Dark clouds gathered in the sky above the Sabaody Archipelago, rumbling with the promise of a storm. Thunder cracked, and lightning briefly illuminated a colossal figure descending upon the world like a demon god. In that single moment, every eye on the battlefield was drawn to him.
Kaido didn't need to do anything. He simply stood there, his presence so immense that he naturally became the center of everything. This was the overwhelming power of one of the Four Emperors, the Yonko.
"So strong... Is this a Yonko?" a voice whispered from the shadows.
"This aura is insane!" another added.
"I can feel my whole body shaking..."
People hiding in the ruined corners of the grove stared with wide eyes at the towering silhouette against the stormy sky. A mix of awe, terror, and disbelief washed over their faces.
Kaido's gaze slowly swept over the crowd below, taking in the scene. "Well, this is a lively party," he rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. "But from the looks of it, none of you are here to welcome me!"
No one dared to answer. The suffocating pressure of his aura silenced them all. His confident, bold, and utterly domineering words echoed in their ears, a stark reminder of the fearsome reputation of Kaido of the Beasts.
Even Akainu, the most hot-tempered of the Marine Admirals, felt a few drops of cold sweat trail down his temple. His brow furrowed deeply, but he refused to show weakness. He took two steps forward, his expression grim as he roared at the sky.
"Kaido! Was all of this part of your plan?"
Akainu, like nearly everyone else present, assumed the chaos of the day was a grand scheme orchestrated by the Yonko. Even Jinbe couldn't help but wonder if it was true. Kaido had been unusually active lately, and his arrival at this exact moment was far too convenient to be a coincidence.
However, it wasn't Kaido who answered, but Yamato. She stepped forward proudly.
"No, that was my idea," she declared. "I was the one who beat up those Celestial Dragons. They're disgusting, despicable people who deserved it."
Yamato's sudden confession drew every powerful gaze in the area directly to her. Feeling the combined stare of Admirals and legendary pirates, Ginny, Diaz, and Red froze, their bodies turning rigid with tension.
Kaido let out a soft snort, a sneer twisting his lips. He finally addressed Akainu with pure disdain. "Hey, Marine, are you confused about something? When have I ever needed to explain my actions to you worms? Just who do you think I am?"
Kaido's domineering words once again left everyone, including the Marines, speechless.
It was Kizaru who broke the silence. He stepped forward with his usual lazy smile, his tone deceptively casual. "Ooh, scary. So, Kaido of the Beasts, does this mean you're officially representing the Beasts Pirates in a declaration of war against the Marines and the World Government?"
Kizaru's question was a clear attempt to use the weight of the world's largest military force to intimidate the Emperor.
But would Kaido be intimidated?
"Wororororo! Declare war?" Kaido boomed, his laughter shaking the very air. "You know, I've been thinking about doing just that!"
His blunt admission sent a shockwave through the crowd.
"Hey, hey, hey! That's not something you can just joke about!" Doflamingo hissed, his usual cocky grin gone. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as his mind raced through the implications.
Jinbe's expression turned incredibly serious. Kizaru and Akainu were visibly stunned. Everyone there understood the gravity of those words. If a Yonko declared war on the World Government, it would plunge the entire world into a conflict of unprecedented scale. While the Marines and the World Government would likely emerge victorious in the end, the cost in lives and resources would be catastrophic—a price they were certainly not willing to pay.
Thankfully, Kaido spoke again, his voice dripping with amusement. "Worororo, don't look so scared. I said I have the intention, but now's not the right time."
A cruel sneer spread across his face. If he had said this before, most would have dismissed it as another one of his drunken boasts. Kaido was famous for his wild proclamations. But now, after all his recent, calculated moves, no one was taking his words lightly. Their expressions grew even more solemn. Doflamingo, in particular, knew about Kaido's plans to open the borders of Wano Country and understood this was no empty threat.
Kaido wasn't worried about revealing his intentions. He knew that soon enough, the Marines and the World Government would have bigger problems to deal with. Compared to an old emperor like him, the coming of a certain "Son of Destiny" was the true nightmare for the secret rulers of the world.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Kizaru's hand began to ring again.
"Oh? Looks like you've reached a decision," Kizaru said, looking up at Kaido before answering the call.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's deep, furious voice erupted from the receiver. "Listen to me, Kaido, and don't make a mistake! Why do you think we tolerate you pirates? Do you really believe it's because we're afraid of you? If the unspoken balance between the Yonko and the Marines is broken, do you have any idea which of you will be the first to be destroyed?"
Sengoku's meaning was crystal clear, and the atmosphere grew heavier. If the truce was broken, the World Government wouldn't target Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man, or Red-Haired Shanks, who had ties to the Celestial Dragons. That left only Big Mom and Kaido. And between the two, the ever-aggressive Beasts Pirates were the obvious choice to make an example of.
Kaido understood this perfectly. But he still felt no fear.
"Oh, is that so?" he taunted. "Are you Marines ready to go to war with me right now? That's great news! I haven't had a good fight in a while, and my body is getting itchy!"
As he spoke, Kaido casually swung his massive spiked club, the Hassaikai, resting it on his shoulder as if he were ready to start the war right then and there.
Seeing this, Akainu and Kizaru stepped forward, their duty forcing them to stand firm for the honor of the Marines.
"Just give the order, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Kizaru said, his lazy tone gone, replaced by a sharp edge. "Kaido of the Beasts is terrifying, but if Sakazuki and I team up, we won't necessarily lose."
"Even if it costs us our lives," Akainu added, his fists already smoking, "as long as we can take Kaido down here, it will be a victory."
The tension on the Sabaody Archipelago reached its absolute peak. A legendary battle between a Yonko and two Marine Admirals felt like it was only a breath away.
But the voice from the Den Den Mushi was not a declaration of war. It was Sengoku, struggling to keep his anger in check.
"Kaido, hand over the person who attacked the Celestial Dragon. Do that, and the balance between us can be maintained. If you refuse, the Beasts Pirates will not survive the wrath of the gods!"
After hearing Sengoku's ultimatum, Kaido was quiet for a moment. First, he looked stunned, then surprised, and finally, he erupted into a fit of wild, booming laughter.
"Worororo... Worororo... WORORORO...!"
He laughed so hard that tears streamed from his eyes. He even made a show of wiping them away, an act of pure contempt that made the two Admirals' faces darken with rage. Then, Kaido spoke a single sentence that made every jaw drop.
"Hey, hey, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," he chuckled. "You might be able to scare these young kids with a threat like that, but me...?"
At that, Kaido's mocking expression vanished, replaced by a terrifyingly grim one.
"Don't you forget what happened last time. If Roger and Garp hadn't teamed up back then, the Celestial Dragons would have probably been—"
"SHUT UP, KAIDO!"
Sengoku's roar blasted from the Den Den Mushi, echoing across the entire sea. Everyone who heard it could feel the absolute shock and fury of the Fleet Admiral, desperate to silence a story that was never meant to be told.
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