Kaido turned his head, staring at Loxus, who was unleashing waves of Conqueror's Haki. His eyes flashed with surprise.
Before he could react, Loxus had already charged forward, drawing the sword at his waist and slashing straight at Kaido's neck.
"Thousand Raging Slash!"
Loxus's blade struck Kaido's neck, sparks flying.
With Loxus's sudden explosive strength, Kaido was sent flying.
Yet, as he tumbled through the air, Kaido's lips curled into a grin.
BOOM!
Kaido's massive body crashed to the ground. Loxus stood, panting heavily, sword in hand.
"Captain Ace, Brother Deuce, are you okay?"
Loxus, just sixteen, had never been through sothing this intense.
If the Straw Hats were here, Chopper, Usopp, and Nami would've surely given him a big thumbs up.
Among like-minded people, the timid ones often step up at the most crucial monts.
Ace managed to get back on his feet after catching his breath. Deuce wasn't as lucky; most of his bones were broken, his body twisted and mangled.
"Hurry and get Deuce out of here! I'll cover you!" Ace forced himself up and told the others.
"Captain Ace!"
"GO!!"
Ace unleashed a wall of flas, just like when he once fought Whitebeard, creating a blazing barrier so the others could escape.
Facing an Emperor ant imnse pressure; staying would an death for everyone. He had to buy ti.
"Captain Ace!!!"
"MOVE!!" Ace roared, forcing them back with flas.
"Worororo!!"
Kaido had already risen, laughing wildly.
"Didn't expect a second one! Almost thought I'd die there. What a sha—such a perfect chance, and you still couldn't kill ." He looked through the sea of fire at Loxus.
Before, Loxus had been terrified of Kaido. Now? Not a trace of fear remained. Only rage.
"You brat. Give your na. A runt like you deserves to die with so recognition," Kaido said with a grin.
"Loxus!!" he barked back, eyes locked with Kaido's.
"How old are you, Loxus?"
"Sixteen!"
"Sixteen..."
Kaido recalled sothing; he himself had joined the Rocks Pirates at fifteen as a trainee.
Looking at Loxus, an idea sparked.
"Kid, join the Beasts Pirates."
"Like hell I will!" Loxus snapped.
"Worororo! Then I'll make you join." Kaido lunged like a bolt.
"Fla Dragon!"
Ace once again turned into a fire dragon, ramming toward Kaido.
CRACK!
Kaido's club shattered the fla dragon, blasting Ace out of the flas.
"Roger's brat... I won't kill you, yet. There's soone else I'm far more interested in now.
Kid, your Captain's life is in your hands. You decide. Refuse, and I'll kill him right now."
Kaido grabbed Ace and squeezed hard.
"AARGH!!" Ace scread in pain, blood spewing from his mouth.
Loxus froze for a second, then scread, "STOP IT! LET HIM GO!"
"Let him go? Then join us. Say yes, and I spare him," Kaido said, smirking.
"Fine! I'll join the Beasts Pirates!!" Loxus growled through clenched teeth.
"No... don't..." Ace groaned, teeth gritted, turning to Loxus.
"Captain Ace… I won't let you die."
"Worororo!!"
Kaido laughed heartily and threw Ace to the ground.
"Live in sha, brat. Your life was bought with your comrade's sacrifice. I'll spare you, for the sake of my new recruit." Kaido chuckled, walking toward Loxus.
"Co now, brat. From this mont on, you are no longer a mber of the Spade Pirates. You're one of us—part of the Beasts Pirates," he said with a grin.
Loxus glared at him, eyes burning with hatred. "One day, when I'm strong enough... I'll kill you."
"Worororo! We'll see if you have the power for that."
Kaido transford into his dragon form. With a giant claw, he grabbed Loxus and soared into the sky.
"Loxus!!!" Ace reached out as he watched Loxus disappear into the sky, then his arm fell weakly to the ground.
The others stared helplessly as Loxus was taken away. Deuce rushed to Ace to check his injuries.
"Get... get Big Bro..." Ace fainted.
Despite his own broken body, Deuce used all his strength to bandage Ace's wounds. As the crew's doctor, he completed the first aid before passing out himself. The others quickly moved in to treat them both.
The news of this battle soon shook the world:
The Spade Pirates lost to Kaido.
Fire Fist Ace was critically injured.
"Ace lost?"
Back in Whitebeard's territory, Roy was working in his lab, still studying his extracted materials.
"He lost. So what? Did you expect him to win?" Roy said flatly.
"But... Loxus was taken by Kaido," Marco added.
Roy's hand paused. He turned slowly to Marco and asked, "What happened exactly?"
"Kaido offered to spare Ace... if Loxus joined the Beasts Pirates," Marco said grimly.
"So... Loxus is a Beast Pirate now?" Roy looked both amused and helpless.
"HOW CAN YOU LAUGH?!"
A furious voice erupted behind them. Before Marco could react, a blur flew past him.
WHAM!
A hand clamped onto Roy's ear, lifting him up.
"YOUR SON WAS KIDNAPPED, AND YOU STILL HAVE THE NERVE TO LAUGH!" Whitey Bay was livid, her grip tightening as she scread in his face.
"Easy, Easy, he's not dead, is he? He'll be fine!" Roy quickly explained.
"FINE?! He joined another pirate crew!" she roared.
"Look at him now, doing just fine. The fledgling has left the nest. He can make his own choices," Roy said. "You let him join the Spade Pirates, right? So joining the Beasts Pirates is just another choice."
"He's your biological son! You sure you're not doubting it? Doing this on purpose?"
"No way, I've never doubted it."
"You disappear every day, hiding in that lab, how's that not suspicious?!"
"I co ho all the ti!" Roy smiled awkwardly.
"I DON'T CARE! OUR SON WAS TAKEN BY KAIDO! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?!"
"What else? He's alive. Besides, joining the Beasts Pirates isn't a bad thing; it'll teach him the harsh truths of this world. He'll see the difference between real pirates and us. It'll help him grow."
"Didn't I say? He's still young, he'll grow up, he'll mature. Our children have their own lives to live. Don't fill his head with too many ideals."
"Co ho with . Now."
Whitey Bay dragged Roy by the ear out the door.
Marco watched from the side, completely speechless.
"Go ho for what?"
"We're having another kid while I still can."
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu
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