Chapter 89: Kaido Plans! Impel Down, Yamato Betrothed to Ian?
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"So, King of the Beasts, Kaido's right-hand man, what brings you here?" Borsalino, after exchanging a few sword blows with King the Conflagration, knew he could defeat the Calamity, but it would take time. It was the same awkward stalemate as an Admiral facing a Yonko: one Admiral couldn't win, but two could. The same applied to a Yonko's Commanders and the Calamities.
They weren't like the weakling subordinates of the Warlords, whom he could sweep aside single-handedly. It was hard to say whether a Calamity, a Sweet Commander, or a Warlord was stronger.
This balance of power was precisely why the Marines needed seven Warlords to offset the four Emperors.
Together, the Warlords were equivalent to a single Yonko crew, and Marine Headquarters could, with difficulty, face two Emperors simultaneously. Facing three would be certain defeat.
"The cargo on that ship." King's deep, resonant voice replied. With Doflamingo and the Donquixote Family's downfall, their dealings with the Beasts Pirates were now public knowledge.
There was no point in hiding anything. His gaze was fixed on the two large, crimson chests adorned with circular patterns on the warship's deck. The Beasts Pirates relied heavily on Doflamingo's supply of SMILE Devil Fruits to bolster their ranks with Zoan-type users.
"Well, well, another charge added to Doflamingo's list of crimes." Borsalino drawled, his lips curled into a sly grin. When they raided Dressrosa…
…they discovered a vast underground port filled with ships, weapons, and various contraband, all being transported to different locations.
They finally understood the extent of Doflamingo's influence in the underworld. Naturally, they confiscated everything, adding it to the Marines' resources. If the supplies Doflamingo had provided to Crocodile and other factions were enough to sustain a Marine base for a year, then the spoils from Dressrosa…
…were enough to sustain Marine Headquarters for an entire year. Such was the power and influence of Doflamingo.
He practically controlled the entire underworld. After this incident, the underworld would likely descend into chaos. But that was hardly the Marines' concern. As upholders of justice and light…
…chaos was simply an opportunity. They would dispatch forces to quell the unrest, and the resulting spoils would further enrich the Marines. As for the SMILE fruits, Borsalino was surprised to discover they were originally developed by Vegapunk, the World Government's lead scientist. A thorough investigation…
…revealed the involvement of Caesar Clown, the Stray scientist. Caesar's secret research into gigantification had been discovered by Vegapunk. Despite warnings, he persisted, eventually stealing Vegapunk's artificial Devil Fruit research, the very fruit Momonosuke had consumed out of hunger.
The Artificial Devil Fruit, a replica of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. He had actually succeeded, though the side effects were numerous.
Capturing a Yonko Commander was a significant achievement. Borsalino's kicks and swordsmanship clashed with King's, creating massive shockwaves that sent towering waves crashing against the warship. However, they weren't enough to capsize it. Just as Borsalino thought victory was within his grasp, King unleashed his Devil Fruit power, transforming into a massive, black Pteranodon. A fiery breath attack forced Borsalino back.
After defeating several Marines, King snatched the two chests in his claws and, with the aerial advantage of his Pteranodon form, soared towards Kaido's territory. Borsalino realized his mistake. As one of Kaido's Calamities, how could King not be a Zoan-type user, an Ancient Zoan at that?
Speaking of Ancient Zoans, the promising Marine X Drake had also been tasked with infiltrating the Beasts Pirates. He would feign defection, build a reputation for himself, and then join Kaido's crew as a spy. He had already completed the first two steps, currently working on the final stage in the West Blue.
He would eventually succeed, becoming one of the Tobiroppo, the Flying Six. After all, he possessed an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, second only to Mythical Zoans in rarity, his Allosaurus form surpassing the common cow, cat, dog, and other animal forms.
"Oh well, with Caesar Clown in our custody, we can always create more SMILE fruits." Borsalino shrugged, his usual nonchalance returning. While his speed was unmatched, it was hindered in the air. This was likely why Kaido had sent only King. If Queen or Jack had accompanied him…
…it would have escalated into a full-blown war with the Marines. This was evident in the original story, when Big Mom attempted to scale Wano's waterfall. Borsalino had effortlessly crossed half the country, arriving from Onigashima just in time to kick Big Mom's ship back into the sea.
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Several hours earlier…
Kaido, in a fit of inexplicable recklessness, had engaged in a world-shaking battle with the Red Hair Pirates. As usual, it ended with Kaido's defeat. While he could likely exhaust Shanks, he was alone, challenging an entire Yonko crew.
Even Kaido, in his immense strength, couldn't single-handedly defeat a Yonko crew. His numerous defeats were mostly due to exhaustion after challenging entire crews or the Marines alone.
Though Kaido had lost, the Red Hair Pirates couldn't inflict any lasting damage. They could only watch as he retreated. Several days later, Kaido returned to his territory and learned of Doflamingo's capture. The incident had occurred while he was away, challenging Shanks. Kaido was enraged.
How could he, the "King of the Beasts", tolerate such an affront?
If he did, he wouldn't be the fearsome Yonko, the "Strongest Creature in the World". A king's fury could bring devastation, an Emperor's wrath could overturn the sea itself.
With Doflamingo captured, his supply of SMILE fruits was cut off. He was obsessed with creating an army of Zoan-type users.
"That damn Black Wing again!" Kaido roared, his voice echoing through his territory. His subordinates trembled, too terrified to speak.
"It seems they've forgotten me. Fine. It's time to remind them. Prepare for war!"
A sinister grin spread across Kaido's face. His terrifying aura sent shivers down the spines of his crew. When Ian had defeated Moria…
…Ian had clashed with Mihawk, creating a ripple of shock throughout the world. Kaido hadn't paid much attention.
He had considered recruiting Ian, offering him significant rewards, even his daughter Yamato's hand in marriage. Both possessed Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits, guaranteeing their positions above the Calamities.
Ian could even become a Yonko, ensuring a powerful successor when Kaido grew old. This talented individual was worthy of his daughter. After all, a Devil Fruit's power depended on the user. A weakling could waste even the most powerful fruit…
…while a genius could turn even the most mundane ability into a devastating weapon. But when Ian joined the Marines, his thoughts shifted towards eliminating him and claiming his Devil Fruit.
After all, a Marine dog, even if he later defected, would never be granted true power. Who knew when he might betray them?
In truth, the Donquixote Family and the Warlords' influence paled in comparison to a Yonko. Any single Emperor could easily crush them. They weren't even on the same level.
A Yonko's actions could shake the world, sending ripples of fear and anticipation through countless hearts. This time, the world was truly in for a shock.
On one hand, they were awed by Ian's strength. Defeating Moria and Crocodile could have been attributed to luck or strategic advantages. But defeating Doflamingo and holding his own against Mihawk proved his true power.
No one could be that lucky, constantly defying the odds, except for Luffy and his crew, shielded by plot armor, and Buggy, the master of absurd luck. Now, there was a newcomer, a transmigrator, whose presence had overshadowed them all.
"What are your orders?" King's deep voice rumbled. His imposing figure, with his black feathered wings, masked face, and flames erupting from his head, made him the most demonic figure in the world, after Ian and Magellan. If anyone resented Ian's presence…
…it was the Calamities. The Tobiroppo were beneath them, posing no threat. But Ian's arrival could potentially displace one of them from their position as Kaido's right-hand man. One of them would become a stepping stone for Ian's rise, despite their own formidable Ancient Zoan powers. Ian, like Kaido and Sengoku, possessed a Mythical Zoan.
Only King, the ever-loyal subordinate, even dared to summon the Tobiroppo in Kaido's name, an act that Kaido hadn't even reprimanded.
"Two-pronged approach. King, you go to Dressrosa and retrieve the remaining SMILE fruits. Then, we'll see if we can Enhance them ourselves. I'm going to Impel Down."
"It's time to remind the Marines of a Yonko's power. There are many Devil Fruit users imprisoned there. If they escape, I wouldn't mind adding them to my crew."
"..." A deathly silence filled the air. Many could hear Kaido's heavy breathing, like distant thunder. The World Government imprisoned countless dangerous criminals in Impel Down's infinite hell…
…but they refrained from executing them for a specific reason. Most of those prisoners possessed powerful Devil Fruits. If they were all executed, those fruits would resurface, potentially causing even greater chaos and destruction.
A storm of unimaginable scale was brewing, threatening to engulf the world. And it was all thanks to Ian, who had provoked Kaido by capturing Doflamingo, shattering his dream of an all-Zoan crew.
If Kaido knew this was all part of Ian's plan, would he reconsider? Of course not. He was a Yonko, a ruler of the New World.
Fear was not in his vocabulary. He might even be thrilled by the challenge, the prospect of a worthy opponent.
As Kaido finished speaking, his crew felt another wave of oppressive aura emanating from him, the undeniable presence of a king. He drained the last drop from his sake bottle and smashed it on the ground, his body enveloped in a blinding white light.
"Roar!" A deafening roar shook Onigashima as he transformed into a massive, azure dragon, his power the pinnacle of the animal kingdom, his presence the undeniable authority of a king. Every Zoan-type user present felt the primal instinct to submit, the weight of his dominance pressing down on their very souls.
The colossal dragon ascended into the sky, tearing a hole through Onigashima's roof, dark clouds gathering above, lightning crackling through the air like the harbingers of the apocalypse.
The azure dragon soared through the sky, riding the storm clouds, its silhouette framed by the black lightning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
"Jack, Guard Onigashima." King addressed Jack the Drought, another towering figure wearing a mask. Queen the Plague had likely gone to Udon to entertain the prisoners.
He would probably end up carousing with Kurozumi Orochi in the Flower Capital later. Currently, only Jack was available. Even if he could overpower the Tobiroppo, they wouldn't obey his commands. They were too focused on vying for a Calamity position.
King sprinted towards the edge of Onigashima and leaped into the air, transforming into a massive, black Pteranodon, his flames blending seamlessly with the dark clouds. While Kaido's dragon form was more visually impressive, King's Pteranodon form was perfectly suited for stealth and aerial combat.
Two dragons soared through the sky, their destinations unknown…
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