An immense wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted, and a crushing pressure bore down on them from above. The Beasts Pirates felt the chilling threat of death. Seeing that Dragon didn't seem to harbor much ill will, the Tobi Roppo, led by Ulti, finally ceased their attacks.
"Fine, I'll hear you out!" Ulti said, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.
"What terrifying power!" Drake thought, his expression grim. As a member of the Tobi Roppo and an undercover agent for the World Government, he had recognized the leader of the Revolutionary Army at first glance. But the strength Dragon now displayed was enough to leave him utterly aghast.
This was a consequence of Dragon's usual low profile. The World Government knew very little about him.
"I have to report this vital information!" Drake repeated to himself.
And so, through Dragon's efforts, the two groups finally stood down. As expected, fists were the most effective form of communication.
"Good. It seems we can have a proper conversation now," Dragon said softly, pleased with the outcome.
The two forces watched each other warily. On one side were the four commanders and officers of the Revolutionary Army. On the other were the Tobi Roppo, Headliners, and various avian Gifters of the Beasts Pirates.
In terms of numbers, the Beasts Pirates had the advantage. But in terms of quality, the Revolutionary Army was slightly superior. Sabo's face still bore a fresh wound from Black Maria, a memento from the recent chaotic battle.
"We mean no harm, nor do we wish for an all-out war with the Beasts Pirates," Dragon announced, his deep voice carrying a natural authority. "I have just met with Kaido, and I will be discussing a potential partnership with him shortly. Please wait here. We will have a resolution soon."
As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon possessed an undeniable presence. His words were strangely convincing, and after a brief period of unrest, the Beasts Pirates chose to believe him.
Thus, the two groups stood on opposite sides of the deck, a clear line drawn between them.
Time passed slowly. It was impossible to say for how long.
"Lord Kaido!" Ulti shouted as Kaido appeared on deck. The others immediately turned their attention to him.
"The entire Revolutionary leadership is here!" Kaido's gaze swept over Belo Betty and the others standing with Dragon. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and his voice was a low growl.
Thud!
With a heavy stomp, Kaido's body shot forward like a cannonball, landing in front of Ulti and his crew in an instant.
Boom!
He slammed his kanabo, Hassaikai, onto the deck between the two factions. An invisible shockwave rippled outward, making the boundary between them even more distinct.
"Kaido, you must see that we have a common enemy," Dragon said, taking the initiative.
Kaido's brow furrowed at Dragon's opening remark, but he didn't refute it. In a way, Imu was indeed his greatest foe, especially with the God's Knights under their command. The grudge stemmed from the God Valley Incident. Although Kaido had been young and inexperienced then, he had never forgotten the destruction of the Rocks Pirates.
"I believe we can cooperate," Dragon continued, his tone earnest. "You see the current situation. Wano Country is now inextricably linked to Pluton. Wherever Pluton goes, Wano must follow. And it just so happens that I hold the key to controlling Pluton. However, to guard against Imu, I need your strength. So... let us work together!"
"Control of Pluton, you say? Perhaps I'll just take it from you!" Kaido retorted, unleashing a torrent of Conqueror's Haki that surged toward Dragon.
Boom!
Dragon immediately met the challenge with his own. In that instant, two immense forces of black and red lightning clashed, sending powerful shockwaves across the deck. The Haki shot toward the heavens, roiling the clouds and darkening the sky.
Thump!
But the collision dissipated as quickly as it began. It was merely a test from Kaido.
Having gauged Dragon's strength, Kaido realized another battle would be pointless. He began to seriously consider the feasibility of an alliance. The more he thought about it, the more potential he saw. Together, they would form the most powerful force in the world.
Wano would also become much safer. Any enemy wishing to reach Wano would first have to get through the Revolutionary Army. That was a crucial advantage for his country.
"I have one condition," Kaido said after a few seconds of thought. "I must be informed of Pluton's movements in advance. Or, better yet, sail it into the Calm Belt. That's the only way to guarantee its safety."
"No problem!" Dragon agreed without a moment's hesitation. Safety was his top priority as well; he had already planned to move Pluton to the Calm Belt. Kaido's condition wasn't a condition at all.
Ulti watched the two men, trying to read their expressions. "Is this what shady deals between adults look like?" she wondered.
Drake's right hand slipped into his coat. His fingers were already wrapped around a Den Den Mushi. He was just waiting for an opportunity to broadcast this earth-shattering news. But under the watchful eyes of both Kaido and Dragon, he dared not make a single move.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The rhythmic sound of footsteps announced a new arrival. Ryuuto's group, who had been delayed, finally appeared. Hancock led the way, the slit of her cheongsam fluttering with each step as her high heels clicked against the deck.
Behind her were Nami, Vivi, Van Augur, Yamato, and finally Burgess, who was still in his behemoth form. In his massive hands, he carried both Ryuuto and Jean Bart, who were deep in slumber.
Kaido and Dragon turned to look at them in unison, but neither spoke. A strange atmosphere descended, and the deck fell into an eerie silence. The members of the Revolutionary Army and the Beasts Pirates held their breath, not daring to utter a word.
"Wait..."
"Doesn't Pluton rightfully belong to that man?" The same thought surfaced in the minds of both Kaido and Dragon.
Of course, Ryuuto was unaware of any of this, and Hancock and the others had no time to consider such things. Their only desire was for Ryuuto to recover.
Whir!
The sound of spinning propellers filled the air as the Ark Maxim, a vessel six hundred meters long, slowly descended toward the deck.
"A flying ship just appeared out of nowhere!" Yamato exclaimed in amazement. Ryuuto was truly full of secrets. This only strengthened her conviction that he was the man from Oden's journal, the one destined to save Wano.
"Another Emperor has appeared!" Drake's heart pounded with a mix of shock and elation. He was shocked that in such a short time, two of the Four Emperors and the leader of the Revolutionary Army had gathered in one place. He was elated because, for now, he was the only one who knew about this momentous development.
"Old Man Crocus!" Nami waved frantically at the Ark Maxim as it landed.
Zzzt!
With a flash of lightning, Crocus appeared instantly before Ryuuto.
"What happened to the captain?" Crocus asked with concern.
"It's likely just extreme exhaustion. There are no other problems," Hancock explained softly. She walked to Burgess, gently took Ryuuto into her arms, and carried him toward the Ark Maxim.
The scene was surreal. Hancock walked as if no one else was there, carrying Ryuuto aboard her ship while the hardened pirates and revolutionaries watched in utter silence.
Meanwhile, on the turbulent sea, Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were drawing closer to the battleship Pluton. They had no idea what had transpired. All they knew was that ever since Zunesha had become agitated, the ocean had been raging, churning up monstrous waves.
Once Hancock was back aboard the Ark Maxim, Nami and the others quickly followed. The ship then ascended gracefully back into the sky, ten thousand meters above the sea. Only there did they finally feel a sense of security. Being on Pluton had felt too much like being on someone else's turf.
Down on the deck, after watching Ryuuto's group depart, both Kaido and Dragon let out a subtle sigh of relief. It was as if Ryuuto's presence, even while unconscious, had exerted an immense pressure upon them.
Ulti was filled with curiosity. The man they just saw was another Emperor, wasn't he? Why had Lord Kaido acted so strangely?
Belo Betty, however, seemed to have guessed something. Her gaze shifted to Dragon, but her thoughts drifted far away. She recalled the first time she had met Ryuuto in a scorching desert where the very air seemed to burn. Back then, he had been a youth with a hint of immaturity.
But now, he had become a figure she had to look up to. Belo Betty had seen many geniuses in her time, but even they would be awestruck by Ryuuto's talent.
Aboard the Ark Maxim, everyone gathered around Ryuuto's bedside. "Hancock, Nami, this is the recovery agent the captain left on the ship," Crocus said, pulling a greenish vial from his coat.
Hancock took the vial and carefully injected its contents into Ryuuto's arm.
"I hope he wakes up soon," Nami said, her eyes full of hope.
In another room, Crocus tended to Jean Bart's wounds. He too was now on the path to recovery.
Time flew by. During the period Ryuuto was unconscious, Dragon, as a show of good faith, traveled alone to Onigashima in Wano and signed a formal alliance with Kaido.
The most heartbroken person in Wano was, without a doubt, Orochi. He had believed that with Kaido and the core of the Beasts Pirates away on Pluton, Wano would finally be his. He never imagined Kaido would return completely unscathed. Only someone who has had their greatest hope shattered could understand the despair Orochi felt.
Overcome with anger and fear, Orochi once again retreated into his cowardly shell. After all, Kaido was the true master of Wano.
As Dragon traveled through the country, he witnessed scenes of misery that pained him deeply. However, considering his newfound alliance with Kaido, he chose not to meddle.
Yamato, meanwhile, resumed her wanderings across Wano's various regions, continuing to do what she believed was right. Everything seemed to be returning to its own twisted version of normal.
In the East Blue, the sea level in Cocoyasi Village had risen by a full meter, submerging ninety percent of the village.
"We're running low on food," Nojiko said worriedly. She, Genzo, and the other villagers were gathered on the highest point of land, watching their dwindling supplies. They didn't know how much longer they could hold out. A desperate idea began to form in Nojiko's mind: to take everyone and set out to sea. If the ocean had claimed their homes, they would make the ocean their home.
Drum Island was also being swallowed by the rising waters. Fortunately, its numerous tall mountains provided refuge for its people. For now, their situation was much better.
The nation most affected was Alabasta. Its naturally low elevation meant vast swathes of land had already been consumed by the sea. As king, Cobra was inundated daily with bad news from every region, forcing him to constantly dispatch the army to rescue his citizens.
The same tragic scenes were playing out in every sea. Countless islands had already vanished beneath the waves. Such was the terrifying power of the rising sea level.
But for the common people, this natural disaster was only the beginning. A man-made catastrophe was unfolding alongside it. Sensing the rising waters across the globe, Imu grew more desperate. They no longer had time to even consider retaliating against Ryuuto; they began frantically deploying the Marines to capture ordinary citizens.
The construction of their slave bridge was still not fast enough. They needed tens of millions more slaves.
And so, the Four Blues swarmed with countless Marine vessels, rounding up shipload after shipload of civilians and forcing them into labor. The entire world was plunged into misery.
Of course, not all Marines were willing to blindly follow the World Government's orders. Many soldiers and officers could not stomach such commands and chose to desert. They soon heard rumors of a new organization rising on the seas, one founded by Sengoku and Aokiji. It was a group dedicated to pursuing true justice, free from the whims of the Celestial Dragons.
In a short time, its ranks began to swell at an incredible rate.
Meanwhile, Blackbeard and his crew took advantage of the global chaos, plundering anything and everything that could benefit them.