THE STRONGEST CREATURE OF THE BEAST PIRATES

Marco underestimated the strength of the Beasts Pirates. Even without Kaido, the overwhelming force of their army was enough to shatter the resolve of the Whitebeard remnants. The loss of Izou, a loyal companion, hit hard.

Marco clenched his fists, his heart heavy with grief. The sight of Izou's severed head, lifeless on the battlefield, twisted his insides. His sorrow was evident, even to his opponent, Yamato, who had paused mid-swing with her Kanabo, her piercing eyes scanning the battlefield.

"That man… wasn't he one of Kozuki Oden's retainers?" Yamato said, her tone contemplative as she gazed at Izou's remains.

Marco's attention snapped to Yamato. "Who are you? I've never seen anyone like you among the Beasts Pirates," he asked, his voice tinged with wariness.

Yamato smiled faintly, standing tall and resolute. "I am Yamato, son of Kaido. But more importantly, I am also Joy Boy!"

Marco's eyes widened. "Joy Boy? You…? But you're Kaido's child. Kaido's very name is synonymous with destruction. He would destroy everything, including the lands my father once protected!"

Yamato's expression darkened. She took a deep breath and declared, "It's true Kaido is a monster, one of the worst villains to walk this world. That's why I refuse to stand by his side. I will defeat him, Marco. I'll make sure he never harms Wano—or anyone else—again!"

Marco was taken aback by the conviction in her voice. "Kaido's child… fighting against him?" he muttered, struggling to process the revelation.

Yamato's voice grew stronger, her eyes blazing with determination. "This land, Wano, will not fall into his hands. Nor will I return it to you, Marco. Your father's time has passed. I will rule Wano in my own way, and I will ensure it prospers!"

Marco observed her carefully, her words striking a chord. Yamato wasn't lying—he could sense her sincerity. Her conviction wasn't borrowed; it was forged from her own beliefs and experiences.

She continued, her voice calm but commanding. "If your people retreat now, I will not pursue you. I don't want to see more needless deaths, even after all you've lost."

Marco hesitated. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. The Whitebeard Pirates were not what they once were. Their losses were piling up, and the battle was hopeless. Gritting his teeth, he finally relented.

"Jozu! Vista! Everyone! Stop fighting and fall back!" Marco's voice echoed across the battlefield. "I'm sorry… I failed you."

As the leader of the Whitebeard remnants, Marco bore the full weight of their defeat. With a heavy heart, he flew to cover his comrades' retreat, his flames illuminating the battlefield as he clashed with pursuing enemies to buy time.

Yamato watched the remnants flee, her Kanabo resting on her shoulder. She didn't pursue them. Instead, she stood silently, her resolve firm.

The battlefield was soon empty, save for the Beasts Pirates celebrating their victory and the scattered remnants of their fallen foes.

Yamato approached Alastor, who stood amid the chaos, his bare chest scarred from battle. Her piercing eyes softened slightly, though her tone remained sharp.

"Why do you always come back covered in wounds? Do you enjoy getting beaten up?" she asked, exasperated.

Alastor smirked, the corners of his mouth curling into a grin. "It's not that I enjoy it, Yamato. But only through pain can I grow stronger. Each scar hardens me, makes me tougher, more durable. That's the way I fight."

Yamato rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "You're ridiculous," she muttered, though her voice carried a hint of admiration.

Alastor stepped closer, his grin widening. "Speaking of growing stronger, I've developed a new understanding of my swordsmanship during that fight with Vista. Next time, I'll take it to the next level."

"Is that all you think about? Fighting?" Yamato teased, crossing her arms.

"Well," Alastor replied, leaning closer with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "right now, I'm thinking about food. After all, a fight like that takes a lot out of me. Care to join me?"

Yamato huffed, though a playful smirk tugged at her lips. "You just ate! How are you still hungry?"

"I burn through energy fast, especially after getting this many injuries," Alastor said, pointing to the fresh wounds across his body. "I need to replenish my strength."

Before Yamato could respond, Alastor wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"Alastor!" she exclaimed, caught off guard.

"Hold on tight," he said, his tone lighthearted. In a flash of lightning, the two disappeared, leaving the battlefield behind.

Alastor smirked as he carried her away. "Let's find something to eat—and maybe somewhere quieter to relax."

For now, the storm had passed, but both knew it was only a brief reprieve. The world of pirates was never without its conflicts, and their paths would continue to intertwine in unpredictable ways.

An island on the way to the Sphinx. The Blackbeard Pirates, having escaped Marineford, have made a stop here, but they lack a ship. Jewelry Bonney, one of the Supernovas, had captured a navy warship and sought to trade it with the marines, but Fleet Admiral Akainu intervened personally.

"That guy Akainu really has too much time on his hands. Shouldn't he focus on rebuilding Marine Headquarters?" Burgess complained.

"Hahaha, Burgess, you're underestimating Akainu's ambition. He doesn't just want to maintain order—he wants to be the Navy's ultimate power!" Blackbeard sneered.

Burgess, who now bore a mechanical arm after the Empress crippled his original one, remarked, "Isn't the Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"

Blackbeard chuckled. "Not for long. The Navy has suffered major losses, and Sengoku has already submitted his resignation to the World Government. Between the radical Akainu and the laid-back Kuzan (Aokiji), I'd take Sengoku any day. Ze hahaha!"

"Akainu might not have it so easy," Shiliew, the former warden of Impel Down, noted. "Aokiji also has his eyes on the Fleet Admiral position. The two are bound for a showdown."

"Aokiji..." Blackbeard's eyes narrowed.

During his brief tenure as a Shichibukai, Blackbeard had secret dealings with Aokiji. Recruiting him would bolster the Blackbeard Pirates with unparalleled combat strength.

"Enough about the Navy," Burgess interrupted. "Captain, shouldn't we be claiming Whitebeard's old territories? Why are we here?"

Lafitte replied, "During the Summit War, the New World saw major shifts. The Beast Pirates clashed with the Red-Hair Pirates, and Whitebeard's former territory was seized by Kaido."

"What?!" Burgess paled at the news.

Blackbeard's expression darkened at the mention of Kaido. His grudge against the Beasts Pirates ran deep, especially against Yamato and the Thunder Calamity, who had destroyed Whitebeard's body and claimed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit for themselves.

"Those Hundred Beasts bastards will pay eventually," Blackbeard snarled. "But for now, let's settle things with Whitebeard's remnants."

From a high vantage point, Van Augur called out, "They're approaching—the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

"Ze hahaha! Little ones, let's make our mark in the New World! Fire our first shot and cement my place as one of the Four Emperors!"

The remnants of Whitebeard's crew, still reeling from previous losses, were ambushed. Blackbeard's darkness consumed many, including Jozu and Vista. Only Marco escaped, retreating to the Sphinx, broken and defeated.

Kneeling before Whitebeard's grave, Marco wept bitterly.

Blackbeard, victorious and full of ambition, raised his flag over the New World. The World Government had no choice but to officially recognize him as one of the Four Emperors.

However, Blackbeard's true goal wasn't Whitebeard's old territories but the legendary Hive Island, the former headquarters of the Rocks Pirates.

Red Line, Holy Land Mariejois.

The Five Elders, the highest authority in the world, met with Sengoku.

"Are you sure about resigning?" asked Saturn, one of the Five Elders.

Another elder, the bald man with the sword suspected to be the Shodai Kitetsu, added, "The chaos from the Summit War wasn't entirely your fault. No one could have predicted Kaido's move to seize Whitebeard's territories or the clash with the Red-Hair Pirates. Don't blame yourself entirely."

"The sea is in chaos," another elder acknowledged. "While Ace's execution succeeded, it didn't have the desired effect. Both the Government and the Navy have suffered losses. At this critical moment, your leadership is essential, Sengoku."

Sengoku, however, remained firm. Whitebeard's last words echoed in his mind: "I am a relic of the old era. There is no ship that can carry me to the new one."

"I'm sorry," Sengoku said, placing his resignation on the table. "I'm old and weary. It's time for the younger generation to lead."

Reluctantly, the Five Elders accepted his decision.

"Do you have a recommendation for your successor?" Saturn asked.

"Aokiji," Sengoku answered without hesitation.

The Five Elders exchanged skeptical glances. Aokiji's laid-back nature made him seem unsuitable for the turbulent times ahead. In contrast, Akainu's decisive and aggressive approach seemed better suited to the current chaos.

It was clear—a battle between ice and magma was inevitable.

Elsewhere, Yamato, Kaido's daughter, had begun to carve her name into the New World. Her clashes with Beckman and Marco had made waves, drawing the attention of even the Five Elders.

"She's a descendant of Kaido," one of the elders remarked grimly.

With threats like Blackbeard, the Beasts Pirates, and Yamato rising, the world was heading toward greater chaos than ever before.

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