Originally a scenic and prosperous island, after half an hour of intense battle between Kaido and Shanks, it had turned into ruins.
At this moment, aside from a slight decline in his aura, Kaido bore no wounds.
Even the scars Shanks had inflicted during their earlier clashes had rapidly healed under Kaido's astonishing physique, leaving only faint pink marks.
In contrast, Shanks was not faring as easily.
He looked pale, his clothes torn in several places. Yet relatively speaking, Kaido still couldn't take down Shanks effortlessly.
"Red-Haired brat, your growth is astonishing."
Kaido transformed back into his half-dragon form.
He had realized that even in his full dragon form, with its terrifying area attacks and formidable body, he was ineffective against Shanks' speed.
Instead, his massive size made it all too convenient for Shanks to attack.
"Raimei Hakke!"
Kaido had his own tactics for dealing with speed-type opponents—using the overwhelming power of Raimei Hakke to suppress them.
Under the lock of Observation Haki, Shanks could no longer evade and was forced to engage in battle.
Clang!
The dull sound of clashing weapons rang out, and Shanks instantly transformed into a shadow as he leaped far backward.
He intended to use the friction in the air to offset Kaido's force. But all of this was within Kaido's calculations.
Seeing Shanks leap backward exactly as he anticipated, Kaido let out a dragon's roar and transformed once again into a giant azure dragon.
"Tatsumaki Kaifu!"
The enormous dragon head fixed its gaze on Shanks' airborne figure, as endless flames gathered from the air toward Kaido's dragon head.
Even the Red-Haired Pirates, far away on their ship at the port, could clearly feel the deadly heat.
"Captain!"
"Will Shanks be alright?"
"Stay calm. Although Shanks likes to show off, he definitely won't die at Kaido's hands. After all, he's Shanks!"
Everyone on the Red-Haired Pirates was worried for Shanks. Only Benn Beckman, calmly puffing on his cigar, watched Shanks with unwavering confidence.
Ever since he followed Shanks to establish the Red-Haired Pirates, Benn believed that Shanks would one day ascend to the throne of the Pirate King.
Although the current situation was dangerous, for Shanks, this was far from a predetermined outcome.
Just as everyone was worrying, Kaido had already finished charging his attack.
From the dragon's gaping maw, a crimson star as bright as the sun radiated heat.
Roar!!
With another dragon's roar, Kaido unleashed his signature move.
In the air, Shanks showed no sign of fear.
As if carefree, he even took the time to seriously analyze Kaido's technique.
"First, use Raimei Hakke to knock me back. Then, while I'm struggling to maneuver in mid-air, launch a wide-range attack to leave me with no escape. As expected of a Legendary Great Pirate. With so many battles under his belt, he has his own methods for dealing with any opponent."
Although Shanks outwardly seemed to look down on Kaido, during the fight, he analyzed Kaido's moves with caution.
Even he was impressed by Kaido's rapid shift in tactics.
Who said Kaido was just a dumb brute? Anyone who said that must have never faced Kaido, or they would have been smashed to death by his club long ago.
"But, do you think this is enough to corner me? You're far too arrogant, Kaido!"
Instead of confronting Kaido's fully charged attack head-on, Shanks rapidly stomped on the air to counteract the force of being knocked back.
"It's useless, brat! I've already locked onto you. There's nowhere to run!" Kaido's gaze remained fixed on Shanks' movements.
Seeing Shanks continuously stomping on the air, he immediately understood Shanks' strategy.
However, over the years, every speed-type pirate thought they could evade Kaido's attacks with this move.
Yet, no one had ever succeeded.
"Heh, Observation Haki lock? What if I do this?" Shanks smiled faintly, and then his figure quickly vanished into the air.
"What?!" Kaido's eyes turned blood-red as he frantically scanned every direction around him.
Front, back, left, right, up, down—Shanks was nowhere to be seen.
"How is this possible? What kind of Devil Fruit did this bastard eat?!"
Having lost his Observation Haki lock on Shanks, Kaido roared furiously at the sky and ceased his fiery attack.
Just moments ago, Kaido had noticed that Shanks briefly evaded his Observation Haki, but since it was only for a few seconds, Kaido didn't pay it much mind.
But now it was different—an opponent who couldn't even be locked onto by Observation Haki.
How terrifying that could be, Kaido hardly dared to imagine.
In the New World, most pirates relied on the three types of Haki for combat.
Even those with powerful Fruit abilities considered Haki a fundamental skill to cultivate.
No one would deliberately avoid using Observation Haki, nor would anyone be accustomed to fighting without it.
From his apprenticeship in the Rocks Pirates to the present, Kaido hadn't mastered the Fish-Fish Fruit to its peak, but his Haki had been honed to an advanced level.
Observation Haki was an indispensable part of his battles.
Now, Shanks was demonstrating the ability to obscure Observation Haki's perception of him.
It was truly terrifying. Especially considering Shanks was still young.
Kaido reverted to his half-dragon form, his crimson dragon eyes vigilantly scanning in all directions.
"I'm right here, Kaido." Shanks' voice came from behind and to the right.
Kaido swung his club fiercely toward the rear.
Boom!
Hassaikai struck nothing but air, and Kaido's full-force blow helplessly slammed into the ground.
At that moment, a dazzling light flashed in the corner of Kaido's vision.
Swoosh!
Kaido's eyes widened in fury. Ignoring the wound on his waist, he punched Shanks squarely in the shoulder.
Both men staggered backward.
At this point, both were in poor condition.
Kaido's waist had been slashed open into a mangled wound, while Shanks' right arm hung limply at his side.
This exchange had left both injured. Kaido's eyes were filled with wariness, and he immediately raised Hassaikai to guard his chest.
He had worked hard to conquer Wano Country and hadn't even begun recruiting troops to challenge for supremacy.
He couldn't afford to die here!
Shanks, on the other hand, seemed much more at ease.
Although one of his arms was broken, his dominant left hand was unharmed, and he still had the strength to fight.
Moreover, he was still young.
To be able to hold his own against the long-renowned Kaido filled him with satisfaction.
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