A few days later, New World.
A Marine warship sped across the sea, heading toward somewhere unknown. Then, it suddenly shifted course slightly.
At the vessel's bow stood Sakazuki, arms crossed, his Justice cloak billowing behind him.
He spoke in a low voice. "So, new intel came in?"
From the rear deck, Carlo stepped forward briskly.
"Yes, sir. According to the latest report, Kaido was sighted on Bacchus Island about an hour ago. We've changed course and are moving in."
Sakazuki gave a slight nod, gaze locked on the horizon.
Unbeknownst to Kaido, he was about to become a living test subject for a group of mad scientists.
...
New World, Wano Country, Kuri. The Daimyo's Residence.
Kozuki Oden stood in the middle of his noisy estate, surrounded by his many retainers and samurai.
The loud chatter and laughter filled the air.
A hint of exasperation flashed across Oden's face as he quietly slipped away, returning to the solitude of his study.
From a shelf, he took out an old book his father had once given him: the Map of the World's Nations.
Before he knew it, he'd flipped through it again and again. When he finally looked up, the sun had crossed most of the sky.
Staring out the window, he fell into deep thought.
'Across the sea… there must be lands vaster than I can imagine. And warriors greater than I've ever seen. I want to meet them. I want to see the world with my own eyes. I want to connect with it!'
Oden finally made up his mind. His left hand instinctively settled on the hilt of his sword, tightening slightly.
'I must… set sail!'
In this world where Whitebeard no longer roamed the seas, Oden, too, was ready to begin a new journey—to reach the world that awaited beyond Wano.
...
West Blue, the promised battlefield between Garp and Chinjao.
Carey Island, shoreline.
A massive pirate ship was already anchored by the coast. At its helm stood the official pirate force of the Kano Country: the current leader of the Happo Navy, "Chinjao the Drill."
Draped in a deep green cloak, his upward-pointing sideburns matched the long drill-shaped head and squinting eyes, giving off an overwhelming sense of majesty.
Suddenly, his eyes shifted toward the distance, where a warship approached.
"…He's here."
As the ship docked, squad after squad of Marines quickly formed defensive lines along the shore.
Garp descended from the warship. Seeing Chinjao waiting for him, he smiled.
"Oi, Chinjao! To smash that ridiculous drill-head of yours, I've been using mountains as punching bags! Took down eight of 'em!"
He cracked his knuckles as he spoke.
Crack! Crack!
A sharp, crisp sound echoed from his fists.
Chinjao remained unfazed, brimming with confidence. "No matter what you do, it's meaningless. There's nothing in this world harder than my head."
Chuckling, Garp shifted his right hand behind his back.
Vmmm—
A jet-black sheen of Armament Haki enveloped his fist, then he dashed forward like a cannonball.
"Brace yourself, Chinjao!"
The pirate also lowered his head and charged ahead like a raging bull, his unbreakable drill head glinting with obsidian Haki.
Vmmm—
"Watch me break that fist you're so proud of, Garp!"
Clang!
With both men shouting, their Haki-clad strikes collided at full force. A shockwave exploded outward, ripping through the air and rocking everything nearby.
The huge Marine warship trembled violently under the sheer pressure.
In the heart of the storm, Garp and Chinjao gritted their teeth, locked in a brutal stalemate. Seconds passed, but to them, it felt like an eternity.
Then, the vice admiral's eyes widened, as if he sensed something. Gritting his teeth harder, he let out a loud roar and pushed forth with all his might.
"AAARRRGHHHH!!!"
With a sickening crack, the tip of Chinjao's legendary head began to sink inward.
Then—
Crash!
His once-unbreakable drill head shattered completely. The meter-long spike crumpled as Garp's iron fist, honed through a long time of mountain-pulverizing training, drove straight into his skull.
As the vice admiral landed, he looked at the staggering pirate—his eyes bulging in disbelief, his face twisted in shock.
Garp grinned wide. "Gotcha."
Chinjao hadn't even processed the pain when he shrieked: "Let's leave! All ships! Full retreat!"
In the blink of an eye, the Happo Navy scrambled to flee.
Arms crossed, Garp stood tall, watching them retreat with smug satisfaction.
A Marine officer stepped forward behind him. "Vice Admiral Garp, should we pursue them?"
He shook his head and answered calmly, "The Kano Country is a member nation of the World Government. The Happo Navy is their official military. We've got no justification to wipe them out outright. Return to base."
"Yes, sir!"
...
New World, Bacchus Island. Evening.
Kaido and King were engaged in intense combat training.
Clang!
The former's massive kanabo slammed against the latter's longsword. The shockwaves of their Haki-infused strikes spiraled outward, creating miniature tornados that blasted through the surrounding trees.
King skidded back, feet digging trenches in the earth.
Kaido twirled his kanabo with a grin. "King, you—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
A sudden pressure flooded the area. Both men froze, instinctively lifting their eyes skyward.
Kaido's pupils contracted sharply as he spun around and shouted.
"King! Get out of here now!"
The words had barely left his mouth, when—
BOOOOM!!!!
A blazing meteor of molten rock smashed into the ground before them, shaking the entire island. The deafening impact sent shockwaves ripping through the air, while an overwhelming wave of heat scorched everything in its path.
Kaido's head buzzed from the blast. He shook it off and, without hesitation, transformed into a massive blue dragon, his serpentine body stretching hundreds of meters as he shot upward, aiming to escape the battlefield.
From the crater below, molten rock surged. And Sakazuki rose from its center, body reforming from magma, his eyes locked onto the fleeing dragon.
"Did you really think I'd let you escape?"
He brought his palms together with a sharp clap.
"Great Celestial Magma Demon!"
The molten earth erupted violently, swelling with unimaginable energy. A gargantuan magma titan took form, towering over 800 meters. Eight arms belched thick black smoke, each coated with Armament Haki. From its shoulders and elbows came deep, thunderous booms.
In an instant, six of its jet-black magma arms lashed out and grabbed hold of Kaido's giant serpentine body, anchoring him in place.
The great azure dragon twisted and roared, trying to break free.
"Rrraaaaaghhh!"
Kaido opened his maw wide, energy crackling inside.
A breath attack, charging fast, aimed straight at the head of the magma titan.
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