It surprised even him that Bullet would team up with Kaito.
One by one, after draining over a dozen prisoners, the Red Earl appeared before Kaito, a satisfied smile on his pale face.
"It's almost fully restored. The rest will just take some time," he said calmly.
"Then let's move," Kaito nodded slightly and walked ahead, completely ignoring Kizaru standing beside him.
Kaito didn't care, but Kizaru certainly did. The Admiral had no choice but to follow along, silently praying these monsters would leave soon.
Before long, under Kizaru's uneasy escort, the group arrived at the main gates of Impel Down.
Hum—!
The sky suddenly dimmed, the air trembling with a thunderous roar.
Everyone looked up—
A colossal azure dragon coiled through the heavens, its immense body blotting out the sun.
Lantern-sized eyes glowed with fury as they fixed on the figure below.
"Kaito! I finally found you!" the dragon's voice roared like a storm. "You killed Jack, that fool!"
The shockwave of his voice rippled across the sea, shaking Impel Down's walls.
Kizaru's expression darkened instantly. Just what I feared. This idiot's here. With the grudge between them, there's no way to avoid a battle. Please, just not here… not in Impel Down!
"That's… Kaido?" Bullet muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"Zoan-type Mythical Beast Fruit… a rare one," Redfield commented coolly. "Not bad at all."
Kizaru added nervously, "That's Kaido of the Beasts—one of the Four Emperors of the New World. A monster on par with Whitebeard."
"Whitebeard…" Bullet's eyes gleamed faintly.
"The Four Emperors, huh? Sounds powerful," Redfield said flatly, though interest stirred behind his calm tone.
"Kaito, listen," Redfield turned to him with a faint smile. "Defeat that dragon, and I'll keep my word. I'll join your crew. Consider it payment for freeing me."
"Oh? In that case," Bullet said with a smirk, "I'll join in too. Same condition. Defeat him, and I'll sail under your flag."
Kaito looked at them, a grin tugging at his lips. "You two sure about that?"
"Absolutely." Both answered without hesitation.
Kizaru quietly groaned and covered his face. They have no idea what they're agreeing to. Kaido is strong, yes—but compared to Kaito? It's not even close.
He remembered the sight of Sengoku and Akainu utterly defeated by this man. Even Kizaru himself still couldn't comprehend the full scope of Kaito's power.
"Hey, Kaito," Kizaru said hurriedly, "for the record, I did help you get out, yeah? So maybe—maybe don't fight here? You know, Impel Down…"
Before he could finish, Kaito waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I'm not that careless."
Up in the sky, Kaido glared down with rage, his dragon eyes burning with fury. "You dare ignore me?!"
"Oh no," Kizaru muttered. "He's mad now."
Kaito looked up at the furious dragon and smirked. "Well then, my future crewmates—let's head to a nearby island. I'll show you how I deal with this guy."
With that, Kaito's body lifted effortlessly into the sky, wind swirling around him.
Redfield and Bullet exchanged looks, both intrigued, before following right behind him.
"Finally out, brat!" Kaido bellowed, opening his massive jaws. "Even if you bring help, it won't save you! I'll crush you myself!"
Flames gathered in his maw, heat distorting the air as the dragon unleashed his attack.
A searing torrent of fire erupted from above—Kaido's Dragon Breath.
The blazing beam tore through the clouds, bathing the world in red light.
Kaito hovered calmly in the air. Behind him, Bullet and Redfield crossed their arms, making no move to assist. They wanted to see what the young man would do.
Kaito didn't waste words. With a gesture, a transparent barrier of compressed wind and chakra shimmered into existence, wrapping around the three of them.
The dragon's fire struck the barrier head-on with a deafening boom.
BOOM!
Flames raged violently, yet not a spark could breach the invisible shield. Even so, the heat was overwhelming, the air scorching.
Kaito frowned slightly. Chakra surged through his body as he extended a finger forward.
In an instant, the temperature dropped sharply.
The blazing sky turned frigid—summer giving way to the deep chill of winter.
Crystals of frost began to fall from the heavens.
Crack… crack!
Each snowflake shimmered with deadly energy, and the moment they touched Kaido's scales, the mighty dragon began to freeze.
In the blink of an eye, Kaido was encased in a colossal sculpture of ice, his entire body frozen solid. Even the flames lingering in the air were sealed away by frost.
The world seemed silent for a moment.
This was no ordinary ice. It was chakra-infused—the pinnacle of the Yuki Clan's bloodline. The temperature reached absolute zero. Nothing could survive within it.
At least, not most beings.
Crack… crack!
Fissures began to form across the frozen dragon's body. With an explosive shatter, the ice burst apart.
Kaido emerged, steam rising from his scales. "Brat! I admit—I underestimated you!" he roared.
There was no mockery in his tone anymore. His furious eyes now carried recognition.
Those who knew Kaido understood him well: he was crude, but he respected strength above all. And now, in his mind, Kaito had earned that respect—equal to him, perhaps even beyond his three Calamities.
But Kaito wasn't paying attention to flattery. His electromagnetic senses spread outward, scanning for a suitable battlefield.
Nothing. Only endless sea. His expression darkened slightly—until he detected a distant island.
"There," he muttered.
Without another word, his figure shot forward like lightning.
A calm voice echoed behind him. "This place isn't suitable for a fight. I'll be waiting there."
Redfield and Bullet followed instantly. Kaido, not to be outdone, roared and took off after them.
It was a sight unlike any other—three figures streaking through the sky, chased by a colossal azure dragon that blotted out the sun.
Had any Marine witnessed it, they would have been struck speechless.
Moments later, the group descended upon a lush island covered in thick forests and vibrant flowers.
Kaito landed first, eyes sharp, the faint wind swirling at his feet.
The island was alive with the sounds of nature—the rustling leaves, chirping birds, and distant waterfalls—but beneath this calm, an impending storm of power loomed.
Kaito's gaze swept across the terrain, calculating angles, environmental advantages, and escape routes, all in mere seconds.
Bullet and Redfield landed beside him, their auras flaring subtly, anticipation and excitement gleaming in their eyes.
Kaido's shadow fell upon the forest as he landed, cracking the earth with the weight of his colossal body. The ground trembled beneath the combined might of the dragon and the newcomers.
The air thickened with tension, charged with the promise of battle, as if the entire island itself held its breath.
Kaito cracked a slight grin. "Let's see if you really are worthy of this fight."
The calm before the storm was shattered as Kaido unleashed a deafening roar, shaking the treetops and sending flocks of birds scattering into the sky.
_______
All fanfics are currently 70–90 chapters ahead on Patreon.
Become a Patron to gain early access!
Thank you all for the amazing support.
Patreon.com/Zphyr_