Dawn broke. The first light of morning spread once more across the sea.
Before most had even risen from their beds, the tireless news couriers had already traversed the entire world.
Like leaflets scattered from the sky, newspapers fluttered down like snowflakes upon every island.
Those early to rise picked one up instinctively…
And in an instant—they froze in place, as if turned to stone.
Just as the world was beginning to recover from the shock of Marineford and the destruction of Mary Geoise, a new, earth-shattering headline took its place:
The creature once known as the strongest on land, sea, and air… Kaido… is dead.
Completely annihilated—not even ashes remain.
This explosive report once again threw the entire world into turmoil.
---
Cake Island, New World
"NANI?!"
On a colossal throne, the heavily made-up Big Mom stared wide-eyed as the news of Kaido's obliteration reached her ears.
After a long silence, her face turned pitch-black with fury. She stared icily down at Queen and Jack, her tone heavy and ominous:
"Queen... What the hell happened?"
Though Kaido had long been her rival, they once sailed under the same flag. And as someone who deeply respected Kaido's power, she found it unthinkable that anyone could have defeated him—
Let alone eradicated him so completely.
It sounded like a bad joke.
"I-I don't know either," Queen stammered. "That thing attacked Onigashima out of nowhere… and by the time I woke up, Boss Kaido was already fighting it…"
Queen recounted everything he could recall.
As she listened, Charlotte Linlin remained silent, her fists clenched tightly, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
She wasn't even thinking about recruiting "Ghidorah" into Totto Land. Her only hope now… was that he never came to Cake Island.
Otherwise, even her beloved sweets wouldn't be safe.
---
Elsewhere, in a Remote Sea Cave
A group of pirates was in the middle of a boisterous feast.
But the joy was suddenly shattered by a cold, bone-chilling voice:
"You idiots still have the nerve to party? You're all heartless morons."
The laughter died instantly.
Every head turned toward the mouth of the cave—where a tall man in a top hat and piercing hawk-like eyes slowly stepped in.
"Haha! What a coincidence—join us for a drink!"
The red-haired man with three scars across his face—Shanks—grinned and raised a sake gourd.
"You fools."
Dracule Mihawk caught the sake jug tossed at him and, without hesitation, threw something back.
Shanks caught it.
A glance told him it was a newspaper. He unfolded it reflexively—SLAP!
The sake gourd slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
Fragrant liquor splashed across his boots.
"Impossible…"
Shanks' eyes widened in disbelief. He shot a look at Mihawk.
"If it's that creature… then nothing's impossible."
"Against him, I don't stand even the slightest chance," Mihawk replied calmly as he opened a fresh jug of sake and took a sip.
"Is he really that strong?" Shanks asked, shocked.
Among the Four Emperors, only Shanks and Big Mom had never directly encountered Ghidorah. So, they hadn't witnessed his true power firsthand.
But based on the events alone, they understood: his strength was monstrous.
Still…
They knew exactly what kind of monster Kaido was.
A walking tank, impossible to kill. A beast of unmatched endurance and raw power.
And yet—
This indestructible beast was destroyed—completely, and permanently.
"The seas are going to spiral into chaos very soon."
"Even Imu has retreated into the deep reaches of the New World with the Celestial Dragons."
"The Four Emperors… no longer rule this world."
Mihawk stood up, then paused briefly before adding:
"As a friend, let me give you one final piece of advice."
"If you ever run into that monster…"
"Run. As far as you can."
"Or… go to that island your father once visited. Imu once said it holds a power strong enough to shake the very world."
With those final words fading, Mihawk's figure disappeared into the misty cave mouth.
The Red-Hair Pirates fell silent.
While their bonds ran deep—closer than family—none had ever truly asked about Shanks' origins.
All they knew was that he once served as an apprentice on the Pirate King's ship. Beyond that—nothing.
But today, Mihawk's cryptic remarks sparked a flurry of speculation.
"Hahaha…"
"Alright, let's keep going! Party's still on!"
Noticing the strange atmosphere, Shanks silently cursed Mihawk's entire family, then quickly laughed and waved it off.
The crew laughed and returned to celebration, seemingly forgetting the odd moment.
Only Benn Beckman, standing off to the side, watched Shanks closely, deep in thought.
Despite his rugged appearance, Beckman was feared across both pirate crews and naval ranks alike for his sharp intelligence.
Sometimes, his mind was terrifyingly clear.
He had suspected something about Shanks' origins since their second year together.
But he'd never brought it up—never pushed for an answer.
Now, after Mihawk's visit, Beckman felt more certain than ever.
At the same time, however, a new curiosity emerged.
Who exactly is Mihawk?
If he knew that much about Shanks, then his own background must be just as secretive.
Smart people often noticed the details others ignored—and Beckman had noticed plenty.
---
Elsewhere: On a Quiet Shore
No one in this sea was more composed than Whitebeard.
After witnessing Ghidorah's power at Marineford, he had fully grasped the extent of the creature's strength.
Holding the newspaper in one hand and surrounded by medical equipment, Whitebeard couldn't help but feel a deep attachment to the world.
It wasn't fame or power he longed for—but his children.
"Gurururururu…"
"Marco. Ace…"
After a moment of silence, Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh and turned to his gathered crew:
"Someday… if your old man dies… just toss my body into the sea."
"Disband the Whitebeard Pirates."
His voice was gentle—but the weight of those words made it hard to breathe.
To his crew, the Whitebeard Pirates were more than comrades.
They were family.
If their "home" vanished, what reason was left to sail these seas?
Ignoring the protests around him, Whitebeard closed his eyes… ready to face the final chapter of his life.
---
Back in Wano: A Nation Awakens
Of everyone in the world, perhaps no one celebrated Kaido's death more than the oppressed citizens of Kuri, Wano Country.
With Kaido dead and the All-Stars in retreat, the Beasts Pirates collapsed overnight.
Word spread fast.
A massive wave of rebellion erupted across Wano.
Samurai stormed Udon, liberating the prisoners.
Kuri's warriors rallied and smashed Kaido's factories.
As more joined the cause, a full-scale uprising began—directly challenging the tyrant shogun, Kurozumi Orochi.
Without Kaido's support, Orochi was nothing but a cowardly parasite.
Facing the wrath of warriors who had endured years of torment, his Devil Fruit powers meant nothing.
To think such power ended up in the hands of a spineless, sniveling worm—was laughable.
---
High Above the World
Far above the chaos—thousands of meters in the sky—Ghidorah remained unaware of these events.
But even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
He had no intention of involving himself in Wano's internal affairs, regardless of prior connections.
---
Elsewhere, In Flight
After asking Ghidorah a few more questions about the Lunarians, King had come to trust him.
Because the knowledge Ghidorah possessed about the Lunarian people was simply impossible for any outsider to know.
Calling them a "Divine Race" was no exaggeration.
Because in truth…
They did not originate from this world.
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