Chapter 243: Big Mom and Beast Pirate Assemble

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"The legend says that on Zunesha's back lies a massive kingdom, home to the Mink Tribe. You can see it—there is a kingdom up there!"

"My God… the legends were true!" the Marines gasped in awe. Meanwhile, those around Arashi turned to look at their Fleet Admiral in disbelief. 

They realised that just moments ago, their commander had somehow communicated with the colossal Zunesha.

It was an unbelievable moment—and even more bizarre was the fact that no one had heard a single sound.

Moments later, Zunesha walked past the massive Marine fleet, its enormous figure gradually vanishing into the horizon.

"Keep moving," Arashi said calmly. 

"We're getting close to Wano." The fleet pressed forward, leaving a long trail across the ocean surface.

.......

Wano Country – Onigashima.

"Zzzraaap!" A streak of lightning tore across the sky, casting a sudden brilliance over the otherwise gloomy island.

Tension gripped the entire territory—thick, suffocating.

Clang!

A pirate wearing an ox-headed mask swallowed hard, sweat dripping down his chin. 

Everyone's eyes were locked on the massive fleet slowly making its way into the bay.

"They're here!!"

"Quick, report to the boss! They've arrived! One of the Four Emperors—Big Mom—has reached Onigashima!"

Shouts echoed across the sky, sending chills down every spine. From the open sea several hundred meters away, a line of massive pirate ships emerged with the tide.

Their fluttering Jolly Rogers bore the infamous skull insignia of the Big Mom Pirates. It had been a whole month since the news broke that two Yonko crews would meet in Wano.

Don't mistake that for a delay—by Yonko standards, such coordination was lightning-fast. The moment Big Mom's fleet appeared, Kaido's forces on Onigashima grew visibly tense.

Though rumours claimed this meeting was just a "celebratory alliance," no one could predict the temperaments of the two Yonko. It was entirely possible that their reunion would erupt into a nightmare.

Thud thud thud thud!

A pirate messenger raced up to the top floor, bursting into Kaido's quarters. "Captain Kaido! Big Mom's here! Her crew just docked!" The words hung in the air, full of panic and urgency.

"Worororororo~~" A booming laugh echoed as Kaido turned slowly around. The pirate in the ox mask froze, stunned.

He had heard of the brutal battle that recently took place in the Flower Capital, where Kaido clashed with an elite Marine unit. 

What he didn't expect was just how badly Kaido had been injured. 

Kaido's massive, muscular frame was riddled with bandages and bruises, his neck wrapped tightly in gauze.

A dark purple bruise covered part of his face, clearly left from the brutal fight with the Marines.

"They've finally arrived… Had me waiting long enough."

"Linlin!" Kaido's deep voice rumbled as he slowly stood. Though still recovering, he moved as if unhindered.

He stepped forward, his top commanders—the Calamities—quickly falling in behind him. Outside, a monstrous wave of Conqueror's Haki surged across the Onigashima coastline.

"What is this overwhelming presence?!"

"Big Mom," Queen muttered, face serious. King remained silent, his expression hidden beneath his mask.

The pirates stationed on the island were trembling in fear, gripping their weapons tightly as a massive figure leapt down from the ship, radiating a terrifying presence.

"Mamama~ma! Kaido! Seems you've had quite the rough time, huh? Whoever managed to hurt you must've been pretty entertaining!"

Big Mom grinned as she spotted Kaido approaching the port. 

"I may be injured," Kaido growled, "but they're worse off."

"Hmph, after all these years, you've only gotten more pathetic, and now you want to ally with me? How laughable."

Her taunting drew nervous expressions from Kaido's crew. Rumour had it that this was a peaceful alliance, but her words said otherwise.

"I only asked to discuss something important." Kaido's voice turned cold.

"Do you even have what it takes to negotiate with me anymore?" Big Mom sneered.

The sight of Kaido's injuries had made her look down on him. They had long been rivals, clashing time and time again. A calm reunion was never in the cards.

"Linlin, you're underestimating me too much!" Kaido said, voice dark and furious.

"Then show me what you've got after all these years!" Big Mom laughed, reaching out.

Napoleon materialised in her hand. With a sudden charge, her massive form sprinted forward, shockingly fast despite her size.

Boom boom boom boom!

The ground trembled with every step. In a flash, she closed the hundred-meter distance, wind howling in her wake. Then she jumped.

"Let's start with a proper greeting, Kaido!"

It was hard to imagine this gluttonous, absent-minded woman could suddenly erupt with such overwhelming power and clarity.

Her eyes gleamed with fighting spirit; a smile of excitement curled across her face.

"Just what I wanted—LINLIN!!" Kaido roared. He raised his kanabo high. A surge of black and red lightning erupted from the weapon.

Raimei Hakke!

The sky itself lit up. Both crews shut their eyes on instinct. The two Yonko didn't exchange greetings with words, but with earth-shattering blows.

BOOM!

An explosion of pressure and energy rippled out. The sky cracked, black and red lightning intertwining in the clouds.

Those too close to the shockwave were sent flying, vomiting blood. Kaido's kanabo clashed violently with Big Mom's sword.

Behind them, the heavens and earth tore apart, leaving a visible chasm in the very fabric of the world.

"Too terrifying! The ground… the sky… they've both split! So this is what a battle between Yonko is like?" Pirates shook in terror.

Inside Onigashima's prison cells.

Drip—

A water droplet echoed through the damp air. An old man with a square jaw, shackled and scarred, suddenly looked up.

"That Haki…! They're fighting now? Garp!"

From the next cell, a raspy voice called out.

"Those two auras are clashing hard. Seems like even old rivals like Kaido and Big Mom can't just casually ally."

Garp turned to face the speaker. 

"Sengoku, are you okay?" Sengoku gave a tired nod.

"Still breathing. Not much more than that." He sighed.

"But it looks like we've only brought more trouble to that Arashi brat. Didn't just fail our mission—we dragged him into a new mess."

Garp shook his head. "Don't think like that. We both know Arashi's character. But how will he handle two Yonko joining forces, and don't forget…"

Garp's voice lowered. "We're deep in enemy territory."

If Arashi found out SWORD operatives had been captured and held in Wano, he wouldn't hesitate. He would send someone—maybe come himself.

But with how dangerous Onigashima was… who could he possibly send that wouldn't fall into the same trap? 

Would it even be worth triggering a global war for a few ageing veterans? They knew the answer should be no. They were old, past their prime.

Arashi had ambition and vision—he shouldn't risk it all for them. Even sending a Marine Admiral might result in devastating losses.

"If that brat is smart, he'll give up on us," Sengoku said solemnly. "Focus on what matters."

Karp opened his mouth, but no words came. Then, another shockwave rocked the cell walls. Their faces turned grim again. The pressure from the Yonko clash was unreal.

"That's not the kind of man my captain is!" A voice shouted from another cell.

"Coby!" Karp called out. He couldn't see him, but the voice brought a smile to his weathered face.

"I disagree with both of you," came another calm voice.

"Tsuru?" Garp looked toward the opposite cell in surprise. "I think Arashi might use this moment… to launch an all-out war on those two Emperors."

Her face was scarred, her limbs shackled in seastone cuffs. But her voice was firm.

"How do you figure?" Sengoku asked. 

"Sengoku, your strategic sense is top-notch. But you're underestimating Arashi himself."

"This is the man who defeated Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks—at the same time—during the Summit War. His power alone is enough to change the course of history."

"If he learns that the SWORD unit is imprisoned in Wano, captured by Kaido… he will launch a massive campaign across the New World."

"And if Rob Lucci managed to escape with intel…Arashi won't hesitate for a second."

"Phew…" Tsuru took a deep breath, her eyes sharp.

"The Land of Wano is one of the powerful nations Arashi must seize control of in this New World," Tsuru said. 

"Its resources are unimaginably vast." 

Her words left Sengoku momentarily stunned and deep in thought, while Garp scratched his head in confusion. 

He hoped, from the bottom of his heart, that his disciple wouldn't fall into greater danger because of their failures.

When forced to choose between the young and the old, the optimal solution is to abandon the "useless" elders—an instinct deeply rooted in Garp's heart. 

Yet Tsuru's perspective reframed the situation, offering another possible interpretation of Arashi's response. 

"If he risks everything for us," Sengoku murmured, "then he's a fool."

His eyes grew heavy with emotion as he felt the turbulent air around them and heard the frightened cries of pirates echoing through the cells. 

For the first time, the former Fleet Admiral's heart was shaken. By the justice he upheld all his life, and by instinct, he would've chosen to abandon SWORD.

The Marines' power in the New World hadn't matured, and starting a war prematurely would be foolish. 

The Summit War had seemed simple, but it was the product of over a decade of planning and the Marines' accumulated strength. 

So what gave Arashi the confidence to launch a war in unknown territory?

"Expecting Kaido and Big Mom not to join forces is wishful thinking," Sengoku sighed. 

"Instead, we should ask—if Arashi truly arrives, how likely is he to win? And how will he break into Wano?" 

Unlike the Marineford battlefield, Wano had complex politics and a vast landmass. A Marine landing would be challenging.

Gazing ahead into the darkness of the prison corridor, Sengoku fell into deep thought. To him, this was an impossible dilemma. 

....

Meanwhile, on Onigashima, black and red lightning surged across the sky, and a violent gale swept in every direction. 

Countless pirates stared in horror at the two colossal figures clashing before them.

The Four Emperors, unmatched on the seas, each had unique traits. Among them, Kaido and Big Mom shared monstrous, inhuman physiques, towering nearly three stories tall. 

Electric flashes crackled around them. "Ma ma ma ma!" Big Mom laughed. "You've still got fight in you, Kaido!"

"You're much more pleasant when you're clear-headed, Linlin," Kaido grinned. 

"You think I'm some crazy hag who's lost her mind?" Big Mom sneered, swinging Napoleon once more. Kaido didn't back down, raising his kanabo and striking with a snort.

"Boom!" The ground of Onigashima cracked open. The force was so intense that it knocked nearby pirates off their feet. 

As the two titans exchanged blows, the island's foundation trembled. Thunderclouds gathered above, lightning bursting through the sky.

"I heard you caught someone sneaky?" Big Mom suddenly shouted. "That's right! But they're no ordinary sneaks!" Kaido laughed coldly. 

"Their identity will blow your mind. It's why I'm sure the new Marine Fleet Admiral will come for them."

"As long as I hold them, he'll come," Kaido said confidently. "Now that piques my interest," Big Mom replied, halting her attack. 

A month ago, Kaido had told her they would meet to discuss something important. Later, he hinted at a war like no other.

Old allies since the Rocks era, Big Mom's curiosity was justified. "Then let's call it here, Linlin. What lies ahead will require our combined strength." 

Kaido drove his kanabo into the ground and sat down with a thud. His sudden shift made Big Mom pause, but then sheathed Napoleon.

"An alliance, huh?" she said solemnly. "Reminds me of our days aboard the Rocks Pirates… Don't forget, Kaido, you still owe me a huge favour." Her voice was sharp. 

"Wo ro ro ro ro!" Kaido laughed. "How could I forget? It's the foundation of our bond."

Suddenly, his face turned serious. "As for why I'm so sure Arashi will come, follow me." 

He began walking toward the depths of Onigashima, Big Mom narrowing her eyes as she trailed him. Once their hulking figures disappeared, everyone exhaled in relief.

"Did… did they just ally?" someone asked in disbelief. 

The temperaments of the Four Emperors were impossible to predict—one moment they were at each other's throats, the next they were allies again.

On the distant fleet, figures began disembarking. "That's…!!" 

"Katakuri!!" 

"Charlotte Cracker!" 

"Charlotte Smoothie!" 

"The Three Sweet Commanders—equivalent to our own All-Stars!" The Beasts Pirates grew tense once more. 

The Big Mom Pirates had arrived in full force—Sweet Commanders and thirty-four Ministers included.

This was not just a meeting—it was the full unification of two Emperor crews. No wonder the world was watching.

As Katakuri and the others arrived, a heavy silence fell over Onigashima.

"Heh heh heh heh~" A voice broke the silence. 

"Is this how the Beasts Pirates greet guests?" 

"A silent banquet won't please MOM!" Wearing a top hat and a pale yellow coat, a man with a candy cane chuckled as he looked around.

"Charlotte Perospero, eldest son of Big Mom, and the Candy Minister of Totto Land!" a pirate whispered in fear. 

"What's this? No food, no sweets, and no wine?" Perospero barked. "We'll be bored to death!"

The Beasts Pirates glanced at each other in confusion. But then, from their front lines, a loud laugh rang out.

"Hahaha!" 

"Of course we won't let our guests down!" 

"Boys!!" The shout came from none other than Queen the Plague, one of Kaido's three All-Stars.

"Bring out the best food and drink! We've been preparing for this feast for a month!" Queen bellowed. 

The entire island erupted in noise. Music played, food, fruit, and liquor were hauled out, and the mood turned festive.

In the prison deep inside Onigashima, two colossal figures entered. When Big Mom saw Sengoku and Garp behind the bars, her pupils shrank. 

"No wonder you were so sure he'd come! If word gets out, your name will shake the world, Kaido!" she shouted, her voice shrill with surprise. 

"Wo ro ro ro ro ro! My name already echoes across the world, doesn't it?" Kaido laughed. Then, turning his head slowly, he grinned.

"So? Ready to team up now? Because the one we're facing… is none other than the man known as—The Unrivalled Force of the World!"

Big Mom's eyes narrowed, but then she laughed with excitement. "Ma ma ma ma ma! How amusing! This is going to be fun!" 

Inside the cell, Garp and Sengoku's expressions turned dark as ink. 

.....

At the base of Wano's waterfall, an enormous Marine fleet lay anchored, encircling the island. 

Aboard the Warship, Arashi looked up at the thunderous waterfall before them, its deafening roar like a storm from the heavens.

"There's a hidden passage behind the waterfall," Kozuki Oden said in a low voice. 

"It leads directly into Wano. But Kaido and Orochi surely control it." His eyes flickered with emotion. After so many years, he had finally returned.

"The best method," Arashi said, eyes narrowing, "is still through the giant koi." 

He stared at the magnificent waterfall. It was a breathtaking sight, almost overwhelming. "But we have over a hundred warships and ten thousand soldiers."

"Using the koi would be slow and exhausting." Arashi paused. 

"There's a simpler way." 

"A simpler way?" Oden blinked. 

"What is it?" Arashi smiled and pointed at the waterfall. "Kuina!"

The swordswoman at his side immediately straightened. "Yes, sir!" 

"Use your blade to split this waterfall. Let every Marine see the path we will take forward." 

"You can handle that, right?" Arashi asked with a calm smile.

"Absolutely!" Kuina shouted. In the next instant, she stepped forward and drew her blade. 

"Hoo!" Exhaling slightly, she swung her sword with full force. "Ittōryū Demon Slash!"

A violet-blue slash burst forward, slicing the massive waterfall in half and revealing the shadowed passage behind it. 

The powerful wave of energy continued forward, crashing into the first line of Kaido's defences.

Ships shattered. Screams rang out. The first defence line of the Beasts, Pirates and Orochi's forces was annihilated and so, the battle between the Marines and the Emperors had begun.

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