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Port of Mary Geoise, the Holy Land
A Marine warship bearing the iconic seagull insignia rested quietly in the harbor.
Unlike standard Marine vessels, this one was slightly larger and armed with significantly more cannons along its flanks.
Its hull was marked with dark red stripes, and at the bow loomed the sculpture of a beast shaped like a gaping abyss, radiating an aura of menace and destruction.
This was Akainu's personally customised flagship.
By convention, Marine Headquarters covered the cost for Vice Admirals to commission their own ships—just like Garp's famous dog-headed vessel.
After all, at that rank, officers were considered senior personnel and would not sail standard-issue craft.
On the wide deck, Atlas stood silently, watching the Holy Land of Mary Geoise fade into the distance.
He wore his signature white suit and Justice cloak, both fluttering lightly in the sea breeze. Having ordered several identical suits, he rarely bothered changing attire.
There were only two ways to enter the New World. The first was via the Sabaody Archipelago—coating the ship and travelling through Fish-Man Island.
But with the threat of unpredictable giant Sea Kings, that route could quickly turn suicidal.
As Marines, however, they took the safer path—crossing the Red Line through the Holy Land. The only real danger there was encountering the loathsome Celestial Dragons.
Fortunately, whether through luck or the intimidation of Akainu's stern presence, Atlas had not met any.
"How about it? Ready to set foot on the battlefield known as the New World?" Akainu's voice rumbled beside him.
Atlas glanced at the Vice Admiral but offered no reply. Readiness wasn't declared in words—it would be proven to the New World with his fists.
"Since Roger's execution and Golden Lion's escape from Impel Down, the New World has been dominated by three powers—Whitebeard's crew, Big Mom's crew, and the Beasts Pirates.
Of the three, Whitebeard's is the strongest, followed by Big Mom. Kaido, who only recently seized Wano, currently holds the weakest position."
"There's also an alliance of four pirate crews challenging them—the Yelmak Pirates, the Krauss Pirates, the Blood Scythe Pirates, and the Francis Pirates."
"But that alliance won't last. Marine intelligence reports that Kaido has been trying to recruit Francis. He hasn't accepted publicly, but mistrust has already taken root within the alliance."
"Recruit?" Atlas raised a brow. "Why only Francis? Is he stronger than the others?"
"Heh… Kaido has a taste for Zoan-type Devil Fruit users. Francis ate the Zoan-class: Bear-Bear Fruit, Ancient Model—Savage Bear Form. The 'Drought' seat in the Beasts Pirates is still vacant."
Akainu's gaze hardened. "Our mission is to keep pressure on the top three pirate crews, forcing that alliance to believe Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido are all under threat.
If they clash before the alliance collapses, the Marines will reap the greatest benefit."
"But those pirates aren't fools," Atlas said flatly. "They won't fight to the death just to let us swoop in."
"Don't worry," Akainu smirked faintly. "The World Government will take care of that."
Atlas didn't press further. He assumed it would involve the CP divisions—masters of assassination, infiltration, and manipulation.
Somewhere in the New World…
The sky churned with dark clouds, thunder crashing like war drums. A massive azure dragon soared through the storm, its long body twisting between flashes of lightning.
Unlike ordinary dragons, it bore four horns—two curved and two jutting outward.
Flames coiled along its scales, and its talons summoned clouds beneath it as it climbed higher into the heavens.
Bolts of lightning struck its body, leaving only faint white marks. On its fierce, bestial face appeared an almost human expression—pleasure.
Wherever the dragon flew, the storm gave way to radiant blue skies so clear it seemed the tempest had been a mere illusion. Such was the strange weather of the Grand Line.
Its eyes lit up suddenly—a floating island drifted not far ahead. With a surge of clouds, the dragon ascended toward it.
Floating islands weren't unheard of. The legendary Shandora had been blasted into the White Sea by a Knock-Up Stream.
Upon landing, the massive dragon shrank rapidly, transforming into a towering man.
His wild black hair framed two long, curved horns. A beard like dragon whiskers trailed from his chin. Bare-chested, his left arm was covered in tattoo-like dragon scales, and a large 'X'-shaped scar marked his right abdomen.
He wore a purple vest with golden chains, baggy green pants, and a shaggy purple fur cape. In his hand rested a massive spiked kanabo club.
This was the Governor of the Beasts Pirates—Kaido.
"Hahahaha! What a perfect place… to kill myself!"
Dropping to the edge of the island, Kaido uncorked a massive gourd marked with the kanji for "Heaven" and drank deeply.
Before long, his beastly face was flushed red from alcohol.
Hic—Kaido belched loudly, staggered to his feet, and peered down over the edge of the sky island.
Hic—"Perfect height… Hahahaha…"
Elsewhere in the New World…
A massive Marine warship cruised across calm waters. On deck, Atlas was consulting Akainu about externalising Armament Haki.
He had already mastered hardening and coating; now it was time to take the next step.
They were bound for G-5—the Marine base in the New World and a vital stronghold for operations in this lawless sea.
Suddenly, both Atlas and Akainu looked skyward. The air was clear, but their Observation Haki screamed danger.
A small black speck appeared above, growing larger and rapidly taking on a human shape—falling fast, directly toward the ship.
"All hands—prepare for battle! Helm, change course! Damn it!" Akainu barked, his voice like cannon fire. He already recognised the figure.
It was Kaido of the Beasts.
They had all heard of his twisted hobby—attempting suicide. They just never thought they'd be unlucky enough to witness it firsthand.
Atlas narrowed his eyes. So soon… he was already meeting the man who would one day be known as the "Strongest Creature Alive."
He had long suspected that Kaido's obsession with suicide wasn't just madness—it was part of how he honed his Mythical Zoan powers.
After all, Zoan fruits thrived on physical endurance. The more damage and recovery they went through, the stronger they became.
"Great Eruption!"
Akainu moved first. His body exploded in volcanic fury, launching a barrage of magma fists that rocketed toward Kaido like volcanic shells.
"One-Sword Style—Tower Ascension: Starshatter!"
Atlas followed up without hesitation. His Sandai Kitetsu, wrapped in Armament Haki, unleashed a crimson slash that spread like a net toward Kaido.
BOOM!
CRASH!
HISS!
Molten fists and crimson slashes struck Kaido mid-air, erupting in fiery detonations. The surrounding sea instantly boiled, sending thick clouds of steam into the sky.
The massive form veered off course, crashing beside the ship instead of on top of it.
Atlas's Observation Haki registered only light burns and shallow cuts across Kaido's body—as if their combined assault had merely scratched an itch.
The pain snapped Kaido out of his drunken haze. Twisting mid-air, he transformed back into his immense dragon form, supported by drifting clouds beneath his claws.
His grotesque head swayed lazily as he tried to shake off the alcohol. Upon spotting Akainu clearly, his eyes widened—then curved into a savage grin.
"Marines? Akainu? Keh keh keh hahahahaha!"
"Heat Breath!"
Before Akainu could issue a warning, Kaido struck first. A torrent of hellish fire surged straight for the ship!
"Tch!" Akainu's brows furrowed. It wasn't that he couldn't fight Kaido—he was even willing to die here to stop him. But his powers were best suited for land combat.
Aerial and naval battles were not his forte. Kizaru ruled the skies, Aokiji commanded the seas. Akainu was a weapon for solid ground.
"Vice Admiral Akainu! Let me handle this one!"
Atlas stepped forward without hesitation. Planting his feet, he drew his blade and channelled all his strength through his core and arm.
"One-Sword Style: War God Arm—Dragon Slayer!"
A massive crescent slash collided with Kaido's searing heat breath, splitting the blazing torrent down the middle.
The fiery wave that had been charging toward the warship was forcefully divided, sweeping past on either side and missing the vessel entirely.
The scorching winds blasted over the crew, crashing into the sea with a hiss, and the surrounding waters erupted into an even denser fog.
"Atlas, take everyone on the warship and get to a safe distance! I'll handle him!" Akainu barked, instantly assessing the situation.
The soldiers would only be a liability if they stayed. Though he wasn't afraid of sacrifice, he refused to allow needless deaths.
Without hesitation, Akainu launched into the air with Geppo (Moonwalk), his cold, sharp gaze locking onto Kaido's massive dragon head.
"Yes, sir!" Atlas replied, his priority now to follow orders. He could rejoin the fight after ensuring the crew's safety.
"Crimson Lotus: Exploding Dog!"
"Foul Wind!"
Kaido roared, unleashing a storm of slicing wind blades like the claws of a Kamaitachi.
They shredded through Akainu's molten magma hound, sending blobs of lava raining from the sky.
"Razor Step!"
Akainu fused Geppo and Soru into a blistering aerial dash.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Kaido, his arms coated in hardened Armament Haki.
The dark Haki surged across his fists, his entire body radiating the power of a volcano on the verge of eruption. His target—Kaido's right eye.
Kaido's eyelid snapped shut, his face layered in Armament Haki.
BANG!
Akainu's hardened fist smashed through the defence and drove straight into Kaido's eye.
Even with the monstrous durability of a Mythical Zoan, the eye was still a weak point. Pain exploded through Kaido's skull, his vision going black on one side as his body reeled, nearly toppling into the sea.
"Damn Marine…!" Kaido roared, shifting into his hybrid dragon-man form.
While his full Azure Dragon form had unmatched power and flight, its massive size made him an easy target for fighters of equal calibre.
"Raimei Hakke!"
Kaido swung his spiked kanabo, lightning crackling violently along its surface. The weapon's speed left no afterimages.
"Dark Hound!"
Akainu's magma-clad arms shot forward, meeting the club in a direct clash.
BOOM!
The impact unleashed a shockwave that rippled across the sky.
"Akainu! Come on! Kill me already! Worororo!" Kaido bellowed in manic laughter, his teeth bared in a crazed grin.
"Hmph! Vile pirate!" Akainu snarled, driving forward with another attack.
They were monsters among monsters—but Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit: Azure Dragon form was practically a cheat code in the pirate world.
The fact that he didn't drown after falling into the sea was absurd. Combine that with his nearly indestructible body, and Akainu was fighting at a clear disadvantage.
Meanwhile, far from the clash, Atlas had already manoeuvred the warship out of danger. Quietly activating Geppo, he soared high into the air, circling behind Kaido in silence…
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