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Apart from the two engaged in battle, the first person to feel the unstoppable and terrifying electric current was none other than Kaido.
Don't think taking a hit isn't a big deal; there's a lot of strategy involved in it.
Playing to one's strengths and avoiding weaknesses is the most important aspect.
In the face of attacks that truly threaten oneself, evasion and reducing force are the best responses.
Otherwise, Kaido would have died from being too stubborn during his growth, and he wouldn't be in the limelight as a Yonko now.
At this moment, feeling the heaven-alarming strike coming from afar, Kaido's expression turned gloomy.
"This power... is it Whitebeard?"
"No, it can't be! Whitebeard's power isn't so condensed, and this tingling sensation from the electric current, even from such a distance, is so intense. The mink race can't even come close."
So.
Marine Soryu!
Suddenly, the image of that descending Dragon's Cry Longsword floated into Kaido's mind.
"Damn it, has that guy Awakened already?!"
Kaido suddenly sucked in a breath of cold air.
Every Ability user's strength undergoes a qualitative change after Awakening, although the fluctuations in their upper and lower limits are significant. Even if they Awaken, they might not necessarily be their opponents.
But Marine Soryu, the guy who left a diamond-shaped scar on his forehead, definitely belongs to the upper echelon of the upper limits!
"I've let my guard down!"
Kaido inwardly cursed.
Originally, he had heard that this year Charlotte Linlin, this woman, was having a bad year, even canceling the tea party. He thought he'd come here to stir up trouble with Big Mom's pirate crew and see if he could recruit them to his cause, bringing along the newly recruited troops.
But things took a sudden turn, and there was no trace of Soryu in his information.
There aren't many people in this world that can make Kaido feel fearful.
"Strongest in the World" Whitebeard is one, the former Wano Country great sword hero Ryuma and the "Thunderous Sword Hero" Hughes Moore are another, Vegapunk is one, besides Big Mom counts as half, and Marine Soryu counts as half.
The reason Kaido fears Rowen is not for any other reason.
Fighting the strongest is based on the premise of being able to kill the other.
But Marine Soryu, the Undying Vice Admiral, is a mystery as to who can kill him.
If that Monster were to join the battle against him and had truly mastered the fruit Awakening, aside from the humiliating defeat, Kaido couldn't think of a second outcome.
I can't keep playing around!
I have more important things to do!
The grandest war in the world is waiting for me!
With this thought in mind, Kaido suddenly slammed downward, using his forehead to shatter the iceberg Aokiji had sent his way.
Boom!
The terrifying iceberg, capable of sinking a small island, was effortlessly smashed into pieces by Kaido, and then he swung his club, dispersing Kizaru along with the laser, ignoring the explosion powerful enough to tear steel apart, his figure suddenly soaring.
Roar!!!
"Not good, he's using his Devil Fruit power!"
The Dragon's Cry voice mixed with Haoshoku Haki dominated the sea, startling Aokiji. Without thinking, he spread out his palms, sending a blast of sub-zero cold wind into the sky.
Every time the Marines defeated Kaido, it was because Kaido was stubborn and remained on the ground to wrestle with them.
Don't forget, besides their three Admirals, Marine also has the older generation of Garp and Sengoku, whose strength has not diminished!
The reputation of the "Iron Fist" speaks for itself. Trying to take advantage of him in straightforward close combat is better off going home and sleeping.
Dreams contain everything.
And once Kaido unleashes his Devil Fruit power to incarnate as a Dragon, controlling the airspace, there's no way to stop him, especially for someone like Kizaru, whose weaknesses and strengths are incredibly obvious.
This is one of the reasons why the Marines place great importance on the Aircraft Force and Rowen's Awakening.
Although the Marines are strong, they don't have every advantage.
Rowen's aerial combat ability surpasses that of Kizaru, the only thing lacking is destructive power.
"Leave it to me!"
Swish!
Kizaru, who had been dispersed into light particles, breathed slightly, appearing next to Aokiji.
He couldn't take any of Kaido's attacks head-on. Like the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder-Thunder Fruit), Glint-Glint Fruit isn't an ability that excels in defense.
If his Devil Fruit power were to be broken, he could only evade and dodge by expending a large amount of stamina through full-body Elementalization. After fighting for so long, he was already feeling the heat.
Buzz!
With a resounding noise, prisms of light appeared all around Kizaru. His entire body turned into light particles, the dazzling golden light turning white, gathering energy.
Hot Breath!
But at this moment, a massive blast of scorching hot air came rushing through the air. Aokiji suddenly paled, summoning a pristine and unblemished Ice Mass to block in front of him.
"Ah..."
"My speed is actually slower than Kaido's?"
Kizaru muttered sneakily to himself. The next moment, while Hot Breath was halfway through its charge, it enveloped him.
At the same time as his transformation, Kaido decisively spewed his attack downward, wasting no time!
Boom. Crack!
The sound of shattering echoed through the sky as a towering hundred-meter-long Dragon broke free from the ice covering him. The Dragon's eyes scanned the battlefield below, fierce and majestic, as he roared thunderously.
"Hundred Beasts pirate crew, retreat!"
Behind the Ice Mass, Aokiji heard this shout and his eyes brightened.
"Oh my, leaving so soon, Kaido?"
"Hmph!"
Kaido wouldn't fall for such an obvious provocation. Entangled with Soryu, whose strength after Awakening was no weaker than an Admiral's, and Kizaru, his fate would be anything but pleasant.
If he didn't escape now while Soryu was busy with Big Mom, would he just wait to be turned into a dumpling?
Big Mom wouldn't spare him any mercy.
In this regard, she's just like him.
Seeing Kaido not falling for it, and his breath getting farther away, Aokiji, amidst his sneering laughter, also breathed a sigh of relief.
He could probably guess why Kaido chose to retreat, but one's own business is one's own. After all, who knows who Rowen will fight next?
In the interior lands of Totto Land, far across the sea on Cake Island.
Thud!
The massive body crashed heavily onto the ground, shattering the solid ice field, and making a hole ten meters deep.
Spiderweb-like craters extended deep into the sea, lying on the floating Ice Mass, partially soaked in the cold seawater, Big Mom's mouth oozed blood, feeling the burning sensation in her airways.
"Cough, cough! Damn that Soryu! Did he take some kind of stimulant?!"
That kind of incomparable and fierce attack, wasn't it supposed to be a one-time thing?!
If it were just once, even if she was caught off guard and sent flying, Big Mom had plenty of means to stabilize the situation.
However, it was not just once! A total of eight times, each punch was more fierce than the last, relying on the explosive speed of his Thunder-Lightning Human form, which ignored physical damage, and didn't give Big Mom a chance to catch her breath.
Even the opportunity that Moscato fought for her only slightly extended the time before she was severely injured.
Unless facing head-on Rowen's Thunder God Eight Gates Cannon, one wouldn't understand the destructive power carried by those fists.
It was just like the endless waves in a tempest, he wouldn't stop until he crushed his opponent.
It's the perfect combination of power and speed, skill and artistry!
"I can't keep taking hits like this, otherwise, if he doesn't tire out, I'll be the one getting killed!"
Big Mom gritted her teeth in determination, enduring the excruciating pain of her injuries as she stood up.
"Hmm?!"
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine, and Big Mom looked down at her shattered abdomen, blood and flesh flying everywhere, her fingers trembling slightly.
"This!!!"
"Let the myth of Totto Land end here!"
From a distance far away from Big Mom, Rowen breathed heavily, calming the restless killing intent in his heart.
A cathartic explosion of punches had satisfied his thunderous will, but the intense expenditure of stamina left Rowen in a weakened state. However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he now had better control over his Awakened power.
As he stabilized his own strength, Rowen raised his hand, looking at the grotesque mass of flesh in his palm, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Without a womb, what will you use to bear children, Big Mom?"
Why not aim for the head? First, there was no guarantee it would kill her; human skulls are inherently tough, not to mention Big Mom's "Steel Balloon" resilience.
Secondly, what made Totto Land most formidable to the Marines was their unbreakable bond formed by bloodlines. Even if Big Mom were to die, this bond would spawn more wicked sins!
When Rowen and Sengoku initially discussed letting Katakuri go, it was to plant a thorn in this unbreakable bond of bloodlines.
So Rowen's Thunder God Eight Gates Cannon, aside from necessary feints, all aimed directly at Big Mom's lower abdomen.
There was only one purpose.
"Heh heh heh, next, your offspring. Kill one, lose one!"
Gazing at Cake Island, which had been pockmarked by the Drums of Heaven baptism, Rowen smiled wickedly.
This is the true face of Marine's Soryu!
Powerful, yet ruthless!
He wasn't the embodiment of evil who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, but he certainly wasn't a shining beacon of justice either!
If given the chance, Rowen wouldn't mind being a bit more devious with his methods.
(End of this chapter)