Beasts Pirates' Bewilderment: Were All These Self-Taught?

"You bastard!"

Kaido had finally become somewhat embarrassed and enraged!

Bzzzz—!!!

An invisible yet incomparably domineering aura suddenly erupted from Kaido's body!

Conqueror's Haki!

Like a tangible shockwave, it spread madly in every direction!

Even the air inside the palace seemed to freeze!

Those weaker members of the Beasts Pirates could not even keep their footing beneath that terrifying Conqueror's Haki. Their faces went pale, and cold sweat streamed down their bodies!

Kaido highly condensed his Conqueror's Haki, turning it into an invisible blade that fiercely struck the stubborn black flames!

Hiss... hisss...

Under the forceful stripping effect of Kaido's nearly tangible Conqueror's Haki, that cluster of pitch-black flames finally... began to show signs of instability!

The black flames flickered violently, their color seeming to dim somewhat!

Seeing that it worked,

Kaido's Conqueror's Haki poured forth without restraint, like floodwaters released from a dam!

Finally!

Pfft!

That cluster of black flames, which had burned for so long and left even Kaido helpless, suddenly trembled under the ultimate impact of Conqueror's Haki before... unwillingly going out.

All it left behind was a small scorched patch on Kaido's hard azure dragon scales, giving off a pungent smell.

Though the wound was tiny, almost negligible, that charred mark was like a silent mockery branded upon the skin of the world's strongest creature!

Kaido panted heavily, a fine layer of sweat beading across his forehead.

He looked down at the charred mark on his arm, then raised his head toward the small figure in midair.

For the first time, genuine... surprise and astonishment appeared on his enormous dragon face!

That black fire just now...

Its damage might have been low, but its inextinguishable nature—and the fact that he had needed to use such a degree of Conqueror's Haki just to barely remove it...

What the hell!

This brat's new move was a little... too freakish, wasn't it?!

Inside the palace,

there was utter silence.

Every member of the Beasts Pirates, including the All-Stars King, Queen, and Jack, stood frozen on the spot!

What had they just seen?!

Governor Kaido... had actually been forced by that tiny cluster of black flames to use such powerful Conqueror's Haki to extinguish it?!

And judging by the Governor's appearance, it seemed to have cost him quite a bit too?!

This... this was even more unbelievable than Young Master Lynn kicking the Governor away with a single kick!

What kind of damned flame was that?!

"Brat!"

Kaido suddenly stretched out his enormous dragon claw and scooped Lynn out of the air. The movement was rough, yet it carried an unprecedented gravity and concern.

"What kind of ability are those eyes of yours, and that black fire from before?!"

"You didn't eat a Devil Fruit, did you?!"

Flying did not count as an ability, so that was fine.

Opening the Eight Gates did not count as an ability either. Indeed, no ability was that bizarre.

But that black fire completely matched the characteristics of a Devil Fruit ability!

"Eeya!"

Lynn shook his head.

Kaido immediately let out a sigh of relief.

But he still did not completely relax.

"Then where did that ghost fire come from?"

The All-Stars, Tobi Roppo, Numbers, and everyone else wore equally curious expressions.

Lynn blinked his large black eyes, his little mind racing.

Very quickly,

he struggled to poke half his body out from Kaido's palm and gestured with his little hand over Kaido's rough dragon scales.

Everyone understood.

Young Master was trying to write!

The dragon scales were too hard. Lynn's nails nearly wore flat before he barely managed to leave a few shallow, nearly invisible scratches.

But it was enough.

Powerhouses with excellent eyesight, such as Kaido and King, could still barely make out the two crooked words, like scribbles made by a ghost.

[Comprehension]!

The instant they saw those two words clearly,

the palace on Onigashima once again fell into deathly silence.

All the Beasts Pirates officers, including the All-Stars, looked at one another.

Com... comprehension?!

Flying... had been comprehended?!

That Eight Gates thing, that green steam, blue steam, crimson steam... had all been comprehended?!

Those bizarre crimson eyes from before, that black fire that made Governor Kaido's scalp go numb... had those been fucking comprehended too?!

What kind of heaven-defying comprehension was this?!

This could no longer be described with the word genius!

"Uoro..."

"Uorororo..."

"Uoh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh—!!!!"

Deafening laughter, louder and more violent than ever before, erupted from Kaido's mouth!

The entirety of Onigashima shook violently beneath his terrifying laughter!

Even the palace beams trembled and rattled, as though they might collapse at any moment!

"Comprehension?! Hahahaha! What a fine comprehension!"

Kaido threw back his head and laughed wildly, his enormous dragon face filled with unparalleled pride and madness!

"As expected of the son I chose!"

"At such a young age, you actually comprehended so many outrageous moves!"

"Uoh-oh-oh-oh-oh! My son is the chosen one! He is destined to surpass everything!"

Kaido's laughter was filled with dominance, wild joy, and endless anticipation for the future!

He suddenly raised Lynn before his eyes, fiery light flickering in his enormous dragon eyes.

"Brat! From today onward! All the finest resources on Onigashima will be supplied to you first!"

"I'll make you grow as quickly as possible!"

"I'll let the whole world see just what kind of magnificent existence my son, Kaido's son, will become!"

However,

the response he received was only a steady, faint sound of breathing.

Lynn had tilted his little head and already fallen deeply asleep amid Kaido's excited roars.

After opening the Eight Gates repeatedly and forcibly activating Amaterasu, his mental and physical strength had long been pushed beyond their limits.

The fact that he had endured until now was already a miracle.

"Hm?"

Kaido looked at the sleeping Lynn, and the excited expression on his enormous dragon face stiffened slightly.

Then, with great care, he gently placed Lynn upon the fur bed King had long prepared, lined with the softest Cloud Fox fur.

The gentleness of his movements formed a stark contrast with his massive, rough body.

"Pass down the order!"

Kaido turned around. His voice remained thunderous, but it carried unquestionable seriousness.

"From today onward, Lynn's safety will be raised to the highest level!"

"Anyone! Who dares harbor any ill intent toward him..."

A bloodthirsty gleam flashed through Kaido's eyes as terrifying killing intent spread outward.

"Kill without mercy!"

"Yes, Governor Kaido!"

King, Queen, Jack, and every other officer of the Beasts Pirates dropped to one knee in unison, their voices filled with fervor and awe!

The way they looked at the sleeping infant on that fur bed had completely changed.

He was no longer merely the young master.

He was the future of the Beasts Pirates!