"Thunder—Ming—Ba—Gua!!!"
CRACK!
BOOM!
Thunder roared between heaven and earth as Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Four Emperors, gripped his massive iron club—Hassaikai—in both hands. Explosive power surged through his colossal body, and even more terrifying than that raw strength was the black and crimson lightning crackling along the club's surface.
It was the ultimate form of Conqueror's Haki—a power only true Overlords could wield.
As Kaido swung the weapon, the air itself groaned under the pressure. The heavens seemed to rupture, the atmosphere exploding outward with a deafening blast. Even the very fabric of space appeared to tremble from the weight of that strike.
It was a blow that could shatter mountains.
"Come on, boy! Fight to your heart's content!"
In the face of Kaido—the tyrant who ruled the seas—Sugisawa Yuuto did not retreat.
Instead, he advanced.
A fierce blaze burned in his eyes, reflecting the chaos of thunder and flame within.
His fist clenched, the ground trembling beneath him—
"Thunder-Flame Dragon Hammer!!!"
The fist wreathed in lightning and fire met Kaido's descending strike head-on.
CLANG!!!
The impact was like the ringing of a celestial bell.
Metallic echoes shook the heavens and earth. The deafening clash forced those watching on the ground to clutch their ears in pain.
Centered around the two combatants, the storm-darkened sky split open.
The black clouds that had smothered Onigashima were torn apart by sheer force, sunlight breaking through to bathe the ruined island in harsh brilliance.
CLACK! BOOM!
Both Kaido and Yuuto staggered back from the collision.
"Oooooooh!"
Seeing Yuuto take two steps back farther than Kaido, the Emperor of the Beasts grinned triumphantly.
"That's the difference between a pretender and the true Emperor of the Sea!"
"You've got talent, brat. I'll admit that. But it's far too soon for you to challenge me!"
Kaido slung his club onto his shoulder, his voice brimming with arrogance.
Yuuto only smiled faintly, brushing dust from his shoulder.
"We'll see about that."
"Then go to hell!"
Kaido roared, swinging his club once more—
"Vajra—Release!!!"
A shockwave of raw force exploded outward, blasting Yuuto back across the shattered terrain. His boots carved deep trenches into the earth as he skidded to a halt.
"Ooooooh!"
"Kaido-sama is unstoppable!"
"It's over now!"
The Beasts Pirates cheered wildly from below—
Until Yamato's face suddenly changed.
"Above you—watch out!!!"
Yuuto's head snapped up. Kaido, still in his draconic man form, had leaped high into the sky, black and red lightning swirling around his club.
"Yin—Nai—Rō!!!"
Kaido descended like a thunderbolt, swinging his Hassaikai in a fatal overhead strike.
Yuuto, facing that overwhelming might, didn't dodge.
Instead, he raised his hand—thunder and flame condensing into the shape of a weapon.
A Thunderflame Fangtian Halberd shimmered into existence.
CLANG!!!
Metal clashed against metal. The shockwave blasted outward, rippling the very air like waves on water.
Yuuto's boots sank deep into the ground.
RUMBLE!
The battlefield split apart beneath them, rocks shattering and earth crumbling from the sheer power of their clash.
"Heh... What's wrong, brat? That didn't feel so good, did it?" Kaido sneered.
"It's... fine," Yuuto replied calmly, his tone almost teasing.
"Cocky little bastard! Let's see how long that smug grin lasts!"
Kaido's strikes became a blur—each blow wrapped in crackling Conqueror's lightning. He unleashed a storm of attacks that shattered the air itself.
But Yuuto refused to back down.
Wielding his Thunderflame Halberd, he met every strike head-on, thunder and fire dancing wildly in every collision.
The roars of their battle echoed across Onigashima.
The mace wrapped in Conqueror's lightning clashed again and again with Yuuto's blazing halberd, each impact unleashing a shockwave that sent ripples of destruction across the island.
Finally—
CRACK!
The halberd in Yuuto's hand groaned under the immense pressure, spiderwebs of cracks spreading across its surface.
"Oooh! Looks like it's over!" Kaido roared triumphantly.
With another savage swing, Kaido's mace smashed through Yuuto's halberd completely—
BOOM!
The weapon shattered into fragments, scattering into sparks of lightning and flame.
The monstrous club came down again, aiming to crush everything in its path.
"Over? Not yet."
Yuuto's lips curved into a faint smile.
A flash of lightning—and he vanished.
Before Kaido could react, Yuuto reappeared right in front of him, his fist rocketing upward—
"Rising Dragon Fist!!!"
The blow slammed into Kaido's chin, sending the Emperor flying. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose as his massive body hurtled into the sky.
But Kaido barely flinched.
With a guttural roar, he twisted midair and countered with terrifying speed, bringing his mace crashing into Yuuto and sending him flying dozens of meters away.
Lightning sparked once again.
Yuuto's figure blurred. Before Kaido could land, a sharp pain exploded in his left arm. His entire body was flung backward.
Kaido's eyes flashed red—his Observation Haki surged, glimpsing the near future.
He swung his mace midair—blocking Yuuto's incoming fist just in time.
"Heh. Seeing the future? Not bad," Yuuto said lightly.
"Don't underestimate a Yonko!" Kaido bellowed.
With a thunderous roar, Kaido brought the mace down with both hands, slamming Yuuto into the ground and throwing up a storm of dust and debris.
When the smoke cleared—Yuuto stood tall, brushing the dirt from his coat.
"As expected of the Four Emperors... you're not bad."
"Heh-heh... That's my line, brat!" Kaido laughed deeply, stomping hard enough to crack the ground.
Their eyes locked. Both used advanced Observation Haki, reading the flow of battle and each other's intent.
Neither flinched.
Kaido lunged forward, mace raised high—
Yuuto didn't move.
He clenched his fist, facing Kaido head-on.
"Running out of tricks already?" Kaido sneered.
"You're done, kid!"
But then—he froze.
Something was wrong.
The flames on Yuuto's fist dimmed. The brilliant golden lightning that wrapped around him began to change color—shifting, deepening, until it burned black and crimson.
By logic, losing his flames should have weakened him.
Instead, Kaido felt Yuuto's power surge even higher.
When all the golden lightning around Yuuto turned black and red—his strength reached its true peak.
Kaido's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's... Conqueror's Coating!!!"
Yuuto grinned.
"That's right."
A dragon's roar shook the heavens.
Yuuto drew back his arm—
Thunder and fire fused into one.
"Thunder Dragon King's Destructive Fist!!!"
The next strike exploded like divine judgment.