At the bow of the Dawn, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood face-to-face with the prisoner King, holding nothing back as he revealed his intentions to him without hesitation.
King came from a tragic background. He was a Lunarian, a people once known as the "Gods' Race," who originally lived atop the Red Line.
Yes, you heard right.
The so-called Holy Land where the Celestial Dragons reside today used to belong to the Lunarians. The ones who lived there back then weren't the Celestial Dragons, it was the Lunarians.
But due to certain "well-known" reasons, the Lunarians who lived atop the Red Line were massacred. The survivors were taken by the World Government and imprisoned within its biological research facilities, dissected and studied for the secrets of their race.
Yoriichi didn't know if, back then, Lunarian scalps were worth a bounty. Likely not, after all, to the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, Lunarians were far too valuable.
The strength they were born with had long since caught the attention of the ruling class.
As for why King viewed Kaido as a "brother" and savior,
It was because Kaido had rescued King from the World Government's lab. Kaido had been his one true lifesaver. King once even believed Kaido was the world's destined liberator.
Of course, Kaido proved not to be that liberator. But King still followed him, partly out of gratitude, and partly because, deep down, King believed Big Bro Kaido was invincible. Only the mythical "Joy Boy" could defeat him.
Yoriichi didn't spare King out of pity. He simply believed that someone with King's origins might carry secrets worth digging into, secrets that could be useful to his future plans.
But for now, King's greatest use was simple: bait. Bait to lure Kaido out of Riddridge Island and into a direct confrontation with the Marines.
Yoriichi didn't believe the Beasts Pirates had the capability to take King back from the Navy.
All this talk with King was merely to stir his thoughts. If there was no future in which deeper dialogue with King was possible, then King would ultimately be worthless to him.
Only pirates with value were allowed to live.
Worthless pirates had only one path.
For two days straight, the pirates on Riddridge Island had made no moves. Reconnaissance confirmed that they were massing, yet no ships were being prepared at the docks.
Their behavior looked like they were posturing, "We're coming to save King!", but no real action followed.
What use was gathering forces?
Without ships, were the pirates planning to swim across a thousand meters of ocean to attack the Navy fleet and rescue King?
That afternoon, Yoriichi came to the bow and, as usual, used his telescope to survey the island. The eastern docks remained eerily empty, with no pirate ships in sight. He frowned slightly, then quickly steadied himself and turned to King.
"King, looks like your Big Bro Kaido has abandoned you."
"Your so-called brotherhood crumbles before 'justice,' doesn't it?"
"I heard about your past from Master Zephyr. That bio-lab founded by the World Government…"
"It's gone now, and escaping from it was your own strength."
"But Kaido probably never cared about you. What he valued was your power."
Leaning against the railing, basking in the warm noon sun, Yoriichi began his "gentle persuasion."
"Huh… Why does Vice Admiral look like some big villain trying to sow discord?" Kyros, nearby, couldn't help thinking to himself.
"Heh heh heh…"
"Marine, Big Bro Kaido won't fall for your tricks."
"Your whole Navy operation is doomed to fail!"
"As long as Big Bro Kaido doesn't leave Riddridge Island, you can't do anything to us! Hahaha!"
Over the past two days, King's wound had scabbed over, just a thin layer, but it healed remarkably fast, shocking even some of the Marines.
Still, Yoriichi hadn't allowed anyone to feed him. Other than water, King hadn't eaten in days.
Though his voice was still forceful, it lacked the depth of before. King was growing weak.
"True, if Kaido doesn't leave Riddridge Island, things get tricky."
"Though I wouldn't like it, I could accept the failure of this cleansing operation."
"But you, King… your life will become a living hell."
"I imagine… you're the last survivor of your people, aren't you?"
"Once you're gone, that legendary race will be extinct."
"King, are you really content to die like this?"
Yoriichi tapped his finger lightly on the railing as he spoke.
Faced with this coaxing, King fell silent.
"Kaido won't come to save you."
"Pirate brotherhood is nothing more than temporary alliances for mutual gain."
"You know that better than anyone."
"Prepare yourself, King."
As he spoke, Yoriichi stood upright and began walking toward the cabin. He had only taken two steps when a surge of powerful Conqueror's Haki erupted from deep within Riddridge Island.
At the same time, a blue dragon soared into the sky over the island's center.
"What's that?!"
"It's Kaido! That's Kaido's Devil Fruit ability!"
"They're moving! The Beasts Pirates are moving!!"
As Kaido's massive dragon form appeared, sirens wailed throughout the Marine fleet stationed offshore.
At the sound of the alarms, all Marines sprang into action, returning to their combat positions within minutes.
Zephyr and Garp also emerged from the cabin and joined Yoriichi, gazing toward the island.
"The Beasts Pirates are making their move?"
Zephyr squinted at the enormous dragon in the center of Riddridge Island.
"Are they attacking us? Or retreating?" Garp casually picked his nose, unfazed.
Yoriichi's expression darkened. "They're attacking."
"The pirates are boarding Kaido's back."
Yoriichi's Observation Haki had become incredibly advanced, its range vast. Even though there was some distance between the island's center and the Navy fleet, he could still sense the pirates' movements.
Hearing this, Garp and Zephyr exchanged knowing looks.
So that's what Kaido was planning all along!
It explained why there hadn't been any ships prepared at the docks!
As they spoke, Kaido's dragon body began ascending with his Flame Clouds, then soared toward the Marine fleet.
From his massive form radiated overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, crashing down toward the ships.
Some younger Marines couldn't withstand the pressure and collapsed unconscious.
"Yoriichi."
Garp gave a warning, preparing to release his own Haki in response, but Yoriichi waved his hand.
"Vice Admiral Garp, if we unleash ours as well, we'll end up hurting our own people."
Conqueror's Haki collisions affected everyone in the area. As he spoke, Yoriichi unsheathed his katana and called out:
"Kyros, issue my orders. All ships except the Dawn, advance on Riddridge Island!"
"Purge every last pirate on the island!"
"Vice Admiral Garp, I'll leave that to you."
Yoriichi gave the command without hesitation. Garp nodded slightly and left at once. Kyros quickly used a Den Den Mushi to relay Yoriichi's orders.
Though the fleet had momentarily faltered under Kaido's Haki, it quickly regained order. One by one, warships began advancing on Riddridge Island.
These weren't just any troops, they were Marine elites. Even under Kaido's pressure, many were still capable of fighting.
Compared to the indiscriminate burst effect of Saturn Jaygarcia Saturn's Devil Fruit that caused "whoever looks explodes," Kaido's Haki was nothing more than drizzle.
The Navy's response caught Kaido's attention. Nearly a hundred officers on his back peered down at the sea.
Seeing the Navy mobilizing en masse toward Riddridge Island, the pirates grew alarmed and shouted:
"Lord Kaido! The Navy is rushing the island!"
"We have to return and defend!"
"If we don't, the island will fall!"
"Lord Kaido, please, turn back!"
Kaido ignored them.
His dragon eyes stayed fixed on the Dawn, still floating calmly offshore.
"Killing Yoriichi Tsugikuni and rescuing King, that's your only chance to live. Fail… and you all die."
With those words, Kaido ascended above the Dawn by over ten meters. Yoriichi watched quietly from the deck, eyes narrowing.
Just then, Kaido performed a massive barrel roll midair, flinging all the officers off his back onto the warship deck below.
In that moment, even if they cursed Kaido ten thousand times in their hearts, they had no choice but to fight.
Many were Devil Fruit users. If they didn't take the ship from the Navy, they'd drown.
Kaido had truly forced them into a corner.
Still, he hadn't completely abandoned them. After tossing them down, he transformed into his hybrid dragon-man form and dove straight for the Dawn.
Boom!!!
A thunderous crash.
The bow of the warship dipped hard, rocking the deck. Marines instinctively grabbed onto the nearest rails.
Water splashed. As the spray fell, a hulking man in scaled armor, wielding a spiked kanabo, stood before Yoriichi.
Kaido of the Beasts had landed.
"King!"
"Don't be afraid. I've come to rescue you!"
Kaido stood before King, his broad, solid back bringing tears to King's eyes.
But before the two "brothers" could savor their reunion, the Marines had already surrounded them. Mihawk and Kyros both unsheathed their blades, glaring coldly.
"Go, boys!!!"
Kaido raised his kanabo and charged at Yoriichi, swinging the weapon down toward his head.
At the same time, a chorus of crazed screams rang out as the Beasts Pirates' officers plummeted onto the deck.
Mihawk looked up to see a lion-headed brute descending, claws outstretched and clad in Armament Haki.
His eyes narrowed as he raised Yoru, the black blade, to block.
Just as Mihawk prepared to counterattack, a black slash streaked in from Yoriichi's direction and cleaved the attacker in two.
Blood rained.
Even in death, the officer's face wore a cruel smile. His body, now halved, thudded onto the deck and rapidly cooled.
Not far off, Yoriichi casually finished off another nearby pirate, then swiftly sheathed his sword and struck from the side, clashing against Kaido's kanabo.
Their Conqueror's Haki exploded on contact. Thunder roared across the deck. Black lightning crackled outward, shattering the planks and churning the sea.
"Hngh?!"
Kaido's kanabo was deflected. The force reverberating through his arms startled even him.
He knew Yoriichi was strong, and that his Haki was terrifying.
But even he hadn't expected his Devil Fruit-enhanced attack to be blocked so easily.
Even more humiliating, Yoriichi had cut down one of his officers mid-swing.
As if Kaido wasn't even worth his attention.
"This Marine…"
"Is extremely dangerous!"
Kaido raised his kanabo again and swung with both hands.
Boom!!!!
But before it landed, Yoriichi's sword flashed.
A slash, many times faster than Kaido, struck him square in the chest. The impact froze his breath, blanked his mind, and sent his massive body flying from the deck.
A muffled boom echoed across the battlefield.
Even the pirates locked in combat looked back in shock, Kaido had vanished.
"A monster like Kaido… won't die that easily."
On the deck, Yoriichi glanced in the direction Kaido had flown, then released his Conqueror's Haki and leapt from the ship toward the island shore.
Boom!!!
Kaido's body crashed into the ground of Riddridge Island, sharing a "friendly reunion" with the dirt, just like his dear brother King.
But unlike King, Kaido quickly rose.
A deep gash split his chest, but the bleeding stopped within seconds as his muscles rippled and scales shifted.
Kaido's regeneration was monstrous, far greater than King's.
His defense couldn't even be compared.
Yoriichi's raw attack power, even now, still fell slightly short of Roger at his peak. Oden could survive Roger's Divine Departure.
Kaido, empowered by his Devil Fruit and with defense beyond Oden's, could take a slash head-on.
But not indefinitely. Even Kaido had his limits.
"Shrrrrrrrk…"
Rising slowly, Kaido's face darkened.
Just one exchange had shown him Yoriichi's terrifying strength.
Saving King… wouldn't be easy.
"Hey, Kaido."
"Still in a daze?"
A surge of Conqueror's Haki descended overhead. A cold voice followed.
Kaido whipped his head around.
Yoriichi stood behind him.
"When, ?!"
Before he could finish, his vision filled with flame.
Yoriichi's blade struck again, slicing his chest. A burning pain wracked his nerves. Kaido howled in agony.
He swung his kanabo at Yoriichi's head in retaliation.
Yoriichi narrowed his eyes and vanished.
A second later, Kaido's kanabo smashed into the ground.
He panted heavily, eyes locked onto Yoriichi with renewed caution.
Yoriichi eyed Kaido's wounds, then shifted to his neck.
"Same depth… three centimeters. Maybe a different spot will work better."
"If he doesn't die, I won't be able to strike the same place again, he'll start dodging. Or run."
"So… what's the move?"
He tightened his grip on the blade.
Kaido remained tense, kanabo raised, not daring to move. The two stood locked in standoff.
The wind swept through, kicking up sand.
Meanwhile, the warships began landing.
Under Garp's lead, Marines surged into the island. Smoke and blood soon covered what had been a quiet town.
High above, the sun blazed.
On the horizon, a small black dot appeared over the sea.
After a moment of thought, Yoriichi admitted, he probably couldn't kill Kaido in a single blow.
So he settled on a safer approach.
Wear him down. Exhaust him. Until Kaido couldn't even run.
With that thought, Yoriichi raised his blade and charged.
"Damn Marine!!!"
As Kaido roared in fury, Yoriichi left another wound across his back.