The assembled pirates were all proud and arrogant, with a fearless spirit in their bones.
Their shouts rose and fell, each refusing to yield.
Like wild beasts trapped in a confined space, their eyes gleamed with ferocity, eager to pounce and fight at any moment.
They were all accustomed to fighting alone, and facing a crowd only sparked a spirit of unconstrained resistance.
"Who said you could go first? Get out of the way and stop blocking my path!" A burly pirate raised his long sword, roaring at another who was wiping his musket, as if his voice could shatter the other's fighting spirit.
The man, however, refused to be outdone, sneering back, "Who do you think you are? Don't think a few scars make you a god of war!"
Their gazes were like sharp blades, clashing in the air and sparking intense flames, as if they would draw their swords against each other in the next second.
Amidst this restless group of warriors, Kaido's prestige was certainly enough to keep them temporarily in line, but deep down, their obedience to Kaido was merely a temporary facade.
They were more like a pack of beasts driven by the same animosity, only temporarily sharing a common goal.
In their eyes, Kaido's strength was indeed daunting, but in the end, they were only using Kaido's power to achieve their own purposes.
"Heh, just a big brute, isn't he? That guy's just relying on his tough life!" Someone muttered under his breath, his tone full of contempt.
Although the voice was low, it was still particularly jarring in the silent air, instantly attracting the attention of several pairs of eyes.
Those gazes were either sarcastic or sneering, but all concealed a kind of arrogant self-confidence, as if they were not afraid of the might of Kaido, the "King of the Beasts."
"Using us to deal with the World Government is quite a clever idea." Some exchanged glances in private, discussing in low voices.
They knew that in this war, everyone was a tool, a bargaining chip.
But at the same time, they also understood that as long as they seized the opportunity, Kaido was just an object for them to exploit.
If they could take this opportunity to gain greater benefits, they wouldn't mind pushing this equally arrogant giant into the abyss.
Kaido stood on the high platform, looking down at the restless crowd.
Of course, he knew their little plans, and saw through their mentality of superficial obedience and secret exploitation.
But he didn't care, and even felt a bit of mockery towards it.
As far as he was concerned, these people were enough as long as they were still useful.
What he wanted was not loyalty, but strength and numbers, fresh troops who could charge into battle and tear apart the enemy.
"You better not let me discover your little tricks," Kaido sneered in his heart, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Otherwise, the sacrifices in the next battle will be yourselves."
In his eyes, this group of arrogant and conceited guys were nothing more than livestock to be slaughtered, and could be discarded without hesitation when necessary.
And at this moment, he hoped that they could release all that chaotic energy into the upcoming battle.
The crowd was still clamoring, seemingly on the verge of losing control.
However, under the gaze of Kaido's cold eyes, that restlessness instead stimulated a deeper level of fighting desire.
This was an uncontrollable, violent force, and once released, it would sweep over like a flood, causing the entire battlefield to boil.
Kaido stood on the high platform, his gaze coldly sweeping over the commotion below.
He knew these guys were always yelling at each other, not respecting anyone, and could trigger an internal conflict at any time.
But he had no patience to listen to those meaningless arguments anymore.
Most importantly, even he could see that if these people really encountered insurmountable difficulties, they would collapse instantly.
So, he suddenly waved his hand and let out a low roar: "Prepare to set sail!"
That order was like a muffled thunder exploding above everyone's heads, instantly suppressing the noisy voices.
The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent, and all eyes turned to the direction where Kaido was.
"Setting sail, just setting sail, why shout so loud..."
"If you have the ability, you go up and shout a few words to see if anyone will listen to you."
"Hahahaha..."
"..."
Although they all had their own plans in mind, at this moment, Kaido's pressure was like an invisible mountain pressing down on their heads, causing everyone to subconsciously stop.
Everyone felt that oppressive aura, an irresistible force, as if the slightest resistance would be crushed instantly.
Kaido's eyes were cold and stern, his gaze like lightning, sweeping across those seemingly unruly faces.
He didn't care whether they had awe or disdain for him in their hearts, as long as they could transform into sharp blades in the upcoming battle and clear the path to victory for him, that would be enough.
The corners of Kaido's mouth curled into a cold smile, with a hint of mockery and cruelty, "When the time comes, if you wastes can't hold on, don't blame me for not reminding you."
The ships set sail one after another, their sails fluttering in the wind, as if echoing Kaido's command.
The people on the deck moved quickly, hurriedly preparing their weapons and equipment.
Those who had been clamoring at each other just now did not dare to be negligent at all, and they all clenched the swords in their hands, their eyes becoming fierce and focused.
A tense atmosphere permeated the air, as if the flames of war would ignite in the next second, completely igniting their bloodlust.
"Kaido has finally spoken, it seems this war is unavoidable!" Someone muttered in a low voice, feeling a surge of excitement despite the anxiety in his heart.
The call to battle had already stirred up a restless fighting spirit within them.
For them, life-and-death struggles on the battlefield were more tempting than anything else, because only in that kind of extreme confrontation could they prove themselves—even at the cost of blood and life.
As the fleet set off, Kaido turned his back to the crowd, striding towards the command position on the deck.
His figure was as tall as a mountain, his steps steady and powerful, and each step seemed to drive the center of gravity of the entire ship.
The sea breeze brushed his loose hair, and his hawk-like eyes looked towards the distant horizon, as if he had already seen the upcoming battle and chaos.
That was the violent world he longed for, the only paradise he pursued.
And behind him, the ships moved forward like giant whales, converging into an unstoppable force.
Countless warriors stood on the deck, gripping their weapons, gazing at the gradually receding land and the upcoming battlefield.
For them, this war was not only for Kaido's orders, but also for their own reputation, power, and that blood-stained future.
...
