"What a powerful force!"

Kaido had just been smashed into a mountain and burst out from the rubble, while Queen behind him took the brunt of the blow as his unwilling shield. Though it helped soften the impact, it wasn't enough to truly harm Kaido. He barely noticed Queen's condition afterward.

With a stomp that shattered the earth, Kaido launched himself forward with terrifying momentum. Mace in hand, he charged at Vane, swinging the massive weapon downward with devastating force.

The blade clashed like fire!

With a thunderous impact, Vane raised his blazing sword and blocked the incoming strike. The resulting shockwave blew away the surrounding dust in an instant. Though Vane held firm, the ground beneath him couldn't withstand the pressure—it cracked and collapsed. Kaido's monstrous strength, striking from above, made even the earth tremble.

"You're using that kind of blade?" Kaido scoffed, casting a disdainful glance at the sword.

It was Ryūjin Jakka, not yet fully awakened.

To someone like Kaido, it seemed like nothing special.

"Yeah?" Vane responded with a calm smirk, unfazed by the insult.

"You're trespassing on my territory, brat. I don't care if they're calling you a Pirate Emperor—you'd best respect the rules of the New World."

The rule was simple: never infringe on another Emperor's domain.

Kaido struck again, slamming the ground with his mace, sending debris flying. Vane had already evaded the strike.

Suddenly, dark purple wind surged around Kaido's mace, crackling with lightning. Even the skies seemed to respond, thunder rumbling above as Kaido raised his weapon.

"He's going all out?"

Vane recognized the attack—Thunder Bagua. A move that had laid waste to countless foes. To bend lightning itself... that was the might of a true Emperor.

"[Thunder Bagua!]"

Kaido roared and lunged forward again, hurling his weapon with the force of a natural disaster. The earth seemed to scream as the attack tore through the air.

"[Hadō #96: Ittō Kasō!]"

Vane wasn't about to sit still. With a roar of his own, he slashed down with Ryūjin Jakka, unleashing a colossal flame in the shape of a sword. The blaze engulfed the battlefield, blotting out the stars.

From a distance, even the calamities of the Beasts Pirates watched in awe.

"That's why they call him Fireblade Vane…"

"That flame… it's terrifying!"

"Can Kaido take that?!"

Kaido's eyes widened. Only when surrounded by that searing heat did he realize the true horror of Vane's flames. The temperature was so intense, even he—Kaido of the Beasts—felt as though he might evaporate.

Still, he stepped forward.

To retreat now would mean no longer being Kaido of the Hundred Beasts.

Thunder Bagua met Ittō Kasō.

"If you defeat me here, I'll recognize you as a true Pirate Emperor!" Kaido bellowed, his voice shaking the heavens.

The flaming sword wave crashed down. The battlefield was scorched black, Kaido's cape burned to ashes. Still, the mighty beast stood tall.

"I am Kaido of the Beasts!"

With a defiant roar, he swung Thunder Bagua with all his might. The lightning-infused blow tore a hole in the sea of fire, but it wasn't enough. Another wave of searing heat blasted through, knocking Kaido through the air like a meteor.

Vane moved through the flames like a phantom. The earth beneath him split, a smoldering canyon carved through sheer force.

Descending like divine judgment, Vane appeared above Kaido's falling form.

A golden magic circle shimmered to life in the air.

From it, Vane drew a spear—deep crimson, blazing with power.

[Weapon Unlocked: Gáe Bolg – Crimson Thorn of Death]

"[Gáe Bolg: Death-Piercing Spear!]"

The Investment System had granted him access to the prototype of all Noble Phantasms. And now, one of them would be Kaido's undoing.

Vane gripped the spear tightly, his eyes locked on Kaido.

"Kaido, I'll be the second person in the world to truly hurt you."

With those cold words, the crimson spear descended, stabbing toward Kaido's abdomen with divine precision.

"It's useless! I haven't been injured in years!" Kaido bellowed, his arrogance unfazed by the spear's glow.

But he was wrong.

The weapon struck like a bolt of heaven-sent retribution. For thirty agonizing seconds, it pressed against his belly—until it finally pierced through.

"Impossible…!"

Kaido gasped, horror dawning in his eyes.

"My belly… actually…"

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