Kaido's Immense Disappointment

That feeling would surely bring him both agony and ecstasy.

This thought grew stronger in Charlotte Linlin's mind, her mouth drooling wildly with craving, drops of saliva splattering onto the ground.

They even gave off a sizzling, corrosive sound.

This was also why Linlin's husbands generally met bad ends—ordinary people simply couldn't withstand the surging affection of this "terrifying monster" called Linlin!

The surrounding pirates scattered in fear, terrified of being touched by that dreadful saliva.

Shiki the Golden Lion, floating in the sky, also changed expression drastically. "What's going on? I punched that brat, so how did he turn out like this?!"

Ares's strange arm filled him with confusion and disbelief; he had never seen such bizarre happenings before.

Now Ares's arm was like a branding iron, beyond his imagination.

The next second.

Ares's massive body shot toward the Golden Lion like a cannonball, carrying a whistling wind.

That red-hot, searing arm made even the Golden Lion's domineering eyes contract involuntarily.

"This brat..."

"Still not sober?!"

He didn't have time to think further and directly used Armament Haki to clash his fist against Ares's.

Boom!!!

The sound shook heaven and earth; the shockwave from their colliding fists raged like a hurricane, sweeping through the entire town.

Gales tore across the land, sending countless items clattering and crashing against each other.

Windows banged violently, and many panes of glass shattered outright.

Shiki the Golden Lion's eyes flew wide open as he exclaimed in shock, "When did this guy's power get so strong?!!"

The previous punch had easily sent Ares flying.

But now, a fist imbued with Armament Haki couldn't suppress the Ares before him.

What the hell kind of growth rate was this?!!

It nearly made the Golden Lion's jaw drop!

He instantly connected it to Ares's red-hot, searing, and bizarrely symptomatic arm!

It felt to him as if it had become harder, its power more violent.

"Good brat, could this be some hidden combat technique of yours?!" the Golden Lion couldn't help but praise; Ares's sudden change had truly stunned him!

Its manifestation was completely different from Armament Haki, so Shiki the Golden Lion didn't even think to associate it with Armament Haki.

One fist clashed.

Ares, unable to fly, plummeted straight down from the sky.

The Golden Lion followed in rapid descent, their fists colliding fiercely in the air like a storm of wind and rain.

The speed was so fast it left afterimages!

A dense series of dull thuds rang out continuously from the sky.

"This guy..." Whitebeard's expression was filled with shock as he marveled, "This kid's growth rate is far too fast—he can actually hold his own for so long against the Golden Lion's Armament Haki!!"

His heart shook violently, even though this wasn't the Golden Lion's full strength.

But for a kid of fourteen or fifteen, such a feat was simply unbelievable.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, no one would believe a kid that age could achieve this!

Shiki the Golden Lion was the captain of the Rocks Pirates' First Division, already over thirty years old!

His name was renowned across the sea.

He conquered this ocean with strength.

Captain John excitedly raised his bottle, gulping down liquor, the curve of his smile nearly reaching his ears.

"Hahaha... such a ferocious brat will definitely become a super powerful monster in the future, with a growth rate far beyond imagination."

"Maybe in just a few years, Ares's name will resound across this entire sea!!"

"He'll become a capable officer under Captain Rocks!"

His heart was brimming with delight; in terms of physique, stamina, combat power, and everything else, the kid was on a monster level—if he grew up, he would surely make the Rocks Pirates unstoppable.

Invincible!!

Conquer the entire New World!!!

Captain John's heart surged with excitement; then, following Captain Rocks, he would gain endless wealth.

Fulfilling his dream of sleeping and drinking atop mountains of gold and silver!

Ares's valiant performance also made Kaido, the one he had defeated, gape in shock, his mouth wide enough to swallow a table.

"How is this guy so strong?!!!"

"Damn it!! He wasn't this powerful before!!"

"How did he get this strong now?!!"

The vast gap gnawed at Kaido's heart—the distance between him and Ares was only growing wider!

And now, Ares was actually fighting the First Division Commander, Golden Lion!

A few days ago, he'd still had confidence that through grueling training he could grow stronger and eventually defeat Ares. But now, that hope was steadily shrinking.

His blazing will to win dimmed. The sheer disparity left Kaido's beast-like heart feeling cold and hollow.

But then, abruptly.

A dissenting voice rose from the depths of Kaido's soul.

It seemed to tell him that if he chose to flee, to admit he was inferior to Ares, he would forever lose the right to be a king.

A light kindled in Kaido's enormous eyes. He clenched his fists tightly and spoke with unwavering resolve: "Right. I'm Kaido—the one with the potential to be a king."

"One day, I'm destined to become the strongest existence on these seas!"

"I won't give up!"

Suddenly, a fierce and domineering aura erupted from his body—Conqueror's Haki.

The surrounding pirates turned their heads in surprise.

But for the members of the Rocks Pirates, Conqueror's Haki was nothing new.

After all, not only their captain Rocks, but also First Division Commander Golden Lion, Second Division Commander Whitebeard, and Linlin all possessed it.

Boom!

Boom!

Crash!

Boom!

The sounds of impact rang out continuously, accompanied by the destruction of nearby buildings.

Golden Lion's expression grew more and more grim, his mood heavy. "This brat's stamina and strength—he's a monster among monsters!"

"That kind of monstrous force has even numbed my arms!"

"How long is this kid going to stay drunk?!"

"If he doesn't wake up soon, I'll have no choice but to draw my sword!!"

He never imagined that after that inexplicable change, the brat would become this much stronger!

Even on the Rocks' ship, he was now among the elite.

Golden Lion shouted loudly toward Ares: "Hey!!"

"Ares! Wake up now!!"