Because the world inside the massive ship known as Pluton remained in perpetual daylight, Kaido lost track of how much time had passed. By his rough estimation, he had been wandering the primeval forest for about two days. While it was a short period, his gains were monumental.
Standing amidst the towering trees, Kaido returned to his human form and gazed excitedly at his palm. The Yatagarasu mark, which originally served as the crest of the Kozuki Clan, had transformed into the flag of the Beasts Pirates: a skull adorned with horns. This transformation signaled that Kaido had successfully refined the peculiar power within him.
The moment the refinement was complete, a wave of realization washed over him, revealing the true nature of this energy.
"Wororororo!" Kaido's booming laughter echoed through the woods. He had finally found the answer to one of the world's ultimate mysteries: the true origin of Devil Fruit powers.
The mark in his hand was more than just a symbol; it was a "Forest Mark". Originally, this was a special power possessed by the Forest God, who could bestow these marks upon others to grant them unique abilities. Kaido noted the similarity to the special powers seen in other legendary tales.
As it turned out, the power of a Devil Fruit was merely one variation of a Forest Mark. The special bloodlines of the world—such as the Kozuki Clan, the Mink Tribe, the Longleg Tribe, and the Longarm Tribe—all owed their unique traits to the influence of these marks. Historically, these beings were known as the Forest God's Demonic Generals. Led by Joy Boy, they were the ones who once fought against the Sun God Nika, a conflict recorded on the Road Poneglyphs.
By refining the mark he had taken from Kozuki Oden, Kaido had effectively seized a portion of the Forest God's authority. He could now bestow this power upon others, turning them into his direct dependents. It was a god-like authority similar to the power Imu granted to the Five Elders.
Because Kaido had made this power his own, he gave it a new name: Beasts Power.
Currently, Kaido's Beasts Power was still in its infancy. He couldn't yet grant immortality or the overwhelming strength of a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit like the secret rulers of the World Government could. However, the one ability it did grant made him roar with triumph.
"Wororororo!"
Unlike the marks that eventually became standard Devil Fruits, the Pluton was a relic from 800 years ago. According to the Road Poneglyphs, the Fishman Princess had blessed the ship with a special energy to allow it to sail the seas. This power granted immunity to the sea's curse.
As Kaido clenched his fists, he didn't feel a sudden surge in physical strength, but he felt an incredible sense of relief. It was as if a heavy chain had been cut from his soul. Thanks to the Forest Mark, Kaido was no longer afraid of the ocean. As a giant dragon, he was now free to soar through the heavens or swim through the deepest waves without losing his strength.
Furthermore, he could share this Beasts Power with his crew. While his subordinates would have to choose between using their Beasts Power or their Devil Fruit power at any given time, the advantage was still massive. For a Devil Fruit user, being able to swim was a game-changing evolution.
But Kaido wasn't satisfied yet. If one mark from Oden gave him this much power, he wondered how much stronger he would become if he hunted down and refined more Forest Marks.
Despite the hostile aura the forest projected toward him, Kaido marched toward his original destination: the place where he had first sensed Oden's presence.
The journey was short, taking only about ten minutes. When he arrived, he found a unique formation etched into the earth. It looked strikingly similar to the summoning circles used by the Five Elders, but instead of a star, it bore the Yatagarasu symbol of the Kozuki Clan.
It was clear that the Kozuki Clan, the creators of the Poneglyphs, shared a deep, perhaps even ancestral, bond with Joy Boy.
As Kaido moved to inspect the formation, the Pluton began to tremble again.
Boom!
Thunder rolled through the artificial sky. A massive bolt of lightning struck the center of the Yatagarasu formation. Vines and tree trunks erupted from the soil like a forest coming to life. Within the swirling greenery, a burly man with golden hair materialized and slowly opened his eyes.
The figure looked at Kaido with surprise, glanced down at his own hands, and let out a deep, familiar chuckle.
"Gurararara! Kaido, you brat... I certainly didn't expect to meet you again like this!"
Kaido finally understood how Oden had returned.
"So that's how it is! Worororo!" Kaido laughed. "Whitebeard... it seems the power of the Forest God can even bring you back from the grave!"
Standing before him was the man once known as the Strongest Man in the World, the Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates: Edward Newgate.