PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

BOOOOOM!!!

The deafening sound of a sonic shockwave reverberated through the nine heavens.

From sky to sea, the compressed air from the meteor's descent rippled outward like an apocalyptic tsunami.

That colossal meteor, falling like a divine judgment, tore through the dark clouds as if through paper.

Many warriors on the battlefield swallowed hard, their throats dry with fear.

Some even slapped themselves repeatedly, hoping—desperately—that this was just a bad dream.

But no matter how many times they checked—

The nightmare was real.

Faced with a meteor ten thousand meters wide, panic exploded like wildfire.

People turned and ran for their lives.

"Young Master! We must retreat!!"

From a safe distance, Trebol shouted in panic toward Doflamingo, who stood frozen in place.

But—

"Retreat?!"

Doflamingo's eyes bulged with madness, his voice hoarse as he screamed.

"I am the Joker! I climbed my way here with blood and bone—I will not lose!!"

"Kaido will stop it!"

"KAIDO!! If not now, then when?!"

"Shut your damn mouth!!"

Kaido's roar shook the heavens, his twisted face revealing rare fury.

He had known this new admiral, Luo Yu, would be difficult.

But he never imagined this.

He had thought it would be easy—thought he could raze Impel Down without resistance.

Yet now—

The arrogant man before him hadn't moved a single step.

He just stood there.Drinking.Like nothing mattered.

But Kaido had no time to dwell on it.

He threw his gaze skyward and roared defiantly.

"If this is your trump card—then you'll be disappointed!"

"I've lifted Onigashima into the sky with my own strength—You think I'd fear some oversized rock?!"

His voice thundered across the battlefield.

The shame of being dragged into a brawl by a junior burned in his chest.

No more. Enough was enough.

"Flame Clouds Ascend!RISE!!!"

BOOM!

Kaido's massive dragon body coiled upward, fire clouds bursting from his form like a volcano erupting.

The swirling inferno surged into the sky—rising to meet the oncoming meteor.

CRAAASH!!!

Flames met stone.Sky met sky.

A hurricane-like shockwave ripped through the ocean, flinging ships and men like leaves in a storm.

Even veteran fighters struggled to stay on their feet.

But when they looked back up—

Their faces paled.

The endless flame clouds had been torn apart, shattered by the sheer weight of the meteor.

The air itself warped as the meteor continued to fall, undeterred.

It had slowed, yes—but the descent wasn't over.

Kaido had made a grave miscalculation.

He could lift Onigashima into the sky with ease.

But this was no floating island—

This was a celestial boulder of pure kinetic force, falling with all the wrath of the heavens.

No matter how many flame clouds he summoned—

It wouldn't stop.

Not truly.

Maybe—

Just maybe—if he pushed himself past the brink—

He could hold it.

But by then…

He'd be crushed against the sea like a pinned bug.

And that—

Kaido would never allow.

"STOP!!!"

Kaido roared again, throwing all pride aside.

He hurled his massive body upward, dragon claws shimmering with Armament Haki.

He crashed headfirst into the meteor.

BOOOOOOM!!!

His claws clamped against the falling mass.

Flame clouds erupted from his body, swirling into a vortex that surrounded the meteor's underside.

Compared to the godlike stone, Kaido's form seemed tiny.

But…

It worked.

Before a thousand stunned eyes—

The meteor's fall… stopped.

The final impact wave dispersed.

The sky seemed to still.

Everyone—

Pirates and Marines alike—

Stopped running.

Their eyes turned skyward.

And in that moment…

Kaido was holding back heaven itself.

"He did it! He really stopped it!! Hahaha!!"

Doflamingo laughed manically, the hysteria draining from his face.

"I knew Kaido could stop that damn rock!You arrogant brat!Look at you now—overconfident and foolish!"

Even Jack and Queen, hovering at a distance, felt relief wash over them.

This was supposed to be a straightforward assault on Impel Down.

Yet everything had gone wrong.

But now…

Kaido had turned the tide.

Even if he looked battered and strained—

He had caught the meteor.

He had—in a sense—defeated Luo Yu's greatest move.

"Come on, you cocky bastard!That all you got?!Show us your next trick! Or just crawl away in shame!!"

Doflamingo screamed toward Luo Yu, his laughter echoing across the sea.

Every gaze turned to Luo Yu.

Still standing.

Still drinking.

Still calm.

Had he really… run out of moves?

But then—

Luo Yu tilted his head.

He took a sip from his gourd and smiled.

With a lazy flick of his hand—

He pointed toward the sky.

"This? This was just the beginning."

"You're too impatient."

"Why don't you look up… again?"

For a moment, everyone froze.

A chill ran down their spines.

Their nerves—just relaxed—snapped tight again like piano wires.

A ridiculous, terrifying thought rose in every mind—

"Wait…Was that not the only one?"

The answer came swiftly.

All eyes rose skyward—

And there, above the massive meteor—

A shadow began to spread.

Not a cloud.

Not the same meteor.

Something even larger.

A darker shape.

A second body.

Ten thousand meters?

No—

Bigger.

Much bigger.

The battlefield turned pitch black.

The sky was blotted out.

A sun-eating beast, descending from the void.

Then, finally—

They understood.

That first meteor…

Was only the appetizer.