"Why?!"
There was no need for any explanation. Just the massive dragon's body weaving through the dark clouds, faintly visible between flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, was enough to reveal who it was.
At once, the faces of everyone aboard the BIGMOM Pirates' ship turned grim.
"Why is Kaidou here?"
"Wasn't he in Wano Country, busy wiping out those samurai?"
"Could he be after the Sky Pirates too?"
"What do we do now?"
In the end, Katakuri was the calmest.
"Calm down!"
With a sharp shout, he forced everyone to settle before looking toward the vast black clouds in the distance.
"No matter why Kaidou is here, we cannot fail the mission Mama gave us."
"Are we going to fight?"
Charlotte Daifuku's face was filled with fear.
This was the last thing he wanted.
After all, the man before them was a monster on the same level as Mama.
Katakuri thought for a moment, then said to Perospero,
"Try negotiating first. If that fails, we'll have to contact Mama..."
...
On the deck of the Twin Goddesses.
The calm sea was suddenly stirred by a rising wind. Yemu and Enel both lifted their heads, looking toward the dark clouds in the distance.
"So many people coming to welcome me into the New World?"
"Who's that?!"
Their voices drew the attention of Tiger and the others. Although Tiger and Erik had awakened Observation Haki over the past six months, their range still couldn't compare to Yemu or Enel—let alone non-combatants like Flare.
Following their gaze, everyone looked up and spotted the distant black clouds.
"Hey… those clouds… something's moving inside them!?"
After her training, Flare's eyesight had improved dramatically. Even from far away, she could make out a vague silhouette shifting within the clouds.
"It's Kaidou of the Beasts!"
"Kaidou of the Beasts?!"
The name triggered Tiger's memory.
"Captain, you mean Kaidou, the captain of the Beasts Pirates? Things are really lively today, huh?"
"It really is getting lively."
Before entering the New World, everyone had done their homework and learned about its major pirates. Hearing Kaidou's name, they immediately understood.
"Yemu, do you know this guy too?"
Yemu had already told them about his dealings with BIGMOM, so no one objected to the appearance of the BIGMOM Pirates or his decisions. But Kaidou showing up as well instantly piqued everyone's curiosity.
"No, I don't know him at all. But it doesn't matter. We'll find out soon enough..."
As the black clouds slowly drifted closer, it felt just like when they had first entered the waters of the New World. The entire sea was swallowed by darkness—thick storm clouds overhead, lightning flashing, thunder roaring, and violent winds surging.
Compared to the calm on the Twin Goddesses, the BIGMOM Pirates were far more uneasy.
Looking at the thunderclouds now looming directly overhead, they were certain Kaidou had come for Yemu and his crew.
Although relations between the BIGMOM Pirates and the Beasts Pirates weren't particularly friendly, the special relationship between their captains meant there had never been any major conflict.
Which made the conclusion obvious.
After all, the Sky Pirates were guests of the BIGMOM Pirates.
As their ship sped forward, it moved ahead and blocked the path of the Twin Goddesses.
On deck, Perospero and Katakuri stepped forward and shouted toward the thunderclouds above.
"Beast King Kaidou, what brings you here? Are you declaring war on the BIGMOM Pirates?"
"Boom…"
A thunderclap shook the heavens. Amid the rolling roar, the dark clouds rippled outward like waves, surging in all directions.
A violent gale swept across the sea, its force so strong that the weaker chess soldiers on the pirate ship were blown straight into the ocean in terror.
Within the storm, a deep voice echoed.
"Get lost. You're not my target…"
As the words fell, a massive dragon head, as large as a small mountain, emerged before everyone. With a disdainful gaze, it glanced at Perospero and Katakuri, then shifted its attention to the Twin Goddesses behind them and roared:
"Brat, hand over the method to extract Devil Fruits from Devil Fruit users. Do that, and I'll allow you to join the Beasts Pirates. Otherwise, you'll sink into the sea!"
"Oh?"
Yemu paused, slightly taken aback.
"So that's what this is about? Then allow me to refuse."
"Hm!"
The dark sea churned under howling winds and towering waves.
"Worororo, you dare refuse me?!"
As his voice rang out, Kaidou's enormous azure dragon form fully revealed itself. His claws rested on flame-like clouds as he floated in midair, his lantern-sized eyes locked onto Yemu.
"So this is a Mythical Zoan? Truly unbelievable."
"I never thought a creature like a dragon actually existed."
They had long heard from Yemu about how terrifying Mythical Zoans were, but seeing it with their own eyes still left everyone stunned. The legendary dragon before them was beyond anything they had imagined.
"In that case, if I can't have it, I won't let that old hag Linlin have it either!"
With that, Kaidou opened his massive jaws, and a torrent of blazing fire surged forth.
"Bolo Breath!"
"It can even breathe fire?! That's seriously overpowered for a Mythical Zoan!"
Despite the overwhelming attack, no one on the deck showed any fear. They even had the leisure to chat.
For one, they had absolute confidence in Yemu's strength. And more importantly, someone had already stepped forward to block the attack.
"Stop it, Kaidou!"
Katakuri shouted angrily, but it was useless. Kaidou didn't even spare them a glance.
Without hesitation, Katakuri moved, leaping into the air as he called out:
"Perospero Nii-san!"
"I know, what rotten luck!"
Kaidou's Bolo Breath came crashing down.
"Mochi Wall!"
"Candy Wall!"
In an instant, a massive white mochi wall rose up, coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, blocking the raging flames. Behind it, layer upon layer of thick red candy walls formed, also reinforced with Armament Haki, turning just as dark and solid.
"Boom!"
The flames slammed into the defenses.
Visible to the naked eye, the walls were burned and melted away layer by layer, yet in the end, they managed to hold.
"Huff… huff…"
Katakuri and Perospero dropped back onto the deck, breathing heavily.
Blocking Kaidou's dragon breath had consumed a tremendous amount of their Haki.
At that moment, Kaidou fixed his gaze on Katakuri and spoke with open admiration:
"That old hag really did raise a fine son. But it's a pity… the two of you still can't stop me!"
Just then, a peculiar laugh echoed across the sea.
"Mamamama, Kaidou, you brat, how dare you bully my precious sons…"