Next Level

High in the sky above rocky mountains, Luffy in Gear Fifth form floats after a powerful impact. A massive dragon coils through the clouds. Someone says, "I WAS SURE YOU WERE AFTER A GONER AFTER THAT..." The dragon pants, "PANT... PANT..." Text declares "A NEW LEVEL GEAR FIFTH!!" The dragon speaks: "SINCE YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR SURROUNDINGS RUBBERY..." Luffy replies with a wide grin, "SO WAS I!! AHAHAHA HAHAHA!!" The dragon continues, "BUT SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FEELS OFF......IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO SAY YOU AWAKENED YOUR PARAMECIA FRUIT," while Luffy flips through the air. The dragon concludes, "A TRANSFORMATION LIKE THIS IS MORE TYPICAL OF A ZOAN FRUIT!!" Luffy responds, "HMI" The chapter title reads "CHAPTER 1045: NEXT LEVEL".

The dragon lunges and chomps down on Luffy, who yells "GYAAH!!" Close-ups show the dragon's jaws clamping shut with "GULP!!" and "CHOMP!!" as Luffy cries "AAAA AHHH!!" The dragon snarls, "YOU BASTARD!!" Luffy stretches his arms and body, beginning an attack with "GOMU GOMU NO..." The dragon's multiple heads react in shock with "HUP!!" and "ARGH!!" as Luffy's rubbery limbs expand and twist around the serpentine body. Impact lines and motion effects fill the panels during the fierce exchange.

Kaido's massive dragon body coils violently as Luffy inflates into an enormous balloon form, the impact labeled "BALLOON!!". Kaido snarls "UGH!!" while debris flies. In the lower panels Yamato stares upward with wide eyes and an open mouth. The dragon head roars furiously as Luffy, now a small dangling figure, yells "YOU LITTLE...!!" amid swirling smoke and impact lines. Kaido's jaws gape wide in rage while Yamato remains frozen in disbelief at the bizarre sight.

Yamato shouts "IS THIS SOME FORM OF HISI!" while staring at the sky. A voice replies "NO IDEA, IT LOOKS LIKE KAIDO PUT ON WEIGHT!!" as the giant dragon body floats oddly. Another panel shows Kaido's head twisting with "HEHE!! I SEE A PAIR OF BRIGHT LIGHTS!!" Luffy's voice declares "YOUR BODY IS MEANT TO BE RUBBERY, NOT MINE!" Kaido growls "DAMN IT!! HOW ARE YOU DOING THISI!" In the bottom splash Luffy stretches dramatically with "GOMU GOMU NO..." as Kaido's dragon head lunges forward, mouth wide, amid "AAARGH!!" and "FVOOSH!!" effects.

Kaido's dragon head is struck hard with "UEGH!!" and "NAHA HAHAHA!!" as Luffy launches skyward yelling "ESCAPE ROCKET!!". Smoke and debris trail behind. Luffy's face appears through clouds with "WOOSH!!" and "SHI SHISHI!!" sounds. Below, Luffy mutters "GOMU GOMU NO..." while a small figure questions "Luffy...I" Kaido's dragon stares upward in shock as someone yells "WHAAATI!" and a massive "PLOP" impact sends Luffy plummeting with a long "AAAAAAAAAAH!!!" scream.

Luffy's enormous foot descends from above while Kaido's dragon head gapes in confusion. Voices cry "WHATI! LUFFY'S VOICE IS COMING FROM THAT THINGI!" and "WHO IS THATI! IS THAT REALLY HIMI!" Kaido roars "GYAAAH!!" as Luffy's giant form stomps down with "GOMU GOMU NO..." and impact effects. The dragon head is crushed under the massive sole while Luffy's voice booms "GIGANT!!" amid lightning, smoke, and debris. Kaido's expression twists in pain and disbelief.

Kaido's massive dragon form coils tightly in midair, spinning like a massive rope as Luffy shouts "JUMP ROPE!!" The dragon twists violently with heavy impact SFX ブォォ!! ブォォ!! ブォン!! ブォン!! while someone grunts "URGH!!" Below, Kin'emon and a horned ally brace as Kaido unleashes a devastating point-blank attack. "BLAST BREATH!!" erupts in a roaring torrent. A chain of skulls plummets through smoke with a long scream "AAAAA AAAAAAA AARGH!!" Kaido's transformed head, now a flaming demonic skull, hurtles forward while yelling "IT BURRRRNS!!" amid explosive motion lines and debris.

Luffy's blackened limbs stretch and twist violently as he endures the flames, the silhouette showing "ひゅるるるるる…" sound effects. Yamato recoils in shock, hand to mouth: "OH CRAP!! HE JUST TOOK A BLAST BREATH HEAD ON!!" Kaido's dragon coils spin furiously with repeated SFX ギュギュギュギュ!! while Luffy's face emerges from smoke, teeth gritted. "GRR!!" he growls. A close-up of Luffy's determined eyes declares "THAT'S THE LAST STRAW!!" Kaido's flaming skull head is sent flying backward by a massive impact, "POOF!!" smoke bursting outward with dramatic speed lines.

Kaido's massive dragon head lunges while Luffy prepares his counter. "GOMU GOMU NO…" Luffy begins. Kaido roars "RAGNARAKU!!" and "THREE WORLD CONQUEST…" as the clash erupts. The enormous impact shatters the battlefield in a colossal explosion of smoke, debris, and shockwaves. Luffy's giant fist smashes forward with "YOUCHI!!" while Kaido's head is driven back. Onlookers scream "WHAAATI!" and "GYAAAH!!" as the devastating blow lands amid flying rubble and energy bursts.

The entire alliance stares in utter shock, eyes bulging and mouths agape as a unified scream "GYAAAAAAAAAAAAA" echoes across the page. Explosions rip through the area with debris flying. Kin'emon clutches his head: "IT'S LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A PICTURE BOOK!!" Luffy's stretched arm delivers the finishing series of blows. Kaido, battered and bound, growls "YOU CAN'T BEAT ME. BUT STILL, YOU'RE AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE. I'LL ADMIT, YOU PUT ON QUITE THE SHOW…" Luffy, lying exhausted on the ground, retorts "MAN, THAT STINGS!" and "SHADDUP!!" as smoke drifts around the defeated emperor.

Luffy pants heavily in close-up, tongue out, eyes half-closed. "HAH... HAH..." He wheezes, "WHEEZE UGH..." then startles with wide eyes, "PANT... HUHI" A wild grin spreads as he declares, "I'M FAR FROM DONE..." Below, a massive dragon crashes down with "PANT...!! UGH..." Luffy, now wearing a straw hat, stands over the fallen dragon and asks, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOUI!" The dragon replies weakly, "I'M BEAT..." Luffy slumps, "PANT... PANT... WHEN YOU'RE DEAD, ONLY YOUR BONES STICK AROUND. SHISHISHI!!!" The dragon retorts, "YOU CAN REST EASY AND DIE THEN. TALES WILL BE TOLD ABOUT HOW YOU ALL FOUGHT THIS WAR." Luffy answers, "THIS IS TAKING A LOT OUT OF ME." The dragon says, "OKAY, YOU'RE RIGHT... I'M ABOUT TO CROAK." Luffy snaps back, "WHO CARES ABOUT THAT...I!!"

Kin'emon shouts, "ISN'T THAT RIGHT... MOMO... TAMA...!!" while panting. Luffy stands nearby as voices call out, "WE'RE NOT DONE YET...!!" and "BUT HIS 'VOICE' IS STILL FADING QUICKLY...!!!" Yamato exclaims, "IT REALLY IS LUFFY! HE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE WITH HIS HAIR AND CLOTHES ALL WHITE LIKE THAT..." Kin'emon yells, "KIN'EMON...!!" Luffy, engulfed in flames and smoke, roars, "...SOMETHING LIKE DEATH CAN SCARE MEI!" Musical notes play as he commands, "GET LOUD AGAIN, HEARTBEAT!!" with "DOOM DUT-DA-DA" effects. A fierce dragon head snarls, "AFTER ALL OF THIS, DO YOU REALLY THINK..." Someone warns, "HEY, YOU'RE REALLY GONNA KILL YOURSELF." Luffy grins wildly, "PEDRO...!!" Yamato cries, "LUFFY, WATCH OUT!!" as the dragon charges with "DOOM-DUT-DA-DA" rhythm. Luffy declares, "THAT'S IT!! THIS IS THE SOUND!!" and leaps forward, "SO BE IT!!"

A massive spiked club swings in with explosive force, striking with "PLONK!!" The dragon-like attacker yells, "IT HURRRTS!!" as the impact sends shockwaves. Luffy is sent flying backward, eyes wide in shock, "WHAAATI!" The dragon roars, "FUGYAAH!!" while Luffy crashes into the ground with "SQUISH!!" Debris and motion lines fill the chaotic battlefield as the two figures clash violently.

Luffy is hurled through the air amid swirling smoke and debris, shouting, "WHOA!!" A massive club bends dramatically with "BEND BEND" effects. The dragon counts methodically, "BEEP BEEP ONE... TWO... THREE..." while preparing another strike. Luffy spins wildly with "DOOM-DUT-DA-DA" rhythm and musical notes, yelling, "ZERO!!" as the final blow lands in a massive explosion of smoke and impact lines.

Luffy appears in a startling pure white transformation, his body coiled like a dragon as he soars through the air. Observers react in shock: "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HE... THIS PURE WHITE TRANSFORMATION..." Kaido, bloodied and battered, glares upward and declares, "THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS WORLD CAPABLE OF TAKING ME DOWN!!" He internally notes Luffy's unprecedented style: "HE FIGHTS WITH SUCH FREEDOM... SO VERSATILE, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!! HE'S COATED WITH ARMAMENT AND CONQUEROR'S HAKI!... AND HE CAN INFLUENCE ANYTHING AROUND HIM WITH HIS ABILITY..." In the next instant, Kaido is struck with overwhelming force. His massive dragon head reels from a colossal blow, the impact exploding outward with a thunderous "ボン" as debris and shockwaves fill the air. Kaido's eyes widen in disbelief: "!!I"

The fierce exchange continues with rapid strikes. Luffy's small transformed figure darts around Kaido's enormous dragon body, landing heavy blows that send the beast reeling. "GETTING PUMPED!" flashes as Kaido's form twists violently under the assault. In a dramatic close-up, Luffy's face fills the panel, eyes blazing with exhilaration as he shouts, "KAIDO!! I'M HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!"

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