As the raid continued on, there were slight…deviations to the original plan. One with Sanji running off from the others.

"Ah!" Sanji said as he saw a screen door where it appeared that a woman was being tortured by some man. "Unhand her at once!" he said, kicking through the door before being caught in some sort of web. "What the?"

"Spider webs… Of course it has to be her." Ramona said, having followed after him.

"My what a boor. You want to turn our banquet all into a battlefield? Luckily, I happen to have a soft spot for boys with rough edges." Black Maria said as she sat with other gifters.

"Boy? Don't insult me like that! The truth of the matter is…I love you!" Sanji said.

"Well…this is a bad matchup." Ramona said getting her hammer out. "The others will just have to continue without us." she said as she engaged the incoming gifters.

With the others…

"Hey…where did Sanji and Ramona go?" Luffy asked.

"Sanji just ran off so I guess Ramona went to keep him safe. Knowing them, they should be fine." Jexi said.

"Knowing Sanji at this point, his woman sense kicked in along the way and he just couldn't resist." Hope said.

"That is a pretty bad scenario. And there is one member of the Tobi Roppo that will take advantage of that." Sectonia said.

"We can't worry about it right now. We need to get to the next floor." Jexi said.

"Hey!" a voice called out as Jens stood next to a ladder. "Need a short cut? This goes straight to the 4th floor."

"You guys go on ahead. I'll see if Sanji needs some backup. I'll be right back with Ramona." Sectonia said.

"Waitwaitwaitwait. You seriously want to go back there after Big Mom ambushed you?" Zelos asked.

"Big Mom isn't there now, isn't she?" Sectonia asked.

"Guess not but we don't know who's waiting to ambush us." Zelos said.

"Ramona might have a good idea who." Sectonia said. "Think… What do people with hammers like hers like to do?"

"She's gonna go smash happy. And Sanji is a good fighter, but he won't fight women." Hope said.

"Ramona however, can. So it's a good chance it's that spider lady." Scott said.

"It's Black Maria. Yep. Ramona is gonna crush her." Sectonia said.

"If you need backup, then I shall assist. If it really is her, it's probably better if it's a woman fighting." Neferu said.

"Don't focus on her too long." Jexi said as the others went up the ladder as the two hurried off only to be met with a blockade of dark mages.

"Oh…were you two going somewhere?" a voice said as standing there was a red haired woman in black clothing.

Those who Slither in the Dark

Kronya

"You were one of those people from the Performance Floor." Sectonia said.

"Yes…we are Those who Slither in the Dark. We're the group that serves directly under Shez. We've got orders…to eliminate all allies to the samurai." Kronya said.

"This girl possesses a soul as black as night itself. She is chaos incarnate." Neferu said. "She must be eliminated quickly!"

"We can't linger too long. So let's go." Sectonia said as she and Neferu engaged.

Back on the Performance Floor, the others continued to deal with the pandemic as they witnessed Big Mom flying by and through the ceiling.

"Looks like she's going through the roof. Guess that's…" Zoro said as he noticed something falling through as his eyes widened as he gripped his blade.

Lucia jumped into view, her goal clear in mind to get the antibodies, but couldn't help notice Zoro gripping his blade tighter. On instinct, she gripped hers, wondering what he noticed.

"I've had just about enough of…" Apoo said before he was slashed by both Lucia and Zoro as the antibodies flew out of his hand and into theirs.

"Antibodies acquired." Lucia said, pocketing them. "I leave the rest to you, I must deliver this to whoever knows how to make the cure."

"That would be me!" Chopper said, running towards them as the antibodies were handed off.

"Can you handle this floor?" Zoro asked.

"Of course. I know how this virus functions now." Chopper said.

"Knew you would." Zoro said.

"I've been tasked with helping allies elsewhere… unless you believe we should finish off this pirate." Lucia asked Zoro, referring to Apoo.

"Don't bother with someone so pathetic." Zoro said.

Chopper was put on a podium.

"Everyone! Listen! This virus is fused with a gas that chills the body! Just look at me! Use fire or heat on it! Once the chilling stops, the virus can't reproduce! I'll make enough cure for everyone, be they friend or ally!" Chopper called out. "Don't lose out to an evil creep like him."

"Annoying little tanuki." Queen said preparing to fire before his gatling gun was cut. "Gah!"

"I don't have time for these games. They say Kaido is the toughest guy in the world. Then I'm going up there to slash him to bits." Zoro declared.

"I better look for other allies in need of aid. Good luck, Swordmaster." Lucia said as she rushed off.

Before she could, they all felt the ground shake.

"What the heck? What did you do?" Brook asked.

"You know very well I didn't do this." Zoro said.

"Ingrid, the islands shaking, what's happening outside?" Ethox asked.

Outside, Ingrid just looked in surprise.

"I'm not sure how to say this but…the island…is starting to fly into the air." Ingrid said seeing clouds surrounding the island as it was being lifted.

"Fly in the air? Are you serious? Can he really do that?" BA Petra asked.

"Kaido doesn't have wings. So the dragons of myth fly using clouds. So…" Sunset said as she thought back to Kaido's speech. "This is what he meant. Onigashima is going to become the Flower Capital."

"Damn… I'll give Kaido one thing. He doesn't mess around." David said.

"I'll say. He's gonna claim Wano for himself by literally dropping this whole island smack dab in the capital!" DW texted. "The guy really knows how to make himself known."

"Pah! Flying islands, this ain't nothin' new really!" Siege communicated. "But something tells me it ain't the same flying island Pyra and Mythra here are used to!"

"Far from it Siege!" Pyra exclaimed.

"Did I hear correctly that he plans to DROP THE ISLAND INTO THE CAPITAL!?" Noah exclaimed.

"Um… Yep, you did." David said.

"Oh shoot, I overlooked that bit! We're on a time crunch aren't we?" Siege asked.

"That's the understatement of the decade. We have to settle this whole thing tonight! It's all or nothing!" David said.

"Then ice crystals or no ice crystals all effort is going to all out attack mode! Sam! I order you to finish with Ulti and Page One NOW, but don't kill them as ordered!" Siege exclaimed.

"A bit busy, boss! Working as best I can! Hrrmph!" Sam yelled over comms.

"I'm dispersing my forces across the place now, find any one of the ringleaders and start whaling on them! All except Jack, you leave that prick for me." Siege said.

"Nuh-uh! You're not denying me my rematch with that prick!" Rinkah shouted.

"Fine. Lucia, you are ordered to target Queen or King NOW." Siege ordered.

"Affirmative." Lucia said.

"Now or never, let's rock this before Kaido gets what he wants!" Siege declared.

"Hey, um… Siege. While we are on this line, can I talk to you about something real quick." David asked. "It's um… it's about King. If our sources are right, he could be…"

"...Say no more David. I'll send Pyra and Mythra for aid, but King is all yours. I at least know they won't accidentally kill him when you probably have some other ulterior motives." Siege said. "Lucia, target change, go for Queen."

"Roger." Lucia declared.

"Well… No ulterior motives exactly. Just…something I wanted to confirm." David said.

"You can count on Pyra and Mythra to get you the aid you need David, just do your thing." Siege confirmed.

"Thanks, man. Now with that out of the way… Back to our regularly scheduled smackdowns!" David said.

"Hell yeah brother, LET'S KICK SOME ASS!" Siege proclaimed.

"Well…seems you kids are having all kinds of fun tonight." a voice said as the Performance Hall group looked up to see Marco the Phoenix flying above them.

"Marco." Rime smiled. "It's good you are here. Inversely, I take it that Big Mom escaped you. What of Perospero?"

"The boy and the two minks are holding him off as we speak." Marco the Phoenix said as he hit all those afflicted with blue flames.

"Ah! Wait…it's burning…but I don't have burns. This fire is the right temperature to stave off the virus." Chopper said.

"It's Marco's ability at work." David said.

"Perfect!" Tanya said. "You think you can go bigger, phoenix man?"

"Sure. Everyone's gonna need this anyway. Phoenix Pyreapple!" Marco the Phoenix said letting loose a burst of flames as all those afflicted were hit and the chill starting to melt. "Though don't expect this to last. Once you run out of stamina, the virus will start back up."

"So we need to keep our body heat high at all times." Kokoro said.

"Chopper!" Medina called out from a nearby room. "The supply corps has brought all the supplies. We have the equipment to start antibody production."

"Okay! Lets put our heads together and whip up the cure!" Ginseng said.

"Uh… I'll help too!" Mikan said as she and the other group medics went to work.

"Roronoa, right? I can fly you up to the roof." Marco the Phoenix said to Zoro.

"Not so fast." Apoo said slowly getting up. "My life is over if I don't…" he said before X Drake chomped onto him in dinosaur form.

"If you all see me as a true ally, I can handle this filth." X Drake said.

"Understood." David said.

"Least he's got a talent…for picking the winning horse." Zoro said.

In the Right Brain tower, Franky, Law and Claude continued to battle their respective enemies.

"General…Launcher!" Franky said firing on a number of armored Gifters.

"Dammit! Sasaki's cronies keep getting in the way!" Law said, as he was having trouble avoiding Pedrol's attacks while contending with any interference.

"I'm not having much trouble." Claude said as he was keeping Shahid at bay.

"Grr…all right boys. Make room." Sasaki said as he started growing as horns grew on his head before he stood there as a triceratops as he rammed into General Franky and knocking it back.

"Just like UI's reports." Claude said. "He's a dinosaur too."

"Give it up. I'm the most powerful kind of animal that's ever existed." Sasaki said.

"A triceratops is an armored animal, right?" Law asked. "Well, that's too bad for you. I can carve through armor!" Law said before he was smacked into a wall.

"Have you forgotten you're fighting me, boy?" Pedrol asked.

"Oh, I haven't. In fact…we were about to enter the climax." Law said.

"Climax? Don't even joke about that!" Pedrol said, rushing him.

"I'm not one to make jokes!" Law said as they resumed their combat.

"You should just surrender, castaway. After everything you've done to your own territory, you're not fit to lead it anymore." Shahid said.

"Sure, I've made some questionable choices as Alliance head. But I'd rather not have it be in your hands. You just see them and the Almyran's as tools. All cause you know…you can't succeed at being the leader I am." Claude said.

"What? Don't you dare…" Shahid said as Claude let loose an arrow as it pierced through Shahid's heart. "How…how can…this…" he said as he fell over as the Alliance Soldiers looked in shock.

"All right…all of you. Spread this to all Leicester Alliance soldiers and Almyrans. Kaido's forces, the Shadow Knights and Demon Lord's army…are your enemy!" Claude commanded.

The alliance soldiers and Almyrans looked at one another before they started chanting Claude's name.

"Thanks for that." Nader said appearing. "Looks like you didn't need me to defect after all."

"Guess not. Oh well…hope everyone else will be doing fine." Claude said.

On the 3rd floor, Sanji and Ramona continued to run as they were being attacked by the women inside.

"Why are you running?" Black Maria asked as she stuck to the ceiling with her legs now a spider's body. "I thought you said you loved me. Stay here forever darlings. I'll make you both pets."

"Like hell!" Ramona said.

"We gotta get outta here, but everywhere I look…" Sanji said. "Women! Women! Women! Women! What is this place? Heaven?"

"What's wrong with this guy?!" a number of the women said.

"Sadly… I don't have any spells that can cure Charm." Ramona said with a sigh. "Guess I'm doing this by myself." she said running in with her hammer.

On the fourth floor…

"Go on ahead. I will hold them back." Jimbei said as he faced a number of cat Gifters.

"Okay. Thanks." Jexi said as they ran off.

"Ugh. Great. Now Straw Hat is sure to bother Kaido along with his buddies." Who's Who said as he lay there in his full Sabretooth tiger form. "And would you and your buddies stop picking on my subordinates? Have a little pride, former warlord."

"I prefer my more prestigious title. Helmsman of the Straw Hat Pirates and Dimensional Heroes." Jimbei said.

"Ah, my bad. I caught a glimpse of you once… Back when you were still a Warlord. That's why…" Who's Who stated, before his words trailed off. "Well, not that it matters anymore."

"Maybe if I saw your face, I'd recognize you." Jimbei said.

"Too bad you'll never see it." Who's Who said. "Ah…seems we have all sorts of cats coming into the cafe today."

"But only a tiger and sabretooth will matter here." Taiga remarked, as one of the walls broke to reveal him. "So you intend to keep your word. The last feline who crossed me almost broke that same kind of promise to me."

"You're pretty annoying for a tiger. For one…this won't be a fight…it'll be your funeral march." Who's Who said.

"Oh? We'll see about that." Taiga remarked, as he cracked his neck and knuckles. "Jimbei, is it? Let me handle the rabble first. I want to get rid of any annoyances that might get in our fight. You can have your first blows against this sabretooth, I'll get to him after I'm sure I have the fight exactly as I intend it."

"Hmm…an honorable offer. However, these people will bother both of us. So…it's better if we alternate together!" Jimbei said.

"Very well." Taiga remarked. "Then let's begin this fight."

Outside of the Skull Dome, a wall was cracked open as Page One and Ulti broke through, although both were worse for ware.

"Where'd they go?" Page One said.

"I'll split that woman's skull in two!" Ulti said.

As the two ran off, both Sam and Koyomi walked out, both having some injuries.

"Damn…after all that…they just gave up on beating us." Sam cursed.

"It doesn't matter… while we keep them delayed, the others will handle the rest." Koyomi remarked, before wincing slightly from her bruised arm, which took a hard blow from Ulti's attacks.

"The bigger fishes on this island sure do have a lot more fight to them." Sam said. "Say, I noticed you looked a lot like them. Don't tell me, are there dinosaur beastmen where you come from?"

"...Sort of." Koyomi answered back quietly.

"We should rest for a moment, then go after those two. I will not let them escape like that." Sam said. "...Damn kids."

Down below, Yamato took Momonosuke and Shinobu along with some of the others who found them towards a large dragon statue.

"Whoa…is that…Kaido?" Eddy asked.

"This statue used to be in the front at the entrance until it was broken. Years ago, my friend came here to kill my father." Yamato said.

"Ah yes, Ace." Double D recalled. "You two had a bit of an altercation, but after awhile, you became good friends."

"Why did he come here take out your dad back then anyway? Did Whitebeard want him gone?" Ajna asked.

"Not sure. He likely came to make a name for himself and his crew." Yamato said. "However, Kaido was not here on that day."

"So there was another pirate trying to save Wano. But why mention him?" Momonosuke asked.

"Oh. Ace died two years ago." Yamato said.

"Yes… A very dark time indeed…" Double D said. "Nothing was the same after what happened in Marineford. Least not for Luffy or the Whitebeard Pirates."

"Luffy? Why would he be affected?" Momonosuke asked.

"Ace is Luffy's brother." Izuku said.

"What?!" Momonosuke said in shock.

"Yes. Luffy went to Marineford" to rescue Ace and stop his execution. But Ace was still killed by Akainu." Alphamon said.

At the same time, with Tama, Usopp and Nami…

"What?! Ace is Luffy's brother?!" Tama asked, not even believing it herself. "But… when Big Bro and I first met, and I asked about Ace, he told me he died and just passed it off so casually."

"If Luffy was upset, he would have said something." Nami said. "Also, about this plan you mentioned…I say we do it."

"We heard every word." Aura said on the comm. "Operation: Beast Tamer is starting now."

"If I may be so bold in asking what is Operation: Beast Tamer?" Siege asked.

"It's simple. My Millet-Millet powers allow me to take animals and make them my allies. It also works on the SMILE users. So…" Tama said.

"We three beast tamers…will start taming a majority of the Gifters and Headliners." Natyal said.

"Gotcha. Let us know if we can help there." Siege offered.

"You can. I'm having a bunch of my followers run around giving millet to the gifters. A horse, a gazelle and a scorpion. If you see one of them, ask for some millet dumplings and start feeding them to Gifters. All I have to do after is give a command and they'll come to our side." Tama said.

"There's about 500 Gifters in Kaido's forces. Be a lot easier to command em all at once somehow." Claude said.

"Got it. I'll have my team on the look out for that. Might just be me though, considering I sent Rinkah and Hop ahead towards Jack, and Pyra and Mythra towards King to help David." Siege relayed.

"Either way, the operation will greatly reduce Kaido's man power. Seems his plan of an all Devil Fruit user army is starting to backfire." Aura said.

"Indeed. Let's start pushing even harder to victory!" Siege yelled.

Back on the performance floor…

"You stupid songbird. Don't assume you can fly right past us! Those samurai are surely dead by now." Queen said in full animal form.

"And once we have Kozuki's Oden's son's head, this raid will be all for nothing." King said flying in the air in full animal form.

"If you really think that, you're in for a rude awakening. You're all pitting yourselves against the new generation." Marco the Phoenix said.

"Shut up you little song bird." Queen said, firing a gun from his mouth as the bullets just passed through Marco's body harmlessly.

The 1st division commander flew straight up as King got him in his sights. He swung his sword and sliced off one of Marcos wings in full phoenix form, but there was no stopping him as he reappeared in a different position.

"Bluebird!" Marco the Phoenix called, jumping and blasting Queen into a building with a well concentrated shot of his flames. "Your turn, you two!" he called as Pyra and Mythra appeared and rushed right at the recovering All star.

"You got it!" Pyra shouted as she leapt up into the air. "Time for that new duo move!"

"You said it! EAT THIS! BLINDING SHOCK STORM!" Mythra yelled as she sent out blasts of electricity into Queen, as Pyra shot downwards.

"METEOR SHOCK SMASH!" Pyra yelled as while Queen was stunned, she crashed down into Queen in massive flames, Lucia now coming into the picture as well as she dashed past Queen.

"Kore de owaridesu./(This is the end for you.)" Lucia coldly said as her blade clicked, causing multiple slashes to hit Queen at once.

"Gah! You little punk!" Queen said, firing at them. "Black Coffee!" he said, firing laser beams from his mouth.

"Uh-oh!" Pyra yelled as the trio dodged the attack. "That was close!"

"Focus!" Lucia yelled as she sent multiple slash waves into Queen. "We have our new objectives, don't back down!"

"Didn't plan on it!" Mythra said as she took to the air and fired lightning shots down at Queen.

"Mahahaha! You small fry…don't know who you're dealing with." Queen said.

On the rooftop, there stood Luffy, Kidd, Trafalgar Law, Zoro, Killer, Jexi, Hope and Mark as well as Siege as they looked at Kaido and Big Mom.

"So. This is it huh." Siege said, looking at the two opponents. "The big bads that we need to take out."

"There are two others…but we can leave them to our friends below." Jexi said.

"Hmm…Straw Hat." Kaido said.

"Mamamama! Fresh heads ripe for the taking." Big Mom laughed.

Luffy was silent as he casually approached them along with Jexi.

"Linlin. You know what this boy said he'd be? Right to my face?" Kaido asked.

"Oh I know what he probably said. He and his little friends even took out my castle. They all owe me an apology." Big Mom said.

Luffy and Jexi walked past them as they approached the fallen samurai.

"You guys…you did all you could for us here." Jexi said.

"We bring nothing…but shame to Oden." Kin'emon said weakly.

This had been the first time Siege had seen of any of the samurai working with them… and seeing them in a state like this… made his blood boil, trying to keep his anger in as he watched.

"Will you all…put Wano on your backs?" Kin'emon asked.

"Of course. This country belongs to my friend." Luffy said.

"Law…" Jexi said.

"Right." Trafalgar Law said as he created a room as the samurai soon vanished.

After this had been done, Kaido quickly aimed to smash Luffy with his club, but he swung and missed. Luffy appeared in the air in front of him, combining Gear Third with his Armament haki… and one more thing.

"Gum Gum…Red Roc!" Luffy said landing the first punch on Kaido, knocking him to the ground to the sight of everyone. "I am Monkey D. Luffy! And I'm the man who'll surpass you…and become the King of the Pirates!"

"And us…we're the Hero Alliance. And we're ending this era you two have stood on for too long." Jexi said.

"I may not be part of the Hero Alliance… but I am Siege. I may not have my place in this world… but neither does the tyranny you two have instilled to this land." Siege said as he suddenly took the Hagakure Blades and teleported them away. "Leave Big Mom to me. The rest of you get Kaido."

"Sorry Siege, but this…this is something Hope and I gotta do." Mark said. "We need you to help our friends wrap things up down below. Can we count on you?"

"Not this time." Siege said, pulling out a fiery sword that looked similar to Ragnell from a portal. "After seeing what they did… to samurai who gave their lives willingly to fight for this cause…." Siege said through grit teeth, flashing memories of others who died fighting for his cause running through his mind.

"Siege!" Hope called, getting Seige's attention as he warmed up.

"Don't talk me out of this." Siege said. "I am tired of you guys leaving me on the back burner. I want to leave my mark for these samurai! Don't think you can take these two alone."

"Don't worry. There's gonna be plenty of fight from these guys." Jexi said.