The scorching heat inside the active volcano of Mount Fuji was enough to melt steel instantly, yet for the beings residing within, it was merely a warm breeze.
King the Wildfire, in his hybrid Pteranodon form, swooped down from the crater's opening. The oppressive thermal currents buffeted his black wings, but he cut through them with practiced ease. As he descended, he felt a profound shift within his own soul. The heavy, suffocating weight that had pressed down on his heart for decades—the burden of being the last survivor of the Lunarian race—had lifted.
For thousands of years, his bloodline had been hunted, feared, and driven to the brink of extinction. That history had filled him with despair and a cold, lingering fear. But now, those emotions had transformed. They had been forged into a new kind of courage, a burning motivation that fueled his will.
"Whether it is for Kaido's future child, my own potential offspring, or the resurgence of the Lunarian race... I must become stronger," King thought, his resolve hardening like obsidian. "I cannot afford to be weak."
With a thought, the flames upon his back roared to life, burning brighter and hotter than the magma below. He transformed into a streak of crimson fire, accelerating down the tunnel toward the infernal training ground hidden deep within the earth.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Moments later, King arrived at the bottom of the volcano.
The scene before him was hellish by any standard of the outside world. A vast sea of churning, molten rock filled the cavern. In the center of this magma ocean, Kaido's massive, muscular body was submerged, enduring the extreme temperatures as if he were soaking in a hot spring. Under the Governor-General's protection and watchful eye, Jack the Drought and several other high-ranking officers were also training, pushing their bodies to the absolute limit against the heat and pressure.
King did not disturb the others. He flew directly toward Kaido, hovering near the Emperor's head. With a rare tone of immense, unmasked joy in his voice, he spoke.
"Congratulations, Kaido!"
Kaido, who had been meditating and absorbing the geothermal energy from the magma, opened his eyes. He sensed the shift in King's demeanor immediately. The despair was gone, replaced by hope. Kaido threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing off the cavern walls.
"Worororo! King, it seems you know as well. I only found out this morning myself. You must work hard too, King! The future is coming fast!"
King nodded heavily, his loyalty absolute.
Kaido's heart was filled with a myriad of complex emotions. When he had received the news of Black Maria's pregnancy earlier that morning, he had been overcome with joy. This child was different. Unlike Yamato, who was a relic of his past, this child would be a true descendant born from his current resolve and his new life in this era. This was the beginning of a true dynasty.
Nearby, Jack, who was waist-deep in the magma, opened his eyes. He wiped sweat from his brow and looked up, confused by the sudden celebratory mood.
"Kaido? King? What is making you both so happy?"
Kaido grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the firelight. He saw no reason to hide the news from his core crew.
"I have good news for all of you! Jack, Enel, Who's-Who, Sasaki... you are all going to be uncles! And you, Ulti and Page One, you are going to have a younger brother or sister!"
The training ground fell silent for a second as the information sank in. Who's-Who, sharp and quick-witted as always, was the first to react. His eyes widened behind his mask.
"Kaido... is Maria pregnant?"
"Worororo! That is correct!" Kaido bellowed, confirming their suspicions.
The tension in the room broke instantly, replaced by shouts of surprise and celebration.
"That is incredible! Congratulations, Kaido!" Jack shouted first, his voice booming.
"Are we going to have a Young Master? That is wonderful news!" Who's-Who added, already calculating the positive shifts in the crew's hierarchy.
Enel, the former God of Skypiea, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "An uncle? I have never been an uncle before. Yahahaha, sounds interesting."
Sasaki, the Armored Division Captain, pumped his fist. "This is truly great news, Kaido! A toast is in order!"
"That's great! Am I going to be a big sister again?" Ulti jumped up, splashing magma, her excitement uncontainable. She turned to her brother. "Did you hear that, Pay-Pay? We're going to have a little sibling!"
Page One nodded, his expression serious but happy. "Can I be an older brother too?"
Kaido looked down at his subordinates—his family—with a warm, paternal gaze.
"That's right. You will all be uncles, older brothers, and older sisters. However, Maria's pregnancy must remain a top secret for now. The seas are in chaos following Whitebeard's death, and even Wano Country is infested with bugs and spies. I will only announce this news to the world after we have purged these unstable factors from our territory."
Jack's expression instantly darkened, his killing intent flaring. "Do not worry, Kaido. If anyone dares to try and harm the Young Master, I will crush them into dust!"
"I have already instructed my priests to keep an eye on the rats with their Mantra," Enel chimed in, electricity crackling around his shoulders. "Shall we deal with them now?"
"No rush," Kaido said, shaking his head. "We need to lull the Marines and the World Government into a false sense of security. Keeping those bugs alive in Wano for now will make them lower their guard. Once our alliance with Linlin is made public, we will purge them all in one stroke."
"I understand, Kaido!" the group chorused.
Kaido's expression softened again as he looked at his strongest fighters.
"Just in time," he began, his tone shifting to one of brotherly advice. "As your Governor-General and your older brother, I should urge you on this matter. Ulti and Page One are still children, so I will not rush them. But you—Jack, Enel, Who's-Who, Sasaki—you are not young anymore. It is time for you to find wives and have children. Everything we are building, all this power and territory, is not just for the current era. It is for our future."
He turned his gaze to King, who was still hovering above.
"King and I have already made an agreement," Kaido announced loudly. "If we both have children in the future, and they are of the same gender, they will become sworn siblings. If they are of different genders, they will become husband and wife."
The four commanders in the magma looked up, stunned. They had initially been resistant to the idea of settling down, preferring the life of battle, but Kaido's words changed everything.
"This agreement applies to you as well," Kaido continued generously. "After all, in the future, I certainly do not intend to have just one child. I want a large family."
The four men were visibly moved. In the world of pirates, trust was rare. For Kaido to offer their future children a place in his own family lineage—to be married into the bloodline of the strongest creature in the world—was the highest honor imaginable. It would cement their bond with the Beasts Pirates for generations.
Who's-Who stepped forward, a grin visible even through his mask. "Is that so? Well, if that is the case, I really cannot refuse Kaido's kindness, can I?"
Enel and Sasaki exchanged glances, both looking deeply thoughtful about the prospect.
Suddenly, Jack looked up at King with a hint of embarrassment on his face. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Um, Kaido... since you were able to introduce a girlfriend to King, could you... well, could you also introduce one to me?"
A rare, crimson blush appeared on Jack's typically stoic face. The sight of one of the three All-Stars, a man known for his brutality and lack of mercy, acting so shy was jarring.
Who's-Who and Sasaki burst into laughter.
"Hey, Jack! You are a big shot pirate! You should find your own woman!" Sasaki teased.
Jack shrugged, his face returning to its usual indifference, though the blush remained. "But I think the woman Kaido found for King is very suitable. I believe Kaido has better judgment than I do. He could definitely introduce a good woman to me."
The laughter intensified, and even King, floating in the air, looked somewhat helpless at his subordinate's blunt honesty.
Kaido, however, did not laugh. He stroked his chin, thinking seriously. After a moment, his eyes lit up.
"Now that you mention it, Jack... I actually do have a candidate in mind. There is a woman who might be perfect for you."
"Really, Kaido?!" Jack asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.
"Yes," Kaido nodded, recalling the details. "Her name is Shyarly. She is a resident of Fish-Man Island. She is a Shark Mermaid—very beautiful and very distinct. She would be a good physical match for you, Jack. But more importantly, she possesses a unique ability: she can predict the future."
Kaido's expression grew serious. "Even Gol D. Roger sought her out when she was a child to hear her divinations. If your children could inherit that ability, it would create a truly excellent bloodline for our crew. And coincidentally, an opportunity has just presented itself."
He stood up in the magma, the molten rock cascading off his massive shoulders.
"With Whitebeard's death, Fish-Man Island has lost its protector. It no longer flies Whitebeard's flag and has fallen back into chaos. Furthermore, there is a Road Poneglyph located there—one of the keys to reaching the final island."
Kaido's demeanor shifted from a brotherly advisor back to the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates. He issued a command that echoed through the volcano.
"Jack! Sasaki!"
"Kaido! We are here!" Both men straightened their backs instantly.
"I am giving you five days," Kaido ordered. "Jack, Sasaki, you will take the Sea Beast Brigade and your fleets to Fish-Man Island. Bring back the mermaid Shyarly and the Road Poneglyph. At the same time, you are to conquer the island. Make sure that from this day forward, Fish-Man Island raises the flag of the Beasts Pirates!"
"Yes, Kaido!!!"
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