A week ago.
The alliance between the Four Emperors — Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates was sealed.
Two of the sea's greatest powers had joined forces, and the entire world trembled in anticipation of the chaos to come.
According to Kaido of the Beasts, their next move was simple — march an army into Wano Country, reclaim it, and seize the red Poneglyph currently under Fairy Tail's protection.
However…
Charlotte Linlin, the fearsome Big Mom, did not agree.
Reclaiming Wano was easy enough for the Emperors — the true problem lay with Fairy Tail.
Kaido knew full well that, even united, his Beasts Pirates couldn't defeat Fairy Tail alone. That was why he sought an alliance with Big Mom's forces in the first place.
But Linlin wasn't a fool.
Her vast intelligence network had already revealed a terrifying truth: Fairy Tail was far more powerful than anyone in the world truly understood.
To be honest, even the combined might of the Big Mom and Beasts Pirates didn't guarantee victory. And if Fairy Tail ever joined hands with Whitebeard, then their defeat would be inevitable.
Though Linlin was arrogant, she was no idiot. She wouldn't let Kaido drag her into a suicidal plan.
If Fairy Tail were to be erased from this world, other powers had to be involved.
And right now — during the all-out War of the Best between Whitebeard and the Marines — was the perfect opportunity.
Over the past six months, Big Mom's informants had monitored the seas closely. They'd learned that Fairy Tail had clashed more than once with the Marines.
Their relationship had soured — what began as a cautious cooperation had turned into a cold war.
The World Government had a hand in that, of course. They would never tolerate an independent organization of justice operating beyond their control.
If the allied nations began turning to Fairy Tail for protection instead of the Marines, who would pay the Heavenly Tribute?
Allowing pirates to exist — to "raise bandits for balance" — was one of the government's key political strategies.
Thus, a natural contradiction had formed between the World Government and Fairy Tail — a weakness ripe for exploitation.
For nearly a week, Big Mom's spies had failed to locate Fairy Tail.
That could only mean one thing — Fairy Tail was preparing to make a move in the coming war.
Which made this the perfect chance.
When Whitebeard, Fairy Tail, and the Marines exhausted each other, the Beasts–Big Mom alliance would strike, sweeping in to finish off all three sides at once — a single strike to slay three giants!
Of course, that was the ideal outcome.
Achieving it required careful timing, preparation — and, above all, up-to-date intelligence.
But now, when information was most vital, Big Mom's entire intelligence network had gone dark.
The failure enraged her. The massive woman's aura turned murderous, and she nearly began ripping out souls in fury.
Just then—
"Hey hey hey! The fire's back!"
Kaido's thunderous laugh broke the tension.
With a rush of air, the armored Pteranodon known as Jhin the Conflagration landed heavily on the deck, reverting to human form.
"Well? What's going on, Jhin?" Kaido demanded, voice deep and booming. "How far have Whitebeard and the Marines gone? And what about Fairy Tail — did they show up?"
"No, Lord Kaido," Jhin said, shaking his head. Beneath his mask, his expression was grim.
Big Mom leaned forward impatiently. "Then what in the hell did you see? Out with it, Jhin!"
Taking a steadying breath, Jhin replied, "I saw Marineford… Whitebeard's fleet… and even the Sabaody Islands nearby — everyone was unconscious."
His words hung in the air like a bomb.
The deck went dead silent.
A moment later—
"Hah?!"
"Are you joking?!"
"You're saying both the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates were knocked out?!"
"In that short a time?! Impossible!"
"And what's this about the Sabaody Islands — that's miles away from Marineford!"
Big Mom's top officers — Perospero, Oven, Daifuku, Snack, and others — all shouted in disbelief, their faces filled with shock and confusion.
Jhin continued, voice low but steady. "I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm certain of one thing — they're not dead. They've all fallen into some kind of deep sleep… perhaps caused by an ability."
"An ability?" Smoothie exclaimed. "What kind of power could possibly do that?!"
Cracker's biscuit armor clattered as he shouted, "To take down Whitebeard, the Marine Admirals, and even the Hero of the Marines—that's insane!"
No one could argue.
After all, Marineford was the most powerful battlefield in the world — the very peak of human strength was gathered there.
And yet… all of them had been subdued.
It was no longer a question of strength — it was a question of something beyond comprehension.
"If we go there too, we might all just collapse before even landing…" murmured one of the commanders nervously.
But Kaido, instead of being afraid, burst into booming laughter.
"Well isn't that perfect, Linlin?!"
Big Mom's massive grin spread ear to ear. "Heh-heh-heh! I agree!"
"This is our chance to crush Whitebeard and the Marines — and it won't even cost us any effort!"
"Then what are you waiting for?!" Kaido bellowed, raising his club high. "We fly for Marineford — now!"
The Flame Clouds beneath Kaido's dragon form roared to life, lifting the Queen Mama Chanter — Big Mom's flagship — high into the skies as it surged toward the battlefield.
But—
RUMBLE!!!
A deafening explosion tore through the heavens.
The deck shuddered violently as every pirate turned their eyes upward.
A burning light grew larger and larger — a blazing meteor descending straight toward them!
"Meteorite?!"
"Why now?!"
"Don't tell me we're in its path!"
"Kaido! Get us out of here!" the crew screamed.
But before Kaido could move, Katakuri, Big Mom's calm and stoic son, stepped forward, his brow furrowed.
"No… this isn't random," he said darkly. "That meteorite is aimed at us."
Meanwhile—
Far across the empty sea, a lone sailing ship floated in silence.
On its deck stood a blind swordsman with a gentle smile, his hand resting on his sheathed blade.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, "but the Master has forbidden anyone from entering this sea."
He tilted his head slightly, listening to the wind. "This isn't my home — so I'll leave the rest to you."
A bald monk with a long, black beard — Jura of the Iron Temple — pressed his palms together solemnly. "Four Emperors alliance, huh? Then allow me to be your opponent."
At the bow, Gildarts grinned, his crimson aura flaring.
"Let's see what the mighty Emperors are really made of."
The storm of fate was about to begin.