At Swiftwind Express's private dock on Jaya Island, everyone gathered to see them off. This time, Karl left Enel, Bansen, and Jerry behind—Enel to watch the island from the sky, Bansen to keep drilling the new guards, and Jerry to run the shipyard.
"The company ops are all queued up. If anything looks off, ping me on the transponder," Karl told Enel.
"Yehahaha. The god has it covered."
"We'll be back in about a month. Once we ferry the Skypieans down, we can go full throttle," Karl added, then turned to Jerry. "Seven Water's sending a materials shipment. Use my blueprints to build ten more ships—maximize cargo holds and stretch underwater endurance."
"Got it, Captain," Jerry said.
"Alright. Cast off."
The Tiger God cut across a boundless sea. Karl lounged on a deck chair while the girls chatted nearby. Ann dozed on the next chair; Adrian meditated atop the mast.
"Come try my new juice! Guaranteed delicious!" Karin emerged with a tray.
Ann vaulted up. "Big cup for me!"
Everyone took a glass and plopped down cross-legged on deck.
"Ann—chill mine a little?" Karl called over.
"Tch, I'm not a walking ice box…" Ann grumbled, palm glowing as a crisp chill ran through his drink.
"This is amazing! Chef Karin is the best—mwah!" Daphne gave Karin a smooch on the cheek.
"Of course! National Cooking Champion here."
They were laughing when a distant boom rumbled across the waves.
"Captain—Marines and pirates trading shots ahead," Adrian reported from the top.
"Leave 'em. We sail on." Karl's Observation washed out; just fresh rookies on the Grand Line. Not his problem.
"That reminds me—Adrian, what about giving the Bee-Bee Fruit to Zoë?" Karl said. "We grew up with her on Tiger Roar—trust isn't an issue."
"We should ask her first, but I think she'll say yes," Adrian replied.
"If she agrees, let her shadow Daphne. Didn't she always want to do something big enough to impress Captain Dillen? Running the world's biggest logistics swarm is pretty big." Karl chuckled at the memory of little Zoë pouting behind her dad.
Adrian squinted upward. "…Captain? Something's flying in."
Karl looked up.
A dragon's silhouette coiled through the clouds.
His heart sank. You've got to be kidding me.
"Adrian—full speed. Clear this sector," Karl said, suddenly sharp.
"On it."
"Kaido?" Daphne followed his gaze.
"Sure looks like him. Don't worry—I can stalemate him. I just don't want him drunk and smashing our ship."
A mile off, the azure dragon opened its maw. "Wind Scythe!"
Both Marine and pirate vessels sheared apart and sank. Faint cries bobbed on the waves.
Then the dragon turned its attention… to them.
"Get out of the area. I'll catch up," Karl said.
"Be careful," Aili warned.
"Lord Karl, this concubine will—"
"I've got this. I'm not letting that guy wreck my ship. Go."
Daphne tugged Hancock's hand. "We move. If we stay, he has to hold back."
"Be safe, Uncle," Ann said.
The Tiger God roared to max speed and sprinted away.
Karl stepped off the deck and summoned flame-clouds beneath his feet, rising into the sky. His body swelled, fur rippling—full-beast form.
"Teacher Kaido, what brings you to Paradise?" Karl called out as the dragon wheeled closer. Sober, too. Great.
"Hn? I know you. Tiger God Karl." The dragon shrank into a massive man-beast form, eyes glinting. "Join my Beasts Pirates. I'll make you vice-captain. Wu-ro-ro-ro!"
"I'll pass. But there is something I've always wondered, Kaido-sensei—who's Yamato's mother?"
"Wu-ro-ro… Wanna know? Hot Breath!"
A blazing beam roared from his jaws.
Karl's pupils tightened. "No warning, huh? Hellfire Eruption!"
Twin pillars of fire collided. The clouds above went scarlet.
"Not bad, brat," Kaido grunted, shifting fully into hybrid form—club crackling with lightning.
Karl's aura tightened; he, too, slid into his hybrid.
"Thunder Bagua!" Kaido's kanabō howled, wrapped in crackling arcs.
"Damn, that's clean." No time to admire. "Bladewave — Split the Sky!"
A deep crimson slash tore forward. It smashed into the Thunder Bagua—space whining like glass under strain.
"Wu-ro-ro-ro! Don't die on me! Great Vajra: Thunder Bagua!" Conqueror's Haki flooded the club, thunder snarling.
"Same to you! Dragon Roar Slash!" Karl's blade sang—Conqueror's coils writhing along the edge.
BOOM!
The sky ruptured. Shockwaves flung both titans backward, clouds ripping open to a bright gouge of daylight.
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