Kaizer's first sensation upon waking was a splitting headache.
It wasn't physical pain, but a tearing sensation on the spiritual level, as if someone was repeatedly slicing his consciousness with a blunt knife.
Roger's slash hadn't only cut open his body — it had also wounded his soul.
He opened his eyes. His vision remained blurry for a while before gradually clearing.
The first thing he saw was the ceiling — the ceiling of the Totto Land castle bedroom, covered with childish doodles of candies and cakes that Linlin had impulsively ordered the Homies to draw one day.
Then came Linlin's enormous face, almost pressed right against the tip of his nose.
"Kaizer! Kaizer, you're awake?!" Linlin's voice carried a rare panic. "Mamama! You scared me to death!"
She was leaning over the side of the bed, her long pink hair cascading down like a waterfall, enveloping him completely. Those eyes that were always filled with appetite and madness were now bloodshot and glistening with tears.
"I… I'm fine." Kaizer spoke, his voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping.
He tried to sit up, but his whole body felt weak. Linlin quickly supported his back with her massive palm — an action that was almost unbelievable for her — and carefully helped him up.
"You were unconscious for a whole day and night!" Linlin's voice trembled. "In the past, you always woke up immediately after reviving! What happened this time? Did that bastard Roger do something?!"
Kaizer leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes to assess his body's condition.
His physical body had fully recovered. The Ox Talisman's power flowed through his blood, and both Armament and Observation Haki functioned normally. However, on the spiritual level… there was a hollow feeling, as if a piece had been forcibly gouged out.
"Roger is too strong." he said quietly. "That slash wasn't just a physical attack. It also carried Conqueror's Haki and some kind of… will-level force. My body can recover, but my spirit needs time."
Linlin's hand tightened, leaving five deep finger marks on the edge of the bed.
"I'm going to kill him." Her voice turned icy. "I'm going to rip out Roger's soul, turn it into a Homie, and make him dance for me forever!"
"Don't be impulsive." Kaizer pressed down on her hand — though he could only press one finger. "The negotiation succeeded. Roger agreed to release the hostage. Kaido should be able to return."
"Kaido can go to hell!" Linlin roared. "He almost got you killed!"
"But he didn't succeed." Kaizer forced a smile. "Besides, I won the gamble. Roger acknowledged my 'undying' nature and agreed to release Kaido. This is beneficial for us."
Linlin stared at him for a long time, her massive chest heaving as she suppressed her rage. Finally, she let out a long breath, and the violent aura around her gradually calmed.
"Mamama… at least he knows what's good for him." she muttered, though her eyes remained dangerous. "Next time I see him, I'll definitely tear him apart!"
Kaizer didn't reply. He knew Linlin was speaking out of anger — right now, she was still no match for Roger.
"Where's Perospero?" he changed the subject.
"In the next room, with Longbread watching him." Linlin said. "Mamama! That little guy is so energetic! He even treated the arm you left behind as a toy and gnawed on it!"
Kaizer chuckled.
He tried to get out of bed, but his legs were still a little weak. Linlin quickly supported him — her movements still surprisingly gentle, unlike her usual self.
"You need more rest!" Linlin ordered. "Mamama! I'll go make you something to eat! Longbread said sick people should drink porridge!"
She stormed out energetically, shaking the entire castle.
Kaizer walked to the window and pushed it open. Totto Land's morning was quiet. Ships came and went at the port, people worked the fields, and the sound of children reading drifted from the schoolhouse.
Everything was normal.
But in his spiritual perception, there were a few extra things.
It was information coming from the IBMs he had left in Wano.
At the same time, in Wano Country, Onigashima ruins.
Kaido dragged his battered body ashore from the coastline. He could no longer maintain his Azure Dragon form and reverted to human shape — but even that human form looked miserable. He was covered in wounds, with seven or eight broken ribs, his left arm twisted at a grotesque angle, and every step left a bloody footprint on the ground.
But he was still alive.
Roger had indeed released him, but without any treatment. He had simply removed the Seastone chains and thrown him out of Onigashima like garbage.
"Damn it…" Kaido spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, his crimson eyes burning with rage and humiliation. "Roger… just you wait…"
He staggered toward the port — a few ships that hadn't been destroyed by the Roger Pirates were still docked there. He would steal one. Returning to Onigashima was impossible now; it was definitely occupied by Roger's people.
He would go to Totto Land.
That was his only choice.
Meanwhile, deep inside the ruined castle on Onigashima, in a barely intact Japanese-style room.
Kozuki Hiyori woke up.
She opened her eyes and saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Memories flooded back like a tidal wave — the image of her mother being beheaded, the sound of blood spraying, the cold eyes of that black-haired man…
"Mommy—!!!" she screamed and sat up.
"Hiyori! Hiyori!" A pair of warm arms embraced her.
It was her father.
Kozuki Oden hugged his daughter tightly. This iron-willed man's eyes were now red-rimmed. "It's okay… it's okay… Daddy is here…"
"Mommy…" Hiyori cried bitterly. "Mommy was killed… that Kaizer… he cut off Mommy's head…"
Oden's body stiffened.
He slowly released his daughter, his voice dry: "What… did you say?"
"Mommy didn't escape to the future…" Hiyori sobbed. "She tried to activate her ability, but that Kaizer… he was too fast… one slash and…"
She couldn't continue and just cried.
Oden's face turned from pale to ashen, then from ashen to blood-red.
"Lin—Mo—!!!" His roar shook dust from the walls.
He stood up abruptly, grabbed his dual blades, and was about to rush out.
"Oden." Roger's voice came from the doorway.
The red-haired man leaned against the doorframe, his expression calm. "Where are you going?"
"To Totto Land!" Oden's voice trembled. "To kill that bastard! To avenge Toki!"
"And then what?" Roger asked. "Linlin will go mad, and Totto Land will become our mortal enemy. Kaido is heavily injured, but he's still alive. The World Government just recognized Totto Land's legitimacy. Attacking them would be slapping the World Government's face."
"I don't care!" Oden roared. "He killed Toki! He killed my wife!"
"I know." Roger's voice was soft. "I want to kill him too. But Oden, calm down."
He walked into the room, squatted in front of Hiyori, and gently stroked the little girl's head.
"That kid Kaizer…" Roger's eyes were deep. "His ability is very strange. My slash cut open his body and extinguished his life force, yet he still 'lived.' He dared to come alone for negotiations because he bet we couldn't kill him — and he won the bet."
Oden's hand holding the sword trembled, his nails digging into his palm until blood dripped.
"So… we're just going to let Toki's death go unavenged?" His voice was hoarse.
Hiyori also looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, staring at Roger.
Roger was silent for a long time.
Then he stood up and looked out the window. Morning sunlight streamed in, falling on his red hair.
"Garp has been chasing us like a mad dog lately." Roger said. "The Marines are also mobilizing forces. The most important thing for us right now is to find Laugh Tale and find the One Piece."
He turned back to Oden.
"We don't know what's inside the One Piece. But that place… that final island… might hold the answers we need. Maybe even a way to counter Kaizer's undying ability."
Oden stared at Roger: "You mean…"
"Find the One Piece first." Roger patted Oden's shoulder. "Once we find it, once we learn the truth of this world… then we can take revenge."
He paused and added: "Besides, Hiyori is still young. Do you have the heart to drag her into a desperate fight?"
Those words struck Oden's weak spot.
He looked down at his crying daughter in his arms. How old was Hiyori? Six? Seven? She had just lost her mother. She couldn't lose her father too.
"…I understand." Oden's voice was very low, like a sigh.
He hugged Hiyori tightly.
"Hiyori, you stay in Wano. A few of Daddy's retainers are still alive. They will protect you." He kissed his daughter's forehead. "When Daddy finds the One Piece, when Daddy becomes stronger… I will definitely come back to avenge you."
Hiyori clutched her father's clothes tightly and cried so hard she couldn't speak.
Roger watched the scene with complicated eyes.
He turned and walked out of the room, saying to Rayleigh who was waiting outside: "Prepare to set sail. Head to the next Poneglyph location."
"What about Oden…"
"Give him a few days." Roger said. "Let him say goodbye to his daughter and arrange things. Then… we depart."
Rayleigh nodded and left to make arrangements.
Roger stood in the corridor, looking at the ruins of Onigashima outside the window. Kaido had already disappeared — he must have escaped. Kaido's loyal subordinates were either dead or had fled; the rest had been absorbed by the Roger Pirates.
Everything was going according to plan.
Except… for Kaizer.
That undying kid, Linlin's husband, the co-ruler of Totto Land.
"An undying ability…" Roger muttered to himself. "Legal status from the World Government… support from that madwoman Linlin… an alliance with Kaido…"
He grinned.
"Interesting. The new era… is getting more and more interesting."
A few days later, the Roger Pirates set sail.
Oden stood at the bow, taking one last look at Wano's coastline. There, several loyal retainers stood with Hiyori, watching him leave.
"Toki…" He gripped his dual blades tightly. "Wait for me. When I find the One Piece, when I become stronger… I will definitely return to avenge you."
The sails filled with wind, and the ship headed toward the distant sea.
In the shadows they couldn't see, a pair of eyes was watching everything.
Totto Land, castle bedroom.
Kaizer closed his eyes, but he "saw" everything happening in Wano.
The visual sharing from the IBMs made him feel as if he were there in person.
He saw Kaido escaping heavily injured, saw Hiyori waking up and crying out her mother's death, saw Oden's rage and Roger's persuasion, saw the Roger Pirates setting sail…
Then he opened his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Linlin came in carrying a huge pot of porridge — it was truly a pot, big enough for an ordinary person to use as a bathtub. "Why do you look so pale?"
"The Roger Pirates have set sail to find the One Piece." Kaizer said. "Oden now knows that Kozuki Toki was killed by me."
Linlin's movements paused for a moment.
"Mamama! So what if he knows!" She placed the porridge pot on the table, rattling the bowls and plates. "He doesn't have time to fight us right now anyway!"
"He doesn't have time now, but that doesn't mean he won't later." Kaizer took the bowl Linlin handed him — to her it was a bowl, to him it was practically a basin. "Roger is looking for the One Piece. Whatever is inside there… might change everything."
"Then we'll go look for it too!" Linlin said matter-of-factly. "Once Perospero grows a bit bigger, we'll set sail! We'll steal the One Piece for ourselves!"
Kaizer chuckled. That was exactly Linlin's way of thinking — direct, crude, but effective.
"Let's not talk about that for now." He took a sip of porridge — the taste was surprisingly good, thanks to Longbread's skill. "Kaido should be arriving soon. He's badly injured and needs treatment."
"I don't give a damn about him." Linlin pouted. "He brought this on himself. Let him clean up his own mess."
"But he's our ally now." Kaizer reminded her. "And we need him to maintain the Seastone supply."
Linlin unwillingly snorted: "Mamama! Fine! When he gets here, I'll have the Homies treat him!"
As she spoke, commotion came from outside the castle.
A Longarm clan guard ran in panic: "Linlin-sama! Kaizer-sama! At the port… a dragon has arrived at the port!"
Kaizer and Linlin exchanged a glance.
He's here.
At the port, Kaido had reverted to human form and was collapsed on the dock. He was covered in blood, with wounds deep enough to show bone. His left arm hung limply, clearly broken.
A circle of islanders had gathered around, pointing and whispering, but no one dared approach.
Linlin strode over and looked down at him from above.
"Mamama! Look who it is!" She grinned. "Isn't this the mighty and majestic Beast Kaido? How did you turn into a dead dog?"
Kaido barely lifted his head, his crimson eyes glaring at Linlin: "Cut the crap… heal my injuries…"
"You should ask nicely if you want help." Linlin put her hands on her hips.
Kaido gritted his teeth and forced out three words: "…Please."
Only then did Linlin nod in satisfaction: "Zeus! Prometheus!"
The thundercloud and sun Homies flew over. One released healing electricity, the other used warm flames to bake the wounds. Kaido's injuries visibly improved — though he wouldn't heal instantly, the bleeding stopped and broken bones began to knit together.
Kaizer walked over and squatted beside Kaido.
"What did Roger say?" he asked.
Kaido glanced at him, his eyes complicated.
"…He let me go." Kaido said hoarsely. "The condition was that Wano belongs to him. The Seastone supply continues, but Totto Land must never enter Wano's waters again."
"As expected." Kaizer nodded. "What about Hiyori?"
"Returned to Oden." Kaido paused. "But Kozuki Toki… is really dead?"
Kaizer didn't answer.
Kaido stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned — though the smile was twisted by pain.
Kaizer stood up. "Rest and recover first. Once you're healed, we'll talk about cooperation again."
Kaido stared at his back and suddenly said: "Roger's slash… you took it?"
Kaizer stopped.
"I died." He turned around and looked at Kaido. "But I came back to life."
Kaido was silent for a long time.
Then he lay back down on the ground and looked up at the sky.
"…Monster."
Kaizer smiled and didn't reply, turning to leave.
The two walked back to the castle.
Behind them, Kaido lay on the dock, staring at Totto Land's flag. Complex emotions flickered in his crimson pupils.
Humiliation.
Rage.
But also a trace of… relief.
Relief that he was still alive.
Relief that his ally was somewhat reliable.
Relief that… the waves of the new era hadn't completely crushed him yet.
He closed his eyes and let the Homies' healing energy flow through his body.
Once his injuries healed, he would settle the scores.
With Roger.
With Oden.
With this world.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the castle, Kaizer stood by the window, looking toward the port.
The IBM visual sharing was still active, sending intermittent images from Wano — the Roger Pirates' ship had already disappeared over the horizon, and Kurozumi Orochi's retainers had taken him into hiding deep in the mountains…
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Except for one variable.
Roger had set sail to find the One Piece.
That final island, that great treasure, that… thing that could change everything.
Kaizer clenched his fist.
He needed to speed up.
Before Roger found the One Piece.
Before Oden came back for revenge.
Before the gears of this world turned completely.
He had to become stronger.
Strong enough to protect this family.
Strong enough to protect this nation.
Strong enough to protect this… newly born future.
Outside the window, Totto Land's flag fluttered in the wind.
And in distant Wano, Kozuki Hiyori wiped away her tears and said to her father's retainers:
"I want to become strong."
"Strong enough to take revenge with my own hands."
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