"Wororororo..."
Kaido's wild, guttural laughter echoed endlessly through the shadowy prison.
It echoed...
And echoed...
And echoed so more...
Yeah. It went on for quite a while.
Then finally, the laughter faded, until it vanished entirely.
And Kaido was left standing there, smile frozen mid-curl.
Because in front of him, the two half-dead brats he'd captured—Darren and Bullet—were staring at him like he was so kind of moron.
Completely unmoved.
Kaido: "..."
"You two... didn't hear ?"
He grit his teeth. His vertical pupils narrowed as he turned to the barely-breathing Douglas Bullet and growled:
"Douglas Bullet. I know who you are. I know you well."
"You're from that 'nation of endless war' on the Grand Line. Betrayed by your country, betrayed by your commanding officers—you razed your holand to the ground in a fit of rage. The World Governnt's been after you ever since."
"The Marines are tracking your every move. They even sent two 'monsters' to hunt you down..."
He flicked a glance at Darren before continuing, voice smooth, coaxing.
"There's no place left in this world for you."
"Even if you survive this ti, next ti the Navy will send soone stronger. Stronger than them."
"Only I can give you shelter..."
"Join , and neither CP nor the Marines will be able to touch you."
"Well?"
"Beco one of my All-Stars. I can give you that rank. I know what you crave—fighting, bloodshed, power."
"And I'm going to start the greatest war this world has ever seen. That battlefield will be your stage. Drenched in blood, your na—Douglas Bullet—will echo across the sea!"
Kaido was full of thunder now, chest rising with each breath, his voice booming like a war drum.
This guy really did his howork, Darren thought to himself, a bit impressed.
Kaido might look like a blunt-force beast, but in truth—he was sharp, calculating, and downright cunning.
In the original tiline, he'd manipulated the shogun Orochi, overthrown the Kozuki clan, and claid resource-rich Wano as his fortress.
He even staged "coincidental suicides" by leaping off Sky Islands, all to draw in and recruit the strongest pirates of the Worst Generation.
If he knows this much about Bullet, Darren mused, then maybe showing up on that island wasn't a coincidence at all...
"Join , Bullet!!"
Kaido extended his massive, tattooed hand.
But what t him was a glare filled with disdain.
Bullet, slumped against the wall like a wreck, bloodied and barely breathing... was grinning.
He bared bloodied teeth in a crooked smile—wounded, yes, but proud.
"I refuse."
He rasped.
Kaido blinked.
"Why?"
There was anger under his voice now.
"Why?"
Bullet coughed, every breath a knife in his ribs.
His pale face twisted into a feral grin, crimson eyes glowing with madness and defiance.
"Your strength and presence are greater than anyone I've ever fought..."
"But even all that isn't enough to make , Douglas Bullet, submit."
He gave a dry laugh.
"My target is Gol D. Roger."
"Kaido of the Beasts—you think you're stronger than him?"
Kaido froze.
His expression flickered for a mont. Then he turned—pretending he hadn't heard that—and looked toward Darren.
"Rogers Darren!!"
"I know you too. I know your type!"
Oh co on, not the exact sa script... Darren's mouth twitched.
But Kaido didn't see the reaction. He was back into full speech mode, his voice rising with each line, his conviction returning.
"In the North Blue, you were known as a disgrace—a corrupt, filthy, womanizing scumbag!"
"Greedy for power, hoarding wealth, building your own army... You're not fit to wear a Marine's uniform."
"Wororororo! You're better suited to piracy, kid!!"
"Whatever the Marines can give you—I can do better!"
"Money. Authority. Troops. Territory. And of course, won—more than you can count! Whatever you want, I can give it to you!"
"I see ambition burning in your eyes."
"And the best part—once you're a pirate, you don't have to wear that fake uniform anymore. You can openly take what you want!"
"No rules. No chains. Just destruction, conquest, and possession!"
"That's the ultimate freedom of a pirate! That's what it ans to own the sea!"
Kaido's slitted eyes glead with feral light in the dark.
"Join ! I'll make you an All-Star of the Beasts Pirates!!"
"The free sea is waiting for you!!"
With pride written all over his face, he reached out his hand to Darren.
Darren looked at him... and raised an eyebrow.
Gotta admit, he thought, the guy's thorough. He's even trying to recruit a Marine.
Then again, with Darren's... colorful reputation, it wasn't that shocking.
"I have to admit," Darren exhaled slowly, voice calm. "Everything you said is... honestly kind of tempting."
Bullet shot him a surprised glance.
"So you're saying... you're in?"
Kaido's eyes widened with anticipation, a grin blooming across his face.
"No. I refuse."
Darren shook his head.
Kaido's smile cracked.
"Why!? What's wrong with being a pirate?! Don't tell all those rumors—those awful habits—they're not true?!"
He shouted in fury, voice shaking the prison walls.
"No, they're all true."
Darren raised his head, eyes calm and resolute.
"Money, power, territory, won—I want all of it."
Bullet: ...
Kaido: ...
"THEN WHY?!"
Kaido roared.
"...Because I'd rather take it all as a Marine."
A flicker of sothing sharp and righteous burned in Darren's gaze.
"Sohow, it just feels more fun that way."
Bullet: ...
Kaido: ...
"YOU DAMN BRAT!! YOU'RE MOCKING !!"
Kaido's face twisted with rage. His killing intent burst forth in a thunderous roar that shook the entire prison.
The pressure radiating off him cracked the walls and bent the steel bars.
"YOU'RE BOTH MOCKING !!"
He snatched up his giant kanabo—Hassaikai—and his pupils flared blood-red with fury.
As soon as his hand gripped the weapon, black-red lightning arced around him. His Conqueror's Haki tore through the air.
Darren and Bullet both staggered under the wave of force. Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.
"Boss Kaido! Wait—WAIT!! Calm down!!"
A round, waddling figure burst into the prison—an enormous man built like a ball of at, arms flailing.
He threw himself onto Kaido's arm in a panic.
"If you smash them now, in the shape they're in... they'll die on the spot!!"
Chomping on a cigar, wearing flashy sunglasses, and a gold-braided ponytail bouncing with every step—he was chaos in human form.
---
To be continued...
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