Two days earlier, on the outskirts of Dressrosa.
"Werther, are you sure you want to do this? This thing is notoriously bad-tempered. It won't be easy to tame."
Doffy stared at the enormous iron cage before him, cold sweat beading on his face.
The other members of the Donquixote Family kept their distance, eyeing the huge cage that had arrived that morning in astonishment.
It had taken over a hundred people just to haul the cage onto the Island. Along the way, the bird of prey inside had seized a chance to tear more than a dozen pirates apart.
"It'll make a fine mount. And if I'm going to face Kaido in a final showdown, I need to make an imposing entrance.
"Open the cage. If it won't submit today, it can die here."
The pirates serving the Donquixote Family exchanged glances at Werther's order, then slowly opened the enormous cage.
They did not dare refuse him.
As the cage opened, the bird of prey that had been lying quietly inside opened its eyes.
It was a massive black eagle. Judging by its size, its wingspan would stretch dozens of meters.
Sea Kings in the Pirate World tended to be enormous, but a Giant Eagle of this size was exceedingly rare.
"Young Master, can Werther really do it? What is that thing? It's terrifying."
Sugar hid behind Doffy, peeking out with only her head.
"That's a Dokuno Giant Eagle. It isn't among the largest creatures, but for sheer ferocity, few can match it. People call it the King of the Sky. It feeds on Sea Kings.
"And Werther wants to tame it? What is he thinking?"
Sugar looked even more frightened.
"The King of the Sky? Does that mean it's the strongest creature in the air?"
Doffy thought for a