Before that slash landed, Kaido could never have imagined that Karl possessed such power.
The Elbaf Spear was a technique even Charlotte Linlin frequently used—but she was someone who stood on equal footing with him.
Karl, on the other hand, was just a Marine Vice Admiral.
The first time they met, Karl hadn't even been qualified to fight him head-on.
And yet now, he had taught Kaido a harsh lesson.
From the shoulder blade down to the waist ran a savage wound nearly three meters long.
Fresh blood poured out relentlessly.
"Kaido," Karl said calmly,
"how was that strike?"
Kaido snapped his head up, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Wororororo~ Looks like I underestimated you!"
"But that's all it is. Don't forget who I am—I'm Kaido of the Beasts!!!"
With a thunderous roar, Kaido hoisted his kanabo and charged straight at Karl.
His mountain-like body closed the distance rapidly,碎石 on the ground trembling under each step.
From this moment on, Kaido acknowledged Karl as a worthy opponent.
But he was absolutely certain of one thing—
the one who would win was still him.
As long as Marine reinforcements didn't arrive too quickly…
"Sister Gion, just like I said earlier—"
Karl drew Shusui.
One hand grasped Raven, the other Shusui.
Dual-sword Karl entered the fight.
Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral's Office
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Emergency report!"
"Kaido of the Beasts has invaded G-10 Base! Vice Admiral Momousagi and Vice Admiral Karl are engaging him directly—situation critical! Immediate reinforcements required!"
Sengoku slammed the desk and stood up.
"What?! Kaido? How is that possible—was he alone?"
"According to Captain Nelson's report, Kaido is acting alone."
"Nelson… Karl's aide." Sengoku nodded grimly.
"Understood. Send word back immediately—reinforcements are on the way. Tell Karl and Gion to hold at all costs!"
"Yes, sir!"
Sengoku picked up the Den Den Mushi to contact nearby bases—then stopped.
No.
This was Kaido. Ordinary forces would be meaningless.
"Akainu," Sengoku said.
"You're in the North Blue right now, correct?"
"Yes. What is it?"
"Kaido is attacking G-10. Karl and Momousagi are holding him off. Get there immediately and support them."
Akainu glanced coldly at a fleeing pirate ship in the distance.
"Understood. But it will take time."
"Where is Kizaru? Why not send him?"
"I'll contact him shortly."
Akainu acknowledged and cut the line.
He raised his arm.
"Meteor Volcano."
Magma rained down mercilessly, obliterating the pirate ship in seconds.
The Marine warship accelerated toward the New World.
Sengoku then tried contacting Kizaru—
no response.
"Tch… that idiot."
"Right, that's right—he's with the Science Unit assisting experiments. No chance of reaching him right now."
Left with no choice, Sengoku turned to another option.
Garp.
That old bastard had taken off chasing the Red-Hair Pirates after hearing they'd suffered heavy losses.
He'd never catch them anyway—might as well send him to help Karl.
G-10 Base
Karl and Kaido were locked in brutal combat, shockwaves erupting again and again.
Kaido's wound had already begun to regenerate.
Now, not even a scar remained.
His recovery speed was downright monstrous.
Karl was getting a headache.
Jack had been bad enough—but Kaido was on a completely different level.
Jack could be beaten down at will.
Kaido, on the other hand…
If this was "evenly matched," then Karl was only barely holding on.
After finally carving out a few wounds, they'd regenerate moments later.
Utterly shameless.
"Thunder Bagua!"
BANG—
The blow landed squarely on Karl's chest.
Blood burst from his mouth as he was sent flying.
Gion immediately stepped in, intercepting Kaido before he could follow up.
"Damn… that really hurts!"
Karl grimaced, clutching his chest as white light gathered in his palm.
Purify.
In an instant, his body returned to peak condition, all injury-related debuffs erased.
While Gion fought Kaido head-on, Karl seized the chance to breathe—and began gathering golden light.
"Weapon Blessing."
Golden radiance flowed into Shusui and Raimei, their blades gleaming as if enhanced to +12.
Raven: What about me? Caw?
"Not now—rest for a bit."
Ten minutes later, Karl's stamina had fully recovered.
"Sister Gion—switch out!"
"Let me take over!"
He surged forward, unleashing twin red-and-purple flying slashes.
Then—
"Two-Sword Style · Crow's Feather!"
Karl vanished.
The next instant, he reappeared behind Kaido.
"AAARGH—!"
Kaido clutched his chest, staring down at two fresh, gruesome gashes.
When he turned around, Karl was smiling faintly at him.
Absurd.
He'd taken a direct Thunder Bagua and recovered this quickly—
who the hell was the Zoan here?!
"What the hell is your ability?" Kaido growled.
"How can you recover this fast?!"
Karl planted Shusui into the ground, holy light glowing in his palm.
"This?"
"I call it Holy Light."
"It has powerful healing properties—and it strengthens the body too."
"Not bad, right?"
Kaido's eyes widened. The surrounding air seemed to heat up.
"There's an ability like that…?"
"So that's it," Kaido snarled.
"You were the one behind those bastards suddenly getting so hard to kill."
"You think so?" Karl shrugged.
"Hmph!" Kaido snorted.
"Then let's see whose recovery lasts longer—yours, or mine!"
"Come on! Try to outlast me!!!"
Kaido roared again, surging forward in a blood-boiling frenzy.
Karl immediately drew Shusui, focus sharpening.
Against Kaido, distraction meant death.
Nearby, Nelson spotted Ain watching the battle.
"Ain! Ain!!!"
She rushed over.
"What did HQ say?"
"Admiral Akainu and Vice Admiral Garp are on their way," Nelson replied.
"But it'll take time—about a day."
"And Admiral Kizaru?"
"They didn't say… but I'm sure Admiral Kizaru must be busy."
"Otherwise, with his relationship to Vice Admiral Karl, he'd definitely rush over."
And that was exactly the case.
At that very moment, Kizaru was inside the Marine Science Unit, personally assisting Dr. Vegapunk with a classified project.
As for the mission details—
Being researched.
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