Pirate: I was just slacking off, do you really think I'm bad?

The once beautiful and prosperous island has been reduced to ruins after half an hour of fierce fighting between Kaido and Shanks.

At this moment, Kaido was only slightly weakened in terms of his aura, but he had no wounds on his body.

Even the scar inflicted by Shanks in their previous battle quickly healed into a light pink mark thanks to Kaido's astonishing physique.

On the other hand, Shanks on the other side didn't have it so easy.

Shanks' face was a little pale at this moment, and his clothes had been torn in several places. However, Kaido could not easily defeat Shanks. "Red-haired brat, your growth is truly amazing."

Kaido transformed into his half-dragon form once more and discovered that even in his dragon form, with his terrifying area-of-effect attacks and powerful physique, he was completely ineffective against Shanks' speed.

On the contrary, Shanks's physical strength makes it very convenient for him to attack.

"Roaring Eight Trigrams!"

Kaido also has his own way of dealing with speed-type opponents, which is to use the powerful force of the Thunder Bagua to suppress them.

With his Observation Haki locking onto him, Shanks had nowhere to hide and was forced to fight back.

clang!

The muffled thuds of weapons clashing rang out, and Shanks' figure instantly transformed into a black shadow, leaping far away into the distance.

He planned to use friction in the air to counteract Kaido's power.

But all of this was Kaido's calculation.

!!!

After seeing Shanks jump backward as he had predicted, Kaido let out a dragon roar and transformed into a giant dragon once more.

"Rising Dragon Flame Eight Trigrams!"

The enormous dragon head stared at Shanks' figure in the air, and endless flames gathered from the air to Kaido's dragon head.

Even the Red-Haired Pirates, far away on their ship in the port, could clearly feel this deadly, scorching temperature.

"captain!"

"I hope Shanks will be alright."

"Calm down. Shanks may like to play tricks, but he definitely won't die at Kaido's hands. After all, he's Shanks!"

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates were all worried about Shanks, except for Beckman, who calmly watched Shanks' figure with a cigar in his mouth. He had great faith in Shanks' potential. From the moment he followed Shanks to establish the Red-Haired Pirates, he believed that Shanks would one day ascend to the throne of the Pirate King, just like Roger.

Although the current difficulties are extremely dangerous, they are not an inevitable outcome for Shanks!

Just as everyone was worried, Kaido had finished charging up. From the dragon's gaping maw, a red star, resembling the sun, emitted an astonishingly high temperature, shouting, "Spirit!!!"

After a dragon's roar, Kaido suddenly unleashed his most powerful attack.

Shanks in the air showed no fear on his face; he was still seriously commenting on Kaido's moves as if he were carefree.

First, they used the Thunderous Eight Trigrams attack to knock me away. Then, while I was in the air and had difficulty moving, they launched a wide-range attack, leaving me with no way to dodge.

"As expected of a legendary pirate, he has experienced many battles and has his own methods for dealing with any kind of opponent."

Although Shanks outwardly looked down on Kaido, he still carefully analyzed Kaido's moves during the battle.

Even he was amazed by Kaido's rapidly changing techniques.

Who says Kaido is just a big, dumb guy?

The person who said this must have never actually seen Kaido, otherwise he would have been killed by Kaido with a single blow.

"But do you think you can control me like this? You're too arrogant, Kaido!"

Instead of facing Kaido's long-charged ultimate attack head-on, Shanks used his legs to stomp on the air repeatedly to offset the force of being knocked away.

"Useless brat, you've been locked on, you have nowhere to escape!"

Kaido kept his eyes fixed on Shanks' movements, and seeing Shanks constantly stomping on the air, he already understood Shanks' strategy.

However, over the years, every speed-type pirate has believed they could use this move to evade Kaido's attacks, but no one has ever successfully challenged Kaido.

"Heh, Observation Haki lock-on? What if that's the case?"

Shanks smiled slightly, and then his figure quickly disappeared into the air.

"What?!"

Kaido's eyes were bloodshot as he scanned his surroundings.

There was no sign of Shanks anywhere—front, back, left, right, up, or down.

"How is this possible? What kind of Devil Fruit did this bastard eat?!"

After losing his Observation Haki lock onto Shanks, Kaido roared to the sky and stopped his fire-breathing attack.

Kaido had just noticed that Shanks had briefly dodged his Observation Haki, but since it was only for a few seconds, Kaido didn't take it seriously.

But things are different now. There's an opponent that even Observation Haki can't lock onto.

Kaido couldn't even imagine how terrifying it would be.

In the New World, most pirates rely on the three types of Haki to fight. Even for Devil Fruit users, Haki is a fundamental skill they have trained in.

No one intentionally avoids using Observation Haki, and no one gets used to not using Observation Haki.

Since Kaido started his apprenticeship with the Rocks Pirates, he hasn't yet mastered the application of the Fish-Fish Fruit, but he has cultivated Haki to a very high level.

Observation Haki is an indispensable part of his battles, and what Shanks is showing now is that he can conceal his Observation Haki from being perceived by others.

That's absolutely terrifying.

Especially considering Shanks is still very young,

Kaido reverted to his half-dragon form, his crimson dragon eyes scanning all directions with menacing intent.

"I'm here, Kaido."

Shanks' voice suddenly came from the right rear, and Kaido swung his Eight Treasures Sword backward.

boom!

Happo Treasures didn't hit anyone, and Kaido's all-out attack could only slam into the ground helplessly. Just then, in Kaido's peripheral vision, a dazzling light appeared.

D this!

Kaido's eyes widened in fury!

Ignoring the wound in his waist and abdomen, he punched Shanks in the shoulder.

The two of them stepped back together.

At this moment, both of them were in very bad shape.

Kaido's waist had been slashed open with a bloody, mangled wound, while Shanks' right arm was limply hanging down to his side.

Both of them were injured in this fight.

Kaido's eyes were filled with deep apprehension, and he immediately held the Eight Treasures Sword horizontally in front of his chest.

He had finally conquered Wano Country, and hadn't even started recruiting troops to prepare for his challenge for supremacy. He couldn't just die so easily.

Shanks on the other side was much more dashing.

Although one of his arms was broken, his dominant left hand was fine and he still had the ability to fight.

Moreover, he was still so young, and he was already very happy to have fought Kaido, who was already famous, to such an extent.

Rakiro took a bite of his pork knuckle and looked at the two men facing off in the distance, saying:

"Has the boss had enough fun?"

I think he's missing a shoulder.

However, the boss is indeed impressive; he managed to fight Kaido to this extent on their very first meeting.

Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke, dispelling a trace of worry in his heart, and said with a sigh of relief:

Don't underestimate Kaido; his aura has weakened by less than half since he arrived, while Shanks' aura is only a third of its original strength.

"Prepare to take action and defeat Kaido. Let's leave here with Shanks."

Yes, from beginning to end, the Red-Haired Pirates never intended to fight Kaido here, nor did they ever think of taking over this island.

They were just on this island to replenish their supplies, and Kaido's arrival was something they hadn't expected.

Now that Shanks and Kaido have fought dozens of rounds and learned enough, it's time for them to retreat.

You go and fetch the captain; I'll show you Kaido.

Yasopp swiftly leaped onto the lookout tower atop the mast, aiming his spear at Kaido's head, his Observation Haki locking onto Kaido firmly.

Feeling that he was being targeted, Kaido suppressed his anger and said with a gloomy expression;

"Shanks, I admit you're completely different now. You've earned your place in the New World through your strength. But this is my territory. If war breaks out, your Red-Haired Pirates should be prepared for casualties."

Right after Kaido was injured, he quietly dialed King's number.

King has now stopped the forces from Wano Country from heading here. Kaido is confident that the Red-Haired Pirates cannot kill him before King arrives, so he shows no sign of weakness.

Upon hearing Kaido's words, Shanks couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha, Kaido. As expected, Captain Roger was right. You may seem rude, but you're actually terrified of death. I reckon your Beasts Pirates crew is already on their way."

Kaido's expression darkened even more after Shanks exposed his secret, but he remained silent in rebuttal.

After Shanks laughed, he said to Kaido, "You and I both know that I don't have the strength to kill you yet, but you know in your heart that if you let me leave here, sooner or later I will have the strength to kill you."

"So, why don't you try to see if you can keep me here?"

Kaido did not respond to Shanks' words. Although he desperately wanted to kill Shanks, it was not now.

He knew in his heart that killing Shanks under the command of the Red-Haired Pirates would be an extremely difficult task, and he didn't intend to do anything futile.

Beckman and Lucky Roux quickly ran from the ship to the redhead's side:

"Captain, let's go."

The Kaido Pirates are almost here; if we don't leave, another big battle is about to begin.

It's not that the Red-Haired Pirates are afraid of the Beasts Pirates, it's just that the Red-Haired Pirates don't currently have any intention of conquering the world.

What they want to do now is to follow the path Roger once took, heading towards the final island, until the day they can no longer walk.

As for Kaido, they did not consider him a significant threat.

Those who cannot be killed now will become even less able to be killed as time goes by.

Shanks nodded and followed Beckman and Lucky Roux away.

Only Kaido remained, clutching the Eight Treasures, seemingly lost in thought. Long after the Red-Haired Pirates had left, the belated King leaped down from the sky and nervously approached Kaido's side.

"Brother Kaido, are you alright?"

Kaido's face was grim, his eyes blazing with fury. He only began to restrain himself after seeing King arrive. "I understand now," he said, "the Beasts Pirates' strength is still insufficient."

Inform Queen that his human experimentation program can now be implemented on a large scale. Also, tell that brat from the Donquixote Family to start producing artificial Devil Fruits as soon as possible; I need a large quantity of Zoan-type artificial Devil Fruits.

Kaido's eyes were icy cold; he was eager to transform the Beasts Pirates into a powerful army to deal with the Red-Haired Pirates.

A shift in history created a grudge between Kaido and Shanks, and from then on, Kaido developed the Beasts Pirates with the aim of killing the Shanks Pirates and conquering the world.

Kaido may be unaware of the situation because he is in the thick of it, but to outsiders, Kaido and Shanks are like Shiki and Roger in the previous generation.

"That's all, Lord Raleigh."

The ramrod straight-backed messenger reported the latest intelligence about the New World to Raleigh.

Raleigh was also very interested in the idea of ​​Shanks and Kaido fighting, even though the Red-Haired Pirates shouldn't be facing off against Kaido right now.

Both pirate crews were likely in the process of building up their strength, but after learning all the information, Raleigh could only admire Kaido's reckless behavior. "Has this guy lost his mind? Was the dose of sedative he received when they drew his blood too high?"

Raleigh was somewhat confused.

"By the way, Lord Raleigh, Brigadier General Miles is stationed ahead. Should we resupply and rest?"

Raleigh snapped out of his reverie and gave a curt reply.

Miles, his apprentice, hadn't seen him for a long time.

I wonder what level Miles's strength has reached now. Raleigh remembers giving Miles a mysterious gift once; I wonder if Miles has used it.

"Full speed ahead, destination: Brixham Island."

Screech! Howl! Screech!

The warship, starting at full power, emitted a loud horn and its speed increased rapidly in an instant.

Raleigh's memories seemed to drift back to the past along with the chirping sound.

When the warship arrived at the port, Raleigh immediately spotted the tall figure standing there.

Miles, who has been training in the Navy for three years, has now grown to 2.63 meters tall, significantly taller than the others.

However, compared to Rowley, he is still far behind in height.

Miles, with tears in his eyes, waved his hands excitedly.

Raleigh didn't want to wait for the warship to slowly dock; he vanished from the deck in a flash and appeared beside Miles.

Miles saw Raleigh standing beside him and excitedly hugged him:

"Master, it's been a long time."

Raleigh pushed his apprentice away with a look of disgust, but then reached out and patted Miles on the shoulder and arm.

Finally, he placed his right hand on Miles' head:

"Hey kid, long time no see."