Taking Turns in Battle

The Marines found pirates to level up against, while pirates could level up against either Marines or other pirates.

Pirates spent most of their time fighting with their lives on the line. Perhaps that was why they grew so quickly!

Kaido laughed as he leaped out of the humanoid pit, a thick, black Kanabo gripped in his hand.

Only then did Carl get a clear look at his entire form. He was extremely tall and powerfully built, with shoulder-length black hair and a pair of long horns like those of a dragon. His face was framed by a long beard resembling a dragon's whiskers, and his left arm bore a red dragon-scale tattoo.

His upper body was bare, and he wore a purple fur cape. A purple shirt hung from his waist, along with a shimenawa and a sake gourd marked with the character "Heaven." His lower body was clad in loose, dark-green pants, with two golden chains hanging from his sash.

Overall, he looked more or less like the Kaido in Carl's memories. The only difference was that his proportions were somewhat exaggerated. Compared to his lower body, his upper body was far too muscular.

"Why does it feel like he's not even as tall as his subordinate Jack?"

Staff Officer Tsuru couldn't help laughing when she heard Carl mutter that. This boy's focus really was unusual. Still, she was somewhat surprised that he showed no shock or fear at all upon seeing such a powerful enemy.

"Hey! Where are Aokiji and Kizaru? Why is it you useless lot?"

"How impertinent!"

Gion's eyes turned cold. She gripped Kompira with both hands and slashed horizontally at Kaido.

"Jin Feng Zhan!"

Kaido yawned disdainfully. Just as Gion was about to cut him, he suddenly exploded into motion and slapped at her.

"Gion, watch out!"

A sharp glint flashed through Gion's eyes. She spun and kicked at Kaido's arm, borrowing his strength to fly above him before bringing her sword down.

A bloody line instantly appeared across Kaido's chest, and blood gushed from it. But after a few breaths, the wound began healing at a visible speed, and in the blink of an eye, it had recovered completely.

"Put some strength into it. I almost felt pain there!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kaido's right hand, gripping the Kanabo, suddenly jerked.

"Thunder Bagua!"

Gion hurriedly raised her sword to block in front of her, but the savage force still sent her flying. She flipped several times in midair before regaining her balance and landing steadily on the ground.

"Are you all right, Gion?" Chaton hurried over and fussed over her, but he had no idea that this had touched Gion's limit.

"Get lost! I don't need your concern. Just do your job properly, Vice Admiral Chaton!"

Chaton scratched his head awkwardly, his expression somewhat unpleasant. Why did it feel like Gion had been putting him down more and more lately? Could it be because of that boy? But this wasn't the time to think about such things. The mission came first.

Gion rested where she was for a while, only to discover that she seemed to be completely fine! Meow Meow Er said

"Could this be Carl's... Holy Light? This healing power is amazing!"

Gion looked gratefully toward Carl and gave him a smile before joining the chaotic battle between the Vice Admirals and Kaido full of energy.

Even while surrounded by two Admiral candidates and two Vice Admirals, Kaido remained completely at ease. He was too lazy to dodge their attacks and simply took them head-on. They fought like that for nearly an hour, yet Kaido showed no sign of weakening.

Gion and the others, on the other hand, were exhausted, and the Holy Light within their bodies was gradually running out. Strangely enough, however, they had no injuries on them at all, just like Kaido.

This left Kaido rather baffled. He was a Mythical Zoan, sure, but could these Marines also be Mythical Zoans? Their wounds recovered almost as quickly as his own. It was ridiculous as hell.

"Kizaru, Aokiji, it's your turn!"

The two men flashed forward and forcefully took over the battle, finally making Kaido raise his spirits and face them with all his strength.

"Whew—Kaido really is troublesome. His defenses are far too strong!"

"If Carl's Holy Light hadn't been there, I would have been injured long ago. Thank you, Carl." Momonga politely thanked Carl, who waved his hand to show that there was no need to be so courteous.

Gion walked over to Carl with a smile and exhaled sweetly. "Thank you, little brother Carl. If not for you, Big Sis would have been injured long ago!"

Onigumo and Chaton also repeatedly offered their thanks. The scene had practically turned into a praise group.

"I really didn't expect your ability to have such a powerful supporting effect." Staff Officer Tsuru looked at Carl with increasing fondness. With an ability like that, how could the Marines fail to prosper?

Faced with all the praise, Carl merely smiled and nodded. If he could avoid speaking, he absolutely would. Compared to all this, he was more concerned with the battle between the Admirals and Kaido.

Watching a battle was also an excellent way to learn. More importantly, he didn't have to lift a finger.

"Damn you, Kizaru! Roaring Thunder Bagua!"

Kaido suddenly erupted with a powerful aura, wrapping it around his iron club. He gripped it with both hands and swung it at Kizaru with incredible speed.

Kizaru sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly transformed into photons to flee. If he took that blow head-on, his small frame would probably be gravely injured.

"This aura..." Feeling the immense pressure coming from all around him, Carl clenched both fists and stared at Kaido with blazing eyes.

"This is Conqueror's Haki. Only one person in several hundred thousand possesses it. The fact that you can withstand this pressure without fainting has already surprised this old woman."

After hearing Staff Officer Tsuru's explanation, Carl couldn't help feeling a surge of longing. So this is the bearing of a king? One day, I'll possess it too.

That was right. Carl intended to become the man who would be the King of Slacking Off!

If Carl had looked at his own status panel at that moment, he would have discovered that his Willpower attribute was rising wildly, shooting directly from C- to B+ and instantly becoming his most prominent attribute.

On the battlefield, Aokiji kept his eyes fixed on Kaido and extended his right arm behind him. Freezing air continued to gather until it formed a gigantic ice bird, which shot toward Kaido at incredible speed.

"Iceblock 'Pheasant Beak' (Ice Saber)"

Everything in its path became frozen ground.

Kaido, who had been led around by Kizaru, turned his head and saw it. His pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints, and he hurriedly raised the arm bearing the dragon-scale tattoo to shield his face.

The ice bird carried Kaido more than a hundred meters before exploding with a boom and transforming into a sky full of ice crystals that refracted seven-colored light.

Half of Kaido's body had frozen solid from Aokiji's attack. His lips were black, and his teeth chattered uncontrollably.

That sly old fox Kizaru took the opportunity to flash above Kaido's head and purse his lips. "Yasakani no Magatama!"

Countless light bullets rained down on the immobilized Kaido. They exploded one after another upon striking him, and Carl could feel the ground trembling continuously even from far away.

"Hm~ Why did it go quiet?"

As the smoke dispersed, Kaido's enormous body lay motionless in the pit.

"Kaido, we're old opponents! Playing dead is already an outdated trick!"

Kaido, still lying down, let out his booming "Wororororo" laugh and slowly climbed to his feet.

"Now that's satisfying! This is what a battle should be! Again!!!"