Kaido's expression was extremely unsightly, a cold sweat seeping from his forehead. His serpentine tail had long been secretly extended to its limit, silently approaching Jin-An. This tail was his last trump card, fed with countless poisons. A single bite, no matter how strong the enemy, would instantly paralyze or even kill them.
As he confronted Jin-An, a hint of restrained coldness flashed in his eyes, his tail quietly closing in from behind. But Jin-An seemed completely oblivious, still standing there with that inscrutable smile.
Just as Kaido thought he had succeeded, Jin-An suddenly turned around, the movement almost prescient, grabbing Kaido's tail. His fingers clamped down on the slippery snake-like appendage like iron pincers, the tail abruptly halting in mid-air.
"Is this your last trick?" Jin-An asked with a light smile, his voice so indifferent it was unsettling.
Kaido's face changed drastically, his heart filled with shock. He had trained his awakened tail to be undetectable by conventional means, even Observation Haki couldn't lock onto its movements. Yet, Jin-An had instantly and accurately seized his attack.
"How is this possible…" Kaido gritted his teeth, his heart churning. This defied all logic.
Jin-An's hand remained firmly gripping Kaido's tail, a faint smile playing on his lips, seemingly not taking Kaido's struggle seriously at all. "Since you have no other tricks, then it's my turn."
Before he finished speaking, the strength in his hand suddenly changed, forcefully transmitting an irresistible force along Kaido's tail towards his heart.
Kaido felt a tremendous force surge into his body through his tail, his entire body instantly losing control. His eyes widened, his body stiff as a statue, as he watched Jin-An's finger slowly extend towards his chest, touching it lightly.
In that instant, Kaido's breathing seemed to stop, a chilling sensation spreading from his heart, as if something had invaded his body. But then, Jin-An's finger gently withdrew, as if nothing had happened.
"Just… like that?" Kaido was stunned, the shock on his face impossible to conceal. The power of that touch seemed too understated, not at all like a killing move Jin-An would use.
Jin-An smiled, his expression relaxed and natural, as if he had anticipated Kaido's confusion. He looked at Kaido and said calmly, "I left a mark on your chest."
"A mark?" Kaido frowned, raising his hand to touch his chest, but he felt nothing unusual.
"This mark will not disappear," Jin-An's voice held an undeniable certainty. He then turned around, lightly pointing at the sea surface. An invisible force streaked through the air, directly targeting the sea, and in an instant, a mark appeared on the water's surface.
Kaido's eyes widened as he watched Jin-An's finger once again gently wave towards the location of that mark—but he was shocked to see that Jin-An's finger directly ignored the distance of space, instantly appearing in the very center of the mark on the sea. It was as if Jin-An's hand had merged with space itself, able to traverse distances at will.
Kaido's pupils constricted, a chill rising in his heart. He finally understood what Jin-An meant earlier.
"You understand now, don't you?" Jin-An turned around, looking at him with a teasing smile, a hint of lighthearted triumph in his eyes.
"This… this is impossible…" Kaido's voice trembled, the shock in his heart beyond words. Jin-An's power completely exceeded his understanding, able to leave such a mark in his body that allowed him to manipulate distance at will.
"From now on, I can summon you to wherever I want, whenever I want. Perhaps next time it will be in front of you, or perhaps on the other side of the world," Jin-An said casually, as if he were just chatting.
Kaido was silent. He finally realized that, whether it was strength, Haki, or skill, he was no match for Jin-An.
......
On the deck of the warship, Jinbe and Kuzan stood at the bow, their eyes fixed on the distant sea.
Despite the considerable distance, the brief tremor in the sea and sky and the lingering aura of Conqueror's Haki had reached them.
However, the commotion of the battle disappeared too quickly.
"It stopped already?" Jinbe muttered to himself, his eyes full of disbelief.
Kuzan leaned against the ship's railing, his fingers gently stroking the cold metal, frowning slightly. "It's a bit unexpected, indeed."
His tone was calm, but a complex look flashed in his icy blue eyes.
The two had left only a few minutes ago, and they had expected the clash to last a long time. After all, Jin-An and Kaido were at the pinnacle of the sea, and their confrontation would be enough to unleash a lasting storm.
But now—the sea had returned to calm, the clash of Haki was gone, as if nothing had happened.
Jinbe's heart was full of doubt, and he couldn't help but ask, "That was too fast, wasn't it?"
He looked at Kuzan, wanting to get an answer from the other's reaction.
Kuzan narrowed his eyes, looking at the strangely quiet sea in the distance. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head. "Jin-An never fights a battle he's not sure of winning. Since he chose to accept the challenge, he has absolute confidence. This silence means he has completely taken control of the situation."
Even so, Kuzan couldn't help but feel a trace of worry in his heart.
No matter the outcome of this duel, it would affect the situation, and Jin-An's choices were often unexpected.
At the same time, on the other side of the warship, Kaido's subordinates gathered together, exchanging nervous glances.
King stood at the front, his brow furrowed, anxiety and unease swirling in his heart.
He stared coldly into the distance, his heart full of contradictions—as the right-hand man of the Beasts Pirates, he had absolute trust in his captain. Kaido's strength was unmatched.
However, the battle had ended too quickly, so quickly that it gave him an ominous premonition.
King pursed his lips, his fists clenched involuntarily. "Something's not right…"
He said in a low voice, his heart a little chaotic.
He knew Kaido's strength, but the opponent was Jin-An, who was no longer a simple human being.
Queen scratched his head and said, "Should we consider finding a way out? Do you think the boss can still win?"
King glared at Queen and said coldly, "Shut up."
Although he was also feeling uneasy, he wouldn't allow himself to show the slightest hesitation.
For the Beasts Pirates, Kaido was their backbone. Once something happened to him, the entire crew's future would fall into the abyss.
Just then, on the distant sea, a familiar figure suddenly emerged from the sea mist.
Jin-An's figure gradually became clear. He looked relaxed and natural, his aura still so steady, without any signs of fatigue after the battle.
Where's Kaido?
Everyone's hearts tightened, their eyes eagerly searching for Kaido's figure, their hearts full of anxiety.
Finally, Kaido's figure also gradually emerged, but unlike Jin-An's composure, Kaido's pace seemed a little heavy, his expression solemn, his eyes complex.
Jinbe's eyes widened slightly, his heart tightening. "Kaido… he lost?"
Kuzan also stopped talking, quietly watching Kaido's expression. Even without words, he could see the answer in the other's expression.
Kaido lowered his head and walked in front of King and Queen. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "…Jin-An won."
Everyone was stunned.
Although they had already had a vague premonition in their hearts, the moment Kaido said it himself, it still brought a huge shock.
This once invincible Emperor of the Sea had now personally admitted his defeat.
King opened his mouth, but in the end, he just gritted his teeth and lowered his head.
He didn't speak, the mixed emotions in the depths of his heart made him unable to organize his words for a while.
Jin-An returned to the deck calmly, with a smile on his face, as if everything was under his control.
He looked at Jinbe and Kuzan and said lightly, "Let's go back to headquarters. It's over."
...
...
