The white nine-tailed fox is a legend in Raftel in old times back to the time of the First High Kings and Queens. It served as a companion to the First High King of Huidel - the Elf King. It is said that its fur is of pure white, shining under the moonlight, bewitching all creatures present.

Sab was very curious about this creature who lurks in the dark, watching over her. She never approached it nor did she try to communicate with it, but she knows it's always been there, waiting for her.

At this moment, while watching the lava raining down on them, killing Raftelians, Sab cannot help but feel helpless. Elves will not have time to cast the shield to protect everyone much less protect themselves.

Then, she hears the voice.

'Your Majesty' It's a familiar voice but at the same time, it is not.

Come to me she says not knowing what this will achieve at all. What she knows is that she's desperate to help her people who are struggling to keep themselves alive.

Marco's blue fire won't be enough to keep everyone safe, nor does the efforts of Kidd blasting the lava using his hands. Even with Zoro's swords, slashing them does not guarantee full safety. Many will still die and get hurt.

Achilles is standing guard near Sab, alert for any movement that may come to her. At that time, amidst the raining lava, a white light suddenly came into the view from the horizon, rapidly approaching them at the speed of light.

The creature arrives in front of Sab waiting for orders. The beauty of the creature is beyond what Sab can comprehend. It's majestic, filled with light and vibrance.

What is she supposed to say?

Commanding a creature like this does not sit well with her, after all, she's not the type to always use her position to make others submit to her.

'What is your name?'

'Kiyone'

'Kiyone. Lend me your power'

The fox does not answer with words but with actions. One of its tails links to Sab's hand, transferring a power that vaguely seems familiar as if it came home.

'Just like the Fire Spirit, I am the source of the power of Huidel, the guardian. Only such time when the successor of my King arrives should I reveal myself.'

Sab does not understand what that even meant but what does it matter anyway? This is not the time to ponder on things. It's time to take action.

Letting her instincts guide her, she raises the staff of Huidel, slamming it on the ground as if calling on to nature to answer her call. The trees nearby start resonating to her commands, roots crawling on the earth, branches growing at a rapid speed unimaginable.

Forests have always been the foxes' territory. It is their home and where the power lies. With the additional power coursing through her veins, Sab grasps the power in her, sending it to the nature surrounding them.

'We belong to nature. We always have been part of the life that may look insignificant to others, Your Majesty. Our power is the lifeforce of nature itself.'

Specks of golden dust surround them, decorating the growing trees. The growing branches of the trees form into a shied above them, protecting them from the barrage of attacks from Akainu.

"We can't be holed up here. We need to find a way to kill those bastards." Kidd is impatient and anxious. The battle is just starting and they are already at a disadvantage. Besides, he's worried about the consumption of Sab's shield and what it might do to her.

Seeing how she twitches in discomfort, Kidd growls but does nothing. Now that it has come to this, he realizes how they could have been wiped out had it not been for the help of the three Magical Kingdoms. No brute force can counter the spell cast over Raftel especially not a dark spell like this. He dreads thinking how it could be disastrous if it were just the Beasts and a few spellcasters.

It doesn't help that the dark spell is still there, encompassing the entirety of Raftel.

While everyone is racking their brains on how to counterattack, a voice rings in Luffia's head.

'Your Majesty...'

'What is it? We're under attack, I cannot talk for long.'

'We know. We felt the ominous air surrounding you. They are near Raftel.'

Luffia's eyes turn wider as she turns to Zoro who can hear their conversation.

'Where are they?' Anxiousness is evident in Zoro's voice. This is their chance to attack them.

'They are in the middle of the ocean. We cannot get close to them because of the barrier, but we know where they are.'

'We cannot get out of here because they covered Raftel. Do you have a way to bring us to where they are?'

'We can. There's a pond in Raftel that serves as a portal to our domain. All you have to do is get there and we can bring you to where the enemies are. However, a warning, Your Majesty. They have far more power than you can imagine.'

'We do not have a choice' is what Luffia answered.

'Very well. We will be here to help you. More of the enemy's armies are on their way to Raftel. Be cautious, Your Majesty. Your powers have not been stabilized. This is disadvantageous.'

Luffia and Zoro look at each other, conversing on what to do. With just the two of them, they cannot possibly defeat Akainu and his men. They need more capable fighters.

'I will speak to you once I've asked my sisters.'

The only ones in Raftel who have the powers to fight against the enemies are the Royalties and the Peacekeeper. The Warrior Commanders may be able to fight, but defeating them will not be possible.

Luffia's eyes landed on Ann who's suspiciously looking at her. Sab is still busy channeling her powers to protect the Raftelians from the raining lava.

"We have their location." Everyone's eyes turn to Luffia. Her words cause Ann to stand up from her sitting position, approaching her with great speed. Marco did the same, so as Kidd and the Peacekeeper.

"How did you get their location?"

"The Sea kings told me." She surveys the people in front of her. "We have a way to get to where they are."

"Then, what are we waiting for? We should not waste our time!"

"Ann, if we all go, we will inevitably leave Raftel to fend for themselves when the approaching armies arrive," Zoro said.

Wars are always a battle of wits and strategies. One wrong move can wipe your side and this is not the risk they can take. They cannot let Raftel be vulnerable when their enemies wanted nothing but to kill everything in sight.

"I will go, yoi. So long as Akainu is out there, who knows what will happen with the endless attacks coming from somewhere. We need to stop him at all costs."

"I want to go as well... But who will defend Raftel?" Sab is still holding onto the barrier along with the elves of Huidel.

The citizens of Daerene are also casting magic on their own, making sure that no poison will ever penetrate the barrier.

"We will defend," Whitebeard speaks out. "Do not think that the Warrior Commanders from all Kingdoms will take this lying down. We will defend till our last breath and whatever it takes, we will take them down along with us. This is our home. As much as I would like to join you in pursuing the traitors, I am needed here. You six should make sure Akainu and Blackbeard will no longer breathe tomorrow."

"I will help here. Just make sure you kill them once and for all." Rayleigh adds. "And in the off chance you cannot kill them, retreat. I apologize for saying this, but you six must not die at all cost. Raftel can be rebuilt so long as the Royals are alive."

The weight of the words falls heavy on their shoulders. Everyone knows what Rayleigh meant even if all of them do not agree. The Royalties symbolize the hope of Raftel, their power, their leaders. Should they fall into battle, everything will be lost. All sacrifices and deaths up to now will be for naught - gone in vain.

"Your magic power won't be enough to hold off enemies. Kiyone can stay here - "

"Bring the fox with you Sab." Alamir appeared out of nowhere. "It will only serve you. No one else can use its powers aside from you."

Sab was hoping that she can leave Kiyone here to help them, but as it turns out, it may not be beneficial at all.

The rain of lava slows down, but they can still see the pool of darkness. For a moment, the attacks seize, bringing a moment of calmness that is threatening to explode anytime soon. A calm before the storm.

Sab vaguely feels the firm but reassuring grip on her hand. She looks up to see Kidd looking at her. Mixed emotions evident in his eyes and she feels it through their connection, the sense of dread, worries, and fear.

She returns the gesture, nodding at him, a signal that they can do this.

None of them has any choice but to face this. It feels like fate is working its way to having them confront the traitors.

It is inevitable.

And just as they are thinking of going to the fountain in the Central Palace, the dark clouds turn into a portal. A surge of new creatures came out of it, and among them are the infamous prisoners that Akainu and Teach freed. Among them is Big Mom and Kaido, two creatures powerful enough to rival the Peacekeeper.

The others with them are no pushovers either. Some of them may have been forgotten but others still remember the terror they brought upon Raftel during the Great War.

'Your Majesty, you must stop him. I do not know what he is planning, but he's gathering more evil power.'

Luffia's alarmed now. The urgency in the voice of the Sea king is not something she can ignore.

"The Sea kings are warning me. He's doing something."

The grim expressions in the High Princes only turned darker at the news. The flickers of fire surround Marco's shoulders and arms. Kidd's claws are finally out, twitching at the possibility of Akainu and Teach doing more than they are already doing. And even though Zoro appears calm, his eye has turned red while his hand is clutching onto the handle of his swords.

Years of pain and suffering are what they endured since their parents' deaths. The deaths that Akainu and Teach are responsible for. Kidd can still remember the time when he watched his parents perish in front of him.

Not just their parents, but also their people. So much blood had been spilled that this will become their turning point - a do or die.

They know full well that should they fail on stopping the traitors, everyone will be doomed. The possibility of Raftel perishing is high and what will be left are the dead bodies of its people. Not just Raftel, but the entire realm. No matter what the traitors are planning, they know that it is not good and they must be stopped.

"We will hold them off. You all go now. Stop them at all costs. If I am right, he will make a final stand. We will fight his army." Whitebeard assured the High Princes and High Princesses.

"We will go now," Luffia said. "Please... Do not die." That was for everyone in Raftel.

No one promised her anything not because they don't want to, but because they cannot promise her something that may very well happen anytime. This is war. Death is inevitable.

"The armies are here. I will disperse the barrier. Be prepared." Raftelians all surrounded the Royalties as they retreat to find the traitors to end them.

As the barrier disperses, the evil smiles of the prisoners have now become more sinister.

"Whitebeard, you old bastard." Big Mom steps in the frontlines, facing Whitebeard from the other side. "You're still alive, eh?"

"I am surprised the two of you have not perished. Perhaps the eternal punishment of fire is not enough. Worry not, once this is all over, you will go back to your prisons and with a far stronger fire to burn your souls to nothingness."

All prisoners twitch at the mention of the eternal punishment. Centuries of being in that prison had taught them how powerful the fire that burns in that forbidden place. And should Raftelians manage to defeat Akainu and Teach, all prisoners will either die or be imprisoned again, this time, using Verid's fire.

That is IF they can defeat him.

"We'll see who will be imprisoned and die," Kaido answered and transformed himself into a dragon.

Zoro twitched at the sight of this man. His ancestor - a traitor to their kind. The man who failed to be a High King and to get a more powerful body, sacrificed the blood of his kind and consumed them. Had it not been for his duty to kill Akainu and Teach, he would have stayed here to deal with this beast.

"To your positions!" Whitebeard shouted. Once more, he turned to the High Princes and Princesses, nodding to them, signaling to leave the moment the two sides clash.

With a war cry, it started. Rayleigh is beside Whitebeard, fending off Big Mom while Whitebeard fights against Kaido. The rest of the Warrior Commanders and the soldiers are now engaged in another bloodbath.

It will be a coordination between the three kingdoms. The elves support the warriors and the berserkers of Beogia, riding on the wolves' back, providing support, and casting offensive spells any chance they got.

The faeries will be providing additional firepower from the sides with the warriors from the Ipraecia to initiate the clash. One fire burns the soul while the other burns the physical body.

The Daerenians will cast the hypnotizing spell on their enemies while the dragons from Vaelon. It was an easy target to the swordsmen ready to strike at any given time.

With the clash and chaos, it is time for the High Princes and High Princesses to leave. They look back to see their people fighting for their homes.

They must do the same.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

'Your Highness. Why is this... this creature here?' Sab can hear the disgust and discomfort in Kiyone's voice when she speaks directly in Sab's head. They're on their way to the portal to take where the Sea Kings will bring them to where Akainu and Teach are. That's when the white fox spoke.

When she turns to where Kiyone's eyes are, they are on Achilles who is running alongside Kidd.

'He's the Wolf Lord, Achilles. He is my mate's companion and a friend of mine.' Sab explains. Now that she thinks about it, she never introduced Kiyone to anyone, not like they have time for such formalities.

'He stinks!'

All eyes suddenly turn to Kiyone for she did not speak directly to Sab, but voiced her inner thoughts out loud. The tension when they left the battlefield turned into confusion while looking at the white fox running beside Sab.

"Did she just talk?" Luffia tits her head to the side, pointing to Kiyone. Before anyone can answer a certain beast speaks out his disdain, further escalating the confusion of the Royalties.

'Not as much as you, you thousand years old beast.'

'Who are you calling old, you stupid wolf?'

'Who are you to call me stupid, you stupid fox?'

They're fast approaching the portal and it's already within sight. The arguments did not stop. Ann and Marco were just looking at Sab, confused, and wanted to ask what these arguments are about.

Said blonde princess is confused as well.

"Shut up, both of you! I don't even know why you two are arguing when we're at war! We're almost to the portal, you both better shut your mouths!" Kidd's irritation is evident and that made Achilles snort at Kiyone.

'Don't get in the way, stupid wolf.'

'Same to you.'

Kidd growls at them, so they stopped. Had it not been for their situation now, Sab would have laughed. It vaguely reminds him how she and Kidd used to be like this, hating each other's existence. But this is not the time to be distracted.

"We're here." The pond is right at the outer parts of the Central Palace, hidden from almost everyone. Had it not been for the instructions of the Sea Kings, they won't be able to find it at all.

The crystal clear waters of the pond make it look like any ordinary pond, but this will serve as their portal.

'We are here in the pond. What do we need to do?'

'We will open it for you, Your Majesty'

A moment of waiting before they see the crystal clear water's slight movements, trembling till it forms a whirlpool. None of them have seen a Sea King in their lifetime, except Luffia and Zoro who met them at the sea so it came as a surprise to the other four when a large head of a dragon-like creature appeared in the whirlpool.

Raftelians heard of stories from ancient times of the Sea Kings lurking in the deepest parts of the ocean. The merpeople learned never to venture into such areas for fear of offending the Sea Kings. It is said that they command the water and when in their domain, they are matchless.

Only Poseidon can command them and right now, that person is Luffia.

'Your Majesties.' He bows to Luffia and then to Zoro. By extension of rights, Zoro is a king to them only because of Luffia's position.

"A water dragon," Zoro mutters, amazed to see this creature. He didn't see him when they met the other sea kings.

'I am the overseer of this portal that leads to our territory. My brothers and sisters found the boat of the enemies. I will take you there with me.'

"Let's go now. Take all of us there."

'We cannot get close to the boat because of the sinister magic surrounding it. You must rely on flying to where it is.'

"It's alright. We can fly there. We just need to get rid of that bastard." Determination never left their eyes. All of them suffered heavy losses at the hands of these traitors, their loved ones died because of them.

'Then please step into the water. The journey will not be smooth sailing.' The creature warns.

"It does not matter. We need to get there as fast as possible." Kidd answered.

And without further ado, everyone steps into the pond, letting the water dragon take them to the unknown territory, to where their enemies are.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

"Bastard!" Big Mom is cursing out loud while glaring at the man in front of her. They plan to sweep Raftel clean of these so-called Raftelians but the presence of Rayleigh and Whitebeard proved to be difficult for that to be achieved.

They expected Whitebeard to face Big Mom and Kaido alone, and that would have been advantageous. With the two of them, they can defeat the Peacekeeper of Raftel, but they did not account for the presence of a mere human like Rayleigh to have thwarted their plans.

"It's been such a long time since someone gave me a good fight." Rayleigh smirks, pointing his sword to Big Mom before he darts forward to launch another thrust of the sword accompanied by his will.

Big Mom and Kaido are frowning at the move of this human. The sheer dominance of Al Draig he displayed far outstretched their expectations.

Unlike Akainu, they are not fixated on that power, but even so, they are wary of its effects as well as its might. To face a human with the power of Al Draig is utterly disgraceful to them. They feel disgusted for they feel that humans are inferior, powerless.

"Vermin! Die!" Big Mom swings her sword to match Rayleigh's but only to feel pushed back and the strength of her body almost depleting when she felt the wave of nausea from the invisible attack.

Rayleigh's precision in using Al Draig surprises all Raftelians on the battlefield. They know that this man can use Al Draig, but to such an extent that can rival the evilest prisoners is beyond what they had in their minds. Even Whitebeard is visibly surprised at this.

"That won't be enough," Kaido grumbles. The big horns on his head made him look like he's a demon that was born in hell.

And hell he will unleash. A mere shout from him reverberates in Raftel. His massive tails and claws send Raftelians to their deaths, blood spilling the ground. The others can defend but only for a moment as the enemies start flocking them, taking the opportunity to counterattack without mercy.

Rayleigh tried so hard to use Al Draig, but it can only affect some of the enemy soldiers. Not enough to fend everyone off.

"Where are your so-called royalties? Shame on them for walking away from the battlefield and let all of you die." Kaido smirks, disgusted at the thought of the spawns of the Royal beasts. "Where is that brat?"

"Had the Prince been here, you would be dead." One of the Vaelonians shouted. They know he's referring to Zoro, the last of the Royal Household of the Roronoas.

The history of Kaido goes way back to the time when civil war amongst the kingdoms is common. Unlike the three Magical Kingdoms, the Beast Kingdoms had always been unruly and cruel, always fighting amongst each other and the strongest one can rule.

It had always been a fair fight, but not to Kaido. He wants more power and massacred his kin so he can regain what he had now. That stopped when one of the noble families stepped in, sending this abomination to the depths of hell with the help of Whitebeard.

"His blood must be tasty, what with the bond to that Daerenian." A sinister smile appears on his face. "I would love to fight him to the death, and crush his heart in front of you weaklings!"

"Ahh, they will taste defeat and despair. Why not we send these fools to the depths of hell and burn them to death?" Big Mom is now standing beside Kaido. Her eyes never left Rayleigh, still wary of him but that does not stop her from working on her next attack to follow suit Kaido's.

She summons two creatures to her side, a ball of cloud and a ball of fire.

Just like that, everyone on their side is preparing to attack again. Bloodlust visible in their eyes while looking at the Raftelians.

"This will be the end of Raftel and we will begin a new era. Your so-called Royalties will be dead in no time."

"They've got more power than you can imagine, Big Mom," Whitebeard answers him.

"Is that so? We'll see. If you all sent him to chase after Akainu and Teach, then you are making the biggest mistake. They're walking to their deaths."

Rayleigh and Whitebeard's grip on their weapons becomes stronger, grim expressions slowly creep on their faces. They are faithful to their High Princes and High Princesses, hoping for their success and safety but even if they want to be optimistic about this, they know that anything can happen.

"Scared now? The little brats you protected will be gone, dead for good. And you all will be next!"

Rumbles in the sky echo in Raftel and lightning strikes the Raftelians. Some had been unlucky to receive a direct blow, immediately sending the creature to its death.

Another clash is about to start in the land of Raftel.

And in the distance, somewhere in the middle of the ocean, the Royalties of Raftel arrive in front of the black ship surrounded by fluctuations of dark energy.

"Welcome, High Princes and High Princesses of Raftel. Welcome to where your grave will be."