"These fools…"
Big Mom's lips curled into a wide, mocking grin as she watched the Marines begin their retreat. She fixed her gaze on Saint V. Nusjuro and let out her signature laugh.
"Mama mama mama! What's this? Running away already, Celestial Dragons?"
Saint V. Nusjuro gave a cold snort, his expression filled with contempt. "Insects should know their place. Your survival today is nothing but luck. We underestimated you, no, we underestimated Marco. As for you, Charlotte Linlin, I can deal with you whenever I please."
Big Mom's eyes flared with fury at the insult. Her massive fists clenched, veins bulging across her arms. She hated being looked down upon, especially by a Celestial Dragon.
Saint V. Nusjuro did not spare her another glance. Though she was one of the Four Emperors, he had already judged her strength during their clash. In his view, she was the least threatening among them.
Suddenly, a thunderous laugh echoed across the sky.
"Worororo…"
Dark clouds gathered above Whole Cake Island, churning violently. From within them, an enormous azure dragon head emerged, followed by a colossal serpentine body that stretched for what seemed like a thousand meters, coiling through the storm clouds with overwhelming presence.
"It's Kaido…" Admiral Aramaki muttered, his face turning grim.
Unlike Marco, whose power revealed itself gradually in battle, Kaido's might was unmistakable at a glance. The pressure radiating from his massive dragon form was suffocating. His very existence dominated the battlefield.
Kaido's booming voice rolled across the island. "I came to help you, Linlin, Marco…"
Big Mom's excitement surged. "Mama mama mama! Kaido, you finally made it! The Marines are trying to run. Stop them. Don't let a single one escape!"
High above, Marco exhaled quietly in relief. With Kaido's arrival, the balance had shifted completely. As long as the Marines were forced out, their objective would be secured.
Kaido's crimson eyes scanned the retreating fleet. His voice turned cold.
"You think you can leave after bullying my allies? Worororo… not so easily."
Big Mom frowned slightly at his choice of words, allies, but she said nothing. In her current condition, she had no room to argue.
Kaido inhaled deeply. Flames and violent winds spiraled into his open jaws, compressing into a blazing vortex of destruction.
"Heat Breath."
A massive beam of scorching fire erupted from his mouth, tearing through the battlefield. Several warships were sliced cleanly in half before detonating in violent explosions. Fire spread across the sea itself, forming a blazing inferno that stretched hundreds of meters.
Screams filled the air. Marines leapt from burning ships, diving desperately into the ocean to escape being incinerated.
"Monster!"
Panic spread rapidly through the ranks. Watching entire warships vanish in a single attack shattered what little morale remained.
Aramaki's expression darkened further. He had no intention of engaging Kaido. Marco alone was already a nightmare, and Kaido was recognized as the strongest creature in the world. Marco had once fought him for twenty days and still lost. That alone spoke volumes.
"Retreat immediately!" Aramaki shouted. "Full withdrawal!"
He did not hesitate to pull back himself. Fighting Big Mom was one thing. Facing Kaido or Marco head on was suicide.
The former Warlords of the Sea wasted no time either. They returned to their ships and ordered departure without concern for the ordinary Marines left scrambling behind. Survival came first.
They understood what this defeat meant. The Marines and the World Government had launched a massive operation, and yet three Emperors now stood united on the battlefield. Worse still, a Fleet Admiral had fallen. News of this would shake the world.
For pirates everywhere, this would be a symbol of hope. For the World Government, it would be humiliation.
Fujitora, however, could not tolerate the slaughter. Feeling the devastation through his Observation Haki, anger surged within him.
He stomped the ground, launching himself skyward toward Kaido.
"Do not mistake cruelty for strength, pirate."
Drawing his cane sword, he activated his Devil Fruit ability. A purple aura spiraled upward into the heavens, and moments later, a massive meteor tore through the sky, crashing down toward Kaido.
Kaido's eyes narrowed.
"Heat Breath."
Another blast of fire shot upward, obliterating the meteor in midair. Flaming fragments rained down across Whole Cake Island, smashing into the ground and leaving massive craters in their wake.
Kaido turned his enormous dragon head toward Fujitora and grinned.
"You must be the new Admiral, Fujitora. Worororo…"
Fujitora tightened his grip on his blade. "That is correct."
Meanwhile, Marco remained in the air, watching calmly. He made no move to pursue the retreating Marines. His attention stayed fixed on Saint V. Nusjuro and Saint Peter, who had previously kept him engaged.
The battle against the three Gorosei had drained a significant portion of his stamina. Their strange Immortality remained a mystery to him, and without understanding its weakness, forcing a decisive fight now would be unwise.
He had already survived multiple fatal strikes. Even with his heart pierced, his Mythical Zoan regeneration restored him. However, he knew the truth. His recovery relied on stamina. If exhausted completely, even he could fall.
The Gorosei understood this as well. Their strategy had been simple, overwhelm him and drain him dry. Yet Marco's resilience made it far more difficult than expected.
Now that Kaido had arrived, they had no desire to continue the confrontation. As long as Saint Mars could withdraw safely, they could retreat as well.
As for the Marines still on the field, their fate was no longer a priority.
Across the battlefield, the intensity escalated once more. With victory within reach, the pirates pressed forward mercilessly. The fear and tension they had endured throughout the war erupted into fierce retaliation.
They chased down fleeing Marines, determined to make the most of this triumph.
Above them all, the azure dragon roared, flames reflecting across the sea like the end of an era.