Why imagination?
The answer, Kaido decided as he surveyed the brutal training below, was simple. Imagination is the only truly free power in the world. It was not desire, not some remnant soul of a demon, and certainly not a product of the Lineage Factor. Those were all forms of bound freedom, constrained by biology or ambition.
Imagination, however, could not be chained. It was why Vinsmoke Judge, for all his genetic modifications, found that his "failed" son, Sanji, had become his most successful creation. Judge had tried to engineer away his son's heart, but he couldn't erase his imagination. It was also why the power of Devil Fruits could never be fully measured or replicated by science. Science is built on rules and logic; imagination has none.
That was the key to the most enigmatic fruits: the Mythical Zoans. The power was in the name itself. 'Mythical' meant fantasy. Fantasy was imagination given form. This truth explained how so many users pushed their abilities far beyond any logical limit, creating powers that seemed almost idealistic. How else could Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit repel something as abstract as pain?
Kaido's own Azure Dragon Fruit was a testament to this. It hadn't come with the power to command wind, fire, and lightning, nor the ability to create Flame Clouds. Its most basic gift was fire. The rest were powers he had awakened over decades of battle and development, pulled from legend and made real through sheer force of will.
The so-called Devil Fruit was a power based on imagination. And if his understanding of the ancient text was correct, then Pluton was not merely a weapon. It was the "largest" Devil Fruit to ever exist on the sea.
Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru...
The distinct chirping of a Den Den Mushi cut through his thoughts. Kaido recognized the sound; it was one of Wano's unique communication snails, its signal secure and impossible for the World Government to intercept. He connected the call.
King's solemn voice came through. "Big Brother."
"King," Kaido grunted. "What is it? Is there a problem with the Shogun's inauguration ceremony?"
"No, Big Brother. It's someone from the Big Mom Pirates. They've entered our territory."
"Linlin!?" Kaido was genuinely surprised. "Do you know what this is about?"
"I'm not sure," King replied. "The one who came is her second son, Katakuri. He says he's here on Big Mom's orders to see you."
"Katakuri!?" A flicker of interest crossed Kaido's face. The man was a legend in his own right. "I understand. Let them come."
Wano Country was the headquarters of the Beasts Pirates, but their territory stretched far beyond its shores, a collection of islands ruled with an iron fist. The Flying Six were typically stationed throughout this domain, maintaining order. On the border of this territory lay an island called Dra, the primary gateway into their waters and the personal domain of Page One.
Guarding the island was one of his subordinates, a Bat-Bat Fruit user with a bounty of 160,000,000. While a formidable pirate in his own right, he was nothing compared to the man who now approached his island. Flying nervously in mid-air, the bat-man stared in cold sweat at the demonic figure standing at the bow of a ship bearing a pink skull flag.
His bounty was over a billion Berries. He was the strongest of the Sweet Commanders, the most trusted son of the Emperor Big Mom. Charlotte Katakuri, user of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, had arrived with a bounty of 1,057,000,000.
The pirates on the island watched from the shadows, their nerves frayed. Everyone in the New World knew the unwritten rule: the Emperors do not meet. To avoid catastrophic wars and the inevitable intervention of the World Government, they maintained their own territories and rarely interacted. Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, despite their shared history in the Rocks Pirates, had not seen each other since the God Valley incident decades ago.
For Katakuri to arrive now, as an official emissary, was an unprecedented move that sent ripples of tension through the New World.
The news spread like wildfire, reaching the highest echelons of power in a matter of hours.
In Marineford, the intelligence report landed on Sengoku's desk like a lit bomb. The entire fortress fell into a tense silence.
"What's going on!?" Sengoku roared, his voice echoing through the office. He was already under immense pressure preparing for the war against Whitebeard. "First Whitebeard, now this! Why would Linlin send her top commander to Kaido's doorstep now? Are they planning to join forces? Is Red Hair next!?"
No one had an answer.
"Ooh, how troublesome," Admiral Kizaru said in his usual slow drawl, stepping forward. "Shall I go take a look, Fleet Admiral?"
The offer surprised everyone, but Sengoku, after a moment's thought, shook his head firmly. "No. Our focus remains on Fire Fist Ace. We can't afford any distractions."
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the five men who held the world's highest authority were also discussing the meeting.
"Kaido's recent actions have been... bold," one of the Five Elders said, his voice like dry parchment. "He, Charlotte Linlin, and Whitebeard were all on Rocks's crew. Could they be planning to rekindle old alliances?"
"It's irrelevant," another countered. "Even Rocks couldn't achieve his goal. What can two of his former underlings do? The priority is Fire Fist Ace. That man's bloodline must be completely and utterly eradicated from this world."
"Hmm, I agree. However," a third Elder added, "the matter of Wano opening its borders requires our attention. While it is not the kind of 'opening' we had hoped for, it presents an opportunity. It is time to infiltrate that closed-off nation."
"Doflamingo, then?"
"Yes. I will have CP0 contact him."
As the secret rulers of the world concluded their discussion, the catalyst for their concern stood impassively on the deck of the Queen Mama Chanter. Dressed in black leather, a trident resting on his shoulder, Katakuri stared coldly at the island before him.
Finally, the Bat-Bat Fruit user flew over, trembling slightly as he addressed the legendary commander. "Lord Katakuri... The Governor-General has agreed to see you. Please, follow me..."
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