This is his use of the Door-Door Fruit. The Door-Door Fruit not only represents a door but also the space that appears after the door is opened. He reformed his body with the fruit's ability, creating a unique space within himself where the true treasures are kept.
Including the treasure Rocks brought on board, which went missing after the battle of Divine Valley.
"Thundering Hakken!"
Ochoku drew his sword to defend himself from behind, igniting new sparks from the clash of giant sword and Wolf Fang Club.
"Couldn't hold back anymore, intern? I thought you were going to keep hiding there!"
Kaidou's presence had been minimal from the start, and he hardly engaged in the battle with John and the others.
Both he and Silver Axe noticed Kaidou spying from above, but they still considered John as the primary enemy. Compared to this intern, they thought John was a greater threat.
They didn't expect the intern to ambush them; John had already angered everyone. If Kaidou helped John, he'd be making enemies with all the pirates present.
But when he first clashed with Kaidou, he realized there was a problem. The force was overwhelming, and even he was forced back a distance before regaining his balance.
During this time, Kaidou hadn't been idle; he was continuously performing Sword Dance, stacking it to its limits.
The Thundering Hakken, after being infused by three Sword Dance stacks, reached extreme power. Due to underestimating Kaidou, Ochoku was directly knocked away by this strike.
"Don't underestimate people, you damn old-timer. Why do you think there was infighting among you? Since we don't have the advantage in numbers, we must use our brains. John had some abilities, but now it's your turn."
Compared to those who expended energy in melee, the Hundred Beasts members in the sky maintained peak condition. Unlike the pirates who just endured a hard battle, King and his team could exert stronger force.
Fire, leaves, rocks, various abilities appeared here.
"You really found an incredible group of subordinates. With so many Mythical Zoan types, I'm afraid you've obtained quite a bit of Rocks' treasure too."
Shaina, Queen, King, and Kaidou — their transformations and elemental control, in Ochoku's view, could only mean Mythical Zoan types, and not just one Mythical Zoan Fruit each.
Rarer than Logia-types, a concentration of Mythical Zoan types appeared in Kaidou's hands. Aside from the unknown treasure in Rocks' possession, he couldn't think of anywhere else to find so many Mythical Zoan types.
"This has nothing to do with you, Vajra Arrow!" Swordsmen can unleash Flying Slashes, and he can release columnar staff strikes.
Kaidou had no intention of explaining anything to Ochoku. He thought it better this way. The power of Arceus was known only to a few, and revealing too much would invite unnecessary scrutiny.
Rocks' treasure was a convenient excuse to placate those old monsters who could threaten him.
"It indeed has nothing to do with me. Since you've eaten the fruits, but this place is beneath that lake, and John idiotically did something unknown, but I estimate water's all over above.
If you choose to fight me at this time, when the water rises, do you want to be drowned? Ability users can't swim!"
After five years, Kaidou's strength seemed to have qualitatively changed, exceeding his imagination. He didn't want to continue entangling with Kaidou here; at least he needed to get outside first, then he and Silver Axe teamed up could...
Thinking of this, he suddenly realized that Silver Axe was silent.
Though injured heavily by John's backlash, it shouldn't have been enough to kill him.
At this moment, a strong drowsiness overwhelmed him, and Ochoku found his eyelids growing heavy. Upon a second look, the surroundings had become extremely dark, as if enveloped in a dark space.
Dark Void, depending on the version, will put the enemies within range into a drowsy or sleep state. Originally an exclusive skill of Darkrai, it can also be used by Arceus once it finds the Dread Plate.
Sleep and drowsiness are two different states. Sleep will cause complete unconsciousness, while drowsiness causes occasional naps. Due to injury and being unable to resist, Silver Axe fell into a sleep state. Ochoku, due to being in good condition, only fell into a drowsy state.
But in this state, he was met with a heavy blow from Kaidou. This isn't a duel but a team battle. An ungrown Kaidou wouldn't foolishly insist on a one-on-one fight.
Arceus expanded the influence of Dark Void to the entire underground space, under his control, allies naturally wouldn't be affected.
Ochoku naturally realized that Arceus was the cause of all this. This strange dark space was released by the unknown creature; he wanted to deal with Arceus, but Kaidou didn't give him the chance.
"Where are you trying to go! Thundering Hakken!"
Clang!
"I understand now, that inexplicable anger earlier was also because of that guy, right? You do have quite a lot of ability users under you."
Arceus was also regarded as an ability user of a Mythical Zoan type by him, despite being a quadrupedal beast form. However, it's not unheard of for ability users to prefer using their Beast Form.
Anger and drowsiness, two strange states, inexplicably appeared on him. If he couldn't figure it out by now, he wasn't worthy of roaming in the New World.
Kaidou said nothing, but closed in for a flurry of attacks. Right now, he wasn't skilled enough with Sword Dance. Ochoku wouldn't give him ten seconds to perform Sword Dance. While the effect lasted, it was crucial to finish him off swiftly.
But at this moment, the originally seeping spots suddenly burst open, and a large amount of seawater started flooding into the cave. Just as Queen was shocked by the seawater, he noticed that they seemed to be completely undisturbed by it.
Kaidou didn't forget. Indeed, there was a Plate among Rocks' treasures, and it had been taken by John.
After he obtained the fruit ability, the treasures were hidden in another space within himself using the Door-Door Fruit, which was why Arceus hadn't sensed the Plate's location before.
After John's death, his ability ceased, and the treasure fell out of that space, naturally drawn by Arceus.
With Dark Void covering the whole area and taking advantage of the chance, he also absorbed his fourth Plate, the Water Type Splash Plate.
In this world dominated by water, the Splash Plate undoubtedly provides a tremendous boost to combat power. Having acquired the Splash Plate, he naturally gained the power to control water, and due to John's earlier actions, the seawater had started seeping in, and Arceus merely used this to his advantage.