"Three dragons! Look, there are three Azure Dragons in the sky!" a voice cried out, trembling with disbelief.
"Three… Three Kaidos? Am I seeing things?" another stammered, his eyes wide with shock.
"What's happening? What's going to happen to this country?" The people of Flower Capital felt their hearts race as they stared up at the night sky, where the fiery clash of dragon breaths illuminated three immense dragons, each one an awe-inspiring sight.
One dragon hovered ominously above, motionless yet radiating an overwhelming presence. The other two were locked in a fierce struggle, their massive jaws unleashing torrents of dragon breath that collided with explosive force, shaking the very air around them.
In Wanokuni, tales of dragon-slaying had been passed down for centuries. The legendary "Dragon-Slaying Samurai" Shimotsuki Ryuma had never been defeated in his lifetime. He had not only repelled countless pirates and world nobles but had also slain a dragon above the Flower Capital, earning the title of "Sword God Ryuma." But that was hundreds of years ago, back when Wanokuni was still known as the "Golden Country."
Tonight, however, three dragons filled the skies above Flower Capital. Even if the Sword God himself were resurrected, could he have stood against this terrifying sight? The thought alone sent chills down the spines of the townspeople.
"Run! Run!" someone shouted, breaking the paralyzing silence. The people of Flower Capital, jolted from their stupor, began to flee in a frenzy, desperate to escape the looming catastrophe.
At the banquet, chaos reigned. Queen, usually so composed, was utterly bewildered. He raised a trembling hand to his forehead, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"In other words… this guy completed his research in just two years! He created not one, but two artificial Azure Dragon Fruits—one for his subordinate and one for himself?" Queen muttered, feeling a pang of despair. They were both scientists, but Edie's accomplishments were on an entirely different level.
Though Queen's research followed a different path, he understood all too well the monumental difficulty of creating an artificial Devil Fruit, especially a Mythical Zoan species. The complexity was staggering.
"But… there's something even more disturbing about what he said..." King murmured, his sharp eyes fixed on the three Azure Dragons above. Aside from a few minor details, they were virtually identical.
[Mr. Kaido, when did you start believing the Blue Dragon Fruit you ate was the original?]
King replayed Edie's words in his mind. Could it be possible that the fruit Kaido had consumed was merely a replica?
King recalled a story Kaido had shared once. Nineteen years ago, when the Beasts Pirates had yet to be formed, Kaido had still been a member of the Rocks Pirates. During the infamous God Valley Incident, Kaido's then-companion, now one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, had snatched the Blue Dragon Fruit and handed it to Kaido.
"If the Azure Dragon Fruit Kaido-sama ate is a replica… then who created the original?" King pondered, his brow furrowing. The fruit had been taken from the Celestial Dragons in God valley, so could it be that the World Government had mastered the technology for artificial Devil Fruits long before anyone had realized?
"Hahahaha, you look so confused. If you manage to defeat me, I'll answer your questions for free," Zishu taunted, his laughter echoing ominously.
With a sudden burst of movement, Zishu drew the sword at his waist and lunged forward, aiming a powerful slash at King.
Caught off guard, King hurriedly drew his own sword to defend himself. But the force of Zishu's blow was immense, causing the ground beneath them to crack and sink.
"What a heavy blow..." King muttered, his expression shifting to one of concern.
"Chenlong took away the best prey," Zishu sighed, almost regretfully. "Looks like I'll just have to play with you for a while. Don't worry, I won't kill you… unless ordered by Lord Heavenly Father."
"Prey? You dare call Lord Kaido prey?" King's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with anger.
"Yep! I want all the smoke!" Zishu laughed, his tone full of mockery.
King snorted, and in response, a mysterious flame ignited behind him—a unique ability of the Lunarian clan that significantly increased his defense.
"Oh, I can do that too," Zishu grinned, spreading his wings. The same mysterious flame sprang to life, enveloping his blade. His golden star eyes gleamed sharply, their intensity almost unbearable.
Focusing his gaze, Zishu channeled the fire into his sword, the flames roaring like a cannonball as he swung with tremendous force.
"Vagabond!"
King's pupils dilated as the fiery slash consumed his vision.
Boom!
Zishu's flame-infused attack tore through everything in its path, obliterating Kaido's mansion and setting the city walls ablaze.
Amidst the raging flames, a black shadow shot skyward—King, his wings beating furiously as he ascended rapidly.
"It is indeed the power of the Lunarian clan..." King murmured, noticing a stream of blood trickling down his forehead. Despite his doubled defense, Zishu's attack had pierced through.
"Your name is Zishu? Why do you and the others have golden stars in your eyes?" King asked, his voice tinged with desperation as he sought to gather any useful information. "We're both Lunarians—what's so special about you?"
"Hahahaha, yes, why indeed?" Zishu laughed again, his wings vibrating as he leaped into the air. "Is it possible that you're not a pure-blooded Lunarian?"
Zishu's mocking tone only deepened King's confusion as he launched another round of attacks, his blade blazing with fire.
Heavenly Father is fooling Kaido, telling him the fruit he ate is a fake, a mere replica. Zishu, in turn, continued his own game of deception.
As King parried Zishu's strikes in mid-air, his mind was plagued with doubts.
Could it be true? Am I not a pure-blooded Lunarian? Is there really a distinction between purebloods and mixed-bloods among the Lunarians? And do purebloods have these golden star eyes?
King's confusion deepened, as it seemed a shocking secret was hidden in the darkness, one that could unravel everything he thought he knew.
In the midst of the chaotic banquet, Yamato cowered on the ground, her small frame trembling as she hid behind an overturned dining table. "It's so scary, so scary... Why did the fight suddenly start?" she whispered to herself, her voice quivering with fear.
She had only been hungry, sneaking into the banquet to find something to eat. But things had quickly spiraled out of control. First, Uncle Edie caught her, then exchanged cryptic words with her father, Kaido, that she didn't fully understand. Before she knew it, a battle had erupted around her. And to her shock, there were multiple dragons—one of them resembling her father, the Blue Dragon.
Yamato's head spun with confusion, and she had no idea what to do. She could only huddle there, her small body shaking as the sounds of battle raged around her.
Suddenly, her stomach growled loudly, pulling her attention away from the chaos. She glanced down and spotted a whole roast chicken lying on the ground. Yamato's eyes lit up with hunger, and she couldn't resist the urge any longer. She looked around, making sure no one was watching her, and then quickly snatched up the chicken, stuffing her mouth with large bites.
Amid the ongoing mayhem, no one paid any attention to Yamato, despite her being the daughter of Kaido—a princess of sorts. Everyone was too caught up in their own battles and fears.
Not far away, Queen noticed the intense fight between Zishu and King. King was clearly losing. His gaze then shifted to the sky, where Chenlong and Kaido were locked in a fierce aerial duel.
Do I have to join the fight too? Queen pondered, feeling torn. But before he could make a decision, Shen Hou, who had been silent until now, suddenly made his move.
In a flash, a sword was thrust toward Queen, stopping just a centimeter from his neck. The blade's tip glinted dangerously close to his skin.
"Don't move," Shen Hou commanded in a cold, detached tone.
Queen felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately raised his hands in surrender. "Wait! Wait! This is a misunderstanding! We're allies! I have no intention of fighting!"
Shen Hou's voice remained calm and emotionless as he replied, "Then stand here and don't move. Heavenly Father has specifically instructed me not to kill you."
Kaido was a different story—he could be killed. But King and Queen were off-limits. King, because his Lunarian blood was invaluable for Edie's research; and Queen, because his expertise as a scientist was too valuable to waste. Edie had already obtained King's blood factor, but cloning was a resource-intensive process that might require more in the future. And as for Queen, Edie preferred to keep him alive, potentially recruiting him to assist in further scientific endeavors.
"So, it's just a misunderstanding!" Queen protested, trying to keep his voice steady. "Sure, things got a little out of hand tonight, but we never intended to break our alliance. Besides, it was Edie who first borrowed the chicken to lay the egg and secretly replicated the Blue Dragon Fruit!"
It wasn't the copying that bothered Queen—after all, collaboration and shared resources were the foundation of their alliance. But not being informed? That was a different story. However, with Edie and his companions proving to be so strong, Queen had to swallow his pride and play nice. The stakes were too high to do otherwise.
Shen Hou remained silent, his sword still threateningly poised at Queen's throat.
"Hey, hey, hey…" A mocking voice suddenly cut through the tension. Caesar Clown floated over, his gaseous form drifting like a balloon. "You call it a misunderstanding, but it didn't look like one when Kaido launched his attack earlier, did it?"
He paused, licking his lips as he eyed Queen with a predatory gaze. "The situation's changed now, Queen. Whether or not you get to walk away from this all depends on Dr. Edie's mood. Oh, and by the way, if you want some advice on how to plead your case, I can help. For a price, of course—let's say, 10 billion berries in research funds."
Queen's face darkened as he realized the truth. "You bastards… You're just taking advantage of the chaos to squeeze more money out of me!"
10 billion? It wasn't enough. No amount would ever satisfy these greedy opportunists. As a scientist, Queen knew all too well how costly research could be, and these guys would bleed him dry if given the chance.
Desperate, Queen shouted up to the sky, "Edie! You bastard… have you forgotten the time we drank Anko soup together?" He was grasping at straws, trying to play the emotional card, hoping to appeal to some sense of camaraderie or shared history. But deep down, he feared that nothing could save him from the merciless demands of Edie and his companions.
In the sky above the Flower Capital, Edie floated serenely, a detached observer to the unfolding chaos. He glanced briefly at Queen's desperate plea but chose to ignore it, his attention focused elsewhere.
His gaze was locked on the fierce confrontation between Chenlong and Kaido. This was the moment he had been waiting for—an opportunity to test the limits of Chenlong's power.
Boom!
The dragon breaths, which had been locked in a fierce stalemate, suddenly ceased, the overwhelming force of their clash causing a deafening explosion. Both dragons momentarily halted their attacks, their immense power radiating through the air.
"Ohhhhhh... Perfect! Perfect power!" Kaido roared with exhilaration, his voice echoing across the battlefield. He marveled at Chenlong, clearly impressed. Even though the Blue Dragon Fruit was exactly the same, the strength it exhibited varied greatly depending on its user's development. Chenlong's Boro Breath was nearly as formidable as his own, and Kaido was visibly moved by the sheer perfection of this power.
"Chenlong, don't hold back," Edie commanded with an air of calm authority.
At Edie's command, Chenlong immediately unleashed his most potent attack. A torrent of terrifying flames erupted from Chenlong's body, coalescing into a colossal flame dragon that enveloped the blue dragon's form. The transformation was astonishing—the blue dragon was now encased in a blazing red fire dragon!
The intense heat from the fiery dragon distorted the atmosphere, causing the air to shimmer and the moisture within it to evaporate at an alarming rate. The wells throughout the Flower Capital began to dry up visibly, as the surrounding environment succumbed to the relentless heat.
With a sudden, twisting motion, Chenlong's dragon head surged forward, its fiery maw opening wide.
"Fire Dragon Torch!" Chenlong roared, unleashing the devastating attack.
Dragon Kaido's eyes widened in shock. He recognized the move—his own Ultimate attack.