At that moment, Kaido's words struck the gathered crowd with the force of a great bell. The deep, resonant sound of his voice did not just echo across the storm-swept plains of Ancient Island; it vibrated within the hearts of every pirate present.
The reaction of the crew was immediate and visceral. Hundreds of eyes looked up at the floating figure of their Governor-General. Their expressions shifted rapidly. First, there was shock. Then, there was utter confusion. Finally, those emotions settled into a mix of acceptance and profound admiration.
Sasaki, the Tobi Roppo who had just mocked the weak fight, looked down at the ground. He saw Babanuki and Holdem lying in the dirt. They were covered in blood and bruises, panting heavily, having given every ounce of their limited strength to the battle.
Something clicked in Sasaki's mind. He seemed to understand the lesson Kaido was teaching. He lowered his head in shame.
"I... I am sorry, Big Brother," Sasaki stammered, his usual arrogance gone. "I was wrong!"
High above, Kaido's dragon-like gaze softened as he looked down at his subordinate.
"Sasaki," Kaido said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I am not angry to blame you. I am angry because you need to understand something. To me, whether it is you, the All-Stars, or the lowest grunt present... as long as you join the Beasts Pirates, you are my family."
Family.
That single word hung in the air, heavier than the thunderclouds.
In the cutthroat world of pirates, especially in the New World, "family" was a rare concept. Betrayal was common. Weakness was usually punished with death. For the most terrifying creature in the world to call them family made the emotions of the crew extremely complicated.
"What is family?" Kaido continued, his voice taking on a philosophical tone. "Family should be an existence of mutual tolerance, mutual understanding, and mutual recognition. We do not tear each other down."
Kaido shifted his gaze away from Sasaki and looked toward the lower ranks of the captains.
"Hoko, Scotch, Dopon, Solitaire," Kaido commanded. "Come stand in front of me."
The four individuals froze when they heard their names called. They were lower-ranking captains, former Shinuchi who had not yet made a name for themselves. Trembling with a mix of fear and nervous anticipation, they walked out from the crowd and approached the center of the battlefield.
When they arrived, they saw their comrades, Babanuki and Holdem, still struggling to stand up.
Hoko and Solitaire, the two women of the group, looked at the battered men. They hesitated for only a moment. Then, driven by Kaido's words about family, they bent down to help them.
However, Babanuki and Holdem were massive men, heavy with muscle and fat. The two petite women struggled to lift them. Seeing this, Scotch and Dopon immediately reacted. They stepped forward, grabbing arms and shoulders, and heaved their comrades up.
It was a simple act, but it was powerful.
The six local captains stood together under the gaze of the entire crew, supporting one another. They were weak compared to the monsters around them, but they were united.
King the Conflagration, standing silently with his arms crossed, watched this scene. His stoic eyes softened slightly behind his mask. He understood what his captain was trying to build. Even the other bloodthirsty pirates seemed to vaguely sense a shift in the atmosphere.
"Very good!" Kaido nodded with satisfaction. "At least you now recognize each other."
Kaido knew his objective had been achieved.
In truth, this Kaido was not the original tyrant of the timeline. It had been almost four months since he had transmigrated into this world, inhabiting the body of the strongest creature.
During these four months, he had been busy. He had diligently trained to master his immense strength, but he had also been working to fundamentally change the culture of the Beasts Pirates.
However, four months was a short time. He had only managed to influence the high-ranking cadres like the All-Stars and the Tobi Roppo. He hadn't found the time to properly influence the lower-ranking grunts until now.
This tournament was the perfect opportunity.
Kaido knew the future. He knew the original timeline's story. In the final war against the Straw Hat Pirates, the Beasts Pirates were formidable, but they had a fatal flaw: they hated each other. The "Ice Oni" virus incident and the way the commanders treated their subordinates led to massive betrayals. The crew crumbled from the inside out.
Kaido was determined to change that. He didn't need them to hold hands and sing songs, but he needed to ensure his own people wouldn't turn their blades on each other during the final battle. Seeing them support each other now made him very satisfied.
Now, it was time to solidify that loyalty. It was time to make these guys grateful beyond words.
"Babanuki, Holdem, Hoko, Scotch, Dopon, Solitaire," Kaido addressed them directly. "Your strength is indeed very weak."
At these words, the faces of the six captains instantly turned pale. Fear gripped their hearts again.
"But that is not your fault," Kaido said firmly. "As I just said, you simply were not the lucky ones. You were not born with monster bodies or powerful fruits. But during these last four days of training, I saw your efforts. I saw you bleeding in the dirt to get stronger. So, I am going to give you a reward. I am going to give you a chance to change your destiny."
Kaido raised his hand.
Suddenly, six flame clouds descended from the sky. Wrapped within them were six strange, swirling fruits. They floated down and hovered right in front of the trembling captains.
The eyes of everyone in the clearing widened.
"These are..." Who's-Who muttered, leaning forward.
"These are the Artificial Devil Fruits manufactured by our Beasts Pirates," Kaido announced. "From today onwards, I bestow them upon you. I have given you the chance to change your destiny. You have now become the lucky ones. I hope you will not disappoint me!"
The six captains stared at the fruits. Their cheeks flushed red with excitement, and their eyes filled with tears. They were so overwhelmed they couldn't speak clearly.
"Ka... Kaido-sama..." Babanuki sobbed, wiping his eyes. "Thank you so much... I..."
"Don't worry, Kaido-sama!" Holdem shouted through his tears. "I will repay your kindness with my life!"
"We will definitely train hard! We won't let you down!"
Kaido listened to their frantic pledges of loyalty. He could feel the shift. Before, they feared him. Now, they genuinely respected and adored him.
"Hmm." Kaido nodded. "Eat them right here!"
"Yes!"
The six captains didn't hesitate for a split second. They didn't care about the side effects or the strange appearance. They grabbed the Artificial Devil Fruits and devoured them ravenously. The taste was notoriously awful, but they didn't spit out a single crumb. They swallowed their new destiny whole.
Moments later, the transformation began.
Their bodies twisted, expanded, and morphed. Fur sprouted, bones cracked and lengthened, and massive shapes took form.
Babanuki's body swelled into gray, leathery skin. He transformed into the Elephant Form. Holdem roared as golden fur covered him, transforming him into the Lion Form. Hoko shrieked, her arms turning into wings as she took the Eagle Form. Scotch hunched over, his muscles bulging into the Chimpanzee Form. Dopon widened and grew heavy, becoming the Hippopotamus Form. Solitaire shrank and grew feathers, becoming the Owl Form.
Instantly, the center of the battlefield looked like a chaotic zoo of monsters.
There stood a five-meter-tall gray elephant, a massive golden-maned lion, a giant eagle with a two-meter wingspan, a burly four-meter-tall ape, a pink and plump hippopotamus, and a golden owl.
Kaido looked down at his creations with immense satisfaction.
The six captains felt the surge of power coursing through their veins. They looked up at Kaido not as a captain, but as a god who had granted them a miracle.
The high-ranking cadres watched with interest, assessing the combat potential of these new forms. The Supernova captains, however, were utterly shocked. They realized that this crew had the power to mass-produce soldiers of this caliber.
Doflamingo, the "Joker," stood silently at the edge of the crowd. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but his expression was deep in contemplation.
The Beasts Pirates are growing stronger and stronger, Doflamingo thought. Kaido isn't just a brute; he's building an army of loyal monsters. At this rate, the balance of the world is going to shift. I really need to reconsider my own position on this vast sea.
"Alright," Kaido said, bringing the attention back to the event. "You six do not need to participate in the upcoming free-for-all. For now, go to the side and familiarize yourselves with the fruit's power."
The six beast-men bowed clumsily and moved aside.
Kaido's gaze then turned to the stands.
"Ulti!"
The young, mask-wearing girl jumped up immediately.
"Father! I'm here!" she shouted, waving her hand enthusiastically.
"Hmm," Kaido rumbled. "Our Artificial Devil Fruit research is on the right track. The army of ability users I promised you will appear soon. From now on, anyone below the rank of Shinuchi who gains Devil Fruit power will be placed under your command. You will lead the Giftors."
"Yes, Father!" Ulti screamed, jumping up and down with excitement. She loved being given responsibility by Kaido.
"Very good," Kaido said, looking back at the eager crowd of pirates who were now more motivated than ever.
"Then, let the battle continue! Next, who will..."