That night, Onigashima was at its peak of excitement. Everyone gathered together to eat meat and drink wine, completely oblivious to the threat outside. The people of Wano Country, however, were unaware of this. If they knew, they would be dumbfounded and regret not seizing the opportunity to attack Onigashima. On the roof, Yamato sat alone, smoking and gazing toward Wano Country.
Twenty years. I have been in this world for twenty-one years now. Time really flies, and everything needs to come to an end. I can finally leave this mess behind, Yamato murmured.
After this battle, she could live according to her own heart and venture out into the sea. Even without Wano Country as her headquarters, she did not feel it was a pity. Her idiot father was incompetent and had failed to turn the nation into the place she wanted it to be. Wano Country had become a mess, and Yamato was not going to clean it up for Kaido.
The sound of footsteps rang out as Maria and Haruko walked over. The two stood beside Yamato, also looking toward the land. This day is finally coming.
Maria, Haruko, the victory or defeat of this battle rests on that idiot father and his lot. Do not take it too seriously, Yamato said.
They both nodded. Don't worry, we understand.
Although they did not want to see the Beasts Pirates or Governor-General Kaido defeated, they hoped more for Yamato's wishes to come true, as she had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
It is a pity not being able to end it with a real war. Forget it, let's just consider it as letting fewer people die, Yamato said as she stood up and stretched.
According to her original plan, she wanted the Beasts Pirates to go to war with the people of Wano, letting the nation be rebuilt through the flames of battle. However, Kaido chose to wait at his ease and refused to take the initiative to attack.
Yamato, do you want to be the Shogun? Maria asked with a smile. She knew Yamato had a talent for command. If Yamato were allowed to command the twenty thousand-plus members of the Beasts Pirates in a war against the samurai, those people would definitely have a hard time.
No way, I just wanted to make a real clean break, but there is no chance. Being a Shogun does not suit me. I am a lazy person and do not like leading so many subordinates, Yamato said, waving her hand.
She turned to leave. I am going to sleep. Maria and Haruko looked at each other, smiled, and also left.
Before the final battle arrived, unfamiliar figures appeared in the waters near Wano Country. In the sky, a large blue bird flew toward the coast. At the same time, on the deep blue sea, a small one-man boat sped across the waves with a stern glowing with fire. On it sat a young man wearing an orange cowboy hat. This young man was the second division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace.
Three years, I am finally back!
Ace looked at the looming black sea ahead, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. Back then, he had come to the New World, and his first major defeat was right there. Later, he joined the Whitebeard Pirates, but after the Blackbeard incident, a series of events occurred. Now, Ace had come here again to fulfill a promise and to help his relative.
Ace, your younger brother is really bold. He is already facing off against Kaido so soon, and even Big Mom has chased him here to form an alliance. Two of the Four Emperors joining forces is no joke, yoi.
The large blue bird lowered its altitude and hovered above Ace's head. It was Phoenix Marco, the first division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates. At that time, Blackbeard had made a high-profile comeback, and the remaining members of the Whitebeard Pirates had come out in full force to wage war. After that conflict, Blackbeard won a narrow victory, and the crew was scattered. Now, they had all appeared here with the same objective.
Luffy has always been reckless like that. Never mind two of the Four Emperors joining forces; even if there were three, he would not know the meaning of fear, Ace said, pulling down the brim of his hat.
That is true. Nothing your brother does is not earth-shattering. However, there really are three Four Emperor-level figures in Wano Country right now. This battle will not be easy, Marco smiled.
Hearing this, a figure immediately surfaced in Ace's mind. I know, there is also Kaido's daughter, Yamato.
Exactly, her. Two years ago, if she had not appeared at Marineford, our Whitebeard Pirates would have suffered heavy casualties, and rescuing you would not have been so easy. I did not expect we would be becoming her enemies so soon, Marco lamented.
Even though she is someone we owe a debt of gratitude to, there is no other way this time. That gratitude will have to be repaid later. If I am not mistaken, she probably won't be too serious. What we need to do is stall her, Ace said.
Perhaps. But this battle is special. She is Kaido's daughter, so we must be prepared. The strength of a Four Emperor is overwhelming. How this battle ends depends on whether your brother and the others can defeat Kaido and Big Mom, Marco said.
Yeah, I have confidence in him, Ace nodded.
Marco smiled. I have confidence in him too, which is why we are here.
Besides him and Ace, there were also Izo and the other few remaining members of the Whitebeard Pirates. It could be said that these veterans had waited a long time for this battle.
Then let's turn this sea upside down! Ace's eyes burned brightly. As long as they could pull down the old-guard Four Emperors, Kaido and Big Mom, the situation across the entire sea would inevitably undergo a drastic change.
Haha, I am really looking forward to that, yoi, Marco said with anticipation.
News that a great war was about to break out in Wano Country quickly spread across the sea. The alliance of two Four Emperors shocked many powers.
Is this for real? Beast Kaido and Big Mom have allied? Are they going to get the great treasure and become the Pirate King?
Nonsense, why else would two Four Emperors ally? They are definitely going for the great treasure. But there is only one Pirate King. What is the point of their alliance?
That has to do with the situation in Wano Country. I heard the Straw Hat, Trafalgar Law, and Kid are all in Wano Country, preparing to go to war with Kaido!
The worst generation? Them again. Don't tell me they want to pull down two Four Emperors. Is that even possible?
At Marineford, the new Fleet Admiral Akainu sat at his desk, looking at the intelligence with a frown. Those brats have grown to this level in just two short years. He never expected these pirate rookies would move against the Four Emperors. If Kaido and Big Mom were really taken down by these rookies, it would mean the rise of new great pirates. The new emperors would be even stronger and harder to deal with than those of the past.
As the Fleet Admiral of the Marine, Akainu naturally did not want to see such a scene. He hoped Kaido and Big Mom would be effective enough to kill all those pirates. Whitebeard died, only for an even more troublesome Blackbeard to appear. Now, are even Kaido and Big Mom going to be surpassed by rookies? Akainu smoked a cigar, his brow furrowed.
He knew very well that if the transition between the old and new Four Emperors truly completed, the sea would never be peaceful. By then, a new Pirate King would surely emerge, bringing immense turmoil to the world. Currently, the Marine had already begun operations against the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Even if the Marine wanted to intervene, it would be taxing.
The Seven Warlords were originally meant to balance the Four Emperors. Yet at the Levely, those kings insisted on abolishing the Shichibukai system. Truly reckless, Akainu thought. If the system had not been abolished at this critical juncture, the Marine would not be in such big trouble. Every one of those Seven Warlords was a great pirate; dealing with them was already fraught with difficulties. However, the die was cast.
After thinking for a long time, Akainu finally picked up a transponder snail. Hello, Aramaki.
Two days passed in a flash. In Wano Country, Kin'emon and the others had gathered all their comrades. Fully armed, they rushed to the ports of Udon and Hakumai. The ports were crowded with the figures of Wano's samurai. Besides these warriors, there were powerful reinforcements like the Straw Hat crew.
Everyone, the time for the final decisive battle has come! Defeat Kaido and drive them out of our Wano Country! Kin'emon and the rest of the Nine Red Scabbards stood on a large ship, raising their swords.
Defeat Kaido! Defeat Kaido!
On the shore, over ten thousand samurai echoed loudly, their voices like thunder.
Now, our military strength has surpassed that of the Beasts Pirates. They have less than thirty thousand troops, while we already have over thirty thousand, the Straw Hat crew said.
Besides Straw Hat, there was also Trafalgar Law and his crew, and Kid and his group. The three young captains each led their respective crews, prepared for battle. This time, they were all ambitious, determined to pull down both Kaido and Big Mom.
Set out!
With the order given, the samurai boarded the ships. Large vessels set sail, heading toward Onigashima, with the three pirate ships leading the way. On the coast of Onigashima, the Beasts Pirates waited in battle formation. The cannons were loaded and ready.
They are here! Report, ship silhouettes spotted on the sea. There are too many of them! The lookout reported loudly.
Everyone, prepare for battle!
From a high vantage point, Drake, Who's-Who, Sasaki, Ulti, Page One, and others stood there, commanding the vanguard. A bit further forward were the Tobiroppo, with Apoo and Hawkins among them.
Has that guy Kaido lost his mind? Insisting on waiting for those guys to attack all together, when we could have just attacked them directly the day before yesterday, someone muttered.
If we had listened to Yamato, those guys would be dead already. So stupid, Ulti added, one hand on her hip. She strongly agreed with Yamato's idea, but Kaido was unmoved, insisting on sitting in Onigashima.
Alright, older sister, this is Lord Kaido's order. We just need to follow it, Page One said.
Hmph, I think he is just getting senile. He should have abdicated to Yamato sooner, Ulti huffed.
Beside them, Drake and the others kept their eyes forward, not daring to utter a word.
Those guys really do not know when to quit. Knowing Lord Kaido has already joined forces with Big Mom and they still dare to come. Do they really think they can defeat a Four Emperor? Apoo laughed.
What is there to say? They are here for the Four Emperors. There is no turning back now, Hawkins said. His face was expressionless, but his heart felt complicated. Two years ago, the worst generation became famous, with eleven people in total. Among those were Hawkins and Apoo, but after entering the New World, they realized the cruelty of the sea. They either joined the ranks of a Four Emperor or banded together for warmth. Up until now, few among the worst generation still held their original grand ambitions. Kid, his former ally, had been suppressed by Kaido and captured, yet he still had not yielded.
I am not wrong, and neither is he. It is just a difference in choices, Hawkins thought.
Soon, everyone on the coast saw the ships ahead, emerging in dense clusters. Countless vessels surged like waves, covering the sea. On them were many samurai, brimming with killing intent.
So many people!
Seeing this, the members of the Beasts Pirates were taken aback. By a rough estimate, there were at least thirty thousand people.
What are you afraid of? What is the use of more people? They cannot possibly be a match for our Beasts Pirates!
The members of the Beasts Pirates were very confident. Do not forget, there were now two Four Emperors personally sitting in Onigashima.
Prepare to attack! Fire the cannons as soon as they enter range and sink them all!
The Beasts Pirates sprang into action, adjusting the cannon muzzles. Time ticked away, and finally, those ships entered range.
Fire!
With the command, the cannons on the shore fired in unison. Dozens and hundreds of shells launched together.
Boom!
Shells crashed into the sea, exploding and sending up huge waves.
Keep up the bombardment, don't stop!
After one round of cannon fire, another began.
Don't let the shells hit our ships! Disperse quickly and seize the port at the fastest speed to facilitate the main force's landing!
Kin'emon and the others stood at the bows of the leading ships, giving commands. Under his orders, the hundreds of ships immediately dispersed and returned fire, engaging in a firefight with the Beasts Pirates.