Kaido sensed the overwhelming aura rising from Luffy, and excitement surged through him once again.
"Worororo, now this is getting interesting. I thought that was all you had."
Luffy laughed loudly, full of energy and defiance. "Hahahahaha! I am not losing until I become the Pirate King!"
"Worororo, anyone can run their mouth. Let us see if your strength matches it."
The moment he finished speaking, Kaido transformed, his massive body shifting into a colossal blue dragon that filled the sky.
Luffy's eyes lit up with amazement, stars practically sparkling within them. "A dragon! That is so cool!"
Kaido shook his head, unwilling to waste words on someone so childish, even if he secretly agreed with that sentiment.
A golden glow began to gather in Kaido's mouth, growing brighter and more intense with each passing second. Then, without hesitation, he unleashed it.
"Heat Breath!"
A blazing beam of destruction tore through the air, carrying immense heat that warped the space around it as it rushed toward Luffy.
Luffy's eyes widened in shock. "Ah! Hahahaha!"
Without hesitation, he dashed backward. His hands dug into the ground, gripping it tightly. As he pulled, the earth beneath him began to change, turning soft and elastic.
With a powerful tug, Luffy lifted the ground itself like a massive sheet of rubber.
"Go!"
He swung it forward, sending the rubberized terrain directly into the path of the incoming blast.
The moment the Heat Breath struck it, the attack rebounded, snapping back toward Kaido like a ball in a game.
The returning blast moved even faster than before.
Kaido's eyes widened in surprise, unable to react in time.
Boom!
The Heat Breath slammed directly into his face.
"Argh!"
The intense flames scorched him black, leaving his massive form charred as smoke rose from his body.
Kaido coughed out a mouthful of black smoke as he dropped toward the ground.
Yamato stared in disbelief.
"Nani...?"
This fighting style made no sense to her at all, yet strangely, it felt... enjoyable to watch.
It was ridiculous, unpredictable, and somehow full of life.
Looking back at Luffy, she saw him hopping around, covering his eyes with one hand while laughing nonstop.
"This is amazing! It feels like I can do anything!"
From within the smoke, Kaido rose again in his dragon form, his gaze fixed on Luffy with confusion.
"This kind of transformation should only happen after a Zoan awakening. It is even affecting the environment."
He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
"Whatever you are, if you want to defeat me, call your master!"
Before Luffy could respond, Kaido lunged forward and swallowed him whole.
"Luffy!"
Yamato shouted, panic filling her voice.
But in the next instant, Kaido's expression twisted in pain.
"Ah!"
Inside his stomach, Luffy was causing complete chaos.
"Hahahaha! I am like a cannonball, bouncing around inside a dragon's belly!"
Each impact sent waves of pain through Kaido's massive body.
At the same time, Kaido's thoughts raced. What is wrong with this brat? He is coated in Conqueror's Haki, yet he does not tire?
"Gomu Gomu no... Balloon!"
Luffy's voice echoed from within.
Suddenly, Kaido's stomach began to expand, swelling into a massive balloon. His entire body started to lift into the air.
Kaido's eyes widened in disbelief as he felt his insides change.
"What kind of nonsense is this? My body is not rubber! Get out, Luffy!"
From inside, Luffy laughed. "This is fun, but it smells like alcohol in here. Kaido, you drink way too much!"
Kaido rolled his eyes in irritation. "Straw Hat, what I drink is none of your concern! Fight me properly!"
At that moment, Luffy's arms stretched out through Kaido's eyes.
"Gomu Gomu no... Escape Rocket!"
The swollen mass surged upward, forcing its way out.
"Ugh!"
Kaido could no longer hold it in and spat Luffy out violently.
Luffy landed on the ground, and upon impact, the earth beneath him instantly turned into rubber.
Thump!
He stomped down, and the ground transformed into a massive trampoline, launching him high into the sky.
Yamato stared in awe. "He can turn everything into rubber... this ability is unbelievable."
Luffy shot upward, crashing into the clouds far above. Even they became rubber under his influence.
Using their elasticity, he bounced back down with incredible speed, descending toward Kaido like a meteor.
Within moments, he was right in front of him.
Kaido shifted into his Human-Beast form, gripping his kanabo tightly. Conqueror's Haki surged around the weapon, crackling with red and black lightning.
"Worororo, such a reckless ability. I will not lose. It has been too long since anyone challenged me like this."
He swung his club forward.
"Be careful, Luffy!"
Yamato shouted, fully aware of the power behind that attack.
"Great Wind... Thunder Bagua!"
The kanabo tore through the air, coated in immense Haki and surrounded by violent lightning. It reached Luffy in an instant.
Before Luffy's punch could land, the club struck his face directly.
His face stretched and molded around the weapon like rubber.
Boom!
The impact sent him flying across the battlefield, crashing through multiple mountains before finally coming to a halt.
Luffy lay motionless.
The white color of his form began to fade, his aura weakening. His body shrank, wrinkles forming across his skin.
In seconds, he looked like a frail old man.
Kaido sat down heavily, not pursuing further. Even he felt the toll of the battle.
He could sense Luffy's presence fading, no longer carrying that overwhelming force.
"So that was your limit? That is disappointing."
Yamato rushed to Luffy's side. "Hey! Luffy, what is wrong with you?"
Luffy stuck out his tongue weakly. "I told you... as long as I am alive... anything is possible."
With effort, he pushed himself up, placing a fist against the ground.
"Beat again... heart!"
He prepared to force his power back once more.
Just as he was about to do it, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.
...