Boom!
The shattered stone ruins flew apart at this moment, revealing Kaido's massive body. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his gaze fixed sharply on Luffy, and said in a deep voice, "Learned it so quickly?"
"It's not as hard as you say!"
Luffy spread his legs into a stance, his left hand holding his right arm, and clenched his right fist upwards, a red spark crackling.
After being hit so many times, he naturally perceived the way it was used, and then he used it.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! Well then, it's been a while since I've felt this rush... if it ended so easily, it wouldn't be fun."
Kaido laughed aloud: "Consider this a warm-up before the final showdown, let me feel more excitement!"
As he spoke, his body suddenly grew a size larger, the exposed skin revealing blue scales, and his bared teeth gradually sharpened.
Until now, he hasn't even transformed!
"That won't do!"
Just as Kaido was showing his transformation, a voice suddenly interrupted, causing Kaido to pause, and Luffy, who was preparing to attack, widened his eyes.
A whirlwind quickly descended from the sky, appearing in front of Luffy.
"Since the warm-up is complete, stop wasting time!"
The whirlwind dispersed, revealing a leg that fiercely kicked Luffy's face, the immense power skewing Luffy's face to the side.
"Let's head straight to the final battle!"
Bam!
With one kick, Luffy's body spun away, shooting directly to the edge of Ghost Island, where he smashed a hole as if fired from a cannon.
Sage stood in the position where Luffy originally was, turning his body to face Kaido, and opened his arms, "Isn't it time to get serious?"
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! Sage!"
Kaido laughed up at the sky: "Is your warm-up over?"
The transformation he had shown continued, without any sign of stopping.
"Too dull, but better than nothing."
Sage twisted his neck with a cracking sound, staring intently at the transforming Kaido, as his own body emitted large amounts of white mist, forming a spinning white cocoon, enveloping his body.
A tail grew from the base of Kaido's spine, his limbs covered with blue scales, and the boots he wore burst open at that moment, his claws sharpening, and his feet turning into dragon talons.
His soaring horns, two straight from his forehead, were joined by two bent horns on the sides, with two more massive horns curving at ninety degrees on the outer sides, while the top half of his face was covered in scales, transforming into a Dragon Man!
Human-Beast Form!
Pop!
The white cocoon tore open from the top, like strips of torn gauze, spinning and dissipating outward, revealing hair as white as flames. Black war marks appeared on his face, extending to the back of his neck, and from there, they spread down his back.
The frilled shirt had long since burst open, with the black hue covering his back entwining below his abdomen, emanating a sheen resembling black fur.
Full Form · Forty Times!
The two locked eyes, Sage glanced at the explosive wound on Kaido's chest, while Kaido focused on the seven scars across Sage's chest, both curling the corners of their mouths into smiles.
Crackle!
Black-red and purple-black thunderbolts flickered around them for an instant.
"The only one who can battle me..."
Kaido said in a deep voice, "Is you, Sage! Are you Joyboy or not, let me be the one to verify it!"
"How many times have I told you, I'm not that so-called child of destiny."
Sage raised his head, "You, with such imposing power, why do you believe in fate so much? Is it Joyboy alone who can defeat you? Reversing cause and effect, indulging in feudal superstition, looking for that Joyboy all over the world, are you afraid?"
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! What do I have to fear, the fact is, no one can kill me!"
Kaido sneered, "It's been tested countless times!"
Subjected to extreme punishments over forty times, though sliced with blades and axes, struck by lightning, burned by fire, poisoned, and soaked in alcohol, not a scratch on him, this isn't granted by the Azure Dragon Fruit, but a genuine Vajra Body!
Even feeding him a Devil Fruit with the intention to burst him apart is futile. Reaching their level of ability development, other Devil Fruits would merely be expelled and flee.
Only those with undeveloped powers would be possessed by another 'devil.'
"Oh? If you're not afraid...why seek death."
Sage chuckled softly, "Prophesized to be defeated by Joyboy, feeling powerless, wanting to break destiny with suicide...if you ask me, that's all nonsense! Were I you, I'd have long waged war, fought one by one, pulling those nobles onto the battlefield, showing them that life is singular, and people are no different."
"Oh, oh, oh, oh, I remember you're not one to be sharp-tongued, saying so much is pointless! Once I defeat you and claim your territory, I'll initiate the greatest war this world has ever seen!"
Kaido gripped the Wolf Fang Club tightly, shouting, "Let's bring down those lofty ones and let them see!"
Start the largest war in the world, bringing the kings and nobles into warfare, to determine true talent through battle, not some nonsense bloodline.
This is his dream.
Or rather...
The dream he is gradually beginning to weaken.
But Sage's words have reignited much of it within him.
One Wano Country is not enough, but adding O'hara... it is definitely possible!
This is why Kaido agreed to Sage's request earlier.
"I really like you, Sage!"
Kaido laughed heartily, "Have you really stopped considering? The second Governor of the Beast Pirates, no, you can change to your Disaster Pirates at any time! Follow me, I'll let you inherit everything, my son will be the General of Wano Country, you marry her, combine forces and establish the strongest rule!"
"Son?"
Sage was momentarily stunned, "Oh... daughter right, truly, apart from fighting, you are not good at anything else, you're really worse than Moriah in teaching kids."
As for Yamato, who is always shouting about Kozuki Oden.
Those in the know understand she is Kaido's daughter, while the uninformed might think she is Kozuki Oden's child.
As for that fake Momonosuke...
Those in the know realize he is Kozuki Oden's child, while the uninformed truly believe he is Kaido's son.
Mutual NTR, isn't it?
Though this guy is extremely brutal, he also has a side that goes along with his daughter; his own child constantly thinking of becoming his enemy, saying things like they will defeat their old man and liberate Wano Country...
Who could put up with it?
Kaido can, not only does he tacitly accept this behavior, he also calls his daughter a son, truly a father's toil.
"Enough already!"
Kaido's temple throbbed, "It's precisely because of too much teaching that Moriah became so weak! Companions are certainly important, but the strength lies in oneself. Relying on others is absolutely not okay. Even one's own child must be strictly educated to make them understand the harshness of the sea!"
"Heh heh heh heh..."
Sage laughed for a while, "I see you are indeed somewhat pitiful now, but don't worry, when I kill you, I'll properly teach your daughter, she really is a decent force!"
"As for your proposal, I have little interest in it, rather than being the second generation, I prefer to be the first!"
Sage extended one hand, "When I was just starting out, if you invited me, I might have agreed without a doubt. But now, my power won't even allow others to share it, how could anyone dare to surpass me?!"
At that stage, Sage failed at everything he did, if the Beast Pirates had actually extended an offer, he would have accepted without hesitation, because at that time all he wanted was a territory.
Now that things are at this point, not to mention being Kaido's successor, he wouldn't do it even for Imu!
What he wants, he will seize himself!
Kuma!
Flames ignited from Sage's fist.
Kaido also opened his mouth, forming a compressed fireball.
"Hot Breath!"
"Fire Fist!"
Two columns of intense heat shot forth, colliding violently, spreading to the sides with a booming sound, igniting a massive blaze at the center, scattering sparks like fireworks.
Their eyes met through the flames, one exuding a black-red torrent, the other blasting out a purple-black wave, Supreme King intertwined, even the flames were subdued at this moment.
In a cloud-covered night, a deep fissure opened at the center, stirring up a wild gale, blowing through Sage's hair and Kaido's cloak...
Whoosh!
Kaido's foot moved, charging forward with his Wolf Fang Club raised.
Sage's wrist tensed, the golden bracelet immediately transformed into a Pirate Saber, gripping it with both hands and diving forward, attacking the opponent.
Clang!
Bam!
The sword and club crossed together, the shock and rumble made Ghost Island tremble, the flame-cloud covered Ghost Island visibly sank.
"Sage!"
"Kaido!"
Both maintaining their attack posture, grinning viciously, shouted almost in unison: "Let the battle begin!!"