On this island, Lily Carnation kept tabs on the invading pirates through her leafy minions. Unless they were burrowing underground, no one escaped her watchful gaze.
A mysterious stranger trailed the pirates, grinning at the chaos he loved to sow. He thrived on watching pirates turn on each other, tearing themselves apart. Unbeknownst to him, a flash of lightning sparked behind him before vanishing just as quickly.
Kaido, hefting his gaudy alloy mace, wandered aimlessly through the forest, smashing trees to splinters out of sheer boredom, carving a crude path in his wake.
"Why the hell does Captain Brook want us chasing some dumb flower?" he grumbled.
"Newgate could just smash this island to bits, and Shiki could float off with whatever we need. Done and dusted!"
He couldn't wait to get back and clash with the Vesper Pirates. In this battle for supremacy, Kaido was determined to make his name echo across the seas!
...
Elsewhere, the crimson-scaled Fishman Tiger seethed as he chased a leaf-clone of Kaido. But as he burst through a dense thicket, the fake Kaido wilted into a single leaf.
Ahead, the real Kaido was casually wrecking trees.
He's got time to play lumberjack?
"Kaido!" Tiger roared, his already red skin blazing like fire. "Take back what you said and apologize, or I swear we're not done here!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Kaido snapped, whirling around. "I've been right here! Said what? Apologize for what? You want a fight? Bring it on!"
Kaido's temper flared, completely forgetting Brook's warnings about staying sharp. All he could think about was pounding this loudmouth Fishman into the dirt.
Kaido never explained himself to anyone—especially not a punk like Tiger!
He slammed his alloy mace into the ground, glaring at the fuming Fishman. "You're a has-been, Tiger. Step up or shut up!"
"Fine! You won't admit it? Let's settle this!"
Tiger unleashed his signature move, his tenfold strength honed through relentless training. The punch caught Kaido, who arrogantly took it without defending, and sent him flying.
Pain seared through Kaido's chest. He'd been too cocky. Sure, his raw talent outstripped Tiger's, but he was younger, less seasoned, and a year behind in training. Eating that hit head-on was a rookie mistake.
Even a genius with all the potential in the world is just potential until it's forged. Kaido had no business looking down on anyone yet.
"Hah! Not bad, Tiger—you actually made me feel that!" Kaido grinned, shrugging off the pain. "But if that's all you've got, it's not enough!"
Within seconds, his body was back to normal. A hit like that? Child's play.
Brandishing his mace, Kaido prepared to teach this "senior apprentice" a lesson. Getting hit and not hitting back? That wasn't his style.
...
"Kaido, you're telling me you didn't just run into me?" Tiger asked, a chill creeping up his spine. Brook's warnings echoed in his mind. If he'd been played, he was in for Redfield's electrifying "rehabilitation" session.
"Hmph! Never saw you!" Kaido growled. "But who cares? Let's throw down! Whether you get zapped by Redfield afterward ain't my problem!"
Kaido caught the hint in Tiger's words but wasn't about to let it slide. He'd get revenge for that punch and serve Tiger up for a week of Redfield's "IQ restoration" shock therapy—a win-win!
"Kaido, you're playing dirty!" Tiger pleaded. "I'll spar with you privately, take a few hits, whatever! Just don't rat me out to Brook and the others!"
Tiger's head spun. If the crew found out he'd been duped so easily, his shock therapy would come with extra voltage.
"No dice, pal. Everything you're saying is evidence!" Kaido smirked, pulling out a Tone Shell. "And guess what? I recorded your little 'plea'!"
Tiger's jaw dropped as Kaido waved the Tone Shell, capturing his desperate words.
"Hey, Kaido! You're serious?" Tiger wailed. "You're burning bridges here! Who taught you to be this sneaky?"
Tiger was doomed. Kaido was out to ruin him, and he wouldn't stop until Tiger was a wreck.
"Haha! Learned it from Newgate," Kaido bragged. "He's got Shiki on a leash with this trick. And Newgate? He picked it up from Captain Brook. So, you calling the captain sneaky now?"
Tiger froze. Kaido was twisting his words into a noose.
"Wow, you've got guts, Tiger! You're a real pal," Kaido said with mock admiration. "Rest easy—I'll make sure Brook hears all about this. But first, I'm gonna pound you for that punch!"
Kaido, the "sneaky brute," reverted to his usual recklessness, charging at Tiger with his mace raised, ready to dish out a beating before Redfield's torture began.
"Wait!" Tiger shouted. "Admit it—how long have you been plotting this?"
Tiger looked like a man facing execution, cursing inwardly.
Everyone calls Kaido a brute, but this guy's a damn fox!
...
In the distance, the mysterious stranger watched the red Fishman and the horned punk bicker without throwing a single punch. His usual foolproof scheme to pit pirates against each other was falling flat.
Frustrated, he turned to leave, ready to stir up trouble elsewhere.
BOOM! The island quaked, and the small yellow flower in the stranger's pocket broke into a cold sweat. These invaders were stronger than expected—way too strong!
...
Elsewhere, Golden Lion Shiki cackled.
"Jahaha! My bad, Newgate! Got the wrong guy. You okay? No way a fake could match your strength!"
Shiki beamed, having finally destroyed Newgate's incriminating Tone Shell. He'd been lying in wait for ages, and the ambush paid off.
"Gurarara!" Newgate roared, tossing his cloak to reveal a row of Tone Shells dangling like a street vendor's wares. "Who said I only had one? I've got plenty! I saw your move coming a mile away!"
Shiki's face darkened, his victory snatched away in true One Piece fashion.
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+300 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg