The conversation between Kozuki Oden and Kaido suddenly hit a stalemate.
The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
Clearly, they had just been hurling harsh words at each other…
Yet because of Kozuki Oden's one sentence, "Father-in-law," it directly fried both sides' CPUs.
But after Kozuki Toki came out and said a few words, Kaido finally arrived on Onigashima.
"So, Kozuki Toki… she's actually your daughter?" Kaido's first words upon landing were unbelievably hard to take seriously. "So how old are you exactly?"
"Kaido… don't you think talking about this kind of stuff right before a major battle is a complete waste of time? These household trivialities… what do they have to do with you?"
"Because I basically know nothing about you. In every corner of the sea, your legends are sung… but because they're all legends I haven't witnessed with my own eyes, I don't believe a single word of them." Kaido lifted his head. "So… I really want to understand you. I don't want to miss even the smallest detail."
"The way you talk makes it sound like you're some twisted stalker fan." Michael's lips twitched as he landed on Onigashima's ground.
"Don't tell me… you're trying to find my weaknesses from my life story?"
"No. I don't have absolute confidence in killing you… So since this is a battle where neither of us knows who will survive, I must satisfy my curiosity." Kaido spiraled down from the air, transforming from dragon to human.
"Besides… I must confirm whether Yamato can truly grow up safely by your side."
"Uwaa, that's kind of disgusting… Why act like a good dad at a time like this?" Michael snorted coldly.
"The bond between you and Yamato as father and daughter has long been blown to pieces by that explosive collar. It can never return to what it once was."
"Perhaps I was too harsh on Yamato… but deep in my heart, I absolutely love my daughter."
"That much, I won't deny…" Michael sighed. "After all, that's the last sliver of humanity you have left."
Kaido lifted his head, staring blankly at Michael.
Staring at the two pairs of large wings and one small pair filled with surging power.
"Your fruit… really is incredible."
Kaido's words carried no exaggeration—just pure, direct feeling.
As the wielder of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Model: Azure Dragon, and having encountered multiple other Mythical Zoans, calling him an expert on Mythical Zoans wouldn't be too much.
Yet he had never seen a Mythical Zoan like Michael's…
Aside from the abnormally strong life force common to all Mythical Zoans, Michael could possess several completely different types of powers simultaneously.
For a Mythical Zoan, this was almost impossible.
For example, Marco the Phoenix's Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Model: Phoenix, focuses solely on "regeneration" and "nullifying damage."
Its life force and defense are extraordinary.
But its offensive power is comparatively lacking.
Yet in all those legends surrounding Michael, he seemed like an omnipotent being.
Offense or defense, stamina or vitality…
All flawless.
He could even heal injuries and illnesses with his fruit's power.
All those abilities were concentrated in the wings on his back.
And judging from the different wing sizes…
Michael clearly hadn't fully awakened this fruit yet.
The newly grown small wings perhaps indicated… he was only one step away.
But as a Mythical Zoan user himself, Kaido knew—
That final step… without the right fortune, one might never cross it in an entire lifetime!
"…So, you really are a strange fellow."
"Should I say 'right back at you'?" Michael tilted his head. "Alright, no point talking more… let's settle things with our hands."
"Looks like the legends saying Michael is tolerant and gentle… that part was absolute nonsense."
"You know how it is—when you're a leader, you have to put on an act in front of subordinates…" Michael gripped Oto and Kogarashi, the pair of short broad swords, in his hands.
"But against an enemy… especially an enemy as powerful as you, letting loose some negative emotions feels pretty good."
Michael's lips curled upward.
His short temper was already on the verge of exploding.
"Looking at this land you once enslaved… don't you have anything to say?"
"…The winner becomes king." Kaido's face revealed a dangerous smile. "Acceptance speech comes after total victory."
As he spoke, he gripped the massive kanabo on his back.
With just one swing, Michael felt a powerful gust sweep past.
Had there been any small fry pirates or Marines around, that gust alone would have cleared the field.
Even Michael had to admit…
Kaido's body was truly monstrous.
Even Whitebeard at his peak—if he were to engage Kaido in pure physical power—might have had to concede defeat.
Aside from Michael, perhaps only Charlotte Linlin could faintly suppress Kaido.
"Your body really isn't something to take lightly." Michael raised Kogarashi and pointed it at Kaido.
"Although I've already seen glimpses of your strength from Yamato… seeing it up close is even more exaggerated."
Michael was one hundred percent certain…
Kaido was definitely even more dangerous than the Golden Lion.
After all, no matter how strong Shiki was… he only had that brief ten-minute peak.
But Kaido's age and physical condition were absolutely outstanding among the great pirates.
"Enough mutual praise…"
Before Kaido even finished speaking, he charged forward at a speed completely incompatible with his massive frame.
Michael's eyes sharpened; his two short broad swords instantly slashed forward.
"Clang!"
Oto and Kogarashi slammed fiercely against Kaido's kanabo.
The kanabo of unknown material clashed with a pair of Great Blades without suffering a single scratch.
Neither gained an advantage on the first clash.
The next moment, the collision speed between the twin blades and the kanabo exploded into a level nearly impossible for the naked eye to follow…
And under this uninterrupted, raw exchange of blows, Kaido's expression gradually relaxed.
How long… had it been since he last unleashed his full strength?
Though rationality and strategy had told him to endure and accumulate power all these years…
He had never forgotten…
He was Kaido of the Beasts!
The strongest creature in the world!
Every inch of his muscles, every drop of his blood…
Was born for battle!
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg