Chapter 565: Worse

Queen escorted Big Mom to Onigashima to meet Kaido. The uncertainty of how Kaido would handle Big Mom loomed large. Given their shared past and the extraordinary nature of their relationship, there were concerns that instead of clashing, Kaido and Big Mom might rekindle their bond and join forces.

Big Mom and Kaido had been on the same ship before, and their relationship was deeply intertwined. Big Mom had once gifted Kaido with the Zoan Devil Fruit he now possessed—an investment on her part, not a mere favor. If their relationship wasn't strained, it was possible that Big Mom's arrival would lead to an alliance against the Straw Hat Crew.

The alliance now faced the possibility of contending with two Four Emperors. The situation seemed dire, and the prospect of facing both Kaido and Big Mom made the challenge appear almost insurmountable. Kaido and Big Mom, both confident and amused, anticipated a decisive victory over the Straw Hat Crew.

For them, the threat seemed laughable. They had already defeated Queen with ease. What could a few more brats do against such overwhelming power?

The Five Elders were equally concerned. The situation had escalated beyond their expectations. If Kaido and Big Mom did form an alliance, the alliance against them would be dwarfed. The current focus was on the Straw Hat Crew, which, compared to the might of the Kaido-Big Mom alliance, appeared insignificant.

If Straw Hat Luffy fell here, it would diminish his importance. The Fruit Luffy possessed was extraordinary, and if he proved not to be "that person," his threat would be greatly reduced. The Five Elders had a vested interest in ensuring Luffy's failure. His potential was far too great, and if he succeeded, it would have dire consequences for their plans.

The situation was grim. The combined forces of the Four Emperors were formidable, and the loss of Big Mom seemed to tilt the balance of power in favor of Kaido's side.

In Wano, despair took hold. The brief hope that emerged was quickly extinguished. The people questioned whether the crusade could still succeed.

Orochi, meanwhile, reveled in the situation. He had received confirmation that Kaido and Big Mom were together. The alliance between them seemed solid, and with Big Mom in Onigashima, the chance of any misfortune befalling him was slim. Orochi relished the thought of watching the Straw Hat Crew fall before the combined might of Kaido and Big Mom.

However, amidst this chaos, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Queen had been so focused on escorting Big Mom that he failed to notice the prison's liberation. Luffy and his allies took advantage of the situation. They freed the Wano warriors, including Kawamatsu, and regrouped. Despite Kid and Killer's initial refusal to join forces with Luffy due to past betrayals, they agreed to take part in the battle against Kaido, driven by their desire for revenge.

Tama used her Millet Millet Fruit ability to subdue the defeated SMILE users, ensuring the news of the prison's liberation didn't reach Onigashima.

The discovery that Kawamatsu was still alive and imprisoned was a glimmer of hope, but it was overshadowed by the overwhelming strength gap.

To make matters worse, Law faced his own crisis. After Luffy's defeat by Kaido, Law attempted to intervene but was stopped by Hawkins. Law discovered that Hawkins had captured all of his crew. In a desperate move to save his companions, Law agreed to exchange his own freedom for their lives. Hawkins accepted the bargain, freeing Law's crew but taking Law as his own captive.

The situation grew increasingly dire for the alliance. With powerful adversaries aligned against them and allies in peril, the path forward seemed fraught with insurmountable challenges.