On the Island.
Not long after the mushroom cloud of smoke and dust billowed skyward, shrouding everything in thick fog…
A familiar, thunderous laugh echoed from within.
"Uh-huh-huh!!!"
Kaido's voice rang out clearly.
"Kid, that attack really stung!"
With a single swing of his massive spiked club, Kaido unleashed a gust of wind strong enough to clear the dust and debris from the air.
In an instant, the battlefield came back into view.
"Too bad it didn't kill you," Kairos Flint said coldly, eyeing the wound carved into Kaido's chest.
"Kid, I really underestimated you," Kaido growled, now looking at Kairos with genuine seriousness.
Initially, he thought he'd dominated the Haki clash and judged Kairos to be nothing special.
But reality hit different.
The man standing in front of him was anything but weak.
In fact, Kairos Flint's strength was terrifying.
Even among the Four Emperors, he was clearly top-tier.
Kaido thought back for a moment.
When he, Big Mom, Whitebeard, and even Rocks were Kairos's age…
None of them had power beyond a Marine Admiral.
This kid? He had already surpassed that.
"Hey, Kairos," Kaido suddenly offered, his tone shifting.
"Why waste your time as a bounty hunter? Join my Beasts Pirates!"
"I'll make you my deputy captain, and together we'll conquer the world."
"You like women, don't you? I've got a daughter—Yamato. Join my crew and I'll marry her to you."
"I'm being sincere here, kid."
Kaido's eyes gleamed.
Why fight this monster of a man when he could simply recruit him?
If Kairos joined the Beasts Pirates, their strength would skyrocket overnight.
World domination would no longer be a dream—it would be inevitable.
And of course… Kaido hadn't forgotten Kairos's female crew.
Several of them were strong—emperor-level, in fact.
The last livestream confirmed it.
Sure, they'd only just stepped into the emperor realm—but still, it was no small feat.
If Kairos joined, so would his women.
Which meant the Beasts Pirates would instantly gain several more emperor-class fighters.
They'd become the strongest pirate crew in the New World in one fell swoop.
And if Yamato married Kairos?
It wouldn't even be a hostile takeover—it'd be a family affair.
No betrayal, no internal mutiny. Just a smooth transition of power.
But…
"Kaido… don't flatter yourself."
"You really think I'd lower myself to join your crew?"
"Just a bunch of beast pirates… you think I'd be your subordinate?"
Kairos scoffed, cold contempt in his eyes.
"Do I look like someone who serves others?"
Kaido's thinking was clever—too clever, even.
He'd sensed Kairos's power and immediately moved to pull him in.
But Kairos wasn't the kind of man who chased shortcuts or bowed to others.
If he really wanted to live like a pirate, he could've flown a black flag himself long ago.
So why didn't he?
One—because he didn't want to spend his days being hunted like a dog.
Sure, those dogs were ants compared to him.
He could squash them with a flick of his finger.
But still—why deal with the hassle?
Two—he didn't care about this world's politics or the quality of life of its civilians.
Save the world? Fight the World Government?
"Nah," he thought. "Not interested."
If the World Government wanted to do something? Let them.
If civilians wanted to be oppressed? Not his problem.
All he cared about was living his own life.
Kairos Flint was selfish by nature.
Words like sacrifice, justice, or heroism?
He'd tossed them out the window long ago.
Why should he play savior in a corrupt, broken world that wasn't even his own?
He didn't come from here.
All he needed to worry about were the women on his ship—the ones who mattered to him.
Whether this world crumbled or thrived… it had nothing to do with him.
As long as no one messed with him, he didn't care what happened to anyone else.
But if someone did step on his toes?
Then they had better be ready to face the consequences.
That's why he stuck with bounty hunting.
It was clean, simple, and offered freedom.
After revealing his strength, no one dared come after him.
"So yeah," he thought, "why mess with that?"
Kaido's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Kid, I guess that means we've got nothing left to say?"
He couldn't believe it.
He'd offered Kairos a high rank, the hand of his daughter, and a share in world domination.
And the kid still turned him down.
It was a blow to his pride.
"That's right," Kairos replied coolly.
"I'm turning you down."
"And what are you gonna do about it?"
"Kill me if you can."
He smirked, unshaken, fully prepared to fight again.