Top-Level Knowledge And Knowledge, A Knife Must Hit! (1/5)

"Ding! Congratulations, Host! Rewarded: Top Observation Haki (Late Stage) + 3 Hundred Times Evangelism Cards!"

The system's prompt echoed, and Finn instantly felt a surge of clarity wash over him. His perception expanded like a vast web, stretching out in every direction. Even the smallest particle of dust floating in the air was now under his heightened awareness.

Finn focused and activated his newly enhanced Observation Haki. In a flash, vivid scenes appeared before his mind's eye—like a fleeting glimpse of the future. As he returned to reality, he realized that those very moments he had envisioned were now unfolding right before him.

"So, this is what it feels like... to foresee the near future?" Finn muttered in awe. The power was exhilarating, though exhausting. Yet, in this battle, knowing both himself and the enemy gave him an overwhelming advantage. It was almost like cheating.

No wonder, Finn thought, why Katakuri was nearly unbeatable in the original manga—until he faced Luffy. With the ability to predict future movements, losing was nearly impossible.

However, Finn's mastery of Observation Haki had already surpassed Katakuri's. He could glimpse further ahead, extending his advantage.

After Finn's powerful Yanhui move struck Kaido, blood sprayed from the dragon's enormous frame. Kaido staggered, but his wounds quickly began to heal. The monstrous resilience of his body was astonishing.

"He's really gotten stronger!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"Master Finn told us to take him seriously. I thought it was just bravado—but it's true!" another Marine shouted in disbelief.

"The sword technique was incredible! It's as if Kaido was struck by a flash of light before he could react. No wonder even Hawkeye is no match for Master Finn!" The Marine onlookers, who moments ago had mocked Finn in their hearts, were now watching in stunned silence.

Finn glanced toward Kaido, who was fuming in mid-air, his massive dragon body coiling and eyes blazing with anger. "Finn! Just because you hold Yan Mo in your hands, you dare act arrogant in front of me! Let go of that sword and face me with your true strength!"

"Hahaha!" Finn burst out laughing at Kaido's demand. "Are you stupid, Kaido? Why don't you drop your dragon claws first, then we'll talk about me setting down Yan Mo!"

Kaido's dragon face flushed with fury. "That's different! My claws are part of me—they're my own power! But Yan Mo is an external object, an advantage you didn't earn!"

Finn shook his head, amused. "Are you seriously trying to argue with me, Kaido? Do you even know how to reason?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Hahaha!" The Marines roared with laughter.

"Kaido, needing to reason with someone? That's priceless!" they jeered. "This is the world's strongest creature, reduced to arguing with Master Finn like this!"

Even the usually stone-faced Sengoku couldn't help but twitch in amusement, though he was also the target of Finn's biting humor. "I don't think you're the strongest creature, Kaido," Finn continued, "but you might just have the thickest skin—right up there with Grandpa Sengoku!"

Sengoku's face turned beet red. "Why the hell am I being dragged into this?" he muttered, glaring at Garp, who was barely containing his laughter.

But Kaido wasn't laughing. Humiliated by Finn's sharp words, he roared in frustration. Yet deep down, he knew continuing the fight would only lead to his own downfall. The longer the battle went on, the more the scales tipped in Finn's favor.

"Boy, I'll admit you're strong. But I'm not fighting you while you have Yan Mo! I'll come back when you're no longer in Naval Headquarters!" With that, Kaido turned, his massive dragon tail sweeping through the sky as he attempted to retreat.

"You come to Naval Headquarters looking for a fight, and now you want to run? Did you even ask me for permission to leave?" Finn taunted, leaping into the air.

"Laozi doesn't need your permission to run!" Kaido roared, desperately trying to flee.

But before he could get far, Finn materialized in front of him, Yan Mo glowing with a cold, deadly light. "Take this!"

With one swift motion, the demon sword cleaved through the air, imbued with Finn's Armament Haki. Kaido barely dodged, twisting his massive body just in time. But it didn't matter—Finn was already there, waiting.

Kaido's Observation Haki screamed in alarm, but it was too late. The pitch-black blade sliced through his dragon scales, leaving a deep gash. Blood splattered, and Kaido howled in agony.

"Impossible! How can he be so fast?" Kaido gasped, his eyes wide in shock.

Before he could react again, another strike came—this time carving through his dragon tail. Fresh blood flowed, and Kaido's roars echoed through the sky. He was being cornered by Finn's relentless assault, each slash hitting its mark as if the sword knew exactly where Kaido would flee.

Meanwhile, the Marines below watched in awe.

"Look at Finn... He's grown even stronger!" Sengoku marveled, nudging Garp. "It's like he's seeing the fight unfold before it happens!"

"It must be his Observation Haki," Garp agreed, breathing heavily. "Finn's reached a level where every strike lands exactly as intended, no matter where his opponent moves. It's like the fight is already decided."

"Could Master Finn have broken through some kind of bottleneck during the battle?" another Marine wondered aloud. "His swordsmanship wasn't this refined before."

"Whatever it is, we're lucky to have someone like Finn on our side," Sengoku said, shaking his head in amazement.

As the battle continued, Finn couldn't help but smirk. The power coursing through him was exhilarating. This ability to foresee his opponent's every move—no wonder Katakuri always looked so confident. With this kind of foresight, victory felt inevitable.

"You're finished, Kaido!" Finn shouted, his sword raised for one final blow.

And for the first time in a long while, Kaido—the so-called "strongest creature in the world"—felt fear.