Sea Circle Calendar 1533, September 1.
Wano Country, Onigashima.
The once-boisterous Skull Fortress had now fallen completely silent. Kaido sat sprawled on the shattered throne, gulping down strong liquor one mouthful after another. Only after draining the last drop from his gourd did he narrow his eyes and slowly sweep his gaze across the sparse remaining members of the Beasts Pirates before him.
"If anyone wants to leave, there's still time. This time, I won't stop you."
News that the Whitebeard Pirates had been completely wiped out had long since reached this place. Unless something unexpected happened, the Beasts Pirates would be next to face extermination. Unlike any battle before, this was a battle whose defeat had been decided before it had even begun. Everyone, Kaido included, understood that clearly.
No matter how arrogant Kaido was, he would not think himself capable of facing several opponents on his level at once.
Over the past few days, members of the Beasts Pirates had been leaving one after another. Kaido had seen it all, yet he had not stopped them. The Beasts Pirates, once numbering tens of thousands at their peak, had now dwindled to a mere few hundred.
Long after his words fell, no one responded. Those who had remained until now were undoubtedly his true loyalists.
"Worororo! Looks like I'm still pretty damn charismatic! So many of you are still following me to the end!" Kaido let out a hearty laugh and refilled his gourd. "Brats, fight with me until the very end!"
"We swear to follow the Governor unto death!"
"Let those bastards know that the Beasts Pirates have backbone too!"
Every Beasts Pirate present shouted in agreement with their boss, not a trace of fear in their eyes.
"I thought you'd run. Why are you still here?" Amid