Onigashima! Teacher Kai's Fatherly Love and Filial Piety

Kaido floated in the sky, the intense flames from the explosion illuminating his face, the staggering heat making even him feel scorched.

He watched as, within the explosion, the fiery bird spread its wings and flew up again. As it ascended, the flames dissipated, and the golden dragon reappeared within the fire.

Ian, this kid he'd picked up from a deserted island, possessed astonishing talent.

His physical body alone far surpassed that of ordinary people. That wasn't the most surprising part; when you added his abilities, he was even stronger than himself at that age, and even stronger than Linlin!

Ian had already flown above him. He deactivated his ability and fell somewhat weakly onto Kaido's head. "I can't do it anymore, I can't win, Teacher Kai."

"You brat!!"

A piercing howl, like that of a vengeful spirit, came from below.

The fireworks from the explosion had already faded, revealing a massive crater tens of meters wide. The surface of this crater, even the ground itself, was slightly melted, with a layer of magma radiating heat.

On one side of the crater, Moria, battered and torn, roared up at the sky.

Scattered around him were his crewmates, most of them burned beyond recognition, groaning in pain, while even more had already become corpses.

Besides Moria himself, only a handful of others were still standing.

Only they could protect themselves with Armament Haki; their other crewmates couldn't.

Even Moria bore some burn marks.

The others were even worse off, completely tattered and covered in burns.

"Weren't you doing a great job, kid?"

Kaido didn't hold back his praise. "Guhaha! I couldn't do something like this at your age."

"That's because everyone else besides Moria was too weak," Ian said matter-of-factly, straddling Kaido's head and slumping down.

Besides Moria, the others, while able to use Haki, were still too weak to block the high temperatures.

Furthermore, even Zoan abilities, unless they were special or awakened, didn't grant extra stamina to the user; they just made them tougher.

Ian's current stamina wasn't enough for him to recklessly use his abilities.

If Teacher Kai hadn't been here, even with the advantage he'd gained, he would have been killed by the enraged Moria by now.

"You're right, kid, it's because they were too weak!"

Kaido's body suddenly shrank, transforming into his human form and crashing down.

The ground cracked under his heavy landing.

Ian desperately gripped Kaido's hair to avoid being thrown off.

"So, kid, you need to become strong!"

"Kaido!!"

Moria glared at Kaido, who had returned to his human form.

"Guhaha! What do you think of my kid?"

Kaido casually slung his kanabo over his shoulder and sneered, "Compared to your useless crew, he's clearly not on the same level, right?"

"Kaido!! I'll kill you!!"

The enraged Moria had completely lost his mind and lunged at Kaido.

"Guhaha!! Thunder Bagua!!"

Later.

On this ravaged battlefield.

Flurries of snow began to fall from the sky once more.

Ian stood at the edge of the battlefield, his expression somewhat somber.

The battlefield was littered with corpses.

It was his first time seeing so many dead people, many of whom he had killed himself, and the feeling was… complex.

The Moria Pirates who had stubbornly survived his Divine Phoenix's bombardment were now all dead, their bodies twisted and broken in gruesome ways.

Ian felt he would never forget the sight of these men charging headlong at Kaido.

"Guhaha! I don't dislike tenacious guys."

Kaido laughed heartily, carrying his kanabo. "Moria? I'll be waiting for you to come back for revenge."

Moria had still escaped.

His crewmates had sacrificed their lives to block Teacher Kai's path, and the guy had howled and roared, finally fleeing under the desperate efforts of his crew.

Such an experience would be incredibly difficult to process.

Ian could somewhat understand his subsequent despair.

But he had to admit, the Shadow-Shadow Fruit was indeed powerful. Moria only needed to place his shadow far away and then he could swap positions with it to escape.

"This trip was quite enjoyable, kid. Let's head back."

Kaido transformed into his Azure Dragon form once more, and Ian grabbed his mane, flying into the sky with him.

"Today, I witnessed the destruction of an idealist."

The Azure Dragon, hundreds of meters long, flew across the skies of Wano Country, traversing from the nation's north all the way to its southernmost tip.

As they flew over the country, Ian saw numerous factories, their chimneys spewing thick black smoke, casting a gloomy pall over Wano Country's sky.

"This country is heading for ruin."

"It's a wonder Oden could stand it."

Ian sighed.

Wano Country's land had reached its end, and Teacher Kai flew out over the sea.

However, this was not the sea of the New World, but Wano Country's inner sea.

To protect Pluton, Wano Country had built high walls surrounding the nation, and the waters accumulated over eight hundred years had formed an inner sea that submerged the island's surroundings.

Before long, an island with a giant skull for a head appeared within Ian's sight.

Onigashima, they had arrived.

Kaido, in his Azure Dragon form, flew directly through the eye sockets of Onigashima's skull, dispelled his ability, and landed on the rooftop terrace of the main building.

Ian couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. They had finally returned safe and sound.

"Daddy!"

As soon as they landed, a small figure darted out from a room on the top floor, happily hugging Kaido's leg.

Well, Kaido was still quite tall, after all.

"You're back!"

The little girl happily tilted her head up, her round face full of smiles.

She had beautiful hair that transitioned from white to green to blue, and she wore a small white kimono, looking incredibly cute.

"Mhm."

As Teacher Kai nodded, the little girl was already climbing his leg, all the way up to his head. Teacher Kai didn't say anything.

"Ian!"

The little girl, holding onto her father's horns, grinned at Ian, who was sitting on Kaido's shoulder. "How was it? Was it fun outside?"

"Extremely boring," Ian yawned. "This country is all boring."

"You're just trying to trick me!"

The little girl, Teacher Kai's daughter, Yamato, pouted. "I wish I could have gone too!"

"You're still far from ready," Teacher Kai said. He raised his hand, grabbed his daughter by the scruff of her neck, lifted her off his head, and placed her in front of him, scolding her sternly. "Since you keep saying you want to surpass me, then hurry up and get stronger! At least, don't be too far behind Ian!"

"Okay!" Yamato nodded with a smile. "I'll definitely surpass you, Dad!"

Ian tilted his head, watching Teacher Kai's lips curve into an unconscious smile, and felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.

The efforts of the past three years had paid off.

The most significant achievement of these three years was undoubtedly making Teacher Kai and Yamato, who were supposed to be mortal enemies in the original story, get along well now, truly resembling a father and daughter!

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