The Nightfall Pirates were filled with powerful warriors, many of whom possessed the very Zoan Devil Fruits Kaido coveted.
Voss, Mobius, Laffitte, Slada, Mog Ratoon, and many others.
Although Kaido felt a degree of envy, the Beast Pirates were hardly lacking in talent themselves. Several members had already earned his recognition and possessed the strength necessary to serve as the Beast Pirates' banner figures.
King.
Queen.
Gates.
And the newly appointed Calamity, Lemor.
These five were already considered top-tier powerhouses in the New World. Even the lowest bounty among them belonged to Lemor, whose bounty had already reached a staggering seven hundred million Berries.
That alone was enough to make him a terrifying force on the seas.
Beyond them, the Beast Pirates still possessed many promising talents who had yet to fully mature.
Yamato, Jack, Maria, Page One, Utiel, and the rapidly growing Crayel.
Whether Mythical Zoans or Ancient Zoans, their abilities marked them as future executives highly valued by Kaido. For now, they remained under the guidance of King and Queen.
King oversaw combat training.
Queen oversaw education and scientific knowledge.
One was a supreme combat master.
The other was a world-class scientist.
The Beast Pirates also possessed two unused Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits.
One was the Ancient Zoan: Thunder Dragon Fruit, won during the Battle Pyramid melee.
The other was the Ancient Zoan: Pig Crocodile Fruit, acquired through a trade with the Flying Pirates in exchange for the Ancient Centipede Fruit.
Both were powerful abilities, yet neither had found a suitable user.
The future of the Beast Pirates was undoubtedly bright.
At least, Kaido firmly believed so.
"Have you found it?"
For once, Kaido had shown remarkable patience and remained at the Beast Pirates' headquarters for an extended period.
His gaze settled on Crayel.
The moment he learned Crayel wished to see him, he suspected the information he wanted had finally arrived.
"Yes."
Crayel nodded calmly.
"We've located the Elephant Lord."
Kaido's eyes immediately brightened.
He rose from his throne, resting his kanabo across his shoulder.
"Good."
"Then let's leave immediately. I've waited long enough."
"I'll accompany you with King."
Crayel had already prepared for this.
"We've had people tracking the Elephant Lord's movements. Once we arrive, we'll be able to move directly into Zou."
"Our primary objective remains the Road Poneglyph."
He was genuinely worried Kaido might spend half a day fighting, level half the island, and still fail to find what they came for.
"Fine."
Kaido nodded.
"Then let's move quickly."
He had little regard for the Mink Tribe's strength.
The two strongest Minks, Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, were still serving alongside Kozuki Oden. In Kaido's eyes, they were decent fighters but still far from reaching the level of true top-tier powerhouses.
That same day, countless residents of the Babarossa Kingdom witnessed an enormous Azure Dragon soaring into the sky amidst thunder and lightning.
They immediately recognized it.
Their king.
Kaido of the Beasts.
Over the years, Kaido had become more than just a ruler to many citizens of the kingdom. He had become a symbol, a source of pride, and even a kind of faith.
Rather than worrying about his departure, people excitedly discussed what he might do next.
News of Kaido's movement quickly spread throughout the seas.
The Babarossa Kingdom was a true nation, not the isolated fortress of Onigashima, nor a closed-off country like Wano.
Many intelligence networks quickly picked up the information.
Yet few paid it much attention.
Most assumed Kaido had gone off in search of another spectacular way to kill himself.
Only the Whitebeard Pirates became nervous.
They feared Kaido might personally appear on the battlefield.
Fortunately for the Beast Pirates, Crayel and King's departure went unnoticed.
King's deterrent value was too high to expose unnecessarily.
Hidden within Kaido's flame clouds, their movements remained completely concealed.
Far away, beneath endless skies, dark clouds suddenly gathered.
Lightning crackled.
Thunder rolled across the heavens.
The Mink Tribe living peacefully on Zou looked upward in confusion.The sudden weather change filled many with unease.
The seas held little fear for the Mink Tribe.
For years, Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had remained by Oden's side and rarely returned home.
Only a handful of Minks ventured outside each year. Even fewer ever came back.
What they did not know was that the Elephant Lord had been secretly followed for days.
Far below, ships bearing the flag of the Beast Pirates sailed quietly alongside the colossal elephant.
Nearly a thousand Beast Pirates had already been waiting.
The thunder overhead acted like a signal flare.
The Minks did not understand its meaning.
The Beast Pirates did.
Their Governor-General had arrived.
"Move out!"
Pirates wearing horned helmets raised their weapons and surged forward.
After waiting so long, they were eager for action.
Climbing the Elephant Lord's enormous leg felt like ascending a pillar that supported the heavens.
Even Kaido, King, and Crayel found themselves stunned upon seeing the creature's true scale.
The Elephant Lord was unimaginably vast.
Even Kaido's dragon form looked insignificant beside it.
Far above, they could clearly see Zou spread across its back.
One landmark immediately caught their attention.
A massive tree shaped like a whale.
"Let's create some chaos."
Kaido grinned.
"I'll attract attention."
"You two find the Road Poneglyph."
Without waiting for a reply, he shifted back into human form and stepped off the sky.
His body plummeted toward the island below.
The Mink Tribe called itself the Fighting Race.
Kaido acknowledged their strength. But his role today was simple.
Draw every eye toward himself.
The Road Poneglyph remained the true objective.
King and Crayel exchanged glances. Neither found Kaido's approach surprising anymore.
"Let's wait," King said seriously after transforming into his Pteranodon form.
"Once the Governor-General has everyone's attention, we'll move."
Then he looked at Crayel.
"Where do you think the Road Poneglyph is hidden?"
Crayel adjusted his binoculars and carefully scanned the island below.
"There are only two possibilities."
His gaze moved across the landscape.
"The palace."
As the ruler of Zou, the Duke naturally resided there.
Then Crayel shifted his attention to the gigantic whale-shaped tree.
"Or the Whale Tree."
The tree was a marvel of nature.
A living whale seemingly carved from wood, standing proudly above the island.
Something about it immediately drew his attention.
"Honestly, I'm leaning toward the Whale Tree."
King raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"It's treated like a sacred place."
Crayel continued studying it.
"Access is restricted."
"And a tree that large could easily conceal an enormous chamber inside."
"The palace is obvious."
"The Whale Tree is mysterious."
King nodded thoughtfully.
That logic made sense.
Something hidden for eight hundred years would naturally be stored in a sacred or forbidden location.
"Then that's our first destination."
"Agreed."
Crayel lowered his binoculars.
"And once Kaido announces what he wants, we watch."
"If anyone suddenly leaves the battlefield and heads elsewhere, there's a good chance they're moving to protect the Road Poneglyph."
Neither seemed concerned.
After all, in terms of raw power, even the entire Mink Tribe together was unlikely to threaten Kaido.
Meanwhile, the peaceful life of Zou was about to be shattered.
Boom!
A deafening crash echoed through the settlement.
A building collapsed.
Dust exploded outward.
Shocked Minks quickly gathered around the scene. Most had no idea what had happened. They had only seen a black shape fall from the sky.
"The Musketeer Squad is here!"
"Everyone move back!"
The island's security force quickly arrived.
Seeing their serious expressions, many civilians obediently retreated.
The Mink Kingdom was peaceful.
Incidents like this were rare.
Curiosity filled the crowd.
Unfortunately, what awaited them was not curiosity.
It was disaster.
The Musketeer Squad served as Zou's primary military force. Most of their duties involved repelling intruders.
After all, islands and buildings could be seen from afar atop the Elephant Lord's back, attracting adventurous pirates from across the seas.
Only elite Minks qualified for the Musketeer Squad.
Unlike the curious civilians, the Musketeers immediately sensed something dangerous.
An unfamiliar aura.
A hostile presence.
An enemy had arrived.
"Clear the area!"
The order rang out again.
More civilians withdrew.
At that moment, a path opened through the crowd.
The Duke had arrived. An elderly gray bear Mink stepped forward. Though age lined his face, his body remained powerful and imposing.
Among the Mink Tribe, strength determined status.
Ordinary citizens.
Musketeers.
Dukes.
That hierarchy had always existed.
The rise of Nekomamushi and Inuarashi after their return was proof enough.
"What happened here?" the Duke asked gravely.
His eyes remained fixed on the dust cloud.
A massive silhouette slowly emerged.
Then came a powerful gust of wind.
The dust vanished instantly.
A towering figure stood revealed.
Kanabo resting casually on one shoulder.
Kaido.
"Kaido of the Beasts..."
Shock spread across countless faces.
No one failed to recognize him.
Confusion quickly turned into vigilance.
Even if Kaido enjoyed throwing himself off sky islands, nobody believed he had accidentally landed on Zou.
The overwhelming aura pouring from him made every Musketeer tense.
This visitor had come with purpose.
"Lord Kaido."
The Duke's voice remained measured.
"What brings you to the Mink Kingdom?"
"Wororororo!"
Kaido laughed loudly.
"I'm looking for a red stone."
"I hear your Mink Tribe has one."
"Hand it over."
The Duke's expression instantly changed.
That reaction alone gave Kaido his answer.
Originally, this had only been a strong suspicion.
Now it was confirmation.
The Road Poneglyph was here.
"I'm sorry."
The Duke's voice hardened.
"There is no such stone on Zou."
"If you seek one, look elsewhere."
Kaido's grin widened.
"That's not your decision."
His eyes became cold.
"Hand it over."
"Or I'll destroy this kingdom."
Those words immediately ignited the anger of every Mink present.
"Get out!"
"Zou doesn't welcome you!"
Weapons were drawn.
Electric sparks danced across fur. Blue-white static crackled everywhere.
"Good."
Kaido laughed.
"Let's see what the Fighting Race can really do."
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
Cracks spread outward.
He charged directly into the crowd.
The kanabo swept forward.
Several Musketeers were instantly sent flying, blood spraying from their mouths.
"What?!"
"Attack!"
The Minks surged forward.
Electro erupted around them as they launched themselves at Kaido.
Yet after making the first move, Kaido simply stood there.
Waiting.
Testing them.
This was one of Kaido's twisted habits.
Before truly fighting, he liked seeing whether his opponents could even hurt him.
The Minks swarmed him from every direction.
Claws.
Blades.
Electro-charged strikes.
Attack after attack slammed into his body. Electricity flashed continuously across his skin.
Yet when the assault ended, not a single wound remained.
Kaido frowned.
"No pain."
"No itch."
"What a disappointment."
His voice carried genuine dissatisfaction.
"I expected more."
The Minks stared in disbelief.
Only now did they realize the scale of the monster standing before them.
This was not merely a powerful enemy.
This was despair itself.
The skies darkened further.
Thunder roared.
Lightning twisted through the clouds.
Then Kaido transformed. The Azure Dragon emerged once more, coiling across the heavens above Zou.
"Hand over the Road Poneglyph."
His voice echoed across the entire island.
"This is your final warning."
The Minks below looked tiny by comparison.
"Never!"
"We won't surrender!"
Many Minks didn't even know what a Road Poneglyph was. But none were willing to bow their heads.
"Then I'll take it myself."
Kaido's patience finally ran out.
His eyes blazed.
"Heat Breath!"
A terrifying energy rapidly gathered within his jaws.
The expressions of countless Minks changed instantly.
Run!
That instinctive warning flashed through their minds.
But it was already too late.
A scorching dragon breath descended from the heavens.