Chapter 150: I Want to Improve So Much, Kaido!

"Bastard, you dare to attack Boss Shano!"

A mammoth roared as it charged into Dock No. 1, rushing at Kaido without hesitation.

He had just finished delivering the treasure chest and come out of the bank. He didn't know who the horned man in front of him was—and he didn't care!

He only knew one thing: this guy had just fallen from the sky with a terrifying momentum, clearly intending to harm Boss Shano!

In that case, then he—Jack—must stand up!

He had to stop this old man!

"Huh?"

Kaido was slightly stunned. As he looked at the young man charging toward him, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.

"Where did this kid come from?"

Very gutsy—and from the looks of it, a rare Ancient Zoan. Shano actually has a subordinate with that kind of ability. Makes Kaido a little envious.

But...

Kaido's eyes turned cold.

He didn't sense any trace of Haki. At that level, he dared to charge straight at him?

He really doesn't take the title of Four Emperors seriously!!!

Snap!

Kaido grinned. He didn't even bother to pull out his weapon—just clenched his right fist and punched!

Crack!

Thick black lightning spread out—not Conqueror's Haki, but Armament Haki compressed to the extreme.

Jack's pupils shrank suddenly.

Who is this guy? He's insanely strong!

He could feel the terrifying power in that punch, but after transforming into a mammoth, his flexibility was greatly reduced—there was no way to dodge in time.

Then don't dodge. Just take it!

Jack roared and charged forward without hesitation.

However—

Swish!

Just as Kaido's punch was about to land, a black shadow flashed between the two and threw a punch as well!

BOOM—!!!

The two fists collided, and a terrifying shockwave exploded!

The ground cracked like a spiderweb, and violent air currents swept out. The four walls around the dock crumbled, debris flying everywhere!

Jack was also blown away by the shockwave. His huge body tumbled a few times before crashing into the massive iron gate of the dock with a bang!

The heavy steel panel was instantly dented and nearly pierced by his tusks.

"Very good. This power..."

Kaido ignored Jack, narrowing his eyes in growing surprise at the black-haired boy now standing in front of him.

"The quality of your Haki is high—very high! No wonder, no wonder... I heard that Hanafuda didn't last long against you. What was it—three or four hours?"

"To be precise, less than two."

Shano glanced at Jack, who wasn't seriously hurt. Jack grunted as he tried to pull himself out of the steel.

"You here to avenge him?"

Hanafuda's strength was mid-tier among the Seven Warlords. The only reason he'd lasted so long was because his Tyrannosaurus fruit gave him incredible endurance.

"That guy accounts for maybe half the reason."

Kaido suddenly pulled out the mace on his back. "Right now, I'd rather beat you into submission and recruit you into the Beasts Pirates!"

Shano had seen that coming.

"So you were friends with Hanafuda, but not close enough to take it personally."

He grinned. "If it were King I had killed, I bet you'd hold a grudge forever."

"Uh-huh... as if a kid like you could kill King. Don't kid yourself!"

Kaido laughed boisterously. "But hey, how about this—join me willingly! Become one of my 'Big Bosses' and I'll consider going easy on you so you don't end up half-dead!"

"Whitebeard has captains. Big Mom has generals. I've only got two Big Bosses and a bunch of weaklings. I need talent like you!"

"As long as you join, your status will be second only to mine. And the Navy won't dare touch you again!"

"What do you say? Think it over!"

"Not interested."

Shano shook his head. "You're sincere, and I appreciate that. But…"

"Compared to surrendering and becoming your subordinate…"

He grinned and raised his fists, a surge of Armament Haki surging like a tide—

"—I'd rather beat you down, Kaido!!!"

Before the words finished echoing, Shano shot forward like lightning, fists loaded with thunderous force, and smashed into Kaido's chest!

"Arrogant brat! Courting death!"

Kaido roared in fury, grabbed his mace, wrapped it in crackling black-and-red lightning, and swung it down—

"Thunder Bagua!!!"

"Sixth Style Secret: Ripple Sprint!!!"

BOOM!!!

Ripple-like shockwaves clashed with lightning, entangling, crushing, and spreading out violently!

This time—

Not just Dock No. 1.

The entire Water 7 shook violently like an earthquake…

The waterways crisscrossing the city surged with massive waves!

Shano's right fist landed squarely on Kaido's chest, rippling the surface of Kaido's muscles like a stone hitting water.

His left fist was blocked by the mace, but the raw force still launched Shano backward!

Boom!

Coincidentally, he flew along the exact same path Jack had.

Jack, who had just pulled his tusks free from the steel gate, let out a scream as Shano collided with him perfectly.

Shano used Jack as a buffer and came to a stop.

He braced himself on one ivory tusk, wiped the blood from his mouth with his other hand, stood up shakily, twisted his neck, and rubbed his forehead. His previously dazed eyes quickly regained clarity.

"That's more like it."

Shano grinned and looked up at Kaido again.

Taking the same strike that once sent Nika flying during the Five Emperors period—and doing better?

Makes sense.

He had come this far. Even a Four Emperor couldn't one-shot him anymore!

"Uh-huh! Hiccup~!"

Kaido chuckled drunkenly. He touched his chest—the skin had collapsed, though no blood spilled out.

"I felt that one, kid! You've got internal destruction down, huh? This fight is gonna be fun!"

He grinned widely and gripped his mace.

"You ready, kid? It's time for round two!"

—But Shano raised a palm, signaling a pause.

"No more fighting."

"Huh?"

Kaido frowned. "You scared?"

"Me? Hahaha, no way!"

Shano laughed heartily.

That was just the start!

This Thunder Bagua... it was like Garp's "Fist Bone Impact"—it helped him glimpse a bit of how to entangle Haki.

They had to keep going!

He wanted to keep going!

It hurt getting smacked around…

But Kaido, I want to improve so badly!!!

…

"Then what do you mean?" Kaido asked impatiently.

"Let's move somewhere else, Kaido."

Shano looked down. From his position between the massive iron gates, the entire Water 7 was laid out before him.

Nearby streets and waterways had already been destroyed, citizens fleeing in panic.

Just the aftermath of one punch had caused this much damage.

If they kept going, it wouldn't just be Dock No. 1 left in ruins—it'd be the whole city.

Kaido noticed Shano's line of sight and understood immediately.

"Why worry about ants, kid?" Kaido scoffed. "When the strong fight, the weak suffer. That's how it's always been."

"You may not care, but I do."

Shano pointed to himself. "If I can't go all out, it won't be a fun fight. And if you beat me in that state, what's the point?"

"That's twisted logic!"

Kaido sneered and smashed his mace into the ground, shaking the island.

"But… I am in a good mood today. Fine, let's go somewhere else."

He unfastened a second wine gourd, took a swig, and glared:

"Tell me where. Just don't take too long—I don't wanna travel far."

"Relax. It's close."

Shano pointed to the outskirts.

"See that station? Follow the railway. The Sea Train leads to Enies Lobby. With your flight, we'll get there in no time."

"Wouldn't it be more fun to wreck a government island than random civilian homes?"

"Enies Lobby?"

Kaido looked over. Under the moonlight, the sea track stretched to the horizon.

"Uh-huh!"

Kaido burst into wild laughter. "Kid, you've got taste!"

"You should've said so earlier! The World Government thought they could use me to kill you—guess again!"

"What do you mean?" Shano's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What do you think, brat?!"

Kaido snorted. "Paradise is Navy-controlled territory. Normally, they wouldn't let me run wild here. Should've sent Admirals already!"

"But look at me—no one's interfered. No surveillance, no fleets. Clear as day: they want to kill you using me."

That made sense.

Still, Kaido thought to himself—

It wasn't that smooth.

The sea's huge. Even with flight, tracking a stranger is like finding a needle in a haystack.

He'd flown in wide circles around islands near Alabasta, checking one by one.

Every time, he'd stop to sense for a strong aura.

Find one—go down and investigate.

None? Move on.

And he ran into a lot of nuisances along the way.

A certain sky-hopping demon who'd just become a Warlord. Name too long to remember. Got swatted away like a fly.

A lunatic up on a sky island who called himself a god. Demanded Kaido kneel. Got a Thunder Bagua to the face and a bonus kick down to the Blue Sea.

And just the other day, a powerful aura led him to... Mihawk.

They knew of each other, but weren't close. Mihawk was drunk and melancholy, so Kaido left without greeting him.

And then—finally.

Tonight.

He found him.

Shano.

"It's been a journey!"

"…Is that so…"

Shano glanced at Kaido in surprise.

So this "reckless brute" had a careful, calculating side after all.

"Uh-huh!" Kaido laughed wildly, draining the gourd. "Those idiots thought I'd do their dirty work? Now they'll pay for it!"

"Well, looks like we're on the same page," Shano grinned. "No more delay—let's go!"

He turned to Jack, who was gasping after freeing himself from the iron gate.

"You go regroup. Tell the others I'm heading to Enies Lobby. Leave cleanup here to Kuina."

He meant repairing The End and processing the two captured CP9 agents.

"But Boss..." Jack returned to human form and looked up at Kaido, worried.

"Don't worry. I've got this."

Shano patted his shoulder, then casually hooked his foot and picked up the broken ivory. "Go. This fight's out of your league."

With that, he leapt into the air, used Moon Step, and darted toward the sea.

He used the train tracks as stepping stones, heading straight for Enies Lobby.

"Hey, kid—you're pretty fast!"

Kaido laughed and transformed into a massive blue dragon, soaring after him.

…

Enies Lobby.

The sea was dark, but the island shone brightly, lit 24/7 like a city that never sleeps.

This was one of the World Government's Three Great Institutions—and the base of CP9.

Not long ago…

It was ravaged by the Blue Demon and the Red Demon. The Government dispatched heavy reinforcements, and it took nearly a month to rebuild.

At this moment…

Inside the Justice Tower meeting room, Spandam, CP9's highest officer, sipped coffee with a grim face as he stared down three returning subordinates.

"You're telling me… those two Devil Fruits were in Spring Queen City and got taken… by Buggy the Clown?"

"…Yes, sir…"

Gabra turned and glared at Fukurou, who hung his head in shame.

"Sir, please calm down."

Kumadori unsheathed a short blade with a sorrowful expression. "Don't blame my comrades. It's my fault. I shall commit seppuku as atonement! Yo-yo~!"

"Iron Body!"

Clang!

The blade bounced off harmlessly.

Kumadori stood unharmed.