As soon as Kaido made his dramatic entrance, the sheer destructive force of his arrival ensured that everyone on the battlefield took notice.

Claudius stood in the distance, a smirk forming on his lips as he murmured, "So, you've finally come? Thought for a moment you'd sit this one out… but looks like I was right to wait for you, Kaido."

Claudius had been wondering if Kaido would avoid stepping into this chaotic mess. That would've been disappointing.

But just as Claudius was about to close the net, Kaido showed up at last.

However, Claudius did not immediately join the fray. The floating island had already begun to tilt, and with Marine forces also making their move, it was only a matter of time before things escalated further.

As Kaido unleashed his attack, Sakazuki slammed his hand down on the table aboard the warship, his excitement barely contained.

It wasn't often that Sakazuki lost his composure, but this—this was it.

With Kaido's arrival, every key target was now present.

If this plan succeeded, the era of piracy would be crushed.

For Sakazuki, this was the moment he had been waiting for his entire life.

"Finally! Kaido is here!" Sakazuki's voice rumbled like an erupting volcano, his fists smoking with raw magma.

"This is it—we move now! Gion! Fujitora!"

Fujitora calmly set aside the dice in his hands and stood up. "So… it's finally time?"

Gion stretched lightly, placing her hand on Konpira, her famed sword. She smirked. "That bastard Shiki… I'll handle him."

Without another word, the two Admirals leaped into action.

Sakazuki took a slow drag from his cigar, the embers at its tip glowing bright red.

Then, with a flick of his fingers, the magma-heat radiating from his hand incinerated the cigar instantly—reducing it to ash.

Rising to his full height, his gaze darkened, and murderous intent filled his voice.

"Kaido…"

With that, Sakazuki entered the battlefield.

Stepping onto the warship deck, Fujitora tilted his head slightly toward the island in the distance. A small smile played on his lips.

"No need to trouble ourselves landing on the island," he remarked. "I can already tell—it's about to fall."

With that, Fujitora drew his sword.

In a single, effortless motion, he traced a circle in the air before sliding his blade back into its sheath with a sharp click.

An invisible force erupted outward.

Instantly, the entire island—along with the floating landmasses above it—was wrapped in intense gravitational pressure.

Before anyone could even react, the falling islands were forcibly stabilized, their descent guided rather than chaotic.

As if following Fujitora's command, they landed safely atop the lake's surface, sending ripples through the water.

With a satisfied nod, Fujitora turned to Gion.

"I'll be going ahead, Admiral Gion."

Gion nodded.

Then, with a casual step forward, Fujitora's very presence crushed the deck beneath him, the force ripping apart a circular section of the warship.

Standing atop this floating fragment of deck, he rose into the air, heading toward the battlefield.

Gion watched him go, then glanced down at the massive hole he'd left in the ship.

Her eyebrow twitched.

"…Isn't this damage coming out of his paycheck?" she muttered.

But then, with a grin, she added, "Still… I like his style."

With that, Gion launched herself off the deck, her form soaring through the air.

As she ascended, the sheer force of her jump ripped another hole through the deck.

A moment later—

THUMP.

The cabin doors swung open, and Sakazuki stepped out.

His boot landed on thin air.

His expression barely had time to shift before.

"SH*T—!!"

With zero warning, the Fleet Admiral of the Marines dropped straight through the hole.

The sound of impact echoed from below.

A brief silence.

Then—

A massive, lava-coated fist slammed onto the deck's edge.

Slowly, an extremely pissed-off Sakazuki hauled himself back up.

Teeth clenched, magma surging around his form, he let out a furious roar:

"FUJITORA! GION! YOU TWO BASTARDS!!!"

---

As the island touched down, Shiki's expression darkened.

He knew this power all too well.

Back during the Marineford War, he had barely been able to fight properly because of this man.

Fujitora's gravity was one of the worst counters possible for his Float-Float Fruit.

"Fujitora, you bastard!" Shiki snarled, gritting his teeth as gravity began pressing down on him.

Meanwhile, Kaido—who had still been hovering in dragon form—suddenly felt his body plummet.

An unseen force dragged him downward, pulling him from the clouds.

The massive Azure Dragon thrashed in midair, fighting against the gravitational pull.

But even with his monstrous strength, he couldn't shake off the force.

With a snarl, Kaido shifted forms.

His massive dragon body rapidly shrank, reverting to his human form just before impact.

Even then—

BOOM.

Kaido crashed straight into the ground, leaving behind a crater.

After a few seconds, he rose, shaking dust from his body, visibly annoyed.

"Tch… what the hell was that?"

Shiki's gaze flickered toward Kaido.

He exhaled sharply, a grim expression on his face.

"Kaido… you idiot. Don't you get it yet?"

Kaido frowned. "What?"

Shiki's grip tightened on his swords.

"This whole damn Pirate Expo… It's a setup."

Kaido's brow furrowed.

"This was never just about pirates," Shiki continued. "That bastard Douglas Bullet… he's working with Marine Headquarters and the World Government!"

Kaido stiffened.

Before he could fully process the implications, a new voice joined the battlefield.

"Lord Shiki, it's been a while."

Descending slowly atop the shattered remains of a ship deck—Fujitora landed.

He gave Shiki a calm, polite smile.

Shiki scowled.

"…Marine Admiral."

Kaido narrowed his eyes.

Before he could react further.

A laser beam shot toward him.

Kaido's instincts flared, and he swung his arm violently, dispersing the attack.

From within the lingering smoke and embers, a new figure stepped forward—Admiral Borsalino.

"Oh my, oh my…" Kizaru mused. "Kaido, you finally decided to grace us with your presence."

Kaido gritted his teeth.

One by one, Marine Admirals were appearing.

Then—

A pink blur flashed past.

Gion.

Shiki barely had time to react before her leg struck his blades, sending him skidding backward.

"Bunny Strike."

She landed smoothly.

Enel, watching from a distance, casually spun the Log Pose to Laugh Tale in his fingers.

A smug smirk played on his lips.

The battlefield was set.

"No more talking," Gion declared. "Let's finish this."

Fujitora's blade flashed.

From the sky—

A massive meteorite began its descent.

(To be continued.)

***

This book is completed on P/treon. Support me on P/treon to read ALL advanced chapters:

https://p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves 

(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)