In the sky, the violent battle was beyond anyone's reach.
One was Kaido, one of the Four Emperors who possessed the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. The other was Grand Admiral Bullet, holder of the More-More Fruit.
Because of the Marine side's speed ability, one had fought for days in frustration; because of Red Hair's Observation Haki Killing, the other had been unable to fight freely. Both had been suppressing their anger, and when they finally collided, what followed was the most primitive kind of slaughter.
Above the clouds, a thousand meters high, Kaido returned to his human-dragon form. His dragon eyes burned red, every scale giving off a cold gleam as lightning flashed around the Hassaikai gripped in his claw. Pulling it back to the limit, he charged forward.
Bullet, in his Asura King form, looked like a beast. Muscles twisted across his savage, wild frame as a meteor hammer appeared in his hand, enlarged several times over. Coating it with Haki, he rushed straight at Kaido, violent air currents wrapping around him.
Boom!
The spiked club and the meteor hammer smashed into each other, and furious winds swept outward. Black lightning sparked from the clash of Conqueror's Haki, raging for a brief moment before exploding.
The two men were blown apart, yet neither stopped. They charged again.
Lightning crackled around Kaido's weapon as it came crashing down. Bullet's eyes were just as red, but he did not dodge. Brutal thoughts flooded his mind as he raised an arm to block.
Crack!
A heavy impact rang out, and pain shot up his arm into his brain. He did not react; instead, he grinned viciously and twisted his arm, trapping the kanabo beneath it. With his other hand, he swung the meteor hammer and smashed it straight toward Kaido's face.
Boom!
The weapon shattered, and the dragon scales on Kaido's face broke apart. His eyes rolled white for a second before focusing again, and with a savage snarl, the dragon head slammed forward.
Crack!
Like two monsters, they smashed their foreheads together. Black lightning burst at the point of impact, and blood flowed from their foreheads down past their eyes. The pain only made them fiercer.
Bullet freed one hand and grabbed a dragon horn, but Kaido's free left fist slammed into his abdomen.
Bang!
The punch struck his Haki-coated stomach and rang out like a giant bell across the sky. The force sent him flying backward, yet he still held the dragon horn, dragging Kaido's spinning body along with him.
Releasing the arm that trapped the kanabo, Bullet grabbed the other horn as well, his face looked like a demon as he grinned.
"Ahhh!"
His arm muscles bulged and veins throbbed as he pulled outward. Kaido's pupils shrank as extreme pain shot through his mind, and he could almost hear the horn cracking. His sharp-toothed mouth opened wide.
Roar!
A claw shot out toward Bullet as Kaido pulled himself closer and bit toward his neck. Bullet stared back with a twisted grin, his arms pulling harder as he raised a knee and kicked into Kaido's abdomen to brace himself. The bite stopped midair.
The tearing pain in Kaido's head intensified, feeling as if his body would split in two, and his reason began to fade. His sharp claw became like iron pliers and thrust straight into Bullet's abdomen.
Rip!
A large chunk of flesh was torn away, but Kaido did not stop. He dug in again, and at the same time, the Haki-coated tip of Hassaikai stabbed toward Bullet's stomach.
Rip!
Boom!
Bullet's abdomen took a heavy blow, and with flesh torn away, he nearly lost his mind as adrenaline surged.
Roar!
Crack!
One dragon horn snapped off and flew away. The agony drove Kaido even madder, and Bullet was almost thrown off.
But his left hand still clutched the other horn, which was close to breaking. With his right hand, he pulled out a smaller meteor hammer and enlarged it.
Boom!
Violent shockwaves swept across several thousand meters. The two men's close-range battle was so brutal that Issho and Borsalino could not interfere. They could only stand at a distance and wait for an opportunity.
* * *
Standing on a meteor, Issho held his cane sword wrapped with ability power, ready at any time. "So this is Grand Admiral Bullet's strength…"
Through his Observation Haki, it did not feel like two men fighting but like an ancient beast clashing with a demonic god.
"His reputation is well earned."
Borsalino's face turned slightly serious, though his tone remained lazy. "So scary~ Are they all monsters~"
They continued watching from afar as the area within a thousand meters became a forbidden zone. Of course, that was not truly a problem for them.
But it seemed Bullet did not need help. He needed to vent.
"Admiral Borsalino!"
Soter's voice came from a distance as he flew over quickly. Borsalino turned his head.
"Oh~ It's Soter~ What is it~"
Soter stopped in midair. "Fleet Admiral Sakazuki ordered you to support Admiral Kuzan. End this melee as soon as possible."
Borsalino looked troubled. "Ah~ Honestly~ No rest at all~"
He sighed softly and glanced at Issho. "Well~ I'll head off first~ Issho-san~"
His body turned into particles of light and faded, and Issho nodded. "Understood. Leave this place to me."
Whoosh!
A laser streak vanished into the sky. Soter glanced at Issho, wondering which was stronger, one who could remove gravity or one who could increase it. But there was no time to test it now. There were missions to complete.
"I'll leave this to you, Admiral Issho. I still have to head to Whole Cake Island."
Issho turned his face toward him. "Leave it to me."
After a pause, he added, "When the battle ends, would Vice Admiral Soter be interested in discussing our fruit abilities?"
He was quite curious about the Float-Float Fruit and its ability to escape gravity itself.
Soter smiled. "Sure. I'm also very interested in the Press-Press Fruit. Let's finish our missions first. I'll contact you after."
Issho smiled as well. "Okay."
After saying goodbye, Soter activated his ability and sped off toward Whole Cake Island.
* * *
New World. New Marineford.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Carlo pushed the door open with a smile.
"Fleet Admiral, the latest battle report. Red Hair has retreated. Kaido is currently fighting Bullet. Admiral Borsalino has gone to support Admiral Kuzan. Soter is on his way to Whole Cake Island. This melee should end soon."
Sakazuki set down his pen and stood up, stretching slightly. "He's already on the move. Good. It should be fair at least. Red Hair has lost his family bond."
Walking to the sand table, he picked up the sand model of Whole Cake Island and let sand slip through his fingers.
"Then what will Big Mom lose…"
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