One Piece : Winged Dragons of the Beast Pirates

"Wait!!" 

Whitebeard instantly went wild, charging frantically toward Kozuki Toki.

But Kaido showed no intention of stopping him at all.

Because he couldn't stop laughing.

"Ahahaha! What is this idiot woman doing? Is there a second such extraordinary clown in the world?" 

Kaido was nearly dying of laughter at Kozuki Toki's antics, doubled over in mirth.

No wonder she was Kozuki Oden's wife; they were truly a match made in heaven!

If Whitebeard had decided to attack him at that moment, it might have truly hurt.

But unfortunately, Whitebeard had no time to worry about Kaido. He rushed to Kozuki Toki's side, but it was already too late.

The sharp blade had already sliced through the woman's carotid artery, and blood erupted like a fountain, leaving a large, spreading pool on the ground, a sight both shocking and gruesome.

Whitebeard looked down with anguish at the woman lying on the ground. "Toki, why?"

"Everyone… died because of me… I can't bear the weight of so many lives…" 

A look of serene acceptance appeared on Kozuki Toki's face. "All I can do is atone." 

"...Let it end here, Brother Newgate... Please… I beg you…" 

Should one really say this was a world filled with bloodshed? Even with so much blood spilled, she could still speak those words.

Ian thought to himself.

But it was disgusting.

So many people had died, and if their struggle ended in vain, wouldn't that make their deaths even more meaningless? 

What did this woman think of the resolve of those who fought desperately?

But.

A good death.

Her death could perhaps bring a conclusion to this battle.

Hmm? 

Why did this feel so familiar? 

Ochoku suddenly appeared, suggesting they call a truce.

Then Kozuki Toki also stepped forward, desperately pleading for them to stop fighting.

But now was not the time for such thoughts.

"Uncle King, be careful."

Ian said.

King nodded slightly, realizing it too.

"Kaido!!!"

In a fit of rage, Whitebeard suddenly turned around, his overwhelming aura causing his crescent-shaped mustache to stand on end, and his golden hair billowed wildly around him.

Whitebeard's skin turned a deep crimson, and the wave of light emanating from his Tremor-Tremor Fruit was more brilliant than ever.

With a swift slash, it was as if the world itself shattered under that strike. The air within a hundred meters around them cracked instantly, and the massive shockwave surged toward Kaido and Ian, who stood behind him, like a tsunami.

It worked!

Kaido-sensei, willpower really is effective!

Whitebeard was in a rage!

"Ugogogogogo!!"

Without hesitation, Kaido-sensei had transformed into a giant azure dragon even before Whitebeard unleashed his full power. Flames erupted from his mouth, forming a fiery shell that enveloped him.

"Fire Dragon Blaze!!"

The enormous flame head, entwined with Armament and Conqueror's Haki, collided with Whitebeard's terrifying shockwave.

Boom!!

A violent wind surged forward, and Ian heard a thunderous roar.

At the point of their collision, the ground below began to shatter and collapse, transforming in an instant into a bottomless abyss.

Ian was nearly blown away.

This was their true power; it was absolutely outrageous!

The residual waves from their clash gradually subsided, but the towering rock formations on the island had crumbled to dust.

"Ugogogogogo! Come on! Whitebeard!!"

In the sky, the fire dragon circled, its intense heat mercilessly scorching the earth. The dragon's head had been shattered, but as it rapidly regenerated, Kaido, filled with excitement, shouted, "Keep going!!"

"That's enough."

However, after the strike, Whitebeard calmly picked up the fallen Kozuki and looked up, saying this.

"What?"

Kaido sneered, "You think it can end just because you say so? Who do you think I am!"

Even if he didn't want to fight, he had no choice!

"It seems they don't want to let us leave so easily."

At this moment, Ochoku also spoke up.

"Damn it, I'm already in this fight, and now you say you don't want to continue?" He shot a glance at Ian. That kid is too dangerous.

Hmm? Ian noticed Ochoku's gaze.

What's with that look?

"This is a wish of Toki," Whitebeard said. "No matter what, I want to at least let her leave in peace."

"I agree," Ian chimed in. "Let's call it a day, Kaido-sensei."

"You little brat!" Kaido-sensei suddenly glared down at his disciple.

"Kaido-sensei, the Ochoku Pirate Crew is about to land," Ian said. "If we keep fighting, we won't come out on top."

Kaido turned his head. Indeed, the fleet of the Ochoku Pirate Crew was now almost within reach.

He glanced down again.

The breaths of the kid and King were both rapid; they had exhausted quite a bit of energy.

Could they really defeat Ochoku?

"Such boredom!" 

The flames dissipated.

The massive azure dragon landed, reverting back into Kaido-sensei's form.

Ian let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, it was over.

If they had continued to fight against the combination of Whitebeard and Ochoku, who knows what the outcome would have been.

Later.

Ian flapped his wings as he flew through the sky, gazing at the distant sea where the Whitebeard Pirates and the Ochoku Pirates were gradually fading away. This grand battle had come to an end.

Was it a victory or a defeat?

The Whitebeard Pirates had suffered significant losses; several of their division captains were dead, and even Jozu had turned to ashes from his own flames.

However, it hadn't reached the level of total devastation.

"Ian!" 

Below, Yamato was waving at Ian.

Ian swooped down. "Did you have fun?"

"Yeah! Listen to me, listen! Hahaha, there was a woman who attacked me with ice, but her ice didn't work on me at all! Her expression at that moment was so funny! I smashed her to bits with Takeru No. 2!" 

There was no need to go into such detail about that.

In the fleet far from the island.

On the Moby Dick, the atmosphere among the Whitebeard Pirates was incredibly heavy.

"Jozu, Thatch, Whitey Bay, Namur…"

Vista sat dejectedly on the deck, leaning against the ship's rail. The renowned swordsman of the New World silently shed tears. "So many have died, and it ended like this?"

"Continuing the fight will only lead to more deaths."

The chubby captain of the sixth division, Blamenco, echoed his sorrow. "And no matter whether we win or lose, those family members who have died will never return."

"That's right," Whitebeard spoke up, his voice low. "She sacrificed her life to prevent more from dying."

More important than revenge was the goal of ensuring that more families could live on.

The pirates on the deck were all in tears. "Lady Toki, she was so foolish! It's all our fault; we were blinded by rage!"

Ochoku sat at the rail, watching coldly.

The Whitebeard Pirates were one big family, and all the members cared for one another.

If they truly were a family, it was indeed filled with love.

But, Newgate, what kind of pirate wants a family?

"Newgate, see you next time."

Without hesitation, Ochoku shot up into the sky and left.

Damn Whitebeard, completely unreliable.

That kid—

Hard to deal with.

Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates were still enveloped in sorrow.

"What are we going to tell Hiyori when we get back?" 

Vista said in a low voice.

Whitebeard fell silent.

In one corner of the deck, Teach was trying hard to look sad.

Then, he heard something.

"Teach, but you did really well today. I saw it—Queen chased you for a long time but couldn't do anything to you."

Teach's heart skipped a beat.

"Is that so? Teach?" 

Whitebeard looked over.

Teach cursed silently in his heart but forced a few tears from his eyes. "But I still couldn't protect Captain Thatch and the others."

"That's not your fault. With Marco not there, no one can handle that bastard Queen's virus."

Whitebeard shook his head.

He looked at Teach.

This kid who had come on his ship at just twelve years old—could he really stand on his own now?

It was his fault; he had never taken the time to truly understand this child.

"Teach, from now on, you'll take over Thatch's position." 

"I, I—" 

Teach stammered, preparing to refuse. 

But in this atmosphere, how could he refuse? 

"I understand, Pops." 

In the end, Teach could only nod sadly. 

This is troublesome. 

I don't want my name getting out there. 

At the Beasts Pirates' side. 

Ian sat on a piece of rubble by the shore, biting fiercely into a piece of grilled meat. 

Today had really worn him out; although he wasn't injured, his stamina was nearly drained. 

Beside him, Yamato chattered away, sharing interesting events from the battle that day. 

It probably included how she smashed enemies to pieces with Takeru No. 2. 

Killing intent Yamato! 

Although not too eye-catching, she still performed exceptionally well in this war. 

"Mu ha ha ha! A great victory, Captain Kaido!" 

Nearby, Queen was laughing heartily. 

The casualty reports were in: over five thousand pirates fought, with nearly two thousand dead and about a dozen mainstays lost. Overall, the losses weren't too severe. 

Compared to the Whitebeard Pirates, it was indeed a significant victory. 

"Hmph!" 

Kaido, sitting cross-legged on the shore and sipping his drink, only snorted in response. He was quite displeased that there was no clear winner against Whitebeard. 

"Kaido-sensei, are we heading back?" 

Ian finished his meat, licked his fingers, and felt his stamina returning a bit, then looked up to ask. 

Kaido didn't respond, only gazing upward. 

In the sky, a hot air balloon was descending rapidly. 

Ian raised an eyebrow. Is this guy still here?

"Hahaha! Kaido! That was an impressive victory!"

A birdman popped his head out from the hot air balloon, grinning as he greeted them. "I witnessed the whole thing!"

"Is that you, Morgans?"

Kaido snorted in response. 

They were familiar acquaintances.

"What are you doing here?" 

"Of course, I came to interview you! But first, heh heh, Linlin is coming!" 

"Linlin?" 

Ian's lips curled into a smirk. 

She's coming again? 

**********

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