Dear Readers,
I can hardly believe we've reached Chapter 200 of this *One Piece* fanfiction journey together! What started as a labor of love, a way to pay tribute to a story that has shaped so many of us, has grown into something far beyond my wildest dreams. And none of it would have been possible without each and every one of you.
From the first chapter to today, your support, your comments, and your encouragement have fueled my passion to keep writing. Whether you've been with me from the beginning or have just joined the adventure, know that your time and dedication to this story mean the world to me. Every like, every message, and every discussion we've had over the arcs has touched me deeply.
Thank you for staying with me through every twist and turn, for believing in the characters and storylines, and for reminding me that fanfiction has a unique power to connect us all. I'm endlessly grateful for this incredible community we've built together.
Here's to the next chapter of our journey. May the adventure never end!
With all my heart,
[Silent_stiele]
******
The very sea trembled as two ships faced off against each other. One ship was a massive behemoth, the flagship of the Big Mom Pirates, Queen Mama Chanter. The other ship, which was much smaller, seemed like a tiny boat in comparison.
Big Mom stood at the bow of her ship, her eyes radiating anger. Both Zeus and Prometheus were riled up, ready for action, and even Napoleon was brandished by the Emperor. She was not yet aware that Golden Lion Shiki was attacking her main base.
Currently, her eyes were transfixed on the figure leisurely talking into the transponder snail, disregarding her presence. She wanted to pounce on the man immediately, but a blind swordsman was pulling in meteors from the sky one after another to keep her in check. Although she was confident she could take down the blind swordsman if she rushed him, the presence of the other figure on the tiny ship made her wary.
"Ross-kun, you sure know how to drive a hard bargain. I wondered why you asked me to accompany Issho out to sea," Rayleigh's gaze turned to Big Mom, who was fuming, contemplating whether to risk a head-on clash with the Dark King.
"Rayleigh-san, I did not want you to feel compelled. That was why I shared the information about Rouge-san and Ace," a voice echoed from the other side of the transponder snail.
"You really have become more cunning, Ross-kun. But fine, you kept your word, and I will help you out. After all, I am a resident of Dressrosa. I can't have this madwoman destroy my new home," Rayleigh chuckled.
"Remember, Rayleigh-san, I know you must be eager to meet Roger's child, but be careful. Your presence will only alert the World Government to their existence, so I suggest you not make any moves now. Just bide your time before you meet Ace," Ross's voice added from the other side.
"I know, and thank you for saving them both. It seems Roger's trust in Garp was not wasted after all. Well, I have to get going. Issho seems to be having some difficulty holding back the monster," Rayleigh chuckled, not a bit worried about the clash happening between Issho and Charlotte Linlin.
Though Issho was strong, he hadn't yet reached Big Mom's level, so he was struggling. However, because the battle was out in the open seas and with his ability to fly using gravity, Issho was holding his own.
"Hehe, Rayleigh-san, you don't have to worry about Linlin. She will soon turn back. Maybe she is not aware of what's happening back at her own home," Ross laughed, and soon the conversation came to an end.
Rayleigh finally let out a sigh of relief after the call was disconnected. "Roger, you bastard, so you weren't joking when you said you were going to settle down and start a family of your own. Maybe I should have believed you back then rather than consider it a joke. But never mind; I promise I will take care of your son. No matter what path he chooses, I will help him grow into someone who can stand on his own in this chaotic sea," he murmured to himself.
Suddenly, a powerful burst of Conqueror's haki erupted, showing his resolve. Even Big Mom, who was clashing with Issho, felt the pressure. Her Conqueror's Haki burst out and clashed with Rayleigh's own, two titanic powers colliding with relentless fury.
Issho immediately retreated, understanding that he had done enough. His breathing was labored. He was still in his early thirties, but Big Mom was at her peak. The current him was no match for her, but that did not mean he was helpless. However, if the clash dragged on for too long, he might end up losing.
Rayleigh's Haki created waves that rippled across the ocean, causing even the mighty Queen Mama Chanter to sway. Big Mom's eyes widened with a mixture of rage and admiration as she felt the sheer force of Rayleigh's will.
"You think you can stop me, Rayleigh?" Big Mom roared, her voice shaking the heavens. "I will crush you and that blind fool!"
Rayleigh stood firm, his eyes locked on Big Mom. "Linlin, you've always been too reckless. This sea isn't yours to dominate. Leave now, while I am still being civil."
Big Mom's laughter echoed across the sea, but there was a hint of caution in her eyes. "You talk big, Rayleigh. Let's see if you can back it up!"
As the two Conqueror's Haki clashed, the sky seemed to split apart, the sheer force of their wills creating a storm of energy. The sea beneath them churned violently, with waves crashing against both ships with terrifying force. It was a clash of titans, a battle of wills, that shook the very foundations of the world.
Rayleigh knew that for pirates at their level, words were dust. Only strength could convey one's thoughts. Without a second thought, he unsheathed his blade and launched himself forward at Big Mom, his entire blade coated with Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki. Big Mom lost her usual mad laughter and focused completely; her original plans had all been ruined because of the presence of this single man.
"Rayleigh! You broke into my territory last time and stole something that belonged to me while I was away. Only then was Roger able to reach the final island. Now you once again stand in my way of getting what I want. Tell me, have you joined a new crew after abandoning the name of Roger Pirates?" She roared, and a massive blast of sound waves echoed through the seas, shaking the very souls of anyone who heard it.
The very shout was infused with her will, making anyone with weak wills succumb. Even the Sea Kings beneath were scared because of the soul-stirring shout.
But Rayleigh simply blitzed through the skies, launching himself at Big Mom.
"Dark Descent!" he called out as a pitch-black sword slash large enough to cleave the island-sized Queen Mama Chanter was launched.
Big Mom immediately grabbed Napoleon to counter. "Ikkoku Sovereignty!" she roared as a massive pillar of energy erupted from her blade. The two colossal attacks clashed midair.
"Boom!!" The clash created a massive pit in the sea, pushing away all the seawater, forming a vortex hundreds of meters deep.
The sheer force of their collision sent shockwaves through the air and across the ocean. The sky darkened, and the sea churned violently, as if nature itself were reacting to the power of these two titans. The Queen Mama Chanter groaned under the strain, its massive form being pushed back by the force of Rayleigh's attack.
Big Mom's eyes narrowed as she felt the weight of Rayleigh's will pressing down on her. "You old fool! Do you think you can stop me? I'm Big Mom!"
Rayleigh's gaze was steely, unwavering. "Linlin, you've always underestimated the resolve of the Roger Pirates. And now, you're underestimating me."
Big Mom let out a primal roar, her voice laced with fury and frustration. Prometheus and Zeus crackled with energy, ready to strike at Rayleigh, but he was relentless. He moved with the grace and speed of a seasoned warrior, his sword slashing through the air with deadly precision.
As their battle raged on, the surrounding sea seemed to come alive with their haki. Lightning crackled in the sky, a strom of fire surrounded the battlefield, and the ocean swirled into massive whirlpools. The sheer intensity of their fight created a spectacle that drew the attention of every pirate and marine within miles.
Issho, breathing heavily from his earlier struggle, watched in awe. "So this is the power of the Dark King and the Emperor... Truly, the world is vast."
Rayleigh and Big Mom clashed again, their Haki-infused weapons creating sparks that lit up the darkening sky. Each strike shook the air, and the sea responded with towering waves. The very fabric of reality seemed to bend under the weight of their wills.
Rayleigh's eyes never left Big Mom's. "You are still as insufferable as ever, Linlin!!! As long as you don't understand the true secrets this world holds, no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to reach your goal."
Big Mom snarled, her teeth bared in a furious grin. "You're a fool, Rayleigh. This sea belongs to the strong, and I am the strongest!"
Their next clash sent a shockwave that split the sea in two, a chasm opening in the water that revealed the ocean floor beneath. The sheer force of their haki created a barrier that no ordinary person could breach.
"Heh, quit daydreaming, Linlin! If you were the strongest, then what's stopping you from becoming the Pirate Empress? We both know why. Though you are strong, you are not strong enough. Though you call yourself fearless, you are too much of a coward to face the World Government head-on.
Tell me, Linlin, what have you even done to carry the name of an Emperor? Even your feat of besting the Marine force at Wano was because Whitebeard kept their strongest forces in check. You can fool the others, Linlin, but not everyone will be swayed by your act."
The more Rayleigh spoke, the angrier Big Mom became. Her attacks grew more ferocious.
"Heavenly Flames!!!"
"Indra!!!"
Big Mom clad one arm with Prometheus and the other with Zeus, charging and firing a barrage of attacks at Rayleigh. With equal ferocity, Rayleigh countered each attack. One of Rayleigh's clashes even severed a part of the flagship, sending it sinking into the sea.
"Rayleigh!!! I will kill you!" Big Mom roared. Rayleigh simply chuckled as he deflected the punch and countered with a swift thrust, which Linlin dodged.
"You should have never come to Dressrosa, Linlin. You've always been impulsive. Go back now; at least that way, you might be able to save what remains of your home," Rayleigh added in a serious tone. "Dressrosa and its surrounding territories are not something you should step into."
Big Mom, who was at the edge of madness, suddenly calmed as she was confused by the Dark King's words. "Rayleigh! What do you mean..."
Just then, Perospero, who was down on the flagship, screamed at the top of his voice, "Mama!! Totto Land is under siege! Shiki has descended upon our main base!"
Big Mom's eyes widened in shock. Rayleigh couldn't help but smirk as he created some distance from Linlin, giving her room to ponder.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. The realization of Shiki's assault on Totto Land was an unexpected blow to Big Mom's ironclad confidence. The sky above them darkened further, and the air was heavy with tension. The sea, stirred by their earlier clash, seemed to echo with the chaos unfolding in Totto Land.
Perospero's voice was frantic and desperate. "Mama, it's chaos! The Golden Lion Shiki has attacked Totto Land! Our defenses are crumbling!"
Rayleigh's smirk deepened. "You see, Linlin, while you were busy chasing shadows, a real threat has already moved against you. Shiki is no ordinary pirate. You know his reputation. Totto Land is burning, and your throne is at stake."
Big Mom's face contorted with rage and fear, a rare combination for the formidable Yonko. "Rayleigh, you bastard! How dare you?!"
Rayleigh's voice was calm but edged with steel. "It's not me you need to worry about now, Linlin. You have bigger problems back home. This sea is changing, and so is the balance of power. Go back, save what you can, or stay and fight me, and risk losing everything."
The Dark King's words hung in the air, a stark choice laid bare. Big Mom's massive frame trembled with indecision, the ferocity of her earlier attacks waning as the reality of her predicament sank in.
In her thoughts, the sounds of chaos from Totto Land could almost be heard—the cries of her children and the clash of Shiki's forces invading her mind. The Queen Mama Chanter swayed with the violent waves, a testament to the storm brewing both outside and within.
Finally, with a roar of frustration, Big Mom made her decision. "This isn't over, Rayleigh! I'll deal with you and those Donquixote brats later!" With a powerful leap, she soared back towards her ship, Prometheus and Zeus swirling around her.
Rayleigh watched her retreat with a mixture of relief and satisfaction. "Go save your kingdom, Linlin. This sea belongs to those who can protect what's theirs."
As Big Mom's flagship turned and sailed away with all haste, the sea began to calm, the tension slowly ebbing away. Rayleigh sheathed his sword and looked towards the horizon, where Totto Land lay. The smirk on his face remained, knowing that the tides of power were shifting and that he was ready for whatever came next.
***********
Uncharted waters, New World
"Bolo Blast!!!" A massive beam of energy split the entire island in two.
"Rooooooaaar!!!" A heaven-piercing roar shook the very seas as a colossal dragon swam high in the darkened skies filled with thunderclouds. Despite the lightning strikes grazing his sides, Kaido seemed unfazed.
Since his defeat at Wano, he has been in seclusion, training like a man possessed. He channeled all his rage into his strength, establishing a base deep inside the New World where few dared venture. The sea surrounding the area was treacherous even on normal days; on others, it turned cataclysmic. Kaido had shown immense growth, but he wasn't yet satisfied.
The humiliation of running away pricked at his heart every single second. He had even foregone consuming alcohol, as it impeded his training. Suddenly, a massive Pteranodon appeared in the skies, but compared to Kaido's massive size, it was negligible.
"Kaido-sama, we have news! Golden Lion Shiki has targeted the main base of Big Mom's territory. We might soon have a change in the status of Emperors within the New World!" The moment King spoke, Kaido reverted to his regular form. From high up in the skies, he descended onto an island below in a freefall, crashing into it. King followed suit, landing next to where Kaido landed and returning to his normal appearance.
"Wororororo!" Kaido bellowed in laughter as he climbed out of the massive pit. "Oh, Linlin, how low have you fallen? I wish I could see your face now. How did you mock me when I was not able to defend Wano? Now you are not able to defend your own home." Big Mom had reached out to him back then with the sole intention of mocking him; now he couldn't wait to get back at her.
But that would have to wait. He had much better things to do as of now. "King, how about the crew? Have you been able to find a suitable target to help rebuild our crew stronger?" he asked King, who was his right-hand man and had assigned him quite a few duties while he immersed himself in training.
"Yes, Kaido-sama. Queen and I have been finding crew members that would suit our Beast Pirates, and the new influx of pirates after the incident at Impel Down has given us quite a wide choice. My suggestion is to target a group called the 12 Zodiacs. They are gaining fame, and we should subdue them. This will bolster our forces to a vast degree. We can keep those who surrender and kill off the rest to send a message that the Beast Pirates still hold hegemony in the New World. Most of our previous territories are currently under the Zodiac group's control after we left Wano," King responded.
Kaido sneered, understanding that when the true rulers of the sea are absent, every petty little pirate wants to take the throne for themselves. Soon enough, he would teach the whole world why he was called the strongest creature in the world.
"We will deal with them in time. Have you made any progress in strengthening our current crew? Most of them are simply useless. Numbers don't matter when we clash with the true rulers. We need stronger crew members, even if they are just cannon fodder. I need stronger cannon fodder!" he roared in frustration.
King, deep in thought, suddenly remembered something Queen had mentioned before. "Kaido-sama, Queen, once mentioned a project involving artificial Devil Fruits that the MADS were working on. Maybe if we can get our hands on this research, we can have our crew consume these artificial Devil Fruits," King added.
Kaido's eyes shone with brilliance. The mere thought of his entire crew being Devil Fruit users was exhilarating. Even better, what if his entire crew was made up of Zoan Devil Fruit users? That would truly embody the spirit of the name, Beast Pirates.
Kaido turned to King. "I don't care what it takes. Collect all information about these so-called artificial Devil Fruits. I will show the world the true might of a dragon!" He roared as his Conqueror's haki shot out, splitting the very skies.
The air crackled with the raw power of Kaido's resolve. His crew, scattered across the island, felt the surge of his haki and knew their leader was on the brink of something monumental. The very sea seemed to bow to his will, the waves calming in the presence of his unyielding determination. The Beast Pirates would rise stronger than ever, and the world would once again tremble at the name 'Hundred Beast Kaido'.