"Cloud, hurry… save me!!"
In Kaido's massive hand, Saint Charlos flailed wildly, screaming up at the CP0 Director in the sky with a hoarse, frantic voice.
"If you don't save me, I-I'll have someone replace you as Director! I'll make you a slave instead!"
"Cloud! It was the World Government that raised you, that gave you your Devil Fruit! My life is worth ten, a hundred times more than yours!"
The glass bubble that once crowned his head had long since shattered, leaving his twisted face fully exposed ugly enough before, now contorted into something barely recognizable as human.
Snot and tears streamed down as he thrashed, spraying filth around with every jerk of his head. The Celestial Dragon's shrill cries for Cloud's help were unrelenting.
Then, dropping even the last shred of dignity, he turned to beg Kaido instead:
"Let me go, and I'll make you king of a nation! I am a descendant of the Creator, a Celestial Dragon!"
"You want women? Gold? Devil Fruits?!"
"My family has plenty! Pick whatever you like! I'll even tell you the slaves are the best playthings! They'll do whatever you order them to do!"
…
Charlos' desperate babbling went on and on, clinging to life like a drowning rat.
But in Kaido's ears, it was nothing but unbearable noise. He longed to smack the man silent, but his hands were too big one careless slap and the weakling's frail body would splatter.
Finally, Kaido couldn't take it anymore. He roared, his voice like thunder shaking the deck:
"Shut that disgusting mouth of yours!
Or I'll feed you a knuckle sandwich!!"
The deafening bellow froze Charlos on the spot. The once-arrogant "descendant of the Creator" curled into a ball, shivering like a frightened chick.
Cloud, watching tensely from above, called out:
"Pirate, release Saint Charlos!"
Kaido sneered, holding his trump card tight.
"You want me to let this worm go? Fine. Then you jump into the sea yourself."
He already knew Cloud was a Devil Fruit user. If Cloud fell into the water, then he and Ares could escape freely at any time.
Cloud's face twitched, hesitation written all over it. He opened his mouth to refuse.
But Charlos cut him off.
"Jump! Do it now!!"
"You jump, and I'll live!"
His shrill order rang again, now laced with frantic command:
"I order you, as a Celestial Dragon, a World Noble jump into the sea!!"
Charlos' desperation only grew, terrified of staying one more second in Kaido's grip.
The CP0 Director was trapped. His strength rivaled that of an Admiral, yet he found himself bound because the enemy held a Celestial Dragon, his greatest weakness.
Kaido, seeing the hesitation, leaned in with mocking venom:
"What's wrong, Cloud? As CP0's Director, are you planning to defy the order of a Celestial Dragon?"
"You know the punishment for that, don't you?"
Cleverly, Kaido used the weight of Charlos' title against him.
Sweat poured down Cloud's temples. Reason screamed that leaping into the ocean meant disaster for them both.
But if he refused, if Charlos died in enemy hands, the World Government would grind him into dust.
At last, Cloud raised his head, his eyes cold as steel.
He dismissed the cloud beneath his feet and dropped straight toward the sea.
Everything he was, his strength, his Devil Fruit, his position… all of it had been given by the World Government. Perhaps it was only right to return it now.
As he fell, his eyes caught Charlos' face suddenly split into a tear-streaked smile of relief.
Cloud shut his eyes.
Watching, Ares felt a heavy ache in his chest. One command, one order, and a man like Cloud had chosen to throw away his life.
Were the so-called Celestial Dragons truly worth such loyalty?
In them, Ares saw not a single virtue.
Seconds passed. The waves drew closer. Cloud could already hear the crash of the surf, mere meters away.
Suddenly
A figure darted across the sea's surface, faster than any ship.
In a blink, a massive hand reached out and caught Cloud before he hit the water.
Saint Kristen, the bald warrior, widened his eyes in shock, then turned his gaze up at Ares.
"Why did you save him?"
Ares' answer was firm, his voice proud:
"I want to defeat him with my own strength. A foe this strong doesn't come often. He's stirred my fighting spirit this battle cannot end sloppily."
Kristen set Cloud down carefully. Cloud opened his eyes, staring in disbelief at Ares.
He had never imagined his enemy would choose to save him.
Wasn't it only natural to wish for an enemy's death?
Yet Ares' actions sparked something new inside him a respect he had never felt before.
Kristen's gaze lingered deeply on Ares.
"Even if you saved him, you are still a pirate."
"No need to say more," Ares cut him off with a grin. "Come at me with everything you've got. Only then will I feel the joy of battle!"
Kristen said nothing further. Instead, he turned to Cloud, his eyes seeking permission.
"Saint Kristen," Cloud replied quietly, almost as a request, "don't interfere. This fight is between him and me."
After all, Kristen was no ordinary Celestial Dragon he was one of the candidates to become a Gorosei.
On the deck, Kaido blinked in confusion.
"…Ares… aniki?"
For a moment, he didn't understand what was happening.
Then, realization hit and he laughed.
"He's still the same. The same Ares who lives to fight, who lives to challenge the strong."
"That's the brother I, Kaido, will always acknowledge!"
"No matter what you choose, Ares-ani, I'll follow you to the end!"
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