God's Knights Speed Bump Arrives!!!

Kaido wasn't afraid. His gaze remained fixed on that gigantic golden Buddha.

At this moment, he no longer hesitated. After setting down his spiked club, he fiercely brought his hands together before abruptly spreading them apart. Green energy exploded from within him, shattering the ground beneath his feet.

Eight Gates: Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit, Open!

Green chakra flames burned wildly over his body. The veins beneath his skin bulged, and his breathing became heavy and scorching.

He lowered his body and bent his knees slightly. The next second, the ground exploded, sending shattered stones flying.

Whoosh!

Kaido grabbed his spiked club, and his figure abruptly vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he had already streaked into the air like a bolt of green lightning, followed by a piercing sonic boom as the air tore apart.

Sengoku's eyes narrowed. The afterimage of Kaido's previous position still lingered in his pupils; he hadn't even managed to catch the trajectory of his movement.

And in the instant Sengoku was distracted, Kaido's spiked club, wrapped in howling wind pressure, smashed viciously toward the golden Buddha's head.

Bang!

A dull, thunderous impact exploded in the air.

The air rippled in layers, like a boulder thrown into still water, sending waves outward.

Sengoku's feet slid sharply backward. That enormous golden Buddha was actually driven back several steps by that single blow.

What did this guy do? How could he raise his strength to this level in such a short time?! Sengoku thought in shock, his eyes locked tightly onto Kaido.

Again!

Kaido gave him no chance to catch his breath. He flipped through the air, using the force of his descent to swing his spiked club again, smashing down at Sengoku with even greater ferocity.

This time, Sengoku reacted noticeably faster. Rather than defend, he thrust out his palm directly. A powerful shockwave erupted from the Buddha's hand like a pillar of golden light, meeting Kaido's attack head-on.

Boom!

The spiked club collided head-on with the shockwave in midair. The explosion of energy was deafening, and blinding light erupted from the point of impact.

Kaido's body was violently thrown back by the recoil, like a kicked pebble, crashing heavily down onto the ground.

Boom!

The ground caved in beneath him, forming a shallow crater as dust billowed everywhere.

Sengoku looked down at Kaido in the crater and drew his hand back again to gather power. Golden energy danced in his palm.

He spoke coldly, carrying the air of one passing judgment from above. "Kaido, you have one last chance to answer me."

"Hehehehe..." Kaido slowly rose from the ground, blood staining the corner of his mouth, yet he still wore a grin. "Stop looking down on people."

Sengoku's expression darkened. Kaido's answer was clear—he would never make any deal with the Marines like Ochoku had.

People like him had bones too hard to chew through.

"In that case." Sengoku took a deep breath, and the energy in his palm surged violently. "Then take my attack."

Great Sun Void!

He thrust out his palm. A muffled boom tore through the air, like the roar of some ancient beast, erupting with a deafening cry.

The golden shockwave condensed into a giant Buddha hand, its entire body burning with scorching golden flames as it came howling toward Kaido.

Kaido didn't retreat. He gripped his spiked club with both hands, coating every bit of his Haki around the weapon. Black patterns looked especially vicious beneath the green energy covering them.

He exerted both arms and, empowered by the Eight Gates, violently swung his spiked club.

Boom!

The spiked club collided explosively with the golden Buddha hand.

In that instant, violent shockwaves spread outward in every direction like a tsunami. The shattered stones on the ground were hurled into the air, then torn into even finer dust by the blast.

In this clash of power, Kaido was clearly at a disadvantage.

The ground beneath his feet instantly sank, cracks spreading in every direction like a spiderweb being torn apart.

Aah!!

Kaido roared, the muscles in his arms bulging as veins spread across the backs of his hands like climbing vines.

He continuously increased his output, trying to force the Buddha hand back, but it achieved little beyond slowing its advance for a second or two.

"Insect."

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came from behind Kaido.

"You seem to be struggling quite hard. Let me help free you."

Kaido's pupils contracted sharply. The voice was unbelievably close, yet he hadn't sensed its presence at all.

He instinctively tried to turn his head.

But it was already too late.

A flash of sword light swept past behind him.

Sizzle~~~~

Blood sprayed from his back.

A long gash ran from his shoulder down to his waist. Flesh curled open, revealing the severed muscle beneath.

The blonde woman didn't launch a second strike.

The instant she drew her blade, her figure flashed away like a cat that had finished hunting, lightly withdrawing beyond the range of attack.

Kaido's body suddenly stiffened, strength rapidly draining from his arms. The golden Buddha hand, which he had barely been able to resist, instantly lost all obstruction and crashed down upon him.

Boom!!

A violent explosion rang out as dust and gravel shot into the sky, then blasted in all directions like bullets.

An even deeper and wider crater appeared in the ground, its edges scorched black and trailing wisps of smoke.

The blonde woman landed atop a rise. She sheathed her bloodstained sword and looked at Sengoku with displeasure. "Look at you. What have you been doing? You've been dawdling for ages over an insect like this."

Her tone carried undisguised reproach and contempt. After a pause, she continued, "Also, has our target appeared yet? The captain is already tired of waiting."

Sengoku's gaze swept over her. No emotion could be seen on the golden Buddha's face, but there was obvious suppressed displeasure in his voice. "You..."

He took a deep breath and ultimately didn't lash out. After all, she was a member of the mysterious organization under the World Government, one with monstrous authority.

Even with his high position, there were matters in which he had no choice but to restrain himself around people like them.

Huff~~~ Sengoku slowly exhaled before explaining, "Not yet. My intelligence agents haven't responded in time."

"Tsk tsk tsk tsk~~~" The blonde woman openly wore a mocking expression. "Of course. If you Marines were reliable, why would we need to step in?"

"Hey, this was an unexpected situation." Sengoku tried to defend himself.

"Unexpected?" The blonde woman sneered, her cold gaze falling upon Sengoku. "Think about it. How many times has that rabble calling itself the Rocks Pirates robbed the Heavenly Tribute meant for the Celestial Dragons? Don't you know that?"

Sengoku was left speechless. Ever since the Rocks Pirates emerged, any Heavenly Tribute they set their sights on was practically guaranteed to be looted clean. Although most escort duties were handled by World Government personnel, as a Marine, he truly couldn't refute her words.

Rustle~~~

A faint sound came from within the dust-filled crater.

The blonde woman instinctively looked over, the corner of her mouth lifting into a cold curve. "Tsk tsk tsk... Insects really are tenacious."

From the depths of the crater, a bloodied hand reached out from the rubble. Then the other hand braced itself against the ground as well.

Kaido staggered to his feet. His face was covered in blood, and the wound on his back was still slowly seeping, staining his tattered clothes red.

The Eight Gates state he had activated had already faded away when the Buddha hand struck him.

He looked utterly miserable.

Yet he was smiling.

"Ptui." Kaido spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and said hoarsely, "Rocks... you were right. This really was a trap."

He paused and looked toward the sky, as though he saw something far away. "Ron, I broke my promise. I can't show you the big treasure."

He grinned as blood slid down from the corner of his mouth. "I accept the loss!"

The moment that shout fell, a violent gust of air exploded from within him, blowing away every trace of dust remaining in the crater.

Then, the Nine-Tails Cloak around Kaido's body rapidly shrank as though being absorbed by something, until it vanished completely.

"You bastard who ambushed me, even if I die, I'm taking you down with me!" Kaido roared.

Then he slowly closed his eyes before abruptly opening them. The chakra in his body burned madly like dry firewood set alight.

"With Ron's power, I feel like I can break through that shackle."

He took a deep breath and flung his arms wide.

Eight Gates: Sixth Gate, Gate of View, Open!!

A furious roar echoed through the crater.

In an instant, blinding white light erupted from within him, as though a small sun had burst forth from inside his chest.

The green energy instantly transformed into even more dazzling white steam, surging, expanding, and burning around his body.

The blonde woman's expression changed abruptly. She instinctively raised a hand to shield herself from the blinding light, but it still passed through the gaps between her fingers, stabbing pain into her eyes.

Then.

Her Observation Haki suddenly sounded its highest-level alarm.

A heart-pounding sensation rose from her chest, as though something was approaching her at an incomprehensible speed.

The blonde woman immediately lowered her arm, intending to assess the situation and dodge.

But what came rushing at her was Kaido's spiked club.

That blow trailed white steam, moving so fast it left an afterimage through the air. Carrying a savage force capable of crushing everything, it smashed straight toward her face.

Die!!

Boom!

The spiked club smashed directly into the blonde woman's face.

Under the violent impact, her entire head was flattened. Her eye sockets collapsed, her nose bridge broke, and her mouth twisted out of shape. Blood and shattered bone sprayed from her mangled face.

Then her body shot backward like a kicked cannonball, finally vanishing deep into the ruins and kicking up dust that filled the sky.

Kaido landed where she had just stood, gasping heavily. White steam continuously rose from his body, and the wound on his back had split open even further from that outburst, blood dripping down his spine onto the ground.

But he was still standing.

He hadn't fallen.

He turned around, looked at the golden Buddha, and slowly raised his spiked club, pointing it toward Sengoku.

Sengoku's pupils shrank violently. It had appeared again—Kaido's aura was even more ferocious than before. How the hell had he done it?

At the same time, inside the stone temple at the rear of the mountain.

Tap tap tap!

Urgent footsteps echoed across the stone steps.

A Marine soldier rushed into the hall and dropped to one knee. "Report! A member of the Rocks Pirates has been spotted in the northern waters. Identity confirmed: Shiki!"

Before his words had even faded, another Marine soldier rushed in after him. "Report! Rocks Pirates members have been spotted in the northern waters. Identities confirmed: Captain Rocks, member Edward Newgate, and crewman Ron!"

The two reports came only seconds apart, like two stones dropped into the hall, stirring ripples upon ripples.

From the depths of the hall, three figures slowly emerged.

Saint Garling walked at the front, the hem of his cloak swaying lightly with each step.

Half a step behind him, two men in cloaks walked side by side.

Body.

"Those cowardly insects have finally shown themselves?"

"Hehehehe... Making us wait this long is truly unpleasant. Very unpleasant!"

Saint Garling walked out of the stone temple, his gaze fixed upon the northern waters.

"Captain, let me go."

Saint Garling shook his head and said in a deep voice, "We move together. End this quickly."

The moment he finished speaking, his figure was already racing toward the shore like a blur.

The other two members of God's Knights followed at the same time without the slightest delay.

A short while later, above the sea.

Golden Lion was the first to reach the island. Flying in midair, he spotted three figures rapidly charging in his direction.

Golden Lion's eyes shifted as he glanced back over his shoulder.

Out on the sea, Rocks's speedboat was nearly here as well.

He withdrew his gaze and shouted at the speedboat below, "Rocks, three guys are charging over here! I'll leave them to you!"

With that, Golden Lion continued rising and flew off in another direction.

Saint Garling and the other two did not slow down because of this.

One of the cloaked members turned his head toward Saint Garling and asked, "Captain, the other one has changed his trajectory. Should we pursue him?"

"No." Saint Garling's voice came from beneath his cloak. "He can't escape. Deal with their captain first."

The three of them accelerated once more.

Saint Garling's fingers settled on the hilt of the sword at his waist. The other two made the same movement almost simultaneously.

The instant their blades left their sheaths, they let out a hum. Their Haki flowed over the blades like water, black patterns glinting with cold light beneath the sunlight.

Then.

They slashed at the same time.

Hummm~

Three sword cries rang out almost simultaneously, their soundwaves overlapping into a shriek sharp enough to pierce eardrums.

The arcs carved by their blades left behind three visible crescent-shaped sword slashes in the air, howling toward the approaching speedboat on the sea.

Boom!!!

The instant the sword slashes fell, it was as though an invisible giant hand had smashed apart the sea.

Explosive columns of water shot into the sky. White waves intertwined with shattered curtains of water, completely swallowing the speedboat from sight.

Before the curtain of water had even fallen, an incomparably enormous golden nine-tailed fox rose from the surging waves and smoke.

Its body shone with blazing golden light beneath the sun, nine enormous tails spreading behind it.

Two figures stood side by side atop the golden nine-tailed fox's head.

Rocks stood on the left with his arms folded, his posture casual and a smile on his face.

Whitebeard stood at his side, his naginata held horizontally before him, its blade reflecting a steady silver gleam in the sunlight.

"Wororororo~~~ So this is our first speed bump?"

I've updated 6,000 words. Brothers, can I beg for a few free little gifts?