At the Red Line, within the high-altitude sanctuary of the Holy Land Mary Geoise, the "Chains of Command" remained heavy with tension. Fleet Admiral Akainu had just departed the room, leaving behind an atmosphere that was far from pleasant.
The Five Elders sat in the wake of his exit, their expressions gloomy. "The Marines are becoming increasingly disobedient," one of them remarked coldly. Another shrugged off the concern, noting that the Marines were merely the public face of the World Government's authority. Their conversation shifted quickly to the true threat: Kaido. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, they agreed that the mere possibility of him obtaining the Ancient Weapon Pluton was a risk they could not ignore.
A low, confident voice suddenly cut through their discussion. "Leave the confirmation of the Pluton blueprints to us, shall we?"
The Five Elders turned toward the entrance. A man with a distinctive crescent-moon-shaped head and long red hair strolled in without an invitation. At his waist hung a long katana, and his presence carried an air of absolute authority. The Elders gasped, their faces growing grave as they recognized him.
"The God's Knights are moving out? Figarland Garling Saint!" they exclaimed.
Garling Saint sat on a nearby sofa, crossing his legs with an air of disdain. "Imu is very dissatisfied with your recent performance," he stated flatly. At the mention of that name, the Elders' eyes widened, and cold sweat broke across their brows. They immediately bowed their heads, stammering apologies for disappointing the supreme authority of the World Government.
"Now that the new Fleet Admiral has been chosen, we will stabilize the sea," one Elder promised.
Garling Saint waved a hand dismissively. "Imu doesn't care about the petty squabbles of pirates. He cares about Pluton". He tossed a slip of paper onto the table. As the five men read it, they were left in shock.
"Is this true?" one gasped. "Kaido has actually allied himself with Charlotte Linlin!".
Garling Saint smiled coldly. "It is excellent news. For years, Kaido was untouchable because Wano Country's geography was a natural fortress. But by leaving to establish a new country with Big Mom, he has exposed his throat. He has given us a target."
The Elders' eyes lit up as they grasped the strategy. Garling Saint outlined the plan: the Marines would launch a massive attack on Kaido's new base to act as a distraction. Meanwhile, the God's Knights—led by a commander named Shamrock—would slip into Wano Country to find Pluton and throw the land of the samurai into total chaos.
"Three days from now, once Akainu is officially inaugurated, we will begin preparations," the Elders agreed. Garling Saint noted that Doflamingo and Kaido would likely find out, but he didn't care. He viewed the Donquixote Family as falling from their noble heritage, but still useful as long as they managed the weapons factories that would eventually return to Imu's control.
"Long live Imu!" the leaders echoed, their voices filled with obsequious flattery.
Deep underground, far beneath the wars of men, Kaido reached the summit of the glowing giant tree. What he found there was a marvel that defied imagination. Floating above the crown was a blindingly bright sun that illuminated the entire subterranean world.
Upon closer inspection, Kaido realized the "sun" was actually a massive, glowing bubble similar to those found on Fish-Man Island. Inside the bubble sat a massive green city. The giant tree acted like the mangroves of the Sabaody Archipelago, secreting a resin that sustained the bubble's structure.
Kaido's heart raced. He had a hunch that his prize was within that light. He coiled his massive dragon form and flew toward the glowing sphere. As he drew closer, he saw that the object inside wasn't just a city—it was a warship so colossal it dwarfed even the elephant Zunesha. The upper portion was an island, while the lower part was a mechanical hull that pulsed with energy.
"This is it," Kaido thought. "The Ancient Weapon Pluton".
Suddenly, a sharp sense of unease gripped him. A thunderous roar echoed through the cavern. A bolt of half-blue, half-white lightning erupted from the warship. It struck the edge of the bubble, focusing the energy into a concentrated Electromagnetic Cannon shot aimed directly at the dragon.
Kaido snarled, confused by the sudden aggression but ready to fight. He shifted into his human form mid-air, gripping his club, Hassaikai.
"Thunder Bagua!"
He met the energy beam head-on. The resulting explosion rocked the entire underground world, sending sparks flying like falling stars and causing the prehistoric beasts below to roar in terror. When the smoke cleared, Kaido stood on his flame clouds, looking at his arm in disbelief. Blue flames flickered against his skin, and his muscles tingled with a sharp pain.
"What kind of power is this?" he muttered, his eyes narrowing. "It actually pierced my defense."
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