A swirling vortex of blue energy tore open the cold night air along the rocky shoreline.
Expanding rapidly, the spatial gate stabilized above the jagged stones. Marching out of the magical gate, the Udon prison forces arrived on schedule. Thousands of hardened samurai and yakuza poured onto the beach, fully armed and restored to their peak physical condition.
Stepping through the portal, Kawamatsu the Kappa scanned the gathered alliance.
Spotting familiar faces near the burning remains of the transport fleet, the large warrior hurried forward. Kin'emon and Denjiro turned away from the flames to greet their lost brother. Twenty years of suffering and hiding dissolved instantly in the silent nod shared between the retainers.
Following closely behind the kappa, a small, blue-haired old man walked onto the beach.
Despite his short stature, Boss Hyogoro radiated undeniable authority. The veteran yakuza boss looked out over the assembled pirate crews and Wano loyalists, noting the scale of the invading army.
"The forces are gathered," Hyogoro stated simply, drawing a katana from his waist.
Watching the massive army organize on the shoreline, the magician adjusted his dark glasses.
Raising a hand, Ben channeled his illusion magic.
"You look too much like samurai," Ben announced, his voice carrying clearly over the crashing waves. "If we walk through the front gate looking like this, the entire island will be on high alert in five seconds. You need to blend in."
Snapping his fingers, a massive wave of shimmering blue light washed over the entire beach.
The magic settled instantly. Traditional armor and woven kimonos vanished. In their place, standard Beast Pirate uniforms materialized.
Thick leather vests, spiked belts, and dark trousers covered the Wano warriors. Small, artificial horns sprouted from their heads or attached seamlessly to their helmets.
The Straw Hat crew received the same treatment. The tailored suits and combat gear shifted into rugged, intimidating pirate attire. Capes made of dark animal fur draped over shoulders. Metal studs lined their boots and wristbands. To any passing guard, the massive invasion force now looked like a returning fleet of low-ranking Beast Pirate grunts eager to join the festival.
Deep inland, the central cavern of the skull dome pulsed with deafening noise.
The Golden Kagura had officially begun. The annual celebration of the Beast Pirates reached a fever pitch, shaking the very stone walls of the fortress.
Standing on a massive elevated stage, Scratchmen Apoo served as the musical director. The Longarm pirate slapped his chest and banged his teeth, acting as a one-man percussion section. A driving, chaotic beat pumped through large speakers stacked around the banquet hall.
Taking the center of the stage, Queen the Plague performed for the roaring crowd.
The cyborg held a microphone, dancing wildly under flashing spotlights. Firing laser beams from his mouth into the ceiling to hype the audience, the All-Star introduced the various factions attending the festival.
"Are the Waiters having a good time?!" Queen screamed into the microphone.
A massive cheer erupted from the floor.
"Are the Pleasures drinking enough sake?!" Queen continued, sweeping a heavy arm toward a different section of the crowd.
Another deafening roar answered the call.
"And a special welcome to our new allies, the Big Mom Pirates!" the cyborg bellowed, gesturing toward a VIP section near the back of the hall.
Sitting far away from the noisy main floor, a private booth offered a quieter environment.
The Tobiroppo occupied the secluded room, unimpressed by the stage performance. Serving as Kaido's top six Headliners, the group preferred drinking in relative peace.
Resting his boots on a wooden table, Who's-Who swirled a cup of premium sake. The masked former CP9 agent scoffed at the loud music filtering through the walls.
"Queen is an idiot," Who's-Who muttered, taking a slow sip. "If that fat dinosaur happens to drop dead tonight, who do you think takes his place as the next All-Star?"
Leaning back in a cushioned chair, Sasaki laughed deeply. The large, horned fish-man crossed his massive arms. "It would certainly open up a spot. I wouldn't mind moving up the ranks."
Sitting across the table, Black Maria smoked a long pipe, offering a sly, knowing smile.
Listening to the arrogant chatter, a burst of annoyance shattered the relaxed atmosphere.
"You guys are so annoying!" Ulti yelled, slamming her hands flat against the tabletop. The fiery young woman glared fiercely at her comrades behind her patterned mask. "Stop talking about Queen dying! If anyone gets promoted, it will be me and Pagey!"
Sitting quietly beside his angry sister, Page One sighed heavily, pulling his bucket hat down lower to hide his face. "Please leave me out of this."
The sliding paper doors of the private booth suddenly opened.
Silencing the argument instantly, the massive frame of the Emperor stepped into the room. Kaido carried a large gourd of alcohol, his face flushed from the ongoing celebration. King the Wildfire followed silently behind, closing the doors to block out the noise of the Golden Kagura.
Standing up respectfully, the Tobiroppo bowed their heads.
"You called for us, Governor-General," X Drake spoke first, maintaining a completely neutral expression.
Taking a seat on a massive cushion at the head of the room, Kaido drank deeply from his gourd. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, the Emperor let out a rumbling laugh.
"I did not summon you," Kaido confessed bluntly.
Confusion rippled through the Headliners.
Stepping forward, the pteranodon user claimed responsibility. "It was my order. If I summoned you under my own name, half of you would have ignored the call to keep drinking. Using the Governor-General's authority ensured your attendance."
Grumbling under her breath, Ulti looked ready to lash out at the All-Star, but Page One quickly stepped on her foot to keep her quiet.
Ignoring the tension, Kaido gestured toward the corner of the room.
Dropping lightly from the ceiling rafters, a small figure wearing a paper mask over her face landed on the floorboards. Bao Huang, a Shinuchi and the Emperor's personal secretary, held a clipboard covered in detailed notes.
"Read the schedule," Kaido instructed.
Nodding quickly, the squirrel SMILE user consulted the paper.
"The Big Mom Pirates have officially arrived on the island," Bao Huang reported, her voice muffled slightly by the mask. "The alliance has been formalized. Lord Kaido plans to make a very important announcement regarding the New Onigashima Project to the entire crew before the night ends."
Dismissing the secretary with a wave, Kaido looked directly at his top six fighters.
"Before I make that announcement, I have a task for you," the Emperor stated, his tone turning serious. "My idiot son, Yamato, has gone missing again. He disappeared right as the festival started."
Listening intently, the Flying Six waited for the actual objective. Finding a missing family member seemed like a job for the lower ranks, not the elite assassins of the crew.
"Find him and bring him back to the main hall," Kaido ordered.
Sensing the hesitation, Who's-Who set his sake cup down on the wooden table.
"A simple search mission," the masked man noted smoothly. "But what is the reward for bringing him back? We are missing a very good party."
A dark, dangerous grin stretched across the Emperor's face. He knew exactly how to motivate ambition.
"Whoever brings Yamato to me earns a reward," Kaido offered, his deep voice vibrating through the floorboards. "You will be granted the right to formally challenge one of the All-Stars in combat for their position."
The offer changed the atmosphere of the room instantly.
Eyes narrowed. Postures straightened. The opportunity to bypass the hierarchy and seize a top commander spot rarely presented itself.
Without another word, the Tobiroppo filed out of the private booth, scattering into the massive fortress to begin the hunt.
Back at the front entrance of the skull dome, the allied forces prepared to breach the interior.
Standing near the broken Torii gates, the Straw Hat Pirates organized their approach. Disguised in dark leather and fake horns, the crew successfully blended into the massive crowd of Wano samurai doing the same.
Catching the distinct, mouth-watering scent of roasted meat drifting on the wind, the captain didn't utter a single word of strategy.
Dropping into a full sprint, Luffy bolted towards the fortress entrance. Recognizing the smell of a massive banquet, Bonney abandoned the group instantly, sprinting closely behind the rubber pirate in a desperate race for the buffet.
Watching the two gluttons vanish into the crowd, a collective sigh escaped the remaining crew.
"I will go after them," Zoro volunteered, resting a hand on his swords. "I will make sure they don't cause any trouble."
Every single Straw Hat Pirate present twitched.
Eyes narrowed into flat, judgmental glares. Sending the man with zero directional sense to supervise the two most chaotic members of the alliance guaranteed an absolute disaster.
"Sure, Zoro," Nami replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You go do that."
Missing the sarcasm entirely, the swordsman nodded confidently and jogged after the missing captain, immediately taking a wrong turn at the first intersection.
Rubbing her temples to ward off a headache, the navigator took control of the remaining divisions.
"We need to spread out and cover more ground," Nami instructed, dividing the crew quickly based on combat synergy and practicality.
Pointing to the towering warriors, she formed the first squad.
"Dorry, Brogy, Oimo, and Kashii," the navigator assigned. "You four stick together. Merry and Sunny, go with the giants. You provide covering fire and navigation."
The two kids nodded enthusiastically, forming up with the massive Elbaf warriors. The destructive potential of the group made them perfect for clearing large hallways.
Turning to the cook, Nami organized the next division.
"Sanji, you are with me, Vivi, and Caroo," she decided.
Adjusting his dark leather collar, the cook swooned instantly, twirling in place. "Protecting two beautiful goddesses is my specialty! I will not let a single scratch mar your flawless skin!"
Ignoring the display, Nami looked at the remaining members.
"Robin, Chopper, Franky, Brook, and Carrot," the navigator finished. "You are group three. Focus on infiltration and securing the upper floors."
"Understood," Robin smiled serenely, adjusting her fake horns. "We will be thorough."
Standing slightly apart from the groups, the magician remained silent during the assignments.
"What about you, Ben?" Chopper asked, looking up at the tall man.
"I am going solo," Ben answered, pushing his dark sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. "That way I can keep an eye on all of you from a distance and intervene if a situation requires it."
Hearing the logic, the crew nodded in agreement. Knowing the magician possessed a habit of pulling crazy, impossible solutions out of thin air, letting him roam freely felt like a solid tactical advantage.
Beneath the calm exterior, Ben harbored a hidden agenda.
CP0 is definitely on this island, the magician thought, scanning the dark cliffs above the fortress. They will be hiding somewhere, watching the raid unfold. I need to stay off the radar until they reveal their hand.
"Let's move out," Nami ordered, snapping the crew into action.
Following the wave of disguised samurai, the small, separated groups of pirates crossed the threshold. Stepping out of the cold night air, they entered the chaotic, noisy, and dangerous interior of Onigashima.