On the execution platform, Buddha Sengoku's face suddenly changed. His eyes turned towards the gloomy and dark clouds gathering in the sky. Using his Observation Haki, he sensed something unusual—above the clouds, there was a layer that seemed to be burning. And there, floating above Marineford, was Kaido, riding on a flame cloud.
"Kaido!!! It's really Kaido!!!" Sengoku's mind was racing. How could this monster really be here? When did he and Whitebeard become so close? Why would he actually come? The Marine Headquarters was already under immense pressure dealing with Whitebeard, and now Kaido had arrived as well?
Garp was equally shocked. "Kaido...," he muttered, narrowing his eyes. Why would Kaido show up here?
The three Admirals—Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu—also noticed Kaido's appearance. They glanced at each other and then at the sky.
"Another terrifying guy has arrived," Kizaru remarked. "Kaido…" Akainu growled. Aokiji sighed. "This is bad... Kaido."
They were all more serious than ever before. The thought of two of the Four Emperors joining forces was unimaginable. It was a colossal threat.
Among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, someone instantly recognized the roar that echoed from the sky.
"Kaido!!!!!!!!!!" Gekko Moriah reacted violently. Memories of his crew being slaughtered by Kaido flooded back. He had barely survived that encounter. Moriah feared Kaido deeply, and seeing him here brought back all the hatred and terror he had for the man.
Meanwhile, Hawkeye looked up at the sky, his expression grave. Two of the Four Emperors were here—the strongest man in the world, and now, the strongest creature.
The Empress, Boa Hancock, remained calm. Kaido? She wasn't familiar with him and didn't care much.
Bartholomew Kuma, ever stoic, was unmoved by Kaido's presence, standing there like an unshakable statue.
But among the Warlords, the one with the biggest reaction was Doflamingo. Just moments ago, he had been laughing at the chaos Whitebeard was causing, but the second Kaido's voice echoed from the clouds, his laughter stopped as if strangled, like a duck with its neck caught in a vice.
His face instantly broke into a cold sweat. Even with his trademark sunglasses, it was obvious that he was deeply rattled. The fear twisted his facial muscles uncontrollably. Kaido's presence hit Doflamingo like a sledgehammer.
"Why is Kaido here?!" he thought in panic. "That monster… that terrifying monster. The kind that makes you want to give up on life just by standing in front of him."
Doflamingo's heart raced, his mind spinning. "Is this some kind of joke?!"
He cursed the Navy in his thoughts. "They didn't tell me Kaido was coming! They only said it would be Whitebeard! I can deal with Whitebeard, but Kaido? Who would want to face that monster? You'll die a miserable death!"
Doflamingo was more terrified than anyone else. Others might survive an encounter with Kaido, but not him. He was sure of it. Why? Because he had business ties with Kaido. Their entire trade in Seastone and weapons, all of it flowed from Wano, the land ruled by Kaido.
In their arrangement, Doflamingo was completely disposable. Kaido could replace him whenever he wished. To Kaido, he was a mere insignificant piece in a much larger game. This relationship made Doflamingo constantly nervous around Kaido.
He had even met Kaido's subordinates—the Three Disasters—and the memory of those encounters still sent shivers down his spine. Those guys were terrifying beyond words. Doflamingo had no illusions; he knew he couldn't stand up to any of them, let alone Kaido himself.
"The Three Disasters alone are horrifying…," Doflamingo thought. "If I ever became Kaido's enemy, the Three Disasters would kill me in an instant, never mind Kaido himself."
Even now, with the protection of Marineford, filled with Admirals, Vice Admirals, and the Marine hero Garp, Doflamingo still felt the overwhelming terror Kaido brought.
That fear was real. Deep down, Doflamingo was still trembling. He couldn't understand it. Why was Kaido here?!
"What does he want?" Doflamingo screamed internally, feeling his dread rise. "Is he trying to scare us all to death?!"
"I don't want to play anymore, I want to go home."
This sudden thought emerged in Doflamingo's mind, but it was fleeting. After all, the war had already begun. Leaving now would be desertion, and the Navy wouldn't sit idly by and let a deserter go unpunished.
Doflamingo knew that deserting would only bring him another disaster once the war was over. He would face severe consequences, and that was something he couldn't afford. So, even though he was utterly terrified of Kaido, he stayed.
His face, despite being hidden behind sunglasses, was a clear reflection of his inner turmoil—sweat pouring down, expression twisted with anxiety. He even had the urge to take off his signature pink feathered coat, the symbol of his confidence and flamboyance.
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard also gazed up at the sky.
"Kaido."
His expression was complicated. Kaido had truly come. It was strange, almost unfathomable. Why? What could have driven Kaido to appear at Marineford to aid him in this war? Whitebeard couldn't find an answer. He simply couldn't make sense of it.
As the crowd watched, only the powerful individuals—those familiar with Kaido's voice—immediately recognized him. The ordinary Marines, even the Navy elites, weren't so familiar with the Emperor of the Sea. They looked to the sky, puzzled and confused, unsure of what the sound in the clouds meant.
Under the bewildered gaze of countless people, the dark gray clouds suddenly turned red. Lightning cracked through the sky, followed by the ominous rumble of thunder. And then, emerging from the clouds, was an enormous blue dragon.
The dragon was surrounded by the elements—fire, wind, and thunder—and thick clouds swirled around it. This wasn't just a beast; it was a being that seemed ripped from myth, a legend brought to life.
The entire Marine headquarters erupted in chaos.
"A dragon?!!"
"Is that a dragon?!"
"Could the myths and legends be true after all?!"
"No, that's not a mythical dragon—it spoke! That must be an ability user of the Mythical Zoan type."
"A Mythical Zoan Fruit? A Devil Fruit even rarer and more special than a Logia?"
"Yes! A blue dragon like that has to be a rare mythical beast!"
"But who is he?!"
Among the Marines, there were still many who had not recognized the figure in the sky. Kaido, after all, was a mystery to most. People had heard his name, but few had seen him, not even on a wanted poster. Those were rare and hardly circulated. After all, who would seriously expect to capture Kaido and claim the bounty?
Because of this, many had no idea who the massive dragon was. They wouldn't even recognize Kaido in his human form, let alone his dragon form.
But there were those in the Navy who knew exactly who he was. And those people were now filled with dread, their voices breaking into horrified screams.
"Ka... Kaido!!! That's Kaido of the Four Emperors!!!!"
"What?!"
The name sent shockwaves through Marineford. Kaido?! The word spread like a bomb going off, and panic gripped the headquarters.