Chapter 132: Beasts Pirates Reinforcement Plan 2

About six months had passed since the Summit War—and people had slowly begun to adapt to the change.

“Another major incident today… Eustass ‘Captain’ Kid…!!”

“Apparently, he sank three of the ‘Jester of a Billion’s’ battleships and took over one of his territories…!!”

“With things like this happening every day, you start going numb… Yesterday it was Hawkins… before that, Law…!!”

“Even the Supernovas under the Yonko are stirring up incident after incident…!!”

“They say the ‘New Government’ is starting to move in full force with the new trio of Admirals taking the lead… At this rate, maybe even this island—”

“Don’t be stupid!! You think we can rely on the government anymore!? You’re better off siding with the pirates if you want any hope of staying safe!!”

“There’s no one left to protect us but ourselves… I’m heading out to sea!! If we stay here, my whole family’s going to starve!!”

“Don’t be ridiculous…!!”

So many changes had shaken the world… With order shattered, it had become an age where pirates reigned. Every day was filled with bloodshed and turmoil.

The newspaper was a constant stream of violent incidents from across the world, nearly all of them bringing fear—and evoking the specter of death.

In times like these, even those who’d lived in peace were forced to resort to violence. To protect themselves and those they held dear, they stained their hands with blood. They turned to shady businesses. They stepped over others to claim their own survival.

That’s how the world works now. The law of the jungle. Survival of the fittest. The strong take everything.

“…So, where the hell is this place?”

—In the midst of it all… just how far have I managed to climb?

“Hell if I know… I should be asking you that. —Hey, brat. Got any clue?”

“Haa!? Who’re you calling a brat!!? Like I’d know, dumbass!!!”

“She’s changed her sentence ending again since the last time we met…!? Another one of your weird trends, sis…!!”

“Pey-tan, do you know anything?”

“No clue. And stop calling me Pey-tan.”

One girl questions herself.

Back in that war that revealed the world’s summit, she saw just how terrifying the hell she was destined to challenge truly was.

“…Looks like there’s no one else around, and I don’t see a ship either.”

“Could this be a trap!?”

“If it is, it’s real odd we’re still in one piece.”

“Not a scratch on any of us either. If some group was behind this, they’re awfully soft.”

Whitebeard. Marine Headquarters. The Yonko. The Revolutionary Army. She’d caught a glimpse of battles fought at the very top.

And though she’d entered the fray herself and even clashed with familiar foes… she failed to defeat them. She couldn’t take down anyone above her.

“Yeah… More importantly, what do we do with this one?”

“Haa? …Tch, still out cold…?”

—This won’t do.

If I want to fulfill my long-cherished ambition, I can’t be satisfied with this level of strength.

Stronger, stronger… I must become stronger.

If I’m to sink my fangs even a little into the summit—

“—Hey, brat!! Get up already!!!”

“!! —Koff!! Koff!! Ngh…!!”

—And with that, I awaken from the impact.

Pain in my abdomen. A blow. Someone hit me in the stomach. I immediately stood up, blinking against the glare as I brought my senses into focus—and spotted five others around me. Including the one who’d hit me. All familiar faces.

“…Why are all of you here…?”

“Finally awake.”

“Took you long enough, Komurasaki-chan♡”

“For someone like Komurasaki, waking up so late is pretty lame, de gozansu.”

“Isn’t it weird for someone as tough as you to be the last up?”

“Making me waste my time… What a burden…!!”

“…I don’t quite understand, but… I apologize.”

Awake now, I was greeted by the five of them—my fellow Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates. The brightness came from a clear sky, and the heat came from a beach—clearly a summer island. I apologized because, presumably… I was the last to wake. Out of the six of us. With my awakening, the strongest six headliners of the Beasts Pirates—the Tobi Roppo—were finally all present.

“Komurasaki, Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates – Bounty: 529,100,000 berries”

“…First things first… where are we?”

“Page One, Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates – Bounty: 660,000,000 berries”

“You’re starting with that…? We’re trying to figure that out right now.”

“Ulti, Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates – Bounty: 699,000,000 berries”

“Sand and ocean as far as the eye can see… Looks like a summer island, de gozansu!!”

“Black Maria, Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates – Bounty: 712,000,000 berries”

“Still… it doesn’t seem like a normal summer island…”

“Sasaki, Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates – Bounty: 744,000,000 berries”

“Don’t see any subordinates either. Could be an uninhabited island.”

“Who’s Who, Tobi Roppo of the Beasts Pirates – Bounty: 828,000,000 berries”

“Never heard of an island like this in our territory… but if we’re here, odds are it’s part of our turf.”

Each of the six scanned the island, sharing their impressions. Everyone felt something off about the place.

All we could figure was that this was probably a summer island in the New World and likely part of our territory. It didn’t feel like enemy action—especially since everyone remembered what came before.

“…So this is that person’s doing after all…?”

“Goes without saying… If I remember right, before waking up here, we were all summoned to the VIP room at Gran Tesoro…”

“Ah!! That’s right, we were called for some big announcement, de gozansu!!”

“Well, if it’s that person, then this whole situation makes sense.”

"Ah... and... no, I mean, should we even mention that...?"

"………"

The six of them all glanced toward the beach, thinking of the same person. Before waking up, they had been with that very individual. If anyone were to pull off something this outrageous, it would be them. No doubt about it.

Above all else... the pier on the beach and the cottage built over the water stood as undeniable proof. The six looked at it with unreadable expressions. A sign adorned the building—on it, a chibi-style mascot drawing of that person. Upon seeing it, all of them thought the same thing.

"♡ Nue-chan’s Seaside Shack ♡"

(It’s definitely them──!!)

Who's Who, Sasaki, Page One, and Komurasaki all began sweating, unsure whether to even bring it up. Black Maria remained composed. Ulti, meanwhile, had stars in her eyes as she stared at the place. And before anyone else could act, it was Ulti who made the first move.

"Of course we’re going there!! I can hear the Voice, too!! Nue-sama～～～～♡"

"Ah!! Hey, wait up, Sis!!!"

"My, my... Ulti-chan has no self-control, does she?"

"The kids just ran off without a second thought... so what do we do?"

"...Well, I guess it means we’re supposed to come too. The Voice is coming from that house."

"Then let’s go.──Hey, Komurasaki. You better keep up."

"...You didn’t need to tell me."

Komurasaki watched Ulti, already ahead, with Page One chasing after her. She also glanced at Black Maria, now following at a more relaxed pace. Then, at the command of Who's Who and Sasaki, who had stayed back to assess the situation, she began to move. It wasn’t like she was obligated to obey, but realistically, nothing would start unless she came along. They all understood that much.

And so, the Tobi Roppo stepped into the cottage... and just as expected, there stood the one they'd all imagined—dressed in a black swimsuit.

"Welcooome♡ Welcome to Nue-chan’s Seaside Shack～～～!!!"

"Kyah──♡ I knew it was Nue-sama～～♡ And a swimsuit with an apron!! So cute!!"

"...What the hell are you doing, Nue-san?"

Ulti let out a high-pitched squeal, while Page One voiced what they were all thinking. There was no need to say it aloud. Standing before them was one of the two people to whom the Tobi Roppo had pledged allegiance. The Vice-Governor of the Beasts Pirates──Fūjū Nue.

One of the top two who command the world’s strongest military force. A fearsome creature on par with the strongest beast. And yet no one questioned why she was doing something like this. Nue was known for her eccentric antics. This was par for the course.

Still, they did want to know what she was doing. Following Page One’s comment, Who's Who and the others began to voice their own questions.

"...Also... where exactly are we?"

"Your outrageous behavior is nothing new, but... what’s the reason this time?"

"Now, now!! We’ll get to that part later, so for now, sit down, sit down!!──Yes, a party of six, right this way♡"

But Nue didn’t budge from her usual rhythm. Wearing a swimsuit and apron, she guided all six Tobi Roppo members to a nearby table as if she were a waitress, then whipped out a menu and a notepad with a pen from who-knows-where.

"Alright!! Let’s get your orders!! It’s hot out, and I bet you’re all hungry!! We’ve got drinks, booze, a full food menu!! Yakisoba, shaved ice—classic seaside shack fare!!"

"I’ll have the assorted twisted potatoes and nachos!! And for drinks, I’ll take whatever Nue-sama recommends!!"

"Why are you ordering for me too…? Whatever, I don’t care."

"Then I’ll take Mitarashi dango and... shiratama zenzai, please♡"

"Ahh… asparagus and bacon peperoncino. White wine."

"Crab paella and red wine."

("...Everyone’s just ordering normally...") "...Zaru soba for me..."

"Okayyy!! One moment, please～～～♡──Order’s in!!"

After taking their orders, Nue cheerfully skipped off to what looked like the kitchen area. Komurasaki quietly marveled at how easily the rest of the Tobi Roppo skimmed the menu and placed their orders like it was just another day. Even she, inwardly, had to admit she’d grown used to Nue’s antics. So they all played along—and even picked their favorite dishes. Komurasaki was no exception.

"Still, this is a lovely place... is it Nue-sama’s private villa or something?"

"Hehe, nice, right? It’s both a villa and a seaside shack!!"

"I didn’t know there was an island like this in our territory."

"Well, of course you didn’t!! I only found it recently and claimed it as part of our turf!! It’s one of my favorites!!"

"I see... that explains it..."

While waiting for their food, the Tobi Roppo continued to question Nue. And for now, her answers made sense. It was within their territory, they figured—but none of them remembered this island. That had been bothering them. But if it had only recently been added, that would explain it. Who's Who and Sasaki nodded, and the others felt similarly. Given Nue’s tastes, it also made sense.

After spending enough time in the Beasts Pirates, they’d come to understand what Kaido and Nue preferred. Simply put, Kaido leaned toward winter islands, while Nue favored summer ones. Their preferences were somewhat opposite. Though Nue was fickle and her likes could shift depending on mood, generally, she gravitated toward warm, lively places. Still, questions remained—and Ulti voiced one.

"But for a place in our territory, there sure aren’t any subordinates or crew around."

"Ah, well... If they’re not strong enough, they might get taken out. And if the island’s not dangerous enough, it wouldn’t be worth making it part of our turf. This is an uninhabited island, after all."

"...Then most of the 'voices' we’re hearing from the island are animals, huh..."

"That’s right. The creatures here are a little... special♡ Actually, the whole island’s special. It’s perfect for a certain thing we’re going to do."

"Special…?"

"A certain thing…?"

Again, their curiosity deepened. Everyone could hear the voices from the island. Those among the Tobi Roppo capable of using Observation Haki had already guessed—the presences were mostly animals. But now, with Nue calling the island “special” and saying it was ideal for something, their intrigue only grew.

Then someone more perceptive caught on. Who's Who raised one arm slightly and said:

"...So whatever we’re supposed to do here—that’s the reason you called us?"

"Exactly☆"

"What is it you want us to do?"

"That is... ehehe～♡ Should I tell you now～? Maybe I’ll make you wait a liiittle longer～?"

"Ugh, you’re such a pain!! Just spit it out already!!"

"Hey!!!"

As Nue grinned mischievously, covering her mouth with her hand, Ulti snapped at her with her usual bluntness. Page One immediately tried to stop her. This was nothing new. Ulti’s outbursts always made the others uneasy, especially Page One, her younger brother. But Nue didn’t change her expression or get angry. It wasn’t like Ulti had crossed any major line. Her personality, strength, and loyalty were all well known—Nue wouldn’t get upset over something like that. Even Kaido wouldn’t.

"Well, sorry for teasing you, but it’s not like we’re in a rush. Let’s take it slow and chat over a meal. The food should be coming out soon, anyway♪"

"...Wait, come to think of it—who’s even cooking?"

"—It was me...!!"

"!?"

The Flying Six were startled by the voice. It came from the kitchen—right after Nue had just spoken, and Page One had casually wondered aloud who had prepared the food. At that very moment, dishes were being brought out by the UFO under Nue’s control. Following behind them was a man they all recognized: a towering figure with flames on his back and dark wings—one of the All-Stars.

"Beasts Pirates All-Star 'King the Wildfire'—Bounty: 1.39 billion berries."

"Took a bit of effort, but it's finally done... This good enough for you, Nue-san?"

"Yep! Thanks a bunch, King!!"

"King…!! So it really was your cooking…!!"

From the kitchen emerged one of the Beasts Pirates' top brass—King, reputed to be the foremost among the four All-Stars. Seeing him, the competitive sparks flew immediately in Who’s-Who and Sasaki, both members of the Flying Six. They’d already found it strange that no underlings were in sight, but this explained it: King, though publicly a top fighter, was known in their crew as a secret chef. That he had cooked wasn’t exactly shocking.

But it was usually only for Kaido or Nue, so they were understandably surprised to see him preparing food for them. King snorted at their reactions.

"Hmph… I only made this because Nue-san asked. Normally, I wouldn’t waste my time cooking for you lot. So be grateful I bothered."

"Tch… What a loudmouth. Who do you think supplies the ingredients for all that food you make for Kaido-san and Nue-san? You should be thanking us."

"Exactly. We’re the ones who get you the best booze every year."

"Wait, then this food's made from our vegetables!?"

"Nah, doesn’t look like it, sis… Probably stuff from this island."

"Now that you mention it… I’ve never seen this kind of wood before either."

"…………Actually, I’ve been feeling something was off. Even the sand on the beach seems strange…"

That exchange between King and the two former pirate captains set off a realization: the ingredients and materials came from this island. Even Komurasaki had felt something odd about the local minerals. Maybe it was her bloodline as a stonemason, but she had some knowledge of mining—though not nearly as tainted as the other Flying Six.

Still, her instinct had been right. As Nue popped a bite into her mouth, she smiled with delight.

"Oooh, sharp eyes as always!! That’s right! The food, the houses, everything here came from this island!!"

"Of course. The meat’s tougher than what our beasts usually provide… Local produce is a bit firm."

"Chewy, but tasty for sure."

(They're already eating it…)

Under her helmet, Komurasaki made a strained face. Just seconds ago, they’d been hurling complaints at King—yet here they were, happily stuffing their faces. No one even tried to hide it. King said nothing either. This had always been the case: everyone had a weird artisan streak. Komurasaki always felt left out. —A deep, gnawing helplessness at standing shoulder to shoulder with people like these. An unresolved frustration toward her own inability to break free from the group. She quietly bit back her feelings.

Meanwhile, the conversation pressed on. Everyone else's attention had already moved on to the next topic.

"By the way, Nue-san. While I’ve got the chance—recently that brat 'Hawkins' started a ruckus in our territorial waters. One of our Headliners got taken out… and a ship was sunk."

"Ahhh, yeah. That’s been happening a lot lately. Pirates from the 'Worst Generation'... Kid went wild the other day. Before that it was Urouge. Linlin’s boy Bege is doing well too. Even our three are making the papers a lot… Especially Drake—he completed that mission I gave him just the other day."

"The one you mentioned earlier…? You mean wiping out the rebel remnants on 'New Onigashima'?"

"That’s the one!! He did great!! Killed the samurai, razed the village, and even brought me a cute girl and her family as souvenirs ♡"

Who’s-Who was giving a damage report, but Nue casually changed the topic, still in a chipper mood, to the recent buzz surrounding the "Worst Generation." Half a year ago—right before the "Summit War"—they were eleven rookie pirates with bounties over 100 million berries. Now, they were famous under that collective name. Morgan had coined it, calling them wild rookies who were shaking up the world for better or worse.

But for the Beasts Pirates, they weren’t entirely unwelcome. Three of those captains had joined their ranks, taking on missions and proving useful. Naturally, Nue was pleased. And while the Flying Six didn’t exactly object, they couldn’t help but view these rising stars as future rivals. They weren’t threats yet, but their growth was concerning. If nothing else, their cocky attitudes needed adjusting. The Worst Generation was full of unruly types—just like Who’s-Who and Sasaki.

"Oh, but 'Kyoshiro' apparently failed. Shutenmaru managed to escape."

"! …I see."

Among the new recruits after the war were also samurai and ninja from Wano, formerly under Orochi’s regime—groups like the Patrol Corps and the Oniwabanshu. Some had become "Warriors" in the Beasts Pirates; others joined the "Marys."

Kyoshiro was one of Orochi’s most powerful vassals. Known for loyalty, skill, and leadership, he’d failed. That caught the attention of Sasaki—Kyoshiro’s longtime friend. He’d even recommended him for the job, so he felt mildly embarrassed. More than that, though, he was shaken by the implication: Shutenmaru was skilled enough to elude Kyoshiro.

…Although anyone who knew Kyoshiro’s true identity wouldn’t be surprised. Komurasaki gave a derisive snort at the report and Sasaki’s faintly disappointed reaction.

"A man who’s only good at sucking up to his lord—no wonder he failed. …Though I hear someone here is quite friendly with that useless man."

"Hah? You little—Komurasaki, you sayin’ that to me?"

"I only meant to insult Kyoshiro. But the fact that you took offense says a lot about how highly you think of him…"

"Tch… Mouthy little brat…!! You should be more worried about your demotion. Don’t go sticking your nose in other people’s business."

"Ooh! A fight? Go for it, go for it!! No one’s gonna get in the way now!!"

"Nue-san, don’t instigate them."

Komurasaki and Sasaki locked eyes over the table, her sharp tongue and his pride in his friend setting the mood ablaze. Nue, delighted, egged them on. King, stone-faced, told her to stop. Not that he cared about infighting among the Flying Six. Honestly, he wouldn’t mind joining in if it meant getting rid of Komurasaki. But right now, he had to intervene—because the timing was too delicate. They had other things planned. King stepped in to explain.

"If you’re gonna kill each other, do it at the 'Beast Cup' during the 'Golden Kagura' half a year from now. It’s fine to go a little overboard there. You all know this, but the 'New Government,' the 'Red-Haired,' and 'Clown of a Thousand Gold' alliance have all been building their forces. We just lost a batch of new recruits recently. We can’t afford to lose any more manpower…!!"

"…Yeah, I know. Don’t need you reminding me."

"…………Of course."

King was deeply troubled by the recent shifts. The "New Government"—an evolution of the Revolutionary Army combined with Navy remnants—had appointed a new set of "Three Admirals" and declared all-out war on pirate tyranny. They’d even called out the Beasts and Big Mom Pirates by name.

To make matters worse, the Red-Haired Pirates had strengthened their alliance with the Buggy Pirates, who’d risen to fame in the war. Red-Hair’s elite crew now had Buggy’s numbers and scientific tech.

Even if the Beasts and Big Mom Pirates had superior strength overall, it was risky to rush into war without a plan. Minor skirmishes had already taken their toll. King, responsible for managing the Beasts Pirates, understood this and insisted any internal strife be settled later—at the Golden Kagura, where Kaido and Nue had both approved an event.

The "Beast Cup"—where members fought for promotions and challenge rights. It wasn’t just a show for the lower ranks. Even King, as an All-Star, wasn’t safe. Who’s-Who grinned and spoke up in place of the now-silent Komurasaki and Sasaki.

"—So that means it’s fine if you or Queen get taken down during that event?"

"Yeah—if you think you can manage it."

Even with that provocation, King didn’t flinch.

The Flying Six and the Headliners made no secret of their ambitions. Who’s-Who was at the top of that list. But King wasn’t rattled. If they challenged him, he’d crush them. He knew their strength—and knew he was stronger. His confidence showed in every word and movement.

But the Flying Six weren’t the kind to back off. They knew the All-Stars weren’t easy targets—but also knew their own fangs were sharp. They weren’t chasing ghosts.

That mindset—shared by the All-Stars, the Flying Six, and nearly everyone in the Beasts Pirates—was rooted in one simple truth. There were only two people in the world truly beyond reach. Truly impossible to kill.

"Yep yep!! Love the energy!! —Which brings me to the reason I gathered all you 'Flying Six' here on this island~~~!!!"

"!"

One of the two—known as the most fearsome beast—let out a cheerful shout, a bright smile on their face that didn’t suit their reputation at all. Yet it was precisely that incongruous appearance that instilled fear. The enigmatic great pirate had finally revealed to the Tobi Roppo why they had been summoned to this island. That reason was—

"A present from me to the six of you!! From this moment on—on this island!!! You’ll be living a survival life combined with training!!!"

"!!?"

Nue exclaimed with the same high tension they usually showed during events, and the Tobi Roppo were shocked.

Training and survival. The latter made sense if the island was uninhabited, and whether it was necessary or not, they could at least understand the idea. But the former was more puzzling. As Ulti reeled from the announcement, Page One voiced the question that had crossed all their minds.

"Training, you say!?"

"Training, huh… I don’t mind that, but Nue-san. Why this island...? Wouldn’t New Onigashima be just as good!?"

"Nah, this place seemed more intere—uh, I mean efficient!! You know what they say—seeing is believing. So take a look at this!!"

"! That’s… a rock?"

Kozuki muttered as she looked at the fist-sized rock that Nue had produced from who-knows-where. To the eye, it looked like an ordinary stone.

But Nue casually tossed it to Ulti and, as if to prove how perfect it was for training, gave her a command.

"Ulti-chan, try breaking that rock."

"Leave it to me!! Hmph!!!"

Ulti put her strength into her slender arm. Though she appeared to be a young girl, no one mistook her for an ordinary brat. She was one of the strongest six—one of the Tobi Roppo. Having eaten a Zoan-type Ancient Beast Devil Fruit, Ulti's strength could easily crush a rock like that as if it were tofu. Everyone here could do the same. That much was obvious.

So all six of them assumed it would be an easy task. They wondered what the point was. But—

"…Hey, what’s wrong, Sis?"

"Huh!? That’s weird… Hmph…!!! Nnnnnnggggghhh!!!"

"…Don’t tell me you can’t break it…!?"

"Hah… Hah… Damn it!! This is pissing me off~~~!!! I’m gonna smash this stupid rock to bits!!! ‘Ul-Headbutt’—"

"Wait, wait, you idiot sis!! You’ll wreck the building!!"

"But Pe-tan!! This rock is acting way too cocky for just being a rock!!!"

"…Hey, hand it over for a sec."

She couldn’t break it. Couldn’t crush it. Even as Ulti poured her strength into it, it didn’t give. She was clearly shocked.

Frustrated, Ulti tried to use a Haki-infused headbutt, but before she could, her little brother Page One stopped her. As Ulti grumbled in protest, Who’s-Who stepped forward and held out his hand for the stone. Ulti reluctantly handed it over and muttered bitterly.

"It’s not gonna break anyway!! Go on and fail!!"

"Shut it, brat. —Nue-san. Mind if I draw my sword?"

"Go right ahead♡"

"Then I’ll give it a slice…!!!"

"!!"

This time, with Nue’s permission, Who’s-Who drew his sword. He was a swordsman. Naturally, he could cut through not just stone, but even iron with ease. Especially when using Haki.

"!!? It won’t cut…!?"

"! Whoa, whoa… You serious…!?"

"……!!"

Even Who’s-Who’s sword couldn’t fully slice through the rock.

His blade stopped just short of the stone’s center. It had cut, yes—but not enough to call it a clean slice. Not as a swordsman.

But more than that, it was unnatural. A Haki-infused blade should be able to cut through stone. And someone of Who’s-Who’s caliber should have no problem doing so. All six of them were dumbfounded by the impossible result.

There had to be something special about this stone. Just as that thought crossed their minds, Nue giggled mischievously like a prankster whose trick had just succeeded.

"Ahahaha!! Surprised? Everything on this island is ridiculously tough!!!"

"The stones on this island…? Nue-san, does that mean…"

"Well, it’s not like they can’t be broken. —Like this, for example!!!"

"!!?"

The six of them still hadn’t fully grasped what was going on, so Nue picked up the stone and demonstrated. She curled her middle finger, hooked it against her thumb, and took a moment to build tension—then flicked the stone with her finger. A simple childish motion that anyone in the world would recognize as a playful gesture.

But when Nue did it—it had enough force to kill. No longer something done in play.

"A… finger flick…!?"

"Well, I mean, if it’s me, I could’ve shattered it even without doing this… but I went easy this time. …Though I did use Haki♡"

Nue held out the pulverized remnants of the stone and explained. She claimed not to have used much power, and it might even be true. There had been no shockwave. Just a simple flick—yet it broke the stone.

It was still far beyond the reach of an ordinary human’s strength. But if she could do it that easily, there was no way the Tobi Roppo shouldn’t be able to.

Having made her point, Nue continued, now with a light layer of high-level Haki coating her hand.

"In short—I want you all to evolve your Armament Haki to the next level♡"

"……!! That’s…"

"Yeah, those who know will know. Master Armament Haki properly… and you can channel the unnecessary flow of Haki in your body to a specific point—turning it into an armor that repels and pierces through anything."

Nue demonstrated and explained this high-level technique, used by only a handful of the world's elite.

Who’s-Who, and perhaps even Kozuki, had heard of it. There were samurai in the now-destroyed Wano Country, which they once conquered, who specialized in that art. But they had never mastered it themselves. Nue had.

That much, they could believe of her. And now, she explained her philosophy behind the training while casually picking up food with the same fingers and eating, proud as could be.

"You know, this technique’s pretty strong. If someone really masters it, even I or Kaido can take damage from it… And I got to thinking… Back in the day, ‘Roger,’ ‘Whitebeard’… even ‘Oden’—all the strong ones had insanely powerful Haki."

Nue reminisced. Pirate King Roger. His rival Whitebeard. And Oden, the samurai of Wano who sailed with them both. She didn’t name them, but she also meant her former captain Rocks, and Garp from the navy. All monsters in human form—made so by their Haki. Different from herself, Kaido, and Big Mom. Warriors whose mastery of their craft made them legends.

Nowadays she could use it too, but back then, she couldn’t even understand their strength. They had been stronger than even her—despite her near-immortal body. And that hadn’t changed.

"Take ‘Red-Hair,’ for example. Physically, he’s nowhere near as tough as me or Kaido—but he still fights us on equal footing…!! The reason why is obvious—it’s Haki…!!!"

Now Nue turned to recent events. The Red-Hair Pirates, led by Shanks, were a small but elite group of top-tier Haki users.

During the Paramount War, despite their side’s advantage, they had been outmaneuvered by Red-Hair. The Revolutionary Army, led by Dragon, had also proven a nuisance. Reflecting on why they failed to wipe them out, the number one reason was Red-Hair Shanks. Then Dragon. Then the world’s greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk.

They couldn’t press through a purely defensive fight. Dragon’s powers made pursuit difficult. To make matters worse, Shiki, who handled island levitation, was vulnerable to Dragon’s wind abilities, and they didn’t have the flexibility to take over or land the island.

And when she thought about it all, the answer was clear—their power was lacking. That was the root of everything. And the “power” they lacked—was Haki. The sum total of their fighting strength was still not enough.

"Observation Haki, Armament Haki... and Conqueror's Haki. Of course, Haki isn’t everything in battle, but the stronger your Haki is, the stronger you are—there’s no denying that those with ‘power’ hold real weight."

"...So you're saying... we should train to strengthen our Haki?"

"Well, in short—yeah, that’s the idea."

And so, the Haki training began. Nue nodded in agreement with Who’s Who’s words.

They had spent years enhancing their forces—working to build the world’s strongest military. Increasing manpower. Developing weapons and armaments. Trading in Devil Fruits. Of course, becoming stronger themselves was part of that. They’d done it all.

Now, the next step. Nue had been thinking it was time to do whatever else they could. Something they'd already been focusing on—enhancing the combat strength of their top officers. That’s what they would now resume in earnest.

"We’re the world’s strongest pirate crew now. Kaido and I are the strongest there is. Including you Tobi Roppo and the Lead Performers... if it’s a head-on battle, I don't think there's anyone who can beat us. When it comes to sheer power and toughness, there’s no one who can match us. —But honestly, in things like Haki proficiency and versatility of abilities, we’re still lacking."

She wasn’t just criticizing others—this included herself. Both Nue and Kaido had climbed their way to the top through relentless training. Objectively, they weren’t that far off from the likes of Shanks in Haki strength... but if they couldn’t fully win, they were still "weak." Accepting that was the first step. Naturally, it made sense to cover their weaknesses where possible.

"Well, we’re packed full of Zoan-type users, so we can’t match Linlin’s crew when it comes to diverse abilities... but we can make up for it with stronger Haki, right~~♡"

Due to the nature of their powers, Zoan-type users typically didn't possess powers beyond the traits of the animals they became.

However, the advantage lay in raw physical enhancement—their bodies became stronger. Mythical Zoans were exceptions, but most Zoans relied on brute force. Their winning pattern was simple: beat down the opponent with power, toughness, and speed.

But because of that, it was harder for them to pull off giant-killer upsets. They were generally poor at unorthodox tactics compared to Paramecia users.

Of course, with talent, creativity, and effort, even that could be overcome... Still, as a Zoan-type user herself, Nue knew that the Beasts Pirates’ ideology under Kaido was centered around strength. Those with power were the strong. Crushing enemies head-on with power was their way. Anyone who didn’t win through sheer strength tended to be looked down on.

And that was fine. Nue wasn’t here to correct ideology or values. That didn’t matter. This was just about identifying a flaw they had no intention of changing—and simply strengthening themselves. Making the crew stronger. That’s all that mattered.

"So I was thinking about training methods, and I talked it over with Kaido. We ended up getting into a fight... and we figured wrecking New Onigashima or one of our territories again would be bad, so we picked a random island instead... and that’s when I found this island!!"

"Oh yeah... there was a report about a fight breaking out around two months ago..."

"Oh—yeah, I heard about that and ran the hell away."

"I didn’t go back to New Onigashima either."

"I was on another island with my sister, so I felt safe..."

"No one from the Tobi Roppo was on New Onigashima. It was ridiculous."

"You guys fight too much!! What are you, idiots?!"

"You’re the idiot!! Don’t go biting into dangerous stuff!!"

"HUH!!? Who are you calling an idiot!!!"

As Nue spread her arms to introduce the island, it became clear that the reason they’d found it was due to the Tobi Roppo’s still-fresh memory of that recent fight. Koshiro was stunned as the others openly admitted they’d fled the scene. But everyone snapped back in sync when Ulti started biting again. As always, she was fearless. It was only thanks to Nue’s calm demeanor that it didn’t escalate—but there was always the risk of her snapping. Fortunately, this time, she just nodded without a fuss.

"But this island's a real hidden gem!! It might look like a regular summer island or deserted rock, but everything here is super tough and durable!! The rocks, the trees, even the soil and plants are all ridiculously hard! And the animals, birds, and fish here eat that stuff, so they’re super tough too!! You saw earlier—regular rocks don’t even break when you hit them lightly!!!"

"...So we can use this island’s environment for training, huh?"

"Exactly!! A normal survival camp would be too easy for you all, right? But on this island, just living here becomes training!! Even the beasts are pretty strong! Though... they're all too scared of me to come near right now♡"

"You mean we’re supposed to live here and train our Haki..."

Finally, the Tobi Roppo began to understand why they’d been brought here. Page One voiced it aloud and nodded—if they lived here, they’d grow stronger. Nue also nodded, adding cheerfully:

"But hey, it’s not mandatory!! If you don’t wanna do it, you can head back... But just so you know—all the food here was made by King using only ingredients from this island♪"

"...!! That means..."

That final note made all six of them widen their eyes. It was true—King had said he cooked using only local ingredients. And since he was the only cook here (even if he wouldn’t admit it), that meant he’d prepared all those tough ingredients using Haki.

Which meant... at the very least, King had mastered advanced-level Armament Haki.

That realization lit a fire under the Tobi Roppo—especially those aiming for the Lead Performers’ positions. Their frustration and ambition surged.

"...Got it. So all we gotta do is live here?"

"If this’ll make us stronger, I couldn’t ask for more...!!"

"If it’s for Lord Kaido and Lady Nue, then we’ve got no choice."

"For me and Pei-tan, this’ll be a piece of cake♡"

"Don’t call me Pei-tan!! ...But fine, I’m in!!"

"...If it’ll make me stronger, I don’t care about the method."

"Then it’s decided!! —Alright, do your best in this Survival Training Camp on ‘Sprint Island’!!! I’ll be vacationing here with King for about a week, but you’re free to leave if you’ve got missions or business to handle!! I’ll leave some Den Den Mushi for communication and a boat for transport!! Just make sure to come back when you’re done!! And don’t approach this house unless you need to—it’s off-limits!! Even the beasts won’t come near here!!! Also, you can cooperate if you want, or not—but no killing each other, got it?! That’s all!!!"

With Nue’s closing statement, the Tobi Roppo all nodded in agreement. They’d been wondering how to handle important missions or communicating with subordinates during training, but it seemed even that had been considered.

And so—thus began the Tobi Roppo’s survival training arc.

"...Alright, so what should we start with...?"

"──Why don’t we start by building a house♡ Let’s chop some trees and draw up a blueprint..."

"Hey Black Maria. I’ll go hunt some beasts—just throw up a simple hut in the meantime. And build a livestock shed. Ulti, go prep some fields. We’ll need feed if we’re raising animals."

"Hah!? You can’t just start without testing the soil first!!! We gotta find soil that’s good for crops and till that area first!!!"

"Hold up, Sis!! We can’t do anything without tools. I need to make a fishing rod and catch dinner first!! Let’s go chop some wood!!"

"Fine... I’ll help. Gotta grow the crops if I wanna brew good booze... Kukuku... Just wait... my delicious booze...!!"

"…This is… supposed to be training… right?"

"Haa!!? What the hell are you saying, Kosushi!? Quit yapping and get moving already!! I’ll beat you to death!!!"

"Shut up, amateur… you useless waste… Just follow our orders and stick to grunt work."

"…Ah… yes."

Under her mask, Kosushi nodded with dead eyes. She was fine with it if it meant training, but the thought of having to live with these five for days… that part was soul-crushing.

---

──And then, after the “Tobi Roppo” had left, back on the beach. Nue’s villa.

“They’re gone. Hopefully they’ll finish their training in like, half a year… What do you think, King?”

“As long as they’re useful in combat, I don’t care.”

“You’re so cold~. But well, it’s the Tobi Roppo we’re talking about. I doubt they’ll end up like those kids we picked up the other day.”

“You mean the jailer beasts from Impel Down…? They’re tough and handy thanks to their awakened powers, but their basic combat skills are shaky. Then again, they’re good enough as grunts…”

“I actually think they’re kinda cute. They obeyed right away once I gave them a little scare. Or maybe they’ve finally given up on that heartless Magellan who left them behind? Honestly, I would’ve preferred to just kill them and make them submit properly~♪”

“Magellan’s one of the admirals of the New Government now. I don’t think you’d lose, but if you go off acting alone again…”

“No no no, I won’t do that!! You still don’t trust me, huh… Geez… Oh, call coming in. —Hello? What’s up?”

“B-b-b-big trouble, Miss Nue!!!”

Nue, who had still been enjoying food and drinks at the beach house, picked up the Den Den Mushi that had suddenly started ringing and listened to the message. It was a subordinate calling from New Onigashima. They sounded completely flustered, clearly an emergency, but Nue responded with her usual calm.

“Hm~? What happened?”

“W-well… um… it’s kind of… really hard to say, but…”

“You’re dragging it out. Just spit it out already.”

“Y-y-yes ma’am!! The thing is, just now—”

Prompted by Nue’s slightly sharper tone when she grew impatient with his hesitant buildup, the subordinate panicked and forced himself to speak. He had clearly drawn the short straw. With great difficulty, he told Nue something incredibly awkward.

“It… it’s been born…”

“…HUHHH!!?”

An unexpectedly early report. Nue’s expression changed completely at the news.

---

──New Onigashima.

“What the hell’s going on!!? It’s way earlier than scheduled!!”

“S-sorry!! But it’s just… the child seems more unstable than normal, or rather, developing faster…”

“Who cares!! Just take me to where it is!!! Is it in the room!?”

“Y-yes!! It was all so sudden, we’ve laid them down to rest in bed for now!!”

The base of the strongest pirate crew ruling the New World—Beasts Pirates’ headquarters, once known as Wano Country, now New Onigashima—was in chaos.

Subordinates ran back and forth, drenched in sweat, each one now aware of the situation. Kaido’s voice thundered through the estate like lightning, and the scolded medical team scrambled to follow his next orders.

Everyone on New Onigashima understood the reason behind the commotion. In the seemingly smooth sailing of the Beasts Pirates’ activities, the only thing that could spark this kind of problem was—

“…Looks like Father will be coming here.”

“Yes. I’ve already had someone report to Lady Nue as well. He’ll likely return within a few days… Haaah…”

“W-will everything be alright, Lord Musashi…?”

“Fuhaha… Don’t worry, Otama. Honestly, I kinda wanted to hear Nue’s shocked scream myself. I wonder what kind of face Father will make when he sees that child… sees you… Hey—O-WA-RI.”

──A family matter… no, a new family matter had just begun.