The Grand Line — Winter Island, Drum Island.
A massive paw slammed into the snow-covered ground, leaving behind a colossal crater. From within that pit, a black-haired man slowly stepped out.
"Kidnapping the king of a World Government ally… that should make headlines, right?"
Souta Kiryuu walked across the snow with an unrestrained smile spreading across his face.
This… this was freedom!
This was the intoxication of raw, unchallenged power!
With a thought, Souta transformed into a divine dragon and soared toward the highest snowcapped peak of Drum Island.
As his crimson form streaked across the sky, the entire population of Drum Island witnessed his appearance.
In a northern village, an elderly woman raised her head in shock.
"Doctorine! Look—is that… a dragon?"
A tiny reindeer wearing a pink hat gazed upward, his eyes widening in wonder as he spotted the massive crimson dragon tearing through the clouds.
"Yes, Chopper. That's a dragon," Dr. Kureha replied, her sharp gaze flickering behind her tinted glasses. She didn't know what kind of calamity this dragon would bring, but under King Wapol's rule, the nation had already been through hell.
All the doctors had been driven away. Apart from the twenty doctors Wapol kept at his side, she alone treated the suffering people.
"So cool!"
Chopper's eyes sparkled with admiration. If only he could fly like that dragon—then he too could venture across the seas and experience the adventures Dr. Hiriluk once spoke of.
"That dragon is even more dangerous than pirates," Kureha said with a dry chuckle. She had already recognized the crimson beast—it wasn't Kaido of the Beasts. It was Souta Kiryuu, the madman who had declared war on the Celestial Dragons.
"Doctorine! That dragon… is he human too?"
Chopper's voice trembled with excitement. To travel alongside such a being would be incredible.
"Yes. He's a man—a man reckless enough to declare war on the entire world."
Kureha's lips curved into a smile. It had been years since she'd seen such madness, such defiance.
"So strong!"
Chopper's admiration grew boundless. In his heart, the dragon's image towered higher and higher. He too wanted to become a brave man like that.
"Perhaps after today, we won't need to keep hiding anymore," Kureha murmured. Black smoke curled above the snowy peaks, and she knew immediately—Wapol's reign of terror was about to end. A new hope was coming.
Inside Drum Castle, King Wapol was fleeing for his life, shielded by his ministers, Chess and Kuromarimo.
The appearance of this terrifying man—this dragon—had shattered all their will to resist. Everywhere he went, lightning crackled, blades of wind tore the air, and searing laser beams obliterated everything in his path.
Neither Wapol's cannons nor Chess's arrows could harm him.
"Hey, don't waste my time!"
Souta unleashed another devastating laser, blasting the trio off their feet. He strode toward Wapol, the so-called king who wielded the powers of the Munch-Munch Fruit.
This pathetic man's ability allowed him to fuse and reshape matter like a living alloy. After being defeated by the future Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy, he had rebuilt his kingdom in just over a year and rejoined the World Government. That alone proved how profitable his "alloy" ability was.
In Vegapunk's hands, such power could be pushed even further—perhaps even fused with Judge Vinsmoke's technology to create new battle suits.
"D-Don't come any closer! I'm a World Government ally—a king! If you harm me, the Marines and the Government will never forgive you!"
Wapol shrieked in terror. His royal cannons had been useless, and now his legs gave way beneath him.
"Spare us, great one! We'll pay you—we'll ransom ourselves!" his ministers pleaded. They had recognized Souta Kiryuu, the infamous madman with the highest bounty, and desperation dripped from their voices.
"Money? I'll take what I want. As for this fool, I'll be taking him too."
With a savage kick, Souta sent both ministers flying. Then, with one crushing blow, he knocked Wapol unconscious.
After plundering the castle's treasury, he prepared to leave. But then his eyes fell upon an official World Government document on the king's desk.
And his lips curled into a feral grin.
"Well, well. You brought this to me yourself."
"Ehehehahahaha!"
Souta laughed maniacally as he picked up the document. It was an order to host a passing Celestial Dragon.
A noble of the world—Saint Charmarco—was en route from the East Blue back to Mary Geoise, and his ship would soon arrive at Drum Island.
"That name… wasn't he the one who injured Sabo?" Souta muttered, scanning the details. Yes, he vaguely recalled hearing it before.
"Who cares. He'll be the first Celestial Dragon I kill!"
He couldn't wait another minute. Souta hoisted Wapol's limp body over his shoulder and transformed back into his colossal dragon form, rising into the sky.
He had no interest in Chopper or the other players of fate. All that mattered now was painting the seas red with Celestial Dragon blood.
This was his way of taunting Saturn—the old tyrant of the Five Elders.
This was his proof to the world: Souta Kiryuu always made good on his word.
With a roar, the crimson dragon surged toward Reverse Mountain, intent on intercepting his prey.
Back on Drum Island, Kureha and Chopper watched the dragon vanish into the clouds.
Kureha smirked and leapt onto Chopper's back. "Come on, reindeer! Let's see if the king's vault has anything worth taking."
"Eh?! Doctorine… are we really going to rob like pirates?"
Chopper shifted into his heavy-point form, carrying her toward the snowy castle with eager, trembling steps.
"Yes! Today I'll show you what it feels like to plunder. That bastard Wapol—if he's dead, I'll take his castle too!"
Chopper's heart raced with excitement. Years ago, his beloved Dr. Hiriluk had died before this very castle. He could still remember Wapol's vile, sneering face.
Now… it was finally time for payback.
Meanwhile, soldiers freed Captain Dalton from the dungeons, begging him to take charge and restore order to the nation.
Out at sea, Souta's blood boiled like fire. His crimson eye blazed as his ancient giant blood awoke, swelling his dragon body tenfold.
The skies darkened. Violet storm clouds churned as the air itself trembled.
And then—he saw it.
A golden warship, shaped like a lion's head, looming on the horizon.
"Ehehehahaha!"
Souta's laughter shook the heavens. His body expanded further, becoming an ancient dragon of myth, a titan from a forgotten age.
The sky turned black. Scarlet lightning arced through the storm.
Onboard the ship, the Celestial Dragon and his CP agents looked up. Their eyes widened in abject terror.
A monster from legend was descending upon them.
And it hungered for their blood.