Ark Activation!

"Zanka no Tachi: North—Heavenly Ash"

The battle at Jinbu Port had reached a fever pitch. Facing Kaido's ferocious assault, Haku slashed out an ultra-high-temperature strike.

"Kong"

Kaido swung his iron club directly, sending out a pillar-shaped blast of weapon energy, using this long-range attack to block Haku's distant slash.

Of course, against Haku's strike, he had no choice but to block it with this move.

Because the devastating heat from Heavenly Ash was something even his own body couldn't withstand.

Though Kaido blocked the attack, the immense impact force knocked him back several steps.

At the same time, his skin felt a searing heat, as if scorched by flames.

"This brat!" Kaido thought to himself.

From the start of the fight, the two had exchanged over a hundred moves. But the key point was that Haku had barely taken any damage so far.

Meanwhile, Kaido himself was suffering terribly from the high-temperature roasting.

Haku stepped forward with Shunpo, swinging Ryujin Jakka downward, its blade wreathed in thick black smoke.

Kaido knew his opponent was fast. Facing Haku's slash, he chose to dodge the edge of the blade, evading the attack.

As Kaido dodged, Haku's sword tip missed and struck the ground.

A blast rang out. The ground where Ryujin Jakka touched, along with the area ahead, instantly vanished into a pitch-black chasm.

Sweat kept pouring from Kaido's face and body.

Whether it was because of Haku's near-destructive attacks.

Or because of the relentless heat surrounding them at all times.

If anyone on the scene was the most shocked, it was King himself.

He didn't understand. After Haku's Zanpakuto changed forms, how could its power become so absurd?

Even his boss had to dodge when facing that blade's edge.

King muttered under his breath, "Damn bastard. When that Navy brat fought me, he wasn't even using his full strength!"

No matter what went through his mind, it wouldn't affect the situation on the other side of the battlefield.

And the more Kaido fought Haku, the more frustrated he became.

In truth, he had an even stronger full-beast form.

In that form, he could create attacks on par with natural disasters.

But once he transformed, his size would increase dramatically, making him nothing short of a live target in front of Haku.

"Gozanme'naraku!"

After dodging Haku's attack, Kaido leaped into the air, spun his iron club, wrapped Conqueror's Haki around it, and struck downward.

Just as the club was about to land on Haku's body, Haku vanished from his spot.

The shockwave from Kaido's spiked club hitting the ground cracked the earth.

Haku reappeared behind Kaido, thrusting Ryujin Jakka, wreathed in high heat, straight for Kaido's heart.

Through Observation Haki, Kaido naturally knew his opponent's position. He turned and swung his club, deflecting Haku's thrusting Ryujin Jakka by a room's width.

The high temperature at Ryujin Jakka's tip shot forward like a Ghost Fire, grazing past Kaido's armpit and flying off.

"Boom!"

A distant mountain peak exploded, raging flames engulfing the entire hill.

Haku said helplessly, "You can dodge even that?"

Kaido sneered, "Don't you know who I am? You're still too green to kill me."

Haku wasn't provoked by Kaido's arrogance. He calmly observed the battle situation. Against an opponent like this, caution was the only way to avoid mistakes.

"Looks like this Four Emperor isn't so easy to deal with," Haku thought to himself.

But just then, Kaido suddenly launched a fierce attack. He swung his iron club, carrying powerful Haki and flames, charging straight at Haku.

"Kong!"

Kaido's iron club smashed into the ground with devastating force, sending a powerful shockwave spreading in all directions. Haku hurriedly dodged, but the shockwave still caught him, sending his body flying backward involuntarily.

Using the dust and smoke as cover, Haku fired a bolt of lightning toward the distant Ark.

Kaido's Observation Haki naturally caught this, but he didn't take Haku's Ark seriously at all.

"What? Trying to run now, kid?"

In his view, Haku starting the Ark was indeed an attempt to flee.

"You think I'll let you leave that easily?"

Kaido swung his spiked club at Haku again.

"What makes you think I want to leave?"

Kai—Haku held Ryujin Jakka, blocking that attack!

Then, he continued, "But my system quest isn't done yet. How could I bear to leave here? At the very least, I still have to take you down first!"

Hearing that Haku still wanted to knock him down, Kaido roared angrily, "Arrogant brat! Die for me!"

"Ragnarok!"

The spiked club lashed out again, wreathed in chilling purple lightning and thick Conqueror's Haki!

Haku smirked. "Why the rush?"

"Zanka no Tachi, West: Burning Prison Robe."

Haku's Spiritual Pressure turned into flames, cloaking his body and blade like a blazing sun.

He swung his Zanpakuto head-on to meet Kaido's attack.

"Boom!"

The two immense forces collided, producing a deafening roar. Haku's blade was knocked away, and his whole body flew backward—while Kaido himself stood rooted to the spot!

From this exchange alone, the gap in their strength was clear. Haku's power was never built on raw force.

So when facing Kaido's attacks, he was always the one sent flying.

But Haku's strikes were no joke either. Though Kaido had knocked him back, the searing heat from Haku's attack scorched Kaido's entire arm black!

"Zanka no Tachi, North: Heavenly Ashes!"

Haku unleashed another superheated slash—one of his strongest techniques. This blow alone could reduce all of Jinbu Port to ashes.

Yet Kaido showed no panic. He swung his iron club, releasing a surge of power from its tip that formed a solid barrier, blocking Haku's slash.

"Kongdian!"

Kaido's iron club transformed into an unbreakable wall of purple club energy, completely deflecting the slash's force. Then, with a fierce swing, he sent a powerful shockwave surging back at Haku.

"Boom!"

The shockwave struck Haku, sending his body hurtling backward. But midair, his form suddenly vanished!

Even Kaido's Observation Haki couldn't track Haku's figure?

"Boss! Up in the sky!"

King, having recovered some strength, shouted at the top of his lungs.