The revelation that Kaido possesses Joy Boy's power sent shockwaves across the world, leaving countless viewers stunned. For Who's-Who, this knowledge represented the final nail in the coffin of his loyalty to the World Government—a government that had branded him a traitor for losing the Gomu Gomu no Mi all those years ago.
-Broadcast-
Kozuki Momonosuke shifted uncomfortably on his hospital bed, his eyes never leaving the masked figure before him. Despite being young, the weight of leadership and the bitter lessons learned from his father's fate had forged him into someone far more cautious than the idealistic Kozuki Oden. The irony wasn't lost on him—here was a man who had served as one of Kaido's most trusted subordinates, now claiming to want his captain's head.
"Since you claim to want to kill your own captain," Momonosuke said, his voice steady despite his prone position, "these surface-level revelations about Onigashima's operations aren't nearly enough to earn my trust. If you truly know Kaido's secrets—the kind that could actually matter in a fight—then prove it."
Who's-Who studied the young man through his feline mask, a spark of genuine surprise flickering in his eyes. Finally, he thought, someone from the Kozuki clan with actual sense. "I misjudged you, Momonosuke. Perhaps there's hope for your bloodline after all."
The Tobiroppo member reached into his coat, withdrawing a familiar snail-shaped transponder. His decision to seek an alliance with the Kozuki heir wasn't born of sentiment—it was cold calculation. Momonosuke's mythical Zoan fruit granted him the size and resilience needed to serve as more than just another warm body in their assault. Against a monster like Kaido, they would need every advantage, especially someone who could potentially absorb the devastating impact of Kaido's kanabo without crumbling immediately.
"Buru buru buru... buru buru buru..."
The Den Den Mushi's familiar ring echoed through the room before connecting with an audible click.
"Who's-Who." The voice that emerged was crisp, professional, and utterly cold. "It's rather late for a status report. I trust this is urgent—I've already briefed the Gorosei on our arrangement. They've approved the operation to eliminate Kaido and will deploy the Holy Knights when the time is right."
Momonosuke's eyes widened at the casual mention of the World Government's most secretive forces. The Holy Knights—even he had heard whispers of their existence.
"Lucci," Who's-Who replied, his tone carefully measured, "I've secured additional support. Someone with both the motivation and the physical capability to stand against that monster. Kozuki Momonosuke—he has every reason to want Kaido dead, and more importantly, he can actually survive long enough in a fight to matter."
Silence stretched across the connection, broken only by the faint sound of papers rustling on the other end. When Rob Lucci finally spoke, his voice carried the mechanical precision of someone analyzing data.
"Ada's intelligence network contains references to this individual. Kozuki Oden's son, missing for over twenty years according to our records. You're certain of his identity?"
What followed was a lengthy explanation from Who's-Who, detailing everything from Momonosuke's time displacement to his current capabilities. The CP0 agent listened with the patience of a professional, occasionally interjecting with pointed questions that demonstrated the thoroughness of the World Government's information gathering.
"Very well," Lucci finally conceded. "If the Kozuki clan seeks to reclaim Wano Country, our interests align. Kaido's elimination serves both our purposes."
Momonosuke couldn't help but laugh—a sound that held no humor, only bitter recognition. "Who's-Who, you truly are a master of betrayal. I thought your defection was mere posturing, but you've already found yourself new masters." He paused, his expression growing serious. "But if it means Kaido dies, I don't care if we have to dance with the World Government itself."
The unholy alliance formed with surprising ease, bound together by their shared goal. With the formalities concluded, Who's-Who leaned forward, ready to share the intelligence that could mean the difference between victory and annihilation.
"His Advance Armament haki, the white Armament Haki," Who's-Who began, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper, "draws its power directly from the sun itself."
Momonosuke bolted upright so quickly that his wounds protested with sharp stabs of pain. "What?"
Who's-Who raised a hand, signaling for patience. "Let me explain what most people don't understand about Haki. Everyone in the New World can use basic Armament Haki—coating their bodies to enhance attack and defense. But that's child's play compared to what's possible."
He extended his right hand, allowing a coating of standard black Haki to flow across his fingers. "This basic application can touch Logia users, yes, but you'll still suffer from their natural properties. Attack Akainu with basic Armament Haki, and you'll still get burned by his magma. It's the most primitive form of the power."
The Haki began to shift, flowing like liquid mercury around his hand rather than simply coating it. "The first advancement is what Wano Country calls 'Ryuo'—flowing Haki that creates an invisible barrier. This was what your father used twenty years ago when he scarred Kaido. It allows you to strike Logia users without touching their natural form directly, and it's significantly more powerful in both offense and defense."
Momonosuke nodded grimly. He had witnessed firsthand how ineffective even Ryuo had proven against Kaido. His own Ame no Habakiri, wrapped in flowing Armament Haki, hadn't even scratched the Yonko's hide.
"But you discovered something during your battle, didn't you?" Who's-Who continued. "Even Ryuo-enhanced attacks couldn't penetrate his defense. That's because Kaido has evolved beyond traditional Haki techniques."
The former CP9 agent's hand began to glow, the black coating shifting to an almost blinding white that seemed to pulse with its own inner light. "He calls it 'Gokujitsu'—Polar Day. It's Armament Haki that has been fundamentally transformed through Joy Boy's sun abilities."
Momonosuke stared at the white energy crackling around Who's-Who's claws, remembering the devastating power he had faced. "You can use it too?"
"To a limited degree," Who's-Who admitted, allowing the technique to fade. "But here's the crucial weakness—unlike normal Armament Haki that generates from within, Polar Day requires external sun energy. Kaido absorbs and stores sunlight, then converts it during battle. Use as much as you have stored, and no more."
The implications hit Momonosuke like a physical blow. "That's why he seemed unstoppable during our daytime battle. He was constantly replenishing his power from the sun itself."
"Exactly. Fighting Kaido during the day is suicide—he has an essentially unlimited supply of his strongest technique. But at night..." Who's-Who's grin was visible even behind his mask. "At night, he's limited to whatever solar energy he stored beforehand. If we can force him into a prolonged battle and drain those reserves through attrition..."
"A war of endurance," Momonosuke murmured, his tactical mind already working. It wasn't the honorable single combat his father might have chosen, but honor was a luxury they couldn't afford. "You're suggesting we take turns wearing him down until his Gokujitsu reserves are exhausted."
"Precisely. With the Holy Knights, CP0 agents, and whatever allies we can muster, we can force Kaido into exactly the kind of protracted battle that favors us. Even a monster has limits."
But even as hope began to kindle in Momonosuke's chest, he noticed something in Who's-Who's posture—a tension that spoke of deeper fears. "You mentioned only a percent chance of victory. What aren't you telling me?"
Who's-Who slowly removed his red-horned mask, revealing a face that had been carved by years of violence and betrayal. But it was the expression of absolute terror etched into his features that made Momonosuke's blood run cold.
"Even without Gokujitsu Armament Haki, Kaido isn't helpless," Who's-Who said, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool night air. "If he fully embraces Joy Boy's power—if he stops holding back and lets the solar energy transform his entire body—the temperature inside and around him approaches that of the sun itself."
The silence that followed was deafening. Momonosuke tried to process the implications, but the sheer scale was beyond human comprehension.
"Under that level of transformation," Who's-Who continued, his voice hollow, "even Red-Haired Shanks would fall. The heat alone would kill most opponents before they could even get close enough to attack. We wouldn't be fighting a man anymore—we'd be fighting a living star."
Most people couldn't truly comprehend the temperature of the sun's surface—nearly six thousand degrees Celsius. But those watching the Sky Screen around the world were beginning to understand why Kaido had earned his title as the strongest creature alive. The revelation sent chills down countless spines as the true scope of their world's most dangerous threat became clear.