes. "Well, well, well… you want my life, but I'm not giving it to you…"

She trailed off, her words unfinished, as her gaze shifted upward.

Aoki had already acted.

Crash!

A massive figure descended from the sky, its enormous form hovering above Cake Island and casting a shadow over half of it.

Deer antlers, a camel head, rabbit eyes, a snake-like neck, a clam belly, fish scales, eagle claws…

It was unmistakably a dragon.

Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky, their eyes wide with shock, as if a myth had come to life before them.

Aoki frowned. "Kaido?"

Charlotte Linlin's surprise was evident. "Kaido? Why are you here?"

Kaido's deep voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Linlin, you look so miserable!"

Charlotte Linlin snorted coldly, choosing not to respond.

Kaido's massive dragon head twisted as his gaze landed on Aoki. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he took in the scene before him.

The state of Cake Island was far beyond his expectations.

The BIGMOM Pirates—a crew as renowned as his own—had suffered a crushing defeat, and it was catastrophic.

Even more shocking was the fact that Linlin, in her strongest form, was clearly on the losing end.

Who was their enemy?

Big Mom finally spoke. "He's the Dragon King—a monster that surpasses both you and me!"

"Dragon King?" Kaido's eyes narrowed.

The name itself irked him. He was a dragon, so what exactly was a Dragon King supposed to be?

Then it clicked.

The Dragon King was the same figure who had killed the Celestial Dragons and caused chaos in Mary Geoise.

But it was Linlin evaluation that unsettled him the most.

A monster that surpasses them?

Could such a person really exist on the seas?

Aoki's calm voice broke the silence. "Kaido, are you planning to intervene in this battle?"

Kaido slowly lowered his massive head. "Where is Nico Robin?"

Aoki thought to himself, "This is a bit troublesome."

He wasn't afraid of fighting both Kaido and Big Mom simultaneously.

However, in such a scenario, taking Linlin's life might become much more difficult.

Swish!

Four figures appeared around Aoki.

Hancock exhaled deeply. "Kaido seems to have come alone. We can hold him back."

Esdeath remained silent, her fiery eyes filled with regret.

She hadn't yet mastered Haki or fully controlled her Devil Fruit powers.

Facing such a formidable opponent was a golden opportunity, but she wasn't ready to fight him one-on-one.

Still, joining forces to hold him back might allow her to experience the strength of someone at his level.

Akame and Kurome stood ready, lightning crackling around them as they prepared for battle.

If the four joined forces, they could indeed hold Kaido back.

Aoki was about to speak when his expression changed. He turned to look in another direction.

"Someone else is here," he said, his tone sharp. "Someone I know."

Kaido and Linlin turned their gazes in the same direction.

Moments later, a tall man wearing a navy coat appeared, walking slowly onto the battlefield.

His gaze swept over the scene before him, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"I didn't expect it to be so lively here," he remarked.

Aoki's eyes narrowed. "The navy? Are you here to join this battle too?"

Aokiji's gaze settled on Aoki, his expression thoughtful. "Dragon King? Why are you…"

His words trailed off as his eyes landed on Hancock standing beside Aoki. His voice grew more curious. "Are you connected to the Burning Heaven Pirates?"

Aoki replied, "It's more than a simple connection. To be precise, I'm the founder of the Burning Heaven Pirates."

"I see."

Aokiji's expression grew solemn.

The rumors about a powerful figure behind the Burning Heaven Pirates were now confirmed.

However, the revelation of this person's identity was far beyond what anyone could have imagined.

Once this news spread, it would undoubtedly shake the entire world.

For the navy, it meant they now faced an even more terrifying enemy.

Aoki's voice broke the silence again.

"How dare you come to Cake Island alone? Everyone here is your enemy. Aren't you afraid we'll join forces to kill you?"

Aokiji glanced at the other two, pausing for a moment on the battered and exhausted Big Mom, then said calmly, "I don't think you will join forces."

Kaido chuckled. "Congratulations, you guessed right. It's impossible for me to cooperate with these two."

Aoki smirked. "Yet, you do seem to be showing signs of joining forces."

Aokiji's eyes narrowed slightly.

As a former admiral, he was well-acquainted with the history between Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, as well as their strained relationship.

The current situation was anything but normal.

The Pirate Emperors were not allies; their conflicts were often just as intense as those between them and the navy.

Kaido and Big Mom hadn't interacted in decades—so why was Kaido here on Cake Island now?

More suspiciously, there were no signs of conflict between them. Instead, there was an unspoken sense of unity against a common enemy.

The only person capable of uniting them…

Aokiji's gaze shifted back to Aoki.

He had fought the Dragon King before.

While Aoki was undoubtedly strong, with strange and unique abilities that could rival the Pirate Emperors, Aokiji had never considered him stronger than Big Mom or Kaido.

The 5 billion bounty on Aoki's head was more a reflection of his audacious actions—killing the Celestial Dragons and provoking the World Government—than his raw strength.

But judging by Big Mom's weakened state, it was evident the Dragon King had grown even stronger in the years since.

Four forces stood on the battlefield, all at odds with one another.

The atmosphere was tense and heavy, like a tightly coiled spring.

Suddenly.

Big Mom's massive body began to shrink rapidly, her aura diminishing into weakness.

Kaido and Aokiji instinctively turned toward her, both noting how dire her condition truly was.

They had sensed earlier that Big Mom wasn't at her best, but now it was clear she was far worse off than they'd thought.

In stark contrast stood Aoki, virtually unscathed, his breathing steady and unlabored.

The difference in their conditions made Kaido and Aokiji's eyes involuntarily grow serious.

"Is it time?" Aoki muttered, unsurprised.

Big Mom's enhanced state had clearly been a temporary, explosive move, one that couldn't be sustained indefinitely. It was remarkable she had lasted this long.

Aoki quickly assessed the situation.

Aokiji wouldn't join forces with Big Mom or Kaido—but if he and Kaido began fighting, things could quickly become unpredictable.

Kaido, on the other hand…

Without warning, Kaido grabbed Big Mom and flew into the sky.

"That's enough for today!" Kaido's deep voice boomed. "Dragon King, I look forward to our next encounter."

Aoki sighed. "As expected."

Kaido wasn't about to let Aoki kill Big Mom.

From the moment Kaido arrived, this outcome had been inevitable.

While Aoki had grown stronger, winning against both Kaido and Big Mom simultaneously was still a tall order. Neither of his current abilities had reached their peak yet.

Big Mom might look defeated now, but Aoki had no doubt that she would recover and rise again.

"Aoki?" Hancock's voice broke through his thoughts, her gaze questioning.

Aoki shook his head.

"Let them go this time."

Pushing an enemy into a corner often led to desperate, unpredictable actions. Neither he nor the Burning Heaven Pirates had yet reached their full potential.

The only disappointment was that he couldn't complete his objective today.

But Big Mom wouldn't disappear, and opportunities would come again.

"Then I'll take my leave as well," Aokiji said, breaking the silence as he watched Kaido and Big Mom retreat. Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the battlefield.

Aoki's eyes followed the admiral until he disappeared. Then, he shifted his focus back to the battlefield.

Big Mom had escaped, but the rest of her crew hadn't been as fortunate.