NOVEL NEXT Chapter 220: Chapter 220
As Kaido listened to his subordinate's desperate report, Garp's Den Den Mushi crackled to life, Sengoku's voice coming through with clear urgency.
"Garp! We've entered Wano Country. You must hold Kaido here for as long as possible. Keep him away from us, but… don't kill him. Just buy us time."
Garp raised an eyebrow, momentarily stunned before breaking into a deep, booming laugh. "Hahaha! Sengoku, you're crazier than I thought!" he roared. "Alright, old friend. I'll hold this big lizard back, even if it costs me my life. But… why can't we just kill him? Seems like a pretty stupid restriction to me."
"Shut up and follow orders, Garp!" Sengoku snapped. "Relay my instructions to Borsalino and Kuzan as well. The three of you need to work together to keep Kaido at bay for as long as possible—preferably a few days."
Garp's expression soured at the mention of "those two slackers." He opened his mouth to complain, but, as if on cue, Kizaru and Aokiji appeared on either side of him, grinning as they leaned in toward the Den Den Mushi.
"Don't worry, Fleet Admiral," Kizaru drawled, his voice cheerful. "We'll take care of Kaido. Mission understood!"
Aokiji added, "Leave it to us. We won't let him slip away."
Garp's patience snapped, and he angrily hung up the Den Den Mushi. Without missing a beat, he raised a leg and kicked both Kizaru and Aokiji squarely in the back, sending them flying toward Kaido.
"Idiots! Prove it with your actions, not your talk!" he yelled after them.
With a determined expression, Garp braced himself, using Shave to launch forward with blinding speed. Kaido, who had just ended his own call, watched the three approaching Marines with growing anger.
Inwardly, he was torn. On one hand, he was itching to crush these irritating pests, but on the other, his people back in Wano needed him now more than ever. His jaw clenched in frustration, and he made a reluctant decision. With a frustrated snarl, he transformed back into his dragon form, preparing to retreat.
Seeing Kaido's attempt to escape, Aokiji and Kizaru shared a brief look. Despite their usual laid-back demeanor, both Admirals understood the importance of this mission. With a sigh, Kizaru straightened, focusing his energy.
"Yasakani no Magatama!" he called, unleashing a storm of golden light beams aimed directly at Kaido.
Aokiji stepped forward as well, summoning a gust of icy wind. "Ice Time Capsule!" he said, releasing a torrent of cold air that enveloped Kaido's massive dragon form, freezing parts of his scales.
Kaido growled, realizing he wouldn't be able to escape so easily. Garp's powerful presence barreled toward him, and Kaido barely had time to brace himself as the Marine hero's iron fist struck with punishing force. The combined might of the three was enough to halt even Kaido's retreat.
Watching from a distance, Luffy, still drained from his earlier attacks, turned to Hancock. "Help me up. I need to get back out there," he said, determination burning in his eyes.
Hancock, though worried, nodded and supported him. Meanwhile, Luffy quickly devoured chunks of ice from the battlefield, replenishing his energy as best he could. Finally, he felt a flicker of strength return.
For two relentless days and nights, the battle raged on. Each clash echoed across the frozen landscape, and the sky above seemed to darken under the weight of the fierce combat. Garp, Aokiji, Kizaru, and Luffy took turns facing Kaido, wearing him down bit by bit.
In the final moments of the brutal battle, Kaido, bloodied and battered, ascended into the sky. The toll of the prolonged fight had taken its toll, and with a fierce growl, he rose higher and higher, disappearing into the clouds at a dizzying altitude.
Luffy later learned of Kaido's retreat only after he had recovered. His own role in the fight had ended halfway through the second day when Kaido's Rising Dragon Flame Bagua had struck him, nearly taking him out. His battered body couldn't withstand the impact, and he was left on the brink of unconsciousness. Fortunately, Hancock had reached him in time, shielding him from further harm and rushing him back to the G-2 branch for medical attention, saving his life.
Among the group, Kizaru had fared the worst. As Kaido made his final escape, Kizaru had been the only one capable of pursuing him in the air. Kaido, recognizing the threat, had targeted Kizaru with an extra dose of fury, landing blow after blow. When Luffy fell, Kaido had focused his attention on Kizaru, his attacks relentless. Aokiji, though slightly wounded, considered himself fortunate for his inability to fly, thankful he hadn't been the one to face Kaido in the sky.
On the fifth day after Kaido's attack—and the third day following the end of the battle—Luffy finally awoke from his coma. Groggy but alive, he quickly realized his most pressing need: food. The gnawing hunger in his stomach demanded attention, and he didn't waste a second comforting the worried girls gathered around him. Instead, he immediately dove into a feast, consuming food enough to satisfy fifty people over the course of a week.
Only after stuffing himself did he sit back with a sigh, patting his now-rounded belly in satisfaction. "Ahh, that's more like it. I finally feel like myself again."
He activated Life Return, his belly quickly shrinking back to its normal size. Just then, Ain approached him, tears glistening in her eyes as she reached for his hand. Her face was marked with dark circles, her hair slightly unkempt. Luffy squeezed her hand gently, feeling warmth spread through his chest.
"I'm sorry to have worried you," he said softly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry—I'm okay now."
Ain nodded, her tears spilling over as she clung to his hand, her relief evident in her expression. For days, she had feared the worst, haunted by the image of Luffy lying unconscious. Now, seeing him awake and healthy brought a flood of emotions she couldn't contain. He reached out and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, feeling gratitude for the support of his crew and friends.
Turning his gaze, he saw the other women gathered around him—Hina, Hancock, Nami, Kujaku—all of them with expressions of deep concern and relief.
A faint smile played on his lips. "You too," he said, his voice full of warmth. "Thank you for staying by my side."
Nami, unable to contain her emotions any longer, threw her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder. The others, though more composed, crowded around him, each asking after his health, relieved to see him alive and well.
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