Hoo hoo…
The wind whistled in Leno's ears.
Standing at the edge of the Red Line, he kept his guard up, his eyes fixed on the endless sky.
His instincts screamed—danger was imminent. There was no mistaking it.
"See the future!"
A vision appeared before his mind's eye.
Three seconds passed.
Suddenly, a sharp red light cut through the sky like a speeding arrow, streaking toward him.
[Uranus]!
Leno's senses remained heightened from start to finish.
Uranus, along with Pluton and Poseidon, made up the ancient weapons of war, relics from a time long past—each with the power to reshape the world.
It was likely thanks to [Uranus] that the Celestial Dragons crushed the Great Kingdom and erased its history.
(TN: The "Great Kingdom" was an ancient kingdom that was said to be vast, proud, and powerful. All mentions of it and its history have been erased, with even its name remaining a secret.)
No doubt about it—this weapon was one of their trump cards.
One of many.
After all, no one knew exactly what the Celestial Dragons had uncovered in the 800 years since that fateful war. [Uranus] wasn't just a one-trick weapon; the beam that could obliterate islands was just one of its many attacks.
The composure of the curly-haired Five Elder reflected his full confidence in the weapon's power.
Air combat had always been a dangerous advantage, unmatched by any threat from sea or land. In a world governed by both myth and reality, the one who controlled the skies reigned supreme.
"It's coming!"
Leno's eyes snapped wide open.
Move!
Or at least, he tried to. His body locked in place, refusing to obey.
Hum!
A red beam of light silently descended from the heavens, moving at the speed of light. It spanned tens of thousands of meters in an instant, cutting through the ocean below.
Hiss!
Beads of sweat rolled down Leno's face. The beam had grazed his arm—barely missing by a hair's breadth. Even through his layered defenses, it left a scorched wound in its wake.
"It's hard to believe something like this was built 800 years ago… An ancient relic with so much power."
Gritting his teeth, Leno knew he had to get his hands on [Pluton] or similar technology. As long as weapons like these existed, the danger was too great.
Though it looked like Leno had done nothing in those moments, it was far from true. He had played a high-stakes game of foresight.
He had been on the verge of teleporting—calculating the microsecond window in which to act. With his explosive speed, it should have been easy.
But at the last moment, a gut feeling stopped him. Danger.
Leno trusted his instincts.
He didn't move.
And sure enough, if he had teleported as planned, he would have stepped straight into the beam's path.
In a game of masters, the real fight is in the details.
Sometimes, not moving at all was the best move—especially when trying to outwit an opponent's prediction.
Wind!
Leno survived.
With a swift slash of his sword, a torrent of wind blades burst toward the sky, forming a swirling storm. The blades both obscured his enemy's vision and warned them against pursuing him.
By the time the storm dissipated, Leno was gone. No second beam followed.
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, and lightning illuminated a colossal shadow against the clouds.
The curly-haired Five Elder exhaled slowly, returning to Pangaea Castle.
The other four elders were already making arrangements.
First, Leno's assault on Mary Geoise had caused a stir, leaving many Celestial Dragons stunned. They would need reassurance.
Second, the incident had deeply embarrassed both the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons—news of it must be suppressed.
And lastly, the government had to manage the inevitable fallout and control public perception.
However, the biggest problem remained: Leno.
The Five Elders exchanged worried glances.
"We underestimated him... He's more dangerous than even the Four Emperors or Roger!"
"What's his origin? Get the CPO to re-investigate."
"What about the plan with the Hunter's Guild? What do we do now?"
"Put it on hold."
"Exactly. As long as Leno is alive, dismantling the Hunter's Guild is pointless."
Another Elder murmured gravely, "Besides… there's something within him."
Suddenly, a voice echoed in their minds.
The Five Elders froze, glancing at one another.
"Lord Imu is calling us."
Without hesitation, they made their way into the deepest chambers of Pangaea Castle.
Sabaody Archipelago
Throughout the seas—whether in the Four Seas, the New World, or the Grand Line—everyone watched the skies anxiously.
"What happened?"
"Who won? Why's there no news?"
The buzzing of rumors spread like wildfire, with speculation running rampant.
On the Kuja Pirates' ship, Hancock stood at the bow, her hands clasped over her chest.
"Leno…" she whispered, concern etched across her face.
At Marine Headquarters, Gion gripped her Den Den Mushi tightly.
Nearby, Kuina sat quietly, her gaze sharp and focused.
"Did he retreat? What's the outcome?" Kuina asked, her voice steady but curious.
Gion shook her head. "I don't know. I'll try to reach Sengoku."
She dialed again but got no clear answer. Frustrated, she hung up.
"That idiot better not have died..." Gion muttered through clenched teeth.
She shot a glance at Kuina.
"No news yet. We'll have to wait."
Kuina, calm as ever, said softly, "He's fine."
"Real?"
Gion's eyes widened with surprise. "How do you know?"
"Just a hunch!"
Somewhere in Paradise...
A giant bird soared through the sky, casting shadows over the sea below. A newspaper bundle dropped from its talons, slamming against a wooden wall.
Inside the ship, Morgans, nose buried in photographs, quivered with excitement.
"Big news! Big news tomorrow!" he squawked.
"Kaido... defeated! But what of him and Leno? Dead or alive?" His beak clicked with glee.
"No doubt the whole world will be watching this one!"
New World – Aboard the Moby Dick
The waves churned violently as the crew of the Whitebeard Pirates gathered on deck, nerves running high.
Up in the crow's nest, Vista squinted through his binoculars. His gaze sharpened. "Look—it's Marco!"
The crew perked up, cheering as the blue-flamed phoenix swooped down, perching lightly on Whitebeard's shoulder before landing on the deck.
"Dad!" Marco called out.
Whitebeard grinned. "Marco!"
But the excitement shifted to worry as they saw the scars across Whitebeard's broad back, blood trickling slowly.
"Father, what happened?!" someone asked, voice tinged with alarm.
Whitebeard chuckled, dismissing their concerns. "Gurararara! It's just a scratch. No need to worry."
Marco clenched his fists, guilt weighing heavy on his heart. "Dad got hurt protecting me... I dragged him down."
Whitebeard's massive hand clapped firmly on Marco's shoulder. "Stop that, boy. You're my son—of course I'll protect you!"
"Besides," Whitebeard added with a warm smile, "if I didn't have you to protect, I wouldn't have made it back myself."
"Dad!" Marco's eyes watered with emotion. He quickly signaled for the ship's doctors to treat Whitebeard's wounds, while Thatch rushed to prepare a meal.
The crew gathered around, curiosity bubbling over.
"Is the fight over?!"
"Did Kaido win?"
"He's a monster... but that Leno is something else, holding out this long!"
"Yeah, when we fought Kaido, I barely survived one hit."
Whitebeard's deep laughter rumbled through the air. "Gurararara!"
Marco tilted his head. "Everyone thinks Kaido won?"
"Didn't he?"
The question hung in the air, silencing the crew. Even Blackbeard Teach, munching away in the corner, looked up in surprise.
Whitebeard set down a half-empty gourd of wine with a loud thud. "Nope. Kaido lost!"
"WHAT?!"
Jozu's jaw dropped.
Vista's mustache twitched. "Kaido… lost? In a one-on-one fight?!"
"Did I hear that right, Dad?"
Whitebeard's booming laugh echoed again. "Gurararara! You heard me right—Kaido lost!"
The sea seemed to quiet, as if stunned by the declaration.
Meanwhile – Aboard the Big Mom Pirates' Ship
The bandaged Cracker gasped, his jaw nearly unhinged.
Smoothie paused mid-stretch, sword resting on her shoulder, disbelief clear on her face.
Katakuri, arms crossed, wore a grim expression.
Charlotte Linlin stood at the helm, her torn clothing fluttering in the wind. Though mostly unharmed, her expression was dark with frustration—and a hint of satisfaction.
"I saw it with my own eyes," Linlin declared. "Kaido lost to Leno. A new Emperor has been born on these seas!"
The crew whispered in awe: "A new Emperor...!"
Aboard the Revolutionary Army's Ship
"Dragon, are you all right?" Ivankov asked, shielding his eyes from the storm.
Dragon, standing in the downpour, nodded. "I'm fine."
"And Leno?" Ivankov pressed.
"He won."
"HEE-HAW! Amazing! But..." Ivankov's voice trailed off. "What's the matter, Dragon?"
Dragon sighed. "The Celestial Dragons... they used that weapon again."
Ivankov's eyes widened in alarm. "The one that can level an entire island in a single shot?!"
"Yes." Dragon's gaze darkened. "Kaido and Leno's fate remains uncertain."
"Let's wait for tomorrow's headlines," he murmured. "The World Government's reaction will tell us everything. If they make a spectacle, it means they're dead or captured. But if they keep quiet..." Dragon's voice trailed off ominously.
At Dawn
The morning sun painted the world in gold as newsbirds took flight, delivering newspapers to every corner of the seas.
At Whiskey Peak, Crocodile sat with a cigar between his fingers, waiting anxiously. The battle's outcome could change everything.
As a newsbird chirped and dropped a special edition at his feet, Crocodile snatched it up and ripped it open.
His eyes scanned the black, bold headline:
"Shock! Kaido Defeated!"
Morgans knew how to write a headline that could shake the world.
Crocodile's jaw clenched. His eyes flicked to the grainy photograph of Kaido's limp form lying in a massive crater. Atop him, Leno stood victorious, silver hair glinting in the sunlight.
"Damn it," Crocodile hissed, crushing the newspaper with his golden hook. "That bastard really did it... He beat Kaido?!"
With a furious growl, Crocodile slammed his desk to pieces.
Elsewhere – At Moria's Castle
"Master, master! Big news!" Absalom burst into the room, knocking Perona aside in his excitement.
"Watch it, idiot!" Perona shrieked, floating mid-air.
"Just read this!" Absalom shoved the newspaper into Moria's face.
"Eh?"
Moria squinted at the headline. His jaw dropped.
"Kaido... LOST?!" Moria's cackle echoed through the misty halls, sending chills down Absalom's spine. "Kishishishi! That monster actually lost!"
East Blue – At the Revolutionary Base
The storm raged as Robin burst into the room, eyes wide with excitement.
"Kuzan! Leno did it!" she shouted, waving the newspaper.
The room was filled with familiar faces—Kuzan, Kuro, Luwell, Gordon, and Uta—all waiting anxiously for the outcome.
Robin slapped the newspaper onto the table, the ink still fresh.
Kaido Defeated!!!
"We won!" Robin exclaimed.
Luwell leapt up with joy, hugging Robin. "I knew it!"
Even Uta punched the air with excitement, already inspired to write a song about Leno's victory.
"The new Emperor... Leno, president of the Hunter's Guild," Robin whispered, the words sinking in.
The news spread like wildfire across the Grand Line and New World. Everywhere, the same story echoed:
Kaido has fallen.
And Leno—leader of the Hunter's Guild—was now the newest name whispered in awe across the seas.
-----------
+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg