Ever since Fleet Admiral Sengoku received the terrifying intelligence from the Five Elders—the possibility that Kaido had obtained the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton—he had not enjoyed a single night of peaceful sleep. The weight of this information pressed down on his chest like a physical stone.
In the past, Sengoku had never truly considered Kaido to be the most critical threat among the pirates. Although Kaido was one of the Four Emperors reigning over the New World, in Sengoku's strategic estimation, the "King of the Beasts" was incomparable to men like Whitebeard or Red-Haired Shanks.
There was no need to elaborate on Whitebeard. As one of the three legendary pirates from the old era, his power was catastrophic, rivaling even the late Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. However, Whitebeard's personality was his saving grace; he had no interest in conquest or ruling the world. As long as the Marines did not provoke him or threaten his "family," Whitebeard was a dormant volcano—dangerous, but manageable.
Then there was Red-Haired Shanks. As a former apprentice on Roger's ship, he was not only a supremely powerful Emperor but also carried a complicated lineage connected to the Celestial Dragons. These dual identities made him a political and military headache for the Marines, but Shanks, too, sought balance rather than destruction.
But what about Kaido?
For years, Sengoku had dismissed him. In his eyes, Kaido was merely a brute—a muscle-bound warmonger with strength but no true strategic mind. He possessed no special political identity or noble lineage. He was a chaotic variable, comparable only to the erratic "Big Mom," Charlotte Linlin. Sengoku had always believed that if it weren't for the unique, impenetrable geography of Wano Country, the Marines could have mobilized their full force and annihilated the Beasts Pirates years ago.
However, the Summit War at Marineford had shattered that arrogance.
Everything that transpired during that war forced Sengoku to face a harsh reality: Kaido, the brute he had disregarded, had evolved into a terrifying monster. He was no longer just a pirate; he was a living nightmare that harkened back to Sengoku's own past. During their clash at Marineford, Sengoku had struggled to withstand even a single direct attack from the creature. If Garp hadn't been there to fight alongside him, the outcome might have been disastrous.
The memory brought a specific image to Sengoku's mind—Rocks D. Xebec. The legendary pirate who had ruled the seas with terror when Sengoku was still a young Admiral.
"To think... that the apprentice from back then has grown to this extent," Sengoku muttered to himself, staring at the papers on his desk.
What worried Sengoku even more was the fundamental difference in ideology. Kaido was completely different from Roger, Whitebeard, or Shanks. Those three had no interest in the empty throne of the world. But Kaido was different. He was exactly like Rocks. He did not hide his ambition; he openly desired to drag the entire world into a massive, all-consuming war.
Previously, the Beasts Pirates lacked the military might to achieve such a mad goal. Under the crushing power of the Marines and the World Government, Kaido's proclamations were nothing more than the delusional ravings of a drunkard.
But now, the equation had changed. If Kaido truly possessed the blueprints for Pluton, the balance of power would evaporate.
When Sengoku combined this thought with the reports of the Artificial Devil Fruits appearing within Kaido's ranks, his sense of foreboding deepened. He clearly remembered his Staff Officer, Tsuru, telling him that while the rogue scientist Caesar Clown could create these fruits, the failure rate was astronomically high.
"Tsuru," Sengoku said, breaking the silence of the office. "Is there any update from our insider?"
Hearing the question, Tsuru let out a long, heavy sigh. She looked just as tired as he felt. "No. In the month since X Drake joined the Beasts Pirates, he has been completely cut off. Like the others, he has been forced to undergo Kaido's personal training regimen from dawn until dusk. He simply has no time to gather or transmit intelligence."
Sengoku frowned, the lines on his forehead deepening. "Kaido is personally training these brats? The Emperor himself?"
"That is correct," Tsuru confirmed, her voice grave. "And it isn't just the newcomers. Kaido is personally training the All-Stars and the Tobi Roppo as well. According to the last transmission we received from Drake, the increase in their combat ability is terrifying. Drake stated that he couldn't last a single round against Page One."
Sengoku's eyes widened slightly. "Page One? The weakest of the Tobi Roppo?"
"Yes," Tsuru nodded. "You must remember that Drake is a former Rear Admiral and a captain of the Worst Generation. He possesses at least Vice-Admiral level strength. If he is being overwhelmed instantly by the lowest-ranking officer... we need to completely re-evaluate the threat level of the Beasts Pirates."
Sengoku fell silent, processing the information.
The intelligence was grim. The hierarchy of the Beasts Pirates was becoming impenetrable. The three All-Stars—King, Queen, and Jack—were already monsters. King, along with their new recruit Enel, had displayed destructive power rivaling the Admirals during the war. As for the Tobi Roppo, excluding the younger members, Drake's report suggested the other four were now approaching the level of Admiral candidates.
If these calculations were accurate, the power gap between the Marines and the Beasts Pirates had not just narrowed; it had nearly vanished. And that was before accounting for the army of Artificial Devil Fruit users.
"What a headache," Sengoku groaned, rubbing his temples.
He wanted to say more, to plan a counter-strategy, but he stopped himself. He looked out the window at the blue sky. A rare, faint smile touched his lips.
"Forget it," Sengoku said slowly, his shoulders relaxing. "I am about to step down anyway. I'll let the young people worry about this mess. Let them understand that the seat of Fleet Admiral isn't just about glory—it's a heavy burden."
Seeing his acceptance, Tsuru smiled back gently. "It is good that you can think clearly, Sengoku. We are indeed old. The future of this sea belongs to the next generation, for better or worse."
The two legends of the Marines stood side by side, their gazes drifting out toward the endless ocean.
Meanwhile, in the New World.
The location was Ancient Island, a rugged territory deep within the waters of Wano Country.
Dense, dark clouds swirled overhead, blocking out the sun and casting the island in perpetual shadow. Thunder rumbled constantly, shaking the ground. It was a harsh, unforgiving environment—the perfect forge for Kaido's army.
The month of hellish training had finally concluded.
Kaido stood on a high ridge, looking down at the group gathered below him. Every single face in the crowd showed signs of extreme exhaustion. They were bruised, battered, and gasping for air, but the fierce light in their eyes filled Kaido with immense satisfaction.
"Worororo..."
Kaido's signature laughter erupted from his chest, echoing through the sky and drowning out the thunder.
"Reiju! Pudding! First Division Commander: Basil Hawkins! Second Division Commander: Blueno! Third Division Commander: Apoo!"
Kaido's voice boomed like a cannon as he addressed his new elite officers.
"Fourth Division Commander: Kalifa! Fifth Division Commander: X Drake! Sixth Division Commander: Hoko! Seventh Division Commander: Babanuki! Eighth Division Commander: Scotch! Ninth Division Commander: Dopon! Tenth Division Commander: Holdem! Eleventh Division Commander: Silla! Twelfth Division Commander: Solitaire! Thirteenth Division Commander: Bru Killey!"
He paused, his eyes sweeping over the rest of the group.
"Urouge, Monet, Baby-5... and of course, my precious daughter, Otama! Your performance this month has made me very satisfied!"
As Kaido called out their names, the warriors instantly dropped to one knee. Despite their fatigue, they bowed their heads respectfully, looking up at the dragon in human form who towered above them.
They spoke in unison, their voices ringing with newfound loyalty and strength. "Thank you, Lord Kaido, for your guidance this month!"
"No," Kaido grinned, resting his heavy iron club, the Hassaikai, on his shoulder. "My guidance is one thing, but I have also seen your efforts. Strength is not given; it is taken."
Kaido had every reason to be happy.
Whether it was the "Supernovas" of the Worst Generation or the existing members of his crew, all of them had proven to be the elites of the sea. The results spoke for themselves. With the exception of young Otama, every single person standing before him had mastered at least one type of Haki after surviving his brutal training regimen.
Through this month of violence and instruction, Kaido had clearly assessed the potential of his subordinates. He had mentally categorized them.
Among everyone present, Charlotte Pudding and Otama were undoubtedly in the first tier of potential.
Looking at them, Kaido mused on the unfair reality of the world. It was, undeniably, a world that valued bloodline above all else.
Take Pudding, for example. She had inherited the blood of "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin and the rare Three-Eye Tribe. At the start of the month, she had been physically the weakest member aside from Otama. Yet, her progress was visible to the naked eye. She had rapidly caught up to the seasoned fighters.
More impressively, she had awakened Observation Haki. She was only fourteen years old. Perhaps her sensitive personality and the trauma of her past had acted as a catalyst, but her growth was undeniable.
Then there was Otama.
The Kurozumi clan lived up to its name as a bloodline that had once ruled Wano Country alongside the Kozuki.
Otama was only six years old. Naturally, Kaido could not demand overwhelming physical strength from a child so young. However, in just one month, she had transformed. She had shed the demeanor of a frail, helpless girl and adopted the movements of a warrior—agile, swift, and sharp. She moved like a small, dangerous animal.
Kaido was confident. If these two girls continued to train under his wing, they would definitely reach the level of the All-Stars in the future. They were the future pillars of his empire.
As for the second tier of potential, Kaido shifted his gaze to the others. This group consisted of Basil Hawkins, Urouge, Scratchmen Apoo, X Drake, Blueno, Kalifa, and Monet.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse