Seeing this, Fuzifu stood up, but was quickly stopped by Hiyori.
The battlefields were intense and varied, each showcasing unique skills and strengths. Everyone present, except Hiyori, were Zoan-powered users. Their immense physical strength made for long and grueling battles, with no clear victor emerging.
At the island port, a white-haired old man with his hands in his pockets watched the fight from a distance.
"Learn well, this is the battle of the strong!" he said.
Nearby, several young individuals, including Rayleigh and Zoro, stood by.
"Is Kuina already this strong?" Zoro wondered, clenching his fists as he turned to leave.
"Hey! Zoro, where are you going?" Tashigi called out. She had a close relationship with Zoro due to her resemblance to Kuina.
"Going back to practice!" Zoro replied without looking back.
"Brother Arias is getting married. Aren't you going to see it?" Tashigi asked.
"No time!" Zoro said, continuing on his way. Tashigi looked at Kuina battling the mammoth with a mix of admiration and envy. Despite being the same age and appearance, Kuina was far more impressive.
"Can I achieve that kind of strength too?" Tashigi wondered.
On the battlefield, Hiyori was exhausted and had become the first to fall under the saber-toothed tiger's assault.
"I don't know what grudge you hold against Master Kaido, but today, your life ends here!" Fuzifu declared with a ferocious smile. Since the Rubber Fruit had been stolen by the Red-Haired Pirates and sent to prison, he had become increasingly bloodthirsty and violent.
He swung his short sword, aiming to decapitate Hiyori.
"Hiyori!" cried the female warriors who had grown close to her. They rushed to her aid.
Whoosh! A spiritual sword descended from the air, pinning Fuzifu's hand to the ground.
Everyone looked up to see a man and a woman descending from a white cloud. They wore light clothing with red beads around their wrists and ankles, their bare feet touching the cloud as they floated down.
They appeared as divine beings.
"Arias?" Kaido's thunderous Eight Trigrams momentarily knocked the three warriors back as he looked up.
Seeing Arias and Hancock appear, Salome and the others ceased their actions. The battles across the various fields also paused.
"Kaido, welcome to my wedding!" Arias said with a bright smile, walking up to Kaido. He waved to Yamato, calling, "Yamato, come here!"
Yamato joined Arias, wrapping an arm around him and addressing Kaido, "Why fight on your special day? We've prepared a banquet for you. Come in!"
Kaido stared, unable to gauge Arias's strength. Though not as intimidating as Rocks had been, Arias was even more unpredictable.
"Uh-huh-huh! If you want to marry my daughter, I need to see your strength first!" Kaido challenged.
He readied his mace, and the distance between them closed. Arias could only brace himself for the incoming strike.
The dragon unsheathed, and countless blades split to intercept the mace, halting its attack. Then, a multitude of blades assaulted Kaido's body.
"Cangtan in the North!" Arias proclaimed.
Underneath Arias, five thunders spread outward. He carefully avoided Hancock and Yamato, lifting them up with clouds.
The Water Zang Lei was pervasive. Upon entering it, Kaido felt the heat draining rapidly from his body. The substance seemed to penetrate even his Haki defenses.
"Haha! This trick won't be enough!" Kaido roared. His resilient physique had withstood countless deaths. Despite the water and dirt eroding him, it felt like he was facing diamond-hard resistance.
Though Arias's broken blades were numerous, they couldn't completely breach Kaido's defenses. The hard dragon scales and Kaido's formidable body offered protection.
Arias's growth had been swift, but despite his ability to compete with the Four Emperors, defeating them remained difficult. However, Arias had many strange methods, and if he were to go all out, he might be able to challenge an old emperor.
Surrounded by clouds, Arias adjusted the potential difference between the layers. Countless lightning bolts exploded within the dark clouds. The spectacle was accompanied by a deafening rumble, obscuring the action inside.
When the clouds dispersed, Kaido's face was visible, covered in broken dragon scales and blood. His hair had become an afro.
Despite the Qinglong's control over wind, fire, and thunder, it wasn't immune to lightning damage.
"Kaido-sama!" "Mr. Kaido!" the Beasts Pirates exclaimed, shocked to see Kaido in such disarray.
Kaido exhaled a dark breath, regarding Arias with admiration. Even though Arias hadn't fought directly, his unique abilities had exhausted Kaido. Such a person was worthy of marrying Yamato and forming an alliance through her.
"Father-in-law, do you want to continue fighting?" Arias asked, still smiling and spotless, contrasting sharply with Kaido's disheveled appearance.
Kaido laughed, "Boy, you have my approval! You're worthy to marry Yamato!"
"Then join us for the banquet!" Arias invited.
The Perfume Serpent and Daybreak cleared the way as the Beasts Pirates moved inward.
At the port, Sonia and her men blocked the entrance.
"Only Kaido and a few cadres are allowed to enter! No one else!" Sonia commanded, her warriors brandishing swords and guns.
"Kaido-sama, what's going on?" Jhin asked.
"Let them stay here!" Kaido ordered. With Kaido's command, the pirates had no choice but to comply.
"Gentian, Lan, Cosmos, and Daisy, you four commanders, keep watch over them and ensure they don't enter the island!" Sonia instructed.
"Yes!" the four female warriors responded.
In the city, Arias and his group prepared a special room.
"Men are not allowed on Kuji Island. However, because you're Yamato's father, I'll let you and your cadres in. Your men must stay here and not wander. Otherwise, you'll be responsible for any consequences," Arias stated calmly before leaving to make preparations.
With the wedding the next day, he couldn't oversee everything personally. However, he had arranged for flying insects to monitor Kaido and his entourage at all times.
"Master Kaido, he's so arrogant!" Jack complained, displeased with Arias's restrictions, feeling as though they were being imprisoned.
Kaido remained silent, taking a sip from his wine gourd.
Jhin warned Jack, "Stay here and don't wander around!"