Chapter 131

Wanokuni, New World

"Here he comes again to humiliate himself and Wano like clockwork!" A tired man working in a garment store commented as he saw a large figure start dancing naked in the streets of the Flower Capital. This had become a weekly spectacle, so regular that the people of Wanokuni had come to expect it.

When Kozuki Oden, the rightful Shogun of Wano, had returned, everyone believed it signaled their liberation. But their hopes had been cruelly dashed when even their revered Oden bowed to the whims of Orochi and the pirate Kaidou. Adding insult to injury were Oden's actions, humiliating himself by dancing naked in the streets under the guise of entertainment.

"I wonder how Sukiyaki-sama ended up with such an heir? Maybe this was why he handed the mantle to that scum, Orochi," another villager commented as more people gathered to spectate the ongoing debacle. "Perhaps Sukiyaki-sama knew how incompetent his son was."

The reactions from the gathered crowd were mixed and varied. Some pitied Oden, some were angry, and some were empathetic. Yet many, despite the circumstances, looked at Oden with a hint of hope, believing he would one day liberate them from their oppressors.

Recently, the Beast Pirates have increased pressure on those working in the weapon factories due to new competition in the weapons market caused by a rising power in the New World. Workers, already toiling more than 18 hours a day, now faced even greater burdens. They were suffering, and their supposed liberator was dancing naked on the street.

Children, who once saw Oden as a hero from the stories their parents told, now looked on in confusion. Elderly citizens who remembered the days of peace under the Kozuki clan watched with heavy hearts. The sight of their potential savior, reduced to a figure of ridicule, was a bitter pill to swallow. His once powerful frame, now the subject of jeers and mocking laughter, contrasted sharply with the memories of his past glory.

"How much longer must we endure this?" a woman whispered to her friend, her voice tinged with despair. "We cannot continue to live like this. Our children are starving, our men are worked to death, and our land is poisoned. Yet our Shogun does nothing but dance."

"I heard there's a reason behind his madness," another replied, her tone conspiratorial. "Some say he struck a deal with Orochi to protect us, that each dance saves lives."

"But at what cost?" the first woman retorted. "Our dignity? Our hope? Oden Sama was supposed to be our beacon, and now... he's a laughingstock."

Despite the ridicule and the derision, Oden's eyes never lost their spark. He danced with a fervor, his movements wild and unrestrained, as if he were performing a sacred ritual. Those who looked closely might have seen a flicker of defiance in his gaze, a silent promise that the humiliation was not the end of his story.

In the distance, a child tugged at his father's sleeve. "Why does Oden-sama dance like that, father?"

The man knelt to his son's level, his expression a mix of sorrow and determination. "Oden-sama dances because sometimes, son, the strongest people must endure the greatest humiliations to protect those they love. Remember this—true strength is not always in the sword or in battle, but in the sacrifices we make for others." Unlike the rest, the man was privy to some of the inside information as he was one of Oden's retainers.

Just a dozen meters away from where Oden was dancing, a group of beast pirates escorted a middle aged man; however, calling it an escort would be a mistake.

"What the hell are you gawking at? Move!! Have you forgotten the lesson we taught you for slacking?" A headliner from the Beast Pirates sneered, his eyes glinting with malice as he gazed at the middle-aged man's right hand, which was missing two fingers. The man was none other than Wolf, once a respected figure within the Donquixote Pirates, now reduced to a mere slave.

Wolf had been captured by the Beast Pirates after they decimated the Donquixote Pirates. He was currently the lead researcher, deciphering the octagonal designs left behind by Ross for the family. In the Donquixote family, Wolf enjoyed respect and status befitting a creator.

Now, he was nothing more than a tool for the Beast Pirates. He wasn't a fighter, and to stay alive, he worked for his captors, enduring their cruelty in silence.

Despite his dire circumstances, Wolf clung to a faint glimmer of hope. Recently, he had heard a rumor about the resurfacing of the Donquixote family. As a captive, he had little access to the outside world, only granted an hour of leisure time once a month.

During these brief moments of freedom, he would walk around the Flower Capital, always under the watchful eyes of heavy guards. This limited time was his only window to gather snippets of information and dream of a possible rescue.

The streets of the Flower Capital were bustling with life, contrasting starkly with Wolf's internal turmoil. Merchants hawked their goods, children played, and the ever-present Beast Pirates kept a tight grip on the populace. Wolf moved through the crowd, his eyes scanning for any signs, or whispers that might confirm the rumor he had clung to so desperately.

Each snippet fueled his hope, but also his fear. If the Donquixote family was truly back, it meant they were walking into a perilous situation. The Beast Pirates were stronger than ever, and the consequences of being caught were severe.

Lost in his thoughts, Wolf nearly stumbled into a young girl who looked at him with wide, curious eyes. "Mister, why are you so sad?" she asked innocently.

Wolf managed a faint smile. "Just remembering someone," he replied softly, his heart aching with a mix of hope and despair.

"Move along, you bastard!" one of the guards barked, shoving him forward.

As Wolf continued his walk, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. The pieces were in motion, and he prayed that whatever fate awaited him, he would find some semblance of redemption, or at the very least, see the downfall of those who had brought him and so many others to their knees.

Within the main base of the Beast Pirates in Onigashima, a tense atmosphere permeated the room. The oppressive silence was only broken by the sound of Kaido, the Hundred Beasts, drinking directly from a large barrel. Seated on a grand, throne-like chair, Kaido was a figure of immense power and dread, rumored to be the strongest creature in the world. No one dared disturb him.

Standing nearby were two of the Beast Pirates' strongest cadres, King and Queen, both silent and watchful. The air was thick with anticipation and unease.

"Gulp... Gulp... Gulp..."

Kaido's heavy drinking was the only sound until a sudden crash shattered the silence. Kaido hurled the half-empty wine barrel against the wall, the force of the throw causing it to splinter and spill its contents.

"So you're telling me," Kaido growled, his voice low and menacing, "that despite having the workforce and production increased, we lost 20% of our business in just a few months?"

His words hung in the air like a storm cloud. Wano had been a haven of resources, and under the Beast Pirates' control, they had grown rapidly, solidifying their position. Even their greatest threat, Oden, had been subdued. Yet now, despite their considerable efforts, their share in the weapons market was dwindling.

A goon, nervously stepping forward from the group, spoke up, his voice trembling slightly. "It's the Donquixote brothers, Kaido-sama. They have set up a new large-scale weapon factory near Dressrosa. The weapons they produce seem to be of better quality than what we produce."

Kaido's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his immense presence causing the goon to shrink back slightly. The room seemed to grow colder as Kaido's anger simmered just below the surface.

"Better quality, you say?" Kaido's voice was a dangerous whisper. "And what are we doing about it?"

"Kaido-sama, we are—" the goon started to explain, but his words were cut short. Kaido, in a swift, brutal motion, picked up his spiked club and smashed it down on the goon's head. The impact was catastrophic, blowing the head apart like a melon. Blood and bone matter splattered across the room, sending a chill down the spines of everyone present.

"I did not ask for an excuse," Kaido roared, his voice a thunderous growl that echoed off the walls. "I want to know why those brats are still alive." He kicked the headless body away with a forceful shove, the lifeless form tumbling across the floor like a ragdoll.

As the room fell silent, the tension was palpable. The occupants, even the seasoned fighters like King and Queen, felt a shiver of fear at Kaido's sheer brutality and unchecked rage. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the oppressive weight of Kaido's fury.

Kaido murmured to himself, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "I should not have left that brat to the World Government back then. Such incompetent fools."

King stepped forward cautiously, his usual stoic demeanor unwavering despite the gruesome display. "Kaido-sama, we underestimated their resilience. The Donquixote brothers have proven to be more resourceful than we anticipated. But rest assured, we will rectify this mistake."

Queen by the side added, "We need to intensify our efforts, both in intelligence gathering and in direct action. We can't allow them to continue undermining our operations."

Kaido's eyes burned with a fierce intensity as he listened. "Increase surveillance on their operations. Send our best spies. I want to know every move they make. And prepare our forces. If we need to, we will crush them ourselves."

The Beast Pirates in the room nodded, the urgency of Kaido's command clear. They knew that failure was not an option, not when dealing with their fearsome leader. The message was clear: the Donquixote brothers would pay for their defiance, and the Beast Pirates would ensure their dominance remained unchallenged.

Kaido's towering form loomed over the room as he picked up another barrel of sake, taking a deep swig. His mind was already plotting the downfall of his enemies, and his resolve was unyielding. The Donquixote brothers had made a grave mistake, and Kaido would make sure they regretted it again.

Just then, a subordinate of the Beast Pirates burst into the chamber in a hurry, his entire body dripping with sweat and blood. His ragged breath and missing limb signaled the urgency of the situation.

"Kaidou-sama, we are being attacked!" the goon managed to blurt out. Kaido, already in a foul mood, turned his face more menacingly toward the subordinate.

"Tell me what's going on. And who is so daring as to attack my Beast Pirates' territory?" Kaido roared, his clenched palm shattering the throne's arm under his fearsome grip.

"It's the rookie pirate who recently became a Shichibukai, Gecko Moria, and his crew," the subordinate explained, but Kaido's anger rose, tipping beyond the boiling point.

"You fools are so incompetent that you can't kill a single crew?" Kaido bellowed. The subordinate's face paled as he recalled the terrifying details of the ongoing assault.

"Zombies, Kaido-sama. There are hundreds... thousands of zombies attacking our men. It's his devil fruit, Kaido-sama. We are no match for their numbers," the subordinate explained while clutching his bleeding stump.

Kaido's eyes flared with rage as he processed the information. "Zombies? You mean to tell me that the great Beast Pirates are being overrun by a bunch of walking corpses?" His voice dripped with disdain and fury.

King stepped forward, his gaze cold and analytical. "If it's Gecko Moria, then he's using the Kage Kage no Mi to control shadows and animate the dead. We'll need to find and eliminate him to stop the assault."

Queen, taking a deep drag from the cigar, added, "His zombies are formidable in numbers, but they rely on shadows to function. If we can disrupt his control, we can just slaughter them."

Kaido's towering form loomed over the room, his anger palpable. "Enough talk. Prepare our forces. I want Moria's head on a spike by sundown."

The Beast Pirates scrambled to carry out Kaido's orders, their fear of their leader's wrath driving them into action. The air was thick with tension as they armed themselves, preparing for the onslaught outside.

Kaido stood, picking up his spiked club, his eyes burning with fierce anger. "I'll handle this myself; many people seem to have forgotten what the name Hundred Beast Kaido stands for. No one invades my territory and lives to tell the tale."

As he stormed out of the chamber, the Beast Pirates followed, ready to face the undead horde and their master. The clash between the Beast Pirates and Gecko Moria's forces would be fierce, but Kaido's unyielding resolve and overwhelming strength promised a devastating counterattack.

********************

Dear Readers,

As I draft the future chapters of the One Piece fanfiction, my mind is surging with different storylines, leaving me at a crossroads. I'd like to involve you, my valued readers, in choosing the direction of the main storyline. Please go ahead and suggest your choices.

Option 1: Ross and Doflamingo's Alliance

Ross will remain the main character, continuing to support Doflamingo's ambitions to become the king of the world. The story will follow the current flow with minimal twists, focusing on their dynamic partnership as they strive to achieve their grand vision.

Option 2: Brothers at War

Ross will come into conflict with Doflamingo, leading to a dramatic showdown between the two brothers. Doflamingo will fully embrace his status as a true Celestial Dragon, escalating him to the role of the final arc antagonist. This option promises intense battles and emotional confrontations.

Option 3: Ross Takes the Mantle

Doflamingo meets an untimely demise, and Ross takes up his brother's mantle, striving to fulfill Doflamingo's dream on his behalf. This storyline will explore Ross's evolution as he navigates the complexities of leadership and ambition, honoring his brother's legacy.

Option 4: Your Suggestions

If you have a different main direction in mind, please comment and let me know! Your unique ideas could shape the future of this story in exciting and unexpected ways.

Your input is crucial in shaping the narrative, and I'm excited to see where you want this adventure to go. Please cast your vote and share your thoughts. Let's create an unforgettable journey together!

Thank you for your support,

[Silent_stiele]