York returned to the safe zone behind the rocks. Shakky was rocking baby Teach, who was still unconscious.
Suddenly, three massive shadows loomed over them.
"Newgate. Linlin. Kaido." York frowned, feigning confusion. "Why are you here? I thought you were busy fighting Marines."
In his previous life's manga, Big Mom was supposed to arrive at the treasure room and snatch the Azure Dragon Fruit from Ivankov. But York had changed the timeline. The butterfly effect was rippling out.
"Mamamama! York, you're quick!"
Charlotte Linlin ignored the question. She eyed the burlap sack in York's hand greedily.
"Is that the loot? And is that little brat Rocks' child?"
Whitebeard glanced at Teach with curiosity, but his focus quickly returned to York. "We heard Rocks scream. We came to check. But since you're here with a bag full of treasure..."
Kaido didn't beat around the bush. He stepped forward, his kanabo resting on his shoulder.
"York! You got the Devil Fruits, didn't you? Give me one."
The tension spiked.
All three future Emperors wanted the fruits. They knew York had raided the central plaza.
York scanned them. They weren't attacking yet—camaraderie and wariness held them back. But that wouldn't last forever.
York smiled.
"As a transmigrator without a system," he thought, "making friends is survival rule number one."
He hefted the sack.
"I can give you the fruits! But they aren't free gifts!"
York reached into the sack. He pulled out a large, cyan fruit covered in scales.
"Kaido!"
York tossed the fruit.
"Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Type, Model: Azure Dragon! A top-tier Mythical Zoan!"
Kaido caught it, his eyes widening. This was the power he craved. The power to be the strongest creature.
"If you want it," York said, his voice hard, "you join my crew when this is over."
Kaido froze. He remembered York's invitation from Hachinosu. York wanted to change the world, just like Rocks, but with a different method.
Kaido grinned, baring his teeth.
"No problem!"
"But if you turn out to be weak, or if you lose your way... I'll crush you myself!"
York smirked. "Just you wait. I'll do better than Rocks ever did."
Kaido didn't hesitate. He shoved the fruit into his mouth and swallowed it whole.
GULP.
"WORORORORO!!"
BOOM!
Kaido's body exploded in size. Blue scales erupted from his skin. Horns sprouted from his head. He elongated, twisting into the sky.
A massive Azure Dragon hovered over God Valley.
"BLAST BREATH!"
Kaido opened his maw. A beam of superheated fire shot across the island, aiming for the battlefield where Rocks was fighting.
The Possessed Woman (Imu's Avatar) sidestepped effortlessly. The beam slammed into a mountain, vaporizing a hundred meters of rock.
"Not bad!" York called out. "But you're just getting started!"
Kaido shrank back down to his human form (Hybrid), though horns and a tail remained. He walked over and stood behind York.
From this moment on, the strongest creature was York's right hand.
Whitebeard and Linlin watched with envy. A Mythical Zoan, given away just like that.
"A condition!" Whitebeard said quickly. "I'm not joining your crew, York. If Rocks falls, I'm sailing on my own."
"Me too!" Linlin chimed in. "I'm building my own kingdom!"
York laughed. "Don't worry! I only need Kaido!"
He reached into the sack again.
"But if you take these... you owe me a favor. A big one."
He pulled out a purple, multi-headed fruit.
"Newgate!"
TOSS.
"Snake-Snake Fruit, Mythical Type, Model: Yamata no Orochi!"
"If you're forming a crew, this fruit is perfect for a subordinate. It grants eight lives."
Whitebeard caught it. He nodded solemnly. "Thanks, York. I owe you one."
York reached in a third time. He pulled out a jagged, black fruit that radiated menace.
"Linlin!"
"This is for your second son, right? Katakuri?"
York knew Katakuri was ten years old. He had just awakened his Haki to protect his sister Brulee.
"Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Type, Model: Cerberus! The Hellhound. Three heads, three souls. It suits a protector perfectly."
Linlin caught it, drooling slightly. "Mamamama! You know my family well!"
She looked at the still-bulging sack.
"That bag is still full, York. What else do you have in there?"
Her eyes narrowed greedily.
"SO WHAT?!"
CRACK!
York roared. Conqueror's Haki blasted out, colliding with Linlin's aura. Black-red lightning split the ground between them.
"I snatched these with my own hands! If you want them... DRAW YOUR SWORD AND TAKE THEM!"
Linlin froze. The playful atmosphere vanished. York was looking at her not as a crewmate, but as a rival Emperor.
"Mamamama..." Linlin backed down, clutching the Cerberus fruit. "Relax. One is enough. Katakuri will be pleased."
York sneered, lowering his Haki.
"Remember, Linlin. You owe me."
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