CHAPTER 157

Alastor had finally grasped the long-awaited Advanced Conqueror's Haki, the skill of imbuing one's will into every strike. It was time to give Mr. Kaido a surprise. His relentless training under the Yonko's punishing attacks had not been in vain.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield

King walked slowly toward the center of the clash, his wings faintly burning as flames danced along their edges. Though his steps were resolute, inwardly, he felt apprehensive.

Having followed Kaido since their days as test subjects under the World Government, King knew his boss's temper better than anyone.

Kaido wasn't just a Yonko; he was a supreme monarch—a king more arrogant than even the Celestial Dragons. He ruled with overwhelming strength, his Conqueror's Haki exerting absolute dominance over those below him. To intervene in a battle involving Kaido was not merely dangerous—it was suicidal.

King's sharp golden eyes flicked to Yamato, Kaido's rebellious daughter. Both were locked in a ferocious battle that shook the entirety of Onigashima. With both combatants heavily wounded, the fight was far from over, and King doubted Kaido would let things settle peacefully.

But he had no choice. The other All-Stars and the Tobiroppo had pushed him into this role. Who's-Who, Sasaki, and even Black Maria were all watching, expecting him to mediate this chaos.

His wings flared as he steadied himself, advancing slowly and timing his approach. It was better to wait for a lull in the battle before attempting to speak.

As King inched forward, a gust of wind howled through the battlefield, carrying with it a sudden surge of power. Startled, King turned, his gaze landing on a rapidly approaching figure.

"Alastor?" King narrowed his eyes, his voice sharp with disbelief. "You've recovered already?"

Though King himself was a Lunarian, renowned for their unparalleled durability and healing, Alastor's resilience bordered on absurdity.

"What do you want now?" King continued, his tone growing colder. "Do you plan to escalate this family squabble into a full-blown civil war?"

So far, none of the Beasts Pirates had interfered in the clash between Kaido, Yamato, and Alastor. To the crew, this was a personal matter between Kaido and his so-called "family." But if Alastor openly provoked them, King and the others would have no choice but to retaliate in loyalty to their captain.

Alastor, however, wore a disarming smile. "Why would I? I'm not some reckless troublemaker, you know."

King's brow twitched at the sheer audacity of the statement. Not a troublemaker? This was the same man who had caused chaos across Wano, toppled alliances, and instigated the current battle that threatened to destroy Onigashima. If Alastor wasn't a troublemaker, then no one was!

Suppressing his irritation, King snapped, "Stop wasting time. What do you want?"

Alastor's smile didn't falter. "Relax, King. I'm here for the same reason as you—to stop this family brawl."

King blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Come on," Alastor said, spreading his hands. "I respect my father-in-law, believe it or not. The destruction of Onigashima doesn't benefit me in the slightest."

Though King was skeptical, he detected no falsehood in Alastor's words. Alastor's ambitions were clear—he saw Onigashima and its vast arsenal of weapons as essential assets for the future. Destroying the island would be a blow not only to Kaido's empire but to Alastor's own plans.

For now, their interests aligned.

King studied Alastor with narrowed eyes, his mind racing. He still harbored deep resentment toward Alastor for his rebellious stance, but the man had a knack for knowing when to stop. It was a quality King begrudgingly respected.

"Fine," King said after a long pause. "Do what you need to."

Alastor nodded, satisfied. Thunder surged around his body as he shot toward the epicenter of the battle, where Kaido and Yamato's devastating clash continued to tear through Onigashima.

At the center of the battlefield

Alastor landed gracefully, drawing the Kitetsu II from its sheath. His right arm darkened as Armament Haki spread across it, spiraling around the cursed blade like ribbons of concentrated energy.

The air grew heavy as Alastor's Haki shifted. No longer was it a simple coating—this was something far greater. Black and red lightning crackled around the blade, radiating a terrifying pressure that even seasoned warriors would find suffocating.

From a safe distance, King observed the scene, his sharp instincts immediately sensing the shift in Alastor's power.

"That energy..." King whispered, a rare trace of unease flickering across his usually calm demeanor.

Alastor's blade glowed ominously as the air around it distorted. The oppressive aura of Advanced Conqueror's Haki—Kaido's signature technique—now emanated from Alastor as well.

"No mistake," King muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. "That's the same as Mr. Kaido and Yamato's... Overlord's Haki infusion!"

Alastor's mastery of the technique marked him as one of the rare elite capable of wielding Conqueror's Haki at its peak. With this newfound power, he was ready to face Kaido—not as a subordinate, but as a true rival.

Thunder crackled beneath his feet as Alastor charged forward, his blade gleaming with overwhelming energy.

Kaido and Yamato turned at the sound of Alastor's approach, their eyes narrowing as they sensed the shift in his aura.

"Kaido sama," Alastor called out with a grin, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Your hard teaching hasn't been in vain. Now, let me return the favor!"

Kaido's lips curled into a feral smile, his blood boiling with excitement.

"Finally!" Kaido roared, his massive frame tensing as he raised his kanabo. "Show me what you've got, brat!"

Alastor dashed forward, blade ready, as the clash between the three warriors reached a new, electrifying peak.

King's Shock and the Rise of Conqueror's Haki

King's heart churned like monstrous waves. The aura emanating from Alastor was unmistakable, a storm of raw, overwhelming power. Yet Alastor seemed unfazed, entirely focused on controlling his Conqueror's Haki.

Conqueror's Haki—or Haoshoku Haki—had various applications.

The most basic was the indiscriminate release of energy, stunning weaker foes within its radius. Beyond that, a more advanced usage involved concentrating the Haki to target specific individuals with precise, long-range strikes. Red-Haired Shanks' confrontation with Admiral Green Bull was a prime example of this focused power.

But the pinnacle of Conqueror's Haki was the ability to infuse it into weapons or physical attacks—a technique mastered by only a select few, including Kaido, Big Mom, and Luffy. This technique, known as Conqueror's Infusion, exponentially increased the destructive capability of its wielder.

Alastor, though a beginner in this art, wielded the potential of a prodigy. As he advanced toward Kaido, his aura grew sharper, more refined.

Kaido's keen senses immediately picked up on the shift. His fierce eyes locked onto Alastor, his voice booming with disbelief.

"You brat… you've already mastered this power?! The pinnacle of the world's strength?"

Even Kaido, who had seen countless warriors, found it hard to believe.

Nearby, Yamato halted her assault. Her amber eyes flicked toward Alastor, focusing on the dark aura spiraling around his Kitetsu II. She paused, her lips parting slightly.

"So… you've finally done it. Took you long enough. But…" She sighed, the faintest hint of a smile gracing her lips. "I'll let it slide this time."

Alastor's blade gleamed with concentrated Haki. He exploded forward with electrifying speed, closing the gap between him and Kaido in an instant.

Kaido's eyes widened. A split second later, a long, narrow wound slashed across his chest. Blood erupted like a crimson tide.

This was no ordinary attack. Neither Ryuo (Advanced Armament Haki) nor Alastor's 500-million-volt lightning techniques had managed to injure Kaido before. But this time, it was different.

The damage came solely from Conqueror's-infused swordsmanship—a leap in attack power that even Kaido had to acknowledge.

Kaido clutched his wound, his massive frame trembling slightly—not with pain, but with a strange mix of rage and exhilaration. Alastor lowered his blade and looked up at Kaido, his tone calm yet resolute.

"Boss Kaido," he began with a respectful nod, "thank you. Without your 'lessons,' I wouldn't have reached this level."

Kaido's brow twitched. Boss Kaido? Teacher?

This brat—the same brat who dared challenge him, who defied his rule—was now addressing him as if he were some benevolent mentor!

"You're mocking me!" Kaido roared, his voice shaking the battlefield. "Do you think you can flatter me and escape unscathed, you little whelp?"

Alastor, unperturbed, gave a faint smile. "Not at all. I know I still have a long way to go before I can defeat you. Even with this new power, I'm far from your equal." He gestured toward Yamato, who now stood by his side. "But I'm not fighting alone. Your daughter, Yamato, who has inherited your strength and spirit, stands with me."

Kaido's expression darkened.

"With the two of us," Alastor continued, "we could hold you off for days—long enough to bring Onigashima to ruin. The destruction of this island would cripple your dreams of conquering the world. Is that what you want, father-in-law?"

Kaido's frown deepened. Onigashima wasn't just his base; it was the heart of his military power, housing his weapons, his resources, and his future conquests. Losing it would be catastrophic.

But giving in to a threat? That wasn't Kaido's style.

"You're blackmailing me," Kaido growled, his voice cold and venomous.

"No," Alastor replied evenly. "I'm stating a fact. The destruction of Onigashima benefits no one except the World Government. They're the real enemy here. Always have been. You know that better than anyone, don't you?"

King, who had been approaching the scene cautiously, froze. Alastor's words struck a nerve. Did he know about King's tragic past, about the Lunarians' annihilation at the hands of the World Government?

Alastor pressed on, his voice steady. "The World Government has been the root cause of suffering in this world for 800 years. The atrocities they committed against you, against King, and countless others—they are the true villains. Before we settle our family disputes, we need to focus on the bigger threat."

Yamato, though still wary of her father, found herself nodding in agreement. "He's right. The World Government is the real cancer. We'll take them down first—then I'll deal with you, Kaido!"

Kaido's cheek twitched. This brat and his rebellious daughter were ganging up on him, yet their logic was hard to refute.

Still, Kaido wasn't one to back down easily.

"Brats like you," Kaido began, lifting his massive kanabo, "don't get to negotiate with me. If you want me to listen, then prove your worth!"

His weapon crackled with Conqueror's Haki as he roared:

"Thunder Bagua!"

Alastor anticipated the attack. Instead of meeting Kaido's strike head-on, he utilized his agility.

"Paper Art: Thunder Shadow Remnant!"

He left an afterimage in his place, narrowly evading the devastating blow. Lightning crackled as he reappeared beside Yamato.

"We're doing it now," Alastor said. "Remember the technique we practiced back on Whitebeard's island?"

Yamato blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly as a memory surfaced. Alastor had insisted they "train" together in the woods—though that training had taken an unexpected, flustering turn. Shaking the thought aside, she nodded.

"Let's do it."

The two stood side by side, their Haki resonating as they prepared their combined attack.

The battle wasn't over. If Kaido wanted to see their full strength, they were more than ready to show him.