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Kaido was nothing like Whitebeard, who could hang his flag over an island without demanding tribute. Neptune had also heard of the terrible fate of the people in Wano Country under Kaido's rule.
More importantly, after Nami, Fizz, and their allies successfully blocked off the route to Fish-Man Island, Neptune began to see a bright future for his home.
Under the control of the fish-men, the route promised to bring endless wealth to the island. This newfound prosperity would also elevate the fish-men's status and dignity within the pirate world.
But if Kaido gained control of the Fish-Man Island route?
Not only would many fish-men likely be forced into slavery or conscripted as Kaido's soldiers, but the island would also face devastating consequences. With Kaido in charge, the route would attract challenges from the other Four Emperors, along with attacks from the World Government and the Navy.
The World Government or rival Emperors might tolerate Fish-Man Island controlling the route on its own. But they would never allow such a critical trade route—one that could tip the balance of power at sea—to fall under the control of any one Emperor.
The Fish-Man Island route saw countless pirate crews passing through daily on their way to the New World. Among them were many rookies with tremendous potential. Whoever controlled the route could quickly amass incredible power.
"Your Majesty..."
"That's the Four Emperors, Kaido," the Minister of the Left pleaded with Neptune, who had stepped out of the mansion with the Minister of the Right, Shark Star, and the other princes.
For a moment, Neptune hesitated. The name of Kaido carried immense fear. Then, he laughed, his voice full of resolve.
"Hahaha! Kaido, you say? So what? I am the Great Knight of the Sea!"
"I'm not so old yet!"
Without looking back, Neptune led his last loyal supporters into the fray, ready to fight Kaido. As he walked away, he left behind parting words:
"If we don't make it back, take care of Shirahoshi!"
"She is the hope of Fish-Man Island's future!"
Tears filled the eyes of those watching Neptune and his group march away.
During this time, Shirahoshi—who had finally left the Hard-Shell Tower after Hody Jones's defeat—was no longer burdened by her status as a princess. She had become much happier, cherishing her newfound freedom.
But now, sorrow crept back into her heart.
At less than twelve years old, Shirahoshi had spent most of her life locked in the Hard-Shell Tower. Despite her immense size—standing over eight meters tall—she was still just a helpless, frightened young girl.
Shirahoshi began to cry uncontrollably as she watched Neptune and the others gradually disappear into the distance.
Minister Zou, leaning heavily on his crutches, his long beard trembling with emotion, turned to the few remaining servants in the palace and said in a deep voice,
"Take care of Her Highness, the Princess!"
With that, he swung his crutch with determination and hurried after Neptune and the others.
"Your Majesty, wait for me!"
"Don't forget, I am your Minister of the Left!"
Though Minister Zou may not have been the brightest, his loyalty to Neptune had never wavered. He truly believed Neptune was the rightful king of all the people on Fish-Man Island.
As Shirahoshi watched Minister Zou leave, her tears slowly stopped. Hugging her pet, the massive ten-meter-long shark, Megalo, she spoke with a trembling yet determined voice:
"Why? Why do bad people always come to hurt us?"
"I want to help everyone, too!"
The moment she spoke, an extraordinary and powerful wave of energy rippled outward from Fish-Man Island in all directions.
Deep in the ocean, several enormous Sea Kings began to appear, responding to the call of the true Poseidon.
"The king is finally awakening!"
"Please, give us your orders!"
These massive Sea Kings, possessing remarkable intelligence, started moving toward Fish-Man Island.
Outside the island, Jinbe, the Fish-Man Pirates, the countless Poseidon Army soldiers, Neptune, his three sons, and his remaining loyal followers were preparing for the confrontation.
Fizz had also summoned a large number of ordinary Sea Kings to bolster their forces. However, while Fizz could communicate with and call upon Sea Kings, he was not the true Poseidon. Unlike Shirahoshi, Fizz lacked the ability to summon and command the enormous deep-sea overlords, some of which were several kilometers in size.
For most pirates, even the smaller Sea Kings, measuring hundreds of meters, were already a terrifying force. Encountering them in the ocean usually meant certain death.
These smaller Sea Kings, though formidable, were sufficient to blockade the route to Fish-Man Island. They were an incredibly powerful defensive force in the deep sea.
But for Kaido, these creatures—hundreds of meters long—were insignificant. In his dragon form, Kaido himself could rival or surpass their size.
The Sea Kings summoned by Fizz might be able to hold off ordinary pirates, but for Kaido, a member of the Four Emperors, they posed no significant threat.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!"
"Are you ready to welcome the new ruler of Fish-Man Island?"
In the pitch-black depths of the ocean, Kaido swung his massive dragon claw, tearing a Sea King hundreds of meters long in half with a single strike. His fearsome dragon head turned, his greedy eyes fixed on the dazzling beauty of Fish-Man Island ahead.
Controlling the route to Fish-Man Island, even for just a year, would bring him an unimaginable fortune and a flood of conquered pirate crews. His power would grow exponentially.
If Kaido could hold onto the route indefinitely and defeat the other Four Emperors, it was only a matter of time before he ruled the New World and claimed the title of Pirate King.
Whoever controls the Fish-Man Island route holds the key to countless rookie pirates pouring into the New World from the first half of the Grand Line. This steady influx of new talent is essential for maintaining the strength and dominance of any Emperor's crew—even for the smaller Red-Hair Pirates.
Kaido unleashed his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, a force so terrifying that it felt like the sea itself was trembling. His oppressive aura crushed the spirits of countless Fish-Man Island warriors.
Over 100,000 soldiers of the Poseidon Army dropped to the ground, their eyes rolling back as they fainted instantly under the sheer force of his Haki.
Even Minister Zou, frail and elderly, managed to wave his crutch weakly a few times before succumbing, collapsing unconscious alongside the fallen soldiers.
Fizz's summoned Sea Kings, smaller and less formidable, were no match for Kaido's presence either. They sank lifelessly to the ocean floor, overwhelmed by the force of his will.
Despite Nami's efforts to promote fish-man karate and introduce training materials on Marine Six Styles and Haki, the island's soldiers were not yet strong enough.
Against a powerhouse like Kaido, the Four Emperors' might proved that sheer numbers were meaningless.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!" Kaido laughed, his voice booming like thunder.
"You cannot stop me!"
"Even in the deep sea, I am an unstoppable force of nature!"
"Surrender and serve under my command!"
Kaido's manic laughter echoed as he looked down on the fallen Fish-Man Island soldiers. But suddenly, his voice cut off as immense shadows darkened the waters around the island.
Three colossal Sea Kings, each over 5,000 meters long, had arrived, drawn by Shirahoshi's call.
Compared to these towering giants, Kaido's dragon form, though immense at hundreds of meters, appeared no more significant than a speck.
Kaido's wild laughter froze in his throat as the titanic Sea Kings loomed over him. Their sheer presence turned the tides of the battle, and for the first time, the "Strongest Creature in the World" hesitated.