In the Mirror World.
Brulee hid fearfully behind her brother Katakuri, avoiding Sakazuki's gaze.
Even a Navy Admiral like Akainu was someone to be feared.
Katakuri coldly glanced at the gloomy Sakazuki. "I'll arrange for you to go to a safe place. For now, it's best not to do anything unnecessary."
Sakazuki turned his gaze away. Being rescued by pirates was a last resort, but for him, it felt like a betrayal of his beliefs.
Kuzan surveyed the Mirror World. "Can you help evacuate the other Marines?"
"Sorry."
Katakuri refused.
Going out now to save the remaining Marines would be like dancing on the edge of a blade. Even if they tried, how much time would they have to evacuate them?
Moreover, Sakazuki and Kuzan were Marines, while they were pirates.
"There's no need to worry about them."
Sakazuki's words were cold and ruthless, but Kuzan had to admit that Reddy had never intended to kill anyone from the start. His goal had always been capture.
Katakuri ignored them and instructed his sister Brulee. "Send them away."
Brulee glanced at Katakuri, then at BIGMOM and Kaido, hesitating.
Only Sakazuki and Kuzan remained here, while their side had not only BIGMOM and Kaido but also her brother Katakuri.
Why not take this chance to eliminate them?
Katakuri understood Brulee's thoughts and shook his head slightly.
This battle had shown him the terrifying power of Reddy, making it painfully clear that a single Emperor's crew was no longer a match for him.
Even with Kaido's Beasts Pirates, two Emperor crews might be able to hold their own. But Reddy could always create more clones at any time.
Katakuri quickly reached a conclusion.
To resist Reddy, pirates alone would never be enough. They needed the World Government's strength as well.
Sakazuki and Kuzan could not be allowed to die here.
Brulee obediently led Sakazuki and the others to a large mirror nearby, activating her ability to open an exit from the Mirror World.
"Let's go!"
Though Sakazuki had suffered a crushing defeat in this battle, his will remained unshaken. He stepped through the mirror first.
Before leaving, Kuzan glanced back at Brulee but said nothing, silently following Sakazuki out of the Mirror World.
After they left, Kaido sat cross-legged on the ground and grumbled, "Katakuri, if you have something to say, say it quickly. I'm heading back to Onigashima."
This battle had left Kaido deeply frustrated.
He had been surrounded and attacked by clones for most of the fight. While he hadn't suffered any major losses, it was still a humiliation for him.
"Kaido, let's form an alliance."
With no outsiders present, Katakuri did not hide his intentions. He calmly analyzed, "Reddy's power has made it clear how dangerous he is. Without an alliance, he'll pick us off one by one."
Kaido had no objections.
Earlier, Sakazuki had stopped the clones from taking his blood, which directly led to Reddy's rampage. This proved that Reddy had a strong interest in his Bloodline Factor.
He had no doubt that he would face Reddy again soon.
"Brulee's Mirror-Mirror Fruit ability will serve as the bridge between our forces." Katakuri emphasized the strategic value of Brulee's ability.
Kaido agreed with this as well.
After persuading Kaido, Katakuri turned to BIGMOM, but before he could speak, she interrupted.
"MAMAMAMA… My Totto Land will lead this alliance."
BIGMOM wasn't stupid and was willing to ally with Kaido. But when two Emperor crews joined forces, she had to fight for dominance.
"Don't be ridiculous, Linlin!"
Kaido was furious.
In his eyes, the Beasts Pirates' top executives and elite fighters were far stronger than BIGMOM's children. If they allied, the Beasts Pirates should naturally take the lead.
"Onigashima is already my territory, and it's the strongest fortress!"
Even without comparing their overall strength, Kaido had his own advantages. Onigashima's geographical superiority made it the perfect stronghold.
Impenetrable!
That alone convinced him that BIGMOM should merge Totto Land with Onigashima.
And if that happened, he would obviously be the leader.
"What did you say?!"
BIGMOM was enraged. She had only wanted to lead the alliance, but now Kaido wanted to swallow up her Totto Land?
Napoleon transformed into its battle form, gripped in BIGMOM's hand.
Prometheus and Zeus also shifted into combat stances, flanking BIGMOM.
Whether they could actually hurt Kaido was debatable, but the intimidation factor was undeniable.
"Mom, calm down!"
Katakuri desperately tried to stop BIGMOM from attacking while remaining wary.
Even he hadn't expected Kaido to aim for Totto Land's annexation.
"If he attacks Totto Land, how will you stop him?"
After this battle, Kaido understood the importance of numbers—specifically, high-tier fighters.
If they allied and merged their forces, they could stand a chance against Reddy.
If Reddy attacked, he and BIGMOM could each handle two clones, Katakuri could take one, and King and Queen could handle two more.
That was the extent of the high-tier fighters he acknowledged.
But even that would only allow them to face seven clones.
Adding in BIGMOM's children and his own elite fighters, they might be able to handle two more clones at best.
That would only make nine clones in total.
Just barely matching Reddy's current high-tier forces.
And that didn't even account for the possibility of Reddy creating more clones.
If they allied but remained separate, neither side could withstand Reddy's invasion alone.
"Let him try!"
BIGMOM refused to back down.
In her eyes, Reddy only had the advantage in numbers, and her children could easily balance that out.
"Stupid!"
Kaido sneered.
"You think I won't kill you?"
"Try me!"
"Fine!"
The argument escalated, neither side willing to yield.
Katakuri quickly stepped between them, using Reddy as a threat to mediate. After much persuasion, the two Emperors finally stopped quarreling.
"His current strength is already on par with Marineford." Kaido gave a blunt assessment, reiterating the importance of merging.
He had personally witnessed the clones' terrifying growth rate.
"We have Brulee."
Katakuri wanted the two Emperors to ally but was against a full merger.
Totto Land and Onigashima were too far apart. With the Mirror World connecting them, they could support each other quickly if either was attacked.
Brulee was internally panicking.
She had become the key to the alliance between two Emperor crews?
Before Kaido could object, Katakuri added, "Reddy is using his power to change the world, but change isn't that simple. That includes our alliance."
Kaido frowned.
Though Katakuri phrased it diplomatically, the meaning was clear.
Their ideals were too different to merge seamlessly.
If infighting broke out, the alliance would become a joke.
"Fine, then."
Kaido decided to compromise. The alliance would not have a clear leader—he and BIGMOM would rule jointly.
He also agreed to use Brulee's ability to connect their territories.
"Mom?"
Katakuri got a satisfactory answer from Kaido and turned to BIGMOM.
BIGMOM had no objections either.
With the basic agreement settled, the details would require further negotiations between the two sides.
After forming the alliance, Kaido's ambitions surged. He grinned fiercely. "We can't let that brat look down on us, Linlin!"
BIGMOM understood immediately, baring her teeth in a savage smile. "Then let's prepare for war, Kaido!"