As the ground rumbled beneath him, the island of ghosts slowly returned to an eerie calm.
The remaining soldiers of the Beasts Pirates, having retreated to a safe distance, watched with bated breath. They dared not make a sound, their eyes glued to the spot where Kaido had stood moments ago.
Kaido was nowhere to be seen.
In his place, a massive dragon-shaped crater stretched deep into the earth, too dark to discern its depths.
"Is... is Boss Kaido gone?" one pirate whispered, his voice trembling.
"Did... did he lose?"
"Can a human really have this kind of power?"
The uncertainty rippled through them, growing into full-blown fear. No one dared to answer. They had never seen Kaido, their invincible leader, suffer such a blow.
Finn, who had just unleashed the devastating power of the Xixiang Fifth Speed, stood nearby, drenched in sweat and feeling the aftereffects of his attack. His body had been pushed to its limits, but even as he sealed off the Eight Gates to avoid further damage, one question lingered in his mind: Was Kaido injured?
Kaido, the "Strongest Creature in the World," bore only one scar, a wound inflicted by Kozuki Oden with his legendary weapon. Could Finn's assault, with all its overwhelming force, have left a mark on such a formidable beast?
Driven by curiosity, Finn clapped his hands together and performed the Advanced Multiplication Technique, multiplying his size a thousandfold in an instant.
The ground shook as his colossal form loomed overhead, towering nearly 2,000 meters tall. The Beasts Pirates, who had thought themselves safe at a distance, panicked and began to flee once again, realizing that even miles away was not far enough to escape the reach of this giant.
Finn, now massive, crouched down and placed his hands into the earth, like a child searching for buried treasure. He felt something solid—a familiar, dragon-shaped body.
With a firm grip, he yanked Kaido from the ground.
The once-mighty dragon was limp in his grasp. Kaido's eyes were glazed over, rolling in their sockets as stars danced across his vision. He had been knocked out cold by Finn's attack.
"Still alive," Finn muttered, turning Kaido over to inspect him. Despite the devastating force of his Xixiang Fifth Speed, Kaido bore no visible wounds.
For most, a blow like that would mean instant death. But Kaido? He just looked like he was taking a nap. "What is this guy made of?"
As Finn held Kaido by the tail, he swung the dragon through the air, like a child with a toy. After gaining enough momentum, he hurled Kaido toward the ground with full force.
Boom!
Kaido's massive head smashed into the earth, leaving yet another enormous crater. The shockwave of the impact shook the island.
Suddenly, Kaido's eyes shot open, blazing with rage. "You little bastard! I'll tear you apart!"
Finn froze for a second, staring in disbelief. His "Kaido Whip" hadn't knocked Kaido out again—instead, it had brought him back to full consciousness.
"What kind of monster is this guy?"
Kaido's furious roar echoed through the island as he rose, eyes burning with murderous intent. His dragon form surged with power as lightning flickered around his horns, ready to unleash its fury.
Knowing he had pushed Kaido too far, Finn didn't stick around. "No way I'm letting you fry me!" he muttered.
In a flash, he activated the Advanced Shave Technique, zipping around Kaido's massive form. As he ran, he grabbed the dragon's tail again, pulling it through a loop to tie Kaido's long body in a tight knot.
"ARGHHHH!" Kaido howled in pain as his insides twisted. His dragon breath, which had been gathering to unleash a powerful attack, fizzled out as the agony overwhelmed him.
But worse than the pain was the humiliation. The mighty Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, knotted like a pretzel by an opponent. If word got out, it would be a humiliation talked about across the seas.
"You're dead, boy!" Kaido roared, his fury building. A surge of lightning arced from his horns, ready to explode.
"Oh no you don't!" Finn growled. Without hesitation, he grabbed Kaido again and hurled him straight back into the crater.
The lightning crackled around Kaido as he hit the ground, sinking deeper into the earth. Even as Kaido roared his defiance, the island shook with his rage, but Finn had no intention of sticking around any longer.
"Haha! Good luck with that! Find me at the Naval Headquarters next time if you want more!" Finn taunted, quickly making his escape.
The battle had been exhilarating, but there was no point in continuing. As tough as Kaido was, Finn couldn't break through his defenses. And with his body drained from the Eight Gates technique, he had no desire to prolong a fight that had no clear end in sight.
As Finn made his exit, the voice of the system chimed in his mind.
"Ding! Please choose..."