"Boom!!!"
A deafening explosion ripped through the base, its thunderous roar instantly drowning out the sounds of battle.
Flames soared skyward, accompanied by billowing clouds of smoke.
The new recruits stood frozen, their eyes fixated on the inferno of fire and smoke.
They watched as the veteran soldiers, rushing to the front lines, were engulfed by the flames, vanishing into the heart of the explosion without so much as a scream.
The faces of the new recruits paled instantly, a wave of overwhelming fear and despair washing over them.
"No!!!"
One recruit screamed, his voice raw with anguish and fury.
They charged desperately toward the site of the explosion, driven by a desperate hope to rescue the veterans, even though they knew it was almost certainly futile.
But just as they neared the epicenter, a figure emerged from the flames and smoke.
The figure resembled a demon risen from the depths of hell, wreathed in fire and radiating a suffocating aura of power.
The recruits were paralyzed by this terrifying presence, their advance halted, fear holding them back.
The figure gradually came into focus, revealing itself to be Kaido, his massive form standing like a mountain amidst the flames, a savage grin plastered across his face.
His cold gaze swept over the recruits, his eyes glinting with merciless intent.
"Jian, if you don't show yourself, I'll slaughter everyone in your base! Hahahaha!!!"
Kaido's voice boomed across the base like thunder, making everyone's ears ring.
His laughter was filled with arrogance and cruelty, as he spewed forth scorching flames, threatening to incinerate the entire base.
A profound sense of helplessness washed over the new recruits; they were powerless against such a formidable foe, and they involuntarily stumbled backward, their eyes wide with terror and despair.
The air on the battlefield seemed to solidify, with only Kaido's horrifying laughter echoing, as if proclaiming the navy's doom.
Just then, an icy voice cut through Kaido's maniacal laughter from the opposite side of the battlefield:
"Kaido, you're too arrogant."
Kuzan strode forward, his frigid gaze fixed on Kaido, his imposing presence filling the air, threatening to freeze everything in its path.
He knew he had to stand his ground, for the sake of his fallen comrades and to protect the base.
Kaido's gaze shifted to Kuzan, his grin widening into a menacing leer:
"Kuzan? Finally, a decent opponent. Did that Jack fail?"
He roared with laughter, his presence growing even more frenzied, like a raging beast.
The two powerful auras collided in the air, and everyone on the battlefield felt the oppressive force, retreating to avoid its effects.
This battle was not only about the survival of the G5 Branch, but also a clash between justice and evil.
In this critical moment, the confrontation between Kuzan and Kaido would become the focal point of the entire battlefield.
Regardless of the outcome, they would leave an indelible mark on the war.
And the new recruits, although still gripped by fear, were emboldened by the veterans and led by Kuzan, knowing that they could not retreat and must face the situation head-on.
"..."
As a renowned pirate, Kaido made no attempt to hide his disdain for Kuzan.
He stood on the battlefield, his gaze coldly fixed upon the icy Marine vice admiral.
In his eyes, this man was nothing more than an insignificant obstacle, unworthy of his personal attention.
However, Jack's failure had slightly changed his perception.
Kaido lightly tossed the spiked club in his hand, producing a dull thudding sound.
His eyes scanned Kuzan up and down, filled with contempt and disdain.
Kuzan's calmness and composure surprised him somewhat, but it did not change his opinion.
To him, Kuzan was merely a temporary stumbling block, something to be crushed on the path forward.
"You dare to challenge me, at your level?"
Kaido sneered, his voice booming like thunder.
He wasted no time on further words, his heart filled with battle lust.
He stomped down with all his might, instantly shattering the ground beneath him, sending rubble flying.
The immense force propelled his body forward, like a raging beast charging straight at Kuzan.
Facing Kaido's attack, Kuzan narrowed his eyes, leaning slightly forward, ready to meet the furious impact.
Kaido's speed was incredible, the resulting gale whipping up dust and debris from the ground, like a tornado bearing down on Kuzan.
His figure rapidly grew larger in the air, the spiked club in his hand glinting menacingly, whistling as it tore through the air, slamming down towards Kuzan.
This blow contained all of Kaido's strength, powerful and heavy, enough to destroy any obstacle in its path.
Kuzan calmly watched Kaido's attack, his feet firmly planted on the ground, an icy aura emanating from his body.
He raised his hands slightly, frost rapidly condensing on his arms, forming a thick layer of ice armor.
He knew that against an opponent like Kaido, he could not afford the slightest carelessness.
Kaido's spiked club crashed down with furious force, colliding with Kuzan's ice armor.
Instantly, a massive shockwave spread outwards, the ground cracking, sending dust billowing around them.
The intense impact forced the surrounding Marines and pirates to retreat several steps, their eyes filled with shock and awe.
Kuzan felt the immense pressure on his arms, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to yield.
His gaze was firm and cold, the chill within him surging out, countering Kaido's power.
Frost rapidly spread, attempting to freeze Kaido's spiked club.
Sensing Kuzan's resistance, Kaido's eyes flashed with surprise, but more so with fury.
He roared, the power within him erupting once more, shattering the frost on the spiked club.
Cracks appeared on Kuzan's ice armor under the furious force, but he still did not retreat a step.
"Not bad, you've got some tricks up your sleeve."
Kaido said with a sneer, his voice laced with a hint of approval, but more so with murderous intent.
His attack did not cease, the spiked club swinging again, carrying endless furious power, launching an even more violent assault on Kuzan.
Kuzan took a deep breath, the chill within him condensing again.
He knew this battle would be exceptionally difficult, but he would never back down.
His gaze was as cold as frost, his hands once again meeting Kaido's attack.
The two powerful forces clashed repeatedly on the battlefield, igniting countless sparks and ice shards, the intensity of the battle exceeding everyone's imagination.
The battle between Kaido and Kuzan was like the collision of two natural forces, each strike bringing immense destruction.
Kaido's spiked club swung down again, Kuzan quickly retreated, while waving his arms, an ice wall rising from the ground.
The spiked club slammed heavily into the ice wall, ice shards scattering in all directions, the shattered ice flying like sharp arrows.
Kuzan waved his hands, the ground instantly freezing, a thick layer of frost covering the earth.
His gaze was like a cold blade, staring at Kaido.
Kaido roared, the power within him erupting again, stomping down with all his might, the ice layer instantly shattering, cracks spreading outwards, the ground also being torn apart.
"This bit of ice, can't stop me at all!"
Kaido laughed wildly, the spiked club swinging with furious power again towards Kuzan.
Kuzan quickly dodged to the side, the frost under his feet condensing into sharp ice spikes, piercing out of the ground, heading straight for Kaido.
Kaido smiled disdainfully, the spiked club sweeping across, the ice spikes instantly shattering.
He continued his relentless attack, the spiked club whistling as it swung like a storm.
Kuzan deftly dodged, while gathering a ball of cold air with both hands, pushing it forward.
The cold air rapidly condensed in the air into an ice dragon, roaring and lunging at Kaido.
Kaido threw a punch, the fist wind mixed with domineering aura, colliding head-on with the ice dragon.
The ice dragon instantly disintegrated, the cold air scattered, but Kaido was unharmed, continuing to charge forward.
