On a bright and sunny morning, golden sunlight spilled over the sparkling sea, reflecting dazzling rays.
In the azure sky, several seagulls soared freely, occasionally diving to skim the sea surface, then circling upward. The pirate ship of the Beasts Pirates sailed steadily through the waters of the North Blue, with the sounds of training commands echoing across the deck.
"All of you, keep running! If anyone dares to slack off, my Spiked Club won't show any mercy!" Kaidou's booming voice reverberated across the deck. The burly pirate captain stood at the bow, supervising a group of youths undergoing physical training. His tall figure cast a long shadow in the morning sun, with the Spiked Club "Hassaikai" casually slung over his shoulder, emanating an intimidating aura.
Ever since Rosinante acquired the power of the Heal-Heal Fruit, Kaidou had become even stricter with the crew's training. The youths on board now included fourteen-year-olds Kyros and Karuri, ten-year-olds Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and Doflamingo, nine-year-olds Enel, Rosinante, and Vergo, and eight-year-old Pica. Apart from these youngsters, the only other officers on the ship were Sebastian and Diamante.
Hearing Kaidou's roar, the somewhat exhausted group immediately quickened their pace. Rosinante's healing ability allowed Kaidou to ramp up the training intensity without restraint, which made everyone harbor some resentment toward Rosinante—even his own older brother Doflamingo was no exception, since being struck by Kaidou's Spiked Club was no joking matter.
"Mr. Kaidou, they've been training for quite a while. Should they take a break?" Homing cautiously suggested. After spending this time together, he had come to understand Kaidou's temperament, knowing that while the captain was strict, he wasn't unreasonable.
Kaidou turned his head, his gaze sharp: "Homing, on these seas, strength is everything. Training must never slacken. As long as it doesn't kill them, train them to the brink of death!" As he spoke, he keenly noticed Rosinante's movements slowing down and, without a second word, snatched up Hassaikai and hurled it at him.
"Ah!" Rosinante cried out in alarm, barely dodging the flying weapon.
"Rosinante! Don't think I can't see you! Keep running!" Kaidou's furious roar immediately snapped the youth back to attention, and he threw himself back into the training. The other youths, seeing this, didn't dare to slack off either and quickly picked up their pace.
An hour later, Kaidou finally called a halt. The exhausted youths collapsed haphazardly across the deck, gasping for breath. Yulia, now fully recovered, came over with towels, carefully wiping sweat from each one—from Doflamingo to Rosinante to Vergo, not missing anyone. Her movements were gentle and practiced, clearly having cared for these children for a long time.
"Big Brother Kaidou, how much longer are we staying in the North Blue?" Enel asked between pants. They had been wandering these waters for nearly a month, visiting four islands.
Kaidou stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I originally wanted to see if we could encounter the Germa Kingdom, but since there's been no news for so long, forget it. We'll head directly to the South Blue and then return to the New World."
"Great! We're finally going back!" Enel jumped up excitedly, then asked curiously, "But why are we going to the South Blue?"
"The Sorbet Kingdom has several talented individuals," Kaidou explained. "If we can recruit them, the Beasts Pirates' expansion plans can advance faster once we return to the New World."
Kaidou was referring to Bartholomew Kuma, Ginny, Emporio Ivankov, and others. These powerful warriors should have reached adulthood by now and hadn't yet joined the Revolutionary Army. If they could be recruited, they would immediately provide reliable combat strength, unlike children like Enel who still needed years of training.
At Kaidou's command, the pirate ship changed course toward Reverse Mountain. The North Blue and South Blue were far apart, but with his flight ability, Kaidou could directly carry the entire ship over the Red Line into South Blue waters.
With a clear objective, the ship's speed increased significantly. Along the way, they encountered other pirate ships, but upon seeing the Beasts Pirates' flag, those ships wisely kept their distance. Kaidou's fearsome reputation had spread throughout the North Blue, and no one wanted to provoke this monstrous man.
After ten days of sailing, the ship finally approached Reverse Mountain. Kaidou transformed directly into the Azure Dragon, his massive dragon body gleaming with azure light under the sun, his dragon whiskers flowing in the wind as his majestic dragon eyes scanned the crew below. This spectacular scene once again drew gasps of amazement from the crew, particularly from the Donquixote Family members seeing Kaidou's beast form for the first time, along with Pica and Vergo, who all looked at Kaidou with admiration.
Homing, Yulia, Doflamingo, and Rosinante watched the North Blue direction with complex expressions. These two years in the North Blue had created unforgettable memories for the Donquixote Family. They had experienced the transition from heaven to hell, yet found a new home aboard this pirate ship.
Kaidou used Flame Clouds to envelop the pirate ship. With a mighty dragon roar, the entire vessel lifted into the air, flying toward the Red Line. The teenagers gripped the ship's rails tightly, watching the shrinking sea below with both fear and excitement.
"Hold on tight!" Kaidou's voice emerged from the dragon's mouth. "We're crossing the Red Line!"
As they climbed higher, the temperature began to drop. Yulia quickly distributed the prepared warm clothing to the children.
Doflamingo stood at the ship's bow, his eyes gleaming with excitement behind his sunglasses.
"Is this what flying feels like?" Rosinante murmured quietly, experiencing this unprecedented sensation with both fear and novelty.
When the ship crossed the highest point of the Red Line, everyone was awestruck by the sight before them. On one side lay the familiar North Blue, on the other the unfamiliar South Blue - two completely different seas stretching out on either side of the Red Line, creating a breathtakingly magnificent spectacle.
Kaidou began his gradual descent, adjusting his angle as he smoothly glided the ship toward the South Blue's surface. When the hull touched the seawater again, it sent massive splashes flying. Kaidou transformed back into his human form, landing steadily on the deck with a satisfied smile.
"Welcome to the South Blue, boys!" Kaidou announced, spreading his arms wide. "A new adventure awaits us!"
The young men cheered, and even the usually composed Kyros broke into a smile. The ship adjusted its course, heading in the direction of the Sorbet Kingdom. The sunlight remained bright, the sea breeze gentle as ever, but everyone knew the journey ahead would be filled with unknowns and challenges.
Kaidou stood at the bow, his gaze firmly fixed on the distant horizon. The Beasts Pirates' conquest had only just begun, and the South Blue would become their new starting point for expansion.