"What exactly is going on?"
Kaido stared at the strange patterns etched into his palm. His confusion was quickly replaced by a wave of intense disgust. He felt a deep loathing for the Kozuki Clan, but he felt an even sharper irritation toward this symbol that had marked his skin without his permission. The encounter with Oden—a man dead for decades who appeared resurrected—had already made Kaido more cautious about the road ahead.
He had originally intended to investigate the exact spot where his Observation Haki first detected Oden. He suspected that the secret to the samurai's return lay hidden there. However, the sudden appearance of these markings forced him to stop. Kaido was not a man to charge into danger while carrying an unpredictable variable within his own body.
He sat down heavily on the forest floor and began to circulate his internal energy using the "Greater and Lesser Heavenly Cycle Self-Rotation Method." Since his Observation Haki couldn't identify the nature of the mark, he relied on this cultivation technique to probe it.
As the energy began to flow through his system, Kaido immediately felt an abnormality within the Yatagarasu pattern. Though it looked like a simple design, it felt like a physical spike had been driven into his hand. The pattern acted like a nail, firmly embedded in his flesh. Like the roots of a massive tree, it began to sprout and spread, injecting a mysterious energy into his physique. It was a power that even his high-level Observation Haki could not perceive, and it was beginning to invade his entire body through his right hand.
The sensation immediately reminded Kaido of the concepts of "parasitism" or "body snatching" he had heard of in ancient legends.
"Hmph!" Kaido snorted, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked around the silent forest.
While he didn't fully understand the mechanics of the mark, the idea that someone could take over his body with such petty tricks was laughable. He focused his willpower and intensified his cultivation method, intending to refine and crush this foreign energy by force.
The moment Kaido began the refining process, the world around him seemed to sense a threat. A terrifying wail echoed through the air, vibrating between the heavens and the earth. The lush vegetation of the forest radiated a direct, murderous hostility toward the pirate.
The ground began to heave and shake. Countless vines burst from the soil like reaching hands, lashing out to attack Kaido from all sides. Kaido grinned, his eyes narrowing into slits. He shifted instantly from his human-beast form into his full Azure Dragon form, his massive body coiling and writhing as he rose into the air.
"So, you're the Forest God, huh? I heard you're afraid of fire," Kaido roared, his voice booming. "Let's see if you can handle mine!"
"Great Flame Dragon!"
A dragon of pure fire, its body glowing a violent crimson, descended from the sky. The heat was so intense that the surrounding air shimmered and warped. When it struck the ground, the nearby vines and the surrounding trees were instantly incinerated. They didn't just burn; they melted into ash in a matter of seconds.
The entire forest let out an angry, guttural roar, but it was helpless against the inferno. Kaido didn't bother chasing the retreating vines. Instead, he remained coiled within a ring of scorching flames, using the heat as a shield while he continued to refine the strange energy inside him.
As Kaido worked to dismantle the Yatagarasu mark, time passed slowly. Inside the volcanic chambers of Mount Fuji, King stood guard. After two days of silence, he finally had to leave his post.
As the Vice Governor and the true administrator of Wano Country, King had too many responsibilities to ignore. Furthermore, Jack and Eneru had recently arrived with a man named Wapol. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, King had received intelligence that the inauguration ceremony for the Marines' new Fleet Admiral was scheduled for the following day.
In the grand hall of the Flower Capital, the highest-ranking members of the Beasts Pirates gathered. The room was filled with the Four Headliners, the six members of the Tobi Roppo, and the thirteen captains of the Oni Squad. The only seat left empty was that of their Governor, Kaido.
Jack, who had just returned to Wano, looked around the room with a puzzled expression. "Big Brother Kaido hasn't returned yet?"
It had been nearly a year since the entire officer corps had been assembled in one place, yet their leader was missing. The thirteen captains of the Oni Squad were especially curious, whispering among themselves.
"Big Brother Kaido still has important matters to attend to," King stated firmly, his voice echoing through the hall. "Therefore, I will be arranging all subsequent matters."
No one raised an objection. Ever since Kaido had officially named King as the Vice Governor, it was understood that King spoke with the Governor's authority. He was the undisputed second-in-command of the Beasts Pirates.
King wasted no time and scanned the faces of the assembled warriors. "I know you're all wondering why I called for a sudden gathering. The reason is simple: a war is coming, and you all need to be ready."
"A war?!" The captains of the Oni Squad gasped.
While the All-Stars and the Tobi Roppo remained stoic, X Drake—secretly acting as an undercover agent—felt a surge of anxiety. He noticed that Basil Hawkins, the captain of the First Unit, didn't look surprised at all. That calm expression made Drake even more uneasy.
"That's right," King continued. "Tomorrow is the inauguration of the Marines' new Fleet Admiral, Akainu. Normally, Marine politics wouldn't concern us. However, we intend to deflate their arrogance. We want them to understand exactly whose territory this sea belongs to. On the day after Akainu takes his seat, the Beasts Pirates will announce news that will change the entire balance of the world."
The members of the Oni Squad looked at one another, confused. Hawkins, however, remained composed. "So, has that moment finally arrived?" he asked.
"It has," King replied, looking at the fortune-teller. "Hawkins, are you ready?"
Hawkins gave a polite, gentlemanly bow. "Please rest assured, Lord King. The Wokah Kingdom has been rebuilt."
"The Wokah Kingdom?!" Drake's eyes widened in shock. As a former Marine, he knew that Wokah was the country where Kaido had grown up. But that nation had been destroyed long ago. What had the Beasts Pirates been doing in secret that he hadn't discovered?
Before Drake could process the information, King's next words hit the room like a physical blow.
"It is time for the announcement. The Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates—two of the Four Emperors of the sea—have officially formed an alliance. Together, we will launch a joint assault on Laugh Tale!"
"What?!"
The captains of the Oni Squad were stunned. After the initial shock wore off, a wave of pure excitement swept through the room.
"An alliance with Big Mom? This is unbelievable!" one captain shouted.
"Two Yonko working together... no one on the sea can stand against us now!" another added, his voice trembling with anticipation.
"The Marines, the World Government—it doesn't matter! They can't stop us!"
"Long live Lord Kaido!"
The hall erupted in cheers. Even the All-Stars and the Tobi Roppo shared looks of grim satisfaction. However, King's eyes drifted toward Drake. The undercover agent was pale, his expression shifting through various stages of alarm, showing none of the joy his peers felt.
"What's the matter, Drake?" King asked, his voice cold and observant. "You don't seem very happy about the news."
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