Across the thirteen warships of the Beasts Pirates, a terrifying sight unfolded. On each deck, a specialized group of combatants unleashed their true power. These were the elite of the Beasts Pirates, the beneficiaries of Kaido's Artificial Devil Fruit technology.
Once they activated their abilities, the transformation was instantaneous. They became hulking, robust monsters with hides as thick as iron. Tigers, lions, rhinoceroses, elephants, and eagles—giant predatory hybrids—now loomed over the Marine ranks. For the ordinary Marine soldiers, who were at best well-trained superhumans, there was no defense against this raw Zoan strength. Unless one held the rank of Rear Admiral or possessed the grit of someone like Smoker, resisting these monsters was an impossible task.
Smoker, currently a Commodore, surveyed the carnage with growing dread. He had known through intelligence reports that the Beasts Pirates were developing artificial fruits, but the sheer scale was overwhelming. Aside from the division captains of the Oni Squad, he counted at least thirty other users wreaking havoc.
"Damn it!" he hissed. If the Beasts Pirates were allowed to continue this development for another two years, they would possess an army of hundreds. He moved to intercept the monsters, but a sudden spike in his Observation Haki forced him to dive to the side. A pitch-black arrow, coated in Armament Haki, hissed through the space where his head had been a second before.
Smoker looked up to see a bat-hybrid—Silla—perched above, an evil smirk on his face as he readied another Haki-infused shot. "A Logia user among the Marines? Interesting," Silla taunted. "Your life belongs to me now."
On the flagship, The King of Beasts, the Tobi Roppo watched the display. Ulti laughed arrogantly, mocking the Marines for having a Logia user stuck at the rank of Commodore. Beside her, Who's-Who chuckled, noting Smoker's stubborn reputation. However, Jack the Drought remained somber.
"It's not that the Marines lack talent," Jack grunted. "It's that under our captain's leadership, everyone on our side has surpassed their limits."
The assessment was accurate. While Marine Vice Admirals were often seen as "tools" compared to the world-ending power of an Admiral, they were still formidable warriors who had mastered basic Haki. In the past, someone like Basil Hawkins might have struggled against them, but the battlefield had changed.
Kaido's grueling training had ensured his captains mastered Haki, but the Artificial Devil Fruits had shifted their very potential. In the New World, a standard Devil Fruit cost upwards of $100,000,000$ Berries. Kaido's artificial versions provided that same leap in physical quality and recovery, lacking only the ability to "Awaken." This had allowed his captains to bridge the gap and now hold the Vice Admirals in a state of suppression.
This shift was even more evident in the Tobi Roppo. With the exception of the young Pudding, the other five members now possessed the strength of a Warlord or an Admiral candidate.
The slaughter was one-sided. The Vice Admirals were pinned down by the Oni Squad captains, while the Rear Admirals and lower ranks were being systematically eliminated by the Gifters. These users weren't just random thugs; they were the victors of gladiatorial pits and elite training camps, handpicked from various races to receive the "gift" of power.
High in the sky, Big Mom's eyes gleamed with greed as she watched the efficiency of the army. "Kaido! Trade me some of those fruits!" she cackled.
"Worororo! I thought you weren't interested, Linlin," Kaido replied with a booming laugh. "I'll trade them, but you'll pay the market price."
"Mamamama! Money is no object!"
As the two Emperors shared a laugh, the mood on the Marine ships turned grim. Between the Beasts Pirates' army and the presence of a second Emperor, the Navy's position was rapidly becoming untenable.
"There is no other choice," a high-ranking Marine officer muttered, looking toward the hold of the flagship. "Let them move out."
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