At the entrance to the New World, the sky still echoed with terrifying clashes.
Amidst the chaos, a figure suddenly broke away from the Beasts Pirates' fleet, shooting upward with incredible speed.
"Lord Kaido, it's time to retreat!"
Blackbeard folded his dark wings and hovered at Kaido's side, a hint of urgent anxiety in his voice.
"The Navy Headquarters' war is over!"
"Admiral Kizaru has left the HQ and is heading toward the New World!"
"Hmm?"
Kaido's attack froze mid-motion.
He glanced across at Garp.
Garp, who had been brimming with fighting spirit, now seemed deflated, as if the air had been let out of a balloon.
The light in his eyes dimmed.
The war at Headquarters had ended.
That meant…
He instinctively looked toward the Mammoth.
In the corner of the ship, a curled-up figure was barely conscious.
His own grandson.
Covered in wounds, blood trickling from his mouth, yet still struggling to get up.
He gave everything he had, even using a technique that steamed his body, but it was still no match for "Drought" Jack.
Life and death hung in the balance, and it might awaken an even stronger power in Luffy…
He could not bear to lose a second grandson.
Everything else would follow as planned.
Garp no longer paid Kaido any attention; in an instant, he disappeared from the sky.
The next moment, he was on the Mammoth.
His voice was cold and furious.
Jack, about to continue his attack, looked up at the sound, his face full of question marks.
"???"
But then a massive iron fist grew larger in his field of vision.
"Boom!"
Jack was blasted through the air like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the surging sea.
Garp bent down and gently lifted Luffy.
Luffy's body was light, burning hot, his consciousness already blurred. "Grandpa…?"
Garp leapt back onto the deck of the dog-headed ship, holding him.
He let out a hoarse roar.
The massive Navy fleet began slowly turning, preparing to sail back.
"Ah…"
Vice Admiral Tsuru stood at the bow, watching Garp's retreating figure, and let out a quiet sigh.
She said nothing, simply approving the act.
The Navy had won a decisive victory.
Two Emperors destroyed in succession such a feat was enough to shock the entire world.
But because of this, the World Government would not remain idle.
They would fear, suspect, and do everything to cage this tiger the Navy that had broken free.
The Navy needed time.
Time to prepare…
To stand against the World Government.
Kaido watched Garp leave without hesitation, then looked at the part of the sea where Jack had sunk.
"Get Jack back!"
Two massive fleets slowly separated in the chaotic waters, each sailing in different directions.
On the flagship of the Beasts Pirates:
Glug-glug-glug.
Kaido roughly lifted a giant gourd of liquor, swallowing the spicy liquid in one gulp.
Bang!
He slammed the empty gourd onto the deck, his face shadowed with frustration and irritation.
The Beasts Pirates had gone all out, hoping to make use of the Navy's war with Whitebeard to cause chaos.
But they had gained neither territory in the New World nor the havoc they sought.
What kind of nonsense was this?!
"This world is unbearably boring!"
Kaido bellowed to the sky, his voice full of uncontrolled agitation.
Brrr-brrr~ Brrr-brrr~
A sharp Den Den Mushi call rang out.
Kaido frowned and snatched the device.
A familiar face appeared on the screen.
"Mamamama…"
A piercing laugh came through.
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin!
"Kaido, let's form an alliance!"
Earlier, in Whole Cake Island:
Charlotte Katakuri stood silently beneath the throne.
He had watched the entire war broadcast live via Den Den Mushi, not missing a single second.
Once it ended, he immediately paused all expansion plans and rushed back to Whole Cake Island to meet Big Mom.
"Mom."
Katakuri's voice was calm and low. "Times have changed."
Big Mom, seated on her throne, was shoving a large piece of cake into her mouth, muffled as she responded.
"The Navy's strength has surpassed everyone's expectations."
Katakuri's Observation Haki allowed him to glimpse a vision of the future, and what he saw filled him with unprecedented unease.
"With the current strength of the Navy, deploying that new leader called Hawk alongside any HQ Admiral would be enough to wipe out us so-called Emperors of the Sea."
"Mamamama…"
Big Mom paused mid-bite, her tiny eyes flashing with dangerous light. "So, Katakuri, what are you saying?"
Katakuri spoke without hesitation. "Mom, you and Lord Kaido were once allies."
"Now, only an alliance between the two Emperors can buy us a breathing space in this sea."
"We need the strength of the Beasts Pirates!"
His gaze seemed to pierce space itself, falling upon the figure seen as the future of the Navy.
"Blood Hawk Renn Hawk."
To pirates, this man was extremely dangerous.
Big Mom fell silent, watching her most capable son.
Then she smiled, baring her teeth.
"Mamamama…"
"Let's make a call to Kaido and ask him."
"Kaido!"
Big Mom's voice rang through the Den Den Mushi. "Let's form an alliance!"
"Uro-ro-ro-ro!"
Kaido froze at her words, then burst into laughter. "Linlin, you old lady, are you drunk?!"
He was about to refuse.
"Lord Kaido."
Blackbeard appeared silently by his side, lowering his voice.
"You didn't watch the broadcast from Marineford."
"The strength of the Navy's new leader exceeds all imagination."
"The Whitebeard Pirates and the Red-Haired Pirates… two Emperors destroyed in succession."
"If the Navy's next target is us…"
Blackbeard's words trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
Kaido's laughter stopped abruptly.
"If the Navy truly has that determination…"
Blackbeard's voice grew darker. "The Great Pirate Era is coming to an end!"
Kaido fell silent.
If it were anyone else advising him, he might not listen.
But Blackbeard was his right hand, his most trusted subordinate.
"Fine! Linlin!"
"I'll agree to your proposal!"
"Mamamama… excellent!"
Big Mom laughed with satisfaction on the other end.
"By the way, Kaido…"
"Don't forget that move we used once before."
"Uro-ro-ro-ro!"
Kaido laughed again. "How could I forget!"
"Good!"
Her voice turned cold and sharp. "Find a chance…"
"Use that move to take out the Navy's new leader…"
"Renn Hawk!"
"Hmph!"
Kaido licked his lips, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. "Consider it done!"