"Elephant Gun!"
Seeing that Kaido had no intention of dodging, Straw Hat Luffy did not hold back. He smashed a massive, inflated fist directly toward Kaido's head.
Bang!
The blow landed squarely on Kaido's face. In that instant, the Emperor felt a searing pain. The Conqueror's Haki condensed within the strike was unmistakable.
"How is this possible! This is—Conqueror's Haki Infusion!"
Kaido wore an expression of disbelief as the force of the punch drove him headlong into the earth. His massive dragon body slammed into the ground with a deafening crash.
"How about that, Kaido? This is my new technique," Luffy landed, looking at his fist with excitement.
He had mastered this breakthrough while fighting Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates. In that desperate battle, he had been on the verge of defeat. If he hadn't possessed such iron resolve, he would have fallen. Fortunately, he pushed through his limits, allowing both his Observation Haki and Conqueror's Haki to ascend to a new level.
In the distance, Law was stunned. "He actually made Kaido bleed!"
Law didn't miss it; the punch had truly injured the Emperor, causing him to spit up blood. "How on earth did he do that?" Law muttered. Back in Dressrosa, Luffy had struggled through two rounds of bitter fighting just to take down Donquixote Doflamingo. In such a short time, his power had undergone a qualitative leap. Law could only assume something extraordinary had happened during Luffy's time in Totto Land.
On the ground, Kaido's head was buried in a crater. The dragon remained motionless for a dozen seconds before his body began to shrink. Amidst the settling dust, a burly figure emerged, looking like a devil.
"It's been so long since I've felt pain like this. Not since Oden, I think," Kaido's voice rumbled.
Kaido walked out step by step, resting his spiked club on his shoulder. A smear of blood hung from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Luffy, his pupils glowing. "I didn't expect a brat like you among the Worst Generation. Surprising!"
Conqueror's Haki Infusion was a rarity. The only other young person Kaido had seen use it was his own daughter, Yamato, during her first expedition years ago. Mastering this technique placed one among the absolute elite of the sea, qualified to compete for the throne.
"Brat, state your name!" Kaido demanded.
"My name is Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!" Luffy shouted back.
Kaido's eyes narrowed before he let out a dark laugh. "Arrogant brat. Let me show you reality. You don't understand what those words truly mean!"
"Cut the crap! If you want to fight, then fight!" Luffy retorted.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Kaido's response was a blur of purple lightning. The strike was incredibly swift. Even though Luffy's Observation Haki foresaw the move, his body couldn't keep up. He barely managed to raise his arms to block.
Boom!
With a single strike, Luffy was sent flying, smashing through the earth. Law watched in horror as Kaido sent his ally reeling with a single move—and the Emperor wasn't even in his Hybrid Form yet.
"Kaido!"
Luffy emerged from the dust, his body expanding into a bloated, powerful shape. Gear Fourth: Boundman.
"Oh? Is that your ability? Come then, let me enjoy this," Kaido said, beckoning with a finger.
Luffy launched a fierce barrage of attacks, but the effect was negligible. He was completely unable to penetrate Kaido's defenses. After several minutes of intense fighting, Luffy's movements began to slow.
"Not good, my Haki is running out," Luffy thought, a flash of anxiety in his eyes.
Kaido noticed immediately. "Your Haki is weakening. Using it to coat your entire body like that is a reckless waste. I thought you might provide a real surprise, but is this it?"
Kaido gripped his club with both hands, purple lightning crackling across the iron spikes. "Let me finish this. Don't worry, I won't kill you."
Kaido vanished. Luffy, low on energy, braced for the impact. Lightning flashed, and Luffy was blasted away, his Gear Fourth state collapsing as he deflated like a balloon.
"Mastering Conqueror's Haki at this age is good, but you're still lacking compared to that brat Yamato," Kaido remarked. "You should just become my subordinate. You're going to Udon for some forced labor."
Before Kaido could move to claim his prize, a figure flickered into view. Law caught the falling Luffy and vanished instantly.
"Who? Trafalgar Law?" Kaido realized he had been distracted. "Want to run? I won't give you the chance!"
Kaido transformed back into a dragon and soared into the sky, but he quickly lost their trail. Law's space-shifting abilities were too elusive. "A space-type ability... troublesome," Kaido growled, searching with his Observation Haki before giving up. "We will meet again soon, Straw Hat."
After the dragon vanished into the clouds, Law and Luffy reappeared.
"He's finally gone," Law panted, holding the weakened Luffy.
"Sorry, Torao... I troubled you," Luffy muttered.
Law sighed. Ever since their alliance at Punk Hazard, he had done nothing but worry. "Let's just go meet up with Kin'emon and the others."
Onigashima.
Kaido returned and summoned King and Yamato.
"Big Brother, did you see them?" King asked.
"I saw them. Arrogant brats," Kaido nodded.
"Uncle, why even ask?" Yamato chimed in, leaning against a pillar. "The old man let them get away."
King was stunned. "They escaped from you?"
"Trafalgar Law has a troublesome ability," Kaido grumbled, glancing at Yamato.
"You were just careless, old man. You got distracted fighting Luffy and forgot Law existed," Yamato teased.
"Stinky brat, shut up! Go play somewhere else," Kaido shooed her away, though he looked ready to kick her. Yamato just curled her lip and strolled out.
"What do you plan to do, Big Brother? Should we hunt them down?" King asked.
"No. They'll come knocking on my door soon enough. What does it matter if I give them time to prepare? I'll be right here, waiting," Kaido said, dismissing the threat. He then turned to the current situation. "How is the plan progressing?"
"Everything is going according to the Young Master's calculations. They will clash with Orochi soon," King replied.
"Yamato has the strength, yet she plays with these schemes. She has nothing better to do," Kaido complained, though he knew his daughter was far more clever than he was.
"There will be a good show to watch the day after tomorrow," King added.
Kaido's eyes flashed with anticipation. "The Nine Red Scabbards and Orochi... a fated meeting. This should be an interesting drama."