"Dangdangdang!!!"
"Zizzi chirp!!!"
"Crackling!!!"
The clash between the two intensified. Each strike grew heavier, each movement faster, and their weapons collided dozens of times in mere moments. Blades flashed and shadows danced, their weapons carving slashes into the surrounding treasures—gold and silver ornaments, once pristine, now marred by the ferocity of their battle.
"You bastard, your strength… it's stronger than before!" Silver Axe snarled. His strikes, once unstoppable, were now blocked—again and again—by Kaito.
Silver Axe's mind raced. He'd witnessed Kaito face off against the infamous Golden Lion. Back then, Silver Axe had considered Kaito competent but unremarkable, a warrior he could overwhelm with a single focused blow. Even when Kaito had clashed with Garp, resulting in a shockwave that shook the entire back hill, Silver Axe had dismissed it as mere noise, not a true indication of strength.
But now, faced with Kaito's growing power, he felt doubt creeping in. This Kaito, who had only recently joined the Rocks Pirates, had grown far beyond Silver Axe's expectations.
"How could you have improved so much in such a short time?!" Silver Axe growled. The idea seemed impossible. Rocks himself, the captain they all respected and feared, had taken notice of Kaito's potential. But even then, how could someone's strength skyrocket this rapidly?
"You've stagnated since your last defeat at Captain Rocks' hands," Kaito said calmly. His tone only infuriated Silver Axe further. It was true, Silver Axe was still in a period of growth, his own strength increasing steadily. After all, he was destined to become a notorious pirate in the New World. Yet compared to Kaito's meteoric rise, his own progress seemed slow, almost insignificant.
"You want to die, don't you?" Silver Axe spat, unleashing a vicious onslaught. His attacks were sharp, relentless, each swing infused with years of combat experience and mastery of Haki. Kaito, talented though he was, found himself under immense pressure, forced to retreat again and again.
"You're done for!" Silver Axe's lips curled into a sneer. Kaito, who had been holding his own just moments before, was now on the defensive, his back literally against the wall of the storage room.
"See? I told you Captain Silver Axe would crush him," one of Silver Axe's men muttered.
"Yeah, that kid's talented, but he's just a rookie crew member. He can't possibly match a seasoned cadre like Captain Silver Axe."
"Look at him now—he's being pushed back. There's no way he'll last much longer," another chimed in.
Silver Axe's subordinates, who had been growing nervous as the fight dragged on, now felt reassured. The gap between a mere crew member and a veteran officer, in their eyes, was too vast. No matter how promising Kaito was, he was still young and inexperienced.
"Let's end this!" Silver Axe roared. Channeling all his strength and Haki, he brought his axe down in a devastating strike. Kaito barely managed to block, his blade held high above his head. The force sent him hurtling back, smashing into the storage room's wall.
"Kaito, hand over the Devil Fruit!" Silver Axe demanded, advancing slowly. "This is your last chance. If you keep resisting, you'll only get hurt." He tried to sound indifferent, but there was a flicker of doubt. Rocks valued Kaito, and if he killed the younger pirate, Rocks might punish him severely. Still, the thought of killing Kaito hadn't truly crossed his mind.
Kaito, however, had no intention of backing down. A sly smile formed at the corner of his mouth. "You really think you can kill me?" he whispered, his voice low and steady.
Silver Axe scowled. "Let's see how long you last!" He charged again, fury driving his attacks.
"Alright, let's see how you handle this," Kaito said. He'd been holding back, but now he unleashed the power he had recently acquired. Three Devil Fruits had unlocked a form unlike anything the others had seen.
"Tail beast mode!!!" Kaito declared. Without needing to plead for help, Kurama's power flowed freely into him. Unlike Naruto, who struggled to gain Kurama's cooperation, Kaito had the Nine-Tails' unwavering loyalty. Kurama's energy surged, a crimson aura enveloping Kaito.
The ship trembled under the strain. Red light spread across the cabin, and a deafening boom followed as the entire vessel shattered. Decks collapsed, gold and silver treasures tumbled into the sea, and a monstrous figure emerged. Kaito stood transformed, towering over Silver Axe and his men, his body radiating raw power. Four massive tails flicked behind him, and the room's atmosphere grew suffocating under the weight of the beast's presence.
"What the hell is that?!" Silver Axe's men cried out in alarm.
"He's huge! Bigger than a Sea King!"
"What kind of Devil Fruit lets you transform like this?!"
"This pressure… it's terrifying!"
Silver Axe's men, who had been so confident just moments ago, were now consumed by fear. The sight of the hulking, glowing form before them was unlike anything they had ever encountered. Even Silver Axe hesitated for a brief moment, his confidence wavering.
"Don't lose heart!" one of his subordinates shouted. "Remember, Kaito's still just a crew member. He's new to the Rocks Pirates, and Captain Silver Axe has been here for years! There's no way this monster can beat Captain Silver Axe!"
Others nodded, desperate to believe their words. "Yeah, this thing's just big and flashy. Captain Silver Axe will handle it!"
Their words were meant to reassure themselves as much as anyone else. But as they stared at the monstrous figure Kaito had become, their fear was undeniable.
"You bastard, hiding this much power all along, Kaito!" Silver Axe's pupils contracted as he stared at the immense form of Kurama, his previously cocky expression replaced with one of grim concern.
Though he wanted to believe that the monstrous appearance was just for show, his Observation Haki told him otherwise. The overwhelming aura radiating from Kurama confirmed that the beast's power was as real as it was terrifying.
"Do you still want to continue, Silver Axe?" Kaito's voice cut through the tension. "I'm not fully in control of this form yet. If something… happens to you, I won't take responsibility."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Kaito!" Silver Axe snapped, his voice filled with rage and indignation. "I'm the Silver Axe! Don't think you can talk down to me!"
"Tch… have it your way," Kaito replied, unimpressed. Without warning, he launched himself at Silver Axe with blistering speed.
Silver Axe, far from cowed, stood his ground. His entire body glowed with a dense coat of Armament Haki as he gripped his massive axe, veins bulging in his arms. With a defiant roar, he leapt into the air and swung with all his might toward Kurama's incoming fist.
"Boom!!!"
The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward. The sea below churned violently, as if a colossal bomb had detonated beneath its surface. Waves towered nearly a hundred meters high, and the force spread for kilometers, creating tsunamis that rocked even the most distant ships. The power on display was overwhelming.
Pirates who had gathered nearby were sent flying into the ocean, barely able to comprehend the sheer destructive force of the two combatants.
"This can't be happening! No one's this strong!"
Silver Axe's face was drenched in sweat, his axe struggling against Kaito's transformed might. Though he had prepared for Kaito's increased strength, he now realized just how much he had underestimated him.
With an effortless push, Kaito sent Silver Axe hurtling backward. The once-dominant pirate flew nearly a hundred meters before crashing into the sea, water erupting around him in a massive spray.
"Captain Silver Axe!!!"
"Impossible! Captain Silver Axe just got blown away!"
"What the hell is that monster?! How can it be so strong that it throws Captain Silver Axe around like this?!"
The crew stared in disbelief, their confidence shattered. Kaito's power defied all logic. He had been a mere rookie, a new recruit in the Rocks Pirates. Yet now, he had surpassed the strength of a veteran like Silver Axe.
"This guy is a total monster! There's no way Captain Silver Axe can win!"
"And he's so young! How could he possibly be this strong so soon?"
Some pirates murmured in awe, realizing the extent of Kaito's potential.
"Who was it that said this monster was just bluffing?" one pirate asked, his voice shaky. "Silver Axe was just knocked a hundred meters! Is that a bluff?!"
"Our crew has gained a terrifying powerhouse," another muttered. "In a crew full of legends, Kaito is already standing out."
"He's this strong now… what will he become in the future?"
"Maybe even the next Rocks…"
"Rocks will lead us to the top with Kaito by his side!"
The murmurs grew louder, admiration and fear mixing together as they realized just how dangerous Kaito could become.
"Tch… this power is no joke," Kaito muttered to himself, looking at his hands. He could feel the immense difference from when he had first joined the crew. Back then, he had only been able to borrow a fraction of Kurama's strength. Now, he could call on the Four Tails form with ease.
"What would the full tailed beast transformation feel like?" Kaito wondered aloud. His power already felt limitless—how much further could he push it?
A sudden splash interrupted his thoughts. Silver Axe emerged from the sea, his breathing ragged. He swam the hundred meters back to shore in no time, proving his endurance. Blood seeped from his wounds, but he refused to collapse.
"Kaito, you bastard!" he bellowed, his voice hoarse yet filled with rage. His face was a mix of pain and defiance.
"Still standing, huh? The next hit will be serious," Kaito warned, his tone steady.
"Do you know who I am? I'm the Silver Axe! I don't lose to anyone!"
Despite his bravado, Silver Axe hesitated. Deep down, he felt the urge to quit. But he glanced at his men. What would they think if he conceded defeat? How could he face the other officers, the men who would mock him for years? His pride refused to allow it.
He steeled himself. He might have underestimated Kaito, but he still had his experience, his strength, and his pride. No matter what, he wouldn't admit defeat.
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