As Kaido's words echoed throughout the hall, the subordinates sitting behind Queen, Jack, and Black Maria grew tense with anticipation. These fighters knew why they had been granted a seat at such an exclusive banquet—their time had come to step into the light. Kaido, never one for wasting words, looked over the crowd with a sharp, calculating gaze.
"Since your superiors brought you here, it means you've proven yourselves trustworthy enough," Kaido began, his voice booming. One by one, he called out their names, forever changing the hierarchy of the Beasts Pirates.
Hoko: Appointed as the Captain of the Sixth Squad.
Babanuki: Appointed as the Captain of the Seventh Squad.
Scotch: Appointed as the Captain of the Eighth Squad.
Dopon: Appointed as the Captain of the Ninth Squad.
Holdem: Appointed as the Captain of the Tenth Squad.
Silla: Appointed as the Captain of the Eleventh Squad.
Solitaire: Appointed as the Captain of the Twelfth Squad.
"There is one spot remaining," Kaido added, his grin widening. "I'm reserving it for the winner of the grand gladiator match seven days from now. Once that's decided, the thirteen captains of the Oni Squad will be complete". The seven newly appointed captains erupted into cheers, their voices filled with excitement as they shouted, "Long live Lord Kaido!".
Kaido laughed heartily and drained his sake cup alongside his crew. "I'm genuinely happy right now. The Beasts Pirates have never been this powerful. I remember clearly when I first arrived in Wano; I had only King and Queen and barely a thousand men. Look at us now".
"It's all because of your incredible leadership, Big Brother!" Queen chimed in with his usual flair for flattery.
"Worororo! You scoundrel, Queen," Kaido joked. "You've been spending too much time around Caesar and picking up his bad habits". The hall filled with thunderous laughter, the atmosphere more unified than ever before.
The Path to Supremacy
The laughter eventually subsided as Kaido's tone shifted, becoming low and dangerous. "We've been reborn, but this isn't enough. Don't forget our goal. Becoming the overlords of the New World is just the start. The Pirate King, the King of the World—these are the peaks we will conquer. I don't want to reach the top, look back, and see that some of you have fallen behind. Do you understand?".
The weight of his words settled over the banquet like a heavy fog. Queen gave a sinister smirk. "Don't worry, Big Brother. I'll be right there by your side". Ulti and Page One quickly echoed the sentiment, followed by the rest of the crew. Kaido nodded, satisfied with their resolve.
"Good. But spirit alone won't win a war. From today, I'm setting a new rule for the Beasts Pirates," Kaido announced. The captains leaned in, curious and slightly intimidated. "Every Captain of the Oni Squad must master both Armament Haki and Observation Haki. Vice-Captains must master at least one of the two".
He then turned his attention to the rank-and-file elites. "As for the Shinuchi, I've tasked Who's-Who with teaching the Six Styles (Rokushiki) to Jack and Drake. Drake, you're a former Marine—don't hold anything back. To remain a Shinuchi, you must master at least three of the Six Styles. The more you master, the higher your status".
A Month of Hell
The room fell silent as the captains processed the immense pressure. Basil Hawkins spoke up, his voice hesitant. "We have no objections, Lord Kaido, but many of us have never even come into contact with Haki before".
"Worororo! You don't need to worry about that," Kaido replied with a terrifying grin. "You're lucky. For the next month, I will personally guide your Haki training".
The announcement shocked the room. Even Ulti jumped at the chance. "What? Father, I want you to train me too!".
"I won't neglect you either," Kaido assured her. He divided the training into two distinct groups:
The Elite Group: Jack, Enel, Ulti, Who's-Who, Sasaki, and Page One.
The Growth Group: Reiju, Pudding, the thirteen squad captains, Urouge, Baby-5, and Monet.
Baby-5 and Monet looked stunned at being included. "You two showed promise under Doflamingo, but it's not enough for this crew," Kaido said firmly. "Your Devil Fruits have massive potential—don't waste it. You can only protect what you cherish if you are strong".
Baby-5's eyes softened as she looked at Tama. "I understand. I'll work hard to protect Otama!". Monet nodded, realizing that strength would allow her to better serve her Young Master. Kaido then turned to Otama, his gaze full of affection. "You come along too, Otama. Even just watching will help you grow, and it's better than being bored in the palace".
Finally, Kaido addressed Reiju and Pudding. "Your current strength is a bit low for the first group's intensity, so you'll train with the captains for now". Having grown up with tyrannical parents, both girls were touched by Kaido's apparent concern for their well-being.
"You twelve captains have three days to finalize your squads with Jack," Kaido concluded, a sinister smile creeping onto his face. "Be warned: my training is rough. You won't die, but you will know pain. And if you can't master Haki in a month under my guidance... I will be very disappointed".