allendalepharm Chapter 296 Do Dragons Bleed?
Chapter 296 Do Dragons Bleed?
Chapter 296 Do Dragons Bleed?
Kaido's expression grew increasingly excited.
His massive body erupted once more, the ground beneath his feet shattering with a deafening roar. He transformed into a bluish-black afterimage, and his enormous spiked club, Hachisaikai, slammed down on Nobunaga's head with a piercing shriek that tore through the air, in the purest and most violent way!
The power of this strike was enough to flatten a small hill, and the Conqueror's Haki it contained made the destructive will so overwhelming that it was hard to breathe even before the attack arrived!
Nobunaga did not take the hit head-on.
His figure slid to the side and back like a ghost, the movement seemingly casual, yet he avoided the main trajectory of the spiked club in the nick of time.
Then, his left-hand musket was wreathed in dark red magic, and a terrifying flame shot straight toward Kaido's face.
Kaido was deeply impressed by the flames; that attack had just neutralized all of his dragon breath.
Therefore, he dared not easily accept the attack, and tilted his body to prepare to dodge it.
Little did he know that his action was exactly what Nobunaga wanted!
The flashes from the muskets didn't last long before turning into wisps of steam and dissipating into the cold night.
At the same time, Nobunaga drew his long sword from its sheath in his right hand, the blade drawing a strange arc as it slashed towards the fleeting gap in power where Kaido's arm and torso connected when he swung his club!
At this moment, he had just focused all his energy on controlling his body to avoid the flames and had no energy left to deal with this move!
However, even the emperor of the sea is not so easily wounded.
"Hmm?" A hint of surprise flashed in Kaido's eyes.
This was neither a block nor a regular counterattack; it was a precise strike that found the weakest point of connection in his power exertion, like piercing a seam in armor with a fine needle!
Although this attack was insignificant to his powerful physique, his combat instincts and eyesight were extraordinary!
clang-!!!
The blade clashed with the domineering arm, producing a deafening clang of metal against metal!
At the critical moment, Kaido blocked the attack in a manner that defied common sense.
Nobunaga was thrown back several meters by the recoil, his hands and feet going numb, but the light in his eyes shone even brighter.
"Nice feel!" Nobunaga chuckled, flicking his wrist.
"It's much more satisfying than cutting down those arquebusiers!"
"Sharp teeth and a sharp tongue!" Kaido sneered, changing his spiked club from a smashing blow to a sweeping attack, sweeping across the enemy ranks!
This attack had a wider range and was faster, completely blocking Nobunaga's space to dodge left or right!
But Nobunaga's response was once again unexpected.
Instead of retreating, he stepped forward!
He narrowly missed the sweeping spiked club, and his left-hand short sword, like a viper's tongue, stabbed straight at Kaido's waist and abdomen.
That is a relatively weak point in the heavily armored samurai's defense, and it is also one of the vital points for someone as physically strong as Kaido!
"Annoying bugs!" Kaido gasped, his chest expanding and his abdominal muscles instantly taut like iron!
The dagger pierced through, but only left a white mark, unable to advance any further!
"Heat Breath!"
Seizing the moment Nobunaga got close, Kaido opened his mouth and unleashed a blazing blue dragon fire breath at point-blank range!
At such close range, with such a sudden attack, it was almost impossible to dodge!
The spectator's heart almost stopped.
But Nobunaga's figure vanished like a phantom just before the flames reached his body.
No, it's not dissipation, it's extreme speed and afterimage.
At the critical moment, he used his foot to push off Kaido's leg for leverage, and his body spun like a top, bouncing backward and upward. His fiery breath grazed the hem of his clothes, instantly turning a pine forest behind him into a sea of fire!
"You've got some skills!" Kaido laughed, but his movements didn't stop. His spiked club followed Nobunaga's trajectory like a living thing, relentlessly attacking!
Every strike is powerful and heavy, and every strike blocks the retreat. It is a fighting style that completely uses force to overcome skill and one force to defeat ten techniques!
With nowhere to gain leverage in mid-air, Nobunaga could only wield his twin swords, using his exquisite swordsmanship to parry, deflect, and deflect attacks.
Clang clang clang clang!!
A series of dense, pounding sounds, like raindrops hitting banana leaves, rang out. Each impact caused Nobunaga's body to tremble violently, and blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth.
No, the difference in strength between the two sides is too great. Even if he uses skill to neutralize most of the impact, the remaining force is enough to injure him.
Nobunaga was not known for his strength to begin with, and the strength of this spirit origin was only B.
However, Kaido is an absolute monster whose strength is comparable to that of the Mad King.
"What's wrong?! Sixth Heaven Demon King!" Kaido laughed wildly, his attacks becoming increasingly ferocious.
"Is that all you've got?! Then I'll take your head!"
The spiked club, with the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, slammed down again!
This time, Nobunaga did not dodge.
He crossed his swords and spears above his head, and dark red magic burned on the blades like flames!
"Unify the world by force—"
Two weapons, facing the spiked club!
"Invincible Body!"
boom!!!!
An unprecedentedly loud noise!
The collision created a visible shockwave that cleared away all the snow within a radius of 100 meters, revealing the cracked black permafrost beneath!
The ground beneath Nobunaga's feet sank half a meter instantly, and the sleeves of his clothes ripped open, revealing his muscular arms with bulging veins. Blood seeped from the ruptured tiger's mouth and the skin of his arms!
But he caught it!
He used pure power to withstand Kaido's attack head-on!
For the first time, genuine surprise appeared in Kaido's eyes, which then transformed into even more fervent excitement!
"Oh my god!!! That's more like it!!!"
His arm muscles swelled again, and his strength exploded a second time, attempting to crush Nobunaga, sword and all, into a pulp!
At that moment, a cold glint flashed in Nobunaga's eyes.
"Got you—"
His body suddenly sank downwards under the force of the spiked club, and as he released the force, his twin swords slid upwards along the long handle of the club like fish!
The blade scraped against the metal, producing a piercing sound and dazzling sparks, its target aimed directly at Kaido's hands holding the staff!
This was an extremely risky counterattack!
He used his own desperate situation as bait to gain an opportunity for close-range attack!
Caught off guard, Kaido instinctively wanted to let go and retreat, but his pride as a conqueror made him stop the thought. Instead, he roared and pressed down even harder!
At the same time, Nobunaga's sword flash shifted—
*Sizzle!*
The blade eventually sliced through Kaido's abdomen.
The skin, covered in top-tier Armament Haki and with a hardness comparable to diamond, was actually cut open by the blade wreathed in dark red magic!
As if triggering some kind of chain reaction, the cracks in the hard skin grew larger and larger until it could no longer support itself.
Blood poured down like a flood.
Blood, like lava, dripped onto the snow, hissing and melting a large crater.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment.
Kaido looked down at the real wound on his abdomen and froze.
Cú Chulainn's pupils contracted slightly.
Jin's breath hitched.
Hiyori covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Nobunaga used the recoil to leap backward, stumbled upon landing, and only managed to stay upright by using his sword to support himself.
He was panting heavily, his body covered in blood, but he was laughing, laughing wildly and arrogantly.
"How about it, big guy—" Nobunaga gasped for breath, grinning, "I told you—I could hurt you, didn't I—"
'
Kaido slowly raised his hand, holding his injured finger up to his eyes, looking at the golden bead of blood.
After a moment of silence, a low laugh welled up from the depths of his throat, gradually turning into a deafening roar.
"Hehehehehehe—Hahahaha!!! Good! Good! Good!!!"
He laughed so hard he almost fell over, as if he had encountered the most interesting thing in the world.
"How many years—how many years has it been since blood was shed—"
Kaido licked the blood off his fingers, his dark golden vertical pupils fixed on Nobunaga, his fighting spirit and admiration almost overflowing.
"Oda Nobunaga—the Sixth Demon King—I'll remember you!"
His fighting spirit surged again like a volcano, clearly indicating that he was far from satisfied and wanted to continue the battle.
But at that moment, Cú Chulainn, who had been silently watching the battle, suddenly spoke up.
"Enough, Kaido."
Kaido frowned and looked at Cú Chulainn.
Cú Chulainn, carrying his gun, calmly met Kaido's gaze with his red eyes.
"You're injured. And it's a serious injury to your abdomen. Based on what you just said, you've lost. You've lost completely."
Kaido was taken aback, then remembered what he had told Hiyori earlier: "If you hurt me, I'll let you go."
His face darkened, and a struggle flashed in his eyes.
Clearly, he desperately wanted to continue fighting, but his pride as a ruler prevented him from easily going back on his word.
Especially in the presence of Cú Chulainn, a collaborator.
"Tsk." Kaido finally snorted coldly, sheathed his spiked club, and his terrifying Haki slowly subsided.
He looked at Nobunaga, then at Hiyori, his gaze complex.
"Three days," Kaido said in a deep voice, his tone like muffled thunder.
"I'll give you three days. I won't pursue you during these three days."
"If you want to keep your life, get out of Ringo and out of Wano Country within three days. If you're still on my turf after three days—"
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
"—Next time we meet, I will crush every single one of your bones with my own hands."
After saying that, he stopped looking at the two of them, turned around and waved to Jin and Cú Chulainn: "I'm leaving."
King gave Nobunaga a deep look, struggled to his feet, and followed Kaido.
Cú Chulainn grinned at Nobunaga, his red eyes filled with a mixture of unfulfilled regret and even stronger anticipation.
"Next time, I hope there won't be any of these ridiculous agreements. I want to have a proper fight with you."
Before he finished speaking, he had already transformed into a red light and chased after Kaido.
The Azure Dragon soared into the sky once more, carrying two figures, and quickly disappeared into the northern horizon.
The snow fell again, covering the traces of the battle, and also the few drops of golden blood.
In front of the abandoned shrine, only two people supporting each other and a desolate snowfield remained.
Hiyori, supporting the nearly exhausted Nobunaga, looked at the gruesome wounds and bloodstains on his body, her voice choked with emotion: "Lord Nobunaga—you—"
"Stop crying, you're not dead yet." Nobunaga waved his hand weakly, but the smile on his face remained bright.
"Did you see that, Master? That big guy—isn't invincible after all."
He gazed in the direction Kaido had disappeared, his red eyes flashing with an even more fervent flame.
"That fight—it was really exhilarating. But next time—"
His voice lowered.
"Next time, we must win."
Hiyori looked at him, then at the few drops of golden blood that had melted the snow on the ground, and the despair in her eyes was gradually replaced by a more complex and resolute light.
Yes, Kaido bleeds too.
Therefore, restoring the kingdom—perhaps—is not so far away.
She helped Nobunaga walk step by step into the depths of the shrine.
Three days.
They need to recover as soon as possible, and then—
Leave here, gather your strength, and wait for the day you return.
The wind and snow howled, as if singing an unfinished battle song for this land.
The dawn sunlight struggled to pierce through the year-round dark clouds behind the bell, casting pale patches of light across the snow-covered plain.
Inside the main hall of the abandoned shrine, Hiyori carefully used a torn piece of her clothing, soaked in snow water, to wipe away the bloodstains and wounds from Oda Nobunaga's body.
Nobunaga sat cross-legged on the dusty floor, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.
Dark red magic flowed slowly across his body like living mist, repairing the damage to his spirit origin caused by the battle with Kaido.
The open wounds were healing at a visible speed, but the deeper depletion of magical energy and the vibration of the spiritual foundation would take time.
"Hiss—be gentle, be gentle!" Nobunaga suddenly opened his eyes, grimacing.
"Young lady, your technique is not good enough. The doctors under my command back in the day were better at bandaging than you."
Hiyori blushed, but didn't stop what she was doing: "Lord Nobunaga, please bear with me—there's still sand in the wound, and it will fester if it's not cleaned properly."
"Spirituting? I'm a Heroic Spirit, how could I be so easily infected?" Nobunaga muttered, but still sat obediently without moving.
He scrutinized Hiyori's focused profile and suddenly asked, "Hey, Master, what are you planning to do next?"
'
"Kaido gave us three days. Knowing his personality, he would never act prematurely after giving us three days, but three days later—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Hiyori paused for a moment.
She set the blood-stained cloth aside and took out a clean little cloth bag from her bosom, which contained some crushed herbs.
This was a medicine she always kept on hand to deal with various unexpected situations when she was a courtesan.
"Leave the Ringo first," Hiyori said in a low voice, applying herbs to the deepest wound on Nobunaga's arm.
"Ringo is an area where Orochi and Kaido's control is relatively weak, but after last night's battle, they will definitely send more people to search for us. We must get to a more secluded place as soon as possible."
"A more secluded place? For example?"
"For example—" Hiyori raised her head and looked southwest, "The secret passage of Hakumai leads to Kuri."
""
"Or—go further, across the treacherous mountain roads of the border, leave this country, and temporarily head to Zou."
"Zau?" Nobunaga raised an eyebrow. "What kind of place is that?"
"A country on the back of a moving giant elephant." Hiyori's gaze became somewhat distant.
"The Wool Kingdom is inhabited by the Mink Tribe. They are ancient allies of Wano Country, and my father had dealings with them twenty years ago when he opened the country's doors. More importantly—"
She paused, then lowered her voice even further.
"Zou is independent of Wano Country's rule, and even independent of the world's shipping lanes. Kaido and Orochi's reach cannot extend there for the time being."
Nobunaga stroked his chin. "Sounds like a good refuge. But will that Mink Tribe take us in?"
"We're being chased by Kaido right now."
"I don't know," Hiyori said honestly.
"But according to the intelligence I have, the Mink Tribe values loyalty and righteousness, and especially respects the ancient alliance with the Kozuki family."
and----"
She looked at Nobunaga, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
"Lord Nobunaga, don't you find it strange? Why has the qualification for the Holy Grail War been bestowed upon me?"
"Wano Country has been closed off for eight hundred years, almost completely isolated from the outside world. Why was it dragged into this war that has affected the entire world?"
Nobunaga narrowed his eyes: "You mean—"
"Perhaps, things are changing over Zou as well," Hiyori said softly. "The fluctuations of the Holy Grail War may not be limited to the human world."