Chapitre 114: Chapter 114: A Dragon's Ascent!
Soon after, Edie arrived at the grand Skull Castle of Onigashima. Kaido greeted him with a broad grin, his massive frame hunched over a table laden with sake jars. Despite his brutish demeanor, Kaido had prepared coffee for Edie as they had a pleasant conversation.
Edie's mind shifted gears. If Kaido succeeded in awakening his mythical Zoan powers, he'd become a force even the World Government would struggle to contain. And with Kaido's ambition to launch a world-scale war, this power could be a turning point.
But Edie had other uses for Kaido beyond his awakening.
"Speaking of war," Edie began, his voice calm but calculated, "have you thought about your long-standing grudge against the World Government?"
Kaido's tone darkened. "You know damn well I have. What's your point?"
Edie leaned forward, his smile sharp. "Let me Inform you of Imu. The one pulling the strings behind the Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders. The immortal king of the World Government."
Kaido was silent for a moment. Then, in a low growl, he asked, "Imu? What proof do you have of this?"
"Proof?" Edie let out a dry laugh. "Does it matter? If you want proof, go to Mariejois yourself and see. But let me offer you something better—an opportunity. A joint operation."
Kaido's curiosity was piqued, though his voice remained cautious. "What kind of operation?"
"A Plan to Attack Mariejois"
"Golden Lion Shiki recently commissioned me to complete a project," Edie explained. "He's been itching to make his move, and with your strength combined, We can cause a lot of Damage in Mariejois."
Kaido's interest deepened. "You're suggesting I team up with that old man? Hmph. He's strong, but reckless."
"Perhaps. But the two of you complement each other well. You can both fly and use destructive Attacks, giving you an edge against the fortress of Mariejois. Even if the Marines catch wind, you can retreat before they pose a real threat."
Kaido grinned, his sharp teeth glinting. "And what about you, Edie? You think I'll just do your dirty work while you sit back and watch?"
Edie raised a hand, his tone placating. "I'll be contributing. I'll send Snake, the clone of Rocks D. Xebec. He's strong enough to keep the Five Elders occupied, maybe even Imu if he's lucky. And…" He paused, his smirk returning. "I have a special surprise for them: [White]."
Kaido roared with laughter. "You mean that failed experiment? Sending a rubbery lunatic to the Holy Land? Now that's a show worth watching!"
Edie's grin widened. "White is far from useless. He may lack rationality, but his sheer destructive power will sow chaos. And let's not forget—seeing a supposed 'Joyboy' tearing through their precious Mariejois will unnerve even those Arrogant Five Elders."
Kaido slammed his fist on the table. "Fine! But if I'm going into the heart of enemy territory, I expect more."
"I've already anticipated that," Edie said smoothly. "I've developed gas-based weapons that will wipe the Celestial Dragons. Made by Caesar clown, enhanced and weaponized. We'll target their upper echelons directly—Imu, the Five Elders, and their pompous nobles."
Kaido's eyes burned with intensity. "And what about Imu? If this so-called immortal shows up, what's the plan?"
Edie's expression turned cold. "Imu is an unknown. But Snake and White will buy you enough time to gauge his strength. If things go south, your priority is survival. Shiki and I will ensure your retreat."
Kaido leaned back, taking a swig from his sake jar. "You've thought of everything, haven't you? Fine. But don't think I'll forget if you leave me to rot up there."
Edie smirked, adjusting his glasses. "When have I ever let you down, Kaido?"
Kaido's grin faded as the conversation shifted back to his awakening. The gravity of the moment settled between them.
"Let's begin the Awakening Trial," Kaido said, his voice serious. "But not here. If I lose control, Wanokuni will be destroyed."
The two traveled to Winner's Island, a barren and desolate land. The skies darkened as Kaido prepared himself, his towering figure radiating anticipation. He stood at the island's center, holding the second Azure Dragon fruit in his massive palm.
"Once I eat this," Kaido growled, "there's no turning back."
Edie floated above, observing calmly. His white coat billowed in the wind, and his sharp gaze never left Kaido. He had prepared countless contingencies, but even he wasn't sure what would happen next.
Kaido crushed the fruit in one hand, swallowing it whole. His body tensed, veins bulging as the power surged through him. The ground trembled beneath his feet, cracks spiderwebbing outward. A deafening roar erupted from his throat, shaking the heavens.
Kaido's form began to shift—scales glimmering like molten gold, his body expanding. A hurricane of energy swirled around him, obliterating everything in its path. His aura became a maelstrom of primal rage and untamed power.
Edie's voice broke through the chaos. "Stay focused, Kaido! Don't lose yourself!"
Kaido's eyes glowed with an unearthly light as he transformed into his Azure Dragon form. His roar split the skies, lightning crackling around him. For a moment, it seemed the beast had taken over.
The deafening roar of a dragon shattered the stillness, as Kaido's body twisted uncontrollably in his Azure Dragon form.
A thousand-meter-long serpent of shimmering scales and raw power ascended, his presence casting a colossal shadow over Winner's Island.
Above, another Azure dragon appeared in response. Chenlong, Kaido's clone and near-equal in raw power, transformed and launched into the sky.
Without hesitation, the two dragons clashed, their massive forms twisting and colliding in a violent ballet of primal might.
Compared to their previous encounter years ago, where Kaido and Chenlong had been evenly matched, this battle told a different story. Kaido's newly awakened strength tipped the scales dramatically.
Chenlong fought valiantly, but he soon fell into a clear disadvantage. His roars of defiance echoed across the island, but Kaido's overwhelming might was undeniable.
Below, Edie observed calmly from a ledge, his glasses flashing with digital readouts as numbers flickered in the corner of his vision.
Chenlong: Energy level: 250 billion.Kaido: Energy level: 350 billion.
"Impressive," Edie mused, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his otherwise calm face. "His Haki has grown far stronger. And this is only the beginning. After fully awakening, Kaido will enter his true prime."
The duel raged on, the two Azure Dragons tearing through the skies with their titanic power. Hours passed, and Winner's Island bore the brunt of their fury. Valleys were gouged into the earth by Kaido's tail; mountains crumbled under Chenlong's claws. Lightning storms formed in their wake, and fires erupted, consuming what little vegetation remained.
Eventually, with a thunderous crash, the once-proud Winner's Island fractured, splitting into dozens of smaller, jagged landmasses. Smoke and dust billowed into the air, obscuring the stars.
From now on, this ruined wasteland would be known as the Dragonic Archipelago.
Kaido's Awakening
Finally, Kaido emerged victorious. His colossal dragon form shrank into his human-animal hybrid state. Now standing nearly thirty meters tall, he exuded an aura of primal dominance. Green flame-like clouds floated ominously around him, and his bright green eyes glowed with terrifying intensity.
Chenlong lay beaten but alive, his massive form shrinking as he reverted to his human state. Though injured, the clone still watched Edie with unwavering loyalty.
Edie descended from the air, landing gracefully beside Kaido. He studied the dragon-man with a critical gaze, noting the subtle changes in his physique and the menacing aura of his awakened state.
"It seems you managed to suppress the Dragon's Will by sheer strength alone," Edie remarked coolly. "I wasn't sure if even you could pull it off."
Kaido threw back his head and laughed, his voice booming. "Guhahaha! Amazing, isn't it, Edie? I've never felt this powerful!"
Edie raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. "How are you feeling? Do you need time to recover?"
Kaido snorted, the green glow in his eyes flaring brighter. "Recover? Don't insult me! I'm ready to take action now. Let's move—killing one of those Five Elders won't even be a challenge!"
Edie smirked, adjusting his glasses. "Impressive resolve, as always. Very well, then. Let's begin."
He pulled out a transponder snail as he contacted Shiki, its dial glowing faintly in the dark.
The Skies Above Mariejois
Days later, under the cover of night, a floating island loomed above the Holy Land of Mariejois. Hidden by clouds and the shadows of the night, it hovered silently, unseen by the residents below.
Standing at the edge of the island, three figures surveyed the illuminated cityscape below them.
"Jiehahahaha!" Golden Lion Shiki's laughter rang out, filled with derision and excitement. "You really are the world's number one scientist, Edie. Your efficiency is terrifying!"
Edie, calm and collected as ever, responded coolly. "It's just a matter of applying knowledge. The Fury Potion was straightforward to synthesize with the right extracts. The real challenge lies in controlling the chaos it creates."
Shiki grinned, holding a vial of the blood-red liquid. "Control? Who needs control? Tonight, the Holy Land will be overrun by beasts and chaos! With your gas bombs and my beasts, the Celestial Dragons will suffer a nightmare they'll never forget!"
Edie's lips curled into a faint smirk. The Fury Potion had been one of his more ruthless creations. When ingested or injected, it turned any creature—human or beast—into a frenzied monster, mutating their strength to monstrous levels. In this berserk state, they felt no pain, no fear, and would fight to the death.
Kaido, standing beside them, cracked his knuckles. "Enough talking. I'm going first!"
Before anyone could stop him, Kaido leapt off the edge of the floating island, plummeting toward Mariejois. His massive frame cut through the air like a falling meteor, the green flames around him lighting up the dark sky.
Edie watched him fall, unbothered. Turning slightly, he gave a curt order to Snake, who stood silently nearby.
"Release [White]."
Snake nodded and moved toward the restrained figure behind them. [White], the failed Nika awakening experiment, was shackled in seastone chains. As Snake unlocked the restraints, White's body twitched, and a wild, unhinged grin spread across his face.
"Go," Snake said coldly, shoving him off the edge of the island.
White fell, his laughter echoing eerily as he tumbled toward the city below. Without Edie's suppression, the will of the Nika Fruit took over once more. A rhythmic drumbeat resounded across the sky, followed by White's maniacal cackling.
"Yahahahaha~!"
The sound, accompanied by the drums of Liberation, immediately caught the attention of Mariejois's defenders. The Five Elders and Imu themselves stirred, their gazes turning skyward as the drums of liberation—and destruction—announced the arrival of chaos.
Edie adjusted his glasses, watching as Kaido and [White\ descended into the heart of the Holy Land. "Let the Massacre begin," he murmured, his cold smile hidden by the shadows.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone