Kaido gazed out at the sea.
In the mist, a red bow emerged, followed by the unmistakable flag of the Red-Haired Pirates.
Red-Haired Pirates.
The Red Force.
The Red Force steadily approached.
Kaido recognized several familiar figures standing on the bow.
The most familiar of them all: Red-Haired Shanks.
He still had his iconic red hair, donned in a long black cape, a white shirt, brown cropped pants, flip-flops, and his famed sword at his waist, the legendary sword "Gryphon."
Beside Shanks stood another familiar figure.
The first mate, Ben Beckman.
This man, too, exuded an immense aura of authority and strength.
The Red-Haired Pirates had a unique characteristic, one that set them apart from other pirate crews.
Their crew's strength was balanced to an exceptional degree.
Ben Beckman was as formidable as Shanks himself.
He was a presence on par with the Four Emperors.
He couldn't simply be classified as a regular first mate of a Four Emperors crew.
This was because the strength of the crew members was so evenly distributed.
Thus, the Red-Haired Pirates were famously referred to as the "most balanced and unbreakable pirate crew."
And then, on the other side, stood another familiar figure.
Yasopp.
Usopp's father.
His strength must be terrifying as well.
Then there was Lucky Roux, the rotund man always seen in sunglasses, a green hat, a green and white striped shirt, and a yellow coat, with a perpetual piece of meat in hand. He, too, was an important member of the Red-Haired Pirates.
Many such figures made up the Red-Haired Pirates.
They were practically an overpowered pirate crew.
The other Four Emperors' crews had only one Emperor at the helm.
Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom all fit this mold, and their second-in-commands were significantly weaker.
But Shanks' crew?
One pirate crew—two Four Emperors.
Maybe even four, depending on how strong Yasopp and Lucky Roux truly were.
How could anyone compete?
Why were there so many seemingly invincible forces in the pirate world?
It felt like Shanks' crew alone could defeat the other three Emperors' forces, as if they were just too overpowered.
So, when Shanks had shown up at Marineford and demanded that everyone respect him and stop the war, how could they not?
How could anyone refuse to give face to a crew with 2-4 figures of Four Emperors' caliber?
Even Kaido now looked serious as he stared at this imposing crew.
It was different with Whitebeard.
Whitebeard was always cold, embodying the commanding presence of the strongest man in the world.
In truth...
If Kaido hadn't been a world dimensional traveler, he probably would have been cold and unflinching at this moment.
But Kaido was a world dimensional traveler.
He knew the world of One Piece from an omniscient perspective, understanding the massive fool that Shanks truly was, so he wasn't cold. Instead, he was serious.
The Red Force drew nearer.
Close enough to communicate.
Shanks' eyes swept over Whitebeard and Kaido.
Then, he locked eyes with Kaido and said, "Kaido, you intend to take advantage of Whitebeard's march on Marineford to strike him from behind. I'm here to stop you. From now on, I will be your opponent."
Kaido raised an eyebrow.
Well, that escalated quickly.
Before Kaido had even arrived to meet Whitebeard's forces, Shanks had rushed over to stop him.
If this were the old Kaido, he might have seriously considered using this opportunity to ambush Whitebeard.
But now?
Shanks was about to be sorely disappointed.
Kaido responded, "Shanks, if you want to be my opponent, I'll gladly oblige. But your assumptions about my intentions with Whitebeard are mistaken." Shanks' expression darkened.
"A sneak attack?"
Kaido smirked, "I'm here to assist Whitebeard. I'm heading to Marineford with him to cause some chaos!"
At this, Shanks was visibly taken aback.
"What?"
He hadn't expected this response.
A moment ago, Shanks had drawn his sword, "Gryphon," ready to coat it with Conqueror's Haki and launch into a massive clash with Kaido.
But now?
What had Kaido just said?
Shanks wondered if he'd heard wrong.
Had Kaido really just said that he was here to help Whitebeard?
Kaido? Helping Whitebeard?
Was Kaido out of his mind?!
This didn't match his character at all!
Shanks was dumbfounded.
Beside him, Ben Beckman, who had been watching the exchange with his usual calm demeanor, was also taken aback.
The entire Red-Haired Pirates were stunned.
The tension of the imminent battle faded in an instant.
Confusion washed over everyone.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
How could Kaido be here to ally with Whitebeard?!
Shanks' gaze instinctively shifted to Whitebeard, seeking confirmation.
He exchanged a glance with Whitebeard, his eyes asking the unspoken question:
Was Kaido telling the truth?
And amidst this strange scene—
"Gurararara..."
Whitebeard laughed, his deep voice resonating like a thunderous storm. "Kaido, you little brat, you show up in my territory saying you want to help me destroy Marine Headquarters and the Celestial Dragons. And now, Red-Haired Shanks, you show up too, saying you want to help me stop Kaido."
He paused, letting the irony sink in. "In one day, both of you brats come into my territory offering to be my allies?"
Whitebeard's grin widened, his voice booming with authority. "I'll give you my answer now."
"I am Whitebeard, and neither of you little brats can help me at all!"
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed, loud and full of pride.
He had rejected all offers of assistance.
As the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard carried an unparalleled sense of pride. Help? Whitebeard didn't need help. He alone could destroy Marine Headquarters and rescue Ace. That was the confidence of the strongest in the world!
Kaido? Shanks?
To Whitebeard, these two younglings weren't qualified to assist him.
Hearing Whitebeard's bold declaration, Shanks turned his gaze back to Kaido.
He hadn't expected Kaido to genuinely come with the intention of helping Whitebeard—it was truly surprising.
But now that Whitebeard had refused Kaido's aid, what would Kaido do next? Would he just turn around and leave, or would he have something else to say?
As for Kaido, upon hearing Whitebeard's refusal, he shook his head slowly.
On the surface, Whitebeard's rejection sounded like pure pride. The strongest man in the world didn't need help. He could take down Marine Headquarters all by himself.
But Kaido, with the omniscient perspective of someone who knew this world too well, understood something deeper.
Whitebeard wasn't merely proud—he was preparing for death at Marineford.
Whitebeard didn't expect to survive.
Of course, he didn't need help.
Why?
Because Whitebeard wasn't foolish.
He was fully aware of the forces assembled at Marine Headquarters.
The Fleet Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha.
A man from the same generation as Whitebeard, whose strength wasn't much different.
Garp the Hero.
Another warrior from Whitebeard's generation, still incredibly powerful. Unlike Whitebeard, Garp was in good health, with no signs of illness. He was officially the only person whose strength hadn't diminished with age. The man was an enigma—utterly irritating in his carefree attitude, yet undeniably formidable.
Just Garp alone was enough of a problem.
Could Whitebeard not see the odds? Could he not know that he'd be up against two powerhouses of his own generation, both ready to kill him?
And that's without mentioning the three admirals.
Whitebeard was no fool. He knew the moment he set foot on Marineford, he'd be marching to his death.
So why go?
Because Whitebeard was sick and aging.
He had already pinned his hopes on the next generation. On Ace.
He was prepared to sacrifice his body to save the future, to ensure that the new generation could rise.
This was the cycle of life. The new generation replacing the old. The future supplanting the past.
That was Whitebeard's mindset.
He was walking toward death.
And because he had accepted his fate, he didn't want anyone else to get dragged down with him.
If Kaido were to help, it would mean involving Kaido in his suicidal march to Marineford.
Whitebeard likely didn't want that.
But, being the proud man he was, there was no way he could say, "I'm going to die, and I don't want to involve anyone else." That wasn't something the strongest man in the world would ever admit.
So instead, Whitebeard refused their aid in his typical, dismissive manner. It was an act of bravery.
It was what made him, Whitebeard, truly remarkable.
In this moment, Kaido, who had long known this world from afar, could now fully appreciate the overwhelming charisma and pride that defined Whitebeard.