The heavens had been torn apart.
A massive hole, gaping and unnatural, pierced straight through the layers of the Sky Islands—from the highest cloud layer where the Golden Bell resided, through the Fairy Vearth, and even further down to the White Sea below.
For the first time in history, if one stood at the very edge of this abyss and looked down, they would have an unbroken, terrifying view of the Blue Sea, ten thousand meters below.
The very fabric of this floating world had been wounded.
Yet, like a living entity, the clouds began to mend, closing around the edges of the devastation as if healing a grievous wound. But the scars would remain—both on the land and in the minds of those who had witnessed the carnage.
Byojack trembled as realization dawned.
His frail body struggled to stand, his knees buckling under the sheer weight of grief and terror. His hands, weak with age and sorrow, barely managed to raise a pistol, the barrel shaking violently as he aimed at me.
But I didn't even spare him a glance.
My focus was solely on Byrnndi World.
The stubborn roach had somehow clung to life, though just barely.
He lay there, half-dead, dragging his battered body across the bloodstained clouds. A deep, gruesome gash split his skull nearly in two, his once-mighty frame reduced to a crawling wreck. Every inch he moved left a trail of crimson, his lifeblood soaking into the clouds beneath him.
Even with such a near-fatal wound, his will to survive refused to break.
But it was too late.
In the blink of an eye, I vanished from where I stood and reappeared directly beside him.
Byrnndi froze, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body refused to move further. His instincts screamed.
I raised Shusui high, its blackened blade gleaming with the deadly fusion of Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and the raw power of my Devil Fruit.
This would be the end.
There was a time I had released Byrnndi, hoping he would stir chaos against the World Government, but the man had turtled himself away, wasting that opportunity.
And today, he had come here seeking death.
So I would grant it to him.
But then—
"Please… please spare his life!"
Byojack's voice rang out, desperate and broken.
My blade paused mid-strike.
The edge of Shusui hovered mere inches from Byrnndi's neck, a single movement away from cleaving his head clean off.
I turned my gaze toward Byojack.
His body shook, not with fear, but with raw desperation. He had pushed himself forward with inhuman will, trying to reach his fallen brother.
He was begging.
A man like him, who had witnessed death, war, and suffering, had cast aside his pride in this moment to plead for the life of another.
Something was off.
I narrowed my eyes, letting my Observation Haki stretch deeper, probing his heart.
There it was—a storm of emotions.
Guilt.
Desperation.
Something important.
I chuckled, tilting my head slightly.
"And why should I?" My voice was laced with amusement. "After all, it was he who started this. I gave him the chance to walk away."
Byojack clenched his teeth, his entire body trembling as he forced himself forward, his hands clawing at the clouds beneath him as if trying to pull himself closer to Byrnndi.
"Because…" He gasped, his breath shaky, his next words carrying a weight I hadn't expected.
"Because he is all the family I got…!"
Desperation gnawed at Byojack's face as he stood frozen, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. In this world of pirates, life was cheap—nothing more than a currency to be exchanged, gambled, or discarded at will. And right now, his brother Byrnndi's life hung in the balance, a thread poised to be severed at a moment's notice.
Before him stood a monster in human form—Donquixote Rosinante. A man whose very name sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened criminals. Power, wealth, authority—he had it all. Even the World Government, in all its might, would think twice before making an enemy of him. And with a bounty exceeding four billion berries, Rosinante wasn't just a threat—he was a force of nature.
Byojack's mind raced. What could he possibly offer a man who had everything? Gold? Insulting. Weapons? Laughable. Information? Perhaps, but nothing he had was valuable enough to sway this reaper's hand. Then, like a bolt of lightning splitting through storm clouds, realization struck. His eyes widened as his hand shot toward the sling pack at his side.
Fumbling for a moment, he pulled out the one thing that might save his brother's life—a devil fruit. It wasn't just any fruit, but one they had come across in the depths of the Sky Islands. Its swirling patterns and deep golden hue set it apart, crackling ever so faintly with latent energy. They had stolen it from a forgotten temple in Birka, a Sky Island long thought to hold secrets of the gods.
The fruit had been an enigma. Even the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia had failed to identify it. But the moment it left Byojack's bag, a shiver ran down my spine.
I knew.
This was no ordinary Devil Fruit. This was the legendary Lightning Logia—the very one I had scoured the Sky Islands for, the one that had eluded my grasp despite sending my men and even Gan Fall himself in search of it.
Yet here it was, in the possession of these two nobodies. If Byojack understood the true nature of what he held, would he still dare to offer it in exchange for his brother's life? And even if he would, could he convince the rest of his crew to go along with such madness?
Logia fruits were a treasure unlike any other. They weren't just rare—they were coveted, worshiped, fought over in bloody wars. And this one… this wasn't just any Logia. It was the strongest of its kind.
I kept my face carefully neutral, suppressing the rush of excitement that surged through me like an untamed current.
"Tsk," I scoffed, my voice laced with feigned disinterest. "Do you take me for a fool, Byojack? Do you think I lack Devil Fruits? Or have you forgotten that I already possess one?" I chuckled, tilting my head. "What use would I have for another, especially one I don't even know the type of?"
Byojack was sharp. He always had been. He sensed something off in my words. I could see it in the way his fingers tightened around the fruit, in the glint of suspicion that flickered in his eyes. I had spoken with nonchalance, but he wasn't convinced.
"No, Rosinante," he said slowly, his gaze searching mine. "You're lying."
I raised an eyebrow, amused.
"This isn't just any Devil Fruit," he pressed, his voice firm. "It was hidden deep within an ancient temple in Birka. When we took it, the entire tribe mobilized to stop us. They would rather die than let it go. A fruit like that doesn't come without a price."
He was trying to gauge my reaction. Smart. Desperate, but smart.
I smirked. "Even if it is special, which I highly doubt," I said smoothly, pressing the tip of my blade, Shusui, against Byrnndi's neck, watching as a thin line of blood welled up, "what's stopping me from simply taking it off your corpse once I kill you all?"
Byojack didn't flinch. Instead, his lips curled into something resembling a smirk of his own.
"Maybe you could," he admitted. "I have no illusions about beating you." His grip on the fruit tightened as his eyes glowed with a gambler's reckless abandon. "But are you willing to take that risk?"
Slowly, deliberately, he lifted the fruit toward his mouth.
My breath hitched.
"All it takes is a single bite," he whispered. "And if I die, who knows where this fruit will respawn next? Do you really want to roll the dice on that?"
I exhaled slowly.
Marvelous.
It was true what they said—when a man abandons his fear of death, he gains the power to walk roads no others dare to tread. Byojack was standing on the precipice, staring into the abyss, and instead of cowering… he was gambling with his life on the line.
And for the first time in a long time… I felt intrigued.
A minute or two passed in tense silence, but I could see it now—Byojack was sure. He knew I recognized the fruit. The doubt that had lingered in his stance was gone, replaced by a steely resolve. He had nothing left to lose, and that made him all the more dangerous.
My gaze shifted downward to the man at my feet—Byrnndi World. Shusui was still pressed against his neck, but it was clear he had long since passed out. His body was wrecked, riddled with wounds, and his skin had taken on a sickly pale hue from the sheer amount of blood he had lost. If this dragged on any longer, he wouldn't have the luxury of being saved.
Byojack's voice cut through the tension, steadier now, carrying the weight of a desperate man making his final gambit.
"Tell me, Rosinante. What's it going to be?" His eyes burned with conviction. "Will you let my brother walk in exchange for this Devil Fruit?"
A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. He truly had nerves of steel.
"You really enjoy playing such a dangerous game, don't you, Byojack?" I mused, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make him sweat. Then, finally, I gave my answer.
"Fine. Hand over the fruit, and you and your brother can walk out of here alive."
Byojack narrowed his eyes. He wasn't foolish enough to take my words at face value.
"What assurance do I have that you'll let us go once you have the fruit?" he pressed, suspicion laced in his tone.
I chuckled. "None."
His breath hitched.
"It's simply my word," I continued, my grip tightening on Shusui ever so slightly, making my intentions clear. "And that is all you get. But if you think that's not something you can work with…" I let my words hang ominously as I applied just a little more pressure to Byrnndi's throat, drawing another thin trickle of blood.
"Then I'm afraid we no longer have a deal."
Byojack tensed. He was gambling everything, and he knew it.
"Fine… fine." He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to remain calm. "I trust your word." His lips curled into a bitter smile. "A man of your stature wouldn't go back on it… right?"
I said nothing.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he took a deep breath and made his choice. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the Lightning Logia toward me.
I caught it effortlessly with my free hand, my fingers curling around its textured surface. Even through the thin leather of my gloves, I could feel the faint hum of energy pulsing beneath its skin—a slumbering storm waiting to be unleashed.
"It seems luck is favoring you today, Byojack," I remarked, twirling the fruit idly in my palm. "I'll keep my word."
Relief flashed across his face, but I wasn't done.
"But take my advice—run." My voice dropped into something colder, more final. "Run far from the Sky Islands. Because next time, you won't be as lucky."
With that, I lifted Shusui from Byrnndi's neck, wiping the blade clean before sliding it back into its sheath.
Without sparing them another glance, I turned and walked toward the golden bell, where the Shandian tribe awaited me. The deal was done.
As for Byrnndi's retaliation in the future?
I wasn't concerned.
If he managed to crawl back from the depths of defeat and challenge me again one day… perhaps then, I might actually come to respect him.
*****
Onigashima, New World
"Aaaaargh!"
A deep, guttural roar tore through the chamber as Kaido stirred, his massive form shifting against the cold stone beneath him. His consciousness clawed its way back from the abyss, and as his senses returned, so did the weight of his existence.
He didn't know how long he had been out. Days? Weeks? It didn't matter. The stone beneath him groaned in protest as he sat up, his movements sluggish but growing stronger with each passing second. His fingers instinctively traced across his chest, where fresh scars marred his already battle-worn body—testaments to the brutal clash that had nearly claimed his life.
His hand reached for the massive barrel beside him. Fresh water. He would have preferred something stronger, something that burned as it went down, but his throat was parched beyond reason. Without hesitation, he lifted the barrel and drank deeply, draining it in mere moments before tossing it aside with a hollow thud.
And then, realization struck him like a thunderbolt.
"So… I made it."
Kaido clenched his fists, feeling the raw, overwhelming vitality coursing through his veins—power unlike anything he had ever known. It surged through him, unrelenting, intoxicating, absolute. This was no ordinary recovery. This was a transformation.
His devil fruit had awakened.
A dark chuckle rumbled in his chest. He had no doubt about it—he had died. Whitebeard had struck him down. He had crossed the threshold of death, his very soul slipping into a limbo that no man should return from.
But in that moment, when the abyss had opened its maw to devour him, he had refused to yield. And his fruit… his Beast… had answered his call. It had anchored him back to the world of the living, dragging him out of death's grasp.
But how?
How long had he been unconscious? What had transpired since his defeat? Questions burned in his mind, demanding answers.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by the sound of the chamber doors slamming open.
"Kaido-sama! You're awake!"
King, his most loyal subordinate, rushed into the room. Relief was evident in his usually composed demeanor—after more than a week of carrying the burden of leadership alone, the weight had finally lifted. But as soon as King stepped closer, his body froze.
A sudden, crushing pressure filled the chamber.
Kaido's Haki had changed.
It was deeper, heavier—an oppressive force unlike anything King had ever felt before. His knees buckled under the weight of it, and before he could resist, he collapsed, slamming onto the stone floor. His breathing turned ragged as he struggled to move beneath the sheer force pressing down on him.
Kaido's gaze sharpened. "Tell me, Alber… tell me everything that happened after I fell. Do not hold anything back."
There was no hesitation in his voice, no trace of the arrogance or drunken bravado he often displayed. This was a command, absolute and unwavering.
King hesitated for the briefest of moments, not because he intended to lie, but because the truth itself was difficult to speak. What happened that day… could not be called a battle. It had been a slaughter.
The Whitebeard Pirates had torn through their ranks with ease. Kaido—the strongest creature in the world—had been utterly powerless before the might of Edward Newgate. There was no hope of victory. No strategy that could have turned the tide. If not for the interference of a third party, Kaido would not be sitting here now.
King took a deep breath, forcing himself to recount the events.
He spoke of the moment Kaido fell, of the arrival of a mysterious man, of the sudden shift in the battle when this unknown force had entered the fray. He spoke of how Whitebeard—the man known as the strongest—had turned his full wrath toward the newcomer, how Shiki the Golden Lion had appeared not long after, and how even their combined might had not been enough to claim an advantage over this enigmatic warrior.
Even now, as King relived those moments in his mind, he struggled to comprehend what he had witnessed. The sheer devastation, the unimaginable power—who was that man? And why had he saved Kaido?
Kaido listened in silence, his expression unreadable. But when King mentioned Shiki, his eyes narrowed.
"Shiki was there…?" he murmured, a deep furrow forming on his brow.
That was unexpected. Though Shiki and Whitebeard's relationship had always been more amicable than most, there was no logical reason for them to fight side by side. And yet, even with their combined strength, they had failed to overpower their opponent.
A creeping unease coiled around Kaido's thoughts. A name, a shadow from his past, slithered its way to the forefront of his mind.
"Could it really be him…?" he whispered, his fingers unconsciously tightening into a fist.
No. It wasn't possible.
He should have died in God Valley.
He had to be dead. He had to be.
And yet, if it truly was him, then why?
Why save him?
Kaido had no illusions about his past—he knew what it meant to betray his former captain. If it really was that man, then Kaido should be dead. No second chances. No mercy. That was the way of the one he once called master.
His jaw tightened as his mind raced through the possibilities. There was no kindness in a man like that. No charity. If he had chosen to spare Kaido, then it could only mean one thing—he had a reason.
And that unsettled Kaido more than anything else.
King's voice broke through his storming thoughts.
"Before he left, the man gave me a message for you, Kaido-sama."
Kaido's gaze snapped toward King, his breath hitching slightly.
"He said, 'A debt of life cannot be repaid. And now you owe me two.'"
A heavy silence fell between them.
King continued, his voice steady but wary. "He told me to remind you… to remember where you came from. To remember who truly saved you from the clutches of the Vodka Kingdom."**
Kaido's breath slowed.
The room felt colder. The weight of those words settled over him like a noose tightening around his throat.
"He said you would understand."
Kaido's fingers twitched.
A memory—buried, long forgotten—rose from the depths of his mind. A past he had abandoned. A chain he thought he had broken.
And yet, it had never truly left him.
For the first time in decades, a sliver of doubt crept into the mind of the Strongest Creature in the World.
Because if it really was him…
Then everything Kaido had built, everything he had fought for, everything he had become…
Might never have been his to begin with.
But as his thoughts wandered, Kaido's Observation Haki suddenly flared to life, picking up countless traces of conflict within Wano. His eyes narrowed in irritation.
"Tch."
Even now, after all that had transpired, these insects dared to rebel? His frown deepened.
But something else stirred within him.
With his devil fruit awakened, Kaido had finally crossed the threshold that had eluded him for years. The shackles that once bound his strength had shattered—he had ascended. If he were to face Whitebeard again, he would not be as powerless as before. He had returned from the abyss stronger, and not even his former captain could look down on him now.
After all, he had awakened a Mythical Zoan that the world believed could never be tamed.
The distant sounds of battle clawed at his focus, snapping him from his musings.
His gaze shifted toward King. "What's going on out there?" Kaido rumbled, his voice like distant thunder.
King bowed slightly before answering. "The samurai of Wano… they somehow got wind of your return. They believe you to be weakened after your battle with Whitebeard. They've launched a rebellion, hoping to overthrow us. Queen and Ryuji are already handling it as we speak."
Before King could finish, Kaido's expression darkened, and the very walls of the chamber cracked as his sheer aura surged. The air thickened with raw, unbridled power—a force beyond anything King had ever felt from his captain before.
Kaido rose to his feet, towering like an unstoppable force of nature. His muscles tensed, his fists clenched, and the ground beneath him groaned in protest.
"I've been too lenient with these bastards." His voice was deep, guttural, filled with quiet fury. "How dare they cause trouble… in MY domain?"
Without another word, he strode toward the balcony, each step heavy with purpose. And then—
He leapt.
Midair, his entire body twisted and contorted, his veins burning with newfound strength as his Awakened Zoan surged to life. A blinding, electric-blue energy crackled around him, igniting the sky in a violent display of power.
And then—
The heavens trembled as Kaido transformed.
His already monstrous dragon form expanded, his coiled body stretching across the sky, scales gleaming like polished sapphire. His once-massive frame had grown even larger, his sinuous form now resembling a serpent god, a being that had transcended the limits of mortality.
But it wasn't just his size.
It was his presence.
The moment he emerged, the very skies darkened. Black storm clouds gathered unnaturally, swirling as if bowing to his wrath. The sea beneath roiled violently, as though terrified of the beast that now ruled the heavens.
And then, the roar came.
"ROOOOOAAAAAAARRR!!"
A sound that shattered the heavens, shaking the very foundation of Onigashima.
It was not just a cry of fury—it was a declaration.
A dragon reborn. A tyrant ascended.
The shockwave tore through the battlefield below, sending samurai stumbling, their weapons trembling in their hands. Those who had hoped for victory now felt true fear crawl up their spines as Kaido the Azure Dragon loomed above, his monstrous form outlined by the raging storm.
Lightning danced along his scales. The sheer life force radiating from his body was overwhelming—this was no ordinary Zoan awakening. Kaido had evolved, his very essence now intertwined with his dragon form in ways no one had ever seen before.
From above, his glowing red eyes surveyed the land with pure contempt.
"So… even after Oden's death, you samurai still have the will to resist?"
He descended.
Like a god of destruction, Kaido plummeted toward the battlefield, his maw opening wide.
Flames ignited in his throat. Today, Wano would drown in the blood of its warriors.