[Chat Group For The Death] Chapter 71 - 75

Chapter 71: Our Work Is Here!

After breaking free from the suppression of the Gate of the Great God, Kaido’s enormous dragon form began to shrink rapidly, reverting to his human state. The moment his feet touched the ground, he grabbed his signature kanabo, a weapon infused with armed Haki and crackling with purple lightning. With a single, earth-shattering swing, he brought it down upon the massive wooden hand of the Buddha that had restrained him.

“Thunder Bagua!”

Kaido’s voice roared across the battlefield as his ultimate move connected.

Crack!

The Buddha’s wooden hand shattered into countless splinters, raining debris across the battlefield.

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "Don’t rush the sealing process! First, we need to wear down his stamina before attempting to restrain him. A warrior of this caliber won’t fall so easily."

Lucas pondered over the advice and immediately saw the logic in it. After all, Kaido wasn’t just any opponent—he was one of the Four Emperors. It would be ridiculous for him to be subdued in mere seconds.

Battles of this magnitude were never quick affairs. It had taken Garp and Sengoku three days and nights to bring down the Golden Lion, and ten full days for Akainu to defeat Admiral Aokiji. Even the weakest monsters in classic stories lasted at least three minutes against their enemies. There was no way Kaido the Beast could be taken down in under a minute!

Sword God Ryuma: "Use my swordsmanship to battle him! But don’t expect an easy victory. The dragon I slew in my time wasn’t as formidable as Kaido, and it still took me seven or eight days to bring it down completely."

Whitebeard: "Does that mean it’ll take Lucas at least a full week to deal with Kaido?"

Lucas: "Don’t underestimate me! With all the top-tier abilities I possess, I can bring him down in three days at most!"

Lucas unsheathed the famed black blade, Shusui, coating it in top-level Armament Haki. With a determined battle cry, he lunged at Kaido. Their weapons collided, sending a monstrous shockwave rippling across the battlefield.

A short distance away, Marco and the others observed the unfolding fight. Though they hesitated at first, none stepped forward to intervene. There were two key reasons for this—first, Lucas hadn’t given them permission to step in, and second…

The battle was simply too intense.

With Lucas and Kaido locked in an earth-shattering duel, anyone who carelessly intruded could find themselves caught in the crossfire. Even for battle-hardened warriors, the sheer force exchanged between the two titans was enough to make them reconsider reckless intervention. Instead, they chose to wait, watching the battle unfold from a safe distance.

“This… this is the power of Kaido, the Beast…” Kin’emon murmured in disbelief.

The Samurai of Wano felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that Lucas had joined their side. Without him, they would have been utterly powerless against an enemy of Kaido’s caliber.

Shutenmaru had been right all along.

They had traveled through time from twenty years ago, but their enemies had spent those same two decades growing stronger, sharpening their abilities, and solidifying their rule. Kaido had not stagnated. If anything, he was stronger than ever. Even if Kozuki Oden were somehow resurrected, it was doubtful that he could inflict the same wounds he had on Kaido back then.

"Boss Kaido!"

A new threat emerged as the Beast Pirates reinforcements arrived.

The Flame Disaster King and Plague Disaster Queen led an elite force of Beast Pirates, storming onto the battlefield with murderous intent.

Marco cracked a smile.

“Looks like it’s our turn to shine.”

In a burst of vibrant flames, Marco transformed, his hands morphing into brilliant blue phoenix wings as he soared toward King.

King’s eyes narrowed. Flames surged around his body as he activated his Zoan transformation, his vast black wings unfurling as he shot toward Marco like a meteor.

The battle of the aerial supremancy had begun.

Meanwhile, Plague Queen sneered as he loomed over Diamond Jozu.

"Jozu, with that broken arm of yours, do you really think you stand a chance against me?" Queen mocked, his massive brachiosaurus form casting a shadow over his opponent.

Jozu remained silent, his diamond-coated body reflecting the light. Before losing his arm, he had been an equal match for Queen. However, after Aokiji’s attack cost him a limb, his power had significantly diminished.

But today was different.

Lucas’s training had pushed him beyond his previous limits. Though he had lost an arm, his body had grown stronger. His will had sharpened.

This was one of the reasons why he dared to challenge Queen alone!

And he wasn’t entirely alone—two Whitebeard captains stood nearby, ready to back him up at any moment.

Across the battlefield, Vista the Flower Sword found himself face to face with Shiryu of the Rain.

His eyes narrowed in surprise. "Shiryu… You’re with the Beasts Pirates now? Well, no matter. This fight was bound to happen sooner or later."

Shiryu remained silent, drawing his bloodstained blade with a menacing smirk.

Vista’s grip on his swords tightened. "Perfect. Not only do I get to fight a fellow swordsman, but I also get to cut down one of my enemies."

With that, Vista lunged, his twin swords flashing toward Shiryu.

Chapter 72: I Didn’t Make a Mistake, I’m Targeting You!

"Wororororo! Boy, I recognize you!"

"Come on! Kill me, and everything you desire will be yours!"

Kaido the Beast, driven to madness, roared with unrestrained fury. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Lucas as he swung his kanabo with reckless abandon, his battle spirit burning fiercely.

Lucas smirked. "Kill you? Now why would I do that?"

With a sneer, he sheathed his legendary blade, Shisui. The power behind his slashes, though formidable, wasn’t enough to put Kaido down for good. Against a monster like the King of Beasts, a being with near-invincible durability, he needed brute force to wear him down first.

Both of Lucas’s fists crackled with the white aura of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, his Armament Haki coating them like iron. With a resounding shout, he launched himself at Kaido, fists flying.

The battle had reached a fever pitch.

Wano Country – The Flower Capital

In the distant Flower Capital, Kurozumi Orochi, the current Shogun of Wano, stood atop the city walls. His beady eyes anxiously watched the escalating battle between Lucas and the Beasts Pirates.

Beside him, the leader of the Oniwabanshu, Fukurokuju, approached cautiously. "Lord Orochi, should we send aid to the Beasts Pirates?"

Orochi scowled. "Kaido is one of the Four Emperors, the so-called ‘Strongest Creature in the World.’ Do they really need our help?"

It wasn’t that Orochi cared about the casualties of the Beasts Pirates—far from it. What troubled him was the thought of losing his own forces unnecessarily.

Despite his outward buffoonery, Orochi wasn’t entirely foolish. He understood that his alliance with Kaido was built on mutual exploitation. If things went south, he needed to have an escape route ready.

His personal bodyguard, Kyoshiro, stepped forward. "Lord Orochi, Kaido’s opponent is Lucas, one of the strongest figures in the world. A fellow Emperor of the Sea. Their battle will be brutal. Without reinforcements, the Beasts Pirates may suffer greatly."

Orochi’s expression darkened. "So you’re saying they can still win? Then there’s nothing to worry about! Let’s continue drinking and enjoying ourselves."

Fukurokuju’s face remained passive. "But if the Beasts Pirates take heavy losses, Kaido may blame you for standing by and doing nothing. Worse still, if they are defeated…"

A muscle in Orochi’s jaw twitched. He clicked his tongue in irritation. "Ugh, what a pain! Fine, we’ll send reinforcements! But tell them to protect themselves first. We’re here to ‘help,’ not die like fools."

Fukurokuju nodded before turning to Kyoshiro. "My ninjas specialize in stealth, not direct combat. The real work will fall to your Yakuza forces."

Kyoshiro bowed his head slightly. "Understood. Leave it to me."

As Orochi’s forces prepared to march, Kyoshiro walked away, his lips curling into a smirk. Finally, the moment he had been waiting for had arrived.

Kyoshiro was not merely Orochi’s bodyguard. He was Denjiro, one of the Nine Red Scabbards and a loyal vassal of Kozuki Oden.

For years, he had played the role of an underworld leader, biding his time, earning Orochi’s trust while secretly gathering allies. Now, at long last, it was time to strike.

He clenched his fists. "Lady Toki… your prophecy was right after all. If I had waited any longer, I might’ve lost my patience."

Swiftly, he returned to his quarters, rallying the samurai who had sworn loyalty to him.

"Brother!" one warrior shouted excitedly. "Shall we storm the Shogun’s Palace and cut Orochi down?!"

Another samurai echoed, "Yes! If we strike now, we can keep Orochi from sending reinforcements to Kaido!"

Kyoshiro’s expression hardened. "Idiots! If that were our goal, why would I have persuaded Orochi to send troops? Listen well—Kaido is the true enemy! Orochi is just a puppet. We must first eliminate the Beasts Pirates."

Though Kyoshiro lacked formal education, he understood battlefield strategy well. Wasting energy on Orochi while Kaido still stood would be foolish. The correct approach was to focus all efforts on a single target first.

His forces nodded in understanding.

As Kurozumi Orochi’s reinforcements surged onto the battlefield, they made their presence known with loud cries.

“Beasts Pirates! We’ve come to assist you!”

A relieved cheer erupted from the Beasts Pirates’ ranks. One of their commanders called out, "Great timing! We could really use the backup! Thank you, you— huh?!"

Shing!

Before the commander could finish his sentence, a blade slashed across his torso, cutting deep.

The commander stumbled backward, clutching his wound, his face contorted in shock. "Wh-what the hell?! You attacked the wrong people!"

The ‘reinforcement’ samurai sneered. "No mistake. We’re targeting you."

A stunned silence washed over the battlefield as the reality set in.

Then, chaos erupted.

"Damn it! We’ve been betrayed!"

A frantic cry rang out. "Lord Kaido! Kurozumi Orochi has turned against us!"

Chapter 73: Then I’d Like to Give It a Try!

"What?! That damn Kurozumi Orochi—how dare he betray me?! Without me, he’d never have secured his position as the Shogun of Wano Country!"

Kaido the Beast roared in fury upon hearing the situation with his Observation Haki. His anger clouded his focus, allowing Lucas to land a devastating punch that sent him crashing to the ground.

The impact sent tremors rippling through the battlefield, and Lucas’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability surged through his fist, shattering Kaido’s mace into fragments. The once-indestructible weapon now lay in pieces.

Kaido’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Damn it! You bastard, how dare you take advantage of my distraction?!"

Lucas sneered, his tone filled with mocking amusement. "Oh? You got careless, and now you expect me to just stand here and wait for you to recover? Don’t be ridiculous."

Kaido gritted his teeth in frustration, glaring at Lucas with unbridled rage.

Lucas continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You act like a mindless brute, but don’t think you can fool me. If you were truly reckless, you wouldn’t have used underhanded tactics against Kozuki Oden. You waited for the perfect moment to attack him when he was distracted, didn’t you?"

Kaido’s scowl deepened, but Lucas wasn’t done yet.

"Face it—you’re a schemer too."

Kaido let out a guttural laugh, his fury momentarily turning to amusement. "And what’s wrong with that?! I enjoy being a schemer! Now shut up and take this!"

Even without his weapon, Kaido was still a monstrous force. He lunged at Lucas, throwing a devastating punch.

Lucas met his attack head-on, his fists glowing with the combined power of Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Flame-Flame Fruit, and top-tier Armament Haki. The battlefield shook under the intensity of their blows, and Kaido found himself pushed back despite his monstrous endurance.

Amidst the chaos, another force joined the battle against the Beasts Pirates.

Plague Queen turned in shock, eyes widening as he recognized the new arrival. "Shutenmaru?! You traitorous bastard!"

Queen’s anger flared. "If Lord Kaido hadn’t spared you twenty years ago, you would’ve died alongside Kozuki Oden! And this is how you repay him?!"

Shutenmaru, the known famous criminal, blocked Queen’s headbutt—which was aimed at Diamond Jozu—with a calm smirk. "Back then, there was no hope to fight back. So I disappeared into the mountains and let myself rot. But…"

His gaze shifted toward Lucas, who was relentlessly pummeling Kaido.

"Now that I see a chance to crush you all, how could I possibly stay out of this? Even if it means my death, I’ll put everything on the line!"

The morale of the Beasts Pirates plummeted, while Lucas’s allies cheered with renewed fervor.

Kaido, noticing the shift in battlefield momentum, was seething. He turned his fiery gaze toward Lucas and spat, "You bastard… what exactly are you planning?! Don’t try to tell me you’re just here to help Wano Country reclaim its freedom."

Lucas smirked. "And what makes you think that?"

Kaido scoffed. "Because outsiders like us benefit from Wano’s isolation. With them mining seastone for us and building seastone weapons, their closed borders ensure we control the trade. If Wano opens up, we lose that monopoly."

Lucas shook his head. "That might be how you think, but I’m not you. I don’t deal in the arms trade, and I couldn’t care less about seastone weapons."

Kaido let out a booming laugh. "Worororo! So what exactly do you gain from all this? Unless you plan to kill Kurozumi Orochi and take the throne for yourself, you’re wasting your time!"

Lucas smiled cryptically. "Who said I’m not benefiting from this? Just because you can’t see my gains doesn’t mean they aren’t there."

As he spoke, his eyes darted toward Momonosuke, who was being protected by Kin’emon and Raizo. The young heir to the Kozuki clan looked terrified.

Lucas chuckled darkly. "See that brat over there? He’s the rightful heir to Wano’s throne. A descendant of the Kozuki clan. He’ll be the next shogun."

Kaido sneered. "That pathetic kid? Don’t make me laugh!"

Lucas continued, still smirking. "Oh? You don’t think much of him? But he’s the son of Kozuki Oden. You remember Oden, don’t you? The man who nearly killed you? The one who scarred you for life?"

Kaido’s expression darkened instantly. "Bullshit! Do you think a mere samurai like Oden could ever make me tremble in fear?!"

Lucas grinned, sensing Kaido’s rage building. "Oh? You admit he left scars on you, though. And you healed, right? But if you weren’t afraid, why did you attack him with dirty tricks instead of fighting him head-on?"

Kaido snarled, his entire body radiating fury. "Enough! I don’t care about that worthless kid! But just to prove a point—"

His dragon eyes locked onto Momonosuke.

"—I’m going to kill him. Right now."

With a thunderous roar, Kaido lunged toward Momonosuke, murder in his gaze.

Lucas’s smirk widened.

"Then I’d like to see you try."

Chapter 74: Hashirama Discovered the Highlight!

Kaido the Beast suddenly shook off Lucas, his massive frame twisting as he burst forward with terrifying momentum. His target was clear—Kozuki Momonosuke, who stood frozen in the distance, paralyzed with fear.

Despite his brutish appearance, Kaido was no fool. He wasn’t simply raging blindly—he had noticed something peculiar. Lucas had been deliberately provoking him, taunting him into reckless attacks. That could only mean one thing: Momonosuke was important to him.

A wicked grin stretched across Kaido’s face. If the brat was valuable, then taking him as a hostage could end this war in favor of the Beasts Pirates.

Lucas watched Kaido's charge with a calculating gaze. His lips curled slightly, as if everything was proceeding exactly as he intended.

In the chat group, the conversation was unfolding in real-time.

Sword God Ryuma: "Oh? You want to use Kaido the Beast to eliminate Momonosuke? Clever move! The identity of the Kozuki heir still holds weight among those fools in Wano. Getting rid of that little brat would be quite beneficial, though you cannot do it yourself."

Whitebeard: "Do you honestly think Kaido will do you that favor? Don’t underestimate him—he's not a complete idiot."

Lucas: "Who said I was relying on Kaido to finish Momonosuke off? I’m just using him to create an opportunity. If Momonosuke is going to die—I'll be the one to kill him."

A grim smile spread across Lucas’ face, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

You don’t have to become the Pirate King. You don’t have to be the world's greatest swordsman. You don’t need to seek All Blue. You don’t need to uncover the mysteries of the Poneglyphs… But one thing is certain—Momonosuke must die!

[*Tl: I think I need to get a break translating One Piece fanfic, I don’t get the hate they got with Momonosuke]

A desperate cry suddenly pierced the battlefield.

"HELP!"

Momonosuke's terrified scream rang out as Kaido thundered toward him. His face was deathly pale, his body shaking violently. The overwhelming presence of the Emperor of the Sea made it impossible for him to breathe.

The beastly face, the towering figure, the sheer force radiating from Kaido—it was enough to shatter the boy’s will to stand.

Lucas wasted no time.

"Lion Menace: Earth Coiling!"

A thunderous rumble erupted as Lucas unleashed the power of his Float-Float Fruit. The ground trembled, splitting apart as enormous lions sculpted from earth materialized around Kaido. Their massive, roaring forms surged forward, blocking his advance.

"Lord Momonosuke!"

The samurai of Wano screamed in horror, but the earthen lions stood firm, cutting them off from reaching their young lord.

Kaido, unfazed, pressed on. His enormous frame bulldozed through the obstacles, shattering the earth lions like brittle clay. With every step, he tore through Lucas’ creations, ignoring the attacks in his single-minded pursuit of Momonosuke.

Lucas' eyes gleamed as he moved like a shadow, his body vanishing into the dust and smoke. The ground beneath Kaido suddenly softened, turning into something akin to liquid gold.

Golden chains materialized from the ground, slithering like serpents before locking around Kaido's thick ankles.

With a loud snap, they constricted.

Kaido, mid-lunge, felt his footing betray him. His colossal form lost balance, momentum twisting against him—

And then he crashed forward, the ground quaking beneath his fall.

Momonosuke, who had been scrambling in a blind panic, yelped as he tripped over uneven ground. His small, trembling legs failed him, and he fell backward.

A shadow loomed over him.

Kaido’s titanic frame descended.

BOOM!

The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, a monstrous force that silenced everything for a split second.

A moment later, blood pooled across the earth.

A weak, gurgling noise escaped Momonosuke’s lips as his body convulsed—his chest crushed beneath the immovable weight of the Emperor of the Sea.

For a brief instant, there was only silence.

And then—

"NOOO!"

The anguished cries of the Red Scabbards pierced the battlefield.

Kin’emon's face twisted in utter horror as he rushed forward, only to stagger at the sight before him. His sword fell from his trembling hands.

"Young Master…" Kin’emon whispered, his voice hollow.

The others were no better. Their expressions contorted into grief-stricken disbelief. The sole heir of the Kozuki clan—flattened, lifeless.

A cruel reality settled over them.

All their efforts, all their struggles—the dream of restoring Wano—what did it all matter now?

The war, the sacrifices, the rebellion…

Without Momonosuke, it was meaningless.

But in the chat group, the response was starkly different.

Sword God Ryuma: "Well done!"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "Wasn’t that a bit much?"

Sword God Ryuma: "You don’t understand. The damage caused by an incompetent ruler is far worse than you can imagine."

Lucas: "Exactly. It’s better to end it now. At least this way, he won’t grow up to be another fool who spouts nonsense like 'Why don’t they eat meat?'"

Whitebeard: "Eat meat?"

Howard Stark: "Ah, I see! The leader of this chat group is truly well-read. This story exists in my world as well."

Pirate King Roger: "What story?"

Howard Stark: "Once, in a certain country, there was a ruler who lived in extravagant luxury while his people suffered. A terrible famine struck, and the common folk had no food to eat. A minister reported this to the king, pleading for aid. But the king, oblivious and detached, simply said, ‘If they have no food, why don’t they eat meat instead?’"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "That’s… despicable!"

Howard Stark: "Oh? You think so?"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "You’ve clearly never lived through a famine. When there’s no food, people will eat meat."

Howard Stark: "But if there’s no food to eat, where would they get meat?"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "Isn’t there someone else?"

Howard Stark: "…Wait. You mean—"

Whitebeard: "Damn it."

Pirate King Roger: "That’s insane!"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "It’s reality. Starvation destroys morality. When desperation takes hold, people abandon their humanity."

Hashirama fell silent for a long time. His mind drifted, recalling his own past—an era of ceaseless war, famine, and suffering.

For a brief moment, he had felt pity for the young Kozuki heir.

But now, as he pieced together the truth, his pity turned to understanding.

An incompetent ruler could inflict devastation beyond imagination.

And if that ruler was doomed to fail…

Perhaps it was better this way.

Lucas stared at the chat, slightly amused.

So even Hashirama had realized the highlight of the situation.

Chapter 75: I Don’t Want to Play With You Anymore!

Lucas exhaled deeply, a sense of fulfillment washing over him. Momonosuke was dead. The future tyrant had been eliminated, ensuring that Wano would never fall into the hands of an incompetent ruler who would bring nothing but misery, foreign invasions, and suffering to his people.

He clenched his fists, his eyes shifting back to the battlefield. The war was far from over.

Kaido, the King of Beasts, slowly pushed himself off the ground, his towering frame looming once more. The beast had endured everything thrown at him, his massive body covered in wounds, yet his fighting spirit remained unbroken.

Lucas, however, was unfazed. He had fought relentlessly, and despite Kaido's near-immortality, he had completely suppressed the so-called strongest creature in the world. The morale of the Beasts Pirates had plummeted, their once unshakable confidence crumbling as they witnessed their leader being overwhelmed.

The death of Kozuki Momonosuke sent ripples across the battlefield, but not in the way Kaido had expected.

Instead of breaking the samurai, it ignited a dangerous fire within them.

The warriors of Wano roared in fury, their eyes burning with vengeance. Momonosuke's death had bestowed upon them a desperation akin to that of an underdog army—a force that refused to die out quietly.

Suddenly, the tides shifted.

With renewed determination, the samurai fought harder than ever, their blades cutting through the remnants of the Beasts Pirates with savage precision.

It wasn’t long before the once-mighty army of Kaido crumbled completely.

The Great Retreat

"King! We haven't decided the winner yet!"

Marco, the Phoenix, laughed as he relentlessly pursued King, the Flame Disaster. His golden flames burned brightly, clashing against King’s own as their aerial battle raged on.

King, however, had no intention of continuing. His expression remained unreadable behind his mask, but his next action spoke volumes—he spread his wings wide and abruptly soared away, retreating from the battlefield without a word.

Plague Queen, on the other hand, was in far worse shape.

Under the combined assault of Diamond Jozu and Shutenmaru, he was barely holding on. His grotesque body was riddled with wounds, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Yet, despite his injuries, his mind remained sharp.

With a grim expression, he made the call.

"We've lost this war," Queen growled. "There's no point in dragging it out any further."

His voice carried across the battlefield as he barked orders at his remaining subordinates.

"Retreat! We’ll settle this another time!"

As if on cue, Queen launched a devastating attack, his enormous mechanical arm crashing into the ground, sending shockwaves outward. The force momentarily pushed back Marco and Shutenmaru, buying him just enough time to escape into the chaos.

"Let them go!" Marco called out, stopping those who attempted to chase.

Kyoushiro frowned. "If we let the Beasts Pirates escape, won’t they cause even more trouble in the future?"

Izo shook his head. "Even in defeat, they are still incredibly strong. If we chase them too aggressively and corner them, they might retaliate with nothing to lose. We’d suffer heavy casualties."

Marco nodded. "Exactly. The New World is already unstable with the Four Emperors at war. Not to mention the Marines and the World Government waiting to strike at any sign of weakness. If we push too hard now, we might just be handing someone else the advantage."

Indeed, this delicate balance was why the New World had remained relatively stable despite the constant power struggles between the Emperors. Full-scale wars were rare—except when Kaido, the suicidal madman, decided to pick fights for his own entertainment.

But now, there was no more fight left in the Beasts Pirates.

The battlefield quieted.

All that remained was Kaido.

Lucas smirked, his gaze locking onto the Emperor who still refused to go down.

"Hey, Kaido! All your men have run away!" he taunted, his voice laced with amusement.

Kaido let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "Hmph. They made the right choice. I’m glad."

Without warning, Kaido lunged forward, his enormous fist coated in a dense layer of Armament Haki. The air cracked as he swung, his iron-like knuckles hurtling toward Lucas with devastating force.

BOOM!

Lucas barely managed to evade, but the sheer force of the blow sent him skidding backward. His arms tingled from the shockwave, but he quickly steadied himself, preparing for the next move.

Kaido, however, suddenly took a step back.

His draconic eyes gleamed with something unusual.

"I don’t want to play with you anymore," Kaido muttered.

Without another word, his colossal form shifted. A powerful gust of wind erupted as his body expanded, transforming into his mythical azure dragon form. His serpentine body coiled upward, spiraling into the sky at an alarming speed.

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"You’re running away?"

His hand moved instinctively, gripping the hilt of Autumn Water. His blade pulsed with energy, responding to his intent.

"Too slow."

With an eerie stillness, Lucas lowered his stance.

"One-Sword Style—Dragon Slash!"

The world seemed to pause as Lucas drew his blade.

A streak of black lightning danced across the battlefield, illuminating the sky in a single breathtaking instant.

SHING!

Lucas vanished.

A split second later, he reappeared in front of Kaido—his sword already sheathed.

A thin, nearly imperceptible line cut through Kaido’s massive dragon form.

Then—

CRACK!

A fresh wound split across Kaido’s scales. Blood gushed violently from the injury, painting the sky crimson.

Kaido’s roar of agony shook the heavens. His enormous body trembled before it finally crashed back down, shaking the earth upon impact.

Lucas’ eyes gleamed.

"Good opportunity."

Clasping his hands together, he focused, his body instantly enveloped in an aura of nature energy.

"Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!"

Massive wooden gates materialized above Kaido’s fallen form. They slammed down with an earth-shattering force, pinning the wounded Emperor beneath their crushing weight.

Kaido growled, his body already working to heal the wounds inflicted upon him.

Lucas clicked his tongue. "The world’s strongest creature, huh? What a pain."

His grip tightened on Autumn Water.

"One more strike. Let’s see if the dragon falls in one flash."

Kaido barely managed to lift his head before—

SLASH!

A second devastating blow carved deep into his flesh, forcing his colossal frame to slump heavily against the ground.

Kaido, the King of Beasts, had fallen.

Lucas exhaled, his mind piecing something together.

"Sage Mode…" he muttered. "I see. The nature chakra enhances top-level swordsmanship."

His lips curled into a grin. "Interesting."

He took a step forward, pressing his palm against Kaido’s battered body.

"Eight Trigrams Seal!"

Dark, swirling runes spread across Kaido’s skin, consuming his form in a web of intricate curse marks. Within moments, his dragon body was forcibly reverted back to human form. His muscles twitched under the blackened seals that restrained him.

Kaido, realizing he could no longer move, gritted his teeth.

"You… What the hell is this?"

Lucas smirked. "A sealing technique. With this, you’ll stay quiet."

Kaido’s eyes darkened. His reign of terror—his freedom—was over.

But before Lucas could savor his victory, he felt something.

A strange presence in the distance.

His gaze sharpened.

"The Peacemaker?" he muttered. "Coming to stop the fight?"

His smirk deepened.

"Too bad. You’re too late."