At the very heart of the Flower Capital, inside a grand palace that once housed the shogun of Wano, Rhett Vane stood tall.

Today, he did the unthinkable.

He declared Wano Country his.

The command was not requested—it was demanded, and the message echoed like a storm throughout the land.

No one in Wano had expected an outsider to seize the throne, not so soon after the fall of Kaido's puppet ruler, Kurozumi Orochi. The scars of Kaido's regime had barely begun to fade, and now, another figure had stepped into the vacuum of power.

The people were stunned.

Resistance was immediate, but futile.

Those who stood against Vane were swiftly dealt with—ruthlessly and without compromise. His warning was simple: Defy me, and you die. Submit, and your wealth and status remain untouched.

In truth, Wano had been corrupt for generations. Vane believed he wasn't conquering Wano, but liberating it. And to many of the people—especially those who had suffered under Orochi and Kaido—his claim didn't feel like tyranny.

It felt like change.

With Esdeath at his side, the suppression of resistance across Wano began in earnest. Armed with her Ice Teigu, she tore through opposition like a storm. Meanwhile, Gion—one of the Marine's most fearsome swordswomen—and Kalifa, now mastering 200 million volts of electrified destruction, moved to crush all dissent.

Their combined power was overwhelming.

Even without using Haki, no one in Wano could stand against them.

Within a single day, the voice of resistance fell silent.

For most of Wano's citizens, that silence came not from fear, but from acceptance. Those who had resisted only did so out of self-interest. Power was all that mattered in this world, and now, Vane was the one who held it.

Still, at the top, Wano's elite remained uneasy.

They knew who Vane really was. Not just a stranger. Not just a strong pirate.

He was the fifth emperor—the man who had already clashed with Big Mom and lived to tell the tale.

To them, he was as terrifying as Kaido himself.

And now… Vane had declared open war.

---

Inside Vane's new palace, Gion stood beside him, her brow furrowed.

"So we've made Kaido our enemy now," she said. "Rhett Vane, do you have a plan for this?"

Her voice was steady, but concern was buried behind the question.

She had her doubts.

Was this move too reckless? First, Vane had provoked Big Mom, and now he had openly claimed Kaido's territory. She knew the Beast Pirates would not let that go.

"They're definitely preparing," she murmured. "This isn't over."

Two Emperors.

One island.

One inevitable war.

It made her blood run cold.

"Are you scared, Gion?"

The voice came from behind her—Esdeath.

"I've never been scared of anything," Gion replied sharply, her eyes flashing.

Esdeath chuckled, not bothering to hide her amusement.

The two women had never gotten along. Their first meeting had ended with Gion being captured and tormented by Esdeath, and even now, the memory left a bitter taste.

"Then why ask Vane for a plan?" Esdeath teased, her tone mocking. "What are you so afraid of?"

She stepped closer, releasing a faint, chilling aura. Esdeath hadn't fought in days—and for someone like her, that was unbearable. Conflict was her addiction.

"Kaido? I'll kill him myself if I have to."

Vane turned, watching them.

The tension between the women was sharp—but their strength was undeniable.

Kalifa, with her lightning.

Esdeath, with her alien ice weapon.

Gion, with swordsmanship rivaling even the Warlords.

Among women, there were few in the world who could match their power. And with the three of them combined, Kaido's top fighters—King, Queen, and Jack—wouldn't have it easy.

Still, Vane wasn't eager to rely on them.

As their leader, he should protect them.

---

Meanwhile, far away at Onigashima, the headquarters of the Beasts Pirates, the Three Calamities had gathered.

Drought Jack had finally returned—but his appearance was rough. His clothes were torn, his body battered from days stranded without a ship.

"Jack," Kaido growled, glaring at him. "You dare return now?"

Kaido's fury was unmatched.

For the past two days, Vane had seized nearly half of Wano, and Kaido's forces hadn't moved. The remaining half stayed loyal only because Kaido still breathed.

But Kaido was livid.

"Forgive me, Kaido sama," Jack said, bowing. He wasn't trembling, but the sweat on his brow betrayed him.

Kaido's rage was no joke.

Even Queen and King stood stiff beside him. Unlike the Red-Haired Pirates or Whitebeard's crew, the Beasts Pirates ruled by fear. Their captain's wrath was something no one wanted to face.

Jack didn't dare speak again.

Queen exhaled smoke from his cigar and glared at Jack.

"Took you long enough," he muttered.

King said nothing, his gaze cold.

Then Kaido rose from his throne.

"Tonight," he said, gripping his kanabo mace, "we destroy the Flower Capital."

It was nightfall. The time for speeches was over.

Kaido was willful. If he wanted war, war would happen. He feared no one. After all, he couldn't die. He'd tried hundreds of times—and failed.

As his rage built, his body began to shift.

The air trembled.

Thunder crackled.

Kaido of the Beasts was transforming.

He rose into the sky, his body lengthening and twisting as azure scales spread across his skin.

The blue dragon emerged.

Even Jack and the others backed away in awe.

Lightning split the clouds above. The very sky responded to Kaido's wrath.

"Prepare yourselves," King said grimly. "We go to war."

"There's only a few of them," Queen added. "But don't get cocky. One of them's a former Navy Vice Admiral—she's not to be underestimated."

The three commanders moved out.

A storm was brewing.

Tonight, two Emperors of the Sea would clash.

And Wano would become their battlefield.

---