The Greatest Disgrace in Marine History-Chapter 170 - 72: Conqueror’s Haki

Crackling black-and-red lightning surged through the air, swirling like a storm. The pressure from Kaido's Conqueror's Haki was so dense and physical, it threatened to rip the entire steel prison apart.

Sweating bullets, the giant round-bellied man clutching Kaido's arm trembled all over, even his jowls quivering.

"Boss! You finally got them back here—smashing them now would be such a waste!!"

"Please, Boss Kaido! Cool it!!"

Darren pushed himself up from the blood-slicked floor, gasping for air. Through half-lidded eyes, he took a look at the frantic, clownish man.

Aside from the long gold braid at the back, his head was completely bald. He had a gold mustache, dark shades, and an exaggerated, bouncing expression. Despite the urgency in his voice, he spoke with a strange rhythm—almost like he was rapping.

On his left arm: a mechanical prosthetic. His right bicep bore a dark tattoo with the word Queen and the Beasts Pirates' Jolly Roger. He wore black-and-white striped overalls and had the aura of someone who took himself very unseriously.

This was Queen the Plague—one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates.

Like Vinsmoke Judge, Queen was once part of MADS, the outlaw science group led by Vegapunk. Beyond his formidable combat power, he was also a deranged genius in bio-weapons and deadly tech.

Kaido glanced at his two prisoners—Darren and Bullet—both coughing blood, barely conscious. Gritting his teeth, he growled in frustration.

"Damn brats!!"

He panted, rage thick in every breath. But then—finally—he withdrew his Haki. As if venting the last of his anger, he slammed his kanabo into the ground, leaving behind a massive crater.

As Kaido's aura receded, both Darren and Bullet collapsed against the wall like broken puppets, too drained to move.

But then Darren noticed something... odd.

After taking hit after hit from Kaido's Conqueror's Haki, his own sense of that power—the internal force—had become clearer somehow.

Within the perception matrix of his innate "instinct talent," his mental status screen shifted.

Status: Critically Weakened

Physique: 70.112 (+0.777)

Strength: 68.339 (+1.891)

Speed: 67.991 (+1.310)

Devil Fruit: 77.197 (+0.915)

Armament Haki: 30.119 (+1.851)

Conqueror's Haki: 50.017 (+0.630)

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Physique, Strength, Speed, Devil Fruit, and Armament—these gains came from his brutal battle against Douglas Bullet.

But he was now badly wounded and out of stamina—completely spent.

As for Conqueror's Haki... the number wasn't absolute. It was based on his own estimate, informed by Kaido's surging aura, and memories of legends like Garp and Roger.

Still, one thing stood out.

Every time he'd taken the full brunt of Kaido's Conqueror's Haki, his own had grown—just a little.

Was he adapting? Building resistance to it? Becoming attuned?

The thought made Darren's expression turn strange. A dozen new ideas sparked in his mind.

Seeing Kaido finally cool off, Queen let out a long sigh of relief.

He glanced at Darren and Bullet, his beady little eyes twinkling.

Then he gave a sly grin.

"Boss Kaido, how about you leave them to me?"

"With my methods, it won't take more than a few days before they're screaming in agony and begging to join your crew."

Kaido's vertical pupils locked onto him suspiciously.

"You sure, Queen?"

Queen gave a wicked little giggle. He lit a fresh cigar, flexed his flabby muscles in a showy pose, and puffed with satisfaction.

"Of course I'm sure. Leave it to me!"

His eyes sparkled like a kid who'd just been handed a new toy.

These two are strong, he thought. Perfect experimental subjects.

"...Fine."

Kaido considered for a moment, then nodded.

The New World was growing unstable. So much was happening at once, and his forces were stretched thin.

Yes—Darren and Bullet had both immense strength and terrifying potential. If recruited successfully, they could become powerful assets in his path to dominance.

But he couldn't afford to spend all his time babysitting these two.

According to the latest intel, that bastard Roger had been spotted meeting with Whitebeard—drawing the Marine's top dogs deeper into New World waters.

As a result, several of Kaido's outer operations had taken serious damage—ambushed or dismantled in the chaos.

He needed to reorganize his forces, re-secure his territory, and—most importantly—figure out what Roger and Whitebeard were planning.

Compared to him, those two bastards knew a lot more about the secrets of the sea.

After all, it was Whitebeard who'd introduced Kaido to Rocks D. Xebec, back when Kaido was still a rookie—and led him to join the Rocks Pirates as an apprentice.

The God Valley Incident had erupted far too suddenly. Many of the Rocks crew's secrets had been lost in the fallout...

But maybe Roger and Whitebeard still knew something.

If they got to the legendary treasure first—

The thought made Kaido's face darken. He hefted his spiked kanabo over his shoulder and gave one last glare at his prisoners.

"Ten days from now, I'll return."

"By then, brats... I want your final answer."

With that ultimatum, Kaido turned and stomped off—his massive frame making the floor quake with every step.

He ascended the slanted stone stairs, passing through the carved-out mountain tunnels. Along the way, pirates in beast pelts and horned helmets bowed deeply at his approach.

Kaido didn't spare them a glance.

He strode through the checkpoints, past the guards, until finally—he emerged at the surface.

A barren wasteland stretched out before him. Not a blade of grass in sight. Dust swirled in the dry wind, painting the world in yellow-brown haze.

In the distance, enormous black forges glowed with red fire. Hammers rang against anvils. Smoke rose in great columns toward the sky.

Suddenly, a black shadow swooped down from the sky.

Black wings spread wide before folding with a quiet shff as a tall, dark figure landed in front of Kaido.

"Kaido-san... they refused?"

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To be continued...