The chaos of the battlefield had reached a fever pitch. Kikidori's body trembled as he stood, pale and sweating, his sword dripping with the blood of countless enemies. Despite the fever ravaging his body, his eyes burned with unyielding determination. Every breath he took was shallow and labored, but he refused to fall.
The screams of pirates and Marines filled the air, blending with the sound of gunfire and clashing blades. Marco soared through the skies in his phoenix form, his blue flames illuminating the battlefield as he fought valiantly against a relentless tide of enemies.
"Kikidori! Behind you!" Zoro's voice cut through the chaos.
Kikidori turned, barely managing to block an incoming strike. The sheer force of the blow sent him skidding back, his feet digging into the dirt. He gritted his teeth, pushing back with all his strength.
"I'm not going down here," Kikidori growled, forcing his opponent back with a powerful slash.
But just as Kikidori began to regain his footing, a pirate lunged at him from the side, their blade gleaming with malicious intent. Kikidori's eyes widened—he had no time to react.
The sound of metal piercing flesh echoed in his ears, but the pain never came. Instead, Kikidori felt a warm spray of blood against his face. His heart dropped as he turned his head.
"Raiko…"
Raiko stood between Kikidori and the pirate, the blade buried deep in his chest. Blood poured from the wound, staining his tattered clothes. Despite the agony etched across his face, Raiko managed a weak smile.
"I told you…" Raiko rasped, his voice barely audible. "I'd surpass you one day… Guess this is how I do it…"
The pirate withdrew their blade, and Raiko collapsed to the ground. Kikidori caught him before he hit the dirt, cradling him in his arms.
"Raiko! No!" Kikidori's voice cracked, the weight of the moment crushing him. He shook Raiko gently, as if trying to wake him from a deep sleep. "You idiot! Why did you do that?! I didn't need saving!"
Raiko's eyes fluttered open, his breathing shallow. "Guess… I couldn't let you go down before me," he said with a weak chuckle. "You're my rival, Kikidori. Can't have… anyone else taking you out."
Tears streamed down Kikidori's face, mixing with the dirt and blood that smeared his skin. "Don't talk like that! You're gonna be fine! Ere'ana will fix you up, just hang on!"
Raiko's hand weakly reached up, gripping Kikidori's arm. His eyes, once filled with determination, began to dim. "I… I never got to pass you…"
With those final words, Raiko's hand fell limp.
"Raiko… Raiko!" Kikidori's voice was hoarse as he shook his fallen comrade, but there was no response. Raiko was gone.
The world around Kikidori seemed to blur. The sounds of the battlefield faded, replaced by the deafening silence of his grief. His body shook as he stared down at Raiko's lifeless form.
"This is my fault…" Kikidori whispered, his voice barely audible. "If I'd been stronger… If I wasn't so weak…"
A sudden roar brought Kikidori back to the present. Pirates and Marines continued to clash all around him, their greed and hatred fueling the carnage. The sight of it all ignited something deep within Kikidori—a rage that burned hotter than any fever.
"You'll pay for this," Kikidori growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Every single one of you."
Kikidori stood, his body trembling not from illness, but from fury. He closed his eyes, tapping into the power of his Devil Fruit. His form began to change, his body elongating as scales replaced skin.
When his eyes opened again, they were those of a serpent—cold, calculating, and filled with unrelenting wrath. Kikidori had activated his Zoan form, transforming into a massive snake that towered over the battlefield. His scales glinted like black diamonds, and his fangs dripped with venom.
The battlefield fell silent for a brief moment as everyone turned to face the monstrous serpent.
"What… What the hell is that?!" a pirate shouted, his voice trembling with fear.
Kikidori didn't give them time to process. With a single swipe of his massive tail, he sent dozens of pirates and Marines flying. His movements were swift and precise, every strike fueled by his grief and anger.
"You took Raiko from me," Kikidori hissed, his voice echoing like thunder. "Now I'll take everything from you!"
Pirates and Marines alike fled in terror, but there was no escaping Kikidori's wrath. He tore through the battlefield with a ferocity that left even the most seasoned warriors trembling. His fangs sank into enemies, his coils crushed those who couldn't escape, and his tail leveled anything in its path.
But even as he unleashed his rage, Kikidori's mind was consumed by memories of Raiko. His laughter, his determination, his dream of surpassing Kikidori—all of it flashed before his eyes.
"Raiko…" Kikidori whispered, his voice breaking. "I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."
As the sun set over Laugh Tale, the battlefield was left in ruins. Kikidori stood amidst the carnage, his massive form casting a shadow over the destruction. His body was battered, his energy nearly spent, but his resolve burned brighter than ever.
Raiko was gone, but his spirit lived on in Kikidori. And as long as Kikidori drew breath, he would fight to honor his fallen comrade's memory.
End of Chapter 102