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A gentle sea breeze fluttered the sails as the Endless Dream sailed slowly across the calm, white sea. On the second deck, a large shadow cast a cool shade, blocking the hot sunlight.
The prototype robot knelt with one knee on the deck, half of its shoulder shattered, exposing the sizzling circuits and broken steel components inside.
It had nearly been destroyed by a single Heat Breath from Kaido, showing that the robot's resilience was commendable considering the opponent's strength.
Intense pain coursed through Zyhark's body as he woke from his near-death state, struggling to open his eyes.
The first sight that greeted him was Aqua's worried face framed by her blue hair. King and Meowth's concerned faces soon came into view, along with the damaged prototype robot, all blocking the sky from his vision.
A warm, soft sensation pressed against the back of his head; he was resting on Aqua's lap.
"Hiss, I... survived?"
Zyhark's last memory was of Kaido descending from above, executing the terrifying technique. He recalled Aqua and the others attacking Kaido as he fell. But what happened afterward, and where Kaido went, was a blank.
"Waaah, Zyhark! Thank goodness you're awake, you bastard!" Aqua, usually so haughty, had tears streaming down her face, her expression full of joy.
When they found him in the White Sea below, Zyhark was covered in blood and barely clinging to life. Unsure if her resurrection magic would work, Aqua used ordinary healing spells and Zyhark's formidable resilience to pull him back from the brink after more than half an hour of treatment.
"Aqua, where's Kaido?" Zyhark asked as he struggled to sit up, his expression serious. He assumed the background and challenge he mentioned to Kaido might have influenced the Yonko's departure.
"Kaido? That guy ran off because King scared him," Aqua replied nonchalantly.
"What?!" Zyhark's eyes widened in shock.
"Although I didn't understand King's speech, after that, Kaido did leave, nya," Meowth chimed in, waving a paw, recalling King standing bravely at the bow, facing off against Kaido.
Zyhark was even more confused. He knew King's real strength and doubted that fifty kilograms was King's limit. Did King's luck and presence actually intimidate Kaido?
Feeling embarrassed by Aqua and Meowth's praise, King scratched his head and explained, "Zyhark, actually..."
When Kaido destroyed the island and Zyhark with his attack, Aqua's Holy Water Creation spell rained down, forcing the Devil Fruit user Kaido to dodge, allowing Meowth to rescue the unconscious Zyhark with the prototype robot, sacrificing half the shoulder to Kaido's Heat Breath.
Just as Kaido transformed back into his dragon form to attack the Endless Dream, King stood at the bow, facing the dragon with a calm demeanor. The sound of the King Engine echoed, rivaling Kaido's Conqueror's Haki.
Fearful but determined, King explained why fighting wasn't advisable, using scientific jargon about atmospheric composition and environmental destruction. Kaido, unable to understand but feeling challenged, eventually smiled and decided to postpone their confrontation, acknowledging King's words.
Kaido left, intrigued by the potential growth of Zyhark, sparing them for now. Zyhark, relieved, thought the ordeal was over until Aqua's complaint made him tense again.
"Zyhark, King is strong, but he's too honest! He didn't even know our restaurant's rules!" Aqua huffed, proudly saying she made Kaido promise to pay before leaving.
"Did he pay?" Zyhark asked, feeling a headache coming on.
"No, he said he didn't have money and would be back in half an hour," Aqua replied, confident in her divine intuition.
"Aqua, did you really believe that? He's Kaido!" Zyhark exclaimed, but Aqua remained confident, thinking she had outsmarted him.
Suddenly, Zyhark sensed a powerful presence approaching rapidly. A black-winged figure with flaming wings descended onto the ship, transforming into a tall man in black armor and a mask—King of the Wildfire, Kaido's right-hand man.
"You're the sea restaurant Kaido mentioned? He sent me to bring the money," King said, tossing a bag of Berries to Aqua.
"You're really cautious, Kaido doesn't want to face King again, huh?" Aqua said, taking the money.
King, noting the name similarity, examined King closely, recognizing him as the famous East Blue hero from recent news. He refrained from attacking, respecting Kaido's wishes, and flew back to Onigashima, leaving the Endless Dream in peace.
As King flew away, he found Kaido on Onigashima, confronting Yamato, who had eaten the Okuchi-no-Makami fruit. Their Conqueror's Haki clashed, knocking out onlookers.
"Damn it, Kaido! You're really mad over one fruit?" Yamato yelled, brandishing her kanabo.
"It's a rare Mythical Zoan, not meant for you!" Kaido roared, though his anger was more show than real.
"Becoming Kozuki Oden is my dream!" Yamato retorted, her spirit unyielding.
Kaido, seeing Yamato's determination, couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and grudging respect.
If Zyhark had seen this, he would have found a kindred spirit in Yamato, ready to cleanse her of her misguided hero worship.
(End of Chapter)