Everyone stared fixedly at the captain, their gazes filled with tension, disbelief, and a trace of despair none of them could fully hide.
King clenched his teeth hard, his wings trembling slightly as he took a step forward, even while chained:
"Captain Kaido!"
Kaido, however, showed no hesitation whatsoever. His voice came out deep, heavy like an inevitable sentence:
"King… I am not Joy Boy. He is. That's enough… I'll stop here."
There was something final in his words—it wasn't just a choice, it was an ending.
Then, as if he were asking for something trivial in some random tavern, he added:
"Before that… can you get me a jug of wine?"
At those words, everyone—without exception—turned their gaze toward Luffy.
Silence fell.
Luffy stared at Kaido for a few seconds, his deep eyes analyzing every detail of the man once called "the strongest creature in the world."
Then, without saying anything further, he turned and began to walk away.
"Bring everyone. The fall of a Yonko cannot go unnoticed. I want all the people of the Flower Capital to witness this."
His voice echoed firmly, carrying a weight that allowed no questioning.
---
A short while later…
In front of the great gate of the Flower Capital.
The news spread like wildfire, and the people began to gather quickly. Within minutes, a massive crowd had formed.
Some climbed onto rooftops, others hung from improvised structures—anywhere was good enough, as long as they could watch.
At the center of it all, Kaido sat cross-legged, imposing even on the brink of death, receiving the stares of tens of thousands.
Beside him… lay a corpse.
The body of Kurozumi Orochi, tied up and already in the early stages of decomposition. His blood had been completely drained, and an unpleasant smell began to spread through the air.
As the new Shogun of Wano, Tama was also present.
Sukiyaki whispered something in her ear, encouraging her.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Tama took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and stepped forward:
"People of Wano! The man before you… is responsible for the shadows that have covered this country for more than twenty years!"
Her voice trembled slightly at first, but soon grew firm.
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Some cursed, others simply watched in silence, still processing reality.
"Today… we will execute him!"
She continued, raising her voice.
"His death will mark the end of this era of darkness… and the beginning of a new future for Wano!"
---
Luffy approached, holding a jug of the finest wine he could find in all of Wano.
With a light, casual motion, he tossed the jug into the air.
It spun slowly… until it stopped perfectly above Kaido's head. The lid opened on its own, and the wine began to pour.
Kaido opened his mouth and drank it all, without letting a single drop escape.
Before them, tens of thousands of eyes watched in absolute silence.
---
In a nearby teahouse…
Kozuki Hiyori clasped her hands, visibly nervous.
"Denjiro… is he really going to die? Is it true? I… I always thought Kaido was immortal…"
Denjiro nodded, his expression heavy:
"Hiyori… Lord Oden's vengeance… will finally be fulfilled."
All of this… was only possible because of that man.
Hiyori turned her gaze toward Luffy, completely silent.
---
Luffy gave a small smile and asked:
"Before you die… do you have anything else to say?"
Kaido finished drinking. Not a single drop remained.
He looked at the sky… and laughed.
"Uororororo… my foolish daughter… I'll leave her in your hands, Straw Hat."
"Didn't you want to kill her?"
"At first, I did consider it…"
His face darkened for a moment.
"But… in the end… now that I'm truly facing death… I realized I still care about her."
Luffy shook his head.
"That's called family."
And indeed… Kaido was never completely cruel to Yamato.
Despite her constant rebellion, she was still treated as someone special. He called her "son," respected her identity, and even allowed her to fight battles few would have survived.
The awakening of advanced Armament Haki… the combat teachings… none of that came from nowhere.
It was the direct result of her time with Kaido.
The only thing he could never accept… was Yamato idolizing Kozuki Oden above all else.
Whenever she said, "I am Kozuki Oden," Kaido wanted to crush her.
But he never did.
Perhaps… deep down, he simply didn't want to.
When he realized Luffy might be Joy Boy… he even considered marrying his daughter to him.
Maybe… just maybe… it was his twisted way of ensuring a future for her.
"I've drunk, I've said everything… let's finish this."
Kaido spoke calmly.
"But a warning… an ordinary blade won't be able to harm me."
Even without Haki… his body was practically indestructible.
Luffy raised his hand.
His index finger traced through the air… and space itself split open.
A black rift appeared.
From within it… Luffy pulled out a heart.
"First time killing someone like this…"
He looked at Kaido.
"Goodbye, Kaido."
Puff.
The heart shattered instantly.
Kaido let out a faint sound as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Even so… he remained seated, a wild smile on his face, imposing until the very end.
His eyes slowly lost their light.
And then… it was over.
---
At that moment…
A Devil Fruit was reborn.
The Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu—the legendary Azure Dragon fruit—reappeared in Luffy's hand.
"Master Kaido!!"
The members of the Beasts Pirates were in shock.
Even knowing it would happen… seeing it with their own eyes was something else entirely.
The invincible creature… was dead.
Yamato was watching as well.
Her face was empty.
She had fought her own father… hated him… defied him…
But at that moment…
She felt only a strange emptiness.
"Is it… over?"
She was free.
But… not as happy as she had imagined.
Perhaps… a little sad.
---
The silence lasted a few seconds.
Then, the crowd erupted into deafening applause.
Shouts, tears, celebration.
An entire nation being freed.
---
Luffy did not react.
He simply turned his back.
"Nami. Get ready. We're going to the wedding."
---
Back at the Flower Capital…
Luffy stood atop a raised platform, watching the people celebrate.
Then, he took out the newly reborn fruit.
Zoan — Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu.
Without hesitation… he bit into it.
Crunch.
A surge of power coursed through his body.
His heart pounded.
Without stopping… he grabbed another fruit—a Awakening Fruit—and consumed it immediately.
BOOM!
At that very instant… the awakening occurred.
Dragon horns emerged from his forehead.
His hair grew, becoming wilder.
Scales began to appear along his jaw and face.
Then, the Nika form emerged as well—and unlike before, everything was now white.
White scales.
White horns.
White hair.
Luffy felt it.
It was as if he had surpassed all his previous limits.
He smiled.
"Sun Dragon God Form."
That was the name he gave to that form.
A transformation unprecedented in the history of Devil Fruits.
---
"Luffy!"
Nami's voice called out to him.
He turned.
She entered alongside the remnants of the Beasts Pirates.
All of them were free.
The Three Calamities and five of the six Tobiroppo—except Drake—were there.
Upon seeing Luffy, all of them felt a chill.
Even without releasing Haki… his presence was overwhelming.
"Kaido is dead. He asked me to let you go."
Silence filled the air.
"You eight… tomorrow is the wedding. I expect a good performance from you."
"Yes, Lord Luffy!"
The eight of them knelt immediately.
Luffy gave a slight nod.
And then said, with an almost imperceptible smile:
"Now… let's begin a new war."
---
(End of Chapter)