Chapter 240: Kaido’s Past

Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Kaido’s Past

......

Luffy’s hand was burned so badly that he was baring his teeth in pain.

The temperature of the flames was too high — high enough that even his awakened body could not completely isolate it.

The Blazing Bagua wrapped around Kaido was as if it were truly a giant dragon composed of raging flames. Every single dragon scale was burning, and every breath spewed scorching heat.

"So hot! So hot! So hot!"

Luffy quickly let go of Kaido’s arm and blew hard on his hand in front of his mouth.

That posture was as comical as a child who had been burned.

But no one could laugh, because a corner of Onigashima was melting.

Those hard rocks, those buildings — in the face of the high temperature emanating from Kaido’s body, they melted like ice.

Lava flowed down the island walls and into the sea, stirring up towering steam.

This was the power of the Fire Dragon Great Torch. This was also Kaido’s greatest killing move.

"Straw Hat brat..."

Kaido’s voice came from within the flames, low and majestic. "It’s fine even if you let go."

His dragon pupils stared fixedly at Luffy through the flames.

"You don’t need to throw that fist of yours anymore either."

The flames surged around him, making him look like a demon dragon that had crawled out of hell.

"Because..."

The corner of Kaido’s mouth curled, revealing sharp fangs. "I will make it completely evaporate!"

Luffy looked at him. Looked at that giant dragon wrapped in flames. Looked at that terrifying face illuminated by the flickering firelight.

He smiled, his tone filled with confidence. "I won’t let something like that happen!"

He raised that massive fist high. That fist, which was larger than Onigashima itself, moved slightly, and the entire cloud layer trembled!

That fist, wrapped in both Conqueror’s Haki and Armament Haki, was aimed at the demon dragon!

"Gomu Gomu no!"

Luffy’s voice penetrated the flames, penetrated the smoke, penetrated all obstacles. "Ape God Gun!!!"

The giant fist descended. That punch carried all of his strength, all of his conviction, all of his hope.

Kaido’s pupils suddenly contracted. That punch was no ordinary attack. What was wrapped around it was not only Conqueror’s Haki.

There was another power — it was the Ryuo that Hyogoro had taught him.

That ultimate technique that could inflict damage even without directly touching the opponent.

Luffy’s fist had not yet touched Kaido, but that power had already penetrated the flames, penetrated the dragon scales, and struck directly at Kaido’s body.

"This is...!"

A look of shock flashed through Kaido’s pupils. However, he did not retreat. He was Kaido — the World’s Strongest Creature!

He was a Yonko who dominated the seas.

Faced with this punch, he actively charged forward to meet it.

"Rising Dragon · Flame Bagua!!!"

The massive fire dragon body shot into the sky, wrapped in world-destroying flames, and collided head-on with that giant fist!

"BOOM!!!"

That sound was not an ordinary explosion. It was a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar.

The explosion cloud shot into the sky. That light was so blinding that people could not look at it directly.

The shockwave spread outward like a tsunami, tearing the cloud layer into fragments, stirring up hundred-meter-high waves in the sea, and causing the entire sky to tremble violently.

Luffy could not help but raise his hand to shield his eyes. That light was too strong — strong enough that even he could not look at it directly.

Outside the light screen, the crowd was also squinting from the glare.

But they did not close their eyes. They endured the pain and stared fixedly at the light screen.

Because they knew that this strike would decide everything.

Onigashima Banquet Hall.

Water.

Water poured down from all directions!

Raizo had finally completed his ninjutsu. That scroll which he had treasured for so long was now displaying its true power.

Zunesha’s Blessing Rain descended upon the banquet hall!

That rainwater fell upon the flames, upon the wounds, upon every samurai who had fought desperately.

Then, Jinbe appeared.

Jinbe — the Knight of the Sea, captain of the Fish-Man Pirates, and helmsman of the Straw Hat crew.

He raised both hands and gave a gentle wave. That sky-full of rainwater seemed to hear his call and instantly converged into a towering tsunami, sweeping across the entire Onigashima!

"Fish-Man Karate!"

His voice was steady and powerful. "Ocean Current Shoulder Throw!"

The massive wave surged like a tsunami, sweeping everything inside the banquet hall into it.

The Beast Pirates’ underlings struggled in the water, while the samurai were gently lifted by the current and carried to safety.

"Jinbe!" Someone cried out in surprise.

Jinbe did not answer. He simply raised his head and looked toward the direction of the dome.

Looked toward that place where the light was shining.

Looked toward that youth who was currently engaged in a life-and-death battle with Kaido.

"Straw Hat captain..." Law and Kid lay on the rocks, murmuring.

Everyone raised their heads and looked in that direction — the samurai, the pirates...

They all knew that Kaido was the greatest enemy standing in the way of Wano Country’s founding.

And the only one who could defeat Kaido was that person.

Only that straw hat-wearing youth.

The scene switched.

The past of Wano Country appeared.

Those scenes were like knives, stabbing deeply into everyone’s hearts.

Countless chimneys rose across Wano Country. Thick black smoke shot into the sky, blocking out the sun and polluting the air.

All able-bodied laborers were captured by the Beast Pirates’ underlings.

As long as they could still move, they would be dragged into the factories and forced to work day and night without rest.

Countless families were torn apart. Countless citizens were displaced. Countless lives silently disappeared within those factories.

The factories’ wastewater was discharged into the rivers. The river water became murky and black, emitting a pungent stench.

The once beautiful Wano Country, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, had become a scene of utter devastation.

People could not drink clean water. Crops could not be grown.

Food supplies were completely cut off. Skeletons lay scattered across the land!

That was Wano Country’s twenty years. Those were twenty years shrouded in darkness.

Those were twenty years spent waiting for the dawn.

Outside the light screen, the crowd’s hearts felt as heavy as if a massive stone had been placed upon them.

They watched those scenes. Watched those suffering people. Watched those figures struggling in despair. Their hands unconsciously pressed together.

"Keep going..." A woman murmured.

"Keep going, Straw Hat brat!" The children’s voices rang out.

At first it was just a few. Then it became over a dozen. Then it became hundreds and thousands.

"Keep going!"

"You’re doing great!"

"Defeat Kaido!"

"Liberate Wano Country!"

...

Their voices merged into a torrent, penetrating the light screen, as if they wanted to reach that youth who was currently fighting.

Even some Marines could not help but clench their fists at this moment.

They knew that Luffy was a pirate. They also knew that Marines and pirates were enemies.

But at this moment, they were cheering for him as well.

Because at this moment, Luffy was justice. At this moment, he was the warrior of liberation.

"Keep going, Straw Hat brat!" A young Marine could not help but shout.

Then two.

Three.

Ten.

"Keep going!"

"Warrior of liberation!"

"This is what a warrior of liberation looks like!"

...

Elbaph.

The giants raised their arms one after another.

"This is the Sun God!!"

"Sun God!"

"Defeat the evil dragon!"

The giant children stepped out from behind their parents. They were no longer afraid. No longer terrified.

They no longer hid behind their parents and secretly peeked.

In their eyes, there was only longing and admiration.

So this was what the Sun God was like. Not the monster from legends, nor some terrifying existence.

He was that youth who could laugh, who could cause trouble, who would risk everything to protect others.

"Sun God big brother!" A child shouted loudly.

"Keep going!"

...

Within the light screen, the aftershock of the explosion gradually dissipated.

The light faded. The smoke faded.

People finally saw the scene atop the dome clearly.

Kaido was biting Luffy’s fist.

That massive fire dragon was biting down hard on that giant fist. Its dragon fangs were deeply embedded into the surface of the punch.

Flames surged between the two of them. Scorching heat waves distorted the air.

"You did pretty well..."

Kaido’s voice was squeezed out from between his teeth. Surprisingly, it still carried a trace of ease. "Straw Hat brat..."

Luffy’s expression was twisted in pain. Those flames were too hot.

Even with Ryuo protecting him, he could not completely isolate that high temperature. His fist was burning within the flames. His skin turned red, and white smoke rose from it.

"Ugh..." He let out a muffled groan.

Kaido looked at his expression. A complex emotion flashed through his dragon pupils. "To be able to fight me to this extent..."

"Among the new generation, you are already outstanding."

Kaido paused and did not hesitate to begin praising Luffy. "Truly remarkable."

Praise was praise, but Kaido’s next words made everyone’s hearts sink.

"However..."

A cold light flashed through his dragon pupils. "Defeating me is still too difficult."

Kaido slowly increased his strength. The flames burned even more fiercely...

Luffy’s expression became even more pained!

"You cannot change this world..."

Kaido’s voice was low, as if stating an unchangeable truth.

His gaze became serious — serious as if he were recalling something.

The scene switched.

The past Kaido.

Back then, he was still very small.

Very, very small.

He was holding a weapon in his hand. That weapon was taller than he was, heavier than he was — but he held it steadily.

Because if he did not hold a weapon, he would die.

When he was still a child, war had already followed him like a shadow. He had seen too much death. Seen too much blood.

Seen too much of humanity’s ugliness.

At ten years old, Kaido had already become an undefeated war machine in the army.

Everyone feared him. Everyone respected him.

Everyone thought he was fighting for his country!

But in the end, his country betrayed him.

At the age of thirteen, he was taken control of by the king.

That country he had fought for. That monarch he had been loyal to. For the sake of obtaining the qualification to participate in the "World Conference," they had treated him as a bargaining chip and offered him to the World Government.

That hatred from betrayal ran deep into his bones.

It would never fade.

He looked at those Celestial Dragons high above. Looked at those slaves prostrating on the ground. His heart was filled with confusion.

Why?!

Why did people have to obey the so-called Celestial Dragons?

Why were they willing to become their slaves?

Why...

Did no one resist?

From that moment on, Kaido completely lost faith in this world.

Outside the light screen, everyone fell silent.

They watched that young Kaido. Watched that tender yet scarred face. Watched those eyes that had changed from confusion to indifference...

Complex emotions surged in their hearts.

That was Kaido?!

"So he... was also a pitiful person!"

...