LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 123: CHAPTER 123
Due to the obstruction caused by Shanks and the Red-Haired Pirates, Kaido's advance was significantly delayed. By the time Kaido had fully established his dominance over Whitebeard's former territories, the Summit War at Marineford had already concluded.
"Kaido-san, Whitebeard is dead. The navy has claimed victory, but it seems they've suffered heavy losses," reported King, also known as Flame Calamity, the All-Star of the Beasts Pirates.
As the second-in-command of the crew, Jhin had to take on most of the responsibilities. Between Kaido's drunken rampages, Quinn's laziness, and Jack's recklessness, Jhin became the de facto leader in managing the crew's operations, including intelligence gathering.
Upon hearing the news, Kaido—already in a foul mood—let out a deafening roar. In his dragon form, he swung his massive tail, ascended to the skies, and disappeared into the clouds.
"What's Boss Kaido doing now?" one of the Flying Six asked, bewildered.
"Hmm… if past patterns hold, he's likely attempting to commit suicide again," King replied dryly.
"Suicide? How?"
"Stupid. By jumping off an island in the sky, of course," another crew member retorted.
The absurdity of Kaido's "suicide attempts" was well-known. Jumping from Sky Islands or throwing himself into impossible scenarios was his twisted way of testing his own immortality. But for the crew, it was just another day dealing with their eccentric captain.
Meanwhile, in the New World
Far away from the chaos, Alastor, the rising calamity, had entered the New World aboard a submarine. Reclining on a sun lounger on the deck, he soaked up the sun, finally enjoying a moment of peace.
Despite sustaining severe injuries during the Summit War, Alastor's unique ability to recover through consuming food had restored him to full health. However, the relentless battles had left him mentally drained.
Rebecca, who had joined him after the events in Dressrosa, approached with a steaming cup of tea. "Here's your tea, Alastor-sama," she said with a smile. The tea, a specialty of the Flower Kingdom, had been specially brought to him by Sai.
Alastor lazily opened his mouth, prompting Rebecca to feed him the tea. A stray tea leaf stuck to his lips, and Rebecca, without hesitation, gently wiped it away.
Breaking the tranquil moment, Alastor instructed her, "Tell Trafalgar Law to head to Punk Hazard while the navy is still recovering."
Rebecca nodded obediently and skipped off to relay the message. Watching her leave, Alastor couldn't help but smile. He recalled their first meeting—Rebecca had been fresh out of Dressrosa's colosseum, still wearing her scant armor, which had made her a target of ridicule. Despite her strength, the girl had hidden her tears in solitude, revealing her inner fragility.
But hardship had forged her resolve. Now, Rebecca was stronger than ever, even mastering her artificial dragon fruit. Her progress amazed Alastor, and he resolved to help her refine her abilities further.
Moments later, Rebecca returned with exciting news. "Brother Alastor, your bounty has increased to 1.5 billion berries!"
"1.5 billion?" Alastor smirked, stretching. "Add the 2 billion black market bounty, and that makes it 3.5 billion. The navy and the World Government really are desperate."
With a bounty rivaling the Four Emperors, Alastor knew he would draw the attention of bounty hunters and the underworld. He'd have to stay vigilant.
Though his official bounty had surpassed those of King, Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates, and Marco of the Whitebeard Pirates, Alastor understood that a bounty didn't always equate to raw strength. It reflected a combination of power, notoriety, and the threat posed to the World Government.
Alastor's bounty was particularly high because he had killed a Celestial Dragon and caused significant damage at Marineford. His actions had resulted in the deaths of dozens of vice admirals and hundreds of rear admirals, dealing a devastating blow to the navy's leadership.
Alastor mused about his own strength. Unlike specialists such as King, with his unparalleled defense, or Katakuri, with his mastery of advanced Observation Haki, Alastor prided himself on being a "hexagonal" fighter—balanced across all disciplines.
His abilities spanned a wide array: fire, lightning, swordsmanship, physical combat, and mastery of all three forms of Haki. While he lacked a single dominant specialty, his lack of glaring weaknesses made him a formidable opponent.
"In that sense, I'm like a miniature Kaido," Alastor chuckled to himself. "But unlike Kaido, I haven't eaten a devil fruit, so I'm not vulnerable to seawater or seastone. That alone makes me better than him in one regard."
Alastor grinned, his ambitions crystal clear. "The title of the world's strongest creature will be mine someday!"
As he gazed into the horizon, Alastor checked his progress through the mysterious system tied to his abilities:
Host: Alastor
Age: 20
Defense Power: 15,000 points
The events at Marineford had significantly boosted his stats, bringing his defense to a staggering 15,000 points, surpassing even Yamato's. Few in the world could now match his resilience.
Feeling rejuvenated, Alastor stood up, looking ahead with confidence. The New World was a treacherous place, but it was also the perfect stage for him to ascend to the top.
Alastor stepped into the submarine cabin, holding Trafalgar Law's heart encased in a cube. Without much ceremony, he tossed it to its rightful owner.
"This is your heart. I said I'd return it after the war, but there's a condition: you must extract Caesar Clown's heart for me."
Trafalgar Law caught the cube, his expression calm, as if he had expected this.
For most pirates, a promise meant little, especially after the war. Retracting one's word was par for the course. However, Law had come to understand that the man before him, Alastor—the man who dared to kill a Celestial Dragon and wreak havoc on a battlefield teeming with the world's strongest—was not like most pirates.
Alastor's strength and audacity were matched by an unwavering sense of pride. He wasn't the type to stoop to dishonor, nor to break a promise.
In this regard, Law found a surprising similarity between himself and Alastor. Although he hadn't voiced it, Trafalgar Law shared a similar code: his word, once given, was not easily broken.
This mutual respect was why Law didn't flee or plot revenge after regaining his heart. Instead, he nodded, accepting his temporary servitude. Five years in service was a small price to pay if it meant achieving his ultimate goal—killing Donquixote Doflamingo to avenge Corazon.
As he placed his heart back into his chest, Law asked, "You're targeting Caesar Clown? Isn't that too hasty? You'll alert Doflamingo."
Caesar Clown was integral to Doflamingo's SMILE production line, a cornerstone of his empire. Losing Caesar would disrupt his entire operation, a blow Doflamingo couldn't afford. In fact, Doflamingo had already shown how much he valued Caesar by personally contacting him after the Punk Hazard disaster and dispatching Monet to ensure his safety.
Alastor, however, remained unfazed. "That doesn't matter. With my current strength, I don't fear Doflamingo. Besides, after everything at Marineford, he likely suspects your allegiance already."
Alastor had another reason to head to Punk Hazard: the impending clash between Aokiji and Akainu. The two admirals were set to duel for the position of Fleet Admiral, and their battle would forever alter Punk Hazard's climate, transforming it into an island of fire and ice. The scale of the fight suggested their Devil Fruits had likely reached the awakened state, making this a spectacle Alastor couldn't afford to miss.
With that, the submarine dove deep into the ocean, surging toward Punk Hazard at full speed.
Although the war at Marineford had ended, its reverberations were just beginning to be felt across the world.
"Did you hear? Whitebeard's last words—he declared that the One Piece is real!"
"Yeah, the old man must've seen it. Imagine, the treasure of the Pirate King—untouched for decades. I almost thought it was a myth!"
"Well, are you coming with me? Let's go find the One Piece!"
"Of course! With the navy in shambles, they won't have the strength to stop us!"
Whitebeard's dying proclamation reignited the flames of the Great Pirate Era, driving countless individuals to the sea. From the ambitious to the desperate, from the oppressed to the power-hungry, people of all kinds flooded into piracy, turning the oceans into a maelstrom of chaos.
In the shadows, the giants of the underworld saw opportunities as well.
In Totto Land, Charlotte Linlin—Big Mom and one of the Four Emperors—was celebrating.
"Whitebeard's dead! Mama's lost one of her greatest rivals! Now, the One Piece will be mine!" she cackled, her enormous frame shaking with excitement.
Big Mom's ultimate dream wasn't just to become the Pirate King; it was to create a utopia, an all-inclusive nation where everyone lived in "equality." This "equality," however, was purely physical—she wanted everyone to match her immense size. To achieve this, she poured resources into her giantification experiments, overseen by Caesar Clown.
But the experiments, her extravagant sweet tooth, and the maintenance of Totto Land demanded immense financial resources. The One Piece was her solution.
"Mom," Katakuri interjected, "Whitebeard's territories are being seized by Kaido. The Beasts Pirates have expanded significantly, and they even took one of our mine islands."
"That ungrateful brat Kaido!" Big Mom roared, her mood souring. "I gave him his Devil Fruit, and this is how he repays me? That fruit would've been better fed to a dog!"
Years ago, as a member of the Rocks Pirates, Kaido had been a subordinate to Big Mom. It was she who gifted him his Mythical Zoan fruit, which transformed him into a dragon. Watching Kaido surpass her in notoriety and strength fueled her rage.
After venting her frustration, Big Mom suddenly laughed. "Well, if Kaido thinks he can outmaneuver me, he's in for a surprise. Have you heard of the Germa Kingdom in the North Blue? I plan to take their technology for myself. Well, well, well!"
"How?" Perospero asked, already uneasy.
"Through marriage, of course!"
Big Mom's history with "marriage alliances" was notorious. Her last attempt—to marry into Elbaf, the land of giants—had ended in disaster when her daughter Lola fled, souring relations with the giants. Perospero and Katakuri exchanged nervous glances, silently hoping history wouldn't repeat itself.
Meanwhile, in the North Blue, Vinsmoke Judge remained oblivious to Big Mom's schemes. Judge's ambitions were clear—he sought to conquer the North Blue and restore Germa 66's former glory. Joining forces with a powerful ally, however, might just be his best option to achieve those goals.
Unbeknownst to him, a storm was already brewing, one that would soon engulf both Germa and the entire world.
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