Kaido's words carried a weight that transcended the physical force of his presence. It was a command that brooked no argument.
The moment he spoke, both Enel and Doflamingo ceased their hostilities. The lightning faded, the threads retracted, and both men reined in their flared auras. They looked up in unison at the figure floating above the battlefield.
High above, Kaido stood upon his flame clouds, gazing down at the two combatants with a look of genuine satisfaction.
First, he addressed his own subordinate.
"Worororo! Enel! Your progress brings joy to your Big Brother's heart. Do you remember, barely four months ago, you didn't even grasp the concept of Haki? Yet today, you stand toe-to-toe with Doffy in a battle of wills. You have proven yourself a well-deserved All-Star. I am increasingly looking forward to the day you awaken your own Conqueror's Haki."
Enel's vanity, often his greatest weakness, was immensely satisfied by Kaido's public praise. He straightened his back, a proud smirk returning to his face.
"Do not worry, Big Brother Kaido. That day is not far off."
In truth, as Enel's understanding of Haki deepened, he had privately begun to doubt whether he truly possessed the "King's disposition." But Kaido's unwavering confidence always shattered those doubts. If the Strongest Creature in the World believed in him, who was Enel to question it?
Having praised his Fourth Calamity, Kaido shifted his gaze to the Warlord.
"Doffy, your performance was excellent as well. I did not expect you to have already mastered the Awakening of your Devil Fruit. Since you have proven your strength, I will keep my word. When the time comes, I will give you the position you desire."
Hearing this, the tension drained from Doflamingo's body. His previously cold, expressionless mask softened into a relieved grin.
"Then I am truly grateful, Lord Kaido!"
"No need to thank me. You earned it."
Kaido waved his hand dismissively. In reality, he didn't care about giving away an "All-Star" title. He knew the future. When the gears of fate began to turn two years from now, Doflamingo would inevitably fall to the Straw Hat Pirates. In the end, everything Doflamingo built—his smile factories, his weapons trade, his wealth—would be absorbed by the Beasts Pirates anyway. Everything Doflamingo did now, he was unknowingly doing for Kaido.
Thinking of this, Kaido felt a rare pang of guilt. He decided to offer a bit of genuine advice to compensate for his future exploitation.
"Doffy, do you know why I chose you?"
"!!!"
The sudden question startled Doflamingo and drew the sharp attention of everyone else on the field.
Without waiting for an answer, Kaido continued, his voice resonating with authority.
"The reason is simple. I consider you one of the few truly intelligent men on this sea. You understand the core essence of this world: 'Only the victor can define justice.' But today, I want to give you another truth to hold onto: 'On this sea, only absolute strength can grant you everything.'"
Kaido's gaze swept over the gathered crowd—his All-Stars, his Tobi Roppo, and his soldiers.
"I am not just saying this for Doffy. I am saying it for all of you. I hope you understand the weight of these words. Alright! Today's melee ends here. Captains, remain here and continue your training. There are ships waiting to take you back when you are done. All-Stars, Tobi Roppo... follow me."
Kaido wasted no time. He gathered his core executives—the three Calamities and the Tobi Roppo—and departed from the Ancient Island. However, they did not head back to the skull dome of Onigashima.
Instead, they flew through a belt of thick, dark storm clouds until they emerged into a patch of bright, clear sky. Below them lay a magnificent volcanic island rising from the blue sea.
The island had a peculiar shape, resembling a giant umbrella.
It was a dual-layered ecosystem. The upper layer, the "canopy" of the umbrella, was a lush paradise inhabited by various species of giant birds. The lower layer, beneath the overhang, was a savage jungle teerning with ferocious terrestrial beasts. Connecting the two worlds was a massive, cylindrical mountain range that acted as the umbrella's handle.
Kaido led the group down, landing on a peak in the uppermost layer.
His astonishing aura washed over the area instantly, startling the local wildlife. Flocks of giant birds screeched and scattered in all directions, fleeing the presence of the dragon.
Most of the group looked around in confusion. With the exception of King and Jack, none of them knew why Kaido had brought them to this strange, isolated place.
Kaido didn't explain immediately. He shifted back into his human form, his heavy kanabo resting on his shoulder. He glanced at Jack and gave a subtle wink.
Jack nodded, understanding the signal. He raised a massive pinky finger to his lips and blew a sharp, piercing whistle.
Fweeeee!
The sound cut through the air.
Instantly, the forest canopy rustled violently. To the delight of Ulti and the surprise of the others, five majestic shapes burst from the trees, their wings beating against the wind.
Leading the formation was a familiar beast: Jack's personal mount, the massive, three-headed red fire dragon.
Flanking it were six smaller dragons. Unlike Jack's hydra-like beast, these possessed only a single head each. They were vibrant and distinct, colored red, blue, green, purple, pink, and gold. Their design was sleek and powerful, resembling the classic Western dragons of myth.
Led by the three-headed alpha, the six smaller dragons descended and landed in front of Kaido and his executives.
Even these "small" dragons were massive, dwarfing the humans standing before them.
"So cute!" Ulti squealed, her eyes sparkling. "Father, what is this?!"
"Worororo!"
Kaido laughed heartily, gesturing to the beasts.
"These are artificial creatures created by Queen's science. I call them: Sky Walkers. Aside from myself, King, and Enel, none of you possess the ability of flight. Furthermore, as Devil Fruit users, the sea is a death trap for you. These dragons are the solution. Queen engineered them specifically to match your preferred colors. They will cover your weakness in mobility. The largest one belongs to Jack, but the rest... divide them among yourselves!"
Before his voice had even faded, Ulti let out a cheer.
"Mine!"
She pounced forward, leaping onto the back of the blue dragon. She threw her arms around its long neck, rubbing her cheek against its scales.
"So cute, so cute!"
The blue dragon chirped happily, seemingly accepting her instantly.
The others looked eager, though they maintained more dignity than Ulti.
"Go on," Kaido urged. "Don't be shy. Get familiar with them. From today on, you are responsible for feeding them and building a bond. They are your partners now. According to Queen, they have the potential to grow up to three hundred meters in length."
With permission granted, the Tobi Roppo and executives rushed to claim their mounts.
Who's-Who claimed the red dragon, matching his attire. Sasaki took the sturdy green dragon. Page One moved to the purple dragon, while Black Maria—implied by the "Reiju" error in the source—took the pink one. The golden dragon went to the final member.
Clearly, everyone was incredibly satisfied with the gift. To have a legendary dragon as a personal mount was not only practical for travel but undeniably cool. It was a status symbol worthy of the Beasts Pirates.
After giving them some time to bond with their new companions, Kaido led the group down the central mountain to the lower level, stopping at the rocky coast.
This time, Kaido tossed a small device resembling a remote control to Sasaki.
Sasaki caught it, looking puzzled.
"Next is for you, Sasaki," Kaido said, his voice serious. "Do you remember the promise I made you? You are the commander of the Beasts Pirates' Armored Division. Now, I am officially entrusting you with our newest scientific unit: the Sea Beast Weapons."
Sasaki froze. He looked from the remote to Kaido, his eyes welling up with emotion.
Just hours ago, he had been reprimanded by Kaido for mocking his fellow crewmates. He had assumed Kaido was disappointed in him, perhaps even reconsidering his rank. He never expected to be given command of such a critical asset so soon.
"Big Brother Kaido..." Sasaki stammered, clutching the remote. "I'm sorry. I... I disappointed you today..."
"Worororo..."
Kaido laughed, a warm, rumbling sound.
"No, Sasaki. Listen to me—all of you." Kaido's expression softened, looking at his gathered "children."
"The reason I criticize you is not out of disappointment. It is out of concern. I am your Big Brother, your Father. I do not want you to underestimate your enemies because of pride or complacency. That path leads only to death. I am strict with you now because the road ahead is filled with monsters. We cannot afford mistakes. Do you understand?"
The executives stood straighter, their loyalty burning brighter than ever.
"Understood!!!"
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