"Damn Pengele Primo! I'll tear your head off!"
Kaido's furious roar shook the air as he broke free from the ice, releasing his pent-up rage with a thunderous shout. His Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, causing nearly half of the Varia members on the periphery to lose consciousness instantly.
Kaido of the Beasts, once one of the most formidable presences in the New World, stood in strength alongside Pengele Primo, Whitebeard, and Big Mom. Although he might have been the weakest among them, his incredibly resilient life force was a headache for any opponent.
The critical issue was that no one wanted to be tangled with an indestructible adversary, especially a mentally unstable one like Kaido. This was precisely why Jotaro had used Zero Point Breakthrough years ago to freeze him, leaving him under the strict watch of Varia, with no intention of letting him reappear in the world.
Who could have anticipated that Kaido would see the light of day again?
Xanxus's expression darkened to the point where it seemed water might drip from his face. He hadn't expected the enemy to be so cunning, using his attack to help break the ice and free Kaido.
Now, things were genuinely problematic. Kaido's strength was significant, and even if his prolonged freezing had weakened him, his formidable life force was rapidly recovering as he thawed. Simply put, even if he hadn't fully recovered, he was undoubtedly still at a level comparable to an Admiral…
Even the weakest Admiral is still an Admiral.
"The outcome is decided. Are you still planning to resist?"
Aim steadied himself and grinned, addressing Issho, who was not far ahead: "You can still surrender now. With your strength, if you join us, I can ensure your status and position will be no less than mine in the future. Issho, wise men know when to retreat. Don't throw away your life over some misplaced sense of pride! Hahaha!"
Having been targeted by Issho, Aim was finally able to release some steam and naturally wanted to flaunt his triumph. He genuinely wished to persuade Issho to defect, knowing the likelihood was slim but considering it worth the attempt. A successful defection would grant them an Admiral-level combatant for free, especially with Issho's advanced Observation Haki, which was extremely rare.
All three types of Haki could advance to higher levels, but those who could take that step were extraordinarily rare, requiring a blend of talent, effort, and luck. Advanced forms of Observation Haki had been seen before: Roger's Voice of All Things and Katakuri's ability to foresee the future. Issho's Heart's Eye was the third advanced form of Observation Haki.
Armament Haki also had unique advanced forms, such as the visible, tangible Armament Haki Karp showcased in Alabasta, whose specific abilities remain unclear.
In Aim's eyes, Issho was a valuable asset, provided he was willing to switch sides.
"Hehehe, what do you take me for? I am Issho, the head of the Pengele Family's External Advisors!"
Issho's aura suddenly erupted, powerful gravity enveloping the area as his expression shifted: "Today, there will only be a beheaded Issho, never a kneeling Issho. So what if Kaido is freed? He was defeated by our family before, and he'll be defeated again now!"
With his cane sword horizontally in front of him, the sharp aura of a great swordsman was unleashed, wrapped in Armament Haki. Issho was prepared to risk his life.
This was Wano, the territory of the Pengele Family. He couldn't retreat a single step, no matter what, or what would become of the people here?
"Where is Pengele Primo? Tell him to come out and face me!" Kaido's eyes scanned the surroundings but couldn't find Jotaro anywhere.
At this moment, the most rational person was Axe. Despite his love for battle, he knew this wasn't the time for a life-and-death struggle. The Pengele Family's reinforcements might still arrive.
"Kaido! Leave your grudge against Pengele Primo for another time. For now, we must retreat. This is Pengele's territory, and no matter how strong you are, you can't defeat Pengele's six Guardians."
Axe looked up at the towering Kaido and spoke sharply.
Kaido glanced down at him, sensing an aura no less potent than his own. His expression softened slightly. Then, Kaido's gaze locked onto Xanxus, and he grinned: "Fine! But before we go, I'll take some interest. Killing one of them will be a nice gift for Pengele Primo!"
Without waiting for Axe's response, Kaido charged directly at Xanxus. Knowing this wasn't the best time to fight, Kaido needed to vent his anger, or it might consume him.
However, he picked the wrong target. Despite looking worse off than Issho, Xanxus still had immense fighting strength as long as he hadn't bled out. A man like him remained ferociously powerful even in the face of death.
"Breaking out of the ice? Perfect timing—I need to vent my anger too. If you won't stay in the ice, then go to hell!"
Without hesitation, Xanxus unleashed a barrage of Rage Flames. Kaido, however, covered himself in Armament Haki and forcefully advanced through the attack.
Kaido's fists relentlessly pummeled the flames, each punch exploding them. Despite being hit and injured, he didn't retreat a single step. Determined to kill Xanxus, he transformed into his dragon-man form, pushing his power to the limit.
Step by step, Kaido marched through the Rage Flames toward Xanxus. His body was covered in numerous wounds—fatal to others, but Kaido withstood them.
"Die, you Pengele scum!"