Several days later.
New World.
A Marine warship sliced through the waves, racing toward the Bufom Sea. Suddenly, the ship shifted course ever so slightly.
At the bow, Sakazuki stood, his Justice cloak snapping in the wind. Arms folded across his chest, he called out:
"Do we have new intel?"
"Karol."
Karol stepped forward from behind.
"Yes, sir. According to the latest reports, Kaido was spotted on the Bax Archipelago an hour ago. We've already changed course and are heading there now."
Sakazuki nodded.
Meanwhile, Kaido remained blissfully unaware that he was about to become a test subject for a pack of mad scientists...
——
New World, Land of Wano.
The Daimyo's residence in Kuri.
Surrounded by his rowdy retainers, Kozuki Oden let out a sigh, exasperated by the endless clamor. He slipped away to his study, retrieving the ancient tome passed down from his father.
"Map of All Nations."
He'd lost count of how many times he'd pored over its pages. By the time he looked up again, the sun had crossed most of the sky.
He gazed at the heavens for a long while.
Beyond the sea, there must be giants and mighty warriors I can't even imagine.
I want to see them for myself!
I want to connect with the world!
At last, Oden made up his mind. His left hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword, knuckles whitening.
I must...
Set sail!
In a world where Whitebeard was gone, Oden would forge his own path to reach out to the world...
——
West Blue, the agreed battleground of Garp and Chinjao.
Karli Island, shoreline.
A massive pirate ship had long since anchored at the coast. At its head stood the official pirate force of the Flower Country—the current pillar of the Happo Navy:
Chinjao the Drill.
Draped in a green cloak, his sideburns shot up like spears. With his long, pointed drill-head and narrowed eyes, he radiated an air of unshakable authority.
Suddenly, he glanced toward the approaching Marine warship.
"They're here."
As the ship docked, squads of Marines marched out, forming a vigilant perimeter.
Garp leapt down from the deck. Catching sight of Chinjao, he broke into a wide grin.
"Hey, Chinjao! Just so you know, I've been training for today by punching mountains instead of sandbags. I've flattened eight of 'em already, all to smash that weird head of yours!"
He flexed his fists, cracking his knuckles.
Crack crack!
The sound of bones popping echoed.
Chinjao didn't so much as flinch, his confidence absolute.
"No matter what you do, it's pointless. There's nothing in this world harder than my drill-head."
Garp smirked, letting out a low chuckle. He slid his right hand behind his back.
Whooom—
His fist darkened, coated in Armament Haki. With a roar, he charged straight at Chinjao.
"Get ready, Chinjao!!!"
Chinjao lowered his head, charging to meet him.
Whooom—
Armament Haki glimmered over his iron-hard drill.
"Let's see if your so-called Iron Fist can withstand my drill! Garp!!!"
With both men's battle cries, their attacks collided.
CLANG!
Top-tier Armament Haki smashed together, unleashing a shockwave that battered everything around them.
The enormous Marine warship rocked violently under the onslaught.
At the epicenter, the two titans locked in a gritted stalemate. Half a minute passed—felt like half a year.
Suddenly, Garp seemed to sense a breakthrough. He gritted his teeth, eyes wide, and poured every ounce of strength into his fist.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
With a sickening crunch, the tip of Chinjao's drill-head began to cave.
The entire drill collapsed.
CRASH!
The sound of shattering bone split the air!
That meter-long spike was forced—by Garp's iron fist—straight into Chinjao's skull.
Garp landed, grinning at Chinjao, whose eyes bulged comically from the impact.
"Success."
But Chinjao didn't even have time to feel the pain.
"Wind's up—retreat!"
"All ships, fall back!"
He bolted for his ship.
Garp stood with arms folded, watching Chinjao's retreat with smug satisfaction.
A Marine soldier hurried over.
"Vice Admiral Garp, do we pursue?"
Garp shook his head.
"The Flower Country's a World Government member. The Happo Navy is their official force. We can't just wipe them out without cause. Turn us around."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines chorused.
——
New World, Bax Archipelago. Evening.
Kaido and King were sparring.
CLANG!
A massive spiked club slammed into a long sword. Armament Haki and explosive shockwaves spiraled out in a roaring tornado.
King staggered back several steps.
Kaido swung his club with a booming laugh.
"King, you—"
"Hm?"
Both men suddenly looked skyward.
In the next instant, Kaido's pupils shrank to pinpricks. He whirled around.
"King! Run!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth—
BOOOOM!!!!
A meteor-sized boulder of magma crashed down before them, unleashing a deafening roar and a furnace blast of heat.
Their heads rang from the blast.
Kaido shook himself, instantly transforming into a massive azure dragon, hundreds of meters long, and tried to take flight.
From the center of the smoking crater, Sakazuki emerged, his form coalescing from the magma.
"Think I'd just let you get away?"
He clapped his hands together.
"Infernal Overlord!"
Magma surged, exploding and condensing into an eight-hundred-meter-tall lava giant. Eight smoking arms, each sheathed in Armament Haki, thundered as they moved. The giant's shoulders and elbows erupted with a deafening roar.
The magma arms shot out at blinding speed.
Six pitch-black hands seized Kaido's enormous dragon body, coiling around him and pinning him in place.
Kaido thrashed wildly, his serpentine form twisting in fury.
ROOOOOAR—!
With a thunderous cry, energy gathered in his maw, aimed straight at the lava giant's head.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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