Loud music and drunken cheers echoed through the massive Live Floor of the skull dome.
Navigating the dense crowd of celebrating Beast Pirates, the two disguised gluttons followed their noses. Long wooden banquet tables stretched across the cavern, groaning under the weight of roasted meats, massive barrels of ale, and towering bowls of food.
Reaching the edge of the nearest table, Luffy grabbed a massive roasted boar leg. Tearing a huge chunk of meat off the bone, the captain chewed happily. Right beside him, Bonney shoved an entire loaf of bread into her mouth, using her free hand to reach for a platter of grilled fish.
The disguises worked perfectly. Dressed in standard leather vests and fake horns, nobody paid the two starving pirates any attention amidst the chaotic festival.
A loud, splashing sound interrupted their meal.
A few feet down the table, a group of Beast Pirate grunts knocked over a massive, steaming cauldron. Thick, sweet red bean soup poured across the wooden planks, spilling onto the dirty floorboards.
"Oops! Dropped the oshiruko!" a grunt laughed, kicking the empty cauldron away.
Another pirate leaned against the table, swirling a cup of sake. "Who cares? We have tons of it. Throw the rest in the trash."
"Maybe we should scoop it off the floor and dump it on Okobore Town!" a third guard joked, clutching his stomach in amusement. "Those starving rats would probably lick the dirt just to get a taste! Can you imagine? 'Oh, please, sir, give us your garbage!'"
The entire group erupted into cruel, mocking laughter.
Chewing her bread, Bonney stopped moving. Wasting perfectly good food violated a core principle of her very existence.
Standing still, Luffy lowered the roasted boar leg.
The captain stared at the spilled red bean soup pooling on the dirty floor. The mocking laughter of the Beast Pirates faded from his hearing. Replaced by a memory, a different sound echoed in his mind.
He remembered a small, dilapidated shack in a ruined bamboo forest. He remembered a little girl named Tama, crying tears of joy over a single, plain bowl of white rice and a piece of meat. She had starved for days, weaving hats just to survive, drinking poisoned river water to silence her empty stomach.
A dark shadow fell over Luffy's eyes. The fake horns on his head cast a sharp silhouette against the banquet lights.
Furious beyond words, the rubber pirate dropped his food. Stretching his right arm backward, the limb elongated across the banquet hall. Snapping forward like a whip, the fist coated itself in dense, black Armament Haki.
The punch struck the laughing grunt directly in the face.
Sending the pirate flying backward, the impact shattered three wooden tables and scattered hundreds of plates into the air.
Stepping forward, Bonney didn't hesitate to join the assault. Vaulting over the table, the pink-haired pirate delivered a devastating kick to the second guard's chest, launching him into a stone pillar with bone-crushing force.
"Idiots!" Bonney yelled, glaring at the spilled food. "You don't waste food!"
Chaos erupted on the Live Floor.
Drawn by the sudden violence, dozens of armed Beast Pirates turned away from the stage. Recognizing the attackers were not part of their crew, swords were drawn and flintlock pistols raised.
"Intruders!" a squad leader shouted. "Get them!"
Before the squad could charge, a sharp gust of wind cut through the crowd.
A spinning tornado of razor-sharp air tore across the banquet hall. The flying slash shattered weapons, sliced through armor, and sent thirty Beast Pirates crashing to the floor.
Walking calmly through the cleared path, Zoro sheathed Sandai Kitetsu.
"What are you two doing?" the swordsman lectured, adjusting his dark leather vest. "Ben explicitly told us to blend in. We are supposed to be sneaking through the castle, not starting a brawl in the middle of the main floor."
As he spoke, a massive Beast Pirate attempted to ambush him from behind with a heavy club.
Without looking back, Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji. Slashing diagonally, a wave of force shot backward. The attack missed the grunt, but sliced cleanly through the massive stone pillar supporting a balcony behind him. The entire upper structure collapsed, burying a dozen guards under tons of rubble.
"You just cut down a building!" Bonney pointed out, dodging a stray piece of falling rock.
"It was in the way," Zoro replied flatly, unfazed by the hypocrisy. Looking at his captain, the swordsman noticed the deep, burning anger radiating from the rubber man. "What happened?"
Luffy pointed a rigid finger at the puddle of sweet soup on the floor.
"They spilled the oshiruko," the captain stated, his voice devoid of its usual cheer. "They spilled it on purpose, and then they laughed about the starving people in Tama's town."
The mild annoyance vanished from Zoro's face.
Looking at the wasted food, the swordsman remembered Tonoyasu. He remembered the citizens of Ebisu Town, forced to laugh through their agonizing poverty while the men in this castle drank premium sake and threw food into the dirt.
Reaching down, Zoro slowly drew Enma from its purple scabbard.
"I see," the swordsman agreed, his single eye narrowing into a lethal glare. "Let's cut them all."
High above the Live Floor, the commotion drew immediate attention.
Standing on the performance stage, Queen stopped singing. The cyborg peered down through the flashing lights, spotting the three disguised pirates tearing through the lower ranks.
"Well, well, well," Queen muttered into his microphone. "Look who ressurected from the dead. The Straw Hat captain, his pirate hunter, and the glutton."
Playing a rhythmic beat on his teeth, Apoo stepped up to the edge of the stage.
"Check it out, Queen," the Longarm pirate laughed. "The alliance actually showed up to the party. Want me to take them out?"
A cruel grin spread across Queen's face. Raising the microphone to his lips, the All-Star addressed the entire cavern.
"Listen up, you worthless Pleasures and Waiters!" Queen bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "We have a special event tonight! The Straw Hat pirates have infiltrated the festival! Whoever manages to capture or kill those three down there gets a grand prize!"
The fighting on the floor paused as thousands of pirates looked up at the stage.
"I have a certain member of the Tobiroppo that I want dead!" Queen announced carelessly, entirely willing to betray his own subordinates. "Once I eliminate that nuisance, a seat will be open! Capture the intruders, and you get the promotion!"
The motivation worked instantly.
Greed and ambition flooded the cavern. Thousands of weapons raised into the air. A unified roar shook the skull dome as the entire army of Gifters, Waiters, and Pleasures charged the three pirates.
"Here they come," Zoro warned, dropping into a low stance.
Before the mob could reach them, a strange, rhythmic noise cut through the shouting.
Standing on the stage, Apoo struck his own chest like a drum. Tapping his chin like a cymbal, he played a rapid, upbeat tempo.
Scratch!
A loud, invisible burst of percussive energy struck Luffy directly in the face.
The impact sounded like a gong. The captain flew backward, crashing into a wooden table.
Bon!
A second invisible wave slammed into Zoro's chest. A deep, slashing wound opened across the swordsman's torso, spraying blood onto his leather vest. Stumbling backward, Zoro grimaced in pain, unable to trace the origin of the attack.
"What is hitting us?!" Bonney yelled, looking around frantically.
Shan!
An explosive burst of sound struck the ground right next to the pink-haired pirate, knocking her off her feet.
Struggling to stand, Luffy rubbed his bruised jaw. Observation Haki proved useless. There was no projectile to dodge, no movement to track. The attacks simply materialized out of thin air.
"It's that music guy!" Zoro growled, spotting Apoo on the distant stage. "Ben warned us about him! What did he say the trick was?"
"He talks too much!" Luffy complained, dodging another invisible slash. "I didn't listen to what he said during the meeting!"
"Neither did I!" Zoro admitted, crossing his swords to block an attack that bypassed the metal and struck his shoulder.
Rolling behind a shattered stone pillar, Bonney racked her brain. The magician had detailed the abilities of the Worst Generation captains weeks ago.
Sound, Bonney remembered, her eyes widening. The attacks only hit if you hear the music!
"Cover your ears!" Bonney screamed over the noise of the charging mob. "The trigger is his music! If you can't hear it, it can't hurt you!"
Sheathing his swords instantly, Zoro clamped both hands tightly over his ears.
Standing in the open, Luffy followed the instruction. Pressing his palms firmly against the sides of his head, the captain blocked out the chaotic noise of the cavern.
Up on the stage, Apoo continued to play his body, aiming another explosive beat at the rubber pirate.
The sound wave traveled across the room, but the attack fizzled out failing to manifest any damage.
Seeing the trick fail, Apoo stopped playing. "Smart. But you can't fight with your hands on your ears!"
Smiling fiercely, Luffy didn't need his hands.
Stretching his thumb and biting down hard on it, the captain blew a massive amount of air into his bones. His right leg expanded rapidly, growing to the size of a giant's limb. Coating the massive foot in Armament Haki, the rubber turned a gleaming, metallic black.
Leaping high into the air, Luffy aimed for the stage.
Gear Third: Gum-Gum Elephant Stamp!
Bringing the massive foot down with devastating force, the attack crushed the center of the performance stage completely. Wood and metal splintered outward. The impact smashed Apoo flat against the floorboards, knocking the Longarm pirate unconscious instantly.
Landing lightly on the ruined stage, Luffy let the air out of his leg, shrinking back to normal size.
"Got him," the captain grinned, keeping his hands firmly over his ears just in case.
With the musical threat neutralized, Zoro and Bonney rejoined the fight. Unsheathing his blades, the swordsman carved a path through the advancing Gifters, while the glutton delivered heavy, crushing kicks to anyone foolish enough to approach her.
Seeing his stage destroyed and his entertainment ruined, Queen grabbed a fresh cigar.
"Forget capturing them!" the cyborg roared into his microphone. "You have permission to kill! Rip them to shreds!"
Answering the call, a terrifying roar echoed from the back of the cavern.
Stomping onto the Live Floor, Hatcha entered the fray. The ancient giant possessed a monstrous, disproportionate body and a wide, drunken grin. Wielding a spiked club the size of a small ship, the Number swung wildly at the intruders.
Lacking any sense of coordination, the massive swing missed the pirates. Instead, the club crashed into a dense crowd of Beast Pirates, crushing dozens of Queen's own men into the stone floor.
"Hatcha, you idiot!" a Gifter screamed, diving out of the way. "Aim at the enemy!"
Ignoring the complaints, the drunken giant laughed loudly and continued swinging, turning the center of the banquet hall into a warzone.
High above the Live Floor, a secluded balcony overlooked the carnage.
Leaning against the railing, Who's-Who smoked a cigarette. The masked Headliner watched the Straw Hats dodge the rampaging giant, noting the destructive capability of the intruders.
A group of armored subordinates wearing cat-themed helmets waited quietly behind him.
"Boss," a lieutenant asked, stepping forward. "Should we join the fight on the floor? Queen offered a Tobiroppo seat."
Exhaling a cloud of smoke, Who's-Who shook his head.
"Let the grunts deal with the pirates," the Headliner dismissed casually. "We have a different objective. Kaido wants his missing son, Yamato. Finding him guarantees the right to challenge an All-Star directly."
Tossing the cigarette over the balcony, Who's-Who turned away from the battle.
"Queen wants to eliminate a Tobiroppo," the masked man noted, a cold smirk hidden behind his disguise. "The feeling is mutual. I want Queen dead. Find Yamato, and I get my chance to take the fat cyborg's head."
Mirroring the treacherous nature of the Beast Pirates, the armored squad nodded in agreement, slipping into the dark corridors of the fortress to begin their hunt.
Outside the main skull dome, Kin'emon's Eastern Forces navigated the treacherous mountain paths.
Marching through the snow and rocky terrain, the Wano samurai encountered minimal resistance. The majority of the fortress guards were currently drinking inside the main hall, leaving the outer flanks largely undefended.
Rounding a steep cliff face, the group arrived at a large, ornate building situated near a frozen lake.
Paper lanterns illuminated the wooden balconies. The scent of perfume and sake drifted through the cold air. The structure, known as 'Woman Trouble', served as the pleasure hall and personal territory of Black Maria.
Holding up a hand, Kin'emon ordered the forces to halt.
"We split the division here," the leader of the Scabbards instructed quietly.
Turning to a trusted group of samurai commanders, he outlined the deployment. "Take half the men. Secure the perimeter around this brothel and lock down the eastern exits. Do not let anyone escape into the mountains."
Looking up at the towering walls of the skull dome looming behind the pleasure hall, Kin'emon gripped his katana.
"The rest of you, come with me," the samurai ordered. "We enter the castle through the side doors. We find Kaido and Orochi, and we end this twenty-year nightmare tonight."
Far away from the mountain paths, at the very edge of the Wano borders, violent currents churned.
Fighting the raging whirlpools, the giant carp successfully pulled the Queen Mama Chanter over the lip of the waterfall for the second time. The candy-coated galleon leveled out in the calm inland sea, badly damaged but still floating.
Standing on the deck, the Charlotte family breathed a sigh of relief.
"We finally made it back up!" Smoothie noted, wringing seawater out of her long scarf.
Holding a ringing visual Den Den Mushi, Perospero answered the call. The snail's eyes opened, projecting the face of a Beast Pirate communications officer.
"Big Mom Pirates," the officer announced over the speaker. "Welcome to Wano. The Governor-General expects you at the festival. The pirate alliance has been formally established."
Silence dropped over the deck of the galleon.
"An alliance?!" Perospero yelled, his long tongue rolling out in shock. "Mama teamed up with Kaido?!"
The Charlotte siblings exchanged looks of awe and terror. The prospect of the two most volatile, powerful Emperors in the world joining forces defied all logic, but it meant their mother was safe.
Ordering the ship forward, the Big Mom Pirates sailed toward Onigashima to join the most dangerous party in the world.
Back inside the central cavern, the Golden Kagura showed no signs of stopping.
Sitting on massive cushions near the back of the hall, Kaido and Orochi shared a giant barrel of premium sake. The Shogun laughed loudly, convinced of his own invincibility, ignoring the sounds of combat echoing from the Live Floor below.
Lounging near the two leaders, Black Maria smoked her long pipe.
The giant, beautiful Tobiroppo had skipped the hunt for Yamato. Preferring the comfort of the VIP section over running through the dark halls of the castle, she poured sake into Kaido's gourd, offering a pleasant, charming smile.
"Let the others run around in the dark," Black Maria purred softly, resting her chin on her hand. "The party is right here."
Taking another massive drink, Kaido nodded in agreement, watching his crew celebrate, unaware that the ghosts of Wano and the worst generation of pirates were already tearing his fortress apart from the inside out.