Aramaki surveyed the surrounding waters with a frown. "It feels too quiet. The Beasts Pirates are nowhere to be found."
Figarland Shamrock scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain. "These filthy pirates. Their supposed righteousness is nothing more than a delusion they use to deceive themselves. When faced with true, overwhelming power, they do nothing but infight and flee."
Borsalino and Aramaki exchanged a brief glance, then turned their attention back to the Celestial Dragon. Before they could speak, the distinct, rhythmic sound of a Den Den Mushi echoed across the deck: "Buruburu! Buruburu!"
The group froze. Figarland Shamrock pulled a golden Den Den Mushi from his robes, his face brimming with the arrogance of one expecting to report a total victory. However, the moment the connection clicked open, an urgent, gloomy voice cut through the air. "Figarland Shamrock, withdraw the Marine fleet immediately! Kaido is attacking the Holy Land of Mary Geoise!"
Deep within the castle on Cake Island in Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin sat shrouded in shadow, her true form obscured by the darkness. Her sons, Perospero and Katakuri, stood nearby.
"Mama, the Marines have retreated," Katakuri reported.
"Mamamama!" Linlin's excited, booming laugh echoed through the hall. "Kaido is truly insane. I cannot allow that old fool to steal the spotlight, can I? Tell me, how are those little brats doing?"
Perospero licked his lips with a wicked grin. "Don't worry, Mama. We are just waiting for them to walk straight into our trap."
"Mamamama! I will leave those brats to you, then. I require a bit more time to fully digest this new power. Once I have mastered it, Red Hair will be nothing more than a trivial nuisance." In the air, the faint sound of space fracturing resonated, a testament to the immense pressure she exerted. "This power... it is truly exquisite!"
At Marineford, the night was far from peaceful. Giant searchlights carved through the darkness, illuminating the bay where the massive, ghostly silhouettes of the Beasts Pirates' ships had begun to surround the headquarters.
"Whoosh!" A crimson figure descended from the sky, landing heavily before the main plaza where the Marine guards stood trembling.
"Everyone, listen up! Prepare for battle!" Akainu roared.
"Yes, Admiral Akainu!" The presence of their commander granted the panicked soldiers a momentary spark of resolve.
Suddenly, a voice like a landslide roared across the sky. "Magma brat, it has been a long time. Do you truly believe that becoming an Admiral is enough to stop me?"
Akainu's massive frame shuddered. His pupils constricted as he stared into the dark abyss of the sea. "Kaido!"
The fragile courage of the Marines vanished instantly. Whispers of despair rippled through the ranks: "Is it the Emperor Kaido himself?" "It's really him!" "We are finished—the other Admirals aren't even here!"
"Calm down!" Akainu bellowed. "The Admirals will return soon! This is Marineford, and behind us stands the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. Kaido will not remain arrogant for long!" He turned his gaze toward the darkness. "Kaido, do you understand what you are doing? Do you truly intend to ignite a war that could destroy the world?"
"Worororo..." Kaido's laughter echoed like a demon god from the bowels of hell. "Destroy the world? What does that have to do with me?" His voice turned cold, chilling every Marine to the bone. "If someone must be chosen to destroy this world, there is no one more suitable than I. Marine brats, before I demand your surrender, allow me to present you with a gift!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Thunder shattered the silence, and gale-force winds whipped across the plaza. A brilliant, four-colored light erupted in the dark sky. A giant, white orb of energy appeared, vast as an island, illuminating the entire world. In its glow, the colossal, dragon-like form of Kaido manifested, his body so large that the earth, sea, and sky seemed insignificant beneath his shadow.
Akainu and the arriving Staff Officer Tsuru were struck dumb by the sight. The light did not remain large for long; the island-sized orb suddenly contracted, focusing its terrifying energy into a sphere no larger than a human fist. It shimmered in the black sky like a solitary, malevolent star. Despite its small size, no one present dared to dismiss it, as the raw, world-ending pressure radiating from that tiny sphere was absolute.
Kaido's dragon head lowered slightly, his glowing eyes fixed on a distant point. Akainu and Tsuru realized his intent a second too late. They opened their mouths to shout a warning, but it was useless.
The orb of light streaked across the horizon, painting a beautiful, lethal line through the night sky. Its destination was clear: the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, chaos reigned. The magnificent city, built upon the Red Line and filled with the stolen wealth of the world, was thrown into a panic.
"What is the meaning of this?!" a Celestial Dragon roared in anger. "You bastards, how dare you wake me!"
Guards scrambled around him, bowing and fawning. "Saint Charlos, it is the pirates! The Beasts Pirates have appeared near the Holy Land. For your safety, we must move you to a secure area!"
"Those hateful pirates!" the noble spat, though he quickly paled, adding with pathetic greed, "What about my precious collection?!"
"Please, sir, we will ensure—" The guard's words were severed by a vibration that shattered the air. A roar ripped through the atmosphere, bursting the eardrums of everyone nearby. The world turned a blinding, singular white as the roar of the heavens shattered the silence of the Red Line.
"Boom!"
The terrifying blast illuminated the sea, signaling the beginning of the end for the Holy Land.
------------------------
While this story unfolds here chapter by chapter, the complete journey—from beginning to end—is already waiting on my Patreon:
patreon.com/Mythic_Muse