The violent impact shook the entire Sabaody Archipelago three times over. Everyone stared in disbelief at the massive crater that had suddenly appeared.
"What… what is that?"
"It smashed through the thunderclouds!"
"I think it looked like a huge human figure—it fell from an incredible height! Did it drop from Sky Island, or is it someone who can fly? Don't tell me another person from the Grey Dominion has arrived!"
"The ground's been blasted open like that, and even the thunderclouds were torn apart! If that was actually a person, they should've been pulverized by the fall!"
Reporters and civilians watching from a distance could hardly believe their eyes as they whispered in shock about the enormous crater before them.
Just then, a massive blackened hand reached up from inside the pit—followed by a towering figure slowly climbing out.
When he had fallen, he'd slammed straight through thunderclouds, and the lightning had scorched his entire body pitch-black. Yet, judging by his casual movements, he seemed completely unfazed by the powerful electricity that should have reduced anyone else to ashes.
"So the monster's finally shown up, huh? Heh heh heh… this is the creature who fought Whitebeard for three days and nights," Doflamingo said with a low, twisted laugh, his eyes glinting coldly. "Rosinante, I wonder what you'll do now—will you fight to the death, or will you retreat? If you turn tail and leave here, the prestige you've just built up won't vanish completely, but people will start to question whether you truly have the strength to be called an emperor. On the other hand, if you stay and fight this monster… you'll die."
If it were Doflamingo himself, he would've withdrawn immediately.
After all, his goal in Sabaody had already been achieved. There was absolutely no reason to go head-to-head with Kaido. Even if retreating cost a bit of reputation, it was a small price to pay. This was, after all, the creature who could trade blows with Whitebeard for days. Retreating—or even fleeing—wouldn't be shameful in the slightest.
He wanted to see what choice Rosinante would make—to judge his way of handling crisis. Would he retreat right away, fight and then withdraw, or risk it all in a battle to the death?
This would reveal whether Rosinante truly understood the art of choosing and sacrificing.
"Tch… didn't die again," the towering figure muttered, shaking his head as his deep, rumbling voice spread across the island—leaving everyone completely stunned.
Didn't die again? What kind of statement was that? Did he actually want to die?
"He's alive?!" The reporters gasped. The man had fallen from such an impossible height, and yet he'd survived.
"He's enormous… is he a giant?" one civilian murmured in awe.
"Wait, wait! I think I know who he is!" a reporter exclaimed, his face turning pale.
"Who?" someone nearby asked anxiously.
"Beasts Kaido! The creature known as the strongest living thing on land, sea, or air! The monster even Whitebeard couldn't kill!" the reporter shouted.
"What?! Beasts Kaido?!" the crowd erupted in terror.
In the New World, it was said that Whitebeard and Big Mom ruled as emperors—but Kaido, who treated suicide like a hobby, was a monster unlike any other. He roamed the seas challenging anyone strong enough to potentially kill him.
And, naturally, he had gone after Whitebeard himself not long ago.
The two had clashed for three days and three nights, and though Kaido had been defeated, Whitebeard had been unable to kill him.
That alone had sent shockwaves through the entire New World.
Whitebeard—the man known as "the strongest in the world," the one said to possess the power to destroy it—had failed to end Kaido's life.
After that legendary battle, the world began to murmur the same thing: the three emperors of the New World had finally emerged.
Though Kaido's crew, the Beasts Pirates, weren't yet as vast as Whitebeard's or Big Mom's, Kaido alone was enough to command the might of an army. If anyone deserved to be called an emperor of the New World, it was undoubtedly Kaido.
"That suicidal beast has finally shown up," Garp grumbled, watching from afar. "Never thought he'd take an interest in Rosinante."
"One day, I'll eliminate that monster," Akainu growled.
If it were only a war between the Underworld and the Grey Dominion, the Navy would've merely sent reinforcements—a few extra troops would've been enough.
After all, with Garp, Borsalino, and Tsuru stationed on Sabaody, even if the Underworld launched a full-scale raid, their combined power would've crushed them easily.
But when Naval Intelligence reported that Kaido had taken an interest in Rosinante and was heading for Sabaody himself, everything changed.
That was when the Navy truly panicked.
If Kaido arrived and Rosinante chose to flee, Kaido would rampage in fury, tearing Sabaody apart. And if the Underworld took advantage of the chaos, the island would be utterly destroyed.
To prevent that catastrophe, the Navy dispatched Akainu at once. In the worst-case scenario, the Admirals would join forces to contain—or, if possible, eliminate—Kaido.
"No, that won't work," Borsalino said, shaking his head, his tone oddly light despite the situation. "With that monster's endurance, even injuring him badly is nearly impossible. And don't forget his trump card—no one's ever managed to kill him."
"Keep watch. If things get out of control, we move. We can't let him destroy Sabaody," Garp ordered gravely.
"Damn it! How could that monster Kaido show up on Sabaody?!" Inside the palace atop the Sky Island above, Bins's expression darkened.
Every member of the BloodSworn Guard turned pale at the news—only Shaxia still looked confused.
"No, we can't let His Majesty face that thing alone again. Squads One through Ten—prepare to deploy. Stall him as best you can. Shaxia, you'll assist Enel," Bins barked.
"Understood!" Shaxia replied, her face tense with focus.
Rosinante exhaled slowly, watching the gigantic shadow in the distance. "Well… this just got troublesome."
"Beasts Kaido, huh? Yeah, that's definitely troublesome," Rayleigh said with a chuckle. "At your current level, the odds aren't great. Maybe it's best to stop here and let the Navy handle it."
"It's no use," Rosinante said, eyes narrowing. "That monster won't be avoided so easily."
Then, his lips curved slightly upward, a glint of resolve flashing in his eyes.
"Perhaps," he said quietly, "it's time to see how far I've really come. And Kaido… might just be the perfect touchstone to test my strength."