"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Vane soared through the sky and formed a rapid series of hand signs. Below Kaido's floating palace, colossal tree trunks erupted violently from the stone. Like titans tearing free from the ground, they twisted into an immense, forest-like labyrinth that swallowed the surrounding area in seconds. The Five Elders and their escorts were instantly caught inside the sprawling entanglement.

"What the hell is this power...?"

Kaido narrowed his eyes, watching the surge of towering roots without flinching. Despite all the battles he'd endured in his lifetime, even he was momentarily stunned by the overwhelming presence of the technique.

"How many powers do you actually have, brat?"

"Powers?" Vane smirked, arms spread arrogantly. "Too many to count. You'd be better off just accepting that I'm the god of this world."

He turned slightly, surveying the vast destruction. Though only about twenty percent of Mariejois had been laid to ruin, even that fraction was enough to shake the world's core. Mariejois, perched atop the Red Line, symbolized the unreachable heavens. The Celestial Dragons had ruled from here like gods, gazing down on the world below.

But now, their sanctum was in flames.

Still, it was only the beginning.

"The Nine-Tails is still holding back."

Far ahead, Vane could see the Kyuubi locked in battle with Kong. The titanic creature hadn't been unleashed in full. Not yet. Vane had ordered it to restrain itself. Still, even a fraction of its strength had helped reduce much of Mariejois to rubble.

"That thing… it's not a Zoan user?"

Kaido's tone grew serious. Animal-type abilities were his obsession. If he could expand his crew with such monsters, he would. That said, he had a soft spot for power—even if it belonged to an enemy. In fact, should Vane fall in battle, Kaido wouldn't hesitate to invite him to join his ranks.

Not that such a thing would happen.

"No," Vane replied coolly, "It's not a Devil Fruit user. Just a creature from an ancient world."

"A monster from ancient times? It can speak?"

"Sure it can. Become my underling, Kaido, and I'll tell you everything."

Kaido scoffed immediately, "Not a chance."

As if the idea insulted him, Kaido bared his teeth. He was one of the Pirate Emperors, commanding a fleet of Zoan users—how could he stoop to being someone else's subordinate?

"Is he out already? Didn't the Gorosei try to stop him?"

From afar, Kong had noticed them. Though the distance was great, Kaido's presence was too massive to overlook.

"Don't let your guard down."

The Kyuubi's voice cut through the chaos.

Before Kong could react, the beast opened its maw and unleashed a devastating Tailed Beast Bomb—a swirling orb of destruction that detonated like a nuclear blast, tearing through the Red Line's edge and flinging debris into the air.

"What kind of technique was that? That red orb it shot from its mouth… A Fireball?"

Kaido was dumbfounded. Even he had never seen such raw, destructive energy.

"You breathe fire too," Vane noted with a smirk.

"My kind's… special."

Kaido seemed at a loss to explain.

---

Mariejois was descending into hell.

The skies above the Holy Land were stained with black smoke and crimson fire. Streets overflowed with terrified Celestial Dragons and panicked slaves, while the guards and Navy forces scrambled to respond.

"Too many slaves," Vane muttered. "None of them will escape. That's the price of decaying power—death."

He turned toward the main gate of Pangaea Castle. Escaped slaves had fled that way, though escape was unlikely. The Red Line's height alone made it impossible for common folk.

"The Navy's here. I see that old bastard, Garp!"

Kaido's voice grew darker.

Garp had pounded Kaido more times than he cared to admit, even back when Kaido was a mere intern. When Kaido began rising through the ranks of the New World, Garp was already a living legend—a vice admiral who had hunted down the most feared pirates of the last era.

"Kaido! That's him—Rhett Vane!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku appeared, flanked by Akainu and other top brass. The sight of Kaido and Vane hovering above Mariejois filled him with fury.

Flames blazed, slaves screamed, and the chaos churned like the dawn of a new era. The moment was reminiscent of Fisher Tiger's slave liberation… except this time, two Pirate Emperors had come to finish the job.

"Arrogant bastards!" Akainu snarled. "Emperors or not, they'll be eradicated!"

"They've already set them loose…"

Garp watched the fleeing slaves, their faces lit with hope, madness, and unfiltered joy.

"I'm here for Vane," Garp said simply. "I don't care about the rest."

He rarely visited Mariejois. Truth be told, Garp hated the place. He loathed the Celestial Dragons, and the high command knew it. If the Celestial Dragons were wiped out today, Garp might actually celebrate.

"Garp-san is the coolest."

Aokiji adjusted his eyepatch and grinned. Ever since he joined the Navy, Garp had been his idol.

"Hmph. Deal with them first—debates later."

Akainu's temper flared as he glanced at Garp.

"There's Vane!"

Tsuru's eyes narrowed with sharp focus as she scanned the battlefield. Her thoughts swirled—not just about the destruction, but about what Vane had done with Gion.

And there it stood—the Kyuubi.

Kizaru's normally unreadable face tensed. "What a monster… bigger than most of the damn city."

The world's balance was shifting—and it all began with one man.

---

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