Looking towards the sky in the direction of Onigashima, a massive azure dragon was churning through the clouds, letting out roars that sounded like crashing thunder.
"Damned Hunter brat! Get out here! I'm going to tear you into pieces!!!"
Kaido, who had originally wanted to recruit Sherwin, now had nothing but killing intent left for him.
To him, it didn't matter how many ordinary fodder pirates died with the title of one of the Four Emperors, he could always recruit new fodder to fill the ranks.
Mid-level officers like the Headliners and Numbers were acceptable losses as well although it was a bit of a hassle, replacing them wasn't particularly difficult.
However, losing high-level officers at the level of the Tobi Roppo or the Lead Performers was something that truly caused Kaido pain.
Furthermore, most of them were Kaido trusted confidants. Even for a man like Kaido who believed in the survival of the fittest, he still held a certain level of affection for them.
Not to mention, the one Sherwin had just taken out was Queen, the researcher for the Beast Pirates. Many of the weapons manufactured in Wano and sold abroad were designed by Queen.
Among the three Lead Performers, Queen might not have been the one Kaido was closest to emotionally, but he was certainly the one who brought him the most profit and was the most highly valued.
But no matter how fiercely Kaido shouted, it held no deterrent power for Sherwin.
If he were truly afraid, Sherwin wouldn't have come to Wano to cause trouble in the first place.
Sherwin placed a hand over his brow, carefully observing the azure dragon Kaido as he thrashed and roared in the sky, and then calmly turned his head to look at the Kaido Meow beside him.
"It looks like he just finished fighting Issho... do you still want to fight him?"
"Why meow-not?"
╮(=ΦωΦ=)╭
Kaido Meow spread his paws. "When we fight Ibushi and Narwa, don't we also use tools meow?"
Despite wanting to seize the name of 'Kaido' for himself, the Great Maine Coon was no stiff, traditional samurai he was a Felyne Hunter, little different from those in Monster Hunter...
Actually, the average Hunter wasn't even as capable as this Felyne, who had essentially snatched several protagonist scripts for himself.
"In that case... Klee Meow, Shermie Meow!"
Sherwin drew the Longsword and called out to the two Logia Felynes.
"Oh—!"
(=`皿´=)
"Heehee~ Are we going to use THAT move meow? Sherwin-kyun~"
(=ω=)人
The two Felynes immediately transformed into elements, turning into fire and lightning respectively, and entwined themselves around the longsword in Sherwin hand.
Sherwin first downed a bottle of Demondrug, then swung his left arm, wrapping the silk threads hidden within the Dodo Advance bracer around his arm. Only then did he assume a sheathing stance, aiming at the Azure Dragon Kaido on the horizon...
Adept Style, activate!
Demon Mode, activate!
Hunter Art: Unhinged Spirit!
Silkbind Attack: Strongarm Stance!
Monster Hunter Style: Felyne Combination Technique: Blazing Thunder!
A massive crescent-shaped slash entwined with lightning and fire soared into the sky, shooting toward the Azure Dragon Kaido on the horizon, appearing before him almost in the blink of an eye.
Despite Kaido furious appearance, his mind was actually quite clear, and his anger did not interfere with the use of his Observation Haki at all. Therefore, even though this flying slash was incredibly fast, he reacted in time.
However, Kaido did not dodge instead, he twisted his body and charged head-on into Sherwin slash.
"Boom—!"
Kaido, having infused his own head with Conqueror Coating, forcefully shattered Sherwin slash into fragments. However, his forward momentum was halted, and several dragon scales were sliced from his head, leaving a shallow wound on the skin beneath.
But the recovery power of an Ancient Zoan was far too exaggerated in the blink of an eye, this minor injury, which hardly counted as a flesh wound, had already healed itself.
Kaido shook his slightly dizzy head and once again flew toward Sherwin and the others.
"Hunter—!!!"
However, Sherwin had already sheathed his weapon and reached out to pat Kaido Meow.
"Next, I'll leave it to you. Don't let the name 'Kaido' down."
Denjiro and the others were unaware of Kaido Meow name, so they couldn't understand what Sherwin was talking about. Yamato, who did know, couldn't help but advise again: "Won't you reconsider? My damn old man isn't that easy to deal with!"
"Meow-rororororo! No need to reconsider! I've been waiting for this day for a long time, meow!"
Just as Denjiro and the others were still reeling from the shock of Yamato being Kaido daughter, they witnessed a scene even more astounding...
The burly "Cat Mink" swayed, transforming into a giant cherry-blossom-colored dragon. Its appearance was seventy to eighty percent similar to the Azure Dragon Kaido, yet it possessed a distinctly feline air.
Forget Denjiro and his group—even Kaido himself was startled for a moment, but he quickly roared again.
"Is this your trump card, Hunter?! A fake from who-knows-where?!"
"It not yet certain who the fake is, meow!"
Kaido Meow opened his mouth and exhaled a flash of fire. "Blast Breath!"
Seeing the opponent use the exact same move as himself, Kaido grew even more furious.
"Don't copy me!"
The Azure Dragon Kaido also spat out a Blast Breath, neutralizing Kaido Meow attack.
"This, this, this, this..."
Yamato was so surprised her tongue tied in knots. her shocked gaze shifted back and forth between the Azure Dragon Kaido, the Cherry Dragon Kaido Meow, and Sherwin.
"Didn't I tell you? It not just their names that are the same."
As if in response to Sherwin words, flames ignited almost simultaneously on the bodies of the two long dragons—one red and one blue—high in the sky...
"Flame Dragon Torch, meow!"
"Flame Dragon Torch!"
Because their bodies were wrapped in flames, the original colors of the two dragons were no longer visible, making them look even more alike.
"I told you! Stop copying me!"
"Meow-rororororo! I was clearly the one who used this move first, meow!"
Kaido Meow swung his body and slammed toward the Kaido above him.
"Rising Dragon: Flame Bagua Meow!"
At this point, Kaido wanted to change his move to differentiate himself from Kaido Meow, but it was too late. With a darkened face, he could only lower his head and clash with this cat-like Sakura Dragon.
"Falling Dragon: Flame Bagua!"
"Boom—!"
The two flaming dragons collided violently. After a brief stalemate lasting a few seconds, they separated, and the flames on their bodies extinguished.
The second clash between the two Kaidos ended once again in a draw.
Although Kaido had the advantage of Conqueror Haki infusion, Kaido Meow possessed various techniques from the Monster Hunter world. Just as Sherwin could use them to contend against Haki infusion, Kaido Meow could naturally do the same.
With no significant gap in power between the two sides, it was clear that a winner would not be decided quickly between these two Kaidos.
Because...
There no way to break through.
Even though they weren't taught by the same master, being counterparts from different dimensions meant their connection was even deeper than that of fellow disciples.
"Well, it looks like they won't be settling this anytime soon."
Sherwin watched the two dragons entangled in combat once more, then turned to Kozuki Hiyori.
"Which way is Habu Port? I'll go deal with Orochi Kurozumi first. Besides, aren't you supposed to be taking this chance to weaken the Beast Pirates? Now isn't the time to be a spectator."
"You're right! Kawamatsu! Contact the others immediately! The time for our counterattack has come!"
The samurai, jolted by the reminder, grew instantly fired up for the first time, they truly saw a glimmer of hope in driving Kaido out of Wano.
Meanwhile, Kozuki Hiyori declined Denjiro suggestion to stay under protection and stepped before Sherwin once again.
"Lord Sherwin! Could you please take me with you when you go to subjugate Orochi Kurozumi?"