Above the pitch-black sky, inside the ancient palace left by the person of the full moon, countless wisps of black smoke gathered. Kaido could sense the wailing of life within the darkness, realizing that these were not merely some special substance, but the souls of living beings. The sight reminded him of Linlin's Soul-Soul Devil Fruit. As the black mist grew, it seemed to consume the surrounding light. The sky turned entirely black, devoid of shadows, until black flame clouds burned in the air.
Suddenly, a figure appeared that even stunned Kaido. With the sound of something shattering, cracks emerged in the dark space, revealing hot magma flowing beneath. In the faint red glow of the magma, Kaido saw a monster identical to himself, holding a replica of his Hassaikai. However, its skin was pitch black, cracked, and surged with molten heat.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Kaido grinned, his excitement peaking. "Is this your power?"
"Ah!" The dark Kaido replied, his voice colder and lacking any of Kaido's frenzied demeanor. "I am an intangible existence. Because of that, every Devil Fruit user in this world is merely a part of my power. Let me show you."
Imu assumed a stance terrifyingly familiar to Kaido. As crimson Conqueror's Haki wrapped around the imitation Hassaikai, the cold voice rang out once more: "Thunder Bagua!"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
The signature move struck directly at Kaido. With a thunderous boom, the massive force of the Conqueror's Haki connected. The air cracked, and Kaido's body twisted under the impact before he was sent flying like a cannonball. He smashed heavily against the wall of the ancient palace, yet the structure did not collapse or even show a single crack.
"Road Poneglyph?" Kaido whispered, realizing the nature of the stone.
He descended from the air, brushed the dust from his shoulders, and touched the palace walls.
"That is correct," Imu stated. "This stone is harder than Sea Stone. The Road Poneglyphs were inscribed by Joy Boy on these very materials and then taken away."
"So, Joy Boy's power was actually capable of destroying these stones?" Kaido asked.
Imu did not answer, but Kaido already understood. To reach the level of the Sun God and Joy Boy, he had to possess the power to shatter even these indestructible stones. Kaido clenched his fists, and his own Hassaikai appeared in his palm. Crimson Conqueror's Haki swirled around him, bathing the palace in a blood-red light. The dark Imu stood opposite him, unleashing an equally powerful aura, creating a tense confrontation.
"Then, let me see how much of my power you, an impostor, truly possess!" Kaido roared.
"As you wish!"
In the vast hall, their voices merged into a single, synchronized shout: "Thunder Bagua!"
In the New World, Totto Land was engulfed in war. Led by Jinbe, the Straw Hat Pirates, the Sun Pirates, the Fishman Pirates, and the Wano Country samurai had breached the interior of Big Mom's territory. Flames rose from various islands, and the sounds of battle echoed from every pirate ship. The Big Mom Pirates were powerful, especially after acquiring Artificial Devil Fruits from the Beasts Pirates, but they were struggling against such a formidable formation.
Luffy had been successfully rescued, and by all rights, everyone should have retreated according to Jinbe's plan. Yet, on the deck of the Thousand Sunny, Luffy made a decision that left his crew stunned: "I am going to defeat Linlin!"
The crew was shocked, but upon seeing the white-haired Usopp, they understood the weight behind Luffy's choice. Could they really defeat a Yonko? Jinbe, the strongest among them, stepped forward.
"I understand, Luffy-kun," Jinbe said firmly. "Do what you must. I will hold back the others for you."
Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword. "As the Vice-Captain, I will not let the Captain face such a powerful enemy alone."
Sanji exhaled a cloud of smoke from his cigarette. "Hey, green-moss head, I haven't admitted you're the Vice-Captain. Let's see who is truly qualified for that title after this battle."
"As you wish!" Zoro retorted.
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji charged toward Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors.
"How willful!" Law shouted, stepping forward to address his own crew. "Bepo, tell everyone to join the fight!"
"What about you, Captain?" Bepo asked.
Law pulled his hat down low. "We are allied with the Straw Hats. There is no reason to flee alone. Besides, I want to see how strong a Yonko truly is!"
Thus, the battle between the Four Emperors and the Straw Hat Grand Alliance officially began.
Meanwhile, at the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, high above the canopy of the Sun Tree Eve, the warm-up in the ancient palace had ended.
"Worororo!" Kaido roared, activating his Devil Fruit and transforming into a giant dragon.
Imu was no less formidable; a black dragon surged forward, identical in appearance to Kaido but wreathed in flowing magma and black flame clouds.
"The power of Devil Fruit awakening?" Kaido asked.
"That is right," Imu replied. "This is the power of awakening!"
"Is that so? Then let me see its true strength!"
Kaido's dragon body coiled, and he charged forward with nothing but pure physical force. His opponent did not retreat. In an instant, the two massive heads collided in a cataclysmic display of power.
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