NOVEL NEXT Chapter 218: Chapter 218
A sphere of intense, crackling lightning formed around Luffy and Kaido, rapidly expanding as raw electric energy surged outward in violent waves. The blinding light illuminated the entire battlefield, forcing everyone nearby to shield their eyes.
"Hey, kid, you're pushing it too far!" Aokiji shouted, feeling the immense power emanating from the lightning. Realizing the impending danger, he quickly retreated, the ice cracking beneath his feet as he withdrew to a safer distance.
"Luffy!" Hancock's voice rose in fear as she saw him consumed by the lightning. She tried to rush forward, but the fierce energy field blocked her path, making it impossible to get any closer. Garp, seeing her desperation, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away just in time, moving them both to safety.
Kizaru, meanwhile, wasted no time and instantly activated his elemental form, disappearing in a flash of golden light to avoid the impending explosion.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted as the lightning sphere detonated, discharging a massive wave of heat and energy. The ice within a hundred meters of the impact point melted instantly, creating a boiling pool around the epicenter.
Shards of ice splintered and flew in every direction, and the icy surface within miles shattered under the shockwave. Even Marines hiding in the basement of the G-2 branch could hear the deafening explosion and feel the earth-shaking tremors.
"This is ridiculous!" Usopp muttered from the safety of the basement, his eyes wide with disbelief. Dust and bits of ice fell from the ceiling above them, and he clung tightly to Zoro's arm. "Hours, Zoro! They've been fighting for hours and still haven't decided the winner!"
Zoro rolled his eyes, shaking off Usopp's grip with mild annoyance. Though he wasn't the least bit worried about the outcome, he couldn't shake the frustration building up inside him. I should be out there, fighting alongside them, he thought bitterly. I'm still too weak. I have to get stronger.
Clenching his fists, Zoro gave Usopp an irritated look before hauling him up. "If you're going to cling to me, you might as well be useful," he grumbled, positioning Usopp like a human training weight. "Alright, let's get some practice in."
"Hey, hey! Put me down! What are you doing?" Usopp protested, flailing his arms as Zoro began his impromptu training session, wielding Usopp like a practice sword.
"Hold on tight and don't move. You're my sword now!" Zoro barked.
"Idiot! Who are you calling a 'sword'?!"
Meanwhile, near the blast site, Luffy lay sprawled on the ice, his face pale and his body drained. He could barely move, his vision blurred from the immense effort it had taken to summon the powerful explosion.
"Luffy!" Hancock's voice rang out as she and Garp hurried over to him. She knelt beside him, carefully lifting his upper body onto her lap, her face full of worry as she checked him for injuries.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt? Do you need medical attention?" she asked urgently, her hands brushing over his shoulders and face, desperate to make sure he was unharmed.
Garp folded his arms, frowning with a mixture of pride and exasperation. "Idiot, you're too reckless," he muttered. "We could've taken him down together without you wasting all that energy on one big attack."
Luffy managed a weak smile, shaking his head slightly as he looked up at Hancock. "I'm fine," he assured her softly before turning his gaze to Garp. "But after all the beatings I took, I had to give him a taste of his own medicine. Besides, if I'm gonna be a future Admiral, I can't keep letting Kaido push me around, right?"
Garp snorted, unable to keep the small smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're as stubborn as ever, brat."
With Hancock's support, Luffy forced himself to sit up, wincing slightly but determined to see if his attack had any effect on Kaido.
Scanning the ice, he spotted Kaido's massive form sprawled motionless on a chunk of ice floating in the now-melted area of the battlefield. A faint grin spread across Luffy's face.
"Guess even you can't shrug off a blast like that, huh?" he muttered to himself, feeling a sense of pride as he watched Kaido lie still. No matter how tough you are, that had to leave a mark.
He glanced around, suddenly noticing the absence of Aokiji and Kizaru. "Where did Uncle Borsalino and Kuzan go?" he grumbled. "This would be a perfect time to sink Kaido before he gets up again!"
From a distance, Aokiji's voice rang out, his tone dripping with irritation. "Ahem, shut up, brat. You nearly took me out along with him!"
Luffy looked up to see Aokiji reforming himself from scattered ice shards, his expression a mix of annoyance and relief. He hadn't been quick enough to escape the blast entirely and had taken a hit from the explosion. "If I hadn't coated myself with Armament Haki, I'd be in the same shape as that monster."
Aokiji shook his head, muttering curses under his breath as he scanned the area for Kizaru. That slippery bastard, he thought, sighing as he realized Kizaru had disappeared. With a resigned shrug, he reluctantly made his way toward Kaido, preparing to break the ice and, ideally, capture the Emperor.
But just as he neared Kaido, Aokiji's steps faltered, his body tensing as a wave of instinctive dread washed over him. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he watched Kaido stir, Kaido's massive body shifting on the ice.
In a sudden, terrifying movement, Kaido's eyes snapped open. He pushed himself up, rolling to his feet with a twisted grin, his eyes alight with manic excitement. The pain radiating from his injuries only seemed to fuel his exhilaration.
"Oh, this is wonderful!" Kaido roared, his voice booming across the battlefield. "It's been so long since I've felt this alive! Little one, you're something special. Grow stronger, so one day, we can have a real fight!"
His face twisted with crazed delight, Kaido looked directly at Luffy, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Kuzan took a step back instinctively, sensing the madness in Kaido's aura.
Without warning, Kaido launched himself toward Kuzan, his Conqueror's Haki locking onto the Admiral. Kaido's speed was frightening as he moved, his large frame barreling forward with terrifying intensity, every inch of him radiating unrestrained power.
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