"You're right. It's time to end this war."
As Reddy spoke, two figures quickly approached from the distance, arriving one after another behind him. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Maid, forming a protective formation around him.
The situation had reversed once again.
Now, Reddy was flanked by the Secretary and Shadow, two more clones.
Meanwhile, Kuzan was still being suppressed by Pyo and the other two.
Sakazuki's gaze fixed on the three clones blocking his path.
At this moment, he understood perfectly clearly that if he dared to make a move, he would inevitably face the combined assault of five, or even six, clones.
Even he couldn't confidently claim he could capture Reddy under such overwhelming force.
"Akainu, I have no interest in fighting a losing battle."
Crocodile wore a cryptic smile as he puffed on his cigar, subtly hinting that Sakazuki should cut his losses and retreat before suffering a defeat that would humiliate Marineford.
Now was the best time to end this unwinnable war.
Sakazuki understood this, but he was still unwilling to end the operation so hastily.
His eyes swept over Crocodile, Reddy, the clones, and Kuzan, his expression shifting between gloom and frustration.
Suddenly, a scorching blast of heat descended from above.
Several people looked up simultaneously.
As the heat breath was about to land, they swiftly retreated.
A deafening explosion rang out.
The heat breath crashed into the semi-solidified ground, sending sparks flying.
Magma splattered like raindrops.
Crocodile ignored the flying magma and looked up, his smile deepening. "Well, well. Kaido has arrived."
"Kaido!"
Sakazuki forced himself to stay calm, quickly strategizing.
Kaido was one of the original Yonko, known as the "Strongest Creature."
Marineford had even explicitly forbidden engaging him in battle without prior authorization.
Soon, a coiling blue dragon came into view.
At this point, no one held any illusions.
It was indeed the "Strongest Creature," Kaido of the Beasts Pirates!
"MAMAMAMA..."
A distinctive laugh suddenly came from the other side, making Sakazuki's heart sink further.
Not only had Kaido arrived, but Big Mom had come too!
A mirror appeared in the air.
Big Mom stepped out of it, eyeing everyone present with malicious intent.
Zeus and Prometheus followed closely behind, emerging from the mirror and taking their positions on either side of her.
"Tch. Why are these two monsters here?"
Crocodile's smile stiffened, and he dropped his earlier casual demeanor.
If it were just Kaido, he wouldn't hesitate to fight.
But with two of the original Yonko appearing at once, even he felt the pressure.
Meanwhile, Reddy's expression also turned serious.
In his plans, he hadn't accounted for facing Kaido and Big Mom so soon—at least not before his clones had mastered advanced Ryuo.
He had no intention of confronting the top two targets on his hunting list this early.
Just then, a figure descended from the sky, landing heavily on the barely re-solidified ground.
"Are you Dr. Reddy?"
Kaido scanned the area before locking eyes with Reddy, who was surrounded by the Secretary and the other clones. "State your terms, then join my Beasts Pirates."
Sakazuki's mind raced.
If Kaido wasn't targeting the Marines, there might still be room for negotiation.
So he remained silent, waiting for Reddy's response.
Sakazuki didn't move, Kuzan was still pinned down by the three clones, and Big Mom showed no intention of attacking—she was only here because of her past alliance with Kaido and the price he'd offered.
Reddy chuckled but said nothing, snapping his fingers instead.
The three clones confronting Sakazuki—Control and the others—along with the trio suppressing Kuzan—Pyo and the rest—immediately disengaged and returned to Reddy's side.
"Running away?"
Kuzan exhaled a frosty breath, thrusting his palm forward.
A surge of icy air swept across the battlefield, chasing after Pyo and the others as they retreated.
The ground froze in its wake.
By sheer misfortune, Kaido happened to be standing directly in the path of the Ice Time Capsule.
"Prometheus!"
Big Mom, seeing Kuzan attack, grinned viciously and shouted.
"Here, Mama!"
Prometheus cackled, his body swelling in size as he surged forward, colliding with the Ice Time Capsule.
The clash of ice and fire ended in a stalemate.
"Kuzan!"
Sakazuki barely restrained his anger, glaring at Kuzan.
This was the time to let Kaido and Big Mom wear down Reddy's forces. That was the only way to secure victory.
"Sorry. I acted on impulse."
Kuzan's apology sounded half-hearted, but he didn't press the attack further.
Sakazuki didn't want infighting at such a critical moment, so he let it go.
"So you're rejecting my offer."
Kaido pulled his kanabo, Eight-Divine Axe, from his back and rested it on his shoulder. Ignoring the clones, he strode toward Reddy.
Big Mom, excited, called out to Kaido, "Kaido, I still need him to make giants for me. Don't hurt him!"
"Seems I'm being underestimated."
Reddy's smile didn't waver as he snapped his fingers again.
In the next instant, a figure emerged from the shadows beneath Kaido's feet.
Shadow, using the powers of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, launched a surprise attack from within Kaido's own shadow, punching him squarely in the stomach.
"Ragnarok... Bagua!"
Kaido ignored the punch to his gut and swung his kanabo in a sweeping strike.
But Shadow instantly melted back into the shadows, evading the devastating blow.
At the same time, a beam of Slow-Slow energy shot toward Kaido.
Unable to dodge mid-swing, Kaido was hit head-on. His movements stalled for a split second before returning to normal.
"Interesting ability."
Kaido sneered. "Haki reigns supreme. Tricks like this are useless."
Just then, three Negative Hollows passed through Kaido's body from behind.
"Horohorohorohoro... Huh?"
Perona had been hiding from the battle between Sakazuki, Kuzan, and the clones. When the fight was interrupted by these two strange newcomers, she seized the opportunity to ambush them.
As Kaido used Haki to dispel the Slow-Slow effect, she struck, successfully landing her attack.
But before she could even think about what reward to demand afterward, Kaido instantly countered the Negative Hollows with his Haki.
"What race are you?"
Big Mom, spotting Perona floating in the air, was immediately intrigued. She reached out to grab her, but her hand passed right through Perona's ghostly form.
"Huh?"
Big Mom stared at her hand, puzzled.
Perona snapped out of her daze, her eyes lighting up. This old lady seemed like an easier target.
Before she could attack Big Mom again, Reddy quickly stopped her. "Perona, come back. These two are Yonko—Kaido of the Beasts and Big Mom."
The Hollows of the Ghost-Ghost Fruit were hard-countered by Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit.
If Big Mom hadn't underestimated Perona and activated her Devil Fruit powers, Perona might have been devoured on the spot.
And if a spirit was eaten, its owner likely wouldn't survive.
"Y-Yonko?!"
Perona's eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock, her worldview crumbling.
Who am I?
Where am I?
How did I get so bold?!
Kaido, aware of Big Mom's obsession with collecting rare races, felt compelled to dissuade her. "Linlin, she's just a Devil Fruit user, not some exotic race."
"You little brat, you dared to trick me!"
Big Mom flew into a rage, snatching Napoleon from her head.
"Mama!"
Napoleon gleefully transformed into a curved sword, landing in Big Mom's hand.
Perona trembled in fear, fleeing back to hide behind Reddy.
The first exchange ended with Kaido taking a single punch.
Reddy stuffed his hands in his pockets, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he murmured, "I was wrong. Sakazuki and Kuzan aren't the best sparring partners. These two are."
"Then let the battle begin!"
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