"That's right!"
The Golden Lion nodded.
"This technique can only be mastered by the top warriors of the sea."
"In this world, Devil Fruit abilities are just tools. Only Haki can truly dominate everything!"
"Huh?" Kai tilted his head at this. Didn't Teacher Kaido say something similar?
While his thoughts raced, the Golden Lion called out, "Boy, show me your strength! Prove that you're worthy of standing at the top of the world!"
"You'll see it!" Kai grinned, grabbing his staff and charging at the Golden Lion.
"Hahaha... Come on, boy!"
...
Some time later~
"Agh!"
Kai spat out a mouthful of blood, using his staff to keep himself upright. His body was riddled with deep wounds, blood pooling beneath him. His minor injuries had healed, but the deeper wounds had taken their toll. His recovery abilities were no longer enough to sustain him.
He was on the verge of collapse, his vision fading, and his stamina almost gone.
On the other hand, the Golden Lion bore only a few fresh cuts on top of the damage Kai had inflicted earlier—none too severe. But his breathing was labored. The intensity of the battle, combined with pulling out the rudder in his head, had pushed him to the brink of death.
The overwhelming difference in their strength became clear to Kai—he still had a long way to go to reach the level of the world's strongest.
But...
A smirk crept across Kai's face. He had gained something invaluable.
Straightening up with difficulty, Kai grinned at the Golden Lion, saying, "Of all the teachers I've had, you definitely rank near the top."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" The Golden Lion was puzzled by Kai's sudden comment.
Without responding, Kai lifted his staff, his movements slow but deliberate. Slowly, black and red lightning began to dance around it.
The Golden Lion's eyes widened in disbelief. "You've mastered Conqueror's Haki infusion?"
"Thanks to you, I unlocked it by sheer luck!" Kai replied, finally understanding why Luffy and others often broke through during near-death battles. The greater the challenge, the greater the opportunity for growth.
The Golden Lion's expression shifted—part surprise, part regret. After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Your talent far surpasses mine. But... I won't go easy on you for that."
"Good. I wouldn't want it any other way," Kai grinned, showing his bloodstained teeth. "This next attack will be my last. After that, I won't be able to keep fighting. Old lion, don't die on me!"
"Hahaha! Come at me, boy! Show me what you've got!" The Golden Lion laughed heartily.
Kai stopped talking. Mustering the last of his strength, he raised his staff high, Conqueror's Haki swirling around it in black and red lightning bolts.
In an instant, Kai shot forward, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. He swung his staff down with all his might.
"Sky-Splitter!"
The Golden Lion reacted just as quickly, and his two sword-leg blades clashed with Kai's staff in mid-air.
Boom!
Their weapons didn't touch directly, but the sheer force of their clash created a powerful shockwave, shaking the entire battlefield. The already devastated land was torn apart even more.
For a few moments, they held their ground. Then, suddenly, blood poured from the Golden Lion's mouth.
"Can't hold on anymore, old lion?" Kai taunted.
"You're one to talk, boy. How much strength do you have left?" the Golden Lion shot back, before suddenly unleashing another burst of energy.
Kai's eyes widened—he hadn't expected the Golden Lion to have anything left. The sudden surge of power sent Kai flying.
The world blurred around him as Kai hurtled through the air. He didn't stop until he slammed into the ground over ten kilometers away, a fresh wave of blood spurting from his mouth.
Kai felt drained, dizzy from blood loss. In any other fight, this amount of bleeding would've killed him several times over.
Lifting his head with great effort, he saw the Golden Lion slowly drifting toward him. Kai couldn't help but let out a strained chuckle.
"That old guy's still standing strong."
Kai calculated the time—only ten minutes had passed since the Golden Lion removed the rudder, and in that short time, Kai had been pushed to his limits.
His body was a mess of deep wounds, countless broken bones, and slashed flesh. He had nothing left to give. His consciousness flickered, but he knew he couldn't afford to black out yet. If he did, it was over.
Holding on to the last shred of awareness, Kai prepared to call for his Cloud Rider—his only chance of escape. If he didn't retreat, he'd surely die here.
But before he could act, the sound of something hitting the ground reached his ears. Kai looked up and saw the Golden Lion had collapsed, lying on the ground, his life force quickly fading.
Seeing this, Kai abandoned the idea of fleeing. Instead, he let out a weak laugh.
"I won this fight!"
"That's right, kid, you've won."
Kai hadn't truly overpowered the Golden Lion, but the situation was clear—Kai was gravely injured, and the Golden Lion was on the verge of death.
So, in the end, Kai had won.
However, the Golden Lion's sudden voice startled Kai, nearly making him want to run again.
"Boy, go on and stand at the top of the world. You're the man who defeated the Golden Lion! Hahaha..."
The laughter grew weaker and weaker, until it finally faded completely.
The legendary Golden Lion had met his end.
Hearing those final words, a smile formed on Kai's face.
"I will."
With that, Kai's body finally gave in. His vision blurred, and he lost consciousness.
After some time~
The noise from the battle had long since ceased, and a group of people arrived at the scene.
Luffy and his crew were at the front, frantically searching for signs of Kai.
The other pirates who followed them stared in awe at the destruction surrounding them, swallowing hard.
"Is this... really something a human could do?"
Before them lay what was left of half of Gaya Island, a landscape completely transformed by the battle.
While the pirates marveled, Luffy and the others found what they were looking for.
"Kai!" Luffy shouted, running toward the bloodied Kai lying in a crater.
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That was epic and i feel sad that he died man.
Power Stones would be appreciated if you liked the story.