"Poof!"
In the brilliant palace, the temperature spiked, filling the air with scorching currents. The reality within the hall began to blur and warp. Two ancient, demonic giant dragons floated in the air before roaring and crashing into one another, their scales glowing with intense energy.
"Boom!"
The sound of the collision was indescribable, like two mountains slamming together. The world seemed to go deaf as a massive shockwave erupted from the point of impact, sweeping through the palace and obliterating the land, sky, forests, and seas contained within.
Above, Kaido and the World King locked eyes.
"Impressive power!" Kaido admitted. Purely in terms of physical strength, he could feel that his opponent was his equal—a truly monstrous ability.
The World King's gaze remained cold. "I have told you before: all Devil Fruit users in this world are sources of my power, and you are no exception, Kaido!"
Kaido, in his dragon form, curled his lips into a sinister grin. "Is that so? Then let me truly witness it."
Scorching flames began to condense in Kaido's mouth. Responding in kind, flames manifested in the black dragon's maw. Simultaneously, they unleashed streams of fire.
"Heat Breath!"
"Heat Breath!"
The flames transformed into brilliant, fiery red lights that collided in mid-air.
"Rumble!"
As the heat exploded and light flickered, the colliding breaths transformed into a crimson fireball. Under the continuous pressure of the two dragons, the sphere grew until it became a giant sun, engulfing both of them.
"Boom!"
The sun detonated, releasing blinding light and raining fire down like meteors. The entire internal world of the palace turned into a sea of fire, turning the land crimson. Yet, above the inferno, the two giant dragons floated as if completely unaffected.
Dark Imu spoke first. "I told you, it is useless. As long as it is the power of a Devil Fruit, it cannot defeat me!"
Kaido merely smiled faintly. "Is that so? I still want to try again!"
Kaido's dragon body spiraled rapidly, stirring a hurricane that sucked the flames from the ground below into a fiery tornado.
"Flame Bagua!"
The hurricane and fire merged, igniting the entire world. Wind blades infused with the power of fire transformed into streaks of red light, striking at the dark dragon.
"It is useless!" Imu's tone remained cold.
Imu did not mimic Kaido's move. Instead, black flame clouds erupted across his body, turning into black fire that intercepted the fiery wind blades. The blades were extinguished upon contact, as if fire had met water.
"Interesting," Kaido noted. "The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, is it?"
Even so, Kaido did not falter. He opened his mouth, and a cold, frigid aura emanated from within.
"Ice Breath!"
A soaring chill sprayed toward the Dark King. The Dark King responded calmly as his black flames grew more ferocious, sweeping toward the freezing breath. Within a few breaths, Kaido's attack was swallowed by the black smoke.
The air grew quiet once again.
However, though the cold breath had vanished, the temperature of the entire palace suddenly plummeted. Rain began to drizzle onto the ground, extinguishing the burning flames. A hint of confusion appeared on Imu's face.
"What are you doing? You know that abilities are useless against me."
"Wororororo..." Kaido's laughter rang out, growing steadily louder, leaving the World King even more perplexed.
Kaido's voice deepened as he said, "Want to know? You can guess!"
The World King's expression turned solemn for a moment before he reverted to his usual demeanor. "It does not matter. Whether you are bluffing or truly planning something, it is useless. I am the World King. I am a God."
The World King's dragon form dissipated, reverting to his smoky black appearance. With a wave of his arm, a five-pointed star array appeared, and a magic book flew from it. He held the book and turned two pages.
"Come forth. Imu summons you: Dark Summon!"
As he spoke, the pages turned into a dark, muddy blob that dropped to the ground, twisting and growing until it transformed into two figures hauntingly familiar to Kaido.
"Boom!"
Powerful Conqueror's Haki erupted from the two figures, turning the palace crimson. Both men were burly, holding long blades, their gazes fixed on Kaido.
"So that is it!" Kaido showed little surprise. "I knew it. With the World Government's style, how could you waste the bodies of Rocks and Roger? It is a pity; if not for me, Whitebeard would probably be standing before me now. Let me see how much power these summons possess compared to their original selves."
Standing proudly in the palace, gazing coldly at Kaido with Conqueror's Haki coating their weapons, were the true overlords of the past: the Captain of the Rocks Pirates, Rocks D. Xebec, and the Captain of the Roger Pirates, Gol D. Roger.
As Kaido finished speaking, both men stepped forward, their weapons coated in crimson Conqueror's Haki. The sky turned blood-red, aura erupted around them, and strong winds howled.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, they disappeared from their positions and appeared before Kaido's dragon form, unleashing their signature attacks.
"Divine Departure!"
"God's Burst!"
------------------------
While this story unfolds here chapter by chapter, the complete journey—from beginning to end—is already waiting on my Patreon:
patreon.com/Mythic_Muse