On Onigashima...
"Owww! Dammit, that hurts! You bastard!!!"
The moment Queen regained consciousness, he was met with the searing pain of broken bones all over his body. He lifted his left arm—only to find that the lower half was missing. A fresh wave of agony shot through him.
"My mechanical arm!!! Damn it! That bastard...!"
A short while later…
Just moments ago, he had been cursing his captain. Now, Queen stood obediently before Kaido.
"Gururururu..." Kaido took a long swig from his sake jug, his voice thick with drunken amusement.
"Queen, that little trick of yours was pretty damn useful!"
Remembering the power that had allowed him to send his captain flying before he blacked out, Queen couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
"Of course! That secret drug is incredible! It affects rationality a little, but for us, the Beasts Pirates, it's a game-changer."
But then, he realized something was off. Kaido's face was growing darker, his expression stormy. Queen scrambled to explain.
"It wasn't something I created! It's actually an old project from one of my former colleagues. And… the only sample I had, I already used it. I can't replicate it. Right now, that drug is in the hands of the Charlotte Family."
"Charlotte...? You mean Charlotte Linlin?"
Kaido muttered, downing another massive gulp of sake.
Seeing his boss's attention shift, Queen exhaled in relief. He had no intention of taking another hit from Kaido's drunken Raimei Hakke.
"Gururururu..."
Half-drunk, Kaido's massive frame began to shift. His body elongated, his skin darkened, and a cascade of azure scales erupted across his form. In an instant, he had transformed into a colossal Azure Dragon.
"BOOM!"
With a single powerful surge, he burst through the skull dome's ceiling, soaring into the sky on blazing flame clouds.
"Queen, hold down the fort! I'm going to get it back for you!"
His thundering voice echoed like rolling thunder before his massive form vanished into the clouds.
"Kaido-sama!!!"
Queen clutched his forehead in frustration. Sure, Oden was a dancing fool, but that didn't mean he was weak! If Kaido left now, what about the samurai of Wano? What about that damn Kurozumi Orochi?!
...
The Kingdom of Prodence...
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!"
"That idiot threw a bomb! The head I just severed got blown to pieces! You're gonna pay for that!!!"
"Shut the hell up! That wasn't your kill! You were just cutting down civilians!"
"..."
As soon as Mizai set foot on the battlefield, he was greeted by his comrades' passionate bickering.
"Alright, boys! CHARGE! The people on this island? They're nothing but money in our pockets!"
"YEAHHHHH!!!"
A horde of pirates stormed from the island, rushing toward their ships.
"RUN! Elizabello II is coming!!!"
"Get out of here, NOW!"
Mizai and his crew charged headfirst into the chaos, moving against the current of fleeing pirates.
"Damn, that guy's incredible! He's throwing himself into the fight for us..."
"I'm gonna cry... What a hero..."
"KING'S PUNCH!!!"
A massive golden shockwave exploded forward like an autumn wind scattering fallen leaves, obliterating everything in its path.
"NANI?!"
The frontmost pirates, including Mizai, were instantly vaporized by the light.
Standing tall in his prime, King Elizabello II retracted his exhausted right fist, breathing heavily. His gaze settled on the bloodied Royal Guard before him.
"Regroup and fortify! We need to prepare for the next wave of pirate attacks. Send a report to the World Government and request reinforcement from G-5!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Elizabello II turned his gaze toward Dressrosa, his expression dark with concern.
"Damn pirates... I wonder how King Riku is holding up."
...
G-5 Base...
Inside the command center...
"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!"
Urgent distress calls echoed nonstop from the transponder snails.
"Vice Admiral Vergo—"
"Hm?"
The mere weight of Vergo's gaze made the officer freeze before he pointed at the transponder snails.
"Sir, are you sure we shouldn't respond? These distress calls are coming from multiple nations..."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is currently sweeping through Shiki's territory. The simultaneous alarms from these nations? Just a diversion. The pirates are trying to split Sengoku's attention. Our job as the ones left behind is to secure the rear. Understood?"
"U-Understood, Vergo-san!"
...
Dressrosa...
Blessed with natural defenses, Dressrosa fared slightly better than the Kingdom of Prodence.
"Soldiers! Admiral Sengoku is wiping out the remnants of Golden Lion's forces! In no more than two days, every pirate who killed our people will be sent to hell!"
"YEAHHHHH!!!"
Despite their exhaustion, the soldiers found renewed strength in their king's words.
Inside the temporary command tent, King Riku sat in heavy silence, listening to the distant, endless sounds of battle. After a long pause, he turned to his army's commander, Kyros.
"Kyros… We've lost all communication with the outside world. There will be no more reinforcements. By tomorrow, our final defenses will fall. As King Doldo III, I will die alongside my kingdom."
"Your Majesty, I can still take you—"
Riku raised a hand to stop him.
"Even when I disguised myself as the gladiator Ricky, you still defeated me with ease. No one understands your strength better than I do, Kyros."
"So... it was you, Your Majesty..."
After a brief moment of silence, Riku continued.
"But as a king, I have already failed my people. Dying with my country is the only honor I have left. Please, do not try to dissuade me."
He then looked at Kyros with a solemn plea.
"I ask only one thing. Take Scarlett and Viola and leave. Viola is only five years old. This is a selfish request from a father."
Kyros clenched his fists before replying in a low, resolute voice.
"I swear to protect both princesses. Consider it repayment for your mercy and faith in me."
...
Golden Lion's Territory...
Sakazuki, working with brutal efficiency, incinerated Kayo Island.
Next, he turned his attention to Raya Island.
A downpour of molten magma rained from the sky. The screams of pirates echoed briefly before they were swallowed by the searing heat, their bodies fusing with the lava.
Vice Admiral Onigumo stood watch over the coastline, ensuring no one escaped.
"BIG MOM!!!"
A colossal shadow loomed as the singing ship approached from the west.
"Contact Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Borsalino! BIG MOM is entering the fight!"
"LIFE OR DEATH!!!"
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg