Blood mist steamed around him, and unimaginable heat filled the air, leaving the space around River scorching and distorted.
"Ugh!"
Kaido shook his head. Wounds covered his body, and even his head was still spinning from the impact moments earlier.
"Mamamama!"
Big Mom muttered indistinctly, her eyes swirling with dizziness.
Compared to River's slender frame, their bodies had presented a much larger target for the impact. Fortunately, they had been far from the center of the explosion.
"You brat, you're still alive?"
"What tenacious vitality!"
Once Kaido could see clearly again, his pupils contracted.
He glared ahead as his body shifted into his dragon-human form, strange laughter accompanying the transformation.
His emotions became unstable. One moment he was laughing, the next he was weeping, and then he was roaring in fury.
Drunken Dragon Bagua mode!
Seeing River shrouded in blood mist, Kaido activated his strongest state without hesitation.
He had already gulped down a great deal of alcohol not long ago, and now his intoxication was at its peak.
"You won't leave this island alive today!"
"River!"
Kaido roared.
At the same time, his mountainlike figure hefted the Kanabo, and he slapped Big Mom beside him.
Bang!
Her body jolted, shaking off her dizziness and bringing her back to her senses.
"Mamamamama!"
"Kaido!"
Big Mom raised her head and stared at River a short distance ahead, her voice low. After shaking her head, she narrowed her eyes.
"He's still alive?"
Kaido nodded. "Yeah, this brat won't die that easily."
"But if we work together, we can definitely win!"
"I can already see the dawn of victory!"
A trace of gravity entered Big Mom's eyes as she studied River closely. "There's something unusual about his current state!"
"Of course. This is him at his strongest!"
"I heard he defeated Whitebeard in