Compared to other islands, what set Wano apart were the towering walls encircling it. For eight centuries they had trapped the rains, creating a vast inland sea. And somewhere in that sea, hidden deep below, lay Pluto—the ancient warship Crocodile had once coveted.
But Kaido had no interest in touching Wano just yet. Instead, he led Kane farther along the skies until a skull-shaped island loomed on the horizon.
Onigashima. Ghost Island.
Two dragons soared through the eye sockets of the giant skull, descending into its cavernous interior.
Inside stood Kaido's fortress, a sprawling castle in Japanese style. Kaido landed in the square before it, returning to human form as a sea of pirates rushed forward.
"Boss Kaido is back!""Let's have a feast!"
Their voices roared with fanatical loyalty. Kane, standing beside Kaido, noticed their cohesion—it was less a crew, more a cult.
But soon, their eyes turned to him.
"Wasn't that green dragon with Kaido?""Yeah, I saw him transform. Another mythical beast!""Hmph, he looks pale and scrawny. Bet he's all bark, no bite."
Kane ignored them. His gaze sharpened as two figures emerged from the castle.
One, tall and lean, clad in black leather with black wings, flames flickering behind his head—King the Wildfire.The other, broad and round, ponytail tied with gold, sunglasses glinting, a prosthetic arm buzzing with machinery—Queen the Plague.
Behind them, Kane spotted other familiar faces: Jack the Drought, towering with ivory tusks; Foz F with his red helmet and cigarette; Black Maria in her geisha attire; and the horned siblings Ulti and Page One.
Kaido clapped a heavy hand onto Kane's back, shoving him forward.
"This brat's name is Kane! From today, he'll be my third natural disaster!"
The square erupted.
"He's too green!""Boss Kaido, let me duel him!""If he wants the Disaster title, he has to prove it!"
Even Jack stepped forward, snarling, "I refuse to accept! Let me fight him, Boss! Winner takes the seat of Disaster!"
Kaido only smirked, eyes glinting as he turned to Kane. "Well? What do you say?"
Kane straightened his back. "Sheep may gather in numbers, but they'll always be prey for tigers. If you want to test me…" His lips curved into a sharp smile. "Come at me."
Kaido's booming laugh echoed through the island. "That's the spirit!" He raised his mace toward the open air.
The pirates cheered wildly, their bloodlust ignited.
Trial by Combat
Outside, beneath the sky of Onigashima, hundreds of pirates surrounded Kane. Kaido, King, and Queen watched from above through the skull's eye sockets, sipping sake as though this was no more than sport.
"Do you think he'll win?" King asked coolly, arms crossed.
"Doesn't matter," Kaido muttered. "If he dies, he wasn't worth the title."
Down below, Kane's body shimmered with emerald light, twisting into the colossal form of a green dragon. His wings unfurled, casting a shadow over the mob.
Against so many, only his beast form would do.
"You really want to test me? Fine…" Kane's thunderous voice rolled across the battlefield.
The sky answered. Clouds gathered in seconds, smothering the sun, lightning crawling like veins through the heavens. Winds screamed across the square.
Queen adjusted his sunglasses, eyes narrowing. "Oh-ho. Weather control?"
King's eyes sharpened. "Dangerous ability. Strategic value alone makes him priceless."
"Boss Kaido, we should protect him," King added quietly.
Kaido tilted back his gourd, sake spilling down his beard. "Heh. The kid might not even lose."
Kane's Wrath
Below, the pirates hesitated. Kaido could conjure storms, yes—but this was different. The scale was unnatural.
"Impossible! Only Boss Kaido can do this!" a grizzled veteran roared, brandishing his sword. "He's bluffing!"
He leapt into the air, blade arcing toward Kane's scales. Dozens followed, weapons raised high.
Clang—clang—clang!
The sound of weapons striking steel filled the air. Then silence.
The pirates' grins froze. Their swords quivered in their hands, numb from the impact. Kane's emerald scales bore only faint white scratches—already fading.
"Enough commotion."
Kane's dragon head lowered, golden eyes burning as they swept across the trembling crowd.
"Now…" His voice rolled like thunder. "…it's my turn."
He opened his maw. The sky above churned.
"Thunderstorm!!"