Issho and Wyper hovered above the sea near Peach Garden. Below them, two dark silhouettes grew larger by the moment. They were Kaido's ship and Big Mom's ship approaching fast.
Issho frowned deeply, "Hehe, they've arrived just on time."
He could sense formidable power from both vessels. After Rolan and the others left Peach Garden to head for Marineford, Kaido and Big Mom had appeared with their respective crews. Their intentions were clearly hostile.
As the two giant pirate ships drew closer, they finally stopped about one hundred meters away from Issho and Wyper.
Big Mom stood at the bow of her ship, grinning down at them. "Mama, call forth the current leader of Peach Garden."
Issho untangled himself from the air and stood on the sea breeze. "Miss Charlotte Linlin, please state the reason for your visit."
Big Mom's gaze narrowed slightly as she stared at Issho's broad figure dressed in purple. The aura he exuded was undeniably strong, rivaling her own. A warning flickered through her mind: When did Peach Garden gain such a powerful defender?
"Who are you? Do you represent Peach Garden?" she asked.
Issho nodded with quiet dignity. "I am Issho, and I speak for Peach Garden."
Big Mom's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Then announce this. From today onward, Peach Garden belongs to Big Mom."
Issho shook his head firmly. "I find that request impossible to obey. Peach Garden is a place of peace, and it cannot be surrendered to Miss Linlin."
Big Mom laughed, "Oh? So you think I am unworthy?"
Wyper, perched beside Issho, sneered. "What are you? If you plan to bite into Peach Garden, be careful you don't break your teeth."
Big Mom was taken aback. One had to know that she was one of the Four Emperors, feared across the seas. And yet this Pteranodon dared speak to her like that. Could he really have some backing?
She focused her Observation Haki outward. Observation Haki allows users to perceive aura and presence beyond sight, though it has limitations especially against obstacles not tied to living intent, such as environmental or hidden structures.
What she sensed stunned her. Between her and Peach Garden, a barrier blocked her Observation Haki from advancing forward. This prevented her from seeing past the boundary.
If Rolan remained in Peach Garden and set a trap with this barrier, she thought, it would be humiliating for us to advance blindly.
Her hesitation grew.
Just then, Kaido's ship pulled alongside. Kaido called out with his booming voice, "Woro wororo, old woman, why are you still here? Are you perhaps scared?"
A voice beside him spoke up, "Lord Kaido, there might be a trap. There is an unseen barrier ahead that blocks Observation Haki."
Kaido's eyes flickered with surprise as he activated his own Observation Haki, instantly confirming the situation.
"It's true," he said, "There's a block ahead."
He looked up at Issho and Wyper, sensing an aura as if one man stood against ten thousand. Their strength was undeniable from what faint aura reached him. But it wasn't enough to halt an entire Four Emperors crew.
Yet even Kaido hesitated briefly. The idea that two defenders stood before them and had established this barrier was almost laughable — but perhaps not without reason.
Issho's brow tightened as Kaido's group neared. Neither he nor Wyper had expected this moment: two commanders of the Yonko arriving to raid Peach Garden while Rolan's main force was away. It was pure madness.
Issho did not fear the Four Emperors. What weighed on him was Peach Garden behind him, a vast city that could not easily withstand a clash with two Emperors' crews at once. Any battle risked the safety of the citizens.
A silent sea breeze stirred the waves, and for a moment no one made a move. But a tense, charged atmosphere filled the air.
A seagull flying overhead was struck still by the aura, dropping into the water mid‑flight.
Big Mom studied Issho and Wyper carefully. She could only detect faint traces of aura with her Soul‑Soul Fruit ability, which lets her manipulate souls and imbue them into objects known as Homies. From what little she felt, she sensed their minds were prepared for conflict.
"Mama, I was hoping we could discuss this," Big Mom said, voice tense with restrained anger, "but you are forcing my hand."
Issho's right hand moved to the hilt of his sword.
"Zeus!"
At Big Mom's word, a massive dark cloud rose from her hand, then unleashed a great crackling lightning bolt toward Issho and Wyper.
Issho's eyes narrowed. He drew his blade and met the lightning head‑on.
"Extreme Weight, Horizontal Day Tiger!"
Purple gravity surged outward, meeting the massive bolt. The lightning deflected upward, exploding high in the sky and tearing a hole in the clouds. The force propelled Zeus backward as well, striking high above.
Big Mom's eyes widened in shock. Her attack had been countered, and even her beloved Homie had been injured by this defender of Peach Garden.
When did Peach Garden gain such a figure? she wondered.
At that moment, Kaido leapt from his ship, moving rapidly toward Wyper.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Kaido roared as he swung his kanabo, electricity crackling around it. The strike was launched with intense swiftness.
Wyper, already tracking him with his Observation Haki, reacted immediately. He thickly coated his dragon‑styled limbs with Armament Haki and met Kaido's club.
Boom! White electric light erupted as their clash shook the air. Compared to Kaido's calm focus, Wyper fought desperately, sweat pouring from his scaled brow.
He strained against the immense power.
"Haah!"
With a thunderous shout from Kaido, veins bulged on his powerful arms. Wyper was flung backward by the force, ejecting a spray of blood as he transformed back into his human form mid‑flight.
Just as he was about to hit the sea, a sudden rise of earth beneath him stopped his fall. He crash‑landed onto a jagged hill rising from the water's surface.
"Hiss! What powerful Haki! As expected of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors!" he gasped, staring up at the suspended guardian figures above.
The hill continued expanding, surging upward and sending massive waves rippling across the sea around them.
The two pirate ships rocked violently, forced backward by the seismic upheaval.
"Steady the rudder! We're going to capsize!"
"Secure the sails!"
The Beasts Pirates scrambled in panic.
On Big Mom's ship, the Homie with the human face was drenched in perspiration, desperately countering the shifting balance.
Everyone's attention turned to the rapidly rising hill of stone.
"What is that thing? How can it be so massive?" King, airborne near the mound, examined it closely.
Katakuri muttered from below, his pupils tightening as a formidable realization struck him.
"Impossible…"
^_________^
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