The sea was as calm as a mirror. Under a clear, cloudless sky, the ship of the Beasts Pirates sailed slowly. Kaido stood on the deck, holding a massive gourd. Amber liquor shimmered enticingly in the sunlight.
He tilted his head back and took a swig of the strong liquor. As his Adam's apple bobbed, the liquid overflowed from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto his solid chest.
"Wororororo!" Kaido suddenly set down the gourd, his rough laughter echoing across the sea. He narrowed his eyes, looking toward the distant horizon, his expression turning serious. "Everyone, halt training!"
Hearing this, Sebastian, who had been lifting a massive iron block, immediately dropped the weight weighing several tons onto the deck with a dull thud. "Captain, what's happening?" He wiped the sweat from his brow and asked, puzzled. This burly fish-man warrior's muscles bulged, and fine beads of sweat covered his bluish-gray skin.
On the other side of the deck, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were sparring with each other. Upon hearing the order, they immediately sheathed their weapons. Inuarashi's white fur shone with a silvery sheen in the sunlight; as he sheathed his long sword, its sharp blade drew a cold arc through the air. Nekomamushi agilely performed a backflip, landing steadily on a mast, his golden pupils flashing with alertness.
Enel jumped down from the crow's nest, his golden earlobes sparkling in the sun. "Could it be enemies attacking?" He rubbed his hands together excitedly, tiny electric sparks occasionally bursting from his fingertips.
Just then, two pirates on lookout duty ran over in a fluster to report: "Captain! A strange pirate ship sighted ahead! That ship... that ship is singing!" Their voices trembled with shock, their faces pale as paper.
"Nonsense!" Inuarashi's tail shot straight up, showing an incredulous expression. "How could a pirate ship possibly sing?!"
"It's true!" the pirates urgently explained, one of them even kneeling down. "We saw it with our own eyes! That ship is sailing towards us while singing a weird song!"
Kaido walked to the bow, crossing his arms, his gaze like torches fixed on the growing black dot in the distance. The sea breeze brushed through his long hair, carrying a faint scent of liquor. "Prepare for battle," he ordered succinctly, his voice low like thunder.
Enel excitedly jumped onto the gunwale. "Captain, if that ship is so interesting, why don't we just seize it!" His golden staff spun in his hand, stirring up a flash of electricity.
"You fool." Kaido snorted with disdain, his gourd thudding heavily on the deck. "That's a Devil Fruit's ability. Seizing it would be useless." He already had a guess about the newcomer's identity—who else but that crazy woman, Charlotte Linlin, could give life to a ship?
Nekomamushi scratched his ear, his sharp claws making a grating sound. "A Devil Fruit that makes ships sing? That's strange. Could it be the legendary 'Uta Uta no Mi'?" He licked his lips, revealing sharp canine teeth.
Sebastian stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I remember a rumor in the New World that the ships of the Big Mom Pirates can sing and dance..." This squid giant, who once lived on Fish-Man Island, clearly still knew some information about the seas.
"Big Mom? Is she strong?" Kawamatsu gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist.
"Very strong. It's said that Captain Charlotte Linlin is a natural-born destroyer. At six years old, she received her first bounty of 50 million Berries. Several years later, her bounty rose to 500 million Berries. Her current bounty is as high as 1.07 billion Berries," Sebastian said calmly, but his clenched fists betrayed the tension within.
"What?!" the younger pirates gasped in shock. Enel's eyes widened, his golden pupils contracting sharply. "Isn't that higher than the Captain's bounty?" His voice turned shrill from astonishment.
"Silence!" Sebastian roared sternly, the sound wave forcing several new pirate recruits back a few steps. "Bounty doesn't represent strength! Captain Kaido is the strongest!" His fins were fully extended in anger, showing the dignity of this officer.
"That's right!" "The Captain is the strongest!" The crew members chimed in, but a trace of unease still lingered in their eyes. A few newcomers even began trembling, unable to hold their weapons steady.
Kaido paid no heed to his subordinates' discussions. His gaze remained locked on the distant pirate ship. The ship drew nearer, the bizarre song now faintly audible. The melody was at times cheerful, at times eerie, as if countless voices were singing in chorus. A cold smile curled at the corner of Kaido's mouth. He sensed a familiar, powerful aura approaching.
"All hands, combat stations!" Kaido suddenly roared, his voice like a thunderclap. "Roll out all the cannons!" At his command, the entire ship immediately boiled into activity.
The pirates sprang into action. Orders rang out one after another on the deck. Gunports were opened one by one, dark muzzles extending from the ship's hull. Pirates carrying cannonballs formed long lines, transporting crate after crate of ammunition to the gun stations.
Heavy cannonballs rolled across the deck with dull thuds.
Kawamatsu commanded the fish-man unit to stand by at the gunwale: "Stand ready to go underwater and sabotage the enemy ship!" Dozens of fish-man warriors lined up neatly, their sharp weapons gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Enel stood eagerly at the bow, itching for action. "This time, I'll definitely make my name resound across the seas!" Tiny electric sparks danced at his fingertips, his golden earlobes jingling with his movements.
Inuarashi's tail wagged excitedly, his white fur standing on end. Nekomamushi licked his claws, his golden pupils narrowing into slits, displaying the hunting instinct unique to felines.
Sebastian walked to Kaido's side. "Captain, should we strike first? The fish-man unit can..." His fins trembled slightly from tension, showing even this experienced warrior felt the impending danger.
Kaido raised a hand to cut him off. "No rush." A ferocious grin spread across his lips, his blue-green hair whipping wildly in the sea breeze. "Let me see just what Charlotte Linlin is planning."
The sea wind suddenly turned exceptionally fierce, howling and stirring up towering waves. The previously calm sea now boiled like a cauldron, rolling waves crashing against the ship's hull with deafening roars.
On the distant horizon, the massive ship of the Big Mom Pirates was now clearly visible. It was an exaggerated, cake-shaped vessel, decorated with various dessert-themed reliefs—from chocolate fountains to cream patterns—all showcasing Big Mom's unique taste. The sails bore the enormous Jolly Roger of the pirate crew, flapping loudly in the gale, as if announcing the arrival of the Pirate Empress to all.
***
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