Battling Kaido

Far away.

The Beasts Pirates' ship rocked violently amid the wind and waves, its hull tilting from side to side under the shock waves as the mast creaked under the strain.

At the bow.

King stared fixedly at the lingering lightning and traces of flame in the sky. His flame-like wings whipped in the gale, and his pupils abruptly contracted.

"... Lord Kaido!!!"

The pirates behind him fell into utter panic.

"H-how is that possible?!"

"Someone actually drove back Lord Kaido's Bolo Breath head-on?!!"

"That man... that lightning..."

Cries of shock rose one after another, and fear spread across the deck like a plague.

King drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions. The black wings on his back folded slightly as reason quickly returned.

"A lightning ability..."

His gaze locked onto the figure standing on the deserted island, and his voice sank.

"Could it be—?!"

Just then.

In the sky, a savage presence forcibly churned the thunderclouds.

The next second—

Kaido's familiar, unrestrained laughter rolled down from deep within the sea of clouds.

"Wororororo—!!!"

His laughter thundered through the air, making it tremble, filled with bestial delight and fury that had accumulated over years.

"Rock!!"

"Do you know what these past few years have been like for me?!!"

On the deserted island.

Rock stood among the shattered rocks, the patterns of lightning beneath his feet yet to fade.

He casually raised a hand and picked his ear, looking so relaxed that the sky-rending explosion moments earlier might as well have been a slightly noisy gust of wind.

"Huh?"

He tilted his head, his tone languid and even a little disdainful.

"Like I give a damn~"

Lightning flickered gently beside him, and arcs crackled softly in the air.

Rock looked up at the roiling sea of clouds, a dangerous,