Chapter 63: Kaido: Ares, Listen to Me!
Kaido's heart was in turmoil, his once unshakable conviction now crumbling under the weight of doubt.
His beliefs were violently shaken.
He lifted his gaze to the sky.
That was the battlefield between Ares and the Golden Lion.
So close, yet it felt impossibly distant.
Every time he met Ares,
The gap between them widened at an inconceivable speed.
Blow after blow from reality had crushed Kaido's hope of ever surpassing Ares.
His wide, copper bell-like eyes were hollow and lifeless, their color drained.
"Is there really… no chance in this life for me to surpass Ares?"
Even the greatest opportunity to surpass him the Devil Fruit had fallen into Ares' hands.
A Mythical Zoan fruit!!!
His heart was bleeding.
This was even more despairing than being captured by the Marines.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island
Whitebeard had already engaged the frenzied Linlin, who had fallen into her insatiable hunger trance.
The two clashed fiercely.
The scale of their battle was immense, their destructive power overwhelming.
Each collision in the sky erupted like fireworks, blazing brilliantly across the heavens.
Their sounds echoed through the skies.
But to most of the inhabitants of Hachinosu, this battle was nothing less than an apocalyptic disaster.
The flames rained down upon the island, setting it ablaze in countless places.
Fortunately, most who lived on Hachinosu were pirates or underground criminals.
When the battle broke out, most of the residents had already been evacuated and gathered in safe zones.
The one who had started all of this Ares remained completely unaware.
Driven by pure instinct, he continued launching relentless attacks at Golden Lion, using every kind of strike he could muster.
His four dragon claws, though less agile than human arms, constantly unleashed terrifying slashes.
But his true weapon was his tail.
It had become an extension of his will, executing sweeps, smashes, and direct strikes.
His tail, his dragon head, his claws
All were deadly weapons in Ares' arsenal.
Golden Lion was struggling to keep up, both blades swinging tirelessly to block Ares' attacks whether splitting apart flames or deflecting Ares' devastating slashes.
But that terrifying dragon tail
He didn't dare block it head-on.
The sheer momentum and crushing weight behind each sweep were monstrous beyond imagination.
Golden Lion's expression grew serious.
"I don't know how much longer Ares can keep this up… but this kid is insane!!"
"In some ways, he's already close to or even matching Admiral-level strength!"
"And he just got this Devil Fruit! If he masters it…"
"Will even I Golden Lion be no match for him?!"
Freak!
How could a human grow this fast?
And the luck!!
To obtain such an incredibly rare and powerful Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?
Unbelievable!
At this rate, it would all come down to stamina.
But beneath them was Hachinosu
The Rocks Pirates' base of operations.
Golden Lion didn't dare use his Devil Fruit recklessly here!
That made the current battle awkward and deadlocked.
Neither side could decisively overpower the other.
The senior officers of the Rocks Pirates on the island also noticed the stalemate in the sky.
The battle between Golden Lion and Ares was so intense it felt like a natural disaster.
"Captain, maybe you should step in," Captain John suggested to Rocks, his voice heavy with concern. "If this keeps going, the entire Hachinosu might burn down!"
Rocks nodded slowly, his voice grave.
"You're right. We can't let these two keep going. The damage is already enormous."
He crouched down.
His whole body compressed like a loaded spring, storing an immense burst of power.
The ruler of the seas Rocks D. Xebec was preparing to move!
Suddenly
Kaido, who had been sitting collapsed on the ground, sprang to his feet like a man possessed.
He roared at the sky, his voice echoing with desperation:
"Ares!!!"
"Listen to me!!!"
"I, Kaido…"
"Will NEVER admit defeat!!!"
"One year! Ten years! Thirty years!!"
"No matter how long it takes "
"You will always be the target I must surpass!!!"
His fierce, resounding declaration pierced the sky!
Countless people turned to look at him.
At the same time, a surging torrent of power erupted from Kaido's body like a tidal wave!
It rippled violently in all directions, spreading rapidly.
BOOM!!
For a brief instant, it was as if time froze.
That overwhelming presence pierced straight into the heavens!
The aura radiated pure ferocity, savagery, and dominance so oppressive it felt like the air itself had solidified.
The world seemed to fall into silence.
At this moment, Kaido stood as if he were the king of this world, with all things bending beneath his will!
Conqueror's Haki fully awakened!!!
Sensing this powerful surge of will, Rocks turned toward Kaido in surprise, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.
"Excellent! I didn't expect our rookie Kaido to awaken his Conqueror's Haki so soon!!"
"It seems the Rocks Pirates truly are overflowing with talent!!!"
He was genuinely delighted.
This meant the Rocks Pirates would grow even stronger.
With Kaido and Ares two rising monsters
How could they possibly fail to dominate the world?
How could they not become kings?
"What incredible, what overwhelming willpower!!" Captain John stared at Kaido in shock.
This Haki was powerful.
So powerful.
Conqueror's Haki isn't something just anyone can wield.
Not everyone has the qualifications to awaken the power hidden deep within themselves.
"If Kaido continues to grow, he'll be a valuable officer too."
"Heh, and if he and Ares "
Captain John suddenly paused, quickly correcting himself.
"If Kaido grows, he'll be a monster."
There was no point even mentioning Ares anymore.
He was a monster among monsters.
No one could have predicted he would grow this much in just over a month!
It was unimaginable.
Kaido's fierce, surging aura rapidly spread into the sky.
Golden Lion couldn't help but glance down at Kaido in astonishment.
"That kid… he's awakened the King's qualification?"
"To make Ares his goal… to want to surpass him…"
"What an unshakable determination!"
Golden Lion let out a cold laugh, his tone firm and proud.
"Jihahahaha… a man I set my sights on "
"Could never possibly lose!!!"
Under this intense clash of wills
The azure dragon that was Ares suddenly twisted his massive head, his fierce and terrifying eyes locking onto Kaido.
His dragon pupils glinted with ruthless, scorching aggression as he gazed down from the skies.
The next moment.
The dragon's jaws opened wide.
"ROAAAAAAR!!!!"
A roar that shattered the heavens and rattled the earth exploded from his throat!
At the same time
An immense, overwhelming dragon's might burst forth from his body!
In that instant
The world lost its color!!!
His towering aura instantly shook the entire battlefield to its core!!!
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