"Video Through Anime: Inventory of the Top Ten Combat Ceilings"

Kaido's transformed azure dragon form vanished into the storm clouds, seemingly merging with the dark, oppressive sky. This brief moment granted Shanks a rare opportunity to catch his breath.

"He's really difficult to deal with... He hasn't even used Armament Haki so far."

As their battle raged into its most intense phase, Shanks suddenly realized a shocking truth.

From the very beginning, when he blocked Kaido's Thunder Bagua, he had used Armament Haki.

When he defended against the Dragon's Breath, he had also used Armament Haki.

Because Shanks understood—Armament Haki was the most fundamental technique in battle, ingrained as instinct in nearly every warrior.

With just this one revelation, the entire pirate world, watching the live broadcast, fell into stunned silence.

Had Kaido really been fighting all this time without using Armament Haki?

Had he been resisting attacks from the Emperor Shanks solely with the sheer toughness of his body?

Even now, there was not a single wound on Kaido's body.

At Marineford Headquarters, within the meeting chamber, Sengoku and Garp both heard Shanks' words through the broadcast.

For the first time, the ever-casual Garp could no longer sit still. His usually cheerful demeanor had darkened significantly as he stepped up beside Sengoku.

Kaido's figure remained unseen. Above, thunder raged within the thick storm clouds, flickering with flashes of fire—like a colossal bomb brimming with uncontainable energy.

"What?! Kaido has been fighting Shanks all this time without using Armament Haki? Impossible!"

Garp was in utter disbelief. At first, he had only been watching the battle occasionally, with little interest.

But at this moment—he could hardly believe what he had heard.

Every One Piece fan knew that Garp was once known as having the strongest Armament Haki, with his fists famously dubbed Iron Fist.

To battle Gol D. Roger, he had used his fists to flatten mountains, tempering his Haki to unparalleled levels. This was the very foundation of his immense power.

So when Garp heard that Kaido had been fighting without even activating Armament Haki, he simply couldn't accept it.

Shanks was one of the Four Emperors—no one would dare underestimate his strength.

Yet Kaido had refused to use Haki, relying only on his body to endure every attack.

Too arrogant!

That was Garp's immediate thought.

But… Kaido had the strength to back up that arrogance. At least, up until now, he had remained completely unscathed.

There's probably no one else in the world who could achieve something this insane.

Perhaps… this was another level of power altogether.

"This monster… is far stronger than we imagined."

Sengoku took a deep breath, admitting the harsh reality.

The new generation of pirates was reviving the peak strength of the old era!

"Shanks!"

Watching Shanks struggle, Luffy couldn't hold back his tears.

Kaido was simply too powerful for him to comprehend!

Shanks was in danger!

"Shanks! You can't lose! I still have to find you in the New World! SHANKS!!!"

Luffy broke down in uncontrollable sobs.

On the battlefield, Shanks' crew was still locked in an intense battle with Kurozumi Orochi's forces.

But suddenly—

The monstrous Yamata no Orochi lifted its heads, each one trembling in terror, its eyes filled with unimaginable fear.

"Kaido is getting serious! Everyone retreat! Get out of this area!"

With a violent shake of its heads, Orochi let out an earth-shattering roar. The sound alone made the Red-Haired Pirates instinctively cover their ears.

Both sides, locked in combat, instinctively distanced themselves from one another.

Ben Beckman, ever watchful of the battlefield, had been growing more uneasy as the fight progressed. The deeper this battle went, the greater the sense of danger he felt.

And now, seeing Kaido's own subordinates fleeing in terror, his suspicions were confirmed.

"We should retreat too."

Looking up at the sky, the storm clouds churned like boiling water, rolling with chaotic fury.

Within, Kaido's movements stirred the heavens themselves, sending endless bolts of lightning crashing down.

"If we leave, what about the captain? Can he handle Kaido alone?"

Yasopp looked anxiously at the breathless Shanks.

He had never seen his captain so exhausted before.

"The best thing we can do now is not interfere. Let's move! The captain is far stronger than he appears."

Lucky Roux casually shot down a few fleeing members of the Beasts Pirates, then was the first to make his escape. The others quickly followed.

Just as they withdrew from the battlefield's most dangerous zone—

The sky erupted in blinding lightning.

Kaido's colossal dragon form was cast as a shadow over the entire island. He loomed like a true divine beast descending upon the world.

Shanks' expression darkened.

He could feel it—Kaido had completely lost all reason.

To defeat him, the beast was willing to drag the entire island into oblivion.

This next attack… would be catastrophic!

At last, Kaido reemerged from the clouds.

This time, his dragon head was several times larger than before.

Having devoured countless lightning bolts, his body had expanded to a monstrous degree.

Bolts of electricity, like writhing sky-serpents, coiled around his massive horns.

Kaido's piercing gaze locked onto Shanks.

Then—he unleashed a thunderous dragon's roar that sent shockwaves through the island, causing wild beasts to collapse and die from sheer terror!

"DRAGON'S SUPPRESSION!!!"

And then—

The entire world watching the broadcast was struck dumb with horror!

What was that?!

So massive!!!

A colossal, dark-red dragon claw descended from the heavens. It was larger than the sun itself, and Shanks—standing beneath it—looked smaller than a single dragon scale!

Kaido's attack wasn't just aimed at Shanks—it was aimed at the entire island.

He intended to crush everything into the depths of the ocean!

And at this moment—no one doubted that he could actually do it.

Because that black-red dragon claw, infused with an overwhelming Armament Haki, was simply too terrifying.

"What?! This thing is bigger than my two meteors combined! It's like the moon itself is crashing down!"

Madara Uchiha, who had initially been watching with mild amusement, was now utterly stunned.

If this dragon claw descended upon the Shinobi World…

Could the Eighty Thousand Ninja Alliance survive?

For the first time, Madara wasn't sure.

His thoughts raced.

"Could Susanoo withstand such an attack?"

He didn't know.

But the cold sweat dripping from his forehead… had already answered that question for him.

At the Revolutionary Army headquarters, Sabo stared in utter disbelief at his own hands.

His fingers curled, Armament Haki cloaking them, forming his signature Dragon's Claw.

Yet compared to Kaido's—

His hands suddenly felt insignificant.