In the New World, nestled against the colossal Red Line, lies the Marine G1 Branch. The fortress is built on a circular island, connected to the continent-spanning wall by a massive stone bridge. Its primary duty is to protect Red Port—the gateway between the two halves of the Grand Line—and to serve as the first line of defense for the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, which sits atop the Red Line. This base is the Marines' formidable entrance to the world's most dangerous sea.
Normally, the base was commanded by the stoic Vice Admiral Momonga. However, the recent movements of the Beasts Pirates had put the entire World Government on high alert. As one of the Four Emperors who ruled the New World, any sign that Kaido was preparing for war sent ripples across the globe. To bolster the Marines' presence, Admiral Kizaru had been temporarily dispatched to oversee the G1 Branch.
The island itself was vast. Beyond the main fortress and its extensive training grounds, a bustling town housed the families of the Marines stationed there.
In the command office on the top floor of the main building, Admiral Kizaru sat with his legs crossed, lazily trimming his fingernails. He gazed out the window at the clear blue sky, a picture of absolute indifference.
"Ooooh, what a beautiful day," he drawled. "Just perfect for a vacation."
Vice Admiral Momonga stood nearby, his expression rigid. He found the Admiral's relaxed demeanor inappropriate and a poor example for the troops, but he knew better than to say anything. Rank was absolute. He could only ask, "Admiral Kizaru, do you have any orders for today?"
"Hmm, orders?" Kizaru mused, not taking his eyes off the sky. "You can handle things as you see fit, Vice Admiral Momonga. As for me… I think I'll just enjoy some tea and read the newspaper. What a truly delightful day~"
Momonga sighed internally, realizing he had asked a foolish question. Still, having an Admiral who didn't meddle in daily affairs was a small blessing in its own way.
Just as Momonga was about to leave to organize the day's patrols and review intelligence reports, a wave of panicked shouts erupted from outside.
"What's all the commotion about?" he wondered aloud.
Both men paused and walked onto the office balcony to investigate. Instantly, they saw the source of the chaos. Far out at sea, a storm was approaching. But it was no natural storm. A mass of dark, churning clouds, shot through with purple lightning, was moving toward the G1 base with an unnatural speed and purpose.
"What is that!?" Momonga exclaimed, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword.
Kizaru, however, felt a familiar and dreadful presence. His lazy posture vanished in an instant, replaced by a tense readiness. His voice was sharp and devoid of its usual drawl.
"Vice Admiral Momonga, sound the alarm! Have all soldiers prepare for battle immediately! At the same time, get a line to Marineford. A monster is about to descend on us!"
"A monster!?" Momonga was stunned. He then heard Kizaru say something that made his blood run cold.
"Yes, a true monster," Kizaru said, his eyes narrowed. "One of the Four Emperors who rule the New World… Kaido of the Beasts."
A fierce wind whipped past them. For a second, Momonga was frozen in place, but the Admiral's urgency snapped him out of it. He spun around and sprinted back into the office, barking orders into a Den Den Mushi.
By the time he did, the massive storm cloud had arrived, casting a shadow over the entire island. A howling gale and a torrential downpour swept across the base, plunging the sunny day into an ominous twilight.
Countless Marines and civilians in the plaza below were drawn by the spectacle, their faces filled with unease as they stared up at the sky. That unease quickly turned to mind-numbing terror. As the clouds swirled, they saw something moving within them—a colossal, coiling body that seemed to blot out the sky itself.
With a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the island, a massive dragon's head punched through the clouds. Its demonic, vertical pupils scanned the terrified crowd below, and that single glance was enough to shatter the minds of many. People screamed, collapsing to the ground as if they had just stared into the abyss.
"You've… you've got to be kidding me!"
"What is that thing?! What kind of monster is that!?"
"A dragon! It's a real, legendary dragon!"
"That's impossible! Dragons are creatures of myth!"
"Why is it here? Is it going to destroy everything?"
As absolute panic threatened to consume the island, a brilliant flash illuminated the darkened sky. Countless particles of golden light shot upwards, converging in front of the dragon's head to form the figure of a man. The word "Justice" emblazoned on the back of his white coat became a symbol of hope for every Marine on the island.
"It's Admiral Kizaru! We're saved!"
They couldn't see the expression on their hero's face. High above, Kizaru, one of the Marines' strongest fighters, wore a grim and solemn look. In a tone devoid of any laziness, he addressed the colossal beast before him.
"Ooooh, how terrifying~ I wonder what business a New World Emperor, Kaido of the Beasts, has at a simple Marine branch. Are you here to declare war?"
The Admiral's voice, amplified by some unknown means, carried across the entire G1 Branch. Every Marine who heard it felt their brief flicker of hope extinguish. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at the monster in the sky.
"Did… did he just say Kaido?"
"Kaido of the Beasts? That Kaido?"
"Why would one of the Four Emperors be here!?"
"So, Kaido is… a dragon!?"
"A monster… a real monster…"
High above, Kaido, weaving his massive body through the clouds, looked down at the shining figure of Admiral Kizaru. He gazed at one of the most iconic characters in the entire world with a thoughtful expression. He had, of course, come here on purpose.
In the story he knew, Shanks had effortlessly forced Kizaru to stand down and had intimidated Admiral Aramaki with just a burst of Haki. Those feats had become the benchmark for a Yonko's power. He wanted to see if he could do the same. With that thought, he let out a deep, rumbling laugh.
"Worororo… Flashy Brat… who gave you the guts to stand in my way?"
The moment the words left his mouth, an unbelievably terrifying aura erupted from Kaido. A wave of pure Conqueror's Haki washed over the island like a hurricane, so powerful that it physically knocked hundreds of weaker-willed soldiers and civilians unconscious. Even seasoned veterans struggled to remain standing.
Only Kizaru remained motionless in the sky, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head slightly.
"Flashy Brat, you say?" the Admiral drawled, a hint of his usual tone returning. "If my memory is correct, Kaido of the Beasts, you and I are about the same age…"
"Worororo!"
Kaido's joyful laughter echoed across the sea. Then, his golden eyes narrowed, a cunning glint appearing within them. He opened his massive, abyss-like maw, and a scorching, brilliant light began to build inside.
"Heat Breath!"