Chapter 18: The Family of Dragons.
The port of Hachinosu was covered in a dense blanket of mist.
Cold air drifted across the battlefield as Ragnar, Yamato, and Hayori fought countless pirates. Cries of battle echoed throughout the harbor while shattered stone and broken weapons littered the ground.
Yet despite the chaos, the Beast Pirates aboard their ship were not looking at the battle.
Every single one of them was frozen.
Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
It wasn't because of the pirates of Hachinosu.
It wasn't because of Ragnar's and Yamato's rage.
No.
Everyone was staring at one man.
His face had gone deathly pale.
His legs shook violently.
In his hands was a Den Den Mushi.
The facial features of the snail perfectly matched Kaido's.
Lord Kaido was on the other end of the call.
"L-Lord Kaido..."
The pirate struggled to speak.
Cold sweat drenched his back.
The entire crew trembled in fear.
After all...
Kaido had heard everything.
The insults.
The threats.
The mention of slavery.
The mention of turning Yamato into a plaything.
And what made it even worse—
There was silence.
No booming laughter.
No drunken shouting.
No amusement.
Only complete silence.
That silence was far more terrifying than any roar.
The crew wished he would say something.
Anything.
But Kaido remained silent.
And that terrified them.
---
Meanwhile, on the port of Hachinosu, Ragnar and Yamato continued fighting without knowing Kaido had heard everything.
BOOM!
Ragnar's claw slammed into a pirate's chest.
Deep claw marks tore across the man's body as blood sprayed into the air.
Before another pirate could capitalize on the opening—
WHOOSH!
Ragnar vanished.
Using Extreme Speed, he dodged a sword strike aimed at his neck.
He calmly looked toward the attacker.
The pirate captain standing before him had numerous scars across his body.
His eyes were filled with hatred.
"You monsters."
The man hissed angrily.
"Truly worthy of being the children of a Yonko."
"To have killed so many pirates."
He slowly raised his sword.
"My name is Boga the Slaughter."
"I slaughtered every one of my enemies to earn this title."
A cruel grin spread across his face.
"And now I might earn the title of Dragon Son Slayer."
Ragnar stared at him with a baffled expression.
"Tsk."
"You really think you can kill me?"
The next second—
BOOM!
Green energy exploded around Ragnar.
His claws became coated in draconic power.
"Dragon Claw!"
Boga's sword turned black with Armament Haki.
"I'm not like those fodders."
"I'm the captain of the Slaughter Pirates."
"My bounty is 200 million berries!"
With a roar, he swung his blade.
CLANG!!!
Sword and claw collided.
A violent shockwave erupted outward.
The surrounding mist was blown away.
Ragnar's grin slowly widened.
Finally.
Someone stronger.
A battle-crazed look appeared in his eyes.
The excitement burning inside him became obvious.
"Don't disappoint me, Boga."
BOOM!
He charged forward once again.
---
On the other side of the battlefield, Yamato was locked in a fierce clash against another pirate captain.
BOOM!
His fist collided with her kanabo.
The air exploded.
Wind roared across the harbor.
Yamato grinned wildly.
The longer the battle continued, the brighter the battle lust in her eyes became.
She was having the time of her life.
This life-and-death struggle thrilled her.
Her kanabo slowly turned snow white as frost energy flowed through it.
The captain fighting her frowned.
"That ice is really troublesome."
"It reminds me of a monster from the Marines."
His arm turned black with Armament Haki.
"But you're nowhere near his level."
BOOM!
His fist collided with her kanabo again.
Ice instantly began spreading across his arm.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
His Armament Haki flared.
The ice shattered.
Yamato snorted.
"So what if I'm not his level?"
"You think I care who that monster is?"
She pointed her kanabo at him.
"I'm Yamato!"
"The one who's going to become the freest and strongest woman in the world!"
Her voice echoed throughout the battlefield.
The pirate captain laughed mockingly.
"Jajaja!"
"Pathetic dreams!"
"You're going to die here!"
"So forget about becoming free or strong!"
He slammed his fist toward her.
BOOM!
The ground shattered beneath their feet.
---
Nearby, Hayori observed Ragnar and Yamato.
Both were fighting pirate captains.
Then her eyes shifted toward the crews behind them.
Dozens upon dozens of pirates.
If they interfered...
The battle would become dangerous.
Hayori raised Ame-no-Habakiri and pointed toward them.
"No one is allowed anywhere near them."
A large pirate stepped forward.
Joza.
Vice Captain of the Slaughter Pirates.
A cruel grin spread across his face.
"And who do you think you are, little girl?"
He licked his blade.
Beside him, another pirate stepped forward.
Tobi.
Vice Captain of Doda's crew.
He sneered.
"Worry about yourself."
The surrounding pirates slowly closed in.
Hayori silently lowered her stance.
Every muscle in her body tensed.
A pirate attacked.
CLANG!
Her sword flashed and blocked the strike.
Another sword passed inches from her cheek.
WHOOSH!
A few strands of hair floated away.
Her heart pounded violently.
One mistake.
One opening.
One second of hesitation.
That was all it would take to lose her life.
Her hand instinctively moved toward Enma.
Then stopped.
She bit her lip.
"No."
Instead, she drew her practice sword.
The moment she gripped both blades—
The pirates attacked.
---
Around the harbor, countless pirate crews had gathered.
Everyone watched the battle.
Yet nobody dared interfere.
Because someone important was already present.
Standing atop a building overlooking the port.
Ochoku.
The current ruler of Hachinosu.
Former member of the Rocks Pirates.
His face was dark with rage.
"That damned Kaido."
"Who does he think he is ordering me around?"
Veins bulged on his forehead.
"And those brats."
"They dare break the rules of Hachinosu and start a battle in my port."
Beside him stood another pirate.
"Leave it, Captain."
"You know Kaido is close to Linlin."
"And Kaido himself is a Yonko now."
"If he comes here personally like he said he would..."
The pirate swallowed nervously.
"The damage will be far beyond a broken port."
Ochoku gritted his teeth.
Of course he knew.
That was exactly why only the two crews responsible for starting this mess were fighting.
Everyone else could only watch.
It wounded his pride.
But he had no choice.
Kaido was no longer the rookie from the Rocks Pirates.
He was a Yonko.
Still...
Ochoku wasn't going to forget this humiliation.
His eyes shifted toward another man.
A man broadcasting the battle through a Den Den Mushi.
Hanafuda.
The very person Ragnar and Yamato had come to meet.
---
Back on Onigashima.
Kaido sat atop his massive stone throne.
The Den Den Mushi projected the battle.
Queen watched it like it was the greatest entertainment show in history.
"Kahahahaha!"
"Beat them up!"
His massive stomach shook with laughter.
King ignored him.
Most of his attention remained on Hayori.
After all...
She was technically half his student.
---
Back at Hachinosu.
BOOM!
Ragnar was blasted backward.
Blood appeared at the corner of his lips.
Boga immediately charged.
His sword descended vertically.
Ragnar crossed his arms.
Green dragon claws blocked the attack.
CLANG!!!
The force pushed him backward.
A thin cut appeared on his arm.
A drop of blood rolled down.
"Gahahaha!"
"What happened, brat?"
"Is that all you've got?"
Boga sneered.
Ragnar wiped the blood from his lips.
His grin only widened.
"I'm not done yet."
BOOM!
Both charged again.
Claw and sword collided repeatedly.
Shockwaves erupted.
Dust exploded.
The harbor trembled.
Neither side backed down.
---
Meanwhile, Yamato's battle had become even fiercer.
Doda was stronger than her.
He possessed both Observation and Armament Haki.
Yamato only possessed Observation Haki.
Her ice struggled against his Armament.
Yet there wasn't even a trace of fear in her eyes.
Only excitement.
Only battle lust.
Doda clicked his tongue.
"Tsk."
"Like father, like kids."
"You two are psychopaths just like that bastard Kaido."
He was genuinely irritated.
These two teenagers were much harder to deal with than he expected.
The thought stung his pride.
A pirate captain with a 200 million berry bounty struggling against children?
If word spread—
He'd become a laughingstock.
His eyes flickered toward the pirates watching.
He gritted his teeth.
Then attacked.
BOOM!!!
His fist slammed into Yamato's kanabo.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Dust exploded upward.
Yamato coughed a mouthful of blood.
Yet the grin never left her face.
Instead—
"MAHAHAHAHAHA!"
She burst out laughing.
"Those punches are nowhere near as strong as old man's Thunder Baguas!"
Doda froze.
That had been his full-power punch.
And she had tanked it head-on.
A chill ran down his spine.
"What kind of monster are you?"
He unconsciously stepped back.
Yamato wiped the blood from her lips.
The moment he looked closely—
His eyes widened.
Silver-white draconic scales covered her arms.
Transparent ice armor had formed over them.
Her eyes had become vertical draconic slits.
Combined with her regeneration...
The answer became obvious.
"M-Mythical Zoan...?!"
Silence.
The entire port froze.
Even Ochoku stared.
"No way..."
"What kind of ridiculous cosmic joke is this?"
"Three Mythical Zoans in one family?"
"This is complete bullshit!"
Then someone whispered:
"And both of those brats have Conqueror's Haki..."
The harbor instantly became silent.
A chill ran down everyone's spine.
A terrifying realization appeared in countless minds.
Perhaps...
The Whitebeard Pirates would not remain the strongest crew forever.
Ochoku's face twisted with jealousy.
Why was Kaido so lucky?
He had been one of the most valued rookies in the Rocks Pirates.
Linlin favored him.
Newgate respected him.
Then he obtained the Mythical Azure Dragon fruit.
Took over Wano.
Became a Yonko.
And now he had two monstrous children.
It was absurd.
---
Back on Onigashima.
King looked toward Kaido.
"Lord Kaido."
"Now that everyone knows about Ragnar and Yamato..."
"I suspect their return trip won't be as safe as expected."
"The Marines and other pirates may make a move."
Kaido remained silent.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
An overwhelming aura exploded from his body.
The entire throne room lost its color.
Blood-red lightning erupted everywhere.
CRACK!!!
CRACK!!!
CRACK!!!
Conqueror's Haki flooded Onigashima.
Beast Pirates collapsed instantly.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Page One.
Ulti.
Mariya.
Jack.
All fell unconscious.
Even Queen was drenched in sweat.
His eyes nearly popped out.
King simply stared in awe.
Then Kaido stood.
And laughed.
"WORORORORORORO!!!"
Without another word—
BOOM!!!
He blasted through the ceiling.
His body transformed into a gigantic Azure Dragon.
Thunderclouds gathered.
Lightning danced across the sky.
The majestic dragon shot toward the horizon.
"King."
"Keep an eye on Wano and Onigashima."
His voice echoed through the heavens.
Then Kaido disappeared into the storm clouds.
Flying directly toward Hachinosu.