Oven Island—no, there was no island anymore.
As the tsunami subsided, seawater flooded over the half-destroyed bedrock, turning what was once an island spanning over ten miles into a mere few-hundred-meter mound jutting out of the sea.
Katakuri had the pirates on the ship row back at full speed, finally returning to the area before nightfall.
Under the terrifying shockwaves and tsunami earlier, their ship had been pushed back over a hundred miles, nearly all the way back to Whole Cake Island.
"Th... there, Caesar-sama... the boss is over there" Queen whispered, pointing at the distant mound.
Atop of it sat a towering figure.
Under the crimson glow of the setting sun, a man can be seen standing still and emitting terrifying aura.
Katakuri and the other two silently watched, speechless for a long time.
They didn't disturb the seemingly lonely figure, simply standing with him in quiet reverence over the vast sea.
After a while, the man on the mound finally stood up and vanished in an instant.
The next moment, Caesar's towering majestic form appeared before the three of them.
"Father!"
"Uncle."
"Boss!"
Three voices rang out as Katakuri, Yamato, and Queen all knelt respectfully on one knee.
Even Yamato, who had been kicking and fighting with Caesar just this morning, was no exception—she bowed in submission, tense and reverent.
Caesar nodded slightly and casually sat cross-legged, a trace of loneliness flickering across his face.
"Katakuri, tell me... am I a failure as a father?" Caesar suddenly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.
Katakuri raised his head, meeting Caesar's gaze and shook his head solemnly.
"No, Father, don't say that. If not for you, Mother, Uncle Kaido and everyone else would have already perished. You saved me and Oven in time, and if you hadn't returned when you did, this entire Totto Land would have been carved up by invaders. To me, you are a father worthy of our utmost respect!"
"Yeah, yeah! Same here," Queen hurriedly nodded in agreement.
Yamato kept her head lowered, her expression unreadable.
Caesar lifted his gaze, surveying the vast expanse of sea and sky around him and let out a long sigh.
"When I first awoke from my slumber, I carried a deep resentment in my heart. Back then, I felt an overwhelming urge to destroy everything—hah. But later, I found Linlin, I found my brother and I rediscovered that old feeling. No... something even better than before. Different from slaughter and battle, because... I had a son. No, four sons."
Caesar spoke as if to himself and Katakuri listened quitely.
Queen and Yamato also picked up their ears in silence.
"My childhood... well, it's been too long. No point talking about it now."
"From the age of ten, when I first set sail, I was killing—endlessly killing. Because I felt that only in battle could I feel alive, only when the enemy's scalding blood splashed over me could I feel my heart beating in my chest. That's why, later, people called me the Demon. Because anyone who opposed me... would sooner or later meet the devil!"
"I later met Linlin, but I still didn't change and my indifference towards Kaido remained as it always had been. In my world, there was only myself."
"One day 30 years ago, I grew tired of helping Kaido build his forces. I craved blood, I craved slaughter—destruction was in my bones. We had a disagreement and decided to settle it with a fight."
"Kaido was already strong back then, but his physical prowess was still slightly inferior to mine. In the end, I defeated him. My eyes were red with fury—I even wanted to kill him outright!"
As Caesar spoke, a chilling killing intent emanated from him, causing Yamato and Queen to break out in cold sweat, not daring to even breathe.
"But for some reason, when I stood over Kaido's chest, raising my blade high to pierce his skull, I saw myself reflected in his eyes."
"I was that deranged, that bloodthirsty. There was no emotion in my gaze—only an endless desire for destruction. I was even more wicked than Rocks who sought to conquer the world. And at last, I understood why I could never become Rocks."
"Because in my world, there was only me—no world at all."
"I stood there, blade poised over Kaido's head, for half a day."
"In the end, I gave up. I chose to sleep, to see if the future would change me."
"A world with only myself is truly boring."
Caesar suddenly smiled, and the atmosphere lightened instantly.
Yamato and Queen exhaled in relief, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from their bodies.
"Katakuri, you know… when Linlin told me I had four sons, my heart suddenly stirred. I felt different—though I still sometimes crave battle and slaughter, I'm no longer alone. I have a brother, a wife, sons and subordinates."
"Even though I still feel distant from the four of you… especially the other three. Perhaps because you inherited my blood, my bond with you runs deeper."
"But no matter what, Oven, Perospero and Daifuku are still my sons!"
A pressure radiated from Caesar as he gripped Katakuri's shoulders, staring into his son's eyes.
"Anyone—even a god!—who harms my family, I will drag them down from their throne and reduce them to dust!"
Caesar slowly rose to his feet, his overwhelming presence like an ancient mountain tearing through the earth.
"We return to Whole Cake Island to settle some matters. Then, we march—and wipe out Buggy the Clown's forces and leave no one alive!"
A killing intent erupted from Caesar's body.
The sea itself seemed ready to overturn, black waves surging into the sky.
"I will make this world understand the fate of those who dare harm my family!"
***
One hour later, Whole Cake Island.
In a small house, Aokiji and Zephyr—disguised as civilians with ridiculous fake noses, thick mustaches and large turbans—subtly peered through the window towards a distant tower.
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi in Zephyr's arms suddenly rang.
Both men were startled and Zephyr quickly pulled out the small Den Den Mushi to answer it.
"Hello, this is Totto Land Restaurant. Would you like donuts or toast?"
A crisp girl's voice came from the other end of the line, speaking in a rather peculiar manner.
Yet neither Zephyr nor Aokiji found it the slightest bit odd.
Zephyr replied solemnly "I need a serving of exquisite roasted snails."
On the other end, Ain voice quickly followed.
"I've confirmed it—inside the Cake Tower, only Katakuri is currently stationed. Caesar, Big Mom and Kaido have all gone to Oven Island to confront the Blackbeard Pirates and Buggy the Clown's subordinates."
Zephyr and Aokiji exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
Aokiji said gravely "Teacher Zephyr, this is our best chance. While Caesar and the others are away, we can strike at his stronghold and either kill or capture the future strongest pillar of the Beast God Pirates. Caesar will spend the rest of his life in regret!"
Zephyr's eyes also gleamed with determination.
"No, it's better to capture him and hand him over to the Marines. That way, we can trigger another war, just like with Whitebeard. Katakuri is the crown prince of the Beast God Pirates—even Kizaru was defeated by him. His importance speaks for itself! That will be the perfect moment to completely annihilate the Beast God Pirates!"
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