Chapter 520 - 360

Chapter 361: The Promise of Kings!Dead silence.A dead silence enough to freeze the soul.The moment the strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons was completely wiped from this world by a single punch and a single strike, the entirety of Dressrosa and everything within hundreds of nautical miles seemed to have all sound sucked away.The wind stopped, the rain ceased, and even the sound of rolling waves became terrifyingly quiet at this moment.Everyone's gaze—whether they were the island's citizens, Marine, pirates, or the Revolutionary Army—was fixed intensely on the distant sea.What did they see?They saw that the sky had been forcibly torn open, a massive rift spanning the horizon!!!Black and red lightning surged wildly within the crack, like the dividing line between heaven and hell!The sky... had split open!!!This... was a legendary scene that could change the weather, something that only appeared when the kings standing at the very peak of this sea clashed with their Haoshoku with everything on the line!!!"You... you've got to be kidding me..."On the east coast, Admiral Aramaki looked at the rift that had pierced through the sky, the color draining from his face instantly, turning as pale as paper.His bit of prideful arrogance and self-confidence was crushed into nothingness before this scene.As a Marine Admiral, he knew better than anyone what that rift signified.That was a power from another dimension that even he—even if he teamed up with Fujitora—could absolutely never touch!That was a realm beyond the Emperors!!!*Gulp.*Aramaki swallowed hard, feeling a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to his head.He finally understood why Sabo and those other monsters had suddenly stopped fighting.He also finally understood why Fleet Admiral Akainu's expression would be so solemn and wary whenever he mentioned Straw Hat Luffy.Aramaki's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat."It seems an era is truly coming to an end..."Fujitora Issho tilted his head up, "looking" at the split sky; the smile on his face was complex, filled with emotion, relief, and expectation.His heart of justice, which had been suppressed for a long time, was burning hotter than ever at this moment!!!Perhaps...This kid wearing the straw hat really could accomplish what their Marine and their World Government hadn't been able to do for eight hundred years.That is, to completely drag those decaying and evil gods perched at the peak of the world down from their pedestals!!...On the battlefield, Sabo, Zoro, Sanji, and Katakurialso fell into a long silence."Phew!! Is this the true power of the Four Emperors...?"Katakuri looked at the split sky, feeling the terrifying pressure coming from afar that almost suffocated him; instead, a smile of excitement—one only the strong could understand—curled at the corner of his mouth.Zoro slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the wado ichimonji.He didn't speak, but in his eyes burned a fire called ambition, brighter than ever before!Not enough!It's still far from enough!!!To stand by that man's side and be his strongest sword, his current strength simply wasn't enough!He had to become stronger! Strong enough to cut through anything! Strong enough to split this sky!!!"Hey, Mosshead."Sanji exhaled a long smoke ring, his voice carrying a hint of teasing and battle intent that only the Mosshead would understand."Looks like we can't keep slacking off either."Zoro didn't look back, only letting out a cold snort."Idiot, I've never slacked off."On the other side, King looked at the massive rift in the sky, then at the battlefield that had turned into ruins, and finally cast his gaze toward the terrified Aramaki.He said nothing.With a flap of his wings, black flames soared into the sky, turning into a streak of light as he flew toward the open sea without looking back.He was going to greet his king.This battle was already over....On the distant sea, at the center of the storm.The destructive energy slowly subsided.Luffy still held his punching posture, his silver eyes shining with a light as brilliant as the sun; his entire being radiated a sacred and free aura that transcended everything.Opposite him, Kaido also retracted his Spiked Club; on his massive dragon body, scales were flying and he was covered in blood. Clearly, he had suffered quite a bit from that clash just now.But there wasn't a hint of anger or pain on his face.Instead, there was only an unstoppable sense of exhilaration and fanaticism!!!"Worororororo~~~"Kaido let out his trademark thunderous laugh.His massive dragon eyes stared fixedly at Luffy!"Straw Hat Kid..."In Kaido's voice was heartfelt recognition and appreciation."I've been looking for you... for a long time!!!"All his life, he had been looking for a battle that could make him lose, or even die, in a satisfying way.He challenged the Marine, fought the Four Emperors alone, was captured countless times, and sentenced to death countless times, yet he could never die.He thought that in this world, no one could kill him anymore.Until today!Until he personally felt this power of freedom called nika that reigned supreme over everything!He firmly believed that the only one who could defeat him was the legendary warrior of freedom who could bring dawn to the world—Joy Boy!And this kid in front of him was Joy Boy's successor! He was the one destined to end him!"Worororo! Come on! Straw Hat Kid! Let's settle it here, once and for all! A fight to the death!!"Kaido's fighting spirit soared, and his Conqueror's Haki surged once more, as if he were preparing for the final showdown.However, Luffy slowly shook his head at him.He deactivated Gear 5, his body returning to its original state, and those silver eyes turned back into a clear black."Not fighting anymore."Luffy's voice wasn't loud, but it reached Kaido's ears clearly."Fighting here would be too troublesome òᆺó."He paused, looking up, his black eyes flashing with the same light of battle intent as Kaido's."Our battle isn't over yet.""Once I settle things here, I'll go to a certain place.""A place... you're very familiar with.""Wano Country!!!"The moment the words Wano Country left Luffy's mouth, Kaido's movements suddenly stiffened.He looked into Luffy's clear and determined eyes and suddenly understood something.He laughed out loud once again, his laughter filled with expectation and magnanimity."Worororororo! Good! Very good!""Then I'll prepare the strongest wine in Wano Country and wait for you!""When the time comes, we'll cast everything aside and have a true final death match to decide who is the king of this sea!!!"Kaido took a deep look at Luffy, as if to carve the young man's image into his soul.He was looking forward to it.Looking forward to this young man overthrowing that rotten World Government, breaking this nauseating era, and completing the world-shattering feat that even his old Captain Rockscouldn't achieve!Finally, Kaido's gaze moved past Luffy to the small pirate ship in the distance flying the Straw Hatskull flag.His gaze fell upon the girl with oni horns on her head, who was looking this way with a worried expression.Yamato.In that instant, Kaido's gaze became incredibly complex.There was anger, confusion, but even more so, a sense of... gratification that even he hadn't noticed.He could see that his foolish son's gaze had changed.It was no longer the hollow gaze filled only with hatred and rebellion from back in Onigashima.Now, there was light in her eyes.It was the bond of comrades, the yearning for freedom, the spirit that only a truly living person could have.She... had grown up.She was no longer that puppet who imitated Kozuki Oden in every way just to live for the sake of defying him."Straw Hat Kid..."Kaido retracted his gaze, his voice low."You... did well."As the words fell, he didn't hesitate anymore.His massive dragon body soared into the sky, turning into a streak of azure light, whistling toward Wano Country.The Promise of Kings was thus made!!!