The black hull of the Pluton Battleship emerged completely from the water, reflecting a cold metallic luster in the midday sun.
Roy stood on the deck, his Observation Haki spread out to its limit.
The Golden Lion's floating fleet was less than ten nautical miles away, and the floating islands stood out starkly against the dark clouds.
Further away,
Big Mom's Totto Land fleet is cutting through the waves at full speed, with the figurehead of its flagship Queen Mama Chanter, appearing and disappearing amidst the spray.
And the navy.
The warship stopped further away, its presence deliberately concealed.
But in Roy's perception, the life force of Garp, Zephyr, and the Three Admirals was like a lighthouse in the dark, impossible to hide.
Kaido was still looking up at the main cannon, his eyes, as big as copper bells, wide open.
He kept muttering things like "good stuff" and "I've hit the jackpot," completely oblivious to his surroundings.
Kaido.
Roy's voice wasn't loud, but the urgency in his tone made Kaido instantly stop smiling.
The Golden Lion will arrive in less than fifteen minutes.
Big Mom is about the same.
And the navy.
Roy pointed to several blurry black dots on the distant horizon.
They're all rushing this way.
No one should be allowed near Pluton.
Kaido's face no longer held his usual maniacal laughter; instead, it displayed suppressed rage.
He gripped the spiked club tightly, his knuckles cracking.
How do you plan to fight?
"We'll split into two groups."
Roy speaks very fast.
"Go and stop Shiki the Golden Lion, keep him outside Wano Country's mainland, and don't let the battlefield spill over into Onigashima's interior."
"I'm taking Pluton back to Onigashima, and Jhin is coming with me."
Once we arrive at Onigashima, have Jhin immediately gather all your officers. The battle must take place on the outskirts of Onigashima; it cannot be fought on the inland.
Kaido paused for a moment, then grinned.
There was no excitement in that smile, only pure killing intent.
"Leave it to me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kaido kicked the Pluton deck with both legs.
Kaido shot into the sky like a cannonball, leaving a straight trail of air in his wake.
Roy looked up at the figure soaring higher and higher.
In mid-air, blue scales surged out from under Kaido's skin.
His hands transformed into sharp claws, his legs into a dragon's tail, his spine extended into a long dragon body, and his body rapidly expanded.
In the blink of an eye, a giant azure dragon, over a kilometer long, coiled in the sky, its head held high and its whiskers dancing wildly in the sea breeze.
Kaido twisted his dragon body and crashed fiercely into the dark, floating Sky Island in the distance.
The dragon's roar shook the heavens, echoing across the entire sea.
"Hehehehe~ You old lion!! I'll have to test my skills on you!!"
Roy withdrew his gaze and turned to Jhin beside him.
"Let's go back to Onigashima."
Telekinesis surged from within his body, enveloping the Pluton Battleship completely like an invisible giant hand.
The black behemoth, hundreds of meters long, slowly rose into the air, seawater pouring down its hull and splashing large white sprays on the sea below.
Jin stood beside Roy, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and glanced back at the distant sky.
The golden mane of the Golden Lion was dazzling in the sunlight. He stood on the edge of the largest floating Sky Island, with Oto and the Kogarashi crossed in front of him.
Kaido dragon body lunged at him, its dragon claws, imbued with crimson Conqueror's Haki, tearing towards Golden Lion's face.
The Golden Lion grinned maliciously, its twin swords crossing to unleash a golden slashing wave.
The two forces exploded in mid-air.
The shockwave tore the surrounding clouds to shreds, and a ten-meter-high wave rose from the sea below.
The floating Sky Island beneath the Golden Lion's feet trembled violently, and a large amount of rubble collapsed from its edges and fell into the sea.
"Hehehehe!"
Kaido!
You stinking snake, Pluton can't swallow you all by himself!
"Whether I can swallow it or not, you try and see!!"
Kaido's dragon tail swept across, striking Golden Lion's raised twin swords and sending him flying dozens of meters, swords and all.
The Golden Lion flipped in the air to dissipate the force, and the floating rocks beneath its feet gathered again to support its body, its smile becoming even more ferocious.
The battle between the two was intense from the very beginning.
Roy didn't look any further.
He steered Pluton at full speed toward Onigashima, the massive black ship cutting through the clouds, its hull leaving a long trail as it skimmed across the sea of clouds.
The outline of Onigashima gradually became clear on the horizon.
Jin suddenly spoke,
" Golden Lion's fleet isn't just him; the Flying Pirates also have quite a few officers."
Roy nodded.
"Therefore, we need your Beasts Pirates to hold them off. Pluton is too big to hide; we can only defend it."
Jin paused for a moment, then said, "Understood."
The Pluton Battleship landed on the cliff edge of Onigashima.
The ship's hull was longer than the sides of the Skull Palace, and its ridiculously large main cannon was pointed directly at the distant sea.
Even when still, it exudes a sense of oppression that sends chills down your spine.
Roy jumped off the deck, landed on his feet, glanced back at the behemoth, and frowned slightly.
It's too big.
It's visible from any direction at sea; there's absolutely no possibility of hiding.
"Stop here for now. We'll talk after we're done fighting."
Jin stopped wasting words. The Pteranodon's wings spread from its back, its black feathers gleaming with a dark red luster in the setting sun.
He leaped off the cliff edge, heading straight for the heart of Onigashima.
The next second, a deep horn sounded throughout Onigashima.
That was a rallying order of the highest level.
Throughout Onigashima, members of the Beasts Pirates stopped what they were doing.
Queen put down the dessert plate and wiped his greasy fingers on his pants.
Jack burst out of the training field, still carrying the giant iron bar.
Now all Tobiroppo stood up, and Who's-Who's eyes flashed beneath his mask.
In the sky,
As Jin's figure swept past, his short, powerful voice echoed throughout the entire Onigashima.
"Everyone—! Assemble in the square."
Roy stood on the deck of Pluton, hands in his pockets, watching the flags of the Totto Land fleets gradually approaching on the distant sea.
Dozens of pirate flags fluttered in the sea breeze, and the design of Big Mom's pirate flag, with her hat and crossed scimitars, was particularly eye-catching in the setting sun.
Roy tapped his fingers lightly on the hilt of the knife.
Golden Lion, Big Mom, Navy.
Three forces, one goal.
Let's go then.
Let's see who can snatch Pluton —or rather, let's see who can leave this sea alive.
The sound of horns still echoed over the Onigashima.
Members of the Beasts Pirates poured into the plaza in front of the Skull Palace from all directions.
Bloodline soldiers, mechanized units, and ordinary combatants stood in densely packed rows.
The sounds of footsteps and the clanging of weapons mingled together, enveloping the entire square in a chilling atmosphere.
Ember spread its wings and hovered above the plaza, delivering commands in a short, powerful voice.
"Everyone—assemble in the square!"
Queen arrived first.
His obese body swayed as he rushed to the center of the square, still chewing on a dessert he hadn't swallowed, and he mumbled incoherently.
Brother Jin!
What's going on?
"Enemy attack?"
Jack, who was promoted to All-Stars, followed closely behind.
With a giant training iron bar slung over his shoulder, his stern and rigid face was filled with fighting spirit as he stood silently beside Queen.
His arm muscles were taut, ready to engage in battle at any moment.
All Tobiroppo were present.
Who's-Who's steps were the fastest; his eyes, hidden behind his mask, scanned the surroundings, lingered on Jhin for half a second, and then moved away.
Sasaki and Black Maria walked side by side, Ulti impatiently urged Page One to hurry up, pulling on his arm.
The other cadres, including Holdem, Speed, and Babanuki, also took their positions and stood in formation in the square.