"Shi-hahaha!"
Kaido laughed wildly as he smashed building after building.
Watching civilians scatter in terror amused him. Their fear was entertainment.
At that moment, a red-haired little girl suddenly rushed out and stood in front of him, glaring angrily.
"You bad guy! Stop destroying our homes!"
She picked up a small stone and hurled it at him with all her strength, trying to drive him away.
Just a naïve child.
But to Kaido, anyone who stood in his way—no matter who—would be crushed.
Without hesitation, he raised his spiked club and brought it down toward her.
Just as it was about to strike—
A blue light flared behind the girl.
The Shangqing Five Strength Talisman manifested.
Two massive hands formed from black qi burst forth—one blocking Kaido's club, the other forming a fist and slamming into him.
The force was substantial.
Kaido was knocked back over ten meters, nearly stumbling.
"That damn Black Devil…"
The moment the talisman appeared, Kaido knew who had arrived.
No one else used such bizarre techniques.
"Having fun, Kaido? Want me to join in?"
Chu Qiye's amused voice sounded from behind him.
Kaido turned.
Chu Qiye sat casually atop a rooftop, legs crossed, smiling faintly.
"Black Devil. You wanna fight?" Kaido lifted his club and pointed it at him. "I've been sick of you for a while. My bounty's higher than yours—why are you an officer and I'm not?"
"Because…" Chu Qiye leapt down. "My fists hit harder."
He launched forward mid-sentence, kicking straight toward Kaido's face.
Though massive, Kaido wasn't slow. He countered instantly with his club.
Chu Qiye's kick struck the iron club.
A surge of force traveled through it, tearing at Kaido's palm.
Kaido's expression shifted.
He shoved hard, blasting Chu Qiye backward.
Chu Qiye flipped several times in the air before landing smoothly.
"Demolition Impact!"
Kaido raised his club and smashed it into the ground, unleashing a violent shockwave.
Chu Qiye calmly raised a hand.
"Vajra Guardian Talisman — Double Layer."
The golden barrier formed just in time, blocking the shockwave—but shattered immediately after.
"Honestly, Kaido," Chu Qiye said lazily, "there are fewer than five people in the Rocks Pirates I take seriously."
"And you're not one of them."
"Shut up, Black Devil! Today I'll settle this!"
"Settle what?"
Chu Qiye nearly laughed.
He raised a middle finger.
"You think you're qualified, brat?"
From their brief clash, he'd already gauged Kaido's level.
Still far from a billion-berry pirate.
And without his Mythical Zoan fruit—
Just an ability-less brat.
For the first time in his life, Kaido tasted such humiliation.
Fury consumed him.
"Die!"
He swung with full force.
BOOM!!!
The ground exploded into a massive crater over ten meters long.
But Chu Qiye wasn't there.
Instead, he stood atop Kaido's club.
A quadruple-layer Thunder Talisman glowed blue in his hand.
"Five Thunder Talisman — Fourth Layer!"
The thunder dragon erupted and swallowed Kaido whole.
Even without a Devil Fruit, Kaido's monstrous physique endured the blast.
But now he was charred black, smoking, and utterly disheveled.
"Kaido," Chu Qiye asked lightly, "do you know why I'm beating you?"
"Shi-hahaha…"
Kaido laughed despite his condition.
"Of course. Because of those bugs."
"Don't forget—we're pirates. Plunder and slaughter are our nature. Feeling sorry for civilians? Isn't that pathetic?"
"Nope." Chu Qiye wagged a finger.
"You're wrong about one thing."
"A pirate's nature is doing whatever he wants."
"I'm beating you because I feel like it. Simple."
"Damn you! Don't think this is over! Again!"
"Sure."
If Kaido wanted more—
He'd get more.
"Golden Armor Talisman — Triple Layer! Swift Step Talisman — Triple Layer!"
With talisman buffs layered atop Armament Haki, Chu Qiye entered full Runic War God Mode.
He vanished.
The next instant, he stood face-to-face with Kaido.
"So fast—!"
Even Kaido's Observation Haki struggled to track him.
A knee strike smashed into Kaido's jaw, launching his massive body into the air.
Before he could fall—
Chu Qiye leapt above him, raising his leg high.
A devastating axe kick hammered into Kaido's forehead, slamming him back down.
Punches. Kicks. Combos without pause.
Kaido couldn't retaliate.
By the end—
His head was bloodied.
Several teeth gone.
Eyes swollen nearly shut.
He lay amid the ruins, barely conscious.
Chu Qiye rolled his shoulders.
"Kaido, sometimes you really shouldn't act so arrogant."
"If you ever feel like getting beaten again, I'm always available."
Edward suddenly appeared beside him, chuckling.
"Qiye, we're teammates. Don't you think that was a bit heavy?"
"Too heavy? Fine. I'll go lighter next time."
"Gurararara!"
Chu Qiye sighed.
"Stop laughing. Business first. Fire the signal flare."
"Got it."
The flare burst in the sky.
It signaled that Basback had fallen.
And that the Rocks Pirates had officially stepped into direct opposition against the World Government.
Open war had begun.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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