Above the battlefield, clouds steamed and dissipated.
Two years ago, Yamato had awakened the Mythical Zoan Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Oguchi no Makami.
Now, she transformed into her full beast form—a graceful white wolf with delicate features—charging across the sacred cloudscape with her future self beside her.
Feet pounding against divine clouds, the twin Yamatos rushed straight toward the crumbling candy ship.
"Damn it! One after another—you won't quit, will you?!"
Perospero's temple veins bulged with fury.
He twirled his candy cane staff.
The Paramecia-type Lick-Lick Fruit activated—golden syrup gushed into the sky, transforming midair—
Into a massive execution device—
Candy Maiden!
The candy construct opened its blood-red maw, lunging at the two Yamatos.
If they were caught, the trap would close shut, and countless candy spikes would impale them without mercy.
Of course—
That was only if the targets were weak enough to be caught in the first place.
Perospero, with a bounty of 700 million, was indeed a powerful New World veteran.
But today, he was facing not one—but two Yamatos.
Raised under Kaido's brutal training, Yamato had strength rivaling the strongest of lieutenants.
Even Kaido himself couldn't subdue her easily.
One Yamato was already fearsome.
Two together?
Terrifying.
"I'll handle this!"
"I'll take the lead!"
The two Yamatos exchanged a glance.
The future Yamato leapt lightly from her partner's back.
She reached for the kanabo Takeru at her waist and swung—
"Raimei Hakke!!!"
BOOM!
Like using a cannon to squash a mosquito—
The powerful thunder strike, strong enough to annihilate a Flying Six member in an instant, exploded—
Crushing the Candy Maiden on impact.
The shockwave blew apart the candy ship's bow.
Perospero flew backward, blood spurting from his mouth as he slammed into a cabin wall.
"Damn it! Who the hell are you people?!"
Perospero roared in shock.
"We are... KOZUKI ODEN!!!"
The two Yamatos shouted in unison, voices firm and resolute.
"Huh?"
Perospero blinked.
The name Kozuki Oden sounded familiar...
Suddenly—
it hit him.
More than twenty years ago—
Among the invaders of Totto Land alongside Roger, there had been a samurai from Wano named Kozuki Oden!
But... hadn't Oden been killed by Kaido eighteen years ago?
Could it be… Oden survived and joined Kaido's forces?
No... no, that couldn't be!
Perospero shook his head violently, dismissing the thought.
No matter what—first he had to take them down!
---
"Big Bro Peros! I'll back you up!!"
Snack, one of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders, shouted.
Leading a ship full of elite Big Mom pirates, he prepared to charge into the fray.
But just then—
"Laser Beam!!!"
A blinding beam of golden light pierced the sky.
From atop General Franky in naval combat form, Franky unleashed a powerful laser that blasted straight through Snack's warship.
"Damn it!"
"Sink him!"
The Big Mom pirates shouted in panic.
Seconds later—
a chilling cold swept in like the breath of death itself.
"Yohohoho!"
The skeletal Brook leapt up from the sea.
In his hand—his soul-infused sword gleamed with icy light.
"Hanauta Sancho: Yahazu Giri!!!"
CLANG!
As he sheathed the blade, a devastating shockwave rippled out.
Even Big Mom's elites were sent flying, blood gushing from wounds that froze solid mid-air.
"Damn it! Don't get cocky just because you're invisible!"
Cracker swung his massive sword, unleashing a tremendous shockwave.
CLANG!
General Franky, glowing with power, blocked the blow.
Despite Cracker's overwhelming force, the memory alloy armor of General Franky held strong.
It was made from the same material used in the Marine HQ walls during the Summit War—
even Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi couldn't easily break it.
---
"Something's off…"
From the biscuit ship's bow, Cracker narrowed his eyes, hiding among thick armor.
"These people... they don't seem like Beasts Pirates."
Snack squinted past the candy and biscuit ships toward the distant Beasts Pirates' warship.
Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger tingled in Cracker's mind.
He looked up—
And saw a red-haired, one-armed youth descending from the sun.
A feral grin split the youth's face.
"Red hair? No... something's wrong!"
Cracker gasped.
Red hair and one arm—
his mind immediately jumped to Shanks, the fearsome Yonko.
His heart skipped a beat—
But a closer look revealed it wasn't Shanks.
The face was different. Maybe a bit familiar...
But just a nobody.
Cracker snorted.
Still, he mobilized his biscuit soldiers, aiming an entire barrage of cannons at the red-haired youth—
Kid.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Kid grinned wickedly.
The Jiki Jiki no Mi activated.
All incoming cannonballs reversed course and spun back toward Cracker's ship.
Then, Kid's power surged again.
Invisible magnetic fields twisted and turned, guiding the projectiles in a giant arc—
To the rear of the biscuit ship.
"PUNK ROTTEN!!!"
BOOM!!!
Using the full power of the Jiki Jiki no Mi, Kid activated his armored form.
Iron and steel from across the battlefield surged to him—
Forming a giant metallic colossus that blotted out the sun.
It crashed down on Snack's ship like a meteor—
---
"A-Are these really the Beasts Pirates' officers?!"
In the Marine guerrilla sub nearby, the tight-clad Ain gasped in disbelief.
Through her scope, she watched the battle unfold.
Luffy's Kong Gun,
Yamato's Raimei Hakke,
Kid's Punk Rotten—
Each one was absurdly strong.
Just a handful of fighters were keeping three Big Mom warships at bay—
Including two Sweet Commanders and another pirate worth 700 million!
"This doesn't make sense. Unless the Beasts Pirates sent out all three Calamities..."
But Ain had studied their intel.
Those people didn't match any known Beasts Pirates officers.
"Professor Zephyr, something feels wrong... Are they really from the Beasts Pirates?"
Binz asked hesitantly.
"They're using Beasts Pirates' ships, so they must be."
Zephyr said in a low voice.
But he already had a good idea of the truth.
"Alert all forces. Prepare to act. Once we've taken them all down, we'll know everything."
Zephyr ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Ain and Binz responded sharply.
---
"Uh-oh! Looks like Admiral Zephyr's getting ready to move!"
On lookout duty, Usopp shouted down.
"Leave the Big Mom Pirates to Luffy's group. We'll take care of the Marines!"
Zoro drew Enma slightly from its sheath, its black blade gleaming.
"Looks like it's time for Soba Mask to make his entrance again!"
Sanji pulled out his Raid Suit transformation pod with a grin.