The pirates on the deck gripped their weapons tightly, nervously watching the behemoth gradually closing in. The air was thick with a suffocating pressure, making even breathing seem difficult.
Just then, a tall figure suddenly shot out from the pirate ship opposite. Charlotte Linlin stood on a white cloud, Zeus, created from a Homie, while gripping her famed sword, Napoleon. The blade of this giant sword was completely covered by the scorching flames of Prometheus, shimmering dangerously in the sunlight. Her laughter echoed over the sea like thunder, sending chills down the spine.
She tore through the sky at an astonishing speed, heading straight for Kaido's position. Her figure left an afterimage in the air, like a bolt of lightning splitting the heavens.
Faced with this sudden attack, Kaido snorted coldly and without hesitation grabbed his giant spiked club, Hassaikai. He stomped hard on the bow, making the entire ship rock violently, the wooden planks on the deck groaning under the strain. Using this reactive force, Kaido shot skyward like a cannonball to meet the oncoming Charlotte Linlin.
The tremendous impact instantly sank the pirate ship several meters. The pirates on deck were caught off guard, tumbling to the floor. Some unlucky ones even fell straight into the sea, sending splashes of water everywhere. The sea surface immediately descended into chaos, shouts and screams rising and falling. Yet, none of this could stop the confrontation between the two rulers of the sea.
The next instant. The spiked club and the longsword clashed mid-air. Red-colored Haoshoku Haki transformed into lightning that rampaged around them. The powerful shockwave directly stirred up massive waves spreading outward in all directions. The clouds in the sky began churning violently, then split apart. The collision of the two forces seemed to tear through space itself, the surrounding air twisting. Ships on the sea surface were tossed about by the shockwaves; seagulls in the distance scattered in fright; pirates around them with insufficient strength fell unconscious to the ground.
"The... the sky... it cracked." Although it wasn't the first time they'd seen such a sight, the pirates witnessing this scene were still utterly shocked. Their faces were etched with disbelief; some even rubbed their eyes, doubting what they saw. Yet, the scene before their eyes was real—the sky seemed split open by an invisible giant sword, revealing a deep darkness.
After that single exchange, the two didn't continue fighting. Instead, they sheathed their weapons and simply faced each other in mid-air.
"Mamamama~ Kaido, it's been years. You've indeed grown stronger," Charlotte Linlin said to Kaido with a hearty laugh.
Kaido looked at the nearly nine-meter-tall beauty before him. It was hard to imagine what she would look like thirty years later. This was a peculiarity of the pirate world: the more beautiful a woman was in her youth, the uglier she would become in old age.
"Wororororo, Linlin, long time no see." Seeing that Charlotte Linlin's arrival harbored no ill will, Kaido had no intention of starting a fight either. After all, Charlotte Linlin could be a potential ally to be drawn in the future.
"Of course. I came here specifically for you," Charlotte Linlin said to Kaido.
"Oh?!" Kaido replied.
By now, Charlotte Linlin's pirate ship, the Queen Mama Chanter, had also drawn near. The two pirate ships stopped alongside each other on the open sea.
The sea wind howled. The flagship of the Beasts Pirates swayed slightly in the waves. The last rays of the setting sun spilled onto the deck, stretching everyone's shadows long.
Kaido's massive frame sat steadily in the main seat on the deck. His thick right arm rested on his knee, his left hand holding the liquor gourd. Beside him stood his capable subordinates in order: Sebastian, Enel, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi. Each watched the visitors opposite with solemn expressions. The sea wind whipped at their clothes, making them flutter noisily.
Opposite Kaido, Charlotte Linlin's enormous figure occupied half the deck's space. Her signature pink hair fluttered in the sea breeze, a half-smile playing on her lips. Her sharp eyes gleamed dangerously in the evening light.
Behind her, the elites of the Charlotte family stood in a line: the eldest son, Perospero, licked his candy cane; Katakuri stood with arms crossed; Daifuku and Oven watched their surroundings warily. The air was thick with tension, ready to snap at any moment.
"Linlin, what brings you to see me this time?" Kaido tilted his head back and took a swig of strong liquor, asking without any pleasantries. The liquor dripped from his beard onto the deck with a faint sound.
"Mamamama~" Linlin emitted her signature laugh, but her eyes gradually sharpened. "Kaido, is this how you treat me? Don't forget you still owe me a huge favor." Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of her seat, each tap making the deck tremble slightly.
Kaido's eyes instantly turned dangerous. He set down the gourd, the metal making a dull thud against the wood. "Enough, Linlin!" he growled. "I grabbed that fruit myself; it has nothing to do with you." He was referring to the Mythical Zoan Type, Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon he had seized during the chaos at God Valley all those years ago. It was that very Devil Fruit that granted him his current immense power.
Linlin's smile vanished. Her massive body leaned forward slightly, her shadow engulfing over half the deck. "Kaido, even pirates have to honor their debts," her voice suddenly became low and dangerous, the surrounding air seeming to solidify.
Kaido fell silent for a moment, his thick fingers unconsciously rubbing the gourd. He remembered that when they were in the Rocks Pirates, Linlin had indeed looked out for him. But during that chaotic battle at God Valley, he had taken advantage of the confusion to ambush Linlin and snatch the Devil Fruit from her hands. While pirates fighting over spoils was commonplace, attacking a former comrade ultimately violated the unwritten rules among pirates.
"Linlin, what do you want?" Kaido asked directly.
"These are the crew you recruited? Why are they all little brats? Did you conquer Wano with them? Fish-men? Minks?" Charlotte Linlin ignored Kaido's question, instead looking at the officers beside Kaido. "Where are the rest of your men? Where's King?"
"Enough, Linlin. King is my right-hand man. And they are all my comrades. I advise you not to set your sights on them, or don't blame me for being impolite," Kaido stated bluntly, his voice carrying undeniable authority.
"Mamamama, in that case, forget it. Kaido, the seastone circulating in the underworld recently... it's coming from you, isn't it?" Charlotte Linlin asked Kaido, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.
***
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