One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

The shattered remains of Onigashima still bore the scars of the great battle.

Yet amid the devastation, a bonfire blazed fiercely in the central clearing. Flames licked the prey skewered on thick wooden spits, crackling loudly as the fire roasted the meat.

Rich juices seeped down into layers of sea salt and herbs, releasing an overpowering aroma that swept across the entire island. Even the sea breeze carried that irresistible savory scent.

Not far away, among the ruins, several hundred prisoners labored with hunched backs.

Most of them wore tattered clothes. Their exposed skin was covered in overlapping old and new scars. Rough hands gripped heavy hammers and ropes as they dragged broken stone blocks to designated spots.

The only thing sustaining them were the few cold, rock-hard sticky rice balls distributed at dusk.

—That was the only "mercy" granted to prisoners under Kaido's command.

But now, the rich smell of roasted meat and alcohol hanging over the island was like an invisible hook, snagging their stomachs and guts.

A chorus of stomach growls rose one after another. Hunger writhed inside them like swarms of insects, surging like a tide that nearly drowned their sanity.

Some prisoners subconsciously stopped working, throats bobbing as they stared toward the bonfire, saliva pooling uncontrollably at the corners of their mouths.

Others pressed their cracked lips together tightly, trying to drive the tantalizing scent from their noses.

But the more they resisted, the clearer the smell of meat became—almost as if it had already slipped into their stomachs with every breath.

Yet the moment their minds drifted, the fear carved into their bones instantly dragged them back to reality.

They shuddered violently.

The longing in their eyes was swiftly replaced with terror. Heads lowered hurriedly as they resumed work with frantic urgency.

Even a hint of hesitation could mean death.

The figure of "King of Beasts" Kaido loomed like a massive shadow over every prisoner's heart.

That deafening roar…

That world-shaking Conqueror's Haki…

That monstrous power like a demon god…

All of it had long ago etched the word "fear" into their very souls.

Even if hunger made them dizzy.

Even if the aroma of meat nearly drove them mad.

Not a single person dared slack off.

Nor did anyone dare harbor even the slightest greedy thought.

They could only grit their teeth as sweat mixed with tears and slid down their faces, crushing the hunger and desire inside their stomachs.

Against the backdrop of blazing bonfires and shattered ruins, they continued their labor like walking corpses.

The joyous laughter by the fire stood in stark contrast to the silent misery among the ruins.

For them, the delicious smell of roasting meat was simply another form of torment.

…

"HAHAHAHA—Bottoms up!"

"Cheers—!!"

The clamor inside Onigashima's great hall made the beams and pillars hum.

Bonfires cast flickering shadows of pirates across the hall.

Upon the golden throne at the center sat Kaido, towering like a mountain. He lifted a massive wine jug and tilted it downward, pouring strong liquor straight down his throat.

A drunken flush crept across his rugged face. His originally fierce eyes now carried a hazy drunken blur—yet they still radiated overwhelming dominance.

"Wororororo—!"

Not far away, on a raised platform, King stood alone in his black feathered coat.

His dark wings were folded neatly behind him, his presence completely out of place amid the surrounding chaos.

A cup of sake rested between his fingers, though he rarely drank from it.

His golden eyes were sharp as a hawk's.

They swept across the celebrating pirates, past the patrolling guards outside the hall—

Before finally locking onto the prisoners working in the distant ruins.

Those hunched figures looked like ants in the firelight.

Yet his vigilance never wavered.

He remained Kaido's most reliable shield.

On the stage at the other side of the hall, Queen shook his round body while holding a microphone.

One arm wrapped around two dancers as he rapped and danced wildly.

His outrageous performance sent the pirates below into roaring laughter.

Whistles and cheers echoed throughout the hall.

Jack, however, was absent from the banquet.

As a Fish-Man and the user of the Ancient Zoan Mammoth Devil Fruit, he was the only member of the crew besides Kaido who did not fear the sea.

Because of that unique advantage, he had been appointed the crew's "Minister of External Affairs."

At this moment, he was stationed on the tropical island of Dressrosa, firmly controlling the monopoly on artificial Devil Fruits.

…

"Wororororo—!"

With a violent roar, Kaido hurled his wine jug.

The jug cut through the air before smashing against a stone pillar beside the golden throne.

Ceramic shards exploded everywhere.

The remaining liquor scattered into a glittering arc.

The next second—

The entire hall fell silent.

Kaido's massive body slumped into the throne. His crimson cloak slipped off one shoulder.

His usually domineering eyes were now red and swollen.

Large tears rolled down his sharp cheekbones, splashing onto his wine-stained clothes and spreading into dark patches.

Like a wronged giant child, he let out a drunken, choking howl.

"WHY?!"

"I'm obviously this strong—!!"

"Then why… why can't I unify the New World?!"

He suddenly looked toward King, his fierce gaze carrying an oddly childish accusation.

Tears mixed with alcohol as they streamed down his face.

"It's all your fault! You're all too weak!!"

"A bunch of useless trash! You can't even handle something this simple!"

King's heart skipped a beat.

His golden eyes sharpened instantly.

He knew that signal all too well.

Within the Beasts Pirates, there was a rule written in countless people's blood:

Kaido being drunk isn't scary.

What's terrifying… is Kaido crying when he's drunk.

That wasn't weakness.

It was the prelude to world-destroying rage.

The moment Kaido roared—

The pirates who had been partying just seconds ago scattered like birds startled by thunder.

They rushed toward the exits in a frenzy.

Tables overturned.

Barrels rolled across the floor.

Half-eaten meat scattered everywhere.

Panicked shouts filled the hall.

"RUN! Boss Kaido's drunk again!!"

"Damn it—who stepped on my foot?! Wait for me!"

"Move! Unless you want to die!"

The usually arrogant pirates abandoned all dignity as they shoved and trampled each other, desperate to escape.

Some even transformed into Beast Forms, climbing over their companions' shoulders to flee.

The hall instantly descended into chaos.

King remained where he stood.

One of his black wings quietly unfolded halfway, preparing to absorb the impact of whatever came next.

He looked coldly at Kaido rolling and raging on the throne.

His eyes showed no surprise.

He had long since grown used to this.

Every time Kaido cried while drunk—

Onigashima would suffer a catastrophe.

…

The smell of alcohol filled the hall.

Suddenly, Kaido's red eyes grew unfocused.

A face abruptly appeared in his mind.

Luffy.

The boy's grin.

Even covered in wounds, he still laughed foolishly.

That teasing voice echoed inside Kaido's drunken consciousness like a haunting chant.

"Thanks for that, Kaido-sensei."

"THAT'S RIGHT!"

Kaido suddenly slapped his thigh so hard that cracks spread across the throne.

The grievance in his eyes was instantly replaced by burning excitement.

He turned toward King with a ferocious grin.

"I'm a great teacher!"

"That Straw Hat brat—didn't he grow stronger just because he took a few hits from my club?!"

He clenched his fist. His knuckles cracked loudly.

His gaze locked onto King like a predator targeting prey.

"Alber!"

"As long as you take one hit from me, you'll get stronger too!"

"You might even stand at the top like that brat!"

Under his mask, King's mouth twitched slightly.

A trace of helplessness and caution flashed in his golden eyes.

He knew exactly how valuable Kaido's "teaching" was.

It wasn't training at all.

It was pure, indiscriminate destruction.

Almost the moment Kaido finished speaking—

King's flaming wings burst open.

Blazing fire erupted behind him.

His body transformed into a crimson streak shooting into the sky like an arrow, leaving only a burning trail behind.

"Huh?"

Kaido scratched his messy hair.

His drunken eyes were full of confusion.

Alcohol had dulled his reaction by half a beat.

In his current state, he was still terrifying—but far weaker than when sober.

He hadn't even managed to keep up with King's movement.

"He ran…"

Kaido muttered with dissatisfaction.

Then his gaze shifted.

It landed on Queen, who was trembling in the corner of the hall.

The fat man had already collapsed onto the floor in terror.

One strap of his overalls had slipped off. His massive body curled into a ball.

Even the makeup on his face had smeared.

None of his usual arrogance remained.

A cruel smile slowly spread across Kaido's face.

Battle-lust flickered in his eyes.

"N-No! Boss!!"

Queen wailed as he crawled backward on all fours, his voice filled with despair.

"I don't wanna die!!"

"If you're teaching someone, teach King!"

"I'm already strong enough!!"

"Wororororo!"

Kaido burst into deafening laughter, completely ignoring Queen's pleas.

He tightened his grip on his kanabo.

A violent storm of Haki erupted from his body.

Black-red lightning of Conqueror's Haki Infusion exploded through the air like a spiderweb, crackling violently and warping the surrounding space.

With a single step—

Kaido's enormous body shot forward like a bolt of purple-black lightning.

Carrying a world-shattering aura, he ignored the distance between them and charged straight toward the trembling man in overalls.

"Thunder Bagua!!"

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