Chapter 254: The Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air—Kaido Arrives!
Chapter 254: The Strongest Creature on Land, Sea, and Air—Kaido Arrives!
After a brief but intense clash, both Garp and Shiki held back, refraining from escalating the fight.
If they had truly gone all out, the situation would have spiraled out of control, turning the area into a warzone.
For now, the insults flew freely, but their fists remained restrained.
After all, the true target—the Thunder Fruit user—had yet to appear.
Fighting prematurely would risk scaring off their quarry, rendering the whole endeavor pointless.
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"What the hell is that?! Something's falling!"
Suddenly, someone noticed an anomaly overhead and shouted in alarm.
"It looks like a person!"
"Wait… that person… isn't that Kaido of the Beasts?!"
The crowd's curiosity turned to shock as more people glanced skyward.
The falling figure had descended to around a thousand meters—close enough for everyone to see clearly.
And once they did, their faces paled with horror.
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"Falling from such a height? He's definitely going to be the first Emperor in history to die from a fall!"
A brash young pirate, unfamiliar with Kaido's infamous reputation, laughed mockingly.
"Tch!"
His words immediately drew ridicule from those more seasoned.
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"Laughing? Are you serious?"
"You really don't know what you're talking about, do you?"
Embarrassed by the scorn, the young pirate flushed and snapped back, "What's so funny? Am I wrong?"
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"You're just too green, kid!" someone replied with a knowing smirk.
"Keep watching. You're about to witness a miracle."
---
Still clueless, the young man frowned but continued watching the falling figure, determined to understand the joke.
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"BOOM!"
In mere seconds, Kaido's massive, muscular frame collided with the earth, unguarded and unprotected.
The impact blasted open a deep crater, the ground quaking from the sheer force.
Judging by the depth of the pit, he must have fallen from several thousand meters.
"That's it, right? He's gotta be dead now," the young pirate muttered under his breath.
But a glance at the calm expressions around him told another story.
---
And sure enough, the impossible happened.
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"BOOM!"
Suddenly, a shockwave erupted from the crater.
The force knocked nearby onlookers unconscious, sending them flying like ragdolls.
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"What the hell now?!"
"Ugh! My head's pounding!"
---
"Still alive… he survived again!"
From the depths of the crater, a grumbling voice echoed.
Kaido climbed out, brushing dust from his shoulders, his face twisted with frustration.
"Damn it! Another failed attempt!"
The towering figure stood revealed—broad, muscular, clad in tattered clothing, his wild black hair cascading past his shoulders.
Two massive, dragon-like horns jutted from his head, further enhancing his already fearsome presence.
Even without moving, Kaido radiated an oppressive aura, his mere existence enough to paralyze weaker souls with fear.
---
"Wait… why did I come here again?"
Kaido scratched his head, trying to recall his purpose.
"I was supposed to find someone… right?"
"Eh, whatever. Who cares!"
His eyes gleamed with sudden excitement.
"I just want a good fight! Someone entertain me!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Unable to remember his original goal, Kaido shrugged off the thought.
Instead, he scanned his surroundings, recognizing several familiar faces.
The prospect of battle reignited his enthusiasm—finally, something to break the boredom!
---
After all, if no worthy opponents showed up, he'd just have to climb to an even higher place and try killing himself again.
---
"Another lunatic!"
Garp grimaced, already feeling the headache coming on.
Kaido was a walking disaster.
Wherever chaos brewed, he'd arrive to stir the pot further.
And once he started fighting, stopping him was nearly impossible without considerable effort.
---
Killing him wasn't an option either.
As much as the Navy despised him, Kaido's existence was crucial to maintaining the delicate balance of power in the New World.
His death could ignite an uncontrollable power struggle.
Thus, they were stuck in a frustrating stalemate—unable to destroy him, yet constantly forced to suppress his rampages.
---
(Author's Note: Regarding Kaido's so-called "immortality"—I've always found the explanation lacking. Here, I've given him a more logical reason for his resilience.)
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"Kaido, huh…"
Shiki sighed, eyes narrowing as he studied the brute.
"Never thought the reckless brat from back then would rise to such heights."
"How times have changed."
Seeing Kaido stirred memories of their days aboard the Rocks Pirates.
Back then, Kaido had been a rising star, a bold but inexperienced youth.
Shiki, by contrast, had been one of the legends Kaido looked up to—a figure of unmatched power and prestige.
Now, Kaido stood as his equal, both in strength and status.
It was hard not to feel a twinge of bitterness.
---
"Time spares no one," Shiki mused bitterly.
The once-mighty Golden Lion, now a relic struggling to reclaim his former glory.
Kaido's rise only deepened Shiki's resentment toward fate and the ravages of time.
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"Hmph! It's you?"
Kaido sneered, finally noticing Shiki.
"Old lion, what the hell are you doing out here?"
"Shouldn't you be rotting in some corner, waiting for death?"
---
Hearing the familiar, disdainful voice, Shiki's expression darkened.
Back in the Rocks Pirates, senior members often bullied and suppressed the younger recruits—Kaido included.
Now, the tables had turned.
The once-subjugated youth now looked down upon his former tormentors.
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"Arrogant brat!" Shiki snapped. "Don't get cocky!"
"I am Golden Lion Shiki! You're not worthy of lecturing me!"
Fury ignited within the old pirate as he unleashed a surge of Conqueror's Haki, the oppressive aura crashing toward Kaido like a tidal wave.
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"Tch!"
Kaido stood his ground, unimpressed.
"Old fool! Don't push your luck!"
"You're nothing but a walking corpse. Mess with me, and I'll put you in the grave!"
"Don't expect any mercy just because we once sailed together!"
---
Without hesitation, Kaido released his own Conqueror's Haki, the two auras clashing violently.
The air trembled, and weaker onlookers collapsed under the pressure.
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"Fine! Fine! Fine!"
Shiki roared, his pride wounded beyond tolerance.
Being ridiculed by Garp was one thing—they were peers, after all.
But to be mocked by a former underling?
Unforgivable.
---
"I'll teach you some damn respect!"
Drawing his twin blades, now serving as prosthetic legs, Shiki soared toward Kaido with frightening speed.
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"Bring it on, old man!"
Kaido bellowed, swinging his spiked kanabo with bone-crushing force.
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Their first clash created an earth-shattering shockwave, clearing the area of all bystanders.
Weaklings had no right to witness such a battle.
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"Vice Admiral Garp, sir!"
From the warship, Kizaru lazily glanced toward Garp.
"What's the plan now?"
This mission was under Garp's command, with Kizaru and Aokiji serving as backup.
Naturally, they awaited his orders.
Watching the two titanic pirates brawl, Kizaru sighed inwardly.
---
"I'd rather not get involved, to be honest," he muttered.
This fight would yield nothing but exhaustion and risk.
Without a clear path to victory, why bother?
Especially when there was no bonus pay for extra effort.
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