Leaving aside the overall strength of the Four Emperors' pirate crews, in terms of personal power, Big Mom was undoubtedly the strongest among the four emperors. Especially now that Whitebeard had fallen, there was no one in the New World who could rival Big Mom's might.
"What a massive ship… Could the rumors be true? That Kaido of the Beasts was defeated, and even the Beasts Pirates have been swallowed up?"
Perospero tilted his head back, staring nervously at the colossal Overlord, a vessel nearly the size of an entire city, compulsively licking his candy cane to ease his tension.
Even with his absolute faith in Mama, Perospero wasn't arrogant enough to think Kaido's fearsome reputation was exaggerated.
Sure, there were monsters out there stronger than Kaido.
But imagining someone capable of completely subduing Kaido? That was harder to grasp.
If he had to name one, perhaps only the new Fleet Admiral Kizaru, the man who killed Whitebeard and even wounded Red-Hair, could do such a thing.
"Brother Katakuri, what are you looking at?"
Not all of Big Mom's children had the qualifications to stand alone. Without a minister's position, Brûlée preferred to stay aboard her brother Katakuri's ship. Seeing his grim expression, she couldn't help but ask with concern.
"Brûlée, once the fighting starts, you take our younger siblings and escape through the mirrors!"
Katakuri gripped his trident tightly, his tone growing even heavier. He was Charlotte Linlin's most gifted son, and the strongest under her command.
Born with extraordinary Observation Haki, he even possessed the ability to see the future.
But when Katakuri, as always, tried to "see" what would happen next…
He was struck with terror — he couldn't see anything at all!
It was as if some monster aboard that ship could shatter the very future itself, rendering his Observation Haki useless.
"Eh? Y-yes! I understand, Brother Katakuri!"
Brûlée was bewildered, but one thing she had was unconditional trust in her brother. No matter what he said, she obeyed. After all, Katakuri was the man most worthy of trust!
The massive vessel, blocked by the pirate fleet, hung motionless in the sky. Just as even Charlotte Linlin herself was beginning to lose patience, a hatch opened beneath it. From within, King — transformed into a pterosaur — flew out.
"Big Mom! Boss Boros wants to see you. Come with me!"
Flapping his wings, King positioned himself before the Queen Mama Chanter, shouting toward a visibly incredulous Charlotte Linlin.
If he had a choice, King wouldn't have wanted this errand. But with so few fliers in the Beasts Pirates, and if a lesser underling were sent, they'd likely be killed by Big Mom before finishing a sentence.
"...King the Conflagration, what trickery is this?! Why isn't Kaido here himself?! And what do you mean by 'Boss Boros'? Has that bastard Kaido really fallen so low as to be someone else's underling?!"
She had prepared herself mentally before coming.
But to actually see King, one of the All-Stars, standing before her like this — she couldn't suppress her shock.
King wasn't just Kaido's subordinate, he was Kaido's right hand — the second-in-command of the Beasts Pirates. He carried out almost everything a vice-captain would, save for the title itself.
For comparison, in the Big Mom Pirates it would be like Katakuri suddenly going off to serve under another. Just imagining it was absurd!
"Once you meet Boss Boros, you'll understand. Big Brother Kaido is on board as well. If you've got questions, ask him directly!"
King's pterosaur form sneered slightly before turning away, beating his wings as he returned toward the Overlord.
Anyone else would've suspected a trap. But with Big Mom's personality, even if it were, she'd simply crush it with overwhelming power.
"Stop right there! Zeus!"
Just as King had anticipated, Charlotte Linlin summoned the thundercloud Zeus and charged forward in pursuit, paying no mind to any potential ambush inside the ship.
"Damn it! Cracker, Smoothie, you're with me! Snag, you stay behind with Big Brother to guard against the enemy!"
Katakuri pulled over Mondor, who had eaten the Book-Book Fruit, and ordered him to manipulate the pages to lift himself, Cracker, and Smoothie into the air, chasing after their mother's silhouette as she boarded the colossal battleship.
Even if the Beasts Pirates had gathered their full force on that vessel, with the combined might of the Three Sweet Commanders and Mama herself, they were more than capable of retreating unharmed.
Inside the massive palace hall of the flying fortress, the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates sat cross-legged along both sides, like outstretched wings of a giant eagle, guarding the throne at the center.
Upon the throne sat Boros, clad in armor. Beneath him, two slightly smaller seats had been placed, one of which was occupied by a visibly irritated Kaido.
His oversized kanabō rested at arm's length, as if ready to be swung in an instant against anyone who dared oppose him.
Boom… boom… boom…
A relentless barrage of thunderous tremors shook the entire palace, as though some unstoppable beast was charging straight toward them.
The All-Stars could not help but feel uneasy at the sheer force shaking the air, yet a glimmer of excitement appeared on Kaido's face.
It had been years since he last fought with Linlin. Her strength had only grown in that time. If the two of them joined forces, perhaps they could even topple that damned one-eyed monster!
Crash!
The palace doors were blasted apart, and King's battered body was hurled through, crashing onto the floor. He had barely managed to lure Charlotte Linlin directly before Boros.
If not for the notorious toughness of Zoan Devil Fruit users, King might well have been killed outright by the furious assault of Big Mom.
Of course, much of this was due to the "cramped" confines of the ship, which limited King's abilities. In open terrain, he would never have been so easily overwhelmed; even if not Linlin's equal, he could certainly have put up a fight.
Seeing her, Kaido's face lit up at first—only to immediately twist in rage.
She knew full well King was his subordinate, yet still struck him so mercilessly! Were it not for the fact that he still needed her to help him escape, Kaido's nature would have driven him to retaliate on the spot—perhaps by half-killing Katakuri in return.
"So this is where you've been hiding, Kaido! Just what kind of game are you playing?!"
Charlotte Linlin stormed into the palace, sword Napoleon in hand, with the thundercloud Zeus and the sun Prometheus flanking her. Her killing intent was palpable.
Though she was the only female among the Emperors, Linlin's temper had never been mild. Otherwise, she would not have so recklessly beaten Kaido's right hand man, knowing full well King's importance to him.
Yet what truly shocked her was that the notoriously short-tempered Kaido… was actually seated beneath a man with a single gigantic eye.
She had assumed all this to be some elaborate scheme of Kaido's.
But no—just as the rumors claimed, the so-called "Strongest Creature" of the seas, land, and air… had become someone else's underling!
"Mama! Wait for us!"
Katakuri, Cracker, and Smoothie finally caught up, but the sight inside the palace left them every bit as stunned as their mother.
Kaido—the man considered her equal—was sitting in the seat of a subordinate.
"My reinforcements have arrived. You'd better be prepared!"
Kaido rose to his feet, gripping his kanabō tightly, glaring at Boros with seething fury.
Ever since the Rocks Pirates had fallen apart, no one had dared ride above him!
Even Linlin, who had given him his Devil Fruit, had merely left Kaido indebted with a great favor.
But this one-eyed monster who had appeared from nowhere had humiliated him again and again!
"…If you regret it now, it's not too late. At least you might avoid a harsher beating."
Boros slowly opened his massive eye, utterly unfazed by the killing intent pouring off Kaido.
For Boros, loyalty was meaningless—he didn't care that Kaido was constantly plotting betrayal.
In fact, Boros almost welcomed Kaido's so-called betrayal. To him, it was nothing more than Kaido trying to challenge him again—a convenient excuse to beat him down one more time.
Only this time, since Boros was in the middle of assessing his next Top Combatant, he felt Kaido's interference was a bit disruptive. So, for once, he tried to dissuade him.
"Cut the crap! Thunder Bagua!"
Unfortunately, Kaido had no understanding of Boros' so-called goodwill. Enraged, he swung his spiked club straight down at Boros' head.
Having fought Boros countless times—and been beaten countless times—Kaido came out swinging with full force. His club, clad in advanced Armament Haki, crackled with pitch-black lightning. He even used the advanced Haki infusion technique right from the start.
Boom!
Boros merely raised his arm and blocked the blow. His armor cracked under the impact, and the throne platform beneath them collapsed entirely.
"You've gotten stronger?"
Boros glanced at Kaido with mild surprise. His tone carried a trace of curiosity.
Normally, a subordinate at the level of a Top Combatant didn't grow stronger anymore. Otherwise, Boros wouldn't have needed to scour the universe for worthy opponents.
But Kaido—after being pummeled countless times—had somehow refined both his Armament and Conqueror's Haki. That surprised Boros, and even delighted him a little.
Punching bags usually grew boring after a while. But if a punching bag could actually get stronger… then he'd never have to worry about that problem.
"You bastard!!"
Hearing Boros' detached words, Kaido's rage finally erupted like a volcano, fueled by memories of endless beatings.
But before he could swing his club again, Boros' leg shot out like lightning and kicked him away.
Bang!
Kaido was sent flying hundreds of meters, finally crashing into the wall with enough force to leave a crater in its supposedly battleship-proof plating.
Boros' flagship, had been stripped of all the so-called "luxury features" he considered unnecessary. What replaced them was absurdly reinforced armor and advanced self-repair functions. The ship could withstand a modern war fought within its halls.
Of course, to Boros, that was merely the level of durability that allowed him to loosen up a little. If he ever fought seriously, even an island the size of Wano wouldn't survive his full strength.
°°°
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