“Shall we put your immortality to the test?” After hearing the tavern owner’s suggestion, Kaido fell silent for a moment.
Then a grin spread across his face.
“I, Kaido, would never do something so dishonorable.
Even pirates have a code.
Since I drank your wine, I obviously won’t smash up your tavern.” He paused before shamelessly adding, “How about this?
I’ll owe you two Devil Fruits, and you can pour me another glass!” You probably have no intention of paying me at all.
Dæmon shook his head inwardly.
A pirate’s code of honor?
Kaido could use such words to deceive himself, but not Dæmon.
It was no different from the Marines constantly proclaiming their dedication to justice.
They even had the word “Justice” emblazoned across the backs of their coats.
Yet that did not stop them from helping the Celestial Dragons slaughter innocent civilians.
“It seems you weren’t listening to me.” Dæmon reached beneath the counter, retrieved a dagger, and tossed it in front of Kaido.
“You can test it yourself.
You have already obtained an immortal body.” Kaido stared at the dagger.
“Are you serious?” Still finding the claim difficult to believe, he picked it up and drew the blade across his palm.
A thin wound appeared on his skin, and bright red blood seeped from it.
Then, as though time itself had reversed, the blood flowed back into his palm.
The wound closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Within seconds, the cut had completely disappeared, leaving no trace that it had ever existed.
“Impossible…!” Kaido shot to his feet, shock covering his face.
“It’s actually true!” He abruptly raised his head and stared at Dæmon.
“Who exactly are you?” “I’m merely a tavern owner.
You can call me Dæmon.” Dæmon leaned calmly against the counter.
“Do you believe me now?” The evidence was right before Kaido’s eyes.
Whether he wanted to believe it or not no longer mattered.
Kaido raised the dagger again.
This time, he drove the blade straight through his palm.
When he pulled it free, blood sprayed from the wound and splattered across the floor.
A moment later, the scattered blood began flowing backward.
It returned to Kaido’s body as the hole in his palm rapidly closed.
“It healed a little more slowly, but not by much.” Kaido examined his restored hand with growing excitement.
“So, the more severe the injury, the longer it takes to recover?” “That’s right,” Dæmon confirmed.
“Even if your heart is pierced or your head is cut off, you will eventually return to life.” Dæmon remained composed, but he was secretly impressed by Kaido’s ruthlessness.
He stabbed straight through his own hand without hesitation, merely to test the ability.
The Elixir of Immortality did not eliminate pain.
Kaido had felt everything.
“Worororo!
This power is incredible!” Kaido threw back his head and laughed.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he stared intently at Dæmon.
“Wait.
I won’t lose the ability to swim after drinking your wine, will I?” “No.” “I haven’t eaten a Devil Fruit yet.
Will I still be able to eat one in the future?” “The two powers do not conflict.” “Worororo!
Thank you, Boss!” Kaido grabbed his kanabo and turned toward the door.
“I’ll find you a Devil Fruit right now!
I’ll be back soon!” “WORORORO!!” Laughing boisterously, he marched out of the tavern in high spirits.
Before searching for Dæmon’s payment, however, Kaido wanted to test his newfound immortality properly.
He needed to know whether it was truly as extraordinary as Dæmon claimed.
Dæmon watched him leave, quite satisfied with his first customer.
He had originally intended to lure in a few ordinary pirates.
He had never expected the fragrance of the elixir to attract Kaido himself.
Kaido should only be in his early twenties right now.
Even at that age, Kaido was already a monster.
Devouring him would not be easy.
Forget it.
He’s an excellent fruit that has yet to ripen.
I’ll plant the seed now and harvest him once he has fully matured.
Given Kaido’s straightforward personality, there was a good chance he would actually bring back a Devil Fruit as payment.
Dæmon could obtain Demon Points by devouring Devil Fruits.
As long as customers continued paying him with them, he would be able to produce more Elixirs of Immortality.
In other words, the wine could eventually be mass-produced.
…
After leaving the Immortal Tavern, Kaido could barely contain the restlessness surging through him.
He wanted to fight.
No—he needed to fight!
He wanted a battle so fierce that it would shake heaven and earth.
Ordinary pirates were no match for him.
Only another member of the Rocks Pirates could force him to unleash his full strength.
Kaido released his Observation Haki and quickly located a suitable target.
He bent his knees and leaped onto a nearby rooftop.
With several more powerful jumps, he raced across the buildings toward his chosen opponent.
Elsewhere on the island, Whitebeard was casually walking along the street when he suddenly sensed a powerful killing intent approaching from above.
“Newgate!” Whitebeard turned sharply.
Kaido descended from the sky, his kanabo coated in Armament Haki.
Without the slightest hesitation, he swung it down toward Whitebeard’s head.
“Thunder Bagua!” “What the hell are you doing?” Whitebeard frowned and thrust out his fist.
Crack!
The air fractured beneath the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
A violent shock wave stopped Kaido’s kanabo before it could reach Whitebeard.
The vibrations tore through Kaido’s defenses and struck his body directly.
Boom!
Kaido was hurled backward, coughing up blood as he crashed through several buildings.
The aftershock swept across the surrounding area.
Every house within a hundred-meter radius collapsed, instantly turning the street into a field of rubble.
Nearby pirates screamed and fled for their lives.
“Oh no!
Kaido and Whitebeard are fighting again!” “Run!
If you don’t want to die, stay at least five kilometers away!” “Someone inform Captain Rocks!
He’s the only one who can stop them!” The pirates scattered in every direction.
Only after putting a considerable distance between themselves and the battlefield did some of them dare turn around to watch.
“Cough!” Kaido climbed out of the ruins.
The blood he had coughed up suddenly reversed direction and flew back into his mouth.
The injuries covering his body began healing moments later.
“WORORORO!
That was incredible!” Kaido raised his kanabo and grinned wildly.
“Again, Newgate!” Whitebeard stared at him with open disgust.
“What’s gotten into you?
You’ve never been a match for me, Kaido.” “Hmph!
Things are different now.” Kaido rested his kanabo across his shoulder, looking more arrogant than ever.
“I’m invincible!” With his immortality confirmed, Kaido felt unstoppable.
It was as though the storm had passed, the sky had cleared, and the entire world was now within his grasp.
Laughing loudly, he charged at Whitebeard once more.
Black lightning crackled around his kanabo as he swung it with all his strength.
“What a troublesome brat.” Whitebeard clicked his tongue and raised his naginata to meet the attack.
Their weapons had yet to touch when their overwhelming Haki collided.
Boom!
A blinding sphere of energy erupted between them like a miniature sun.
The resulting shock wave flattened every remaining building in the vicinity.
In the middle of the clash, Kaido’s kanabo was knocked from his grasp.
Whitebeard seized the opening.
His left hand shot forward and clamped around Kaido’s face.
“Get down!” Whitebeard roared as he slammed Kaido into the ground.
A translucent sphere of condensed vibration formed around his palm at the moment of impact.
Boom!
The earth split apart.
A gigantic crater formed beneath Kaido, its cracked surface resembling the aftermath of a meteor strike.
Several figures arrived at the edge of the crater moments later.
Their gazes immediately fell upon Kaido, who lay motionless at its center.
He had been defeated as easily as a stray dog.
Kaido’s eyes had rolled back into his head.
Blood poured from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, making him appear almost certainly dead.
“Hey, Newgate!
What do you think you’re doing?” Charlotte Linlin glared at Whitebeard.
“What have you done to my little brother?
Were you trying to kill him?” “Jihahaha!
Kaido lost again?” Golden Lion Shiki floated in midair, his voice dripping with mockery.
“That brat never learns his lesson.” “Why are they fighting again?” Stussy sighed helplessly, resting one hand against her cheek.
“He is a young man overflowing with vigor,” Gloriosa remarked with a shake of her head.
“Are you hungry, Kaido?” Streusen—also known as Long Bread—teased.
“Should I prepare something to help you recover so you can continue fighting?” Seeing that a crowd had gathered, Whitebeard removed his hand from Kaido’s face and snorted.
“He was the one who attacked me.” Whitebeard glanced down into the crater.
“Hey, Kaido.
Are you still alive?” “Cough…
Cough…” Kaido’s body twitched.
As he coughed, the blood surrounding him began flowing back into his body.
His crushed bones shifted into place, and his mangled flesh rapidly restored itself.
“!!!” Everyone stared in astonishment.
“What’s happening?” “His injuries are healing!” “Did that brat eat a Devil Fruit?” “No wonder he dared to challenge Whitebeard again.” Kaido planted one hand against the ground and staggered to his feet.
By the time he straightened his back, all his injuries had completely disappeared.
A triumphant grin spread across his face.
“WORORORO!
It’s useless!” Kaido raised his kanabo as a fiery aura erupted from his body and surged into the sky.
“I’m immortal!” He pointed his weapon at Whitebeard.
“We’re not finished yet, Newgate!”