While the battle raged fiercely at the entrance to the New World, Kaido, far away in Wano Country, was also busy.
On the throne of Onigashima, Kaido gulped down the last mouthful of sake, then casually tossed the empty gourd aside, causing it to shatter into several pieces on the ground.
In front of him were stacks of battle reports that had just been delivered from Hachinosu.
Kaido was itching to see it, feeling like ants were crawling all over his body.
He's a battle maniac; his greatest hobby in life is fighting against strong opponents.
With such a fierce battle raging in the New World, he's just squatting in Wano Country drinking; that's worse than killing him.
He grabbed the Den Den Mushi and dialed Roy's number.
As soon as the call connected, Kaido's loud voice exploded.
Roy! I heard you guys have a pretty big fight going on over there!
Bullet is always getting into fights, I'm getting bored to death here!
Should I bring some men over to help?
Roy's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, still in that unhurried tone:
"No need. You have more important things to do."
What could be more important than fighting?
" Straw Hat Luffy."
Kaido moment, and his drunkenness mostly dissipated.
"That kid has already reached Doflamingo's territory."
Roy continued,
"He's with Trafalgar Law, and the two of them are working together, currently advancing towards Doflamingo."
At their pace, it won't be long before news of Doflamingo's defeat arrives.
"It won't be long before they set their sights on Wano Country, and then you'll be in for a lot of trouble!"
"Really!?"
"Hehehe!"
Kaido took a swig of sake, threw his head back, and laughed loudly.
"That kid's finally here! I'll see why you're going to put so much effort into him!"
"Don't be too happy yet, Kaido!"
Hearing the disdain in Kaido's tone, Roy's tone suddenly became serious.
" Kaido, I told you before that Straw Hat Boy's Gum-Gum Fruit is the Model: Sun God Nika."
That is, the legendary Joy Boy's Devil Fruit ability.
I don't know how powerful this Devil Fruit Awakening.
Don't let underestimating your opponent cause you to lose your composure.
"Underestimate the enemy?"
Kaido snorted.
"My greatest strength in life is that I never underestimate my opponent when fighting."
Back when I fought Roger and Whitebeard, I always went all out.
"That's good.
In short, be prepared.
You don't need to worry about things in the New World; I'll have someone keep an eye on things.
Your task now is to protect Wano Country and wait for Straw Hat Luffy to your door.
Kaido was itching to fight, but he trusted Roy's judgment.
After hanging up the phone, he sat on his throne and thought for a moment. Just as he was about to order another pot of wine to be brought over, a series of hurried footsteps came from the corridor.
A minor leader of the Beasts Pirates tumbled into the hall, his face bruised and blood dripping from his mouth.
"Governor! Something terrible has happened!"
Kaido frowned. "Speak."
A group of Supernovas have invaded our territory!
They wreaked havoc in Kuri and looted several weapons depots!
Our men can't stop them!
Kaido's eyes narrowed.
Supernovas.
They were those kids who entered the New World in the same batch as Straw Hat Luffy two years ago.
Kid, Hawkins, Apoo, Capone Bege, Drake —he'd heard these names reported by Jhin several times, but he'd never really paid them any mind.
"A bunch of ignorant brats, daring to run wild on my turf."
Kaido stood up from the throne, hoisted the Hassaikai onto his shoulder,
"I'm itching for a good workout, so I'll warm them up."
Kuri Coast.
Kid stood on the ruins of a smashed warehouse, his mechanical arms reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.
A dozen or so Beasts Pirates lay sprawled around him, all stunned by the metal he had attracted using his Magnet-Magnet Fruit powers.
Is that all you've got?
Kid spat.
" Kaido's subordinates are nothing special."
Hawkins stood not far away, flipping through a stack of tarot cards, his expression not very pleasant.
He just consulted a divination master, and the divination indicated that today's battle prospects were "extremely unlucky."
He looked up at the sky, then at the cards in his hand, his brow furrowed so deeply it could trap a fly.
" Kid, I suggest we retreat now," Hawkins said. "The divination indicates—"
"It's that same old mystical stuff of yours again."
Apoo interrupted him, crossing his arms behind his head with a nonchalant air.
"With so many of us, are we afraid of Kaido?"
Even if you can't beat them, can't you just run away?
Capone Bege stood to the side, a cigar dangling from his lips, without saying a word.
Inside his castle, the gang members under his command were on high alert, ready to open fire at any moment.
Drake stood at the very edge, arms crossed, his expression complex.
He is ostensibly a pirate, but in reality, he is an undercover agent for the Marine Headquarters.
As a Marine, he certainly knew how terrifying Kaido was.
Now that this group of Supernovas is going to fight Kaido, he's caught up in it all, and he doesn't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
Just as the group decided to take this opportunity to discuss how to bring Kaido down from his pedestal, the sky above suddenly darkened.
As they looked up, they saw a colossal dragon, its wings blotting out the sky, circling overhead.
Kaido's Azure Dragon Form emerged from the clouds, its massive head drooping, casting a shadow over the entire coastline.
The dragon's breath churned deep in its throat, emitting a low, rumbling sound.
Kid's expression changed.
He had seen Kaido's bounty poster and Kaido's photo, but when he actually faced this ruler of the New World, he realized that the bounty poster and the real Kaido were two completely different things.
That oppressive feeling didn't come from the body, but from the depths of your soul—making it difficult to even breathe.
" Kid--!" Apoo was the first to react, his hands transforming into musical instruments in preparation for an attack.
Kaido didn't give him a chance to make a move.
With a flick of its tail, Apoo was sent flying, crashing through several building ruins before coming to a stop, where it became embedded in a wall, motionless.
Kid raised his hands high, unleashing the full power of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit.
All the surrounding metal objects—swords, cannonballs, steel bars—were attracted by his magnetic force and coalesced into a giant metal doll above his head.
"Magnetism·Demon--!"
The metal doll slammed its fist toward Kaido.
Kaido didn't even bother to dodge; with a swipe of his dragon claw, the seemingly menacing metal doll was shattered.
Metal fragments flew everywhere.
Hawkins was about to transform and prepare to counterattack, but Kaido had already transformed back into human form and landed in front of everyone.
When Hassaikai slammed his foot into the ground, the shockwave from the impact sent Hawkins staggering back several steps.
"You think you can cause trouble on my turf with such meager skills?"
Kaido's voice was hoarse and deep, each word carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.
Capone Bege, with a cigar in his mouth, suddenly had dozens of small holes opened up in his body, and dozens of cannons fired at the same time.
The shells rained down on Kaido like a storm.
Kaido stood motionless amidst the gunfire.
The shells exploded on him, and flames and smoke engulfed him completely.