Settsetse! The Pirate Nemesis

The outcome was positive.

303 Progress

Although the Whitebeard incident happened several days ago, Kaido still harbors a deep resentment that he can't help but feel.

Kaido doesn't like Kozuki Oden—although Kozuki Oden was indeed very powerful, Kaido never bothers with a loser. What truly displeases Kaido is that his son Yamato idolizes a loser.

Before, things were fine; Kaido didn't care much. But now, with the start of the tournament, Wano Country, like a piece of meat left untouched, has its origins known to others… Although things haven't come to a head yet, once this tournament ends, Whitebeard probably won't stand idly by and let him return to Wano Country unscathed…

If they turn a blind eye to the deaths of their own brothers, the Whitebeard Pirates will not be far from disbanding.

At least, there are no clear rules, only kinship as a bond for restriction. Although the Whitebeard Pirates seem powerful, they are actually more fragile than imagined... In any case, Whitebeard will not back down on this matter.

Wano Country is rich in resources, not only swordsmiths and samurai, but also a large quantity of weapons, seastone, and Wano craftsmen who can process seastone into rice.

All of this is the key to the Beasts Pirates' strength. Abandoning them would be like the West abandoning Jerusalem—the Beasts Pirates cannot lose Wano Country.

If that's the case...

After pondering for a moment, a serious look appeared in Kaido's eyes—the three Sea Emperors were not equal. At the very least, there were differences in strength among the Sea Emperors. In this situation, Whitebeard, as the strongest Sea Emperor, exerted invisible pressure on the other two Sea Emperors, forcing Kaido and Charlotte Linlin to maintain a close standoff.

Alternatively, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin may have had a close relationship to begin with—this can be seen from Kaido's Blue Dragon Fruit. While they might not be completely subservient to each other, the Beasts Pirates and the Digimon Pirates definitely have an exceptional level of understanding. Although they don't express it openly, their private communication has never ceased.

Thinking this, Kaido picked up the gourd of sake beside him, snorted coldly, and then picked up the Den Den Mushi and dialed Charlotte Linlin's number.

In reality, the enthusiasm was equally high both inside and outside the venue.

Today's competition was somewhat disappointing due to the absence of the Sea Emperors' team, but it did feature the dark horse Red-Haired Pirates, as well as the tyrant Bartholomew Kuma, who claimed to be from the Nameless Fleet, and Ivankov Nova, the Queen of the Emporium.

Because of the butterfly effect caused by Sett, the World Government in this timeline neglected the Revolutionary Army, focusing instead on Sett Castle and Sett himself. Under these circumstances, they deliberately concealed their existence. Over time, apart from their name and designation, even the World Government doesn't know the exact composition of the Revolutionary Army. The only known figure is Garp's son, Dragon…

With nothing else to do, Sett watched the competition. He wasn't particularly interested in the Emperors of the Sea, and the main reason he watched was because many of his acquaintances were in the competition—not to mention, he knew almost everyone in the Red-Haired Pirates. Then there was Hawkeye, Revolutionary Army officers, and many other unique individuals from the high seas, all in this group.

As Sett watched, he was somewhat amazed by Shanks's discerning eye—although Shanks had now been left behind by Sett, it was undeniable that geniuses existed in this world. Not only had Shanks' own strength reached a level approaching that of an Emperor, but more importantly, every single one of Shanks' crew members was absolutely formidable.

Especially Ben Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and others—each one of them possesses strength comparable to the top commanders or so-called Sweet Commanders of the Sea Emperors. More importantly, the Red-Haired Pirates have a more balanced organizational structure. Measured by power and organization, they have no obvious weaknesses… a capability that other Sea Emperors lack.

But after watching for a while, Sett lost interest. The reason was that the gap between them was too big... In the past, Sett could feel the thrill of exchanging blows with Shanks, but now, even Whitebeard only made Sett feel bored... There might still be some pleasure in the process, but after the pleasure, all that remained was boredom.

A single sea emperor can no longer pose a real threat...

Seti thought to himself.

Sett's punch on Mary Geoise was 36 times his maximum power, or 3,600% of his Grit. But now, according to Sett's calculations, he only needs to overload by 2,000%, or 20 times his Grit, to achieve the same destructive power…

In a sense, this is the trouble of growing up...

While this might seem tedious, as mentioned before, Sett doesn't limit his growth—people should grow continuously. Limiting one's growth is pure stupidity and escapism. It's like being afraid of not being able to beat others in elementary school and thus staying in kindergarten forever.

Different levels of power have different ways of seeing the world... At least, having already arrived in this world, Sett has no doubt that, in addition to that, there are many more worlds to explore—constantly becoming stronger and finding more powerful beings is the only true path.

He has always restricted his own growth and acted like a king in kindergarten... Calling him a child with cerebral palsy is an understatement.

Just then, Robin walked in from outside and said, "Kaido seems to have contacted Charlotte Linlin...it might be about Whitebeard."

Hearing Robin's words, Sett raised an eyebrow, then a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes—indeed, a single Emperor of the Sea no longer gave Sett much of the thrill of battle. Especially when the opponent was Whitebeard, the undisputed strongest among the Emperors. Under these circumstances, an alliance between Kaido and Charlotte Linlin seemed like a good idea?

Thinking this, Sett stroked his chin, the amusement in his eyes slowly turning into tangible malice and fighting spirit.

Another match day. (Valley)

Although Sett didn't feel it much, more than half a month had passed in the continuous battles and powerful engagements. The competition itself, too, had gradually intensified from its initial minor skirmishes.

In short, the real battle has begun.

What started as a round of 36 became a battle for the quarterfinals, leaving only the elite of each pirate crew. The most disappointing group was Kaido's crew – of the three top commanders, only King made it to the quarterfinals. All the other mid-level officers were eliminated. Fortunately, King was incredibly strong, having won cleanly and without injury in his previous battles, so his performance was still somewhat justifiable.

After all, another major contestant, Drought Jack, was killed on the spot during the qualifiers.

Two players from Armor City made it to the quarterfinals. Enel, needless to say, possessed undeniable strength. His Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability was practically omnipotent, unrestricted by any terrain—especially in areas with many conductors, where only resistance could affect his speed. Combined with his powerful Observation Haki, although he faced some tough battles, his victories were always clean and decisive.

But there's a problem with another player from the City of the Wrist... Reds.

After awakening the Devotion Fruit, Redus's fighting style became equally bloody and brutal, and his physical abilities experienced a terrifying increase. Every attack was a clash of blows, resulting in more blood being spilled than all the other contestants combined.

Because of his mental health issues, his nickname became "Khorne's Chosen," a name passed down by word of mouth among spectators.

Because of his somewhat outrageous fighting style, Redus had the lowest popularity among all the contestants. However, he also had the most fervent die-hard fans. Attracted by his bloody fighting style, a small group with extreme tastes for violence idolized Redus, creating a fanaticism that almost resembled a cult.

After paying a little attention, Sett handed the matter over to Robin to handle.

Sett's control over religion is quite strict—this is related to some of Sett's past experiences and memories. In Sett's understanding, religion is more of a spiritual refuge for those who are lost and confused. And as long as one has a strong enough mind, it doesn't seem to matter that much.

In this chaotic sea, religion, which can revitalize people, is indeed a good thing, but it is of little use to Sett—therefore, in Sett's City, religion is more of a symbol.

Conflicts in other seas, such as the East Blue, North Blue, Grand Line, and New World, are fine, even if they escalate into armed conflict. However, once you enter the territory of the Armored City, that is, after entering the West Blue, you must abide by the rules of the Armored City, such as religious alliance meetings.

Divine right of kings? Don't be ridiculous. In an era of extraordinary martial prowess, the strong are practically gods among men.

As long as the City of Arms still exists, the religions of the West Sea will never be able to form a significant force.

One member of the Big O Pirates also successfully advanced: Katakuri, one of the Four Sweet Commanders… Originally, there should have been another one, Charlotte Mousge, the "Juicer." The former is a Logia-type Mochi Mochi Fruit user, possessing Observation Haki even surpassing Enel's, and can even see a short portion of the future; his strength and talent are undeniable. As for the other, he is a user of the Juice Juice Fruit, capable of juicing objects.

In terms of its abilities, it's somewhat similar to Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit's ability to drain water, allowing him to absorb moisture from his opponent to change his own body shape, unleash more powerful slashes, and even extract toxins from their body. However, ultimately, it's just a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, not as versatile as Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit. This led to his defeat in the round of 16 when he encountered Shanks and was completely overwhelmed and eliminated... Based on his strength, Mousggie should have been at the level of the top eight, but unfortunately, he encountered Shanks.

Even if he advances, given Musiji's abilities, he'll only reach the quarterfinals...

Then there are Hawkeye and Bartholomew Kuma, whom we've mentioned quite a bit before, and both are acquaintances of Sett. It's worth mentioning Kuma later on; because he didn't have an undercover agent, he focused more on strengthening his physique and developing his Devil Fruit powers. Therefore, he should be slightly stronger than in the original storyline within the same timeline.

The last two remaining are Shanks and Kuzan. These two are self-explanatory—the latter, as a Marine Admiral, has always been a favorite to win. In contrast, Shanks is the dark horse among dark horses. Although only Shanks himself made it to the quarterfinals, in reality, if Beckman hadn't been unlucky enough to encounter Kuzan, there would have been at least two others. Most of the other Red-Haired Pirates officers were eliminated in the round of 16. In terms of numbers, they even surpass the established Emperor Pirates like Kaido's.

As far as Sett knows, in the past two weeks, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and even the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, and other official or special organizations have all tried to recruit the Red-Haired Pirates.

After all, as the most prestigious tournament on this sea, the Red-Haired Pirates' performance was simply too dazzling, to the point that it was impossible to ignore...

Unfortunately, as an idealist, Shanks did not accept any organization's invitation, claiming that he wanted to roam the seas as a free pirate. Garp looked disgusted and said that Roger was just a troublemaker, even his trainee crew members were so troublesome.

Entering the semi-finals, the duration of each of the eight fighters' battles was extended, and the number of matches increased from two to four. Essentially, each battle lasted a full day. Two fighters emerged victorious with remarkable decisiveness: Kuzan, whose overwhelming strength completely crushed Kuma, who, aside from initially managing a few resistances, was subsequently subjected to a complete rout.

Another one is Shanks—in front of everyone, he relied on his Griffin sword and the special technique "Conqueror's Haki Entanglement," which only a few people knew, to defeat Hawkeye with a single, miraculous dodge.

After witnessing Shanks' mastery of Conqueror's Haki, many factions have likely begun to harbor other ambitions—not just any Conqueror's Haki, but a high-level one at that. Such an enemy is neither to be recruited nor to be provoked.

Karp continued swearing.

Right now, the two players with the highest chance of winning the championship are Shanks and Kuzan.

304 - We unite

"That red-haired brat... if I'm not mistaken, he's wielding Conqueror's Haki, right?!"

Inside the room, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were conversing. The table was piled high with drinks and food. There was meat, but mostly desserts.

One after another, cake towers the size of adults were fed to Charlotte Linlin's mouth—these were desserts from Fishman Island.

In the original story, Fishman Island's desserts were renowned throughout the world as top-tier delicacies. After Whitebeard's death, Charlotte Linlin immediately dispatched ministers to aggressively court them. Now, due to Sett's presence, Fishman Island is generally considered to be part of Sett's territory. While still unaware of the true extent of Sett's power, Charlotte Linlin remains vigilant.

And now, she has finally tasted it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration for Charlotte Linlin to say that she is completely captivated by its deliciousness.

Even under these circumstances, after hearing Kaido's question, Charlotte Linlin quickly focused her attention on the television in front of her. As her eyes, which had been captivated by the sweets, regained their focus, a serious look appeared in Linlin's eyes.

"Yes! That's right! Without a doubt, that's Conqueror's Haki Entanglement—and an extremely powerful one at that! If I remember correctly, Divine Evasion... that should be Roger's technique, right?!"

"Ah."

He grabbed the gourd and took a swig of strong liquor. Sett was understandably unhappy, but even Kaido had to admit that Sett was an absolute genius when it came to food and drink. Whether it was Noxus-branded spirits or the roasted meats served in Freljord taverns, Sett had a unique flavor. The Celestial Dragons, those aristocratic lords and noblemen who couldn't stand hardship, might not be able to stomach it, but for a rough-and-tumble pirate like Kaido, it was simply divine.

It's exhilarating without being overwhelming, a refreshing feeling that comes from within—despite disliking Sett, Kaido has absolutely no prejudice against food.

While eating and drinking, Kaido coldly said, "If I remember correctly, this guy named Shanks should be an apprentice on Roger's ship... I never expected that an unknown apprentice could possess such strength. Hmph, Conqueror's Haki? And at a very high level. I'm afraid the Navy is already prepared to kill him on the spot!"

This wasn't baseless speculation. Kaido clearly understood the power boost that Conqueror's Haki provides to an individual—simply put, even without a Devil Fruit ability, one could possess destructive power surpassing that of a Devil Fruit through Conqueror's Haki. Even without physical contact with the opponent, one could launch a devastating attack from a distance.

If the awakening of Conqueror's Haki represents the awakening of knowledge and the aptitude to become a king, then being enveloped in Conqueror's Haki signifies becoming an undeniable and terrifying force on this vast ocean.

If you ask why... it's because anyone who can master Conqueror's Haki is also no ordinary person when it comes to Armament Haki and Observation Haki!

"Same sword, same no Devil Fruit... Hmph, looks like he's following Roger's path. So, Kaido, can you win him over?"

Upon hearing Linlin's question, Kaido shook his head and said, "I tried... it didn't work. That guy has no intention of joining any other pirate crew..."

“After all, he was Roger’s crew.” Charlotte Linlin, standing to the side, wasn’t surprised. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Speaking of which, how’s things going with you and Whitebeard?”

"Nothing has changed."

Upon hearing Charlotte Linlin's words, Kaido said, "The Wano Country affair has been exposed... But it doesn't matter, I never intended to hide it forever. I just didn't expect it to be exposed at this time! Damn it, Whitebeard's strength is much greater than I imagined."

As he said this, Kaido glanced at his arm.

When faced with Whitebeard's powerful attack, Kaido, despite concentrating all his strength, was undeniably outmatched by Whitebeard at his peak. Whitebeard was unharmed, but Kaido's bones were fractured... It was only because of Kaido's immense strength that he survived; anyone else would likely have suffered internal injuries, the shockwave shattering their organs!

Not to mention someone like Kaido now, who has recovered perfectly.

In response, Charlotte Linlin said, "Then things might take a turn for the better."

"……What's the meaning?"

Upon hearing Charlotte Linlin's words, Kaido raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Lingling didn't hide anything from this, and said frankly, "Although it was just a coincidence... that night my son Katakuri happened to see the Whitebeard Pirates returning to the hotel from the port... According to my son's observation, all the members of the Whitebeard Pirates were in low spirits, and Whitebeard's weapon, Murakumogiri, one of the twelve supreme weapons, was only a broken piece!"

Upon hearing Charlotte Linlin's words, Kaido's eyes narrowed sharply—on this vast sea, who doesn't know what Whitebeard's weapon is now?

It's no exaggeration to say that the Murakumogiri was one of the symbols of the Whitebeard Pirates. Back when Whitebeard was still with the Rocks Pirates, it was with the Murakumogiri that he forged his formidable reputation. And now, it's broken?

You must understand, that's an immense treasure. Let alone accidental damage, even a powerful figure like Kaido, a sea emperor, would have to exert tremendous effort to destroy it...

Even so, Kaido did not doubt Charlotte Linlin. Firstly, Charlotte Linlin had no reason to deceive him. Secondly, such information was easily distinguishable from lies with just a little attention.

"There's news that Sett also left Sett City that day... Someone saw a fierce battle breaking out on a rocky island seventy nautical miles away, causing drastic changes in ocean currents within a twenty-nautical-mile radius, and completely destroying the seabed. It was like... a major earthquake."

Upon hearing Charlotte Linlin's words, Kaido fell silent—given the current situation, it was certain that Whitebeard and Sett had engaged in a fierce battle. Similarly, if Sett had destroyed Whitebeard's Murakumogiri, it wouldn't be surprising.

After all, Sett is a monster capable of shattering continents. In comparison, it's hard to say whether Whitebeard's power of vibration could even shake Sett...

"The conflict between Whitebeard and Sett... Tsk, this sea is becoming more and more unpredictable."

As he said this, a hint of annoyance appeared in Kaido's eyes.

Having witnessed too many storms, Kaido instinctively couldn't believe that this battle was initiated by Sett because he sensed Whitebeard's aging and couldn't wait any longer... In his view, there must be a deeper reason behind it. Perhaps, even a conspiracy.

"Is there any other news?"

“That’s it.” Charlotte Linlin shook her head calmly and said, “That guy is Whitebeard. Katakuri only observed for a short while before Whitebeard noticed some clues. It was only because it was in Armored Castle that Whitebeard didn’t dare to make a move. Otherwise, it’s uncertain whether Katakuri would have returned unharmed!”