THE STRONGEST CREATURE OF THE BEAST PIRATES

More than two months ago, he was just a small-time troublemaker. The man who dared to infiltrate Dressrosa to steal the SMILE factory's secrets—a task unworthy of Doflamingo's direct attention—had now become a terrifying figure. How could he have grown so much in such a short time?

It was horrifying. Unbelievable.

Monet swallowed hard, her unease visible.

"Bastard, failed again! Giants! How is it so impossible to turn an ordinary human into a giant? Big Mom is insane for demanding this!"

A sudden angry outburst broke the silence—it was, of course, Caesar Clown.

Monet approached, her cold smile unwavering. Caesar whirled around, venting his frustration at her.

"Monet! Can't we just tell Joker that it's impossible to create giants out of humans?!"

Monet chuckled lightly, her tone mocking. "Impossible? We've already taken Big Mom's money. Do you think Joker cares whether it's possible? Besides, where do you think your research funding comes from? You know the consequences of rejecting one of the Four Emperors."

Caesar flinched, his bravado shrinking instantly.

He muttered nervously, "Y-yeah, I wasn't serious. I'd never actually reject Big Mom! But still... it's impossible."

Seeing his dilemma, Monet offered a cold, pragmatic suggestion. "Why not experiment on children? If adults are too difficult to alter, perhaps younger, more adaptable bodies might yield better results."

Caesar's eyes lit up with sinister excitement. "You're a genius, Monet! Unlike that incompetent Viola, who failed me the last time! She couldn't even secure a Devil Fruit properly!"

Blaming Viola for the disappearance of the artificial Green Dragon fruit was typical of Caesar's shamelessness. Though, in this case, Viola had indeed failed her task.

"What a lazy woman!" Caesar scoffed. "She's been slacking again—disgraceful! Joker should discipline her."

Monet's smile sharpened. "Perhaps I'll inform the young master myself."

Monet and her sister Sugar had been loyal to Doflamingo for years, unlike Viola, who was merely a coerced ally. Like the rest of the Donquixote family, Monet never fully trusted Viola, despite her forced servitude.

"I'll locate her and report back to the young master," Monet offered. Turning, she headed for the lab door. But before she could reach it, the door opened on its own.

Figures appeared in the doorway, and Monet froze. Among them was Viola—but neither Monet nor Caesar paid her much attention. Their gazes locked instead on the man leading the group.

"Th-Thunder Calamity..." Caesar stammered, his teeth chattering.

It was Alastor, a top officer of the Beasts Pirates and one of Kaido's infamous All-Stars. Beside him stood Trafalgar Law, the rogue Shichibukai, along with Rebecca and Viola, the former princesses of Dressrosa. The sight of this bizarre alliance made Monet's stomach churn with dread.

Even a fool could see this wasn't a friendly visit.

Alastor stepped forward, his expression unreadable. Monet instinctively moved back, sweat streaming down her face.

Caesar, realizing the tension, tried to smooth things over. "Master Thunder Calamity! You're here on Joker's behalf, right? Rest assured, the SMILE production line is fully operational! There's been no damage!"

His nervous laugh filled the room, but Alastor said nothing.

Monet's heart pounded. She had to warn Doflamingo—this could jeopardize their entire SMILE operation. She reached for her Snow-Snow Fruit powers, preparing to create a blizzard and escape.

But nothing happened.

Her powers wouldn't activate.

Panic set in as she realized she couldn't summon snow, couldn't transform her body—nothing. A heavy, suffocating aura pressed down on her, rendering her paralyzed. It was Haki, an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki radiating from Alastor.

Monet's vision blurred as terror consumed her. She couldn't move, couldn't fight back.

Then, pain.

Blinding pain.

When she regained focus, her neck was sliced open. Blood gushed from the wound, her breath hitching in her throat. She collapsed, clutching at her neck, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. She didn't even know how she had died.

Caesar, witnessing the scene, was frozen in terror.

"ROOM!"

A transparent dome formed around Caesar, cutting off his escape. Trafalgar Law appeared behind him, the tip of his sword, Kikoku, aimed at Caesar's chest.

"Scalpel."

With a swift movement, Law extracted Caesar's heart, holding the organ in his gloved hand.

Alastor took the heart and squeezed it lightly. Caesar crumpled to the ground, writhing in agony.

"Don't kill me! Please! I'll do whatever you want!" Caesar begged, tears streaming down his face.

Viola stepped forward, her face filled with relief, and spat, "You deserve it, you scum! Do you even realize how many lives you've destroyed?"

Caesar Clown was undoubtedly a vile, despicable individual. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to cut him into pieces for his crimes. Yet, in the canon story, his association with the Straw Hats allowed him to survive, and somehow, his villainous actions were overshadowed by his comedic antics. To many, this whitewashing of Caesar was revolting.

Alastor, however, was not swayed by such notions. If it weren't for the need to keep Caesar alive to produce SMILE fruits for Kaido, Alastor would have executed him without hesitation—just as he had with Monet.

Alastor didn't consider himself a hero or a just man. But he had no patience for those who embodied the worst of humanity.

Monet was one such person—her beauty belied a heart of snakes and scorpions. She had deceived children and conducted inhumane gigantification experiments on them, shattering every moral boundary. Her sister, Sugar, was no better, manipulating and enslaving people with her Hobby-Hobby Fruit powers.

Alastor tightened his grip on Caesar's heart, the organ held firmly in his hand. With his other foot, he pressed Caesar's face into the ground. His voice was cold and merciless.

"Behave yourself, Caesar. Follow my orders, and you might just live a little longer. Understand?"

"I-I understand! I understand completely!" Caesar blubbered, snot and tears streaming down his face, his tone filled with sheer terror.

Satisfied for now, Alastor tossed Caesar to the side and threw something else at him—a vial containing genetic material.

"This is Whitebeard's DNA. I want you to create a clone. Is that possible?"

The room fell silent. Caesar's trembling hands fumbled to pick up the vial, his face pale.

During the chaos of the Paramount War, Alastor had seized an opportunity to collect Whitebeard's genetic material. In a world where cloning technology existed, as evidenced by the Germa 66 clone army, the idea wasn't entirely outlandish. Though Germa's clones were mostly cannon fodder, there were examples of advanced cloning. Edward Weevil, who bore a striking resemblance to Whitebeard, and Stussy, a successful clone created by MADS, hinted at the potential of such technology.

Still, replicating a powerhouse like Whitebeard was a monumental task—one even Vegapunk couldn't perfect. Alastor didn't expect Caesar to create a clone that matched Whitebeard in his prime, but the thought of crafting a seraph-like warrior based on Whitebeard's might intrigued him.

Alastor's real goal was to counter the World Government's Seraphim Project, which had weaponized clones of the former Warlords of the Sea. A "Seraph of the Four Emperors" would undoubtedly surpass a "Seraph of the Warlords."

"What do you know about the World Government's Seraphim Project, Caesar?" Alastor asked, his sharp gaze piercing through Caesar's trembling figure.

"I-I've heard of it," Caesar stammered. "Vegapunk is in charge of the project. It's related to the Pacifista series, but I don't know the details! I swear!"

Vegapunk had long left Punk Hazard to establish his futuristic laboratory, Egghead Island, a hub of technological marvels. Its precise location remained unknown to most, including Caesar.

Alastor sneered. "The government excluded you from such a crucial project. Doesn't that sting, Caesar? You're a failure."

Caesar's face contorted in anger, but the sight of Alastor's cold, unyielding eyes silenced him.

"There are still Vegapunk's notes and materials left on this island," Alastor continued. "Study them. Use them to create a Whitebeard clone. Even a failed attempt would be progress. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes! I'll do my best!" Caesar nodded furiously, his fear outweighing his pride.

Alastor leaned closer. "If I return and find you've done nothing, the punishment will be ten times worse than what you've already experienced."

Caesar shuddered. He recalled the brutal torment Alastor had inflicted on others, like Enel, reducing even the mightiest to pitiable wrecks.

Before leaving, Alastor signaled to Trafalgar Law, ensuring he would keep an eye on Caesar. Then, Alastor departed Punk Hazard with his crew, Onimaru and Sai, setting his sights on Wano Country.

But first, he planned to visit the former territories of the Whitebeard Pirates, now claimed by Kaido's Beast Pirates.

Kaido's ambitions were as vast as they were ruthless. After clashing with the Red-Haired Pirates, Kaido became keenly aware of his crew's shortcomings. Even with Yamato's strength, the Beasts Pirates lacked the manpower to dominate.

Kaido's solution was to mass-produce weapons and expand his forces. Every island under Whitebeard's former protection was to become a factory for war.

Yamato, however, had different plans. Determined to follow the will of Oden and become Joy Boy, she stood as a roadblock to Kaido's cruelty. On one such island, she faced Jack, one of Kaido's Calamities.

"Lady Yamato, please step aside," Jack pleaded, his tone surprisingly respectful. "This is Kaido-sama's order, and you should respect it."

Yamato tightened her grip on her kanabo, her resolve unwavering. "I won't let you repeat the tragedy of Wano on these islands."

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