Kaido spotted!

A small bank of dark clouds drifted in from the horizon, while the sky above the Sabaody Archipelago remained perfectly clear.

The lookouts at the Marine Base spotted the strange clouds and immediately reported them to Abel. Kizaru's normally laid-back expression turned serious at once.

He extended his Observation Haki toward the clouds racing toward the Sabaody Archipelago. He could not make out the details, only a presence as violent as a volcano. Even he could not help tensing up when he sensed it.

That made the visitor's identity obvious. He was the very reason Kizaru had come to the Sabaody Archipelago: Kaido of the Beasts!

In truth, when Abel and the soldiers at the base learned that Kaido of the Beasts was coming to the Sabaody Archipelago, they nearly fell apart. This was one of the Four Emperors! On these seas, the names of the Four Emperors were practically synonymous with invincibility. Hearing that Kaido, one of those emperors, was coming filled them with helplessness and despair. Fortunately, the arrival of Admiral Kizaru had given them hope again.

Kizaru knew that to someone on Kaido's level, ordinary soldiers-and even Rear Admiral Abel-were as fragile as paper dolls. The slightest touch could kill them, a glancing blow could end them, a brush could tear their skin, and a scrape could damage their tendons! No matter how many of them there were, they were nothing more than a number.

So Kizaru told the soldiers, Abel included, to act as the situation demanded, rescue civilians wherever necessary, and avoid confronting Kaido head-on.

He himself kept his Observation Haki fully extended. If Kaido went berserk, he would have to draw his attention in time. If Kaido really had come for Su Yu, though... that would be a happy outcome for everyone!

Besides, Kizaru had yet to see Su Yu actually fight. Embarrassing as it was, he had not even been worthy of making the man lift a finger... But a brute like Kaido probably could not be subdued by sheer presence alone. He should be able to force Su Yu to act, giving Kizaru a chance to see what he could do.

Kaido had already appeared where the sea met the sky. Though he looked distant, he was actually close. The clouds grew larger and larger until they blotted out the sky and sun, seemingly enveloping all of Red Tree No. 13.

The residents looked up at the sudden cloud cover, their faces full of panic and fear, at a complete loss. Those still in the streets scrambled to get home, but even the people indoors felt no sense of safety.

Fortunately, the Marines finally stepped in to calm the residents and assigned personnel to evacuate as many of them as possible from Red Tree No. 13.

Kizaru was already letting his presence radiate outward, since he had to remain fully alert. Yet Kaido seemed not to notice him at all and headed straight for Red Tree No. 13. Kizaru breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Kaido was not simply going berserk; he had a clear objective. After all, Su Yu's bar was at Red Tree No. 13...

There was, in fact, another powerful figure hiding at Red Tree No. 13: Dark King Rayleigh. Shakky's bar was there, so naturally, he lived there too.

Even Rayleigh found an opponent like Kaido a headache. Who wanted to fight a berserker with absurd health, defense, and attack power? One slash might barely break his skin, and the wound would heal in an instant. One punch from him, meanwhile, might cost Rayleigh his old life. How was anyone supposed to fight that?

Yet Rayleigh was not worried in the slightest. He even had the leisure to sip a drink at Shakky's bar. After all, he knew exactly what terrifying figure was hiding at Red Tree No. 13. Of all the places Kaido could have chosen to go berserk, he had come to the Sabaody Archipelago-and picked Red Tree No. 13, no less. He certainly had a talent for courting death!

A handful of pirates sat scattered around the Wish-Granting Bar. They had noticed the commotion outside and seen the clouds blotting out the sky. Still, they were vicious, brutal pirates. Though they did not know what was happening, they did not panic like the civilians. They had, however, lost the mood to drink and quietly raised their guard.

Miland gave Su Yu a worried look. Su Yu returned a reassuring glance, trying to convey, Nothing's wrong. Even if something happens, your boss can handle it. Whether Miland could decipher such a complicated look, though, Su Yu had no idea.

Miland could not grasp Su Yu's complicated thoughts, but the sight of his calm, utterly untroubled eyes made Miland's own panic and helplessness vanish in an instant.

If even Rayleigh knew Kaido had arrived, Su Yu had certainly noticed him long before. Kaido had always been outrageously conspicuous, and he had the strength to justify it. With his presence fully unleashed and his aura blazing, he stood out to Su Yu like a spotlight in the dead of night.

Still, Kaido could come if he wanted. Su Yu could more or less guess why he was here. After all, an unwelcome guest had recently visited the bar: Doflamingo. That guy had ongoing business dealings with Kaido. Backing down, then refusing to swallow his anger and goading Kaido into making trouble for Su Yu, was entirely in character for him.

Su Yu could also more or less guess what Doflamingo had used to persuade Kaido. After all, Kaido was a ruthless man whose favorite pastime was suicide-no, ruthless did not even begin to cover it. And Su Yu's establishment claimed it could grant any wish. Wasn't that exactly what Kaido wanted?

At that moment, Red Tree No. 13 in the Sabaody Archipelago looked as though time had sped forward into night. The dark clouds blocked the sunlight, leaving only artificial lights on the island and plunging everything into gloom.

The clouds churned endlessly. Suddenly, a gap opened in them, but it was not sunlight that emerged. A gigantic, terrifying dragon's head thrust straight through the opening, its searchlight-like eyes seeming to glow red with bloodlust.

Everyone who saw the terrifying sight froze, their hearts filled with fear.

"Th-that... what is that?!"

"Oh my God! Is... is the world ending?!"

"..."

Some of the pirates recognized the visitor from that unmistakable appearance. But recognizing him only made them more desperate.

"It's... it's Kaido! That's Kaido of the Four Emperors!"

"A dragon-type Devil Fruit-it can only be Kaido! Damn it! What's that monster doing here?!"

"I don't want to die yet!"

"..."

Hearing their words, the people around them learned who was flying overhead and grew even more terrified. Panic spread like a virus.

Then the Azure Dragon, still concealed within the clouds, let out a piercing roar. The thunderous cry echoed across the entire Sabaody Archipelago, scattering a good portion of the clouds.

"That brat named Su Yu! Get your ass out here!"