Seven days later, on a deserted, uninhabited island in the waters outside the Kingdom of Flowers.
The sea wind, laden with its salty, damp scent, swept across the barren sandy beach, whipping up fine grains of sand. Crew members were nervously checking their weapons, the clang of metal especially clear in the island's quiet.
Although this confrontation would most likely be a duel solely between Kaido and Monkey D. Garp, and the fighting of others would hardly affect the outcome, no one dared slack off in the slightest. After all, no one knew if other powerhouses besides Garp might also arrive.
Kaido sat alone on a rocky outcrop by the shore, his thick arms resting casually on his knees. He tilted his head back and took a large gulp of strong liquor, the amber liquid trickling down the corner of his mouth, dampening the front of his clothes. This long-awaited clash made his blood boil, his heart pounding powerfully against his ribcage.
This was a fight Kaido had been looking forward to. He had previously fought Zephyr, but for various reasons, that battle hadn't been fought to its conclusion. This time, Kaido intended to properly experience the current pinnacle of combat power in the world. Though he had a rough estimate of his own strength, the Garp of today was not the fragile glass cannon of the future. Monkey D. Garp in his prime was undoubtedly terrifyingly strong. Therefore, Kaido was constantly adjusting his own state.
At the ship's bow, King and Queen vigilantly scanned the distant sea, closely watching for any approaching vessels. As core officers of the Beasts Pirates, they understood the significance of this battle all too well.
Especially Queen, who had even advised Kaido to leave before Garp's arrival, given that there was no absolute necessity to fight the Marines now.
On the sandy beach not far away, Bullet stood with his arms crossed, veins bulging on his muscular arms. His gaze was fixed intently on Kaido, a fanatical fighting spirit burning in his eyes. "Finally, I'll get to see the Captain's true strength..." he murmured under his breath, his voice brimming with suppressed excitement.
Urouge sat cross-legged on the sand, his massive frame casting a large shadow. He slowly rotated prayer beads in his hand, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips.
Moria lurked in the shadows, holding his new weapon—a longsword—and began to anticipate the coming battle.
And at this moment, out on the sea in the distance, there was also a warship from the Kingdom of Flowers. Aboard it, King Ramen of the Kingdom of Flowers, along with many of the kingdom's Water Army Pillars, were also eagerly anticipating the upcoming clash.
A sea breeze blew gently, waves lapped at the shore, and the entire deserted island was enveloped in the pre-battle silence.
Meanwhile, several nautical miles away on the sea, a dog-head warship cut through the waves. The canine figurehead at the bow looked majestic, the Marine flag on the sail flapping crisply in the wind.
Garp stood at the prow, his thick arms braced on the railing. The sea wind made his open shirt flap loudly, revealing his sturdy chest. He narrowed his eyes, looking toward the gradually clearer outline of the deserted island in the distance, his thoughts returning to Marineford half a month earlier.
Half a month ago, the port of Marineford.
The briny sea wind, laden with moisture, blew straight into their faces. Waves slapped rhythmically against the concrete pillars of the dock with a splashing sound.
Garp squatted at the edge of the dock, clutching a bag of senbei crackers, occasionally tossing one into his mouth, crumbs sticking to his beard.
"Garp."
A familiar voice came from behind.
Garp turned his head to see Zephyr standing a few paces away. The Marine Admiral's purple short hair was ruffled slightly by the sea breeze, his white cape flapping behind him.
"This mission to the West Blue to pursue Kaido," Zephyr's voice was low and grave, "I hope you can capture him alive if possible." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Or... resolve the matter directly."
Garp stopped chewing. He brushed the crumbs from his hands and stood up. "Zephyr, if I remember right, that kid Kaido is only twenty-seven, twenty-eight this year? Not even thirty yet? Is he really that troublesome?"
Zephyr's fist clenched unconsciously, his knuckles making a faint sound. Gazing at the undulating sea in the distance, his brow furrowed. "Extremely troublesome. Even at my peak, I might not have been able to subdue him." A strong sea gust suddenly swept through, tousling his purple hair but unable to disperse the profound gravity in his eyes.
"A former cabin boy on the Rocks Pirates..." Garp stroked the stubble on his chin, saying thoughtfully. The evening sun cast uneven shadows across his rugged face. "Always knew that kid would be trouble. Didn't expect him to surface so quickly."
"The most frightening thing is his growth rate," Zephyr recalled the battle not long ago, a trace of barely perceptible fatigue in his voice. "Less than a month after escaping the lab, he could fight me to a standstill. At his current age, if left unchecked, he'll become another Rocks in the future!"
"Puhahaha!" Garp suddenly burst into hearty laughter, giving Zephyr's shoulder a powerful slap that made him stagger. "Don't worry, old friend! I'll let that kid taste what my iron fists are made of!"
In the distance, the long, deep blast of a warship's horn sounded. Garp turned and walked toward the end of the dock, his white cape fluttering in the wind. He leaped onto the deck, and the Marine soldiers on board immediately snapped to attention and saluted.
Zephyr remained where he was, watching the ship's silhouette gradually recede. "I hope everything goes smoothly..." he murmured under his breath.
The evening sun cast its remaining light upon the sea, dyeing the entire port orange-red. The warship's outline gradually disappeared on the shimmering horizon, leaving only a long white wake behind.
The memory faded, and Garp's focus returned to the deserted island before him.
"He's truly unrestrained!" Garp clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking like popping beans.
Though aware Kaido's current strength was far from what it once was, he still hadn't expected the other to be so bold. Knowing full well Garp had come to the West Blue to capture him, Kaido not only didn't flee in advance but instead specifically contacted Fleet Admiral Kong through the King of the Kingdom of Flowers, then outright named this deserted island as the place for their decisive showdown.
"Bogard, you and the Marines on the ship stay on board later. Since Kaido dared challenge me, he must have some skill. After I deal with him, we'll round up the entire Beasts Pirates together," Garp said to his adjutant, Bogard.
"Understood, Vice Admiral," Bogard nodded upon hearing this.
Soon, the warship drew closer and closer to the deserted island.
At this moment, everyone on the deserted island also spotted the approaching warship and braced themselves accordingly.
"Wororororo, finally here? In that case, I'll start with a greeting." Kaido let out his signature "Wororororo" laugh and then stood up. His body began to rapidly expand and transform, and in the blink of an eye, he became a kilometer-long azure dragon.
This colossal dragon coiled and writhed in the sky, its immense draconic form almost blotting out the sky above the entire island. Its scales shimmered with a cyan-blue light under the sun, its whiskers fluttering in the wind, displaying an awe-inspiring majesty.
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