"Listen up, kid. We're not some fishermen out at sea—we're big-time pirates. Got it? Pirates!"
"Please... I'm begging you. I don't have any family. I'm scared, and I have nowhere else to go. I promise I won't be any trouble. Just... please take me with you."
The young boy dropped to his knees, bowing repeatedly. When the man in front of him remained still and silent, the boy rushed forward, grabbing his leg tightly, refusing to let go even as others tried to pull him away.
"What's your name?" the man finally asked.
The boy looked up with pleading eyes and said, "Tiqi."
The man stared at him intently, torn with hesitation.
Tiqi's heart pounded as he anxiously awaited the man's response, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"I understand. You can come aboard with us," the man said at last, turning around with a serious expression. He wasn't sure if he'd made the right choice.
"Dad, I think this kid's an orphan too."
"There've been more and more orphans lately."
"Don't worry. Once you're on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship, you're family. From now on, you're no longer alone—we're your brothers and sisters now."
…
Whitebeard snapped back to the present, gazing at Tiqi.
Four years had passed, and the boy had grown—taller, stronger.
"What's with Dad today? He keeps staring at me. Did I say something wrong?" Tiqi wondered, trying to stay calm and slow his heartbeat as nervous sweat trickled down his face.
"All right let's head to the South Blue," Whitebeard said, ultimately accepting Tiqi's suggestion just as he had in the past.
"Whew, that was close," Tiqi muttered to himself, wiping his face when Whitebeard wasn't looking.
"Great! We're heading to Roger now. I just hope we're not too late. If Lord Oden gets framed again, it'll be a mess," Izo said with concern, knowing full well Oden's personality from years of serving him.
"Don't worry, Brother Izo. When the time comes, we'll charge into Wano together. Orochi and Kaido are no match for Dad," said Cooliel, who was armored and armed, clearly more of a gunner type.
"Of course! Our father is the strongest man alive—even the World Government fears him. Orochi and Kaido won't stand a chance," Marco said confidently, lighting a cigarette.
"Yeah, let them learn what true fear is. How dare they attack Whitebeard's family—they're just asking for death," said Diamond Jozu with a calm but deadly smirk.
But Whitebeard's face turned somber at the mention of Kaido.
"Kaido... the one I once recruited into the Rocks Pirates. His Devil Fruit is the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan type: Azure Dragon. It suits him well. Physically, he's unmatched. His Haki rival's mine. If I go to Wano with Roger, we should be able to handle him—so long as he has no backup. But if he lays a hand on my family, even if it costs me my life, I will never forgive it."
Whitebeard knew Kaido's strength firsthand from their time in the Rocks Pirates. The title of "strongest creature" wasn't just empty words. Even with Whitebeard's own title of "strongest man," he understood the toll it took on his body. Kaido, meanwhile, had few equals in a one-on-one fight.
"Everyone on my ship is family. Anyone who harms them… will face death."
Whitebeard's dream had never been about fame or power—it was about protecting the people around him, enjoying life at sea, feasting, drinking, and laughing with his family.
…
The New World — Second Half of the Grand Line
Wano Country, Inland Sea Region
Near the border of Usagiwan and Baiwu, on the main island of Wano, lies Onigashima, the base of the Beasts Pirates.
Waves crashed violently around the island. The massive skull-like structure at its center glowed ominously red. Overhead, dark clouds churned, and thunder roared, making the entire island feel disconnected from the rest of the world—like a place of death.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
In the midst of the eerie silence, the sound of someone guzzling wine echoed.
A massive figure sat cross-legged, chugging from a red gourd. His long black hair fell wildly over his shoulders. He had beast-like horns and dragon-like whiskers—his presence was intimidating beyond words.
This man was Kaido, former Rocks Pirate, now captain of the Beasts Pirates, and ruler of Wano—also known as the strongest creature alive.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
"The world is just too boring... Joy Boy doesn't exist. It's pointless… everything's meaningless!"
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
He let out a bone-shaking roar, shaking the entire island.
"Ahh! Lord Kaido is rampaging again run!"
"Get out of here or you'll be crushed!"
Terrified crew members scrambled to flee, stepping over corpses as they ran.
"Mr. Jhin! Captain Kaido is out of control again!"
"Fall back," Jhin ordered coldly.
"Yes, sir!"
Even Kaido's own men feared him. No one felt safe—each day brought the risk of sudden death.
Then, a towering man with dark armor, a helmet, and massive black wings approached. It was Jhin, Kaido's trusted right-hand.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
Kaido paused and looked up at Jhin, slowly regaining composure.
"Jhin... do you still remember what I said before?"
"I do, Kaido-san."
"Do you think I can become Joy Boy, the one who'll reshape the world?"
Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
Kaido drained more wine.
Jhin glanced at the bounty posters and newspapers nearby. Though Wano was isolated, they still received world news.
"Kaido-san, I've always believed that you alone are worthy of becoming Joy Boy. No one else—not the World Government, not Gol D. Roger, not Edward Newgate—comes close to you."
Memories flashed in Jhin's eyes.
"I will always believe in you. My loyalty is absolute."
Kaido let out a thunderous, almost maniacal laugh that echoed across the dark skies of Onigashima.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!!!!"