But what horrified them even more was the sight of a thin trail of blood trickling from the corner of Kaido's mouth! Lord Kaido... was actually injured?
"I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you!" Kaido didn't even bother to wipe the blood away. He glared at Rowan with eyes turned a primal crimson, his fury almost manifesting as a physical pressure radiating from his body.
"What is he doing...?" Everyone held their breath as they watched the roaring Kaido.
Then, under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, Kaido leaped into the sky. In an instant, his massive frame underwent a heaven-shaking transformation. His body elongated violently, and two draconic horns sprouted from his forehead. The scale-like tattoos on his skin shifted and hardened into real, shimmering scales.
Within seconds, Kaido had transformed into a gargantuan, blue-scaled divine dragon, larger than a warship, soaring through the heavens!
Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Model Azure Dragon!
The strongest Zoan ability user, Kaido of the Hundred Beasts! Suspended above the fleet, surrounded by swirling storm clouds and lightning, the dragon glared down at Rowan with bloodshot eyes. He exhaled a huff of hot vapor, and his voice, like the decree of a god, boomed across the sea.
"You damned flea... I... will... SLAY YOU!"
The words struck the ears of everyone present like the tolling of a great funeral bell. Although Rowan had punched him away moments ago, now that Kaido was in his dragon form, no one thought he was bluffing. The pressure from the Azure Dragon was simply too immense. A single snort from his nostrils sent a wave of blistering heat toward the island, and his colossal size made everyone feel as insignificant as dust.
A Terrifying Alliance?
"Pops..." On the Moby Dick, Ace's pupils shrank, his face etched with worry. Even though he had seen Rowan's incredible strength, he couldn't help but fear that his great-grandfather was no match for a dragon—especially with King, Queen, and Doflamingo lurking nearby.
Suddenly, Big Mom leaped into the air. The small cloud, Zeus, flew beneath her feet to keep her aloft. Floating near Kaido's massive head, she crossed her arms and spoke slowly.
"Kaido, that Rowan isn't some simple old man. Why don't we team up? Given his status, if we drag this out too long, the situation might change when the rest of the Navy arrives..."
The hearts of every faction on the sea skipped a beat. Two Emperors... joining forces?
If that happened, Rowan's fate was sealed. In the New World, a temporary alliance between two Yonko was powerful enough to swallow the territory of a third. Looking at the solitary figure of Rowan on the beach, the onlookers felt a flicker of pity. Against one Emperor, he had a chance. Against two? He only had a path to the grave.
"These two bastards..." Whitebeard's brow furrowed. He knew the history between Kaido and Linlin; this wasn't just talk. They really might do it to eliminate a threat that terrified all pirates.
"Team up?!" Ace's face twisted with rage and helplessness. He hated his own weakness. If he were as strong as Whitebeard, standing behind his great-grandfather, would these two monsters still dare to act so boldly? He turned to Whitebeard with pleading eyes. "Pops, can you help my Great-Grandpa Rowan?"
Marco stepped up and patted Ace's shoulder, sighing. "Ace, it's not that Pops doesn't want to help, but he can't. Your Grandpa Rowan is a Marine. He's technically our enemy..."
The Red-Haired's Decision
Aboard the Red Force:
"Captain, should we step in? Little Luffy is standing right behind that guy," Yasopp muttered, gripping his rifle.
"Yasopp, we are pirates," Ben Beckman reminded him calmly.
Shanks narrowed his eyes at the sky. He had already decided: if Rowan's life truly came under threat, he would intervene for Luffy's sake—but he could only save Rowan and Luffy. As for the rest of the Marines...
"Hah? Linlin?!" The dragon Kaido turned his massive eyes toward Big Mom, a spark of irritation flashing within them. "I, Kaido, do not need to team up with anyone! Get lost, or I'll take you down along with him!"
With a violent thrash of his tail, Kaido dived. His massive maw opened wide.
"Boro Breath!"
A beam of super-heated energy erupted from the dragon's mouth, surging toward Rowan and the Marines like an invisible, world-ending cannonball.
The heat was so intense that even Rowan's expression finally shifted.