Kaido listened to Michael's words, and his eyes suddenly widened.
They were filled with utter disbelief.
From Michael's mouth… came recognition of him.
But only—of the past him.
Right… what kind of person was he back then?
Drifting endlessly across the sea, deliberately getting captured by the Navy because of hunger, stuffing himself full, and then breaking out of prison again.
At fifteen, he arrived at the turning point of his life—he arrived at Hachinosu, the so-called "Pirate Paradise." After defeating a few idiots who didn't know their place…
A man carrying the Murakumogiri and holding a wine cup came to him.
That man was Whitebeard.
Back then, he was merely delivering a message for someone else—
"Hey, brat, interested in becoming a pirate?"
From that day on…
The pirate "Beasts" Kaido was born.
…Within the Rocks Pirates, Kaido witnessed for the first time the strength of other monsters.
The battlefield that was originally meant to drag the Celestial Dragons down from their divine throne, testing whether they deserved to be rulers of this world… this pursuit slowly distorted…
He wanted to become stronger!
Strong enough to bring the entire world under his control!
He wanted to become the strongest and rule everything!
His original intention had long quietly shifted, but—
"What nonsense are you spouting, Michael?"
"Don't think I'll start doubting myself because of a few of your stupid lines."
"I've never regretted any damn decision I've made!"
"Yeah, maybe I have changed! But that was my own choice!"
Michael looked at the roaring Kaido, not the least bit surprised.
Just like Zephyr's no-kill principle, just like Shiki's obsession with the ultimate battle…
In his eyes, true strong ones never waver because of someone else's words. They never change their belief or principles due to another's lecture.
Kaido was no different.
If one chooses to be evil—then they go all the way.
False kindness, incomplete evil—
That was the greatest tragedy.
Kaido simply made his own choice and walked down…
The path that belonged only to "Beasts" Kaido.
Once upon a time, Kaido's thinking was radical and violent, yes, but his overall guiding philosophy was actually quite positive—
Fairness and freedom.
Even though he wore a terrifying face and carried a pitch-black kanabo, he truly was a dragon-slayer youth full of ideals.
If Kaido had not boarded Rocks' ship, but instead met Michael or Dragon's guidance… perhaps everything would have ended differently.
The "Emperor" who once terrorized Wano might have become the founder of a new order.
But…
Back then, there was no Revolutionary Army, and Michael was still young and slacking…
Kaido's budding spirit of rebellion gradually twisted into what he became now.
After disappearing from the God Valley war, when he reappeared, he was already this Kaido.
After eating the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, a true evil dragon—was born.
Whether it was Whitebeard, who once brought him into the Rocks Pirates, or Charlotte Linlin, who truly treated him as a younger brother—in front of Michael, whenever they spoke of Kaido, it was always with sighs…
"Michael, don't tell me you're hesitating?"
"Damn it! You bastard!"
"This is a battlefield! And now you're hesitating!?"
Kaido snorted, and disappointment flickered in his eyes.
With that dissatisfied snort, his aura climbed toward its peak.
He grabbed the gourd beside him and drank the remaining liquor in one gulp.
The next moment, Conqueror's Haki Infusion and the lightning controlled by his Azure Dragon form simultaneously wrapped around the kanabo.
Whether power, speed, or range—the boost was overwhelming.
Descending from the sky, swinging down the kanabo, Kaido suddenly saw a faint smile appear on Michael's lips.
Then, Michael opened both arms, offering no defense, welcoming the strike.
Kaido was absolutely certain—
He was doing it on purpose!
But before he could think further, the strike already landed squarely on Michael.
In an instant, Michael was blasted away by that absolute, devastating blow, smashing into the barren rocky cliff.
But Kaido did not follow up.
Instead, he stared at Michael in confusion.
Michael's entire body was embedded in the rock, and upon his angelic form—finally—appeared visible wounds.
"Hahaha, Kaido, why the shocked face?"
"I'm just apologizing, you know."
Michael gently pushed himself out from the rock.
His wings shuddered lightly, and he raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his lips.
The red across his lips looked like the color of a vow.
"I'm apologizing to that Kaido who once wandered the seas, lost like a child."
"I'm sorry I was born too late."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you made your choice, to guide you another way."
"I'm sorry that even now, I still haven't managed to truly fix this world…"
"So…"
"For you…"
Michael lifted his head. His face held no killing intent—only holiness.
But the smear of blood on his lips added a trace of wickedness to that holiness.
With that declaration, all the power around Michael's body seemed to vanish.
Whether it was the three colors of Haki, or the three Flames of the Seraphim Fruit…
Only gentle Holy Light drifted through the air.
Michael's body began to change.
His six wings—two large, one small on each side—folded behind him and vanished.
Holy Light gathered wildly behind his back.
A pair of wings formed entirely from Holy Light appeared.
Then grew.
And grew.
Until it seemed they could cover the entire Onigashima.
That surging power erupted all at once when the wings reached their limit.
Michael slowly opened his eyes.
Those blue-crystal eyes were as clear as an inverted sky.
He raised Myōjō, pointing it at the dragon.
"I will send every evil dragon in this world straight into hell."
"And of course—one of those 'evil dragons'…"
"…is you."
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg