The Never-Ending War Country—a mysterious nation located somewhere on the Grand Line. The nation's original name had long been forgotten by the world, replaced by this bloody-sounding epithet. On this land, war never ceased. The smell of gunpowder hung in the air year-round; blood stained every inch of soil. People had long grown accustomed to a life of swords and shadows; even children could wield weapons proficiently.
On this day, the calm sea was broken by a massive pirate ship. The flag of the Beasts Pirates snapped in the wind, the ferocious beast emblem making all who saw it shiver. The soldiers stationed in the coastal watchtower were the first to spot the uninvited guest.
"Tha...that's..." A soldier tremblingly raised his binoculars. When he saw the tall figure standing at the bow, he almost dropped them. "The Beasts Pirates! It's 'The Fierce Beast' Kaido's ship!"
"What? Kaido?" His companion's face instantly turned deathly pale. "Quick, go inform the Captain!"
The news spread like wildfire. Within minutes, the entire port was in a state of panic. Soldiers scrambled to assemble, the sound of clashing weapons rising one after another. Upon receiving the news, Captain Douglas immediately dropped the documents in his hand and sprinted at full speed toward the General's office.
"General! Big trouble!" Douglas barged in without knocking. "The Beasts Pirates' Kaido is here!"
General Clayton was studying a battle map. He looked up sharply, the pointer in his hand snapping with a crack. "What did you say? That monster with a 540 million Berries bounty?"
The entire command room instantly fell silent. Everyone knew what this meant—not long ago, this man known as "The Fierce Beast" had confronted Whitebeard, the world's strongest, at Fish-Man Island. And now, he had arrived at this war-torn nation.
"Assemble all troops immediately!" General Clayton suppressed the fear in his heart and issued rapid orders. "But remember, no one fires without my command!"
Soon, over three thousand fully-armed soldiers assembled at the port. They stood in neat formations, but every hand gripping a rifle trembled slightly. Tension filled the air, as if a single spark could ignite the entire port.
When the Beasts Pirates' ship slowly docked, everyone held their breath. Kaido's towering figure appeared at the bow. He looked down upon the port from his height, his gaze carrying a beast-like scrutiny.
General Clayton took a deep breath, straightened his uniform, and walked forward alone. This normally imposing General now behaved with unusual deference.
"Respected Mr. Kaido," his voice trembled slightly. "Welcome to the Never-Ending War Country. Is there anything we can do for you?"
Kaido glanced idly around the port, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers' faces. When his eyes fell on Douglas, they paused slightly before moving on.
"Resupply," Kaido's voice rumbled like thunder. "And to see for myself what this legendary 'Never-Ending War Country' is really like."
Hearing this, the soldiers on the port relaxed slightly. But no one dared lower their weapons, for they all knew the man before them could turn into their worst nightmare at any moment.
Douglas stood in the ranks, feeling Kaido's gaze slice over his body like a blade. He didn't understand why this legendary great pirate had noticed him, but the feeling of being targeted by a predator sent chills down his spine.
General Clayton bowed respectfully. "It is our honour to provide supplies for the Beasts Pirates. How many supplies are needed? We will prepare them immediately."
Kaido didn't answer immediately. His gaze passed over the crowd, looking toward the direction of the city. There, the faint sounds of artillery and the sight of rising smoke could still be discerned.
"Interesting," Kaido suddenly grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "It lives up to its name."
At that moment, a tremendous explosion suddenly sounded from the distant sky. A cannonball tore through the air, landing squarely near the port. The shockwave knocked many soldiers off their feet, plunging the port into chaos.
"Damn it! Rebel artillery!" General Clayton's face fell. "Quick, protect Mr. Kaido!"
Kaido, however, stood completely unmoving. Explosive dust billowed around him but couldn't touch him. A gleam of excitement flashed in his eyes, as if he had found an interesting toy.
"It seems," Kaido cracked his neck, producing a crick-crack sound, "this country is even more interesting than I imagined."
Looking at Kaido's expression, a sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Douglas's heart. He vaguely felt that this great pirate's arrival might not be just for supplies. Of course, what slightly reassured him was that this notoriously fierce pirate didn't seem to have come to start a war.
General Clayton secretly breathed a sigh of relief, forcing a strained smile onto his face. "Of course, of course! We will prepare the finest supplies for you immediately." He turned and whispered an order to his adjutant behind him. "To the warehouse. Bring out the best wine, food, and supplies. The faster, the better!"
The adjutant nodded and immediately led a squad of soldiers away in haste. The tense atmosphere at the port eased somewhat, but the soldiers still didn't dare let their guard down, their weapons held firmly. Kaido's fearsome reputation was too great; no one could guarantee he wouldn't suddenly turn violent.
Kaido walked slowly down from the ship, his heavy footsteps making the ground tremble slightly. His gaze swept across the port before finally settling on the smoke-shrouded city skyline in the distance.
"In your country, the war truly never stops?" he asked with interest.
General Clayton gave a bitter smile. "Yes, Mr. Kaido. Internal factions vie for power, and external enemies surround us. The war has lasted for decades... maybe longer."
Kaido grinned, showing his white teeth. "Fascinating."
Just then, a series of violent explosions suddenly sounded from the distance, followed by intense gunfire and battle cries. The soldiers at the port immediately went on alert, looking toward the source of the noise.
"Rebels again!" an officer said through gritted teeth. "They dare launch an attack at a time like this!"
General Clayton's expression turned grim. He cautiously glanced at Kaido, fearing this unpredictable great pirate might fly into a rage at the disturbance. Unexpectedly, however, a gleam of excitement flashed in Kaido's eyes.
"Heh... Seems I came at the right time," he chuckled lowly. "Lead the way. Let me see what your war looks like."
General Clayton was stunned. He hadn't expected Kaido to be interested in such chaos. But faced with Kaido's demand, he didn't dare refuse. He could only steel himself and nod. "Y...yes, Mr. Kaido. Please follow me."
The soldiers at the port exchanged uneasy glances; no one knew what would happen next. Captain Douglas stood in the ranks, frowning deeply. He felt Kaido's gaze lingered on him for an abnormal amount of time, but he didn't dare dwell on it, silently following the group.
As they moved deeper into the city, the cruel reality of war unfolded before them. The streets were littered with collapsed buildings; burning houses belched thick, black smoke; the moans of the wounded filled the air. Two armies were engaged in fierce firefights; bullets flew, and blood stained the ground.
Kaido stood at the edge of the battlefield, excitement gleaming in his eyes. He took a deep breath, as if savoring the smell of gunpowder and blood saturating the air.
"This is... a nostalgic sight," he murmured.
General Clayton stood beside him, his heart filled with unease. He didn't know what Kaido truly intended, but his intuition told him the arrival of this "Fierce Beast" would likely make this country's war even more insane...