The grand celebration concluded late into the night, leaving the air in the palace thick with the scent of sake and the lingering echo of cheers. The twelve newly appointed captains of the Oni Squad, along with Urouge, were the first to take their leave. For these men—some recently promoted from the rank of "small fry" and others fresh recruits—the night had been a revelation. The prospect of being personally instructed by Kaido, one of the Four Emperors of the New World, was a privilege beyond their wildest dreams. They departed with a level of reverence for their Governor that bordered on worship.
As the captains filed out, Baby-5 and Monet gathered Otama to lead her back to her quarters. Kaido reached out, his massive hand surprisingly gentle as he patted the young Shogun's head.
"You're growing up well, Otama," Kaido praised her. "Rest up for the next three days. Even though you won't be doing the heavy lifting, the environment alone will be exhausting."
"I will, Father! You should make sure to rest too," Otama replied, her voice still holding a hint of shyness as she used the title. Kaido's booming laugh followed her out, his heart genuinely warmed by her concern.
Black Maria watched the exchange with a soft, maternal gaze. Having secured her position as the mistress of the Beasts Pirates and their Minister of Finance, her ambitions had shifted away from the battlefield. Her new dream was to manage Kaido's empire and bear him children to secure his legacy. She turned to leave, but Kaido's voice stopped her.
"Maria, stay. You too, Queen!"
Queen blinked in surprise. Since obtaining the Pluton blueprints, he had planned to dedicate his time to scientific research rather than physical cultivation. In his mind, augmenting his body with technology was a more efficient way to gain power that would benefit the entire crew. However, Kaido's next words melted any trace of confusion.
"I'm asking you to stay because, to me, you are the most important people on this vast ocean. None can compare to you."
The atmosphere in the room softened instantly. Every officer present looked at their leader—their brother and father—with deep affection.
"Alright, enough of the sentimental talk," Kaido said, his tone turning serious. "The world is changing. Whitebeard is gone, and the Straw Hat has vanished. We are now the primary targets of the Marines and the World Government. They will stop at nothing to erase us. To face the coming war, we need more than just numbers. I am taking you to a special place to elevate your strength."
Descent into the Abyss
Curiosity filled the room. King, who seemed to already understand, stood ready as Kaido's body shifted and expanded, transforming into a colossal azure dragon.
"Climb on!" the dragon roared.
The executives hesitated, terrified of showing such disrespect to their Governor. Ulti, however, had no such qualms. With a joyful shout, she pounced onto the dragon's neck, hugging him tightly. "Ulti is so happy!"
Seeing her, the others relaxed and climbed onto Kaido's back, their faces flushed with excitement. Only King remained in the air, flying alongside his brother with a look of quiet pride. As the young girl Lily jumped on, Kaido began to spiral upward before diving toward Mount Fuji.
Hidden in the shadows of the Flower Capital, X Drake watched the dragon soar away. As a Supernova and a secret agent, he knew this was a significant move. However, he chose not to report it to Marine headquarters. He had worked too hard to gain Kaido's trust to risk his cover now. He slipped back into the darkness, determined to play his role as a loyal captain.
Meanwhile, the dragon dove deep into the magma tunnels of Mount Fuji. Kaido had spent the last two weeks clearing this path, but it remained a hellish landscape. Scorching heat radiated from the walls, and splashes of molten rock illuminated the dark tunnel.
"Grumble!" the magma hissed.
Queen was drenched in sweat, his massive frame struggling with the rising temperature. Ulti and the others used their hands to shield their faces from the stinging heat and the sulfurous stench. Only Lily, whose Lunarian traits were beginning to show, remained perfectly calm.
"Hey, Big Brother Kaido! You're not actually taking us into the lava, are you?" Queen cried out.
"Don't be a fool, Queen," King snapped from his side. "Do you think Big Brother would put us in danger without a reason?"
"Easy for you to say, you flame-loving bird! My body wasn't built for this!" Queen retorted.
Kaido opened his massive jaws, releasing a blast of frigid air that mixed with the volcanic heat, providing a momentary, cool relief that made Queen sigh in bliss. After ten minutes of descent, they reached a massive cavern where a sea of boiling, golden magma stretched as far as the eye could see.
"What is this place?" someone whispered. "Are we at the center of the world?"
"Not quite," Kaido's voice rumbled as he landed. "We are
10,000
meters below Wano Country. From this moment on, this is your training ground."
"What!?" the crew screamed in unison, staring at the literal hell surrounding them.
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