The battle dragged on until the sky turned completely dark, yet the battlefield remained dazzling and vibrant.
Explosions, shockwaves, and powerful techniques lit up the night one after another.
Ash quickly lost interest.
After telling the women to rest if they felt tired, he returned to the luxurious sea-view room at the top of the Thousand Sunny.
The next morning, Ash stretched lazily and appeared at the bow of the ship. What greeted him was a mountain of food, along with Kirk lounging in his personal chair, legs crossed as he casually sipped fine wine.
On the battlefield, Kaido was still swinging his kanabo, tirelessly hammering his opponents. Meanwhile, Pini continued bombarding King from a distance, lighting up the sky like fireworks.
Ash blinked.
"What is this, did you stay up all night?"
Kirk glanced at him and yawned. "You all sleep comfortably, someone has to stay alert. What if something unexpected happens?"
He stood up, stretched, then patted Ash on the shoulder.
"Better safe than sorry, Captain. I'm going to get some sleep. Don't wake me even if the Four Emperors show up before noon."
"You've done enough, go rest," Ash replied with a grin.
The moment Kirk left, Ash turned his full attention to the food pile and began searching for his favorites.
"Morning!"
Robin descended lightly onto the bow, followed by Saff and the others. She had already grown accustomed to her new ability and looked quite pleased.
Ash, with his mouth full, could only raise a piece of sauce-covered fried meat in greeting.
Saff looked around. "Did my brother go rest?"
Ash swallowed and nodded. "He went to sleep. Said not to wake him even if the Four Emperors show up."
Saff chuckled. "He's been fighting Kaido for a full day and night and still talks like that."
Ash widened his eyes. "What's so special about the Four Emperors? Even if they all came, I'd knock them down one by one!"
"Sure, you would," Saff replied with a smile, clearly amused by the sauce smeared around his mouth.
Still unsatisfied, Ash took another bite and muttered, "It's just the Four Emperors. Sooner or later, everyone on this crew will reach that level."
At that moment, Nami leaned in from the side with a grin.
"The whole crew at Emperor level, and you still plan to beat them all yourself?"
Ash froze.
Laughter broke out across the deck.
After breakfast, everyone turned their attention back to the battlefield.
"How long are they going to keep this up?" Nojiko asked.
Ash shrugged. "Best outcome is everyone breaks through. I've set aside five days before the New Year."
He smiled. "At the very least, they need time to return and prepare."
The women exchanged looks.
Five days before the New Year?
It was only November 21st.
That meant this would continue for over a month.
Even if they could endure it, would Kaido survive that long?
Seeing no end in sight, Nami pulled out a deck of cards.
"If they're going to keep fighting, we might as well play something."
And so, time passed.
Three more days went by.
During that period, members of the Beast Pirates, including Queen and Jack, regained consciousness several times, only to be knocked out again by a bored Ash.
This time, they slept much more peacefully.
On the fifth day, the situation finally changed.
King's stamina reached its limit.
In the middle of battle, the flames on his back suddenly vanished. A massive wind blade from Pini sliced toward him, nearly taking his head.
At the last moment, King raised his sword and barely blocked the attack.
Cold sweat ran down his face.
At the same time, Pini's eyes sharpened.
Victory was within reach.
He immediately intensified his assault.
Robin observed closely. "Does maintaining those flames consume that much stamina?"
Ash paused for a moment before answering.
"Of course. He's a Zoan user, and Zoan types are known for endurance. If even he can't keep it up, then the cost must be enormous."
Robin nodded, accepting the explanation.
Moments later, a powerful barrage struck King directly. With his strength depleted, he finally collapsed, unconscious.
Pini returned to the ship.
"Still chatting?"
Unlike Sali and the others, who had taken turns facing Kaido, Pini had fought continuously for five days. His exhaustion was obvious.
He headed straight for the food pile.
Between bites, he shouted, "This is amazing!" and "This is too good!"
Saff brought him a bottle of fruit wine, which finally quieted him.
After eating his fill, Pini lay down and fell asleep almost instantly.
As the sun began to set, a figure suddenly appeared on the distant coastline, rushing toward the Thousand Sunny at high speed.
Pini abruptly sat up, locking onto the approaching presence.
Ash raised an eyebrow.
Pini had sensed it before him.
Interesting.
That level of perception suggested he was close to awakening a new level of Observation Haki.
Ash recalled how Pini once described glimpsing fragments of the future during a past battle.
So that was it.
A future sight type.
Not bad.
Ash smiled faintly, then looked toward the approaching figure. Once he recognized her, his expression shifted slightly.
He tapped Pini's shoulder.
"Leave this one. Go join Sali and the others."
Pini immediately brushed his hand off and leapt back toward the battlefield.
The others also noticed the figure.
"Who is that?" Nami asked curiously.
Ash did not respond.
Nami lightly punched his shoulder.
Saff narrowed her eyes. "Looks like… a girl?"
Ash rolled his eyes. "She's running so fast it's obvious."
The women flushed and glared at him.
Ash cleared his throat. "That's Kaido's daughter."
That got their attention.
Ash's expression turned slightly annoyed.
"Just stay away from her. Don't get involved."
The women were far more interested in the fact that she was Kaido's daughter.
Ash, however, had no intention of getting close.
Yamato was not someone he wanted to deal with.
Shaking his head, he quietly moved his chair back a few meters, placing himself between her and the others.