On Onigashima Island, aside from the final showdown between the captains, the "Cross Family" completely overwhelmed the "Beasts Pirates."
To outsiders, this might seem unbelievable. But for Kahn, it was all according to plan.
How long had Kahn been preparing for this battle?
Ever since he entered the Grand Line, Kahn had his eyes set on the three nations: Dressrosa, Amazon Lily, and Wano.
In other words, Kahn had been preparing for this moment since 1503.
It took Kahn eight years to surpass the "Beasts Pirates" in terms of low-end, mid-range, and high-end combat power.
Years ago, the "Cross Family" was already capable of waging war against the "Beasts Pirates."
But Kahn didn't capitalize on his victories back then, allowing Kaido to catch his breath.
Because, at that time, Kahn knew he couldn't defeat Kaido.
The power of the super strong is strategic in nature.
Even if all your troops are defeated, as long as your superpower triumphs and the enemy has no way to counter it, victory is yours.
In the original story, if Luffy hadn't unlocked Gear Fifth at the last moment and defeated Kaido, the forces of Wano, along with the alliance of the Worst Generation, would have been wiped out by Kaido.
Similarly, in the current battle, Kaido's only chance for a comeback lies in the final duel.
If he can't defeat Kahn, the New World won't have the Four Emperors anymore, but instead, the rule of three monsters will continue.
But the three monsters won't be Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido anymore.
Instead, it will be Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Cross Kahn.
Kaido, who has lost everything, no longer deserves the title of Emperor of the Sea.
As the dust and mist cleared, the sky over Onigashima darkened.
At this moment, Kahn had reverted from his massive dragon form to his normal human state.
Standing opposite him was the newly-crowned Emperor of the Sea—Kaido, standing seven meters tall, covered in blue scales, with a tail on his back, wielding a mace called Hassaikai and radiating an overwhelming aura of malice. He was known as the Governor of the Beasts—Kaido.
"Boy, where are you taking King?"
Unable to catch up with Hancock, who had teleported using the electric field, Kaido's menacing eyes were fixed on Kahn as he asked in a deep voice.
"I'll give him two choices."
Kahn didn't hold back, responding with a light smile: "One, serve me obediently. Or two, become a test subject for our scientific team."
"You really know about King's origins!"
Kaido's tone grew even darker, and dark red lightning began to crackle around the mace in his hand.
"Of course, there's also a third outcome..."
Kahn's red eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to provoke Kaido: "You beat me, or...kill me!"
"You don't need to tell me that. I'll do it anyway—Boom!"
As Kaido's murderous words echoed, his seven-meter-tall frame, weighing hundreds of kilograms, suddenly crushed the ground beneath him and turned into a massive blur as he charged straight at Kahn.
In response, Kahn also charged forward.
In just a few blinks, the two figures—one tall and one short, one big and one small—collided head-on.
—
*Boom!*
A deafening, thrilling explosion echoed from the rooftop of Onigashima.
Kahn's fists and Kaido's Hassaikai clashed, but their weapons didn't actually make contact. Instead, as they approached within ten centimetres of each other, an invisible force emerged between them, releasing energy from another dimension and keeping their fists and weapons from touching.
This invisible substance acted like a magnet, drawing in all of Kahn and Kaido's Haki.
As it absorbed their Haki, the invisible force transformed it into a powerful wind, creating waves of energy that radiated outward from Kahn and Kaido, spreading across the entire rooftop of Onigashima.
In an instant, the shockwave covered the entire area.
*Zizizi...*
As Kahn and Kaido continued to pour more Haki into their clash, the invisible force between them grew smaller and more concentrated.
At the same time, an invisible pillar of energy shot into the sky, accompanied by dark red lightning crackling through the air.
In the sky, already filled with storm clouds, a massive rift appeared, as if the heavens themselves were being torn apart. This vision spread across the entire island and over Wano.
Witnessing this, the citizens of Wano were terrified, falling to the ground in fear.
But those who had mastered Haki stood dumbfounded, filled with horror. They could sense the immense power of Conqueror's infusion within the rift.
What kind of clash could create such a terrifying vision?
"What Master called an air strike, is this the Conqueror's infusion that the truly powerful must master?" Hancock, who was holding King and teleporting towards Wano, stared at the massive rift in the sky, determination in her eyes. "I will definitely master this power and help Master eliminate all obstacles!"
The reason why even the strongest are divided into levels is due to the gap in overall strength.
It's simple.
Those who master advanced techniques in both Armament Haki and Observation Haki are undoubtedly stronger than those who only master one.
Likewise, someone who has mastered Conqueror's infusion is definitely stronger than someone who has only mastered advanced techniques in the other two forms of Haki.
Without Conqueror's Haki, one cannot master Conqueror's infusion.
Facing someone who has mastered Conqueror's infusion, one must, like Hancock, possess power from another dimension that rivals advanced Haki to be on equal footing—or even to win.
Hancock, who has mastered the Thunder Thunder fruit, is now among the elite, rivalling the strength of the three Admirals who have not mastered Conqueror's infusion but have command over two dimensions of power.
Once she masters Future Sight in Observation Haki and Conqueror's infusion, Hancock will be among the top-tier powerhouses, akin to Silvers Rayleigh.
And at just 26 years old, Hancock is full of confidence in her future.
The rift in the sky lingered for a long time before finally dissipating.
On the rooftop of Onigashima, Kahn and Kaido's clash lasted only a minute or two.
Looking at Kahn, who was also surrounded by dark red lightning, Kaido's murderous intent and anger suddenly faded, replaced by a ferocious and excited smile on his dragon-scaled face. "You really have mastered this power!"
"Thanks to your lesson, I was able to grasp this power so quickly, Emperor."
Kahn grinned in return. "If it weren't for your attack back then, I wouldn't have realized that Conqueror's Haki could be infused."
"Is that where your confidence comes from, daring to challenge me?"
"Exactly, that's right!"
"Then let's fight to our heart's content—Kahn!"
"I'll see this through to the end!"
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