Moonlight, and the Sun

The Sea Calendar year 1501.

Wano Country, Reigou.

Gales whipped up flying snow, blanketing the land in crystal white. This northern region of Wano Country was always a scene of pure, unadulterated snow.

Yet, amidst this bone-chilling wind, a group of people laughed and strode forward.

"Heh heh heh!"

Leading the way was an abnormally tall man, over six meters in height, with a powerfully built physique. Just a glance at him instilled a sense of immense pressure.

One of his hands held a massive pair of scissors, while the other clutched a corpse – a mummy that had been buried in the ground for who knew how long. Perhaps it was due to the region's perpetual frost and cold that the body hadn't completely decayed.

"The legendary Sword God of Wano Country, the Dragon-Slaying Samurai who guards this nation,"

The man roared with triumphant laughter, "Next, I just need to find the shadow of a powerful samurai in this warrior's nation, and a formidable force will be complete!"

"Hahaha! Captain, by then, can we storm Onigashima and take down that guy Kaido!"

One of his subordinates exclaimed excitedly.

"Isn't that obvious?"

The man raised his giant scissors and declared amidst the howling wind, "But before that, let that guy Kaido live a few more days!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Their cheerful laughter even drowned out the mournful howl of the wind, adding a touch of gaiety to the icy, snowy landscape.

"Ugh oh oh oh! Then should I go back and wait for you guys a few more days?"

A wild laugh echoed from above.

"What?"

The man looked up in astonishment, only to see a monster slowly lowering its head from the dense, dark clouds.

It was a dragon!

A colossal blue dragon, hundreds of meters long, coiled within the storm clouds. Its head alone was ridiculously large!

"Kaido!"

Sweat instantly beaded on the man's forehead, only to freeze into ice moments later by the biting Reigou wind.

They had been discussing him just seconds ago, and now the man himself had appeared!

"You've made it hard for me to find you, Moria."

The enormous blue dragon gradually emerged from the clouds, circling in the sky and looking down at the group below. "I've been waiting impatiently on Onigashima."

"You knew we landed in Wano Country long ago?"

The man, known as the Hero of West Blue, Gecko Moria, was utterly bewildered.

"Whose territory do you think this country is?"

The dragon's roar was like thunder, the oppressive blast wave even making some of Moria's subordinates lose their footing. "But, you haven't disappointed me too much. I thought you'd run away after being a thief."

"I don't need your approval!"

Moria suddenly grinned. He glanced back at his somewhat flustered subordinates and declared loudly, "Although it's a bit sudden, this might be a good thing!"

"That guy came alone!"

At least, Moria's Observation Haki hadn't detected anyone else nearby besides Kaido.

This arrogant monster had come alone.

"In that case!"

Moria raised his scissors, pointing them at Kaido in the sky. "This will be the place of our decisive battle!"

"Oh!!"

His crewmates immediately became fired up.

"Then let's show this arrogant guy the strength of our Moria Pirates!"

"That's right! As long as we follow our captain! We are invincible!"

"This is our bond!!"

The Moria Pirates were filled with fighting spirit!

"Ugh oh oh oh!"

In the sky, the dragon's massive body rolled within the sea of clouds. Kaido burst into hearty laughter, "Bond? Are you trying to make me die laughing?"

"Someone like you wouldn't understand, Kaido."

Moria said with a smile, "You can't accomplish anything alone. The power of comrades is the greatest thing in this world!"

Kaido's laughter didn't cease. He continued to speak from his superior position, "So, if I say that I'll spare you all if you obediently join my crew, you still won't agree, will you?"

"We will defeat you here, Kaido!"

Moria roared with laughter, "The one who will become the Pirate King is me!!"

"Gurararara! Then there's nothing we can do about it."

Kaido's laughter made the snow on the ground tremble.

Below, the Moria Pirates were already ready for battle.

The shadows beneath Moria's feet were already stirring.

"However,"

Kaido suddenly smiled strangely, "You think I came alone? Then you're mistaken."

"Hey! Ian!"

Kaido suddenly shouted, "Go take care of them for me."

"Huh? Me?"

Then, Moria saw in shock that from Kaido's mane behind his head, a small figure crawled onto his scalp.

It was a very, very small boy, looking no older than four or five years old.

He had red lips, white teeth, black hair, black eyes, and a little baby fat on his face, looking incredibly cute.

Is he Kaido's son?

But at this moment, the child had a conflicted expression on his face. "Me? Fight Moria? Seriously?"

"Just go! Stop talking nonsense!"

Kaido shook his head, directly flinging the child from his head, who then plummeted straight towards Moria and his crew.

"Teacher Kai! I can't do it!"

Ian screamed.

Moria now is not the fat slob he'll be twenty years later!

Moria's anger flared instantly. "Kaido! Are you insulting me! What do you mean by sending a child like this onto the battlefield!"

"Insulting?"

A low chuckle rumbled from Kaido's throat. "Ian, what are you hesitating for? Either you kill them, or they kill you. That's how war works."

The falling child, Ian, scratched the back of his head.

I really can't do anything about you, Teacher Kai.

The next instant, brilliant golden light erupted from his body.

Beneath the thick dark clouds, this originally dim region was instantly illuminated by the golden light, as if a new sun had bloomed in the sky.

"What!"

Moria squinted, facing the intense light, and vaguely saw a colossal figure emerge within the radiance.

Whoosh!

The light exploded, countless light spots scattering like stars, like a torrential downpour, filling the entire world with a sense of sanctity.

And in the center of this rain of light, a golden deity spread its wings.

Like a four-legged divine bird, or a soaring divine dragon!

His entire body seemed to be cast from gold, with only a blue gem adorning his forehead. It possessed a non-biological, mechanical feel, yet only evoked a sense of majesty and beauty, magnificence and nobility.

A Mythical Zoan?

Moria's mind instantly flashed with this thought.

With a wingspan exceeding twenty meters, such a massive physique! And it transformed from such a young child!

The golden flying dragon looked down at the Moria Pirates, then opened its mouth.

"Divine Flame Cannon!"

New author, new book! Please collect! Please follow up!!