The Country of Unending War—a mysterious nation located in the Grand Line. The original name of this country had long been forgotten by the world, replaced by the blood-soaked title "The Country of Unending War." On this land, the flames of war never ceased, smoke perpetually filled the air, and blood stained every inch of soil. People had grown accustomed to a life of clashing blades, with even children skilled in wielding weapons.
On this day, the calm sea was broken by a massive pirate ship. The flag of the Beasts Pirates fluttered fiercely in the wind, its menacing Beast Head Symbol sending chills down the spines of all who saw it. The soldiers stationed in the coastal watchtowers were the first to spot this uninvited guest.
"That... that's..." A soldier trembled as he raised his binoculars, nearly dropping them when he saw the towering figure standing at the ship's bow. "The Beasts Pirates! It's the ship of the King of Beast, Kaidou!"
"What? Kaidou?" His companion's face instantly turned pale. "Quick, notify the captain!"
The news spread like wildfire. Within minutes, the entire port was thrown into panic. Soldiers scrambled to assemble, the clashing of weapons echoing all around. Upon receiving the news, Captain Douglas immediately dropped the documents in his hands and rushed at top speed to the general's office.
"General! Something terrible has happened!" Douglas burst in without knocking. "Kaidou of the Beasts Pirates is here!"
General Clayton, who had been studying a battle map, looked up sharply, the command baton in his hand snapping with a crack. "What did you say? That monster with a 540 million Berry bounty?"
The command room fell into dead silence. Everyone knew what this meant—not long ago, this man known as the "King of Beast" had confronted Whitebeard, the world's strongest man, at Fish-Man Island. And now, he had come to this war-torn country.
"Assemble all troops immediately!" General Clayton suppressed his fear and issued rapid orders. "But remember, no one is to open fire without my command!"
Soon, over three thousand fully armed soldiers gathered at the port. They formed neat formations, but every hand gripping a weapon trembled slightly. The air was thick with tension, as if a single spark could ignite the entire port.
When the Beasts Pirates' ship slowly docked, everyone held their breath. Kaidou's towering figure appeared at the bow, looking down upon the port with a beast-like scrutiny.
General Clayton took a deep breath, straightened his uniform, and stepped forward alone. The usually authoritative general now appeared exceptionally reverent.
"Respected Mr. Kaidou," his voice trembled slightly, "welcome to The Country of Unending War. How may we be of service to you?"
Kaidou casually scanned the port, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers' faces. When his eyes fell upon Douglas, they paused briefly before moving on.
"Need to replenish supplies," Kaidou's voice rumbled like thunder. "And to see what this legendary 'Country of Unending War' really looks like."
The soldiers at the harbor relaxed slightly upon hearing these words, but none dared to lower their weapons. They all knew the man before them could transform into their worst nightmare at any moment.
Douglas stood among the ranks, feeling Kaidou's gaze slice through him like a blade. He couldn't understand why this legendary pirate had taken notice of him, but the sensation of being targeted by a predator sent chills down his spine.
General Clayton bowed respectfully. "It's our honor to provide supplies for the Beasts Pirates. May I ask how much you require? We'll prepare them immediately."
Kaidou didn't respond right away. His eyes traveled over the crowd, fixing on the distant city where the rumble of artillery and rising smoke could still be faintly perceived.
"Interesting," Kaidou suddenly grinned, revealing stark white teeth. "Truly lives up to its reputation."
Just then, a tremendous explosion echoed from the distant sky. A cannonball tore through the air, landing precisely near the harbor. The blast wave sent numerous soldiers tumbling to the ground, plunging the port into instant chaos.
"Damn! It's the rebels' artillery!" General Clayton's face paled. "Quick, protect Mr. Kaidou!"
Yet Kaidou remained rooted in place, unfazed. The explosive dust swirled around him but failed to touch him. A glint of excitement flashed in his eyes, as if he'd discovered some fascinating new toy.
"It seems," Kaidou cracked his neck with audible pops, "this country is more interesting than I imagined."
Watching Kaidou's expression, Douglas felt an ominous premonition rise within him. He vaguely sensed that this great pirate's arrival might not be solely for replenishing supplies. Of course, what gave him slight relief was that this notoriously fearsome pirate didn't appear to be here to wage war.
General Clayton breathed an inward sigh of relief, forcing a strained smile onto his face. "Of course, of course! We'll immediately prepare our finest supplies for you." He turned to his subordinate and whispered an order: "Go to the warehouse and bring out the best liquor, food, and provisions. The faster, the better!"
The subordinate nodded and hurried off with a squad of soldiers. The tension in the harbor eased somewhat, but the soldiers remained vigilant, their weapons held tight. Kaidou's fearsome reputation was too terrifying for anyone to assume he wouldn't suddenly turn violent.
Kaidou descended slowly from his ship, his heavy footsteps causing the ground to tremble slightly. His gaze swept across the harbor before finally settling on the smoke-shrouded silhouette of the distant city.
"In your country, does war truly never cease?" he asked with keen interest.
General Clayton offered a bitter smile. "Yes, Mr. Kaidou. Internal factions divide our nation while external enemies surround us. The war has lasted for decades... perhaps longer."
Kaidou grinned, baring his white teeth. "Fascinating.At that moment, a series of violent explosions erupted in the distance, followed by dense gunfire and shouts of killing. The harbor soldiers immediately went on high alert, their attention snapping toward the source of the commotion.
"The rebels again!" an officer snarled through gritted teeth. "How dare they launch an attack at a time like this!"
General Clayton's face was grim as he cautiously glanced at Kaidou, fearing the notoriously temperamental pirate king might erupt in fury at being disturbed. To his surprise, however, a flicker of excitement shone in Kaidou's eyes instead.
"Heh... Seems I've arrived at just the right moment," he chuckled deeply. "Lead the way. Let me see what your war looks like."
General Clayton froze, completely unprepared for Kaidou's interest in such chaotic circumstances. Yet faced with Kaidou's demand, he dared not refuse and could only steel himself to nod: "Y-yes, Mr. Kaidou. Please follow me."
The soldiers at the harbor exchanged uneasy glances, none knowing what might happen next. Captain Douglas stood among the ranks, brow furrowed. He couldn't shake the feeling that Kaidou's gaze had lingered on him unusually long, but he dared not dwell on it, silently falling in with the procession.
As they advanced deeper into the city, the brutal reality of war unfolded before them. Collapsed buildings littered the streets, billowing black smoke rose from burning houses, and the agonized cries of the wounded echoed incessantly. Two armies were locked in fierce combat, bullets flying wildly as blood stained the ground crimson.
Kaidou stood at the battlefield's edge, eyes gleaming with exhilaration. He drew a deep breath, as if savoring the gunpowder and blood saturating the air.
"Truly... a nostalgic sight," he murmured under his breath.
General Clayton stood nearby, heart filled with unease. He had no inkling of Kaidou's true intentions, but his instincts warned that the arrival of this King of Beast would likely plunge the nation's war into even greater madness...