21: Azui

As Kaido stepped into the factory, the light quickly began to fade. Despite it being daytime outside, the interior was dim, with only small streams of sunlight managing to seep through the cracks. Overhead, the factory's large industrial lights flickered sporadically, occasionally emitting sparks accompanied by the faint hum of electricity.

It was fortunate they'd arrived during the day. If it were nighttime, this place would resemble the chillingly eerie setting of a horror TV series—dark, foreboding, and oppressive.

The stench of blood became more potent with each step. The floor was littered with corpses and skeletal remains—some human, others belonging to various animals. The nauseating odor hung heavily in the air, yet no one seemed to care.

Kaido, Silver Wolf, and Bailey walked in silence. The only sounds were their footsteps echoing in the cavernous space and the occasional crackling of the faulty lights above.

As they ventured deeper into the factory, faint noises began to reach Kaido's ears. With each step, the sounds grew louder and more distinct. Soon, they emerged from the darkness into a brightly lit area, where a cacophony of roaring voices greeted them.

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

The shouts of a frenzied crowd filled the air.

Silver Wolf's lips curled into a sinister grin. "Looks like we arrived just in time! Today is the deathmatch between Number 44 and Number 43. If 44 wins, he'll take the 43rd rank and move one step closer to the top. I can't wait to see how this turns out!"

Kaido's gaze followed the commotion to a massive square arena ahead, approximately 100 meters in diameter. At its center, two hulking figures, each towering over five or six meters, were locked in fierce combat. The arena floor was riddled with large craters—testaments to the sheer force of their blows.

Surrounding the arena were dozens of equally imposing figures, both men and women. They wore primitive, tribal-style clothing, and their physiques were nothing short of monstrous. The tallest among them stood as high as thirty meters, rivaling the size of Kaido's dragon form, while even the shortest were no less than two or three meters tall.

So these are the Savage Titans… Kaido observed, his eyes scanning the group. Their numbers were larger than he'd expected, and every single one of them exuded an aura of raw power.

On the stage, Numbers 44 and 43 continued their brutal clash. 44 had the upper hand, relentlessly pummeling 43 with his fists and sending him flying repeatedly. Yet, despite the relentless assault, 43 refused to stay down. He rose time and again, his resilience and willpower unyielding.

Kaido, well-versed in the physical durability of individuals in the One Piece world, commented, "They sure can take a beating. Do your fights always take this long to determine a winner?"

Bailey nodded and replied in her usual sweet tone, "Yes. If the ranks of the combatants are only one or two places apart, it usually takes several hours to decide the victor. In matches like this, where the strength difference is minimal, it's all about stamina and determination. If everything goes smoothly, one of them should collapse before dinner."

Hours? Kaido inwardly groaned at the thought.

"Boss…" A deep voice suddenly interrupted.

Kaido turned to see a man in a demon mask approaching. He stood over three meters tall, clad in a form-fitting black outfit that accentuated his powerful build.

Silver Wolf's expression shifted slightly, his eyes reflecting a hint of deference as he addressed the newcomer. "Well then, Kaido-sama and Azui, if you two have business to discuss, I'll leave you to it. I think I'll grab something to eat."

With that, Silver Wolf turned and sauntered off, leaving Kaido and Bailey alone with the masked man.

Kaido stared at the man in the demon mask before him, his expression growing serious. So this is him? he thought to himself. The strongest among the Savage Titans, someone Kaido once deemed on par with the All-Stars in terms of strength.

Azui glanced at himself and asked in a calm tone, "Boss, is there something wrong with me?"

"No, nothing," Kaido replied, his voice steady. He then shifted the topic. "How many members are left in the Savage Titans?"

"Seventy-two," Azui answered plainly, his gaze briefly flicking to the two combatants in the arena. "Though after today, there will only be seventy-one."

So, only one of Numbers 44 and 43 will survive… Kaido mused silently. After a moment, he asked, "By the way, how do you usually train your members?"

"Training?" Azui tilted his head slightly, as if pondering the question. After a brief pause, he replied, "Nothing much, really. Every day, we swim a hundred kilometers. If you survive, that's the day's training complete."

Kaido's brow arched slightly.

"Then, at regular intervals, we conduct deathmatches. One-on-one battles until one fighter is no longer able to continue."

One hundred kilometers of swimming daily… So none of them are Devil Fruit users. Kaido quickly deduced from Azui's words. He then asked, "With such grueling training methods, the Savage Titans must have lost quite a few members over the years."

Azui's expression remained cold and unmoved as he answered, "Only through bloody combat can one unleash their full potential. If you don't want to be killed, then kill your opponent. Only those who survive are considered strong."

He continued, his tone devoid of emotion, "Over the past decade or so, we've lost 1,076 members. Some died in deathmatches, others were eaten by Sea Kings, and many were killed by enemies during missions."

Azui then gestured toward the arena. "Boss, the fight between Numbers 44 and 43 won't end anytime soon. Let's head to my room and rest for a while."

"Fine," Kaido agreed.

Following Azui, Kaido and Bailey arrived at a room that was shockingly simple in design. It contained only the bare essentials: a single bed, a large sofa, and a table. The table, however, was stacked high with bundles of berries. Judging by the volume, the total must have been close to two or three billion berries. Some of the bills were even stained with blood.

"You've got quite a lot of money here," Kaido remarked as he sat down. "Why don't you spend it?"

Azui's response was cold and detached. "All of this was earned from missions—plundering merchant ships, pirate vessels, and even some from the Marines."

He leaned back, his gaze distant. "But money holds no real meaning for me. What I seek is greater strength."