Two days later, the oppressive, soot-stained air of Onigashima, the stronghold of the Beasts Pirates in Wano Country, seemed to part for the return of an important figure—King.
The fierce Lunarian warrior, second only to Kaido himself, had finally returned from his mission, his black wings casting a long, ominous shadow as he strode into the grand hall.
The moment he stepped inside, the palpable tension in the air clung to him like a shroud.
Within the cavernous hall, the elite members of the Flying Six stood in two grim rows, their usual boisterous arrogance replaced by an unsettled, almost fearful silence.
These were some of the most formidable pirates in the world, yet the news King had delivered upon his arrival had clearly shaken them to their core.
Lying about such matters was pointless; they had no choice but to believe it.
Black Maria's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm of dread.
Her voice, usually a sultry purr, trembled slightly.
"Whitebeard... he's truly become a Three-Fruit user. And he's fixated on Oden's affairs... This is very, very bad."
Her words landed like a cannonball in the silent hall, causing a fresh stir of anxiety.
Everyone understood the implications.
Whitebeard, a monster in his own right, now wielding three of the most powerful abilities on the seas?
His strength would be on a scale they had never before witnessed, posing an existential threat to their crew and their ambitions.
Ulti delicate brows furrowed in a fierce scowl, wrapped her arms tightly around Page One in a protective, almost suffocating embrace.
"I don't care who it is!" she snapped. "No matter who dares to hurt my little Pay pay, I won't let them off!"
"Cough... ack...!!!" Page One struggled, his voice choked as his face turned a deep, alarming shade of crimson.
"Sis... sis! You're... crushing me!" he wheezed, desperately trying to pry her iron-like arms from his neck.
"Huh?!" Ulti gasped, her fury instantly replaced by wide-eyed panic.
She released him immediately. "Pay! Pay pay, are you okay?! You're not dying, are you?!"
Her voice was frantic with worry, tears welling in her eyes as she began to shake him vigorously by the head.
Who's Who, standing nearby, watched the display with a cold, disdainful gaze and let out a derisive snort.
"Even if he's fine now, you'll shake him to death. Useless woman."
"What did you say?!" Ulti whirled around, her eyes blazing with murderous rage, her body tensed like a coiled viper ready to strike.
Page One, having regained a semblance of composure, quickly threw his arms around her waist, restraining her.
"Say it again!" she screamed, thrashing against her brother's hold.
"I dare you to say my Pay pay will die!"
"Big sis, calm down!" Page One pleaded, a mix of helplessness and deep embarrassment on his face.
"I'm not going to die! Besides, Kaido-sama is here—don't make such a scene!"
The awkwardness was so intense he felt like he could dig a hole in the floor with his toes.
"Huh?!" Ulti stopped struggling, turning to stare at him with a look of pure, wounded disbelief.
"Pay pay... you think I'm... making a scene...?"
"ENOUGH!!!"
The sake gourd in Kaido's massive hand exploded into splinters.
His gaze, as sharp and cold as a blade, swept over them, and the very air in the hall seemed to solidify under the weight of his authority.
Miraculously, Ulti fell silent, still reeling from her brother's perceived betrayal.
"Hmph," Kaido sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"A dying old man thinks obtaining the power of three Devil Fruits is enough to challenge me? Wororororo!"
As his thunderous laughter boomed, an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body, a violent, invisible storm that pressed down on everyone like an insurmountable mountain.
The Flying Six broke out in a cold sweat, their terror mingling with awe.
Even facing a powered-up Whitebeard, their captain showed no fear—if anything, the prospect of waging war with Whitebeard pirates seemed to exhilarate him.
Kaido rose to his full, monstrous height, his voice a roar that shook the foundations of Onigashima itself.
"WHITEBEARD!!! I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU IN WANO COUNTRY! COME AND FIGHT ME!!!"
*****
Meanwhile, back on the serene shores of Angel Beach on Skypiea, the air was thick with a unique blend of salty sea mist and the electric tension of intense training.
On an open training ground, Whitebeard was patiently guiding Ace, his hopes for the young man evident in his focused instruction.
"Remember, Ace," Whitebeard said, his voice a low, earnest rumble.
"True strength comes from the unshakable will in your heart. The Devil Fruit has granted you a special power, but it is, and always will be, a tool. What truly determines victory is your own spirit."
Ace nodded, his expression serious as he absorbed his father's words.
"Pops, Ron told me something similar. He said Haki is the ultimate counter to a Logia user—that it can even force someone in their elemental state back into their physical body."
"Hmph. It seems you've already grasped the principle," Whitebeard replied with a satisfied smile.
"Good. Then stop wasting your time fiddling with those useless Dials and trinkets. Training your Haki is what matters now. Focus your training on your Armament and Observation. That is the most important path to true power."
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