One Piece: Starting with Breathing Techniques

Chapter 172 Kaido!

After confirming that Orochi dared not act rashly, and after giving his subordinates the order to lift the ban on weapons with a look of fear on his face, Kiro slowly turned around and left the general's residence.

Now, this first task can be considered completed.

Kilo nodded slightly, then his gaze sharpened, he took a deep breath, and his eyes gleamed with a gradually rising fighting spirit.

Next, it's time to go find the Golden Lion!

Kilo had been eyeing the points he could get from the other party for a long time!

He unleashed his Observation Haki, allowing his vast senses to expand outwards from himself to their limit, searching for the Golden Lion's trail.

But just as he closed his eyes and pondered, his vision suddenly blurred, his pupils contracted, and he instantly turned to look at the general's mansion not far away. He saw an exaggeratedly burly figure calmly walking out from behind the general's mansion.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Kiro's eyes narrowed.

"—Kaido."

"You want to stop me?"

The newcomer was none other than Kaido, hailed as the strongest creature on land, sea, and air!

With a bounty of 46 billion Berries, his strength is self-evident, second only to Whitebeard.

His expression was unreadable; his fleshy face was fixed on Kiro with his head bowed.

"You dare step into my territory and expect to leave unscathed?"

"Where in the world can you find such a good thing?"

Faced with Kaido's threat, which left him completely unfazed, Kiro smiled instead of getting angry, and slowly moved his right hand toward the hilt of his sword.

"Oh?"

"Are you trying to buy time for your friend?"

Kiro snorted coldly, looked up and stared directly at Kaido, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, his tone icy.

"Kaido, do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

The moment his words fell, a terrifying aura was suddenly released, instantly enveloping the entire area, and the air itself was even distorted and deformed by this condensed and resolute aura.

"This is----?!"

Kaido's pupils contracted, and a wave of emotion surged within him.

He was one of the few people who had mastered Conqueror's Haki, so he could naturally tell that the aura in front of him was not Conqueror's Haki, but some kind of purer power.

So pure that it can even conjure up the air out of thin air!

In that instant, Kaido seemed to see the phantom of a long sword slowly emerging behind Kiro. The sword shadow was enormous and majestic, pointing straight to the sky, and it had a sharpness that could tear the heavens and earth apart.

Suddenly, Kaido's expression darkened as he recalled a rumor he had heard long ago.

It is said that when a swordsman reaches the pinnacle of cultivation, through a combination of fortuitous circumstances and exceptional talent, he may have an epiphany and comprehend a terrifying ability called sword intent.

This ability seems to further amplify the swordsman's threat, even surpassing swordsmanship itself, reaching an appalling level.

But that was just a rumor that Kaido had heard from the outside world; before that, he thought it was just a legend.

But now, Kaido senses that the chilling sword intent released by Kiro is very likely the legendary sword intent!

Seeing Kiro's aura rising steadily, seemingly ready to fight at the slightest provocation, even Kaido, known as a brute, couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.

"etc----"

Kaido looked around and his heart sank.

This is the heart of Wano Country. If powerhouses of their caliber were to unleash their true strength and fight with all their might, a significant portion of Wano Country would likely be obliterated by the devastating energy ripples!

Although he doesn't care much about this country, the military factories and research facilities that would allow him to rule the world are all nearby!

He couldn't possibly risk having these valuable facilities destroyed!

A flicker of apprehension crossed Kaido's eyes. He suddenly spoke, "Wait, we can talk!"

"Kiro—" A glint of light flashed in Kaido's eyes as he sized Kiro up and down before slowly speaking, "Interested in joining my Beasts Pirates?"

"I can give you the position of first mate, above all the officers, with power and status equal to mine!"

"If the two of us join forces, the whole world will be ours!"

Kaido surprisingly extended an olive branch to Kiro without hesitation.

After all, Kiro had already achieved such exaggerated strength and terrifying talent at such a young age.

He is fully qualified to be Kaido's ally!

But when faced with Kaido's invitation, Kiro scoffed, with a hint of disdain: "Kaido, where do you get your confidence from?"

""

"You don't really think you can beat me, do you?"

Seeing Kaido's increasingly cold expression, Kiro slowly raised his right hand and gripped the hilt of his sword.

Seeing this, Kaido's eyes narrowed, and he coldly shouted, "Stop!"

"If you want to fight—"

He pointed outside Wano Country, "Dare to come outside and fight me?"

He wasn't afraid of fighting the Kilo, but he was worried about the materials of those expensive equipment being damaged.

There's no need to destroy something that could turn the world upside down for the sake of some insignificant outsider!

Upon hearing this, Kiro seemed to see through Kaido's inner turmoil and immediately laughed, "—No!"

He gripped the hilt of his sword with his right hand and, to Kaido's disbelief, suddenly drew it from its sheath, creating a dazzling flash of light.

The sword light instantly transformed into thousands of net-like sword energies, carrying a terrifying gale as it hurtled towards Kaido.

"you?!"

Seeing the oncoming slash, Kaido sensed the terrifying power contained within it, his expression changed drastically, and he roared as he resisted the impact of the sword energy, his feet carving deep trenches in the ground.

"How dare you?!"

Kaido never expected that Kiro would dare to attack him directly.

He was one of the biggest pirates in the New World, yet the other party didn't even consider his status and attacked him directly?!

More importantly, this is his territory, Wano Country!!

Kaido, realizing what was happening, slammed his right hand down, shattering the sword energy. His angry eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent as he looked up at Kiro.

"You asked for this!"

Before he could finish speaking, Kiro had already appeared in front of Kaido, riding the wind, his longsword leaving a trail of crimson light in the air.

boom-

After a loud bang, Kaido's massive body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the ground behind him and kicking up a cloud of dust.

He continued his momentum, smashing through countless gravel and rocks before finally coming to a stop.

Despite being struck by Kiro's merciless blow, Kaido suddenly raised his head, his eyes showing no sign of pain, but rather an uncontrollable murderous intent.

"You deserve to die!!"

At this moment, he no longer cared about holding back, grabbed the massive spiked club, and slammed it down on Kiro with a tremendous shockwave. "Boom—!!"

The spiked club, imbued with intense Armament Haki, left afterimages in the air before crashing down, only passing through the afterimage left by Kilo.

"Too slow!"

Before anyone knew it, Kiro had appeared behind Kaido, the longsword in his hand now blurred, wreathed in two strange, distinct lights.

He took a deep breath and shouted in a low voice, "God Slash!"