New World – Wano Country – Onigashima
On the eastern side of the massive skull fortress of Onigashima, within the Women's Misfortune District overseen by Black Maria—
"Yamato, stop disobeying Lord Kaido's orders. Be good now. Souta Kiryuu is truly an excellent man," Black Maria said softly to the imprisoned Yamato. Her eyes, filled with maternal pity, lingered with gentle warmth.
Her admiration for Kaido was well-known throughout the island. By extension, her patience and care for Kaido's rebellious daughter were endless.
"I am Kozuki Oden! A proud, free man! And you want me to marry someone?!"
Yamato's voice echoed sharply through the chamber as she struggled against her seastone cuffs, the heavy metal clinking wildly. A fearsome Hannya mask covered her face, the grotesque snarl fitting her mood perfectly.
Currently, both her wrists and ankles were bound—her new leg shackles forged from high-purity seastone, cutting her off from her full strength. The locks weren't for show; Kaido's subordinates were tired of her repeated escape attempts.
Years of wearing seastone cuffs had built her endurance to the mineral's suppressive force. Even without her mythical Zoan form—the Great Mouth True God—her mastery of Haki and raw physical might still made her terrifyingly strong.
Even while cuffed, she once fought Portgas D. Ace to a standstill when he stormed Onigashima. If she ever removed those shackles, her power could surpass even Kaido's Three Calamities. Her overwhelming Haki alone could crush most pirates below the Yonko level.
"Be gentle, Yamato. Don't be so rough," Black Maria murmured, removing the Hannya mask from Yamato's face. Beneath it was a beautiful, fair-skinned young woman, her expression sharp with defiance.
Maria smiled approvingly. "You'll definitely catch Souta Kiryuu's attention looking like this."
Yamato, towering at two and a half meters, looked almost petite in the arms of the eight-meter-tall Black Maria.
"I am Kozuki Oden! I won't marry anyone!" Yamato thrashed in Maria's arms, scowling in protest. If not for those seastone chains, she could've easily launched Maria across the hall.
Months earlier, Ace's Vivre Card had burned to ash in her hands. Losing her only true friend had left her shattered. After days of tears, she'd devoted herself to breaking the cuffs and escaping Wano—to finish what Oden started.
But Kaido returned from an expedition, furious to find her still rebellious. He reforged her shackles with the highest-grade seastone in existence and declared her engagement to a man named Souta Kiryuu.
Since then, Yamato had been confined to Black Maria's quarters—awaiting her so-called "husband" to arrive and claim her.
"Yamato," Maria sighed, "Lord Kaido hates hearing you call yourself Kozuki Oden. And if you keep insisting you're a man, Souta Kiryuu won't take kindly to that either. He's far crueler than Kaido ever was. On his turf, there's no Onigashima to protect you."
Maria's tone darkened. She knew well the rumors about the Arlong Pirates' leader—the man said to control minds through science or devil fruit powers.
"Humph! I haven't beaten Kaido yet! I haven't opened Wano's borders! I'm not leaving!" Yamato barked back, thrashing again.
Black Maria sighed and dragged the stubborn "princess" back into her cell, shaking her head.
The Beast Pirates had already received their airships and traded for several batches of artificial Zoan fruits. Whether Yamato wanted it or not, she'd be handed over to Kiryuu.
Even if Kiryuu decided to do something unforgivable, Kaido likely wouldn't care. This was the path he'd chosen.
Soon, a fleet of flying warships ignored the towering waterfalls and storm fronts surrounding Wano, soaring straight into its skies. Beast Pirate scouts spotted them immediately—the insignia of the Arlong Pirates gleaming on their hulls.
Under the direction of King the Wildfire and Queen the Plague, the Beast Pirates prepared an extravagant welcome. Onigashima buzzed with noise, its grand banquet hall bursting with excitement.
"Wororororo! Kiryuu, you finally decided to show up!"
Kaido's booming laugh thundered across the island, his overwhelming presence shaking the air.
"Kaidō! Is my bride ready or what?!"
From the bow of the Ark Axiom, Souta Kiryuu smirked, his own conqueror's aura erupting in response.
The sky crackled with black lightning as their Haki collided, sending shockwaves across the island. Dozens of lesser pirates collapsed instantly, frothing at the mouth.
A typical greeting between emperors. If you couldn't endure that pressure, you weren't worthy to stand in their presence.
"Barrier-Barrier… Heavenly Stairway!"
Bartolomeo's excited yell split the air as a transparent green staircase extended from the Ark to Onigashima's surface.
A hush fell over the crowd as Souta Kiryuu descended, his silhouette framed by the blazing sky—his aura vast enough to eclipse mountains. Behind him followed his officers, their collective presence enough to warp the air.
On one side strode the Pirate Empress herself, Boa Hancock, regal and untouchable. On the other, the silent tyrant Bartholomew Kuma, carrying the mischievous Jewelry Bonney on his shoulder.
Behind them marched Law, Lafitte, Bege, Burgess, Van Augur, and Doc Q—the Arlong crew's elite.
Notably absent were Barrett, Shiryu of the Rain, and Enel, all of whom were busy crushing Red-Haired territories across the New World.
"Tch… what a showoff," Ulti muttered under her mask, pouting even as her eyes locked on Kiryuu's imposing figure.
Her brother Page One tugged her sleeve nervously. "Careful what you say. That man's power rivals even Kaido's now."
At the back of the gathered Tobiroppo, X Drake stood stiffly, his face grim as he watched Kiryuu's forces approach.
Beside him loomed Denossa, the new recruit—an Ancient Zoan user of the Crocodilian-Croc Croc Fruit, recently taken under Kaido's command.
Even without Barrett, Shiryu, or Enel, Kiryuu's forces could still overwhelm the Beast Pirates, Drake thought, feeling the crushing weight of their aura.
And when he remembered that his former comrades—Gion and Peacock—were now captives of the Arlong Pirates, his expression darkened even further.