One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

"Don't you know that the Entei Pirate Group has two giant leaders from Elbaf's Warrior Village, Kaido?" 

Before Ace could respond, Shanks, thoroughly enjoying his drink, interjected with a hearty laugh.

"Oh? Giants from Elbaf?" Kaido's drunken eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of curiosity flashing in them.

The giant race had always been formidable, a force that had endured for centuries, longer even than the World Government, which had ruled for over 800 years. 

Across this vast sea, countless once-powerful races had vanished, swallowed by the relentless tides of time. Kaido glanced at his right hand, where his strongest crew member, "King the Wildfire," stood. King, the first of Kaido's three disasters, was a remnant of the nearly extinct Lunarian tribe—a race once revered as gods who had lived atop the Red Line.

But even the Lunarians had faded, reduced to mere legends, while the giants remained as powerful as ever, a race that had withstood the march of history. 

Elbaf, the kingdom of the giants, was still hailed as the mightiest nation in the world. Charlotte Linlin, who had once sailed alongside Kaido as part of the Rocks Pirates and now stood among the Four Emperors, had once coveted the strength of the giants, but even her powerful crew lacked their presence.

The giants of Elbaf were particularly notorious for their warrior spirit. Most of the giants in the Marines, who served as Vice Admirals, were moderates, but the rough, battle-hardened warriors from Elbaf's Warrior Village were another breed entirely—unyielding and fiercely independent. It was hard to imagine that warriors of their caliber would bow to anyone. 

Yet, here was Ace, a man who had earned the loyalty of these very giants. Kaido's brow furrowed, his confusion growing.

"A hundred years ago, Dorry the 'Blue Ogre' and Brogy the 'Red Ogre'—captains of the famed Giant Warrior Pirates—had bounties of 100 million beli each. They've since gathered the remnants of their old crew, raised the banner of the Entei Pirates, and set sail again from Elbaf," Shanks explained, his tone casual despite the gravity of the news. "If it weren't for the massive impact Ace has had, this would've been big news in itself, hahaha!"

Kaido's eyes widened as he processed Shanks' words. "Dorry and Brogy? The giants who vanished a century ago are now under your command, Entei?" He tilted his head back, gulping down the wine poured by the Red Hair Pirates, his face alight with intrigue.

'Boom!'

After downing his drink, Kaido smashed the empty gourd onto the ground, fixing Ace with a burning gaze. "Join forces with me, Entei," he said with a wicked grin.

Shanks, in the middle of a drink, paused, his expression suddenly serious.

Kaido, the war-hungry emperor who had originally sought Ace's ability to hunt Devil Fruits, had been soundly defeated by Ace in their last battle. But instead of pursuing vengeance, Kaido had chosen to negotiate a truce with the World Government's Five Elders and even now was extending a hand to Ace in partnership. His willingness to stay for a banquet with his former rivals was certainly driven by ulterior motives.

Was this truly his goal? To form an alliance with Ace?

"What do you say?" Kaido continued, his grin widening. "Together, we could create a pirate group unlike any this sea has ever seen, greater even than the Rocks Pirates. My artificial Devil Fruits, combined with your ability to hunt down the rarest Devil Fruits in existence, could form an invincible army of Devil Fruit users."

Kaido leaned in, his voice low but charged with ambition. "We could start a war—no, a world war—the likes of which has never been seen! I have vast territories, legions of subordinates that you've never had. You, with your power to rule the seas and the ability to seek out Devil Fruit users... Together, we could unleash a force far beyond what you've assembled here today!"

He raised a hand, clenching his fist. "To tear down those so-called nobles and the rulers who sit idle in their luxury, forcing them to fight on the battlefield, that's the only way to achieve true equality and freedom. War, Entei—only war reveals a person's true value!"

Kaido's eyes gleamed with intensity as he continued, "Your public execution of the Celestial Dragons... you did it for this reason, didn't you? Entei."

Kaido's piercing gaze locked onto Ace, waiting for his answer.

Shanks, still seated, calmly picked up his glass and took a slow sip of his wine, quietly observing the situation.

"I refuse." Ace's reply came with a laugh, his voice firm and unwavering.

The corners of Shanks' mouth lifted slightly. 'Ace, it seems I didn't see you wrong. You're not a war fanatic like Kaido.'

"Refuse? Why?" Kaido's voice took on a serious tone. "If the two of us join forces—no, I can even bring Linlin and the Big Mom Pirates into our alliance. If you're concerned about leadership, I'll talk to Linlin, and we can agree to make you the leader. Your power, your Conqueror Haki, would be the dominant force among the three of us. This super pirate alliance would have you at its head!"

Kaido was earnest. He had no doubt that Ace's Conqueror's Haki and strength surpassed both his own and Linlin's. The thought of creating an unstoppable army of Devil Fruit users, with Ace's ability to hunt down Devil Fruits, was too tempting to ignore. He was even willing to allow Ace to take the leading role in their alliance—an offer Kaido wouldn't extend lightly.

Of course, this leadership didn't mean the Beasts Pirates or Big Mom Pirates would merge with the Entei Pirates. Instead, they would form a pirate alliance. Within this alliance of three powerful crews, Kaido was willing to negotiate with Linlin to let Ace's Entei Pirates be the dominant force.

But Ace simply shook his head. "You've got it wrong, Kaido," he said, his Conqueror Haki radiating as he spoke. "I'm not interested in war. War is just a tool I use to reach my goals. To me, there's no difference between war, Devil Fruit abilities, or Haki."

Ace drank the last of his wine and laughed, his words filled with conviction.

"Tools?" Beckman, exhaling a puff of smoke, smiled slightly at Ace's words. Ace's philosophy was clear: 'Turn all available power into tools for your own use.' Beckman had already seen this firsthand during the epoch-making war Ace had waged. The Marines, the World Government, the Red Hair Pirates, Kaido, and even the entire world had become pawns in Ace's grand plan. He had even turned Marine justice into part of his own power.

To a man like Ace, this world-shaking war was nothing more than a means to an end.

"The way you see things... it's different." Kaido's massive form sat up straighter as he poured more wine into his mouth. Though Kaido appeared rough and brutish, he was far more cunning than most gave him credit for. His keen instincts and tactics had allowed him to seize control of Wanokuni. Kaido had played Kozuki Oden for years, breaking the proud samurai by forcing him into submission. He knew how to manipulate and crush his enemies, both mentally and physically.

"It's a shame, Entei," Kaido chuckled, setting his gourd down. "With you in my way, my dream of launching the greatest war the world has ever seen will never be realized. If we can't be allies, then we can only be enemies."

Kaido's laugh boomed across the room, and his words carried a dangerous weight. He was not afraid to voice his intentions, even in this setting. Though they had only known each other for a short time, Kaido had a deep understanding of human nature. When Wanokuni fell into his hands, it was because he exploited Oden's naïveté and crushed his spirit over the course of five years.

Even now, as he spoke openly of war, Kaido knew Ace wouldn't attack him in this setting. Despite Ace's superior strength, Kaido was still one of the Four Emperors—a force to be reckoned with. Killing him wouldn't be easy. Kaido's dragon form and immense physical endurance allowed him to shrug off most injuries. If he wanted to escape, there was no one on this sea who could stop him.

Moreover, Kaido was well aware that Ace was a man of exceptional intelligence. This was no ordinary pirate. Ace had bested Sengoku, known as the "Resourceful General"—a man who had attained Buddha-like wisdom through his Human-Human Fruit, Model: Buddha. Kaido knew firsthand the incredible power Devil Fruits granted their users, and he understood that outsmarting someone like Ace would be no easy feat.

It was impossible to hide his true intentions from someone who had outwitted Sengoku.

Ace's gaze shifted towards Kaido, his lips curving into a subtle smirk. "I never said I called off my crusade against you, Kaido."

Ace admired Kaido's warrior spirit, especially his zeal for battle. But what Kaido had done in Wanokuni was an obstacle in Ace's path to becoming the ruler of the world—an obstacle that needed to be removed. Sharing a banquet with Kaido now didn't mean that Ace had abandoned his plans for their eventual confrontation.

"Since you insist on being my enemy..." Ace stood up, his eyes locking onto Kaido.

Kaido's expression tightened, his body tense and ready to shift into his dragon form at any moment, prepared to escape by force if necessary. Despite being hailed as the strongest creature alive, Kaido knew better than to underestimate the man in front of him. The man's sheer power, especially when his Conqueror Haki blazed like a radiant sun, was not something Kaido could simply brush off. Even he, with his unmatched resilience, wasn't sure how much of that force he could endure.

"Then why don't you drink a bit more first?" Ace's voice boomed with laughter, and with a playful sweep of his Conqueror's Haki, he lightly slapped the back of Kaido's head from a distance. "If you don't eat and drink enough, how do you expect to have the strength to face me in battle? Remember, I'm Entei! Hahaha!"

Kaido rubbed the back of his head, a twitch forming at the corners of his mouth. Even he felt a tinge of pain when hit by such potent ConqyHaki. "Entei, you..."

Shanks couldn't help but laugh heartily at the sight. "As expected of Luffy's brother. Conqueror Haki stronger than most, and a spirit to match!"

Ace lifted his glass, grinning. "When you're hungry, you eat. When you're thirsty, you drink. Without food and drink, what kind of war are you planning to fight? This is what this banquet's about—enjoy it! Cheers!"

The entire hall erupted in laughter as everyone raised their glasses in unison, their voices blending together in camaraderie.

Even Kaido, despite knowing they were destined to become enemies, couldn't suppress the slight grin that appeared on his face as he sipped his drink. "Portgas D. Ace..."

Though their ideologies differed, and conflict between them was inevitable, Kaido had to admit: Ace was a man with an undeniable charm, even among pirates.

The grand banquet lasted for several days, with endless food, laughter, and drinks shared among the attendees. But today, a long-awaited guest finally arrived.

A booming, Haki-filled laugh echoed across the sky, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. "Gu la la la! Seems like I'm a bit late!"

The legendary figure who spoke, known as the World's Strongest Man, made his entrance. Whitebeard, Edward Newgate—another Emperor of the Sea—had arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago.