Chapter 331: Dragon Rider
Chesterton Island wasn't particularly large, only a few thousand meters in circumference. The moment Kaido's coiled Azure Dragon form appeared, it immediately captivated everyone's attention.
It was impossible not to notice—the sight was simply too magnificent.
Seeing Kaido transform into a dragon, people quickly boarded their ships, not daring to linger on the shore for fear of being caught in the devastation.
Only a few self-proclaimed powerful experts remained, though they retreated to safer distances.
"Every time I see Kaido transform, I feel genuine awe."
Beckman said with a light smile, taking a puff of his cigar.
Dragons were legendary creatures, and the Azure Dragon was undoubtedly the most powerful among them, creating a truly breathtaking visual impact.
"Even ordinary Sea Kings aren't as large as him."
"Sea Kings can't compare to him."
Shanks shook his head:
"Most Sea Kings have enormous size, but they lack true intelligence. They fight purely on instinct with very crude, almost nonexistent control over their own power."
"But Kaido is different. Though this guy's a bit unhinged, his combat instincts are something even I can't match. His control over his own power is exceptional."
The spectators all nodded in agreement.
A giant alone isn't terrifying, but a giant who possesses martial arts mastery like Garp becomes overwhelmingly fearsome.
"Prepare to die, Rhodes."
Kaido's thunderous voice echoed, shaking the land for miles around.
Rhodes's successful breach of his defenses earlier had earned Kaido a degree of respect for this opponent.
And for enemies he respected, Kaido preferred to grant them death. In the eyes of this monster who sought a glorious end, death was an honor.
"Dragon form..."
Rhodes raised his eyes slightly, revealing a complex expression. For him, as someone from another world, the dragon form held rather special significance.
"The World's Strongest Creature—it doesn't disgrace the title of Thunder God..."
Rhodes murmured, then fell silent for a moment before suddenly laughing loudly:
"The world calls me the Thunder God Swordsman, but now it seems my previous opponents were somewhat unworthy. Perhaps today I will truly establish that title!"
His tone brimmed with absolute confidence, his gaze arrogant and commanding.
"You've got guts."
Kaido wasn't angered. In his dragon form, he resembled a supreme deity, hovering in the air, looking down at Rhodes.
He was hundreds of meters long, his back scales dark crimson, appearing like cast metal with a cold luster.
CRACK!
Azure Dragon Kaido raised his tail and lashed out at Rhodes with devastating force. Rhodes quickly dodged to the side as the earth exploded, the shockwave sweeping across and destroying everything in its path, displaying astonishing power.
The entire island trembled, and waves surged violently along the shore.
Rhodes was amazed. He'd seen creatures larger than Azure Dragon Kaido before.
The Sea King he'd used for transportation earlier was already a thousand meters long, but comparing the two was like comparing a martial arts master to an untrained child—similar in size, yet worlds apart in capability.
"Die, insect."
Kaido said coldly, opening his blood-red maw and unleashing a torrent of crimson heat breath—a devastating attack aimed at obliterating Rhodes.
With a flash, Rhodes dodged, appearing hundreds of meters to the side.
BOOM!
The heat breath struck the earth like an exploding armory, the blast deafening.
The terrifying shockwave swept in all directions, nearly reaching the shore and sending spectators staggering.
The earth cracked, the island trembled, and towering waves surged. If most ships in the New World weren't built so sturdily, they might have capsized from the waves alone.
"That's terrifying!"
Commanding their crews to clear seawater from the decks, the ship captains wore expressions of horror.
This was from thousands of meters away, yet Kaido's attack was devastating!
"How is Rhodes?"
Koala looked worried, but there was nothing she could do. Smoke and dust obscured her vision completely.
Furthermore, her Observation Haki was useless—not only was the distance too great, but the chaotic environment created too much interference.
"I don't know either."
Sabo said helplessly. For the first time, he realized that even witnessing Rhodes's battles was extremely difficult.
"Was the Thunder God Swordsman instantly killed?"
This thought arose in the minds of everyone nearby. Kaido's heat breath was truly terrifying, enough to destroy a city in one strike.
Even several pirates with bounties exceeding 500 million were speculating along these lines.
The dragon's breath was simply too devastating—enough to level a city. Even if they joined forces, they had little hope of stopping it, let alone Rhodes alone.
"What is that?"
Suddenly, a lookout holding binoculars exclaimed in surprise.
Immediately afterward, many powerful individuals with exceptional eyesight reacted with shock.
"What exactly happened?"
Koala's eyes widened as she looked toward the battlefield.
She saw the storm subside and the light fade, revealing a small figure rising into the air, using the air itself as stepping stones. He ascended, each step covering tens of meters, traversing the void, rapidly approaching Azure Dragon Kaido.
It was Rhodes—he intended to close the distance with Kaido and become a dragon rider.
Azure Dragon Kaido was far more agile and swift than imagined. He noticed Rhodes's advance, a cold gleint appearing in his eyes.
CRASH!
The next moment, he moved, his massive body descending like a falling mountain, carrying immense pressure. The air itself seemed to thicken under the weight—a terrifying sight.
Rhodes dodged. From previous exchanges, he'd realized that Kaido in dragon form possessed terrifying offensive power impossible to block directly.
BANG!
The earth shattered and exploded, sending boulders flying and creating numerous large cracks in the ground, nearly leveling the eastern side of the island.
RUMBLE!
Simultaneously, Azure Dragon Kaido pursued, his serpentine body undulating like a black mountain range, nearly burying Rhodes beneath it.
Rhodes moved nimbly, his speed incredibly fast. Each use of Geppo covered great distance with remarkable agility.
He approached Kaido, attempting to land on his body.
But in that instant, Kaido's eyes turned cold, his body trembled, and a terrifying force rippled outward, shaking the very air. Everything it touched—rocks, trees—shattered into fragments.
CRACK!
Rhodes was surprised that Kaido, despite his enormous size, could employ such high-frequency vibration techniques.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly, having coated his feet with Armament Haki beforehand. He was only blasted away without sustaining injury.
"I'm really going to be a dragon rider today!"
Dispersing his momentum mid-air, Rhodes's competitive spirit flared, and he charged again.
This time, he covered his entire body with Armament Haki, reinforcing his defense, while simultaneously unleashing bursts of lightning to counteract the vibrations. Finally, he managed to stand firmly on Kaido's body.
THRUST!
He stabbed his sword at Azure Dragon Kaido and, to his surprise, easily pierced through the scales, penetrating deeper into the body.
"Kaido's defense in this form is weaker than in his human form!"
Sensing the feedback through his blade, Rhodes had this realization, then quickly began running along Kaido's back.
His speed was incredible. Though he couldn't unleash his maximum velocity due to the high-frequency vibrations emanating from Kaido's body, it was still devastating.
Simultaneously, the blade remained within Kaido's body as Rhodes moved, essentially cutting and tearing through Azure Dragon Kaido's form. Yet no blood flowed because the wounds were instantly cauterized by lightning.
While this prevented bleeding, it greatly increased the pain and affected Kaido's body control.
Enraged, Kaido suddenly twisted, opened his massive maw, and spewed forth a torrent of crimson heat breath directly at his own back—a truly desperate measure.
WHOOSH!
Rhodes leaped upward, landing on Kaido's head. Looking around, he could see countless ships bobbing in the distant waves. He laughed loudly:
"The view from here is truly spectacular!"
As he spoke, he gripped his sword firmly, pushing his lightning power to its absolute limit while using electromagnetic manipulation to generate unparalleled force, bringing it crashing down toward Azure Dragon Kaido, intending to cleave him in two.
BOOM!
At that moment, a terrifying aura filled the air. Kaido's scales began glowing, his entire body radiating crimson heat, exuding a mysterious and overwhelming power.
COUGH!
Rhodes coughed up blood, finally being blasted away. He tumbled through the air, only managing to steady himself near the ground, barely avoiding a crash landing.
(End of Chapter)
[Chapter Rewards]
500 Power Stones unlock 1 chapter
10 Reviews unlock 1 chapter
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
30+chapters ahead on P1treon Soulforger