"Kaido-sama, he's coming—God is coming!"

Onigashima, Kaido's stronghold, buzzed with nervous tension. Kaido sat slouched on his massive throne, bandages freshly removed from his body. Only a few days had passed since his brutal clash with Vane, and though the wounds had once been gaping—stabbed clean through the gut and chest—they had now healed completely. Even the scabs had fallen off, leaving behind only deep scars.

His recovery was monstrous, second only to Vane himself.

Now, he sat towering on his throne, arms resting on the sides of the seat—once again the undisputed ruler of the island.

It was Jack the Drought who rushed in to report the arrival.

"That bastard," Kaido muttered, voice low with brewing anger.

The younger subordinates present trembled but dared not speak. Despite his rage, Kaido didn't move.

After all, Vane had visited two days ago and warned Kaido of his next move—he was going to invade Mariejois.

Kaido looked toward the main gate.

At that moment, Vane stepped inside.

He moved with ease, confidence in every step. His power was unmatched in this world—overwhelming and unnatural.

Vane didn't bother with pleasantries. "Kaido, we had an agreement."

Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the exit.

Kaido rose from his seat, instinctively reaching to his right for his kanabo mace—only to grasp at air.

He paused. His weapon had been destroyed during his battle with Vane. It no longer existed.

"Tch… Just don't die at Mariejois," Kaido grumbled. "I can take you there."

With that, he followed Vane out of the skull-shaped hall.

Behind them trailed the All-Stars: King, Queen, and Jack. They weren't accompanying their captain to Mariejois, but merely watching as he left with Vane.

Kaido's muscles tensed, then relaxed. His massive form began to shift, scale by scale. Thunder cracked above, lightning streaking across the night sky as Kaido transformed into a colossal blue eastern dragon.

He soared into the heavens, eyes glowing like fire, and coiled through the clouds with terrifying grace.

Vane rose into the air with ease, then landed directly on Kaido's head.

"You're riding on me? You dare sit on me?!" Kaido roared.

All of Onigashima heard him. Even the All-Stars were stunned.

No one had ever dared sit on Kaido.

"You'll get used to it," Vane replied casually, settling in. "You're a great mode of transportation."

"I'm furious!"

Kaido bellowed, but took to the skies nonetheless.

"Let's move, Kaido the Beast."

Kaido didn't respond, but shot upward, slicing through clouds and storm. Thunder struck around them like nature itself was lashing out in protest.

"Kaido, do you think lightning can kill me?"

Lightning crackled overhead, slamming into Vane's body. But he didn't flinch. He knew Kaido was provoking him, intentionally drawing down the storm.

It didn't matter. Vane had thoroughly subdued him in battle.

Dragons were said to summon storms, ride the winds, and bend nature to their will. Kaido's flight was a living storm, soaring through the night sky toward the Red Line.

"Kaido, we might as well chat. It's a long flight."

Kaido remained silent.

Vane continued. "I heard you used to be an apprentice on the Rocks Pirates?"

"That's right," Kaido finally answered, his voice rumbling like thunder.

"Did Charlotte Linlin bring you aboard?"

"No. Rocks saw potential in me. Even back then, I wasn't just anyone. My strength wasn't what it is now, but I wasn't ordinary."

"Then… what kind of debt do you owe Big Mom?"

Kaido's tone shifted. "How do you know about that?"

His confusion was genuine. Very few knew about that history. Had Big Mom mentioned it? She always had a loud mouth, but this…

"Is it true what she says? That you owe her a lifetime of gratitude? What happened?"

Kaido was quiet for several seconds before speaking.

"When I came to Wano, I intended to kill Kozuki Oden. But my plan was exposed. Whitebeard caught wind of it and was planning to storm Wano to save Oden."

Vane listened carefully.

Kaido continued. "It was Linlin who intercepted Whitebeard on the sea. She delayed him long enough for me to execute my plan. If Whitebeard had reached Wano back then… I wouldn't be here."

Back then, Kozuki Oden was not only a member of Whitebeard's crew, but like a brother to him. Whitebeard was fiercely loyal, protective to a fault. If he had reached Wano twenty years ago, Kaido's story would've ended very differently.

Whitebeard at that time had been nearing his peak—maybe not quite at the top, but terrifyingly close. And Kozuki Oden himself was no ordinary man. He'd earned Whitebeard's respect and even challenged Gol D. Roger.

The two of them together would've overwhelmed Kaido.

So Big Mom helped him. But was it truly kindness?

Vane narrowed his eyes. There was more to this story, no doubt. Perhaps even a twisted relationship between Kaido and Big Mom.

Kaido went silent.

He'd said enough. Even for someone as blunt as him, some things were too private to share.

The rest of the flight passed in silence.

Below them, islands passed by like specks. Some were no bigger than a fingernail from this height, others just black dots lost in the ocean.

After five hours of uninterrupted flight, the Red Line finally came into view.

"There it is," Kaido said.

The towering Red Earth Continent stretched across the horizon like a scar across the world.

"I've never tried jumping from the top of that," Kaido added casually.

Vane arched an eyebrow. "It'll hurt."

"I want to try it."

Vane smirked. Two madmen were now flying toward the highest seat of power in the world—the Holy Land of Mariejois.

Tonight, the sky would burn.

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