Chapter 396 - 396: Night Guy
(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 Chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Kaido, the man known as one of the Four Emperors, stood tall at fifty-seven years old.
Once a member of the infamous Rocks Pirates, he had carved out a fearsome reputation across the seas.
The World Government and Morgans had bestowed upon him the title of the "Strongest Creature in the World," a name that had spread far and wide.
His indomitable will to survive and his near-immortality were thanks to the Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit he had consumed—the Uo-Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu.
Having mastered its powers, Kaido had become a force of nature.
Decades of battle had proven one thing: there was no one on these seas he feared.
From the World Government to Whitebeard himself, Kaido had clashed with them all and emerged unscathed, living freely and unrestrained.
'Because they can't kill me,' he thought.
Throughout his years of fighting, Kaido had lived by one unshakable rule, a truth he held dear: piracy was a man's profession.
Fighting was simple—you punch me, I punch you, and we see who falls first.
This principle had guided him all these years and it was one acquired from his former captain.
But today, as he faced an unprecedented threat, Kaido found himself cursing the man who had instilled this belief in him.
'You bastard! Did you hear that, Rocks? You fucking asshole, you went and died and left me in this mess!' he roared internally.
Puff!
The first air fist struck Kaido's body, and he immediately sensed something was wrong—but it was too late.
"It hurts! It hurts!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
The impact tore through his chest, and the [Armament Haki] infused in the attack ravaged his insides—a sensation he had never experienced before.
His physical defense, though not as strong as Charlotte Linlin's, was bolstered by a self-healing ability far superior to hers.
Yet, against Kaguya's strikes, his proud defenses and regenerative powers were as fragile as paper.
Blood sprayed into the air as Kaido's massive body was sent flying like a cannonball.
Charlotte Linlin, who had remained motionless until now, was stunned.
'Is this some kind of joke?' she thought. 'We've been rivals for decades. I know Kaido's strengths better than anyone. How could he be taken down so easily? This has to be an act!'
But soon, she realized the situation was far more serious than she had thought.
"Roar!"
In mid-air, Kaido transformed into his dragon form, pushing the regenerative abilities of his Devil Fruit to their limits.
Blood dripped from his wounds as he shouted at Big Mom:
"Why are you just standing there? This woman is a monster! If we don't act now, we'll both die here!"
Never in his wildest dreams had Kaido imagined he'd be calling someone else a monster.
But here he was, facing a threat unlike any other.
Seeing his desperate state, Big Mom finally sprang into action.
Gripping her sword, Napoleon, she unleashed a devastating slash.
Kaido, too, pushed through the pain and launched his strongest attack.
"[Spear of Elbaf, Ikoku]!"
"[Bolo Breath]!"
The combined shockwaves shook the very foundations of Onigashima.
The attacks of two Emperors clashing together altered the very weather.
"Do you still have the strength to attack?" Kaguya murmured calmly, her palms outstretched as she effortlessly deflected their combined assault, dispersing the aftermath with ease.
"Your physical strength is... impressive. Even I am slightly surprised."
Her praise was genuine.
To withstand her strikes with sheer durability was something neither Hagoromo nor Hamura had ever dared to attempt.
'But this ends here.'
With a clenched fist, Kaguya finally got serious.
"[Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack: Double Shock]!"
Above the sky, two massive palms of pure energy materialized, crackling with lightning and thunder.
They descended upon Big Mom and Kaido with terrifying speed and scale, leaving no room to dodge.
The two Emperors had no choice but to pour every ounce of their [Armament Haki] into their defenses and counterattacks.
Boom!
The roars of Kaido and Linlin were drowned out by the explosion.
Two massive craters formed on the ground, and Onigashima trembled violently, on the verge of collapsing entirely.
As the dust settled, the true extent of their defeat became clear.
Kaido's dragon form had been forcibly dispelled, and he reverted to his human form.
His body was battered, and covered in blood and mud.
If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, one might have thought he was dead.
Big Mom fared even worse.
Her face was a bloody mess, and her prized sword, Napoleon, was shattered into pieces.
Her arms were twisted at unnatural angles, bones protruding grotesquely.
It was a horrifying sight.
In just two moves, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had utterly defeated two of the Four Emperors.
The speed of their defeat was so swift that even the Calamities and Sweet Commanders couldn't react in time.
"Mother!"
Katakuri, with his unparalleled [Observation Haki], was the first to sense Charlotte Linlin's weakening presence.
Panic surged through him as he abandoned his fight with Might Guy and rushed to her side.
Might Guy, still surrounded by enemies, could barely hold his ground, let alone stop Katakuri.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
At that moment, two massive vines erupted from the ground, snaking toward King and Katakuri.
King tried to evade, but the vines grew faster than he could fly.
In seconds, he was wrapped tightly, immobilized like a rice dumpling.
Katakuri, relying on his future sight, managed to hold out for a moment.
But as more vines closed in, he too was ensnared.
To their horror, the vines began draining their energy—both their physical strength and their [Haki]—leaving them powerless in mere seconds.
"Finish this quickly. I need to check on Colt."
Kaguya's cold voice echoed from above, sending a shiver down Guy's spine.
"Don't worry, Kaguya-sama! I'll end this now!" Guy declared, kicking Charlotte Smoothie away with renewed determination.
With Katakuri and King dealt with by Kaguya, the remaining enemies no longer posed a significant threat.
"[Eight Inner Gates: Gate of Death, Open!]"
Red steam erupted from Guy's body, but it dissipated almost instantly. His hair stood on end, and cracks of blood appeared across his skin.
This was the result of Guy's training over the past two years.
By opening the Eighth Gate and immediately closing it, he could unleash a brief but devastating burst of power. Though it still took a toll on his lifespan and body, it no longer guaranteed death.
And this brief surge of energy was more than enough for him to execute one of his ultimate techniques.
Assuming his signature stance, Guy's [Chakra] and the red steam condensed into the form of a massive crimson dragon's head.
Under the terrified gazes of Jack and the others, Guy roared the name of his attack:
"[Night Guy]!"