"Is that supposed to tickle?"
Bullet sneered, grabbing King by the throat and lifting him effortlessly into the air.
"You're even weaker than I expected. The two of you are hardly worth the effort."
What had the seas come to?
People of this level were worth over a billion? Considered top-tier in the New World?
Back in his day with Roger, only someone on Rayleigh's level deserved that kind of bounty.
"Kh—!"
King's face turned red as he struggled. He slashed repeatedly at Bullet's wrist, but his blade couldn't even break through the man's Armament Haki.
The gap was overwhelming.
Bullet clicked his tongue in disdain and casually flung King aside—straight into Queen, who had just managed to get back on his feet.
Boom!
The two slammed into the wall, cracks spreading like a web across the surface.
"Worororo!"
Kaido roared with laughter from his seat, taking a deep swig of alcohol.
"Well? Convinced now? Even I have to take this guy seriously!"
King forced himself upright, wiping blood from his mouth, eyes filled with shock.
He was bleeding.
A Lunarian, famed for near-invincible durability—and yet a casual blow had done this?
No doubt about it.
This man was even stronger than he had been twenty years ago.
A true monster, standing on the same level as Kaido himself.
"I acknowledge your strength," King said through clenched teeth. "If you want my position, take it. But remember this—Kaido is the ruler here. Watch your attitude."
"Hmph. Spare me the lectures."
Bullet's voice was cold.
"I don't care about your little hierarchy. Kaido told me Shane is coming to Wano. If joining you means I get to fight him, that's all that matters."
At the mention of Shane, a savage light flickered in his eyes.
Back in Impel Down, he hadn't gotten the chance.
Now, after fully recovering and pushing himself to a new peak, he was ready.
To kill the Emperors.
To surpass Roger completely.
And Shane—
The man now recognized as the strongest on the seas—
Was the perfect stepping stone.
His goal had never changed.
To become the strongest man in the world.
"Exactly," Kaido said with a grin, though a flicker of possessiveness crossed his mind.
Shane was his.
It had been months since their last clash.
Now that Shane's fame had only grown, Kaido wanted to see for himself how far he had come.
No one else was taking that fight.
As for Bullet…
Kaido stroked his chin, already thinking of ways to send him against Kuzan instead.
That former admiral was likely the strongest among Curtain Call's executives. King and Queen wouldn't stand a chance if he came.
Then—
A shrill roar split the sky above Onigashima.
A streak of crimson tore through the night.
A blazing meteor descended from the heavens, turning the sky blood-red. Before it even arrived, the pressure alone churned the sea below into violent whirlpools.
"What the hell is that?!"
Queen shrieked, staring upward.
King's pupils shrank.
Inside that burning streak—
Was that… a person?
BOOM!!!
The impact shattered the top of the Skull Dome. Stone exploded outward as the ceiling was blown apart, the entire hall torn open.
When the dust settled—
A massive crater lay in the floor.
At its center stood a tall figure in a black cloak.
Shane brushed dust from his shoulder and glanced around the silent hall.
"Looks like my timing's good. Both Calamities are here… quite the gathering."
His gaze paused on Bullet, a hint of surprise crossing his face before he smiled faintly.
"A new ally, Kaido? Interesting. This trip just got a bit less boring."
Silence filled the room.
Bullet recovered first.
His breathing grew heavier, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
Kaido hadn't lied.
Not only had Shane come—
He'd come sooner than expected.
No more waiting.
"Worororo!"
Kaido burst into laughter, the hall trembling with it. He tossed aside his sake gourd and stood.
"That entrance used to be my thing. Guess I've got competition now, Shane."
He wiped his mouth, baring his teeth.
"It's been a while. I almost missed you. But I said it before—next time we meet, it won't be a spar."
"It'll be life or death."
"You've come alone, into my territory. That means you're ready for war, right?"
"War?" Shane smiled.
"No need for declarations. It's already begun."
King and Queen froze.
A chill ran down their spines.
They rushed to the window—
But the sea was calm.
No fleet. No battle. No sounds of war.
Queen wiped sweat from his brow and forced a laugh.
"Nice bluff. If your forces were already here, we'd know."
"Wano's natural defenses make invasion costly," Shane replied casually. "I'm not wasting lives on that."
"My people are already surrounding the country. That's enough."
"As for the war…"
He smiled.
"Wano has seven regions, including Onigashima. So I brought seven people."
"That's all it takes."
Seven regions.
Seven people.
Queen's eyes widened.
If it were anyone else, he'd laugh.
But this was Shane.
"…You don't mean—"
King's face went pale.
"Curtain Call has exactly seven supreme executives now."
At that moment—
Den Den Mushi across the room began ringing all at once.
Kuri
Villagers peeked out from windows and streets.
"What is that?!"
In the night sky, a radiant figure hovered, glowing with holy light.
Eight wings unfurled behind her.
A golden bow shimmered.
"By order of Lord Shane, this territory is now under our control."
"Resistance will be met with death."
Ringo
Amid rows of graves, Kuina stood quietly.
Her gaze passed over the names—ancestors of the Shimotsuki line.
Her homeland.
She turned and walked away.
At dawn, the forces stationed nearby would be erased.
Ringo would see a true dawn again.
Udon
"Surround him!"
Pirates rushed forward in the prison quarry.
The man they faced adjusted his glasses, smiling gently.
"Life must be dull here," he said.
"If you could travel… where would you go?"
Hakumai
Marco stood before a weapons factory, hands in his pockets.
"Busy place," he said lightly. "Too bad it won't last."
Blue flames ignited in his palm.
"I'm no longer Whitebeard's man."
"I'm Curtain Call's seventh supreme executive."
The flames erupted, raining down over the entire facility.
Flower Capital
Inside the shogun's residence—
Kurozumi Orochi was drinking when chaos erupted.
A guard burst in.
"A man with sunglasses broke in—he's unstoppable!"
Before Orochi could react—
The window froze solid, then shattered.
A tall man stepped in, hands in his pockets.
Kuzan.
He glanced around lazily.
"Tight security outside. Guess the people never stood a chance."
Orochi trembled.
"Admiral Aokiji?!"
Kuzan looked down at him.
"Don't call me that."
"I'm Kuzan. A supreme executive of Curtain Call."
"I'm here to end your rule."
Cold spread instantly.
Orochi tried to beg—
But froze mid-sentence.
Kuzan turned away, gaze drifting to the falling cherry blossoms outside.
"I don't have patience for tyrants."
Seven regions.
Seven executives.
A nation—
Under siege.