Kaido crashed heavily onto the ground, causing the earth to cave in and form a long gully.
Seizing the opportunity, Kozuki Oden charged forward with his sword.
His speed was extreme.
Before he even reached Kaido, Oden's sword energy surged ahead, striking at Kaido.
Kaido let out another scream.
While Kozuki Oden's swordsmanship might not surpass Mihawk's, in terms of combat power and the application of Conqueror's Haki, he was far beyond what Mihawk could compare to.
Kozuki Oden paid no mind to the damage his previous blow had inflicted on Kaido, for he knew that a mere strike could not kill Kaido.
Kaido's immense strength and defense were not so easily overcome.
Therefore, Kozuki Oden pressed his attack, bringing his sword down once more.
"Metsuken Sei!"
He slashed consecutively, releasing a five-pointed star of sword energy that combined in an instant, erupting with even greater power.
Roar!
"Sangeze, Hikun Naraka."
Kaido transformed into his dragon form, wielding his club and bringing it down.
Accompanied by thunder, his club, imbued with Conqueror's Haki, shattered Kozuki Oden's attack.
Kozuki Oden leaped back twice, creating distance.
"As expected, this fellow is not so easily killed."
Hearing this, Benedict chuckled, "If Kaido were that easy to kill, I would have dealt with him long ago."
Kozuki Oden nodded. His encounters with Kaido were few, but each limited exchange deepened his understanding.
He grew stronger with each battle.
Kaido emerged from the dust, looking at Kozuki Oden with a cold gaze and said indifferently, "You ignorant fool, you have no idea of Benedict's terror."
"Nor do you know my terror."
"Scram!"
Kaido's disdain for Kozuki Oden was unconcealed.
This infuriated Kozuki Oden.
While he sometimes appeared to complicate matters by avoiding trivial tasks, it did not mean he was truly weak.
"Kaido, today, I will surely kill you."
Kozuki Oden pointed his sword at Kaido, his voice a cold, deep growl.
"Words are not meant to sound pleasant."
"Pleasant words must be backed by formidable strength to hold sway."
Kaido sneered, then ignored Kozuki Oden and turned his attention to Benedict, speaking with a grave expression, "Benedict, do you truly intend to fight me to the death?"
Benedict hovered in mid-air, chuckling, "Your Devil Fruit ability, I'm quite looking forward to it!"
"So it's a fight to the death then?" Kaido said coldly.
"A fight to the death!" Benedict declared firmly.
"Kill!" Kozuki Oden initiated the attack first.
"Scram!"
Kaido's response was a single word and the might of his club.
Kozuki Oden parried with his sword, then launched another assault.
Benedict coldly activated the Eight Gates.
"Gate of Wonder!"
Kaido felt Benedict's terrifying aura and snorted, using his immense strength to instantly send Kozuki Oden flying before engaging Benedict in a fierce battle.
On the other side.
Sima Yi alone fought against the three top executives, growing stronger with each passing moment, while the executives' stamina gradually waned.
In a protracted battle, Sima Yi feared no one.
"Damn it, why is this guy so monstrous?" Jack panted, shouting as Sima Yi remained full of vigor, his words laced with unwillingness.
Queen and King exchanged glances, their eyes filled with dread.
Sima Yi's abilities were too troublesome, leaving them feeling helpless.
Because they couldn't win.
Kozuki Oden glanced over, his eyes flashing with a cruel glint, then roared as he charged towards the three executives.
Since Kaido looked down on him so much, he would first eliminate his left and right-hand men.
Jack, being closest to Kozuki Oden and currently the most weakened, reacted only as Oden was upon him. Yet, after transforming into his giant form, he raised his foot to block Oden's attack.
However, the intense pain caused Jack to revert to his original form once more.
Jack's stamina had been too depleted, such that merely enduring Kozuki Oden's powerful strike was all he could manage.
Sima Yi glanced at Kozuki Oden, a devilish smile gracing his lips.
It made him appear even more sinister.
King, flying in the air, narrowly avoided disaster.
Queen directly entered his half-dragon form.
"Another troublesome guy has arrived."
"Without the Governor-General's help, we need to be careful."
Queen cautioned King, who still had some fight left in him, and said in a deep voice.
King remained silent but understood the danger.
Sima Yi alone was already a formidable opponent, and with the addition of the unyielding Kozuki Oden, their situation grew increasingly perilous.
"Those guys are still too weak." King, in the air, glanced at his subordinates, who had all fainted under the impact of Conqueror's Haki and were now rendered powerless. His tone held a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Indeed, too weak," Queen said, looking at the disheveled Jack, his voice low. "King, isn't it time for you to release your power?"
King fell silent at this.
He was of a special race, the very rare Fire Tribe. (A guess, don't mind.)
The Fire Tribe lived on an isolated island filled with fire and magma.
The Fire Tribe living there could not be said to be living in peace and contentment, but they were very harmonious. Even when there were conflicts, they were only internal struggles, and the Fire Tribe population numbered tens of thousands.
However, hundreds of years ago, during a battle, the tranquility of the Fire Tribe was shattered. They were implicated, ultimately leading to the near extinction of the Fire Tribe.
The few surviving Fire Tribe members gradually perished due to the external environment.
Those who ultimately survived were only able to breathe again after a long period of adaptation and the fusion of bloodlines with other races.
However, as a result, the bloodline of the Fire Tribe became less pure.
The source of the Fire Tribe's devastating blow was their innate ability.
That is, the control of fire, and when they released the power of their bloodline, they would enter a state of berserk, and their overall physical fitness and strength would be enhanced.
This was similar to the Mink Tribe's Moon Rabbit tribe, who transformed into a 'Moon Lion Form' during the full moon, gaining immense power.
However, in terms of destructive power, the Fire Tribe, to which King belonged, was far more dangerous.
"If I release it, it will be an area of scorched earth, and they will all die," King said hesitantly, looking at the six Flying Six who were unconscious in the distance, as well as other members of the Beast Pirates.
"The Governor-General is being held by Benedict."
"If we don't have the ability to protect ourselves, we will die."
"Fighting a protracted battle, we are not at an advantage right now," Queen said, his heart chilling as he looked at the sinister Sima Yi.
King also looked at Sima Yi and sighed, "You try to save as many as you can. I will try my best to get him out of this area."
Queen nodded upon hearing this, "Alright!"