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The power of Hakai could be said to be extremely terrifying. When two Yonko joined forces to unleash it, its destructive power was suffocating.
The speed at which the shockwave swept in was too fast. Before Law's ROOM could fully expand, the shadow of death had already enveloped everyone.
"It's too late…"
Cold sweat seeped from Law's forehead. Although the Surgery Fruit allowed them to teleport instantly, facing this level of energy torrent, they were already out of time!
Just as that destructive energy mixed with Conqueror's Haki lightning, flames, and wind pressure was about to swallow everyone…
A green figure shot out like an arrow from a bow!
"Move aside!"
Zoro's voice carried unyielding resolve. He rushed to the front of the group and drew all three swords at once.
He clenched Wado Ichimonji between his teeth, gripping Sandai Kitetsu and Enma in his hands. Purple-black demonic light surged across the blades alongside his wildly flowing Armament Haki.
"Is he crazy?!" Kid's eyes widened.
Zoro's muscles were tensed to their absolute limit, as if every blood vessel in his body was roaring!
BOOM!!
The Hakai shockwave slammed violently into Zoro's swords. In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
The ground beneath Zoro's feet cracked inch by inch. His entire skeleton let out creaking sounds of unbearable strain. The skin on his hands, arms, and even shoulders split open one after another, blood spraying out.
But he gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, the whites of his eyes bloodshot, and refused to retreat even half a step!
Turbulent energy wildly erupted in all directions.
The ground violently shook and deformed under the impact. Relying on his own strength alone, Zoro forcibly tore open a narrow "path of survival" within this deadly energy torrent!
The residual waves of Hakai's energy brushed past both sides of Zoro, surging toward the sky of Onigashima and shattering the clouds above into pieces.
Rocks along the edges of Onigashima collapsed in large chunks under the force, plummeting into the raging sea below and stirring up massive waves.
Inside the banquet hall, whether it was the Beast Pirates or the allied forces of samurai and Minks, everyone was stunned by this terrifying sight.
Even Quinn, King, Sanji, Jinbe, and the others who were fighting subconsciously stopped and looked up toward the roof.
"Mam-ma-ma-ma~ Truly impressive! That swordsman from the Straw Hat crew!"
Big Mom looked at the figure still standing tall in the smoke and dust, yet completely bathed in blood, and rarely gave praise.
To be able to frontally withstand the combined strike of two Emperors of the Sea and survive—this strength and willpower was already worthy of her praise as a Yonko.
As the smoke and dust dispersed, Zoro's figure swayed unsteadily. Multiple bones throughout his body were fractured.
Blood had dyed his clothes red, dripping from his sword tips onto the ground. Yet he still stood, the three swords remaining in his hands… though the hands gripping them trembled violently.
"Zoro!!!" Luffy wanted to rush over, but Law stopped him.
"Leave it to me!"
Law came to Zoro's side and quickly checked his injuries, his expression grave: "Fractures all over the body, internal bleeding, severe muscle tears… Any later and it would have been bad."
"I… won't die yet."
Zoro coughed up a mouthful of blood, his voice hoarse: "The rest… is up to you guys."
"Thanks, Roronoa!"
Kid walked over to Zoro's side. This usually arrogant Supernova now spoke with genuine sincerity: "If we had taken that move head-on just now, even if we didn't die, most of our combat power would have been crippled."
Killer also nodded silently, his eyes behind the mask filled with respect.
Law carefully moved Zoro to a relatively safe position at the edge of the battlefield, then instantly returned to the main battlefield: "He has temporarily lost his combat ability, but his life is not in danger!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a figure shot out from the smoke and dust like a cannonball!
"Gomu Gomu no…"
Luffy's eyes were blood-red. The sight of Zoro covered in blood just now had deeply shaken him.
His partner had nearly lost his life protecting everyone, and the culprit was right in front of him!
"How dare you hurt my partner! Unforgivable! Unforgivable!"
Luffy's speed reached its absolute peak.
He pulled his right fist back to the limit, flames blazing across its surface…
Hellfire Pistol!!!
This strike was faster and fiercer than any before!
The flame-wrapped fist tore through the air, hurtling straight toward Kaido's face!
In Luffy's eyes there was only anger and resolve. He wanted to make Kaido pay for hurting Zoro!
But at that moment, everyone noticed something…
Kaido had actually chosen not to tank it head-on!
This "Strongest Creature" who always took attacks head-on with his body, when facing Luffy's rage-fueled Hellfire Pistol, slightly shifted his stance and dodged to the side!
The flaming fist grazed past Kaido's cheek with a whoosh, blasting a huge crater into the rock wall behind.
"Huh?"
Luffy froze for a split second, then broke into a brilliant grin: "You dodged?"
Kaido's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
He had indeed dodged…
Not because he couldn't block it, but because his condition wasn't perfect.
More importantly, Luffy's punch had made him subconsciously choose to evade.
And that single evasion changed everything.
"Kaido… dodged the Straw Hat's attack?" Kid's eyes widened.
"He's shaken."
The corner of Law's mouth curled up slightly: "What Roronoa did just now didn't only save us—it also rattled Kaido's mindset. He realized that we really have the ability to hurt him, or even… threaten him."
Killer tightened his grip on his sickle: "Since he dodged, it means there's fear in his heart too."
"Damn brat!!!"
Kaido's rage instantly reached its peak.
Luffy's brilliant smile looked like pure mockery in his eyes, as if saying: See? Even you get scared!
The dignity of a Yonko had been completely trampled.
Thunderous Bagua!
Kaido swung his spiked club with full force. The Conqueror's Haki lightning wrapped around it was denser and more violent than any time before.
He no longer held back. The full power of his human-beast form erupted at this moment!
Luffy hurriedly coated his arms in Armament Haki to block, but the force of this swing far exceeded imagination.
With a thunderous BOOM, Luffy's entire body was blasted backward like a cannonball. He tumbled across the rubble for dozens of meters, crashing into and collapsing half a ruined wall before finally stopping.
"Cough…"
Luffy coughed up a mouthful of blood, yet immediately flipped back to his feet, his fighting spirit burning even hotter: "Again!"
Luffy's attack trajectory became extremely erratic. His fists rained down madly on Kaido's body.
Although Kaido held the advantage in raw power, being suddenly pressed like this by Luffy left him somewhat flustered…
The two clashed fiercely atop Onigashima. Every collision sent out shockwaves that made the entire island tremble faintly.
On the other side, Charlotte Linlin tried to support Kaido, but three people blocked her path.
Kid's massive metal fist came crashing down. Law's Ghost Cry unleashed invisible slashes. Killer's sickle spun at high speed, cutting relentlessly.
Although none of the three "Supernovas" could match Big Mom in a one-on-one fight, when working together they actually managed to stall this Emperor of the Sea for the time being.
Kid's interference made Big Mom's lightning attacks difficult to aim precisely. Law's spatial powers forced her to split her attention on defense. Killer's rapid harassment kept draining her focus.
The battle situation was actually beginning to tilt toward an even stalemate!
Outside the light screen, the spectators had long been left speechless in shock.
"My god… I only just remembered—this Straw Hat Luffy was still so weak two years ago, and now he can actually trade blows with Kaido. This kid!"
One pirate rubbed his eyes hard, as if unable to believe what he was seeing.
"As expected of Garp's grandson. That whole family is nothing but trouble!" Another sighed.
Among the Marines, many officers wore complicated expressions.
A young Marine muttered quietly: "Grandfather is a Marine hero, father is the Revolutionary Army commander, grandson is a Supernova with a bounty over a hundred million… This family is really something."
"What a pity. If the Straw Hat kid had become a Marine, maybe…" A Vice Admiral shook his head and sighed.
The pirates, however, watched with their blood boiling.
No matter their stance, witnessing a young pirate challenge a Yonko and truly shake his position stirred the hearts of everyone chasing dreams across the seas.
"Straw Hat kid… maybe he really can create a miracle!" someone murmured.
"Since he's been shouting about becoming the Pirate King, surpassing the Yonko is definitely a step he has to take!"
The crew of the Roger Pirates looked at Luffy wearing Roger's hat and felt a momentary daze.
Thinking of the future when Roger would disband the Roger Pirates, and then looking at these bold newcomers of the new generation on the screen, they seemed to finally understand the words Whitebeard had spoken before his death…
"I am a remnant of the old era. The new era has no ship that can carry me!"
…
Atop Onigashima, the battle entered a white-hot phase.
The duel between Luffy and Kaido grew increasingly intense. New wounds began appearing on both of them.
Kaido's spiked club left bruises and bloodstains on Luffy's body, while Luffy's fists kept hammering against Kaido's scaled armor. Most blows were defended against, but the occasional heavy punch still made Kaido's massive frame tremble slightly.
"Brat… You really are much stronger than two years ago."
Kaido knocked Luffy back with one swing of his club and panted: "But with just this level, you think you can overthrow me? Dream on!"
Luffy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned: "How would you know if you don't try? Besides…"
He glanced toward the distance where Kid, Law, and Killer were desperately holding Big Mom back, then turned his gaze back to Kaido:
"I'm not fighting alone! My partners, and everyone who believes I can bring the dawn… All of their wills are gathered right here!"
Luffy took a deep breath. His aura surged once more.
Conqueror's Haki erupted uncontrollably, pitch-black lightning crackling around his body.
"I'm gonna send you flying, Kaido! And then I'll bring true dawn to Wano Country!!!"
His declaration resounded across the peak of Onigashima.
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