Southern Wano, Onigashima.
The giant azure dragon stepped on flame clouds, flew over the white blade of the Habu Port into the inland sea, then flew over the sea for several hours, arriving at Onigashima on the west side of Wano's inland sea.
Unlike other Wano islands, this island named Onigashima was covered in barren land. Located at the southern natural gateway, it was subjected year-round to fierce tidal scouring, and had to face enemies who might fly up over the waterfall.
Originally, successive shoguns of Wano had used this place as a bridgehead against foreign invasion. But after Kaido occupied it, he transformed it into a springboard for exporting military force.
Of the weapons produced in Wano's internal weapons factories, the portion not sold overseas was all stockpiled here by him.
"Worororororo! Finally back!"
When the giant azure dragon descended from the sky and landed on the upper level of Onigashima, returning to human form, he felt a long-lost sense of security.
Twenty thousand pirates who had survived the battles of the New World, more than a dozen Headliners with animal-type Devil Fruits, and several giant experimental specimens plundered from World Government research institutes… the Numbers.
And... a total of over five hundred beastified individuals using IQ gene evolution drug!
Yes, that's right… the IQ enhancer.
To a certain extent, Sakura had contributed to the formation of the current Beasts Pirates. Of course, the trade with the Beasts also brought her a large amount of weapons, ammunition, and wealth, allowing her to arm Medical Island Marian to the teeth. It was mutually beneficial.
Sometimes you really have to marvel at the strangeness of fate. After Sakura decided to circulate the IQ enhancer abroad, there were naturally researchers in the world who were dissatisfied with its effects and would analyze and reuse its components.
Queen the Plague combined Vegapunk's Lineage Factor with an extract of the IQ enhancer for secondary development, successfully researching a derivative of the IQ product at the cost of consuming one-third of the user's lifespan… the Mad Beastification drug!
This drug, used in combination with the genes of other creatures, allows the user to become a beastman creature similar to a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, and also not fear seawater.
However, this kind of mutation at the genetic level is destined to be tragic. The success rate is less than one in ten. The fate of those who fail the mutation is also unbearable to witness.
Therefore, not many members were initially willing to participate in the Beasts Pirates. The final result was these five hundred beastified individuals, and the Beasts Pirates' total numbers, which should have been thirty thousand, declined to just over twenty thousand.
"Kaido-sama?" The girl implanted with the power of a flying squirrel, also Kaido's secretary, Bao Huang, flew out from the depths of the island and landed on Kaido's back.
"Bao Huang, go notify all the soldiers. The gigantic war I crave has already begun!!!" Sitting on the throne at the center of Onigashima, Kaido laughed. The dark thunder of his Conqueror's Haki shot straight into the clouds.
"Yes, yes. Kaido-sama sure knows how to order people around~" After a teasing remark, the girl opened her furry tail and side wings and flew back into the depths of the castle.
Kaido's old face was full of expectation. His heart boiling, he transformed into a giant dragon, flew out of Onigashima, used his ability to drag the entire island up, and rapidly flew toward the heart of Wano… the Flower Capital.
…
Elsewhere, near Udon.
The sound of roaring continued. Several members of the Charlotte Family paced anxiously, but suffering from the power of the two born destroyers, they could only crouch by the riverbank.
"Katakuri... do you think... Mama... can win?" Oven, his whole body fractured and wrapped up like a zongzi, asked weakly from the ground.
"Trust in Mama. She is our captain. She will keep winning... until the end." Katakuri's voice was decisive.
Even if Big Mom lost, he would step up to become the pillar protecting his brothers and sisters.
Just then, a flash of rainbow light passed through Katakuri's eyes, allowing him to see the future three seconds ahead within several kilometers.
Instantly, this highest-ranking officer of the Charlotte Family's expression turned grim.
"This is... truly terrible."
The moment his words landed, above the sky behind the two figures slashing and fighting with their giant blades.
A large composite speedboat and an island-level battleship were slowly flying in, finally coming to a stop in the sky above their battle.
Clang!
Linlin used a powerful slash to force Sakura back, frowning as she looked up at the slowly descending giant floating island in the sky. "What's going on here?"
The number of people in the world who could carry this thing around the world was less than the fingers of one hand.
If it wasn't her junior Kai boringly cosplaying to prank her, then the only one left who could use such a flashy lion's head bow was...
"Shihahahaha! Quite lively, isn't it!"
Accompanied by laughter and the sound of blades striking the ground echoing out.
The arrogant man in the yellow haori, his hair and the smoke from his cigar both fluttering, looked down from a height, looking down upon Linlin!
"Shiki!! So it was you, you bastard!" Linlin roared at the sky. "What? Is this little brat's audacity to come cause trouble in Wano thanks to you?"
Even if they were former comrades from the Rocks Pirates, they were just sea wanderers who had come together through the Davy Back Fight to coexist. Betrayal, intrigue, and stabbing each other in the back were the norm.
Linlin wasn't so naive as to think she could move Shiki with so-called camaraderie. So she had been on guard against Shiki from the very beginning.
"Long time no see, Linlin!" Shiki took his cigar out of his mouth and flicked the ash. "However, Haruno Sakura isn't coming to Wano to cause trouble with my backing. I'm the one who wants to take this place, so I sought her out!"
"What!"
Linlin's eyes, with their purple eyeshadow, widened. She had never expected this outcome.
But the current situation was deteriorating. The officers of the Higanbana Pirates and the forces of the Flying Pirates were united, coupled with the designs of two Emperors, Sakura and Shiki...
—Wano is in danger!
"Hey, you few..." Linlin turned her head to issue orders to her children behind her.
"Hey hey, Linlin, aren't you taking me too lightly?"
Before Linlin could finish her words, the girl's figure stepped on streaming light and dashed before her.
She casually swung a Storm Sword: Ikoku Sovereignty toward Linlin's gaping mouth!
"...You!" Forced to change her last words, Linlin's eyes became angry again.
She wrapped Armament Haki around her arm and punched Sakura's Ikoku Sovereignty directly. The armor formed by her Haki deflected the storm of the Ikoku Sovereignty, sending it straight toward the Charlotte family members nearby.
Katakuri, Daifuku, Oven, Amande, Custard: ....
Boom!
Haki buzzed. Storms roared. Even with Katakuri's blocking, the legendary spear swung by overwhelming, uncontrollable force still sent the Charlotte Family's members flying.
The pain in his hands made Katakuri think of something. He immediately pulled out a Den Den Mushi to call for reinforcements.
But the next instant, a cold spirit suddenly exploded behind him.
"Oh, so there is indeed a way to contact them."
Katakuri stiffly turned his head and looked at the not-tall, golden-haired man behind him. His expression was grim.
'What a... terrible day.'