"Thunder Bagua!"
With Kaido's thunderous roar, his entire form charged violently toward Dachik Island. Despite his massive size, he was far from clumsy; his speed was blindingly fast. During the charge, the gargantuan spiked club in his hand whistled through the air like a bolt of crashing lightning.
At this sight, the Marine soldiers behind Rowan bristled like cats with their fur standing on end. Before Kaido even reached them, their sabers were drawn in unison. Momonga had already coated his long blade in Armament Haki, his expression grim and his stance firm. The sheer pressure radiating from a Yonko-level Kaido was simply too overwhelming!
"How terrifying..." "Is this the offensive power of an Emperor?"
Witnessing the unmatched majesty displayed by Kaido, everyone took a sharp, collective breath. This aura was even more shocking than the moment Rowan had unleashed his world-severing slash!
Kaido was incredibly fast; the fifty-meter distance was crossed in a mere heartbeat. The spiked club, carrying the force of a thunderclap, swung with peerless velocity. To an outsider, it looked as if this single move would flip over a thousand men on the island like toys.
However...
CLANG!!!
As Kaido's silhouette landed on the island, a sound like a great bronze bell being struck erupted, instantly echoing across the vast ocean. To those nearby, the sound felt as if it had exploded right next to their ears; they felt their entire bodies vibrate from the sonic shock.
But they didn't care about the sound. All eyes were fixed on Dachik Island—on Kaido and Rowan.
Currently, Kaido held the club with both hands, the muscles on his powerful arms bulging significantly. Yet, the club that should have flattened the entire Marine unit was stopped dead in mid-air! Facing the club was a seemingly frail fist.
But it was this very fist that had physically blocked Kaido's full-strength strike!
BOOM!!!
After a split second of silence, a massive explosion followed. The air between the fist and the club, compressed to its absolute limit, detonated. The resulting shockwave swept in all directions; the Marine soldiers were blown back several meters, unable to keep their footing.
Behind Kaido, the sea churned violently under the gale-force pressure, causing the surrounding ships to rock precariously. Everyone stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"That Rowan... he actually blocked Kaido's move?!" "How is that possible? That was a Yonko's full-power strike!" "He didn't even retreat half a step..."
From shock to horror to utter dread, the expressions of the onlookers shifted rapidly. Even Doflamingo, King the Conflagration, and Queen the Plague saw their faces stiffen instantly. A sharp glint flashed in Charlotte Linlin's eyes.
Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks, however, remained composed. If he couldn't block Kaido's strike, how could Rowan have unleashed a punch that shattered space? This outcome was entirely within their expectations.
On the island, Momonga and the others felt their hearts hammer with excitement. Their gazes toward Rowan were filled with pure worship. Seeing the figure who looked tiny compared to Kaido, yet stood like a God of War, Momonga wanted to laugh out loud.
Hahaha! This is the Marine Godfather I revere! This is Mr. Rowan! So what if it's Yonko Kaido? Mr. Rowan's strength doesn't pale in comparison to yours for a single second!
"You..."
At the shore, Kaido felt a numbing sensation in his arms, and his face turned exceptionally ugly. His powerful strike had been neutralized just like that?! Moreover, that "frail" fist gave him a sensation of being indestructible. His club couldn't budge it an inch! To him, this was nothing short of a humiliation.
Rowan, however, looked up and met Kaido's murderous gaze. He spoke softly. "Kaido-boy, who gave you the courage... to think you could take me down?"
The moment he finished speaking, Rowan's right fist flicked.
CLANG!!
That bronze-bell sound echoed once more. This time, Kaido's massive club was physically knocked back. Looking at Kaido's expression, it was clear he hadn't even anticipated such a rebuttal.
"You bast—"
Roaring in fury, the slighted Kaido prepared to launch another attack. But Rowan's figure blurred, appearing instantly right in front of Kaido's chest.
"Is it your 'unshakeable' position as a Yonko? Or perhaps your former captain, Rocks?!"
As Rowan's words fell, he delivered a straightforward, unadorned punch to Kaido's chest. The power behind it was horrific; the friction against the air created a sonic boom that rang across the sea. Compared to Kaido's Thunder Bagua, this was the true meaning of "crashing lightning."
BOOM!!!
A world-shaking punch landed squarely on Kaido's chest. Kaido's powerful pectoral muscles actually caved in under the force! The intense pain caused Kaido's face to twist involuntarily. His legendary physical defense had been physically broken by Rowan's fist!
The air in Kaido's lungs was violently expelled. Under the weight of the blow, Kaido didn't even have time to cough; he was sent flying backward like a giant fleshy cannonball!
"This... no way..."
As Kaido was sent hurtling away, the field fell into a heavy silence. Everyone involuntarily swallowed, staring in horror at the slowly descending Rowan.
"Kaido... was punched away?!"
That was Kaido of the Hundred Beasts! The "Strongest Creature in the World," the acknowledged king of 1v1 duels. He was punched away by Rowan just like that?
The smile vanished from Charlotte Linlin's face. Trebol and Pica stood frozen. Doflamingo's eyes were filled with shock. Whitebeard's expression turned more serious than ever before. Red-Haired Shanks took a deep breath. The pirates in the audience didn't even dare to continue breathing.
"Lord Kaido!"
Beside Doflamingo, King the Conflagration's face darkened. He transformed into his Pteranodon form, attempting to catch Kaido in mid-air.
BAM!
Kaido's body slammed into the transformed King, but King couldn't stop the momentum. Finally, the two of them crashed into the thick mainmast of their own ship, cracking the timber before they finally came to a halt.
"You!!"
Kaido picked himself up off the deck, his face livid. His eyes burned with fury as his breathing grew heavy. Seeing this, the members of the Hundred Beasts Pirates felt a wave of primal dread. They had never seen Lord Kaido this enraged.
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