Rolan moved instantly to meet the incoming strike, Conqueror's Haki surging around his flip flop mid motion. He raised his foot and kicked Kaido's descending club head on.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion rang out as sandal and kanabo collided. Purple black lightning erupted violently, tearing through the air. The sea below churned as countless fish leapt out of the water, their bodies turning belly up from the shockwave alone.
Rolan felt the terrifying power transmitted through the club and his pupils narrowed slightly. This force was far greater than what Kaido had displayed in their previous battle.
It took him only a moment to understand why.
Last time, Kaido had already suffered heavy injuries before facing him. This time, the Beast was in peak condition.
Rolan let out a quiet breath through his nose, his expression calm but his thoughts sharp. Truly worthy of the title strongest creature on land, sea, and air.
Below them, everyone watching felt their scalps tingle. The collision alone produced pressure so overwhelming that it eclipsed every battle they had witnessed before. The air itself seemed to scream.
In that instant, Kudins raised an eyebrow.
With a sharp blur of movement, he vanished using Soru and reappeared beside Rolan. At the same time, Kudins' right arm twisted grotesquely, swelling and transforming into a massive red fur covered ancient ape limb.
The sudden ambush stunned everyone who noticed.
Anyone with eyes could tell his intent.
Kudins coated his arm in Armament Haki and drove his fist straight toward Rolan's head.
Just then.
A long, fair, jade like leg flashed into view, intercepting the punch head on.
"My husband was right," a cold, regal voice rang out. "Everyone in the World Government really is scum."
Boa Hancock stood between them, her heel firmly blocking Kudins' strike. From the moment the battle began, her gaze had never once left Rolan.
The instant she sensed danger, she acted without hesitation.
Kudins frowned slightly as his attack was stopped with ease.
"Former Shichibukai Boa Hancock," he said with a thin smirk, "are you sure you want to interfere? I wonder if the scars on your body still ache."
Hancock's eyes trembled for a brief moment.
"Shut up."
At the same time, Rolan increased the force in his leg, blasting Kaido's club away. He manipulated electromagnetic forces around himself and Hancock, suspending them both in the air before drifting back.
Kaido and Kudins landed once more on the Singing Ship.
Rolan glanced at Hancock. "You alright?"
She shook her head, offering him a faint smile.
Rolan knew those words from Kudins had reopened old wounds. Her past was not something that could be erased overnight. Still, he believed time would grind it down eventually.
His gaze shifted back to Kudins, eyes cold and uninterested.
"As expected," Rolan said flatly, "a government dog. Just as filthy as the World Government itself."
Kudins laughed, completely unfazed. "Hehehe. There's no need for righteousness when dealing with trash like you."
Rolan felt a familiar sense of irritation. The man reminded him too much of Akainu. Same venomous tongue. Same extreme mindset.
At that moment, the rest of Kaido and Big Mom's fleets finally arrived.
Big Mom's booming laughter echoed across the sea.
"Mama Mama! Let the war begin! Rolan, you brat, the wound you gave me last time still aches. This time, I'll make you pay a hundredfold!"
"Prometheus!"
Flames roared beneath her feet as the living fire carried her skyward toward Rolan.
"Wororororo! Don't think you can rush ahead of me, you stinking old hag!" Kaido bellowed, launching himself after them.
Rolan calmly ascended higher, rising nearly a thousand meters into the sky.
A battle between three monsters at sea level would annihilate everything below, including his crew.
"Husband…" Hancock called out, worry flashing across her face as she watched him vanish into the clouds with Kaido and Big Mom.
"Don't worry," Nami said firmly. "We have our own battles."
She snapped her fingers.
In an instant, vast stretches of white island clouds surfaced across the sea, forming solid ground.
Hancock's gaze snapped toward Kudins, killing intent pouring out.
"World Government dog! How dare you insult my husband!"
She kicked off the ground and charged.
"Hahaha! Did I hit a nerve, pirate scum?" Kudins sneered.
His body exploded outward as he fully transformed into a massive ancient ape over ten meters tall. Haki surged from him in crushing waves, every inch of his body radiating power.
Hancock's brows furrowed. Annoying as he was, she could not deny his strength.
"You're hideous," she said coldly. "Looking at you makes me sick."
Kudins nearly lost control. "You damned woman! Die!"
He hated nothing more than being called ugly. In his eyes, his Devil Fruit was a symbol of power, not disgrace.
Beating his chest, his aura sharpened violently.
Hancock did not care what he was.
She stepped in.
"Perfume Femur!"
Her red heel, coated in Armament Haki, slammed into his chest.
Boom!
"So hard…"
It felt like kicking a steel wall.
"ROAR!"
The recoil blasted her backward. Hancock flipped through the air and landed several steps away, dispersing the force. Her expression grew serious as she stared at the monstrous figure before her.
Elsewhere.
Wein clicked his tongue as he watched Kudins engage.
Competitive by nature, he refused to be left behind.
With a burst of speed, he charged straight toward Nami.
Her ability to manipulate land alone told him she was no ordinary opponent.
As he ran, his body twisted and expanded, transforming into a massive rhinoceros nearly twenty meters long. Armament Haki coated his horn, giving it a ghostly black sheen as he thundered forward.
Nami's eyes widened.
Another Zoan.
Is the World Government running a damn zoo?
She reached out, grabbing the air. A long staff formed from hardened iron clouds appeared in her hand, immediately coated in Armament Haki.
She thrust it forward.
Clang!
Staff and horn collided, sparks and green lightning bursting outward.
Despite that, Nami's feet slid backward across the clouds. Wein's raw strength was overwhelming.
Before she could be pushed back completely, Nami extended her left hand.
Two massive cloud arms erupted from beneath Wein, grabbing his hind legs.
With a sharp pull, she flung him backward.
The giant rhinoceros flew through the air, slammed into the island cloud, and skidded dozens of meters before stopping.
Wein laughed loudly as he steadied himself. "Hahaha! Exhilarating! There really are monsters like you out here!"
Nami did not smile.
She knew that exchange ended in a draw only because she used positioning and timing.
She would not get such an opening easily again.
===
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