Aramaki didn't know much about this Fourth Calamity, Gusion, but had seen his wanted poster and basic info—just a young man, weak in combat, only good at giving Kaido advice in Wano. Killing him should be easy.
If he succeeded, his path to Admiral would be shortened by five years.
If Kizaru did it, he'd be promoted instead.
But Aramaki thought Kizaru was too cautious to compete for the credit.
"Kizaru-san, should we prioritize killing Gusion?" Aramaki asked, testing Kizaru.
Kizaru gave him a strange look, "How much is your monthly salary, Aramaki?"
"Huh?"
Aramaki didn't get the point. "What does salary have to do with it? Headquarters told us to take out Gusion if possible."
Kizaru stared at him for a while, then nodded. "If you insist, the job's yours. I'll handle delaying their landing."
Aramaki was pleased—Kizaru was more considerate than he thought, giving him the chance for all the credit.
"Thanks, Kizaru-san. Let's work together to show these pirates what we can do."
Kizaru smiled, but Strawberry knew his true thoughts: basically, "You get paid so little—why risk your life?"
It was obvious how much Kaido valued Gusion, making him a top officer despite his lack of combat ability. Aramaki was naïve to think he could kill Gusion and escape.
Kizaru himself wasn't worried—he could always run away. But he had no intention of provoking Kaido; he just wanted to coast through the mission.
Being an Admiral didn't pay much more, and came with more work; better to take it easy.
…
Below Sky Island, the Beasts Pirates' celebration was interrupted.
Issho was the first to sense something off. He stopped playing dice and turned toward the dark sea.
"Mr. Issho?" asked a confused crewmate.
Issho didn't answer, but stood up and walked toward the harbor, tense.
Others looked in the same direction. Even with bonfires blazing, they couldn't see the dark sea, but could vaguely sense something coming.
A slightly drunk Kaido was snoring on the ground. King set down his wine and tried to wake him.
"There's a strong presence... probably an Emperor," Issho said, gazing into the darkness. If it were day, they'd have seen the massive ship and its aura already, but only Issho's keen senses picked up the incoming pressure.
Gusion borrowed a night vision scope and checked. "It's the Big Mom Pirates."
He didn't expect the same alliance as in the original story. The situation was different; both Kaido and Big Mom were still young and ambitious, with no reason to team up. They were after the Poneglyph and thus enemies.
"What now, Kaido?" Issho asked the now-awake Kaido.
Kaido, still woozy, muttered, "Linlin? She really came? Sink her ship and feed them to the fish."
Issho immediately unleashed his strike.
The sea twisted and sank—his Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger slashed toward Big Mom's main ship.
"Mama!" her children screamed. As Devil Fruit users, if the ship sank, they'd be doomed.
Unlike Kaido's side, Big Mom could see with the bonfire's light. The moment Issho attacked, she reacted instantly.
She didn't use her Devil Fruit's fancy powers. Trusting her own strength, she gripped her sword, Haki crackling with dark red lightning.
Her massive form twisted, swinging forward as she bellowed, "Ikoku Sovereignty!"
A giant wolf rose before her—her vertical shockwave met Issho's horizontal slash.
With her legendary power, Big Mom's attack cut through Issho's strike, crashing toward the island.
Issho was forced to draw again to dispel her attack.
Meanwhile, Big Mom used Prometheus' power to propel the ship forward, racing toward the island below Sky Island.
"Kaido—!" Big Mom shouted, a ferocious grin on her face, sword in hand, riding Zeus' cloud as she leaped ashore.
Issho grew serious. Sheathing his sword, he unleashed gravity in a circular area, pinning Big Mom down as she landed, destabilizing her.
Her immense body pressed down, and the stone underfoot cracked and collapsed toward the sea.
"Zeus!" she yelled, trying to fly.
Zeus rushed beneath her, barely stopping her from sliding into the sea.
On the verge of falling, Big Mom snarled, "Brat!"
She unleashed her Conqueror's Haki in a storm of dark red lightning, blasting the area. Many of the Beast Pirates' younger members fainted; even Gusion broke out in a cold sweat.
Big Mom steadied herself on Zeus, then advanced to attack Issho.
She had just used top-tier Haki to break free of his power—a rare skill among even the strongest.
As one of the oldest pirates alive, Big Mom of course had mastered it, though not perfectly.
Issho realized he'd underestimated her. Fighting an old Emperor with just a Devil Fruit was hopeless—they all had powerful Haki.
He was strong in both Observation and Armament Haki, but in a close fight with Big Mom, he would lose.
As he weighed his options, a burly figure jumped out—Kaido, swinging his club to meet Big Mom's blade.
Conqueror's Haki clashed, red lightning flashing, shockwaves rocking the island.
Kaido and Big Mom struggled, equally matched, faces grinning—not from joy, but from the madness of battle.
"Linlin, I told you—if you ever show up again, I'll kill you!" Kaido growled, still half drunk, but quick to act when Issho's move failed.
"Oh? The little boy from back then now talks big, huh?" Big Mom sneered.
Her crew landed as well, facing off with the Beasts Pirates. But without orders, neither side made the first move.
Gusion watched from behind Kaido, fascinated by the close-up clash of Emperors and their full-power Haki.
"King, take Gusion and the two kids to Sky Island. I'll handle things here," Kaido ordered without turning.
He had no intention of reconciling with his old friend. This was war.
Gusion was his valued strategist, but not a fighter—too easy to get hurt in the chaos. Same for the young Ulti and her brother.
Not that Kaido wanted to bring kids to war, but he wanted to train them. Usually, big battles were planned in advance, and weaker crew would be sent away.
He hadn't expected Big Mom to show up in the dead of night and attack.
Worse, he now noticed a Navy ship trailing the Big Mom Pirates! If the Marines got involved, Gusion and the children would be in danger.
He tallied their forces. With Issho on their side, the Beasts Pirates had the upper hand even if King left. So he ordered King to head for Sky Island, retrieve the Poneglyph, and find his people.
"Let me go! I can fight!" Ulti struggled as Gusion grabbed her by the collar.
"If you don't want to be captured by the World Government as a slave, behave," Gusion warned.
Ulti fell silent. She knew from the recent Sun Pirates incident how twisted the Celestial Dragons were. A girl like her, with a rare Devil Fruit, would be their favorite target.