Chapter 422: Critical Moment...

"Bang… Bang…"

"Aaah!"

On the island.

A towering figure moved swiftly like lightning, swinging a spiked club mercilessly.

With his empty left hand, he occasionally slapped out:

"Pa… Pa…"

Members of the Pirate Guerrilla Force who had no time to flee were repeatedly smashed or slapped by the spiked club. Some were crushed instantly into pulp and sent flying like cannonballs, while others had their bodies gruesomely burst apart by powerful shockwaves.

The scene was unbearably bloody.

"It's Minotaur Kaido!"

"The infamous Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters?!"

"Damn it! Why is he here?"

"They say no one he's targeted has ever escaped!"

"Curse it! Is this the end?"

"Aaah…"

Members of the Pirate Guerrilla Force panicked, filled with terror and rage, staring fiercely at the high-speed, beast-like silhouette weaving rapidly among them.

"Hey, Pirate Guerrilla Force... although we were once colleagues, don't expect me to show mercy!"

Kaido's towering, bullish figure over seven meters tall appeared, sporting prominent horns and a rugged face. His exaggerated muscles made him resemble a small giant, radiating an oppressive, demon-like presence.

Holding a massive spiked club, Kaido looked down imperiously at the thousand-odd guerrilla members.

"Rear Admiral North—oh wait, former Rear Admiral North..."

Kaido sneered, fixing his gaze on the leader holding the treasure chest, extending his animal-like left hand covered with strange paw-like pads, beckoning mockingly: "Be smart and hand over the Dark-Dark Fruit!"

"Kaido! So not only Admiral Sengoku, but even a potential admiral candidate like you has been deployed?"

Former Rear Admiral North, who resigned to follow Admiral Zephyr and form the Pirate Guerrilla Force, knew Kaido well. Letting out a decisive roar, he activated his fruit power, transforming into a towering, tough-skinned humanoid brown bear.

Facing Kaido, North's eyes were cautious yet resolute: "Don't even think about it! I'll never hand over the Dark-Dark Fruit to you Marines!"

"Roar—"

Another tall guerrilla officer roared fiercely, transforming into a formidable human-beast hybrid form resembling a polar bear covered in thick white fur. He quickly stood beside North, confronting Vice Admiral "Minotaur" Kaido, now listed by Marine command as an admiral candidate.

"Hmph, so both of Admiral Zephyr's famed 'Black and White Bears' are here?" Kaido mocked, eyeing the two bear-type fruit users. "Both of you are traitors to the Marines—I won't show any mercy!"

"Damn you, Kaido!"

"Don't underestimate us!"

North and Ryan, both Zoan-type users, surged forward furiously. Although they were mere Rear Admirals when they left the Marines, years of harsh battles and training under former Admiral Zephyr, combined with their carnivorous bear-type Zoan abilities (Brown Bear and Polar Bear respectively), had greatly enhanced their strength.

Even if individually they might fall short against Kaido, combined they were confident of a tough fight.

"Shave!"

Both stomped the ground, charging at lightning speed. Their sharp claws, coated with Armament Haki, simultaneously struck out: "Finger Pistol—Pierce!"

Yet—

Kaido vanished instantly, as if teleporting, causing their attacks to miss entirely.

"Hehehehe…"

From above came laughter. North and Ryan's hair stood on end, quickly kicking upwards in unison without hesitation:

"Tempest Kick—Line!"

"Tempest Kick—Break!"

Two dazzling slashes erupted skyward, slicing fiercely towards Kaido.

"Conquered Three Worlds—"

Kaido, airborne, swung his club downward fiercely, imbued with powerful Haki:

"Attracting Hell!!"

"BOOM… BOOM…"

"Aaah… Aaah!"

With pitiful cries, two battered figures were sent flying.

Kaido stood tall and mighty, club in hand, radiating an intimidating, demon-like aura. The difference in strength was crystal clear.

"Captain North! Captain Ryan!"

Members of the Pirate Guerrilla Force were horrified. They had not imagined that even Zephyr's trusted "Black and White Bears" were no match for Minotaur Kaido.

They glared furiously at Kaido, yet inwardly, they couldn't help but shiver in fear.

So this was the strength of an admiral candidate?

"Ohoho, you didn't really think mere Zoan abilities could match me, did you?" Kaido sneered arrogantly at the bloodied and battered North and Ryan.

Years of relentless training and brutal battles—especially secretly training alongside young members of the Kukulkan Family at the G-3 base, undergoing life-threatening drills orchestrated by El-sama—had catapulted Kaido's strength to unimaginable heights.

Although perhaps not yet reaching the terrifying prowess of Admiral Sengoku, Kaido knew he was already comparable to retired admirals like Black Bear and Iron Bone, earning him his admiral-candidate position.

"Cough… cough…"

North rose shakily, retrieving the pineapple-shaped Devil Fruit from the box.

With madness gleaming in his eyes, he glared ferociously at Kaido and gritted his teeth: "Even if I die, I'll never let the Dark-Dark Fruit fall into the hands of Marines who've sold themselves to the corrupt World Government!"

Resolutely, he opened his mouth, preparing to bite into the fruit.

"Hey, hey—" Kaido's expression shifted dramatically. "You fool, don't do it!"

He hadn't expected North, already a Devil Fruit user, to risk death by consuming a second fruit just to deny the Marines their prize.

Activating his Paw-Paw Fruit ability, Kaido vanished instantly, appearing before North to stop him.

Yet at that critical moment, Ryan charged forward.

"Get lost!!"

"BOOM…"