Dimensional Chat Group: Speed-o'-Light

"You want Kaido to be your subordinate?"

The words squeezed through King's clenched teeth. He couldn't believe someone in this world could be so arrogant.

Even Roger and Whitebeard had never entertained such delusions!

"That's one way to put it,"

Boros sipped his drink and curled his lip slightly in disdain.

"Impossible! Stop dreaming! There's no way Boss Kaido would ever become your underling!"

The most hot-tempered of them, Jack, could no longer hold back. Despite still being a prisoner, he roared furiously at Boros.

The All-Stars were all hardcore loyalists, utterly devoted to Kaido's "charisma." Even now, with their lives in Boros' hands, none of them would submit.

Before Boros could respond, a commotion erupted outside the palace. It seemed someone was trying to force their way in.

Tobiroppo tried to stop them, but none dared to actually attack the intruder.

"What's going on out there? Are those samurai trying to stir up trouble?"

Queen jumped at the chance to change the subject. As enraged as he was by Boros' remarks, saving Jack was more urgent right now.

Once Kaido returned, he could deal with this damn one-eyed freak personally—with his kanabo.

Boros wasn't fazed. Recruiting these high-ranking combatants would be ideal, but even if it failed, it was no great loss.

His real target was Kaido. In fact, if it came down to it, killing Kaido would serve just as well as recruiting him.

If it weren't for Kizaru's request, Boros might've preferred the former.

"Lord Queen, Young Master Yamato is trying to break in..."

Black Maria spoke hesitantly. Kneeling on the floor, she was sneakily glancing at Boros from the corner of her eye.

She'd arrived late and hadn't witnessed Boros crush the Beast Pirates' main force firsthand.

But if even the All-Stars had been defeated, Maria—who always knew which way the wind blew—wasn't going to do anything reckless.

"Damn it! Of all times—kick her out, now!"

Queen was furious enough to curse, but Yamato was Kaido's "son"—the kind of person you couldn't hit or scold no matter how much they caused trouble.

And it wasn't just that—every time Kaido faced a crisis, Yamato would jump in to cause even more chaos. It was infuriating!

"Yes, sir!"

Black Maria knew exactly where the problem lay. But before she could deliver Queen's command, Yamato, masked and wielding her kanabo, had already stormed in.

"Where's the guy who wants to take down Kaido?!"

Yamato shouted impatiently, her eyes quickly locking onto the figure seated at the head of the room—Boros.

Of course, it wasn't because she could sense his power, but simply because Boros was the only unfamiliar face in the hall.

"Who's she?"

Boros glanced at Yamato and suddenly regretted killing off that earlier group of small-time pirates. He should've spared the one who could identify others for him—then at least he wouldn't be this clueless.

"Young Master Yamato is Kaido's... Kaido's son."

What surprised Boros was that the woman who'd randomly come over to pour him a drink earlier actually answered for him this time.

He glanced at the woman beside him, then turned his head away disinterestedly.

That previous guy could barely be called a fighter, but this woman didn't even qualify as cannon fodder.

Even if he just wanted an assistant to help introduce people, it couldn't be someone this weak.

"If you want to take down Kaido, I can help you!"

Yamato said excitedly. There had been others in the past who dared challenge Kaido, but most couldn't even get past the Tobirropo, let alone the All-Stars or Kaido himself. Now that someone had beaten all the All-Stars, there was no way Yamato would miss this chance.

"Here we go again…"

Queen groaned and resisted the urge to cover his face. Once Kaido beat this one-eyed freak, he had to suggest locking Yamato up.

They couldn't keep letting him team up with every enemy. This happened every time!

King, who had said little so far, stared coldly at Yamato. Loyal to Kaido to the core, he couldn't tolerate such betrayal.

Still, King knew that Kaido would never allow him to punish Yamato. He had too much hope for his "son."

Otherwise, given how Yamato constantly disrespected him, anyone else would've been dead ten times over.

"Aren't you Kaido's son?"

Boros asked, puzzled by Yamato's behavior.

"I'm Kozuki Oden! I'm destined to defeat Kaido!"

Yamato declared righteously. He refused to acknowledge his other identity—at least not while he still had a shot at beating Kaido.

"…Whatever. Do you know where Kaido is?"

Boros was starting to lose patience. Kizaru hadn't specified a deadline, but Boros wasn't one to waste time on locals.

"I don't, but since you took down Orochi, he'll come to you soon!"

Yamato replied confidently. This had actually been her own plan—to provoke Kaido by stirring trouble. Unfortunately, Queen had stopped her before she could act.

"Is that so…"

Just as Boros finished speaking, deafening thunder suddenly echoed in the sky.

The All-Stars' faces lit up in unison. Komurasaki collapsed in fear onto Boros.

"Kaido's here!"

Yamato gripped her kanabo tightly and looked up anxiously.

The next moment, a violent storm tore the roof from the hall, and a colossal azure dragon hundreds of meters long inhaled deeply over Boros' position.

"Wait! Boss Kaido!"

Queen and King ran for it, dragging a tightly bound Jack along. Even Yamato, who had just pledged to team up with Boros, bolted at top speed from the hall.

Boros calmly stared at the dragon in the sky. For the first time, his usually expressionless face showed satisfaction.

"Heat Breath!"

A scorching wind incinerated the entire hall in an instant. As the flames devoured the last remnants of the structure, Kaido transformed back into human form and landed.

"Boss Kaido!"

"As expected, Kaido of the Beasts is the strongest!"

"That damn one-eyed freak was burned to ashes!"

…

The Beast Pirates swarmed around him excitedly. They'd actually thought that guy was strong—only to see him instantly annihilated by Kaido.

"Big Bro Kaido! Be careful, that guy might still be alive!"

King and Queen returned with Jack in tow. Unlike the naïve Tobiroppo, the All-Stars who had actually faced Boros weren't so easily fooled.

'Bang!'

As soon as the words fell, the wreckage of the great hall suddenly exploded. Boros, shrouded in a protective energy shield, emerged from the ruins with the trembling Kozuki Hiyori in tow.

Even a blast capable of leveling a mountain was no threat at all to Boros.

"...Hic! Who the hell... is this guy?"

Drunk as ever, Kaido suddenly hiccuped. Only then did the surrounding pirates realize that Kaido didn't seem entirely sober.

If it had been any other pirate facing such a terrifying foe while intoxicated, it would've been suicide. But Kaido was notorious for his near-invulnerable body—tough skin, monstrous endurance. Even opponents of equal strength would struggle to inflict real damage.

No matter how drunk he was, a fight could quickly sober him up.

"No idea. All we know is that he came from that massive ship in the sky and that his power is terrifying. His speed and strength are insane. If he's not some unknown special race, then maybe… he's an awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit user…"

King racked his brain for whatever information he could recall about Boros, trying to find anything that might give Kaido an edge.

But even he knew this intel was almost worthless. After all, they hadn't even figured out what Boros's abilities really were.

"Zoan-type? Hey—cyclops over there—interested in joining the Beasts Pirates as one of my underlings?"

To King's disbelief, Kaido didn't even bother listening to his analysis. He simply extended an olive branch and tried to recruit Boros—someone clearly stronger than even the All-Stars.

Queen's expression twitched. What was this, a mutual recruitment party? These two hadn't even really fought yet and were already trying to make the other their subordinate.

If Kaido weren't within arm's reach, Queen would've rolled his eyes and started complaining.

"Beast Kaido? Not bad. If you're willing to submit, I can make you the Supreme Combatant of the Dark Matter Pirate Crew."

It was like Boros hadn't heard a word Kaido said—his voice remained calm and flat.

The entire area fell into stunned silence. From the Beasts Pirates to Kozuki Hiyori behind Boros, everyone looked to Kaido in horror.

Even Yamato, who had been preparing to charge forward with her kanabo, slowed to a cautious halt.

"I'll say it again! Are you joining the Beasts Pirates or not?! I'll even make you the Fourth Calamity!"

Kaido, previously drunk and sluggish, now seemed much more awake. His sharp eyes locked onto Boros, glowing with menace.

Since conquering Wano, it had been a long time since anyone dared to refuse his offer.

"Are you deaf?"

Boros asked plainly. Having a deaf subordinate would be a bit inconvenient, after all.

'BOOM!'

The ground under Kaido's feet exploded as he launched forward like a speeding bullet train.

He could tolerate Yamato's defiance, but not the disrespect of a stranger—especially one who hadn't pledged loyalty yet.

"Thunder Bagua!"

Intent on at least teaching Boros a painful lesson, Kaido didn't hold back in the slightest.

Anyone strong enough to defeat the All-Stars couldn't be weak, so Kaido went all out from the start.

Coated in Conqueror's Haki, his kanabo was enveloped in black lightning as it crashed down with ferocious force. Even among the All-Stars, only the thick-skinned Queen could take a direct hit from this.

'BANG!'

°°°

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