Chapter 43: The Warlord Project and the Shining Sun
In the sky above Onigashima, Kaido floated in his Azure Dragon form. His body was battered and exhausted, yet there was not a hint of despair or retreat in his eyes.
Instead, his eyes burned with battle lust.
Above him floated Kai, wearing his Oni Mask. Twelve fiery golden wings spread behind his back, illuminating the dark sky. Akatsuki rested in his hand.
"You really are something, Kaido, to force me to use all twelve wings."
Kai was genuinely impressed. With all his talents fused, his strength had reached a monstrous level.
"Wororororo! Brat, don't underestimate me. I'm Kaido, the Beast King!"
Kaido laughed loudly. He wasn't afraid of death.
He had stopped fearing it when he was a child.
"You have earned my absolute respect, Kaido. Be proud. You fought me this far."
Kai slowly raised Akatsuki.
"Now let's end this and start practicing calling me Captain."
"Worororororo! Not so fast, brat! I still haven't lost yet!"
Kaido opened his mouth.
FWOOOOOSH!
Instead of firing forward, his Dragon Breath engulfed his entire body.
Kaido surrounded his dragon form in a massive, island-sized manifestation of superheated flames.
"Flaming Dragon Torch!"
"Karyu Daiko!"
The sky trembled.
The sea boiled.
Even the clouds melted from the sheer heat.
Kai grinned beneath his mask.
"Let's end this, Kaido!"
Conqueror's Haki raged around Akatsuki.
Kai poured Armament Haki into it without restraint.
Purification flames burned across the blade.
BOOOOM!
Akatsuki glowed in the night sky like a golden sun shining upon the earth.
Its light pierced through the storm clouds and even reached Wano itself.
Kai's size grew.
He stood there like an angelic god holding a miniature sun in his hand.
Below him hovered Kaido's massive dragon form, covered in world-destroying flames.
Kaido unleashed his Haki without restraint as well.
Blood-red lightning coiled throughout the gigantic construct of flames.
CRACK!
BOOOOM!
The sky itself seemed unable to withstand their presence.
Even the people of Wano could see the golden sun hanging in the heavens.
Everyone turned toward it with wide eyes.
Some fell to their knees praying for the end of their suffering.
Some prayed for food.
Some prayed for water.
Some simply prayed for hope.
On Onigashima's rooftop, Yamato, Toki, and King stopped fighting and stared upward at the two giant figures facing each other.
Yamato's eyes shone like stars.
"That's so cool!"
She clenched her kanabo excitedly.
"I'm definitely making my own super big and cool technique!"
Toki simply gazed at the scene with awe in her eyes.
'This guy really is something.'
To reach such strength at his age...
Even she found it unbelievable.
King remained silent.
His mask had cracked long ago.
The golden sun and flaming dragon reflected in his eyes.
His heart was filled with awe.
And fear.
'Will Lord Kaido lose?'
King clenched his sword.
'No.'
'He can't.'
'And he won't.'
In Udon Prison, the samurai and freed prisoners looked toward the golden sun and fell to their knees.
Ushimaru stood atop a pile of rubble.
Queen lay unconscious beneath him, bound in chains.
His sword rested upon his shoulder.
Ushimaru grinned.
"Hah. What a monster."
Even from this distance, he could still feel Kai's spirit.
"The future of Wano looks brighter."
The final clash between Kai and Kaido would decide everything.
Yet while the heavens above Wano trembled, another storm was brewing elsewhere.
---
Inside Sengoku's office at Marineford, Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino sat together.
Vice Admiral Tsuru and Garp were present as well.
Alongside them were Momousagi and Chaton, the two Admiral candidates.
Several veteran Vice Admirals occupied the remaining seats.
Sengoku looked around the room.
"As you already know, Kuzan clashed with Kuja two days ago."
His expression darkened.
"In that battle, we suffered near annihilation at the hands of the new Empress of Kuja."
A photograph was projected onto the screen.
Before anyone could react to the shocking statement, their attention was stolen by the image.
It showed Hancock sitting elegantly atop her giant snake.
HISS!
Almost everyone sucked in a cold breath.
Several Vice Admirals' eyes turned into hearts.
Even Chaton, who liked Momousagi, couldn't help staring.
Sengoku nearly choked.
"Ahem! As I was saying..."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Her name is Boa Hancock."
"She alone nearly annihilated an entire warship despite an Admiral being present."
The room instantly froze.
"This..."
One Vice Admiral's mouth hung open.
Kuzan's face remained covered in shadows.
This failure belonged to him.
Even with an Admiral present, most of the soldiers had either died or been turned into stone before sinking into the sea.
Sakazuki sneered.
"An Admiral losing and running away from a single woman."
His eyes narrowed.
"How pathetic."
"You even have the nerve to come back?"
Kuzan clenched his fists.
But remained silent.
"My, my. What a beautiful and scary woman."
Borsalino adjusted his glasses.
Tsuru stepped forward.
"Enough, Sakazuki. It's not Kuzan's fault."
"We had no information on Hancock."
Her expression became serious.
"The Devil Fruit is troublesome."
The image changed.
A pink heart-shaped fruit appeared on the screen.
"The Mero Mero no Mi."
"Also known as the Love-Love Fruit."
Tsuru looked around the room.
"The fruit's power depends entirely on the user's appearance."
"Anyone with impure thoughts toward the user can be petrified."
She paused.
"And with that girl's beauty, it becomes an almost unsolvable Devil Fruit."
Everyone became silent.
"By the time Kuzan figured it out, it was already too late."
"Most of the soldiers had been petrified."
"And only the user can restore them."
"My, my."
Borsalino whistled.
"What a terrifying combination."
"A Devil Fruit like that in such a beautiful woman's hands."
Everyone finally understood the threat Hancock posed.
Just looking at her photograph had affected them.
If they met her in person...
They might not even realize when they had been turned to stone.
"What a troublesome woman."
Momousagi muttered.
Even she had to admit it.
Hancock's beauty was unfair.
"That is why we need to deal with her."
Sengoku folded his arms.
"She is the Empress of Kuja."
"She has also displayed strength and Haki powerful enough to fight Kuzan."
Kuzan nodded.
"She possesses Advanced Armament and Advanced Observation."
His voice became heavier.
"And I suspect she has Conqueror's Haki as well."
The room froze.
"What?!"
Sengoku shot to his feet.
His forehead became covered in sweat.
What kind of nonsense was this?
Another monster?
Sakazuki's arm transformed into magma.
"Such a threat cannot be allowed to grow."
Just then—
SNORE.
Everyone froze.
Garp had fallen asleep.
A vein popped on Sengoku's forehead.
"GARPPP!"
"You STUPID BASTARD!"
"Don't you see we're discussing important matters here?!"
Garp blinked awake.
"Huh?"
He looked around.
"Bwahahahaha! Sorry about that!"
Tsuru rubbed her forehead.
"Sigh..."
"This idiot."
Then Garp looked at Sengoku.
"Is the meeting over?"
"I'm hungry."
"I want meat and senbei."
Sengoku turned red.
"This motherfu—"
"Bwahahaha! Forget it!"
Garp immediately changed the subject.
Seeing Sengoku's murderous expression, he wisely retreated.
"So."
He leaned back.
"Any news about the war between the Oni Samurai and Kaido?"
The room fell silent.
Even Sengoku calmed down.
"Nothing yet—"
PERU PERU PERU PERU!
The Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
Sengoku froze.
The room immediately became serious.
The Vice Admirals left.
Only Sengoku, the Admirals, Tsuru, Garp, Momousagi, and Chaton remained.
Sengoku picked up the call.
"Sengoku speaking."
A deep aged voice filled with authority came from the other side.
"Yes, Saint Saturn."
Sengoku replied immediately.
His back was already covered in sweat.
Why would one of the Five Elders call personally?
"The Seven Warlord Project is approved."
Saint Saturn's voice echoed through the room.
"Recruit Boa Hancock."
"Recruit Dracule Mihawk."
"And recruit any other pirates strong enough."
"The pirates are growing too fast."
"We need something to keep them in check."
"The battle between Kaido and the Oni Samurai will make the seas even more chaotic."
Sengoku clenched his jaw.
"Yes, Lord Saturn."
The call ended.
Click.
The room became silent.
Every Marine's face darkened.
As Marines, how could they willingly cooperate with pirates?
Yet the orders from Mary Geoise were absolute.
No one could refuse.