Year 1501 of the Sea Calendar
Wano Country
The wind howled through the snow-covered land, making everything sparkle under a blanket of white. The northern region of Wano Country was always a snowy landscape, with its biting cold winds adding to the harsh beauty of the scene.
In the midst of this frigid environment, a group of people trudged forward, their laughter ringing out despite the chill.
"Hee-hee-hee!"
Leading the group was an unusually tall man, towering over six meters. His muscular build exuded a sense of overwhelming power, a mere glance at him was enough to make anyone feel an immense pressure.
In one hand, the man wielded a massive pair of scissors, while the other hand held a dried corpse, likely buried for years in the frozen earth. The cold climate had preserved the body, leaving it only partially decomposed.
"The legendary Sword God of Wano Country, the dragon-slaying samurai who once protected this land," the man chuckled triumphantly. "Next, all we need to do is find the shadow of a powerful samurai in this warrior's land, and our combat force will be unstoppable!"
"Hahaha! Captain, with that, we'll be able to storm Onigashima and take down that guy Kaido!" one of his subordinates exclaimed excitedly.
"Isn't that obvious?" The man raised his large scissors and declared boldly against the howling wind, "But until then, let Kaido enjoy his last few days!"
"Hahaha!"
Their boisterous laughter drowned out the mournful wail of the wind, bringing a bizarre touch of cheer to the icy, snowy land.
"Should I really let you have a few more days?"
A wild voice echoed from above.
"What?" The man looked up in shock, only to see a monstrous figure emerging from the dark clouds above.
It was a dragon!
A colossal green dragon, hundreds of meters long, coiled within the dark clouds, its enormous head alone was intimidating beyond measure.
"Kaido!"
The man's forehead instantly broke out in cold sweat, which quickly froze into ice in the frigid air.
A moment ago, he was being talked about behind his back, but the man himself suddenly appeared!
"You're not hard to find, Moria."
A massive green dragon gradually emerged from the dark clouds, coiling above the sky and glaring down at the people below. "I got tired of waiting on Onigashima."
"You knew we landed in Wano Country?"
The man known as Moonlight Moria of the West Blue was taken aback.
"Whose territory do you think this is?"
The roar of the Azure Dragon was like thunder, and the suppressed shockwave of its presence made some of Moria's subordinates stumble. "But you didn't disappoint me too much. I thought you'd run off after playing thief."
"I don't need your approval!"
Moria suddenly grinned. He glanced back at his slightly panicked subordinates and declared loudly, "This caught us off guard, but maybe that's a good thing!"
"This guy came alone!"
At least, Moria's Observation Haki didn't detect anyone else nearby aside from Kaido.
This arrogant monster had come alone.
"In that case!"
Moria raised his scissors and pointed them at Kaido in the sky. "This will be the site of our decisive battle!"
"Yeah!!"
His comrades immediately echoed him.
"Let's show this guy who looks down on us the strength of the Moria Pirates!"
"That's right! Just follow the captain! We're unstoppable!"
"That's our bond!!"
The Moria Pirates were brimming with fighting spirit!
"Hmph."
In the sky, the massive body of the green dragon twisted among the clouds, and Kaido laughed heartily. "A bond? Are you trying to make me laugh?"
"People like you just don't get it, Kaido."
Moria smiled. "You can't accomplish anything alone. The power of comrades is the greatest force in this world!"
Kaido's grin didn't waver as he continued to speak condescendingly, "So, even if I told you right now that if you joined me willingly, I'd spare your life, you wouldn't agree, would you?"
"We're going to defeat you here, Kaido!"
Moria laughed confidently, declaring, "I'm the one who will become the King of the Pirates!"
Kaido chuckled deeply, his laughter causing the snow on the ground to tremble.
Meanwhile, below, the Moria Pirates were already fully engaged in battle.
Shadows swirled ominously at Moria's feet, ready for action.
But then, Kaido's smile turned wicked. "You think I came alone? You're mistaken."
"Hey! Ian!" Kaido suddenly called out. "Take care of them for me."
"Huh? Me?"
Moria looked on in surprise as a small figure emerged from behind Kaido's mane. It was a tiny boy, no more than four or five years old.
With rosy cheeks, black hair, and innocent black eyes, the boy looked almost angelic, his face still carrying a bit of baby fat. He was undeniably cute.
Is he Kaido's son? Moria wondered. But why would Kaido bring a child to a battlefield?
The boy seemed conflicted. "You want me to fight Moria? Are you serious?"
Kaido snorted and, without a second thought, shook his head, flinging the boy off his mane. The child plummeted straight towards Moria and his crew.
"Mr. Kaido! I can't do it!" Ian screamed in terror.
This Moria wasn't the defeated, broken man of twenty years later—he was still a fierce and formidable pirate!
Moria's fury erupted. "Kaido! Are you mocking me? Sending a mere child to fight me—what is this supposed to mean?"
"Mocking you?" Kaido's deep laugh rumbled from his throat. "Ian, what are you hesitating for? It's either you kill them, or they kill you. That's what war is."
The fallen child, Ian, scratched the back of his head.
"I can't help you, Mr. Kaido."
In the next moment, an incredibly brilliant golden light erupted from his body.
Beneath the heavy dark clouds, this area, once dim and obscured, was instantly illuminated by this golden radiance, as if a new sun had appeared in the sky.
"What!"
Moria squinted against the dazzling light and caught a vague glimpse of a massive figure emerging within it.
Wow!
The light exploded, scattering countless points like stars, falling in a shower that enveloped the entire world with a sense of the divine.
And at the heart of this luminous rain, the golden figure spread its wings.
It resembled a four-legged bird, yet also a soaring dragon!
Its entire body seemed to be crafted from gold, save for a blue gemstone embedded in its forehead. The gem conveyed an inanimate, mechanical aura, but it only served to enhance the creature's majesty, magnificence, and nobility.
Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?
The thought flickered through Moria's mind.
With a wingspan exceeding twenty meters, such a colossal size!
And it's just a young kid who has transformed into this!
The Golden Wyvern gazed down at the Moria Pirates and then, opened its mouth.
"Blaze Cannon!"