Chapter 91: Golden Emperor

In the New World—the sea ruled by the "Four Emperors," the pinnacle of pirates—the Navy's presence is said to be sparse.

However, even in the New World, there are nations affiliated with the World Government. Those countries outside the territories under the Four Emperors' protection strengthen their armies or seek the Navy's aid to defend themselves against ruthless pirates.

Thus, naval branches are stationed at key locations.

"Listen up, you lot!!"

"YES, SIR!!"

——Naval Branch G-6.

Among all the Marine branches in the Grand Line, this one is considered the most dangerous.

"Do not hesitate against pirates!! Show no mercy!! A single moment of hesitation gives those scum an opening and endangers civilians!!"

"YES, SIR!!"

"Even if your comrades are wounded and fall, leave them behind!! That's what's demanded here!! There's no time to save them!!!"

The Marine officers who bear the word "Justice" on their backs all carry numerous scars across their bodies—some missing fingers, hands, or legs.

Yet even they are considered lucky here.

Naval Branch G-6 is the closest Marine outpost to the territory of the most dangerous combatant among the Four Emperors—the Beasts Pirates.

It is said that the movements of the Four Emperors dictate the world's balance, and to respond, intelligence must be gathered swiftly.

Thus, fleets and naval branches are stationed throughout the New World to monitor them. Their duty is to relay intel to headquarters the moment the Beasts Pirates make a move—and to act as sacrificial pawns to buy even a little time.

"We will all die one day!! But know this—it is our fearless actions that protect the world and save countless innocent lives!!"

"YES, SIR!!"

Branch G-6 is infamous for its high casualty rate, as its primary mission is to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

After all, their adversary is none other than Kaido of the Beasts, hailed as the strongest one-on-one fighter among the Four Emperors.

The army of beasts he leads is a deranged pack that shows no hesitation in slaughtering Marines and civilians alike, charging headlong even against dozens of warships.

"Show not a shred of weakness or hesitation!! Fight evil with every fiber of your being!! In the name of Absolute Justice!!!"

"YES, SIR——!!!"

Thus, this branch attracts not only the most skilled but also those who harbor deep grudges against pirates—men who claim they would face death itself for the sake of justice.

Yet when the moment comes, fewer than thirty percent can truly cast aside their fear. Such is the terror of the Beasts Pirates.

"——Vice Admiral Tokikake!!"

"Whoa there!! You scared me… What’s with the shouting?"

The man who turned around wore a ladder-patterned coat, a belly wrap, and conspicuous wooden sandals. A middle-aged Marine vice admiral with a hat and a cigarette between his lips responded to his subordinate’s call.

It seemed he had been practicing golf—a putter and golf balls lay at his feet. His adjutant’s temple twitched slightly at the sight.

"‘What’s with the shouting’?! You’re the branch commander! You need to set a better example for the men!!"

"Nah, nah, my bad. But staying tense all the time ain’t good either, right? The boys are doing their part, but if they’re too wound up, they’ll burn out before the real fight."

"That’s the G-6 way!! I’d appreciate it if you followed it too, Vice Admiral Tokikake!!"

"Eh, I’m just a temporary commander here, so it’s fine, ain’t it?"

"……! That’s…"

Tokikake brushed off his adjutant’s fervent words with his usual carefree demeanor.

He was a capable vice admiral sent from headquarters to replace the previous branch commander, who had died in the line of duty.

……However, his lackadaisical attitude made him something of a nuisance within the Navy. Though skilled and popular with civilians, his cavalier approach to duty had earned him a reputation as a troublemaker, shuffled from post to post and often stuck with undesirable assignments.

This time, he had been temporarily appointed as commander of Branch G-6—essentially an acting role.

"Alright, alright! You came here ‘cause you had business or a report, right?"

"! Yes… There’s movement among the New World pirates again…"

The adjutant handed Tokikake a sheet of paper. Upon reading it, Tokikake’s expression shifted into a faint, wry smile.

"——Ah, that nouveau riche pirate, huh?"

"Yes, sir——It seems he’s encroached on the Beasts Pirates’ territory… What should we do?"

"What can we do? We can’t exactly chase him in there, so we’ve gotta leave it be, yeah?"

"That’s… true, but…"

Though the adjutant nodded in agreement, a hint of dissatisfaction lingered. Watching him, Tokikake moved to the commander’s chair and sank into it with a sigh.

"I get how you feel, but we ain’t gettin’ anything outta chasin’ ‘em. Right now, all we can do is prepare. The New World’s a mess lately—it’s not just the Beasts Pirates. The resurgent Red Hair Pirates, these guys… And then there’s the Revolutionary Army, which was even brought up at the recent Reverie. If we go provokin’ the Beasts Pirates now, HQ’s gonna have our heads, y’know?"

"……Yes. I understand."

The adjutant accepted the reasoning calmly… but Tokikake sensed that, deep down, he still wanted to pursue the pirates.

Did he have a grudge? Against the Beasts Pirates… or perhaps this particular crew.

"‘Golden Emperor,’ huh… If the rumors about his powers are true, I wouldn’t mind havin’ ‘em myself."

The wanted poster tucked within the report showed the face of a pirate known as the "Golden Emperor."

---

──Entering Wano Country is difficult.

About 90% of ships attempting to enter Wano either get destroyed or give up and turn back.

But it's different if you have permission from Wano's ruler.

By splitting the waterfall and passing through the cave beyond, you can dock at the "Hidden Port," then take a gondola up to reach Wano's "Hakumai."

However, the only ones who can use this legitimate method now are the Beasts Pirates—who effectively rule Wano—and their subordinate crews.

──Or those who come for business.

"Hellooo, Captain Kaido! Your guest hasn’t arrived in Hakumai yet!"

"——So they’ve arrived? Good. Escort ‘em to Onigashima!"

"Yes, sir! Sending them over right away!"

Amid the ruins of Hakumai, a tiny figure chattered into a Den Den Mushi. The one on the other end was, of course, Kaido—supreme leader of the Beasts Pirates.

Once the call ended, the small girl with twin horns looked up at her guest.

"So, follow me!"

"Fufufufu… Yes, lead the way."

The guest was none other than one of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea"—Donquixote Doflamingo.

Accompanied by Dought, a Tontatta tribeswoman sent all the way from Dressrosa to retrieve him, he now made his way toward Onigashima.

"Still, even if Dressrosa is your home, this escort mission is boooring! Couldn’t you have come alone, kid?"

"Lady Dought!! That’s far too rude to a guest!"

"Oh, right. Not sorry at all. My bad."

"……Tch. Whatever."

Doflamingo brushed off the impudence of the tiny Tontatta girl—one of the very people he once enslaved under his rule.

No point getting angry. After all, things were going smoothly lately—Kaido favored him, their dealings were profitable, and everything was falling into place.

Sure, there were a few concerns, but today, Doflamingo was in good spirits. He’d even brought tribute.

So, with leisurely ease, he followed Dought aboard the ship, sailed to Onigashima, and—after passing through the usual raucous banquet hall—headed to greet Kaido.

"Here to pay my respects, Kaid—"

"WOOOOOOOOOHHHH~~!! DOFLAMINGO…!! Took ya damn long enough…!!"

"Ahahahahaha!!! Doffy, heeeey!! You drinkin’? Gettin’ wasted? YEEEEAH!!"

"……(Kaido’s a weepy drunk today…? And Nue’s a giggly one…)" "Ah, my bad. Just got here—haven’t even had a drink yet."

The moment he stepped into the audience chamber, Doflamingo immediately assessed the two most volatile figures—Kaido and Nue, both deep in their cups.

Their moods dictated his fate. These two were impulsive enough to do anything on a whim, and whatever they said in passing could become reality in an instant.

That was the power of an Emperor of the Sea.

And that was precisely why Doflamingo had allied himself with these beasts—to tear the world apart.

And also why he feared them more than anything.

"WOOOOOHHHHH~~!! Ya mean ya ain’t even had a drink yet…?! Poor lil’ Joker…!!"

"That’s ‘cause Doffy’s late, dummy! Hahaha, Kaido’s an idiot!!"

"WOOOOOOOHHHHHH~~!! So damn cold…!! That’s harsh…!!"

As Kaido bawled, Nue perched on his shoulder, slapping his head and hurling insults.

Doflamingo forced a grin, sweat beading on his brow.

Even drunk, only Nue could get away with treating Kaido like this. Anyone else would be dead on the spot.

And the thought of them suddenly picking a fight made his skin crawl. Rumor had it they’d once brawled for nearly a month, dragging everyone into the chaos.

"Fufufufu… Brought more tribute this time… Feel free to inspect it later…"

No way was he getting caught up in that. Best to steer the conversation toward safer waters—like the gifts he’d brought.

"How thoughtful of ya, Doflamingo…!! ‘Course, tribute’s the least ya owe me…"

"I’ll reward you, Mingooo~!! How ‘bout a ‘Punch Whoever You Hate’ coupon?!"

"That ain’t somethin’ ya hand out like a massage voucher…"

Queen’s dry remark from the sidelines earned Doflamingo’s silent agreement. King, meanwhile, just looked exasperated by the drunken duo.

And Jack was nowhere to be seen—probably off on an expedition or trade mission.

Just as Doflamingo pondered this—

"Oh yeah! There’s someone I wanna introduce to Domingo!"

"……? Someone to introduce?"

"——Ah, right, almost forgot. Hey, you call ‘em yet?"

"Yes. They should be here shortly."

Doflamingo frowned at Nue’s sudden declaration—her ridiculous nicknames were infuriating, but ignoring them was the only option.

Kaido, seemingly remembering as well, turned to King, who nodded in confirmation.

Then—

"Hahaha… Perfect timing, it seems."

"!? ……You…!!"

A new figure strode into the chamber.

The moment Doflamingo heard that voice—saw that silhouette—his teeth clenched, his expression twisting into one of sheer disgust.

A tall man, equal in height to Doflamingo himself, with slicked-back green hair, star-shaped earrings, golden adornments, and a pink suit.

A pirate now infamous across the New World.

And behind him, two subordinates followed.

『Captain of the Tesoro Pirates—"Golden Emperor" Gild Tesoro
Bounty: 577,000,000 Berries』

"Well, well… Never thought I’d run into a Warlord here. An honor, Mr. Doflamingo…!"

"Tesoro…!! You… What the hell are you doing here…!!?"

The smirking, condescending figure before him was none other than Gild Tesoro—the "Golden Emperor."

A man with whom Doflamingo had history. A man he’d once sent assassins to kill.

And yet—

"……Fuh… Fufufufu!! You’ve got some nerve, showing your face in front of me…!!"

"Hmm? What’s wrong? Thought you’d try to kill me on sight… The great ‘Heavenly Yaksha’ getting cold feet?"

Tesoro’s taunting words were enough to irritate anyone, but though a vein bulged on Doflamingo’s forehead, he merely met Tesoro’s gaze head-on with a fearless grin, making no move to attack. And instead of giving a direct answer, he replied in his usual roundabout way.

“So me be-ing here… that’s your answer. If that’s how it is, I’ll adjust my approach too…!! I was hoping you’d be dead already, though…!!”

“Oh? An assassin, huh…? True, there’ve been a few who've tried to kill me. But don’t tell me… those were your men, Doflamingo? Hahaha, I hadn’t noticed!! Now that’s amusing… wouldn't you say? —Tanaka-san, Dice.”

Tesoro turned the conversation to the two men standing behind him, who stepped forward slightly.

One had a large, round head on a tiny body, while the other was a hulking brute with broad shoulders and thick arms.

『Chief Officer of the Tesoro Pirates: Tanaka-san — Bounty: 136 million berries』

“Sulurururu!! Yes, Lord Tesoro. To think those pitiful assassins came from the Donquixote Family…”

『Chief Officer of the Tesoro Pirates: Dice — Bounty: 345.6 million berries』

“—Yeah. They were so weak we didn’t even notice…!!”

Tesoro’s two top officers—Tanaka-san and Dice—mocked Doflamingo in response to his words.

But Doflamingo only deepened his grin at the insult.

“Fufufu… Looks like you’ve been enjoying the sweet benefits of the Gold-Gold Fruit you stole from us. That wasn’t something I ever intended to hand over. If it weren’t for that incident, we’d be the ones using it now…!!”

“Hahaha, of course I knew. One of your grunts sang like a bird the moment I slipped him some cash. That’s why I stirred up a mess—and got my hands on the Gold-Gold Fruit!!”

Raising both hands lightly in front of his chest, Tesoro produced gold out of thin air—the ability granted by the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit he once stole at a Donquixote Family auction: the Gold-Gold Fruit.

The power to generate and freely manipulate gold—Tesoro had used it to rapidly expand his influence throughout the New World.

It was supposed to have been Doflamingo’s weapon. So seeing that power displayed right before his eyes sparked a familiar irritation.

“Fufufufufu!! I wouldn’t mind taking it back right here and now, if you’re up for it…”

“Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t make a move? Besides—do you really think you can win against the power of gold?”

Neither backed down in tone. Neither for a second believed they’d lose to the other.

But beneath that arrogance, each was sizing the other up.

Doflamingo was convinced he had the upper hand in raw power—and if it came to a fight, he’d win. But even then, it wouldn’t be easy. Even a victory would come at a cost. Tesoro, for his part, was thinking the exact same thing.

The standoff held for a few tense seconds—until an overwhelming presence cut through it.

“Wororororo… That’s enough, you two.”

“Yeah, yeah!! We’re here to do business, remember? Play nice!!”

“!”

At those words, both Doflamingo and Tesoro had the same thought: So it really is them.

They were both doing business with Kaido. It would be far more profitable to cooperate than to fight.

Naturally, both had already calculated that much. And either way, if they took it upon themselves to eliminate one of Kaido’s allies, they’d just end up being eliminated by Kaido himself.

“...Fufufu. If we use my connections within the World Government…”

“...Hahaha… and my power over gold…”

There was really only one choice.

『—We can bring this world to its knees.』

They had different goals, but both were destroyers at heart.

They didn’t need to see eye to eye. They just needed to use each other. Even if their values didn’t align, that was irrelevant—so long as it served their own ends.

“Exactly!! The government still hasn’t caught on to our full hand!! It’s not just slipping our pirates into the Shichibukai… Tesoro!! You worm your way in with your gold!! They’re not idiots—they’ll catch on eventually. But by then it’ll be too late!!”

“It’s not just about growing our side—it’s about bleeding theirs dry!! Fufufu… an invisible, creeping corruption from within…!! The culprits? Us, the ones under the Beast Pirates’ banner!! Government officials trembling in fear!! That’s the plan!!”

“Fufufufu… Now that’s a good one.”

“Quite the entertaining idea…!!”

Doflamingo and Tesoro both aligned themselves with Kaido and Nue’s scheme. Though they each approached the government in different ways, neither bore it any love—in fact, they both harbored deep resentment toward the Celestial Dragons and the world order.

Which made Kaido’s crew the perfect tool for them. If they wanted to destroy the world and rule it in their own way, this alliance was the next logical step. For now, they would join forces with hidden motives in hand.

“Today’s a celebration!! Worororo!! Drink up!!! You’d be a fool not to party on a day like this!!!”

“Just a little while ago you were sobbing, remember?! You sure you don’t wanna talk it out with Mingo?”

“Ugh… UOOOOOHNN!! That’s right… listen to me, Doflamingo…!!”

“! (Damn it, Nue… you just had to bring that up…!!) What’s wrong? If you want to talk, I’ll listen to anything.”

Nue’s comment clearly triggered something in Kaido, and he promptly burst into tears again. Doflamingo cursed internally. He kept up appearances on the surface, but he was sweating just a little—one wrong step with Kaido could get him killed.

“My brats won’t listen to a damn thing I say…!! What the hell am I supposed to do!? No matter how hard I discipline ‘em, they don’t shape up!!”

“K-Kids always rebel against their parents. It’s not your fault…”

“You really think so…!? Good… now hear me out. Those brats, even when I go outta my way to be considerate—”

“…Yeah, I get it.”

As Kaido launched into a rant about his domestic troubles, Doflamingo inwardly buried his face in his hands. This is gonna be a long one… He glanced sideways, hoping to drag Tesoro into it too, but Tesoro was already caught up with Nue.

“You’ll be taking part in the next Golden Kagura festival—it’ll be your formal introduction!!”

“Understood. I’ll begin rehearsing my singing and dancing.”

“Ahahaha!! That’s what I like to hear!! Just remember—I’m the star of the show!! Anyone who outshines me on stage dies!!”

“…Of course. I’ll take that to heart. —Also, I brought a few gifts for today… rare humans I found among my debtors. I packed them into golden chests.”

“Ooh, I love it!! Is this a New Year’s gift? I adore presents!! Want a handshake in return? Or maybe something more unique? Like… a slap!!”

"Thank you very much. Now then... a slap across the face for my subordinate Dice, if you please."

"Okay!!"

"Feels so damn goooooood!!!"

Tezoro had been asked by Nue to join in on a live performance. At first glance, it seemed like the better deal, and Doflamingo would have liked to switch with him. But if they did that, there was a real chance Nue would tell him to get on stage instead—which ruled it out entirely.

In the end, Doflamingo had no choice but to keep listening to Kaido complain. The day that Doflamingo and Tezoro formed their alliance ended up being neither of their paces—it was Kaido and Nue’s all the way.

And during all this, a thought crossed both their minds. Kaido’s kid… They’d only ever heard about them, but based on those rumors alone—completely insane.

---

"Heh... look at you now, Yamato-aneue... Never thought you’d actually get caught."

"You're in here too, Musashi!! Don’t talk like I’m the only one!!"

The dungeon beneath Onigashima.
They were in one of the larger chambers—spacious, and lined with all sorts of torture instruments. It was less of a cell and more of a torture room in every sense, and at the moment, both of them were chained up inside.
One was a small girl wearing a nihilistic grin—Musashi.

The other, scolding her younger sister, was a tall woman—Yamato.

Both had two horns protruding from their heads, and both bore injuries across their bodies.
But perhaps due to their lineage—the blood of Kaido in their veins—neither seemed anywhere near down for the count.

"Dammit... that bastard old man... What kind of parent goes all out punching their own kid like that!? My head’s still ringing...!"

"You sure you’re okay? Didn’t knock something loose—ah, wait, you were always like this! Wahahaha!!"

"I will knock you out!! You’re the last person I want to hear that from!!"

"What was that!? What part of me seems unhinged, huh!? Just because I keep collecting more dads—"

"That’s exactly why you’re unhinged!! Even I get that much!!"

"Huh? Even you get it...? So there are things you understand beyond Kozuki Oden, aneue...?"

"What’s that supposed to mean!?"

"What’s that supposed to mean!? ...Wait, seriously, what does that mean?"

"This conversation’s going nowhere!!"

Yamato and Musashi bickered while shackled in place—but for them, this kind of exchange was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Still, fear not, Yamato... A true swordswoman can cut whatever she wants, whenever she wants! All I have to do is slash through these and—wait, my sword’s gone!?"

"You just noticed...? How carefree can you be..."

"I—I can’t believe you, Yamato!! Why didn’t you say anything about my missing sword!? Without a blade, a genius swordswoman becomes nothing more than... a one-of-a-kind prodigy of raw strength!!"

"How did you gain a title just by losing your sword...? Ugh... What do we do now... We made a promise, and now this..."

Yamato only sighed and pointed out the ridiculousness in Musashi’s words. They didn’t have time to joke around.
If things went on like this, it’d all be over while they were stuck in here.

"Ah—by the way, Yamato. Did you ever get to hear about Oden from Hiyori? You were supposed to ask her more about his swordsmanship, weren’t you?"

"...Wasn’t the time for that. At this rate, everything’s going to end before we can do anything..."

"Hmm. Sounds like something right out of Oden’s story."

"It’s not the same. I am Oden, but right now... I can’t call myself that."

"Well, Oden was a swordsman, and you’re not."

"Not my fault!! I’m Oden, but I’ve got zero sword talent!! Trade me, right now!!"

"Like hell I can!! If you want to use a sword that bad, go get a swordsman to be your dad and train you—"

"Like that’s possible!!! ...More importantly, is Hiyori safe?"

"Still alive. I can hear her voice... Hmm. To think she could hold out for a whole day against a Tobiroppo..."

"...I see."

Hearing that Hiyori was still okay through Musashi’s Kenbunshoku Haki, Yamato finally let out a breath of relief. Honestly, she was far more worried about Hiyori than herself.

After all, they were Kaido’s children. Even if they got punished, it wasn’t like they’d be killed.
But Hiyori—still in the middle of what was likely a grueling endurance death match against the Tobi Roppo—could die any second.

She made it through one day, but six more...?

"...It won’t be easy."

"Indeed... If she can fight the Tobiroppo, she’s good enough to be considered a proper swordswoman—but not a papa candidate. Maybe a mama instead."

"Don’t you dare!!!"

...They had to break her out somehow.
But would it be right to trample over her resolve like that...?
Yamato still didn’t have an answer.

---

──Nearly 24 hours had passed since that lonely battle began.

"Go for it!! Pē-tan♡ Fight-o♡ Beat 'em to death!!"

"Haah... haah...!!"

"Shut the hell up, sis!! You're distractin' me, quit it!!"

"Quit it~~~!?"

──Before her stood the elite of the Beasts Pirates' rising generation.

One of the six strongest combatants, the Tobiroppo—Page One.

Hiyori had already struck Page One dozens... no, hundreds of times. If she didn't, she could neither leave this place nor achieve her goal.

So no matter how many times she was knocked down, no matter how battered and wounded her body became, she couldn’t afford to stop fighting.

...But.

"You... really startin' to piss me off...!!"

"!!"

The moment Page One turned his face toward her—away from the noisy Ulti outside the cage—Hiyori flinched ever so slightly.

Page One’s height wasn’t much different from Hiyori’s. Of course, his strength and speed still far surpassed hers or that of any larger man.

But in his human form, he hadn’t been serious yet.

Meaning Page One had been holding back this whole time... but now, as if his patience had finally snapped, he unleashed his true form.

Beasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" Page One
Ryū Ryū no Mi (Ancient Zoan) "Spinosaurus"

"About time I crushed you...!!"

"Haah... haah... ngh...!!"

"KYAAA~~!! Pē-tan’s beast form is so COOL~~♡"

An Ancient Zoan user—a dinosaur.

Now in his hybrid form, Page One lunged at Hiyori with far greater speed and power than before.

"Prepare to die...!! I was just playin' around till now... but like this, I can’t help but wanna see blood!!!"

"Gh...!!"

Carnivorous Zoans grow even more ferocious.

Perhaps because of that, Page One’s hybrid form twisted into a grin, baring sharp fangs, his demeanor more aggressive than usual.

And unlike Hiyori, whose body already felt as heavy as lead, Page One was still near full stamina.

Yet another trait of Ancient Zoan users—power and endurance surpassing even regular Zoans.

Every executive of the Beasts Pirates above the Tobiroppo was an Ancient Zoan user, meaning even fighting nonstop for a full day was nothing to them.

Let alone against someone weaker—

"Ranran... PAGE ONE!!!"

"!!"

Page One swung his arm with all his might.

A simple motion, by all accounts.

But the result was anything but. A massive blade of air struck Hiyori mid-defense, the sheer force behind it sending her flying despite her sword blocking the impact.

"Ngh... Gah, HACK...!!"

Her back slammed into the seastone cage, forcing the air from her lungs in a violent cough.

At the same time, the slash struck the cage. Needless to say, it was Page One’s doing.

Like a Rankyaku launched from an arm—but amplified many times over by the raw power of an Ancient Zoan.

"—Hmph... That’s it. Just gotta report to Kaido and Nue, and I’m finally free from this execution duty..."

Page One’s weary voice reached Hiyori’s ears as she lay face-down, consciousness flickering.

Indeed, for a normal person, this would be the end.

Death would be inevitable. Fighting nonstop for a full day was already impossible for an ordinary human.

And even if she endured, six more days remained.

Since death was certain, the sensible thing would be to die now and spare herself further suffering.

"—Heh... Pa... thetic."

"...Hah?"

──But even as that thought crossed her mind, Hiyori dismissed it with a scornful laugh.

Normal? Ridiculous. Did they think she’d come this far just to be like everyone else? That she could move forward like this?

If there was still further to fall, further suffering to endure—then good. She’d fall as far as it took. Summoning the last of her strength, Hiyori forced out words before darkness took her.

"Six... more days... to go...!!"

"...!"

──Until her goal was achieved, she refused to die.

Even if it killed her as a human, she’d survive.

"One... hour... of sleep... that’s all..."

"…………"

She wouldn’t die.

Even unconscious—she wouldn’t die.

In this brief respite, she would recover even a sliver of strength, preparing for the next battle.

"! Pē-tan, that Hiyori bitch...!!"

"...Tch... Even knocked out—she’s still glaring at us."

Both Ulti and Page One sensed it—the faint but unmistakable surge of haki radiating from Hiyori’s collapsed form.

As if to say: "You think I’d fall here?"

"Lady Hiyori...!"

Even Kawamatsu, chained outside the cage, shuddered at the oppressive aura.

——A new "beast" was being born, moment by moment.