High above the Blue Sea, floating on a sea of clouds, lay the White-White Sea and the legendary Sky Island. It was a land made almost entirely of clouds, yet lush green plants grew upon its surface, creating a dreamy, ethereal landscape.
Reaching this place was no easy feat. Travelers from the sea below had to risk their lives, either by riding the monstrous Knock Up Stream or by navigating the treacherous HIGHWEST route through other sky islands. Because of this, visitors were rare. Yet, even in this isolated paradise, chaos and darkness had taken root.
For centuries, a bitter war had raged between the native Sky Islanders and the Shandians. A few years ago, a new power had arrived: a man named Enel, who declared himself God and established a terrifying rule of divine judgment. Anyone who dared to anger him would be struck down by a terrifying bolt of lightning from the heavens.
Despite this, daily life for most Sky Islanders was relatively peaceful, so long as they stayed away from God's Island, the sacred land Enel claimed for himself. On the bustling Lovely Street, merchants and craftsmen went about their business, shaping clouds into furniture and tools, while the Divine Guard patrolled as usual. On the coast, a beautiful angel-winged girl named Conis played her harp, accompanied by her small pet cloud fox, Sue.
Suddenly, Sue, who had been resting peacefully, let out a terrified shriek. It sensed something horrifying approaching from the entrance to God's Country, far across the sea of clouds, and frantically burrowed into Conis's arms for safety.
Conis stopped playing, puzzled by her pet's sudden fear. "What's wrong, Sue?" she asked, looking down at the trembling ball of white fur.
Before she could get an answer, a terrifying howl echoed from the distance—a sound unlike anything she had ever heard. It reverberated across the entire island, shaking the very clouds beneath her feet. She looked up in the direction of the sound, her heart pounding with dread.
At that moment, she witnessed a sight that would be burned into her memory forever.
A colossal body, too massive to describe with words, began to emerge from the clouds at the entrance of God's Country. As it drew closer, a huge shadow fell over Sky Island, swallowing the light. All across the island, the Sky Islanders stopped what they were doing and instinctively looked up at the sky.
From that day forward, they would never forget the terrifying creature known as a dragon.
Its sky-obscuring blue body, wreathed in beautiful golden flame clouds, plunged the entire island into darkness for the first time in its history.
"What… what is that…?" people whispered in terror.
The creature's enormous head, larger than a mountain, turned to look down upon them. The sheer pressure of its gaze was suffocating, making the people of Sky Island feel, for the first time, what it was like to be in the presence of a true god.
Fortunately, this new god seemed to have no interest in them. After a brief glance, it raised its head and flew directly toward the sky above, heading for God's Island—the domain of Enel.
As panic spread among the Sky Islanders, a brilliant light flashed in the heavens, followed by a violent roar. A pillar of dazzling blue lightning descended from the sky, striking at the dragon.
Staring at the blinding bolt, Kaido's vertical pupils gleamed with interest. "A good way to say hello," the dragon's voice boomed. "In that case…"
He opened his massive jaws.
"Heat Breath!"
High above, searing flames and crackling lightning collided. For a single, silent moment, the sky was filled with a brilliant mix of red and blue, the colors reflecting on the terrified faces of the people below.
Then…
BOOM!
A violent explosion swept across the world. The powerful shockwave destroyed everything in its path, and the terrifying gale it stirred up sent the entire island into a violent tremor. People were thrown from their feet, their terrified screams lost in the roar of the wind.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, an old man with a white beard, clad in armor and riding a strange pink-spotted pegasus, flew swiftly from the horizon. Braving the powerful impact, he arrived between the two combatants, holding a long spear.
Kaido looked down at the old man with eyes larger than the man himself, then gave a disdainful snort. He shook his massive head, and the flames of his Heat Breath vanished. At the same time, the brilliant lightning in the sky dissipated, coalescing into the form of a man holding a golden staff. He wore baggy pants and was barefoot, with long earlobes hanging down to his chest.
"En… Enel…" Gan Fall, the former God of Sky Island, stammered, his face a mask of fear and seriousness. Even his mount, Pierre, was trembling violently.
Normally, Gan Fall would never have dared to appear before Enel, the man who had stolen his divine position. But as he glanced at the demonic creature that blotted out the sun, a creature whose very presence made his soul tremble, he knew he had no choice. If he let them continue fighting, Sky Island would be utterly destroyed.
Thankfully, his arrival seemed to have paused the battle. Just as he was about to speak, Enel, the current God of Sky Island, gritted his teeth. He looked at the monster that had caused him such an immense shock and roared, "Who are you!?"
"Oh?"
Unlike Enel's cautious expression, Kaido seemed amused. He tilted his massive dragon head back. "You'd actually speak to me on your own? That's a good start."
As he spoke, the giant dragon's body began to coil and twist in the sky, gradually shrinking down. In its place stood a burly, seven-meter-tall man holding a spiked club, with a sake gourd hanging from his waist. He stood effortlessly on a platform of flame clouds, looking down at Enel. Even in his human form, his towering height and the terrifying, bulging muscles all over his body made the two-meter-tall Enel feel an unshakable, mountain-like pressure.
For the first time in his life, Enel, who had always arrogantly called himself a God, began to feel his own insignificance.
Kaido laughed, a deep, satisfied sound. "You want to know my name? Fine, kid, I'll tell you. I am one of the Sea Emperors who dominate the seas below, the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates: Kaido of the Beasts!"
His voice thundered across Sky Island, shaking the hearts of all who heard it. The title of an "emperor" from the sea below somehow felt more powerful than even their own God.
Enel was in shock. This was the first time he had truly witnessed the power of the Blue Sea, the first time anyone had ever withstood his divine judgment. More importantly, using his Mantra, he could sense the casual ease with which the man before him had launched that devastating attack.
Even so, his deep-seated arrogance wouldn't allow him to bow his head. He frowned and asked, "Are there many people like you in the great sea below?"
"Good question," Kaido chuckled. "Worororo… Not many, but there are a few."
This made Enel frown even deeper. "It seems I have underestimated the Blue Sea. So, are you here to challenge me on my own territory?"
Kaido grinned, seeing that Enel's arrogant demeanor had softened slightly. He finally stated his purpose for coming.
"No," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I'm here to have you join my pirate crew. You're going to become my subordinate."
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