The battle had grown vicious. Even if Kaido and Teach gave no orders, their blood-crazed soldiers would charge forward screaming.
By now, both sides had sent their officers into battle again and again. After several clashes, the Corrupt King had been gravely wounded by Becky, the Insect Calamity, and remained unconscious. King, the Flood Calamity, had lost a hand to the Crescent Moon Hunter and nearly been gutted. Both sides had suffered.
Loa's arrival gave them a reason to stop fighting—and a chance to sit down and catch their breath.
The vast Dragon Ship Fleet spread out in a broad arc, almost encircling both armies. At one word from Loa, either side would be within its range.
Arrogant!
But he had earned the right!
Seated on Ice Wolf's back, Loa yawned and glanced at the figures standing behind their respective armies.
Kaido was as tall and powerfully built as ever, but his skin had turned reddish brown. What covered his body looked less like skin than stone.
Teach's left heart had been crushed in Loa's hand, leaving a dark-red hollow. Everyone thought Loa had merely wounded him; they had no idea he had torn out his heart. On the right side of Teach's face, three raised scars radiated from his temple. Dense rows of stitches joined them together, like three ugly, flesh-colored centipedes clinging to his head.
Loa looked at them and said, "What? Tired of living?"
With his first words, Loa cowed the others like a ruler passing judgment. Kaido's face darkened, and red heat churned beneath his skin like a volcano about to erupt. But he knew that even after merging with the Stone Heart, he was no match for Loa now.
That world-destroying power was beyond anything he could imagine!
Loa went on.
"I let the two