Kaido, however, did not seem bothered by the situation in the slightest.
He leaned lazily against the railing with a bottle of liquor in hand and took a long drink, releasing a satisfied sigh as it ran down his throat.
His thick dragon tail swayed idly behind him.
"Fight? What the hell would we fight for?" he said with a dismissive grin. "I've already joined the Eternal Divine Kingdom!"
He proudly puffed out his chest and pointed toward the Divine Kingdom's emblem gleaming there beneath the sunlight.
"See that? We're on the same side now!"
Shiki had been standing ready to attack, both blades raised and flashing with cold light.
At Kaido's words, however, his swords froze in midair.
His eyes bulged so wide they nearly left their sockets, disbelief written across his face.
He slowly turned toward Ron.
"W-what?! How the hell is that possible?"
Then his gaze snapped back to Kaido.
"This brat… Kaido joined us? You're not screwing with me, are you?"
Bullet burst into booming laughter.
He slapped Shiki enthusiastically across the back and grinned.
"Didn't see that coming, did you? Yesterday, this bastard fought Uranus harder than almost anyone! It was one hell of a battle. Even I had to admit he was impressive."
Jozu nodded solemnly beside him.
"It's true. Kaido made a huge contribution. He took seventeen main-cannon blasts head-on during the battle.
"They came down on him like a storm, but he held his ground the entire time and never backed away."
Kaido grew even more smug under their praise.
He thrust out his chest and released his trademark laugh.
"Wororororo! Now you understand how important I am!"
He suddenly leaned closer to Shiki, a sly gleam appearing in his dragon eyes as he lowered his voice.
"How about a drink? We can talk about what happened over the last twenty years. It's been one hell of a ride."
Shiki stared at him in silence for several moments.
His swords gradually lowered, and his expression became complicated, carrying surprise, doubt, and a touch of nostalgia.
Then he abruptly threw back his head and laughed.
"Jihahahaha! Fine! Just for today, I'll share a drink with an asshole like you!"
The two legendary monsters headed toward the banquet hall side by side, their heavy strides filled with confidence.
Beneath the sunlight, their towering figures resembled two enormous mountains.
Everyone left on the deck exchanged relieved smiles.
Pluton rested silently upon the sea, its colossal hull gleaming with a dark, mysterious light, almost as though even the ancient warship approved of the historic reconciliation.
The sea breeze swept over the water and stirred layer after layer of waves, carrying the strange tale across the harbor.
Kaido and Shiki had only just begun making their way toward the banquet hall when another familiar, wildly arrogant laugh thundered down from the sky.
"Mamamama! Is that you, Shiki?"
Big Mom's mountain-like body descended slowly atop the surging thundercloud Zeus, bright lightning flashing beneath her feet.
Her sheer weight seemed to make the ground sink slightly with every step, producing deep rumbles as though the earth itself struggled beneath her presence.
Her booming voice rang across the harbor.
"I can't believe an old lion like you is still alive!"
Shiki's eyes immediately lit up like twin stars.
"Linlin?! You joined too…?"
…
Golden Lion slowly looked over the unbelievable scene before him.
Kaido stood on one side, radiating his usual savage arrogance, while Big Mom loomed on the other with an equally overwhelming presence. Together with Shiki himself, the three of them formed a reunion he never could have imagined.
A moment later, he threw back his head and burst into thunderous laughter.
"Jihahahaha! The old monsters who once sailed the seas together under Rocks have somehow ended up on the same ship again!"
Big Mom casually grabbed an exquisite cake from the nearby table and stuffed the whole thing into her enormous mouth without even looking at it.
She chewed happily, a satisfied expression spreading across her face.
"What an amusing twist of fate~ Although…"
Her bright smile suddenly faded.
A deep, mysterious look entered her eyes as she glanced meaningfully toward Ron in the distance.
"This ship is far better than that miserable old wreck we sailed on back then, don't you think?"
Shiki raised a jug and took a deep swig of strong liquor. Wine ran down through his beard as his gaze grew distant, taking him back through the years.
"Calling it better is an understatement…"
He deliberately lowered his voice, awe and emotion mixing in his tone.
"That brat Ron is far beyond anything Rocks ever was. That bastard was little more than a musclebound brute. He can't even be compared to Ron."
Kaido leaned his enormous frame forward, strange light flickering within his imposing dragon eyes like flames.
"Wororororo! Exactly! Rocks was a reckless fool whose entire philosophy amounted to forcing everyone into submission through endless violence. He acted as if the entire world should tremble beneath his feet.
"But Ron…"
Kaido raised his ornate drinking gourd toward the others, sincere respect and approval showing in his gaze.
"He has the kind of charm and intelligence that makes arrogant bastards like us gather here willingly and stand beside him by choice."
Big Mom immediately slammed one hand onto the table with a deafening bang and laughed.
"Mamamama! That's exactly right! That damned Rocks spent every day shouting that strength was everything, charging around like a brainless bull.
"But look at what we have now…"
She pointed one thick finger toward Ron, unmistakable admiration filling her eyes.
"That is someone truly worthy of being called a king! His courage and strategy are enough to make even people like us acknowledge him."
The three of them fell silent.
Their gazes became distant as each remembered the wild years they had once shared.
It had been an age filled with blood, ambition, and madness. Endless battles and rivalries had woven together into the brightest and cruelest chapter of their lives.
After a long while, Shiki was the first to break the silence.
He rose to his feet, standing tall as he raised his cup with a fierce, determined look in his eyes.
"To the arrival of a new era—one filled with hope and change!"
His booming voice seemed to cross the years, stirring something deep within everyone who heard it.
Kaido grew equally excited.
His enormous tail slammed against the solid deck, producing a deep crash like the beat of a war drum.
"To greater wars than anything we've ever seen! Let the whole world tremble before our battles!"
His muscles tightened as his powerful aura surged around him.
Not willing to be outdone, Big Mom raised Napoleon high into the air, the enormous blade gleaming coldly beneath the sunlight.
"To an endless supply of delicious sweets! Hahaha!"
Her laughter was loud and carefree, carrying her usual childish selfishness.
The three drinking vessels collided in midair with a sharp, ringing sound.
Liquor splashed outward like glittering stars, catching the light as it scattered around them.
The legends of the old era exchanged smiles filled with memories of the past, anticipation for the future, and trust in one another.
Behind them, the mysterious and mighty Pluton released a low, powerful hum, as though silently witnessing the historic moment and warning that a new storm was about to sweep across the vast sea.
...
On the windswept deck, the three continued drinking enthusiastically.
Their cups rose and fell without pause, and none of them cared about the liquor running down their chins.
Just as the celebration reached its peak, a massive figure appeared without warning, looming over the entire table like a towering mountain.
Murakumogiri struck the solid deck with tremendous force.
The impact made the neatly arranged wine barrels nearby jump into the air before landing again with heavy thuds.
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard's hearty laughter rolled over the sea like thunder, making everyone's ears ring.
He stared brightly at the group before him.
"You old bastards look like you're having a fine time. Were you planning to drink without inviting me?"
He paused deliberately, a teasing smile appearing on his face.
"Or were you afraid my sons would talk your ears off and ruin the mood?"
Without even turning around, Shiki casually tossed him a barrel filled with liquor.
He narrowed his eyes, mischief and old friendship shining within them.
"Hmph. I knew an asshole like you would invite himself! You never miss out whenever something good is happening."
Then he waved Whitebeard over enthusiastically.
"Get over here and have a drink. This place belongs to you as much as anyone!"
...