On the sea, the two who thought they couldn't stop Kaido looked up in horror at the majestic giant beast that kept falling, their ability to speak lost.
"Hundred Beasts" Kaido was actually sent flying back with a single strike?!!
"How did he do it?!!" Akainu's mouth hung agape in disbelief.
Is it that you've gotten stronger, Rowen, or is it that I, Akainu, can't lift my sword anymore?
Facing Kaido's fierce assault, not only was he unharmed, but he even managed to knock him back.
What kind of principle is this?!!
"Now is not the time to think about this. Retreat quickly!" Aokiji's voice rang out, and in the next moment, the two instantly put distance between themselves, moving away from the area covered by the falling behemoth.
Boom!!!
Hong Long!
The massive dragon's body crashed onto the ice surface of the sea like being driven into a nail plate, deeply embedded. Blood poured out like raindrops, staining the swirling seawater and ice fragments with a vivid red hue.
"Roar!!!"
The dragon's body thrashed wildly, its tail swinging to shatter the ice layer, which was as hard as steel, resembling a fish out of water, constantly wriggling.
Wild Haoshoku Haki surged like thunder, and with each roll, it shattered the ice layer into pieces. On the dragon's forehead, Thunder Cloud Sword, which appeared minuscule compared to the dragon's body, was lodged in its bones, causing Kaido to grow even more frenzied from the pain!
Aokiji was utterly astonished. He reached up to touch the warm liquid on his face and said in amazement, "Kaido is injured?"
Rowen, actually managing to injure Kaido?!!
Where did this incredible tale come from?!
But the scent of rust at the tip of his nose couldn't be faked; this was indeed Kaido's blood.
"What are you standing around for?!" Suddenly, Akainu surged forward through a magma channel, his clenched fist swinging ruthlessly toward the struggling Kaido.
Meigo – Nether Hound!!
Bang!!!
"Wu Wa!!!"
At this moment, a flash of fire on the ice, which Akainu should have rushed into, ruthlessly spewed out a large puddle of blood. He was sent flying backward!
"You were too careless!"
Aokiji furrowed his brows tightly, waving his hand to summon an ice wall to catch Akainu's falling body. Then, he turned towards the shadow, solemnly raising his hand.
The colossal body continued to shrink, and a god-like figure emerged from the smoke.
"Hughes Moore… Even in death, you still oppose me!!"
The icy voice, as cold as squeezed through the gap between teeth, sent shivers down the spine. Only then did Aokiji notice that the figure had grabbed Thunder Cloud, which was constantly flickering with an electric light on its forehead, and, under Aokiji's cyan gaze, forcefully twisted it outward.
Crack… Boom!!
A heart-wrenching scene unfolded!
The half-length sword, which had been inserted into his forehead for who knows how many centimeters, instantly snapped in half!
The Thunder Cloud Sword emitted a clear and visible dragon's mournful cry, exploding on the spot!
This famed blade, which had already been reforged after being broken and had undergone several high-intensity battles after being notched by "Red Hair" Shanks, now, after being launched twice as a Super Electromagnetic Cannon, finally couldn't bear the strain!
Ding liu liu…
A sapphire gem was flung and fell to Aokiji's side. He picked it up, his pupils contracting as he held it tightly in his palm.
"This is… the gem from Rowen's sword! I see!"
If it was the Super Electromagnetic Cannon, then injuring Kaido wasn't surprising…
But it's still not enough!
Standing up, Aokiji solemnly put the gem back into his waist pouch and half of his body was shrouded in Ice Mass.
The Super Electromagnetic Cannon only managed to injure Kaido; it was far from being fatal!
"Ah!!!!"
A painful wail followed, and Kaido clenched the half of the sword blade in both hands, staring with fierce pupils as he ruthlessly yanked it out!
Ding Lang Lang!
A pungent and bloody red splattered through the air. Kaido threw away the blade in his hand, covering his forehead with his right hand, his face covered in bloodstains, looking like a wicked demon.
"But the one who will survive is only me!!!"
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!"
The extremely savage laughter echoed in the sky and earth, dispersing the dark clouds and stirring up the waves.
Under this supremely ferocious aura, there was silence in the world. Everyone endured the Haki impact that struck directly at their hearts. Even Admiral Aokiji's face was solemn, and he had to put aside thoughts of attack to focus on resisting.
"It seems you've discovered something incredible!"
At this moment, along with the surging electric currents, a tall figure appeared beside Aokiji. Kaido's Haoshoku Haki, which could interfere with reality, struck Rowen, but it didn't even cause a ripple.
Aokiji looked at him in astonishment, shocked that he could maintain his composure in the face of Kaido's Haoshoku Haki.
But thinking back to when Rowen had treated Red Hair's Haoshoku with indifference, all of this made sense…
Yeah right!
"Don't you feel anything?!"
Aokiji widened his eyes as he looked at him.
"I do, but aren't I someone who can't die? Do you think the intimidation of the 'Will' has any meaning to me?"
Aokiji remained silent upon hearing those words.
Indeed, no matter what kind of intimidating power it was, it ultimately served to overcome the enemy.
To serve the purpose of killing!
And Rowen, who didn't even know how to kill himself, this fearless Rowen, Kaido's Haoshoku Haki, what did it mean to him?
"I envy you, Rowen. I can't comprehend this feeling…"
Rowen shrugged, taking out the Thunder Gem from Aokiji's pocket, his eyes filled with a sense of lament, "In the end, it still broke, huh? Thunder Cloud Sword…"
He had long had this premonition, after all, no matter how well the Thunder Gem protected Thunder Cloud Sword, there was always a limit to the weapon.
But a person's potential was boundless!
It was regrettable that Thunder Cloud Sword had shattered. This tortured famed blade had still failed to avoid its inevitable fate. The Thunder Gem was now dull and it was as if it had lost its luster due to destruction.
However, Rowen could sense a hint of new, vigorous vitality incubating within the Thunder Gem. Wasn't it said that every carb in the pond has the potential to become a dragon when faced with a crisis? The Thunder Cloud Sword Gem needed time to rest before it could bloom brightly again.
Boom! Rumble!
Suddenly, Kaido stopped laughing, his face as black as ink, his body enveloped in a visible, intense Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki). His gaze locked onto Rowen.
"Is it you? The descendant of Hughes Moore?"
"The descendant of Hughes Moore?"
Rowen was momentarily taken aback, and it took him a while to recall that this was the name that appeared on the note he found when he retrieved Thunder Cloud Sword in Hell Island from the White Snake Belly.
Thunderous Sword Hero, Hughes Moore… a name that couldn't even be found in the Marine Headquarters database, was actually spoken by Kaido?
Rowen felt that he might be able to unravel the mystery of Thunder Cloud Sword. What was the power that made Kaido defenseless?
From…
Kaido himself!
"Don't go around saying things like 'Descendant.' It's widely known that I don't even qualify as a swordsman…"
Rowen raised an eyebrow and sighed as he spoke, "But I'm curious about who he is. It seems like you have a grudge against him?"
"No grudge!"
"No resentment?"
"No resentment!"
"If there's no resentment or grudge, why do you hate him so much?"
The broken Thunder Cloud Sword lay next to Kaido. The wound on his forehead wasn't deep. Since he couldn't die anyway, he could easily pull it out. Yet, he chose to use this cruel method of breaking it.
"Because he blocked my path!" Kaido snorted, his face suddenly ferocious as he spoke, "Hughes Moore, Dragon, Vegapunk… and you!"
"One after another, clowns jumping out to block my way!!"
"I'll kill all of you!!"
This statement from Kaido wasn't directed at anyone in particular; it sounded more like he was talking to himself, firming up his own stance.
In an instant, Aokiji sensed a strong sense of danger and tried to throw Rowen away. However, at this moment, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, completely enveloping Kaido!
The scorching electric current didn't cause him even the slightest harm, but the ice beneath his feet instantly melted.
"No good!" Kaido was shocked in an instant and tried to move from his spot.
He exerted force to step, but suddenly, the Ice Mass dissipated directly, causing him to lose his balance. With a "Bang," he fell into the sea.
The electric current had split in two, with one part pressing down on Kaido, and the other part had already disintegrated the ice from within! His footstep felt like it had landed on flimsy paper. Not only did it fail to generate any counterforce, it actually accelerated his descent.
"You bastard!!!"
Kaido's unwilling roar was drowned out by the thunder as a stream of crimson heat spewed from his mouth. The seawater was only slightly dispersed, and then, driven by gravity, it surged in from all directions.
Gurgle…
The majestic lightning pillar only lasted for less than a second. Afterward, Rowen abruptly retracted it, preventing it from exploding.
In the calm after the storm, the seawater automatically healed.
"A fight isn't a turn-based event. You can't even see through such an obvious tactic to delay for time. No wonder you're so tough but mindless…"
Having monstrous stamina wasn't enough, he had to rely on Intelligence!
Not only was Kaido caught off guard, but even Aokiji and Akainu, who had just caught their breath and were standing up while clutching their wounds, were caught off guard!
They naturally assumed that Kaido would launch a terrifying finishing move against Rowen next, but they didn't expect Rowen to take the initiative and launch a deadly attack!
Aokiji stared blankly with his mouth wide open as he looked at the completely melted ice, revealing a deep ocean trench below.
"Where's Kaido???"
Is it over just like this?!!!
"He fell into the sea. Must be out of his mind…"
"The power of the Super Electromagnetic Cannon was so fierce that it shattered the surrounding seawater, giving him the strength to burst out in Dragon form. But I controlled the power to push him into the depths of the ocean. I don't believe he can still climb up!"
A chilling smirk hung on Rowen's face as he spoke. He casually pulled out a cigar from his pocket and lit it, taking a leisurely drag.
"As a Logia user, targeting the weaknesses of Devil Fruit Ability users, there aren't too many methods. Where did this fool get the confidence to wage war against the Marines?!"
Aokiji: "…"
Akainu: "…"
I understand the reasoning, but why do I feel like there's more to your words?
(End of this chapter)
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