At that very moment, Kaido, transformed into a giant azure dragon soaring through the clouds, had no idea what was happening far below. Just as he defeated Admiral Kizaru, crossed the Red Line, and entered the first half of the Grand Line, the Straw Hat Pirates had finally defeated Crocodile in the desert kingdom of Alabasta, saving the country after a long and difficult struggle.
Of course, even if he did know, he wouldn't have cared in the slightest.
All that mattered to him right now was the brief battle he'd had with Kizaru. To put it simply, he was extremely satisfied with the result. It was just as he had suspected; the Haki he had been cultivating now had a much stronger restraining effect on Devil Fruit users. This wasn't just the normal suppression that Haki offered. It felt like a power that operated on a completely different level, something superior to Devil Fruit abilities themselves.
This made perfect sense. The cultivation method Kaido was now practicing was said to be capable of turning a mortal into an immortal, allowing one to surpass the very limits of a normal human's life force. This new power had not only allowed his Observation Haki to break past its limits during the fight, letting him easily block his opponent's senses, but it also gave him the ability to nullify Devil Fruit powers.
This development was incredibly important to Kaido.
After all, why had he lost to Luffy in their final battle? Besides the ridiculous resilience of the Nika Fruit, the absurd awakening of the Gum-Gum Fruit was a major factor. The boy could turn lightning into rubber and completely ignore fire dragons hot enough to melt stone. Even worse, the so-called freedom of his rubber body allowed him to ignore Kaido's attacks, even when they were infused with both Armament and Conqueror's Haki. It had made the fundamental rule—that Haki restrains Devil Fruit abilities—feel like a complete joke.
But things were different now. His Haki was beginning to transform into something new. He had developed his move, "God's Advent," for this very purpose. To have this much power after only three months of training made him eager for the future. Kaido looked forward to seeing if the Nika Fruit's abilities would still be so powerful against his new Haki two years from now.
"Worororo..."
The thought alone made him laugh, a deep rumble that echoed through the sky. As for why he had shown Kizaru mercy, the reason was simple. He didn't want the Admiral to be absent from the upcoming war at Marineford. Many people complained that Kizaru didn't take the battle seriously, but that was only when he was facing Luffy. Against the Whitebeard Pirates, Kizaru had been absolutely ruthless.
From the perspective of Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, it was best if both sides fought as fiercely as possible. The more damage they did to each other, the more he could profit from the chaos later on. If a war centered around his own crew were to break out, the Beasts Pirates would have no reliable allies besides Big Mom, and that old woman couldn't be trusted. With their current strength, he still lacked the confidence to declare war on the entire world and face every top-tier fighter alone. Therefore, strengthening the Beasts Pirates was his most urgent priority.
Thinking of this, the giant dragon in the sky picked up speed, following the Log Pose as it headed towards the island of Water 7.
The news that Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, had appeared at the Marine G-1 Branch before crossing the Red Line into Paradise spread across the world like wildfire, delivered by the News Coo. To protect the reputation of the Marines and the World Government, the papers left out the fact that Admiral Kizaru had been defeated by Kaido in a single blow. Even so, the news was enough to shake the various powers across the seas.
On the Moby Dick, the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates, the atmosphere was grim. The mood had been low for a while now, and the crew hadn't even held one of their famous banquets. On the deck, Whitebeard sat in his captain's chair with an IV drip attached to his arm, silently reading the newspaper. After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"Have you heard any news from Ace?" he asked slowly.
Marco, who was standing nearby, quickly replied. "Ah, yes. He contacted me and said he's found Teach's whereabouts! Oh, and he also ran into his younger brother back in Alabasta."
"Oh," Whitebeard said, lost in thought. "You mean Straw Hat?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
Although it had only been a short while, Whitebeard felt as if a lifetime had passed. He couldn't shake a deep sense of unease, a feeling that something important was about to be taken from him for good. It had kept his brow furrowed for days.
Seeing his father's worried expression, Marco asked cautiously, "Do you think Teach's betrayal has something to do with Kaido's sudden appearance?"
Even now, Marco couldn't understand it. Teach had been with the Whitebeard Pirates for over twenty years; he was family. He had never shown any ambition, yet he suddenly chose to betray them and kill Thatch. Now, seeing the news about Kaido leaving the New World, Marco started to connect the dots. A month ago, they had received intelligence that the Beasts Pirates were preparing for war. It all seemed like too much of a coincidence.
However, Whitebeard simply shook his head. "Don't underestimate that brat Kaido. He wouldn't bother with schemes like this."
"I understand," Marco said, though he didn't stop thinking about it. "What about Shanks? Have you heard anything from his side?"
Whitebeard seemed to regain some of his spirit at the mention of the other Emperor. "If that red-haired brat wants to meet, then let's meet him."
"Understood, Pops."
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Marco's pocket began to ring. He answered it, and the news he received left him completely stunned.
"What is it, Marco?" Whitebeard asked, noticing his son's strange expression.
Marco scratched his head, looking completely bewildered. "Pops, a ship from the Beasts Pirates just entered our territory."
Whitebeard frowned. "That brat Kaido isn't even in the New World. Do his subordinates really have the guts to challenge us?"
"No, no, that's not it," Marco said, shaking his head quickly. "According to the report, the ship isn't here to provoke us. They said they're here on Kaido's orders to deliver someone. And apparently, this person knows Ace."
Hearing that it was related to Ace, Whitebeard's expression softened slightly. "A friend of Ace's? Who is it?"
Marco gave a wry smile. "Well, according to Kaido's subordinate on the ship, the person they're delivering is... Kaido's daughter."
"What?"
The news left even the great Emperor Whitebeard completely stunned.
Meanwhile, in the isolated Land of Wano, a shocking rumor was spreading thanks to the shogun, Kurozumi Orochi. The news that Komurasaki, the most famous courtesan in the Flower Capital, was actually Kozuki Hiyori—the daughter of the "Fool Lord" Kozuki Oden—spread like a plague. Furthermore, it was revealed that the respected yakuza boss, Kyoshiro, was none other than Denjiro, one of Oden's loyal Nine Red Scabbards.
Orochi announced that both of them would be publicly executed on Onigashima in one month's time. Instantly, the entire country of Wano was thrown into turmoil, with secret currents of rebellion stirring just beneath the surface.