But compared to Kaido, Lancelot's Dragon-Human form (Hybrid Form) was the epitome of absolute dominance.
He stood like a deity high above, looking down upon all creation, his entire being exuding contempt and disdain for the mortal world.
Even those who called themselves kings would likely find themselves kneeling in submission before him.
Simultaneously, an immense, nearly tangible invisible pressure continuously radiated from Lancelot, surging toward Kaido like a tidal wave...
"What... what is this?!"
Kaido's eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed.
Earlier, seeing Lancelot's Dragon-Human form resembling his own had already stirred a tempest in his heart, but the pressure he now felt from Lancelot struck him like a heavy blow, shaking him to his core.
To Kaido, that pressure felt like an absolute suppression rooted deep in his bloodline.
No matter how he struggled or resisted, it was like being trapped in quicksand, impossible to break free.
If not for his own fearsome strength and rock-solid willpower holding him up, he might have already succumbed to that pressure, his knees buckling as he knelt in surrender.
'Gulp...'
Kaido swallowed hard, his throat parched.
At the same time, cold sweat uncontrollably beaded on his forehead, quickly forming a fine layer on his skin.
Though Kaido appeared rough and boisterous on the outside, he was actually sharp-minded and cunning, a master strategist through and through.
In just an instant, he keenly grasped the crux of the problem.
The Devil Fruit ability displayed by the Marine before him was, in all likelihood, a superior version of his own power, and there was a clear counteractive relationship between them.
As a result, the previously evenly matched battle instantly tilted, and the situation became extremely unfavorable for him.
Since the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon—a Mythical Zoan type—was his most powerful trump card, losing it would cast doubt on his ability to maintain his position as an Emperor.
Yet now, the Marine standing before him possessed a Devil Fruit ability that was even more formidable than his own, and this ability clearly countered his.
This effectively greatly diminished his strength.
'This is truly troublesome...'
Kaido narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself.
At that moment, the thought of retreat already sprouted in his mind.
After all, this Marine not only far surpassed him in Devil Fruit ability but also wielded a special Armament Haki capable of harming him.
If the fight continued like this, the one who might end up dead was likely himself, not this Marine Rear Admiral.
However, he couldn't bear the thought of turning tail and fleeing in disgrace.
His deep-seated pride would never allow such a cowardly act...
Thus, within his heart, reason and impulse began to entangle and tear at each other.
After a fierce internal struggle, impulse ultimately gained the upper hand.
Therefore, despite knowing the situation was dire, he still chose not to retreat.
"Three-World Conquest: Ragnarok!"
With a furious roar, Kaido's massive, mountain-like body leaped high into the sky.
He gripped his enormous iron club with both hands, spinning it rapidly in the air like a high-speed windmill.
Simultaneously, an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki surged from his body, coiling around the iron club like a ferocious, writhing dragon.
Below, Lancelot showed no signs of backing down either.
Faced with such a fierce assault from Kaido, how could he simply wait for death?
Lancelot narrowed his eyes, his entire body radiating immense pressure as his previously calm aura instantly turned violent.
In that moment, a torrential wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him, swiftly converging onto the Shusui sword in his hand.
"King's Sword!"
Lancelot uttered a low cry, and the Conqueror's Haki on the blade exploded like an ignited powder keg.
Immediately, this Conqueror's Haki merged with the sharp sword energy inherent in the blade, transforming into a terrifying slash several meter long, emanating an aura capable of annihilating the world.
The moment this slash appeared, the very space around it seemed to tremble.
As if possessing a life of its own, it shot upward with an unstoppable momentum.
Wherever it passed, the winds and clouds shifted, and everything in its vicinity paled in comparison.
Even the blazing sun high in the sky seemed to lose its usual radiance and warmth, as if suppressed by this terrifying force.
Suspended mid-air, Kaido naturally sensed the power contained within this sword strike.
As a seasoned veteran of countless battles, he instantly recognized that this was no ordinary technique that just anyone could execute.
Its destructive force was likely on par with Roger's legendary "Divine Departure".
However, Kaido would never retreat so easily.
His movements accelerated as he completed charging his attack without the slightest pause...
With a thunderous roar, the muscles in his arms bulged dramatically, and his massive spiked club came crashing down with earth-shattering force toward the terrifying slash approaching him.
The power behind Kaido's strike was astonishing, capable of smashing any enemy daring to stand in his path into the ground.
The resulting shockwave could even fracture solid earth within a hundred-meter radius.
Two supreme powerhouses standing at the world's peak were now engaged in an all-out life-and-death battle!
The magnitude of power they wielded was absolutely terrifying beyond ordinary comprehension.
"BOOOOM..."
When Lancelot's slash collided violently with Kaido's spiked club, the deafening explosion seemed to make heaven and earth tremble in response.
Even the very fabric of space appeared distorted by this unparalleled energy.
The surrounding air detonated like ignited gunpowder barrels, generating a series of catastrophic sonic booms.
The powerful shockwave rapidly expanded outward from the two combatants at its center.
Deep fissures scarred the ground as if the earth itself were being torn asunder.
Sturdy buildings crumbled like paper constructions before the shockwave, reduced to ruins in moments.
The shockwave showed no signs of abating, continuing to sweep across all directions.
These forces intertwined and merged, ultimately forming surging circular energy waves that assaulted everything in their path like tidal waves.
Whether trees, boulders, or living creatures, anything touched by these energy waves instantly turned to dust.
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