New World, Marine G1 Base.
Built against the Red Line and perched atop a circular island, the G1 Base was connected to the towering wall behind it by a colossal stone bridge. This strategic location not only guarded both ends of the Red Harbor and the Holy Land of Mariejois beyond, but also served as the Marines' primary gateway into the New World.
Originally, the base operated under the command of Vice Admiral Mole. However, with the escalating threat from the Beasts Pirates, one of the Four Emperors now actively preparing for war, the balance of power across the seas had shifted. The Marine command, sensing the urgency, dispatched Admiral Kizaru to the G1 base to provide immediate reinforcement and oversee operations in this volatile region.
The island was vast. Beyond the central headquarters and combat training grounds, it housed the families of stationed Marines, with residential sectors spread throughout the landscape. At the highest floor of the base's main building, in the commanding officer's office, Admiral Kizaru reclined leisurely, legs crossed, looking utterly indifferent to the pressure surrounding the New World.
He idly clipped his fingernails, casting a lazy gaze out the window at the brilliant sunshine blanketing the sky.
"What beautiful weather. Perfect for a vacation."
Vice Admiral Mole stood off to the side, suppressing a frown. Kizaru's carefree attitude, though not surprising, still struck him as inappropriate given the current state of tension. As much as it grated on him, Mole could only keep his tone respectful.
"Admiral Kizaru, do you have any plans for today?"
"Plans? Oh, Vice Admiral Mole, you're in charge here. Handle things however you like. I'll be sipping tea and enjoying the newspaper. What a delightful day."
Mole immediately regretted asking.
Still, perhaps the admiral's aloofness could be seen as a kind of blessing. At least he wasn't meddling in operational details.
Just as Mole turned to leave and begin reviewing the day's intelligence reports from across the seas, a sudden uproar erupted outside the building.
"What's going on?"
Both men stopped and moved toward the balcony.
From that vantage point, they instantly saw what had triggered the commotion.
Far off in the sky above the ocean, a black thundercloud riddled with streaks of lightning surged toward G1 at an unnatural, almost ominous speed. The wind carried with it a chill that sank into the bones.
"What is that!?"
Mole's mind struggled to grasp the unfolding situation. The ominous pressure seemed to grow heavier with every heartbeat.
Kizaru, however, had already sensed it. His usual lazy demeanor vanished, replaced with a rare seriousness that turned his expression grim.
"Vice Admiral Mole, mobilize every Marine on the base and alert Marine Headquarters immediately. A monster is coming."
"A monster!?"
Mole stood stunned, unsure whether he'd heard correctly.
Then came the words that froze him in place.
"Yes. A real monster. Kaido of the Beasts, one of the Four Emperors of the New World."
The wind screamed across the balcony, rattling the windows and shaking the building itself. Mole hesitated for only a moment before bolting back inside to sound the alarms.
!!!
As Kizaru delivered that chilling statement, the massive thundercloud reached the skies above G1.
In mere seconds, the island was swallowed by savage winds and pounding rain. Daylight vanished under the thick shroud of dark clouds.
Marines and civilians across the base looked up in dread. Fear etched itself onto their faces as the oppressive sky churned above the plaza. Waves of unseen pressure radiated from the clouds, twisting the air and sinking into their very bones.
Then, emerging from within the storm, came a colossal shape.
A serpentine creature burst forth, immense and terrifying. Its serpentine body curled and twisted through the clouds like a living force of nature. With a roar that shattered the sky, the creature's massive head pierced the cloud cover. A dragon's head, its maw wide, its vertical pupils glowing, gazed down upon them like a judgment from the heavens.
Just one look was enough.
Civilians collapsed to their knees in despair, their minds overwhelmed. Fear crushed their spirits as the presence of the beast above shattered the illusion of safety. For them, it was as if hell had come to the G1 base.
"No way, this has to be a joke!"
"What... what kind of monster is that?!"
"A dragon... it's a legendary dragon!"
"You've got to be kidding. That's a creature from myths!"
"Why is a dragon here? Is it here to destroy us?!"
As panic rippled through the Marines and civilians alike, their nerves on the verge of snapping, a piercing beam of golden light split through the stormy sky. The brilliant radiance gathered in front of the dragon's massive head, slowly taking shape until the glowing figure of a man emerged. The word "Justice" emblazoned boldly on his back became an anchor in the chaos, a ray of hope for the beleaguered forces below.
"It's Admiral Kizaru! We're saved!"
But from their position, they couldn't see his face. High above them, suspended in the sky, the Admiral—one of the most powerful weapons of Marine Headquarters—looked more serious than anyone had ever seen him. With a voice devoid of his usual flippancy, he faced the colossal beast and spoke with grim weight.
"What a terrifying sight... I wonder what business the Emperor of the New World, Kaido of the Beasts, has with a Marine base. Have you come to declare war?"
Rumble!
The deep vibration of his voice carried throughout the entire G1 base. Every Marine heard it loud and clear. Their eyes widened in disbelief, their bodies shivered in fear as their minds tried to grasp the magnitude of what had just been said. Slowly, heads turned toward the skies, expressions frozen in shock.
"Wait... did I hear that right?"
"Kaido of the Beasts... that Kaido?!"
"Why would a Yonko be here?"
"Kaido... is actually a dragon?!"
"A... a monster..."
Amid the storm and thunder above, Kaido's massive form coiled through the dark clouds like a serpent of calamity. His sharp gaze locked onto the glowing silhouette of Kizaru, the most distinct presence among the Marines.
Naturally, he didn't bother explaining his true purpose. He had come of his own accord. After all, in the story of One Piece, it was Shanks who had stopped Kizaru with a single sword swing and made Green Bull retreat using nothing but his Haki. That level of strength had become the standard for a Yonko's might. And now Kaido was here to see for himself—could he do the same?
The thought stirred something primal within him. He let out a deep, rumbling growl.
"Worororo... Light-brat... who gave you the guts to stand in my way?"
As the words fell from his mouth, a suffocating pressure exploded outward. The sheer intensity of his presence surged like a hurricane, a force akin to a Category 8 storm slamming into the entire Marine base. Countless Marines were knocked off their feet, clutching at the ground in terror as the air was ripped from their lungs.
Only Kizaru remained upright, unmoved in the face of the violent winds. Hovering midair, he responded with a strange look on his face.
"Light-brat...? If I'm not mistaken, Kaido of the Beasts, you and I should be about the same age..."
"Worororo!"
Kaido's thunderous laugh boomed across the heavens, rolling through the clouds and over the ocean. His eyes gleamed with mischief, his pupils contracting into narrow slits of amusement. Without warning, he reared his massive head back, his jaws parting wide to reveal a fiery abyss within.
"Blast Breath!"