The battle had raged for three days and three nights without pause. Onigashima was half-destroyed, its towering skull cracked and burning, its horns shattered by shockwaves that split the heavens. It would have been reduced to rubble entirely if not for the fact that Kaido and Ren had taken their war into the sky, riding their own clouds like rival gods.
Above Wano, the heavens had become their battlefield. Clouds were torn apart and reformed under their feet, lightning split endlessly between them, and the sea below churned violently from the pressure of their clashes. Even the sun seemed dimmer, as if unwilling to shine upon such monsters.
Kaido breathed heavily, blood running down his scales and matting his hair. His massive form trembled slightly, not from fear, but from exhaustion earned through ecstasy. Across from him, Ren hovered atop his conjured cloud, equally bloodied, equally exhausted, but grinning like a madman who had found exactly what he had been searching for.
Ren had stopped the flow of Azure Dark Green energy. His mind was strained to its limit, and he knew continuing to use it would only destroy his body from within. The temptation to draw more power clawed at him, but he forced it down with sheer will.
"Wororororo… you've stopped using that strange energy of yours, Ren," Kaido growled, wiping blood from his mouth. "Running dry already?"
Ren laughed hoarsely. "Don't get cocky, Kaido. I'm just giving you a fair fight. Wouldn't want you crying that I cheated."
Kaido's grin widened, sharp teeth glinting. "Fair? There's nothing fair about monsters like us."
They launched at each other again, their attacks stopping just short of contact. Invisible walls of Advanced Armament Haki clashed violently, lightning exploding between them. Yet neither of them was using Conqueror's infusion recklessly now.
They were fighting with Internal Destruction-level Armament Haki, carefully controlling their output. Both had sensed Kizaru's presence long ago, and both knew they could not afford to exhaust themselves completely with constant Conqueror's coating.
"You're holding back," Kaido accused mid-swing, his kanabo tearing through the air like a falling meteor. "Is it because of that Marine rat watching us?"
Ren blocked with his staff, shockwaves detonating between them. "You sensed him too, huh? Good. Thought I was the only paranoid one."
Kaido's eyes narrowed. "If that insect dares interfere… I'll crush him after I crush you."
"Get in line," Ren shot back, grinning. "I saw him first."
—
On Wano's shores, Yamato stood atop a rocky cliff overlooking the chaos in the sky. She had fully recovered after three days of hunting, eating, and resting. Her body was steady, her breathing controlled, her resolve sharper than ever.
"It's been three days," she murmured. "King and the others must have recovered too."
She clenched her fists, watching as another explosion split the sky. Kaido's Haki felt different now. It was stronger—fiercer—but no longer oppressive in the suffocating way it once had been.
"Father…" she whispered. "You're finally fighting without chains."
Ren and Kaido were reaching their limits. If King or the others attempted anything dishonorable, she needed to be ready. On the third day, she transformed into her beast-human form and dashed toward Onigashima.
The sea froze beneath her feet as she ran, ice forming a path across the waves. Steam rose from the ocean as her cold aura clashed with the heat radiating from the distant battlefield.
"Wait for me," she growled. "I won't let anyone interfere."
—
In Wano's mainland, Hyogoro, Ashura Doji, Denjiro, and Kawamatsu had freed the loyal samurai from the mines. The streets once filled with despair now echoed with cautious hope. Orochi's severed head was displayed publicly, a symbol that tyranny had ended.
Hiyori had been declared Shogun, standing tall despite the grief in her eyes. Hyogoro, Ashura Doji, and Shinobu remained by her side, helping stabilize the country and restore order.
Denjiro tightened his grip on his swords. "If Kaido wins, everything we've done will mean nothing."
Kawamatsu nodded solemnly. "Then we must be ready. Let us go."
They departed for Onigashima without hesitation.
—
Inside the damaged fortress, King and the remaining officers had recovered. Sasaki had joined them, his wounds barely healed. While they had been fighting Yamato earlier, Sasaki had moved the Beast Pirates out of the island's most dangerous zones.
"I made sure the younger ones were evacuated," Sasaki reported. "Ulti, Page One… the talented brats. They're off the island."
King's golden eyes burned as he stared upward at the clashing titans. "Good. This battle isn't ours anymore."
Queen wiped sweat from his brow. "Those two are monsters… I don't wanna get near that."
King's voice was calm, but tense. "If Kaido falls, we move. If he wins, we kneel. There is no third option."
—
Far above, Kizaru floated at a safe distance, watching through narrowed eyes. Even he had no intention of getting too close. The pressure radiating from their clash made the air itself heavy.
"No way I'm going near them… my salary isn't worth this," he muttered.
He raised his Den Den Mushi. "They seem to be reaching their limits. What should I do?"
Sengoku's voice responded immediately. "Try seeing if you can injure or kill one of them. If possible, go after Ren. He is too strong and too young."
Kizaru clicked his tongue. "That's quite the request."
"We already sent Sakazuki after Hancock, though we don't know why we can't contact him," Sengoku continued. "He must be safe. And since we already went after Hancock, he will become a pirate."
"If we can eliminate Ren now, it's for the best."
"Alright, Fleet Admiral-san," Kizaru replied lazily, though sweat ran down his temple.
—
On the rooftop of Onigashima, Kaido and Ren hovered, glaring at each other. Both were clearly at their limits. Their breathing was ragged, their bodies trembling, yet their eyes burned brighter than ever.
They were preparing their final attack.
"Wororororo, Ren," Kaido laughed, blood dripping from his chin. "Let's see who wins with this final strike. If you win, Wano and Yamato are yours."
Ren barked a wild laugh. "Hahahahaha! Don't disappoint me, Kaido! I didn't fight for three days just for a boring ending!"
Kaido shot into the sky, transforming fully into his massive Azure Dragon form. His serpentine body coiled through the clouds as lightning crackled around him.
"Worororo! Be prepared, Ren!"
He inhaled deeply, flames gathering within his throat. Then he unleashed a massive torrent of fire, coating his entire dragon body in blazing inferno. A colossal flaming dragon avatar formed around him, rivaling Onigashima itself in size.
"Kōryū: Kaen Hakke!" he roared. "Descending Dragon: Flame Bagua!"
The burning dragon lunged downward, jaws wide, its body infused with Advanced Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki. The sky itself seemed to bend under its descent.
Ren laughed maniacally and expanded his staff, his beast-human form growing larger and larger until he towered like a golden giant.
"Come on then, Kaido!" he roared.
He gripped his staff with both hands, coating it in Conqueror's infusion and advanced Armament. Lightning danced along its length.
"Skyfall Strike!"
He swung upward.
The staff and flaming dragon clashed without touching. Invisible Haki collided, detonating the air itself. Shockwaves rippled across all of Wano, shattering clouds and pushing the sky outward like cracked glass.
The sea below dented inward violently, forming a massive crater in the ocean. Onigashima groaned under unbearable pressure, cracks spreading across its skull.
Kaido snarled mid-clash. "Is this… all you've got?!"
Ren gritted his teeth, veins bulging. "You're the one slowing down, old man!"
"I'm not old!" Kaido roared, flames intensifying.
"Then prove it!"
Their Haki flared brighter, black lightning splitting endlessly between them.
—
Even Kizaru was thrown backward by the shockwave. "Troublesome monsters…" he cursed, swearing at Sengoku's ten generations under his breath.
He steadied himself in the air and adjusted his glasses. "If I'm going to do this… it has to be now."
Golden light gathered at his fingertips.
"Yasakani no Magatama…"
As Ren and Kaido strained against each other's ultimate attacks, beams of light rained toward them from above.
Ren's eyes flicked upward. "Tch. That coward finally decided to join."
Kaido laughed despite the strain. "Let him try! If he interferes, we kill him together!"
"After I beat you," Ren shot back.
Golden beams pierced through the storm of Haki, targeting Ren's exposed flank.
Kizaru's voice echoed lazily, though his eyes were sharp. "Sorry, young man… orders are orders."
The era itself seemed to hold its breath as three titans collided in the shattered skies above Wano.