One Piece: The Multiverse Simulator

Hearing the sarcastic praise from Aokiji and Kizaru, Sengoku's expression shifted between embarrassment and frustration.

What "advanced preparation"? If Sengoku had truly anticipated the arrival of the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates, he would have ordered the Marines to abandon Marineford and retreat long before now.

After their grueling battle with the Whitebeard Pirates, the Navy was already severely weakened. They barely had the strength to fend off one Yonko, let alone two more.

Though the ships approaching from the two pirate crews seemed limited in number, the mere presence of Kaido and Big Mom was enough to completely destabilize the battlefield.

What's worse, Kaido and Big Mom didn't come alone. Behind them stood their elite officers: the Three Disasters and the Sweet Commanders.

Compared to the fresh and formidable Yonko forces, the Navy's current lineup was bleak. The Admiral-level fighters—Aokiji, Kizaru, Sengoku himself, and Tsuru—were all heavily drained from the ongoing conflict.

Akainu was still incapacitated, Garp was feigning indifference on the sidelines, and the Warlords of the Sea were as unreliable as ever. It was clear that holding back Kaido and Big Mom would be nearly impossible.

"Aren't you the 'Strategist of the Navy,' Sengoku?" Kizaru asked with a tone of exaggerated politeness, though his eyes glinted with unease. "Surely, you must have accounted for this outcome?

After all, you're always one step ahead, right? Any brilliant ideas to handle this mess?"

Aokiji added with uncharacteristic sharpness, "If this is what you meant by 'unexpected developments,' then I really have to hand it to you.

But seriously, Sengoku, tell me you have a backup plan. We're not equipped to handle two Yonko crews right now."

Seeing their feigned admiration turning to genuine panic, Sengoku sighed heavily. He had no choice but to disclose a critical piece of information.

"The situation is dire, I admit," Sengoku began, his voice heavy. "But it's not hopeless.

You two don't need to do anything reckless. Wood, the so-called 'Ancient Weapon,' has secretly aligned with the Navy for this operation.

With Wood's power and his ability to control Whitebeard, we still have a fighting chance against the two Yonko crews."

Aokiji and Kizaru were stunned.

"What… are you saying Wood really is on our side?" Aokiji asked, disbelief etched on his face.

Kizaru, equally incredulous, scratched his head and muttered, "So, all that stuff he said during our fight… was true?"

Both Admirals were struck by the revelation. They realized they had spent the entire battle sabotaging their own forces by engaging Wood instead of supporting him.

"Sengoku, if that's the case, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Aokiji demanded, his voice tinged with frustration. "Do you have any idea how many Marines died because we wasted time fighting him?"

Sengoku looked away briefly, guilt flashing across his features before he replied, "Wood is still a pirate and a former Navy deserter. Revealing our cooperation with him would severely damage the Navy's reputation.

Only Tsuru and I were aware of the arrangement. I couldn't risk letting this information spread."

Hearing this, both Admirals fell silent.

They understood Sengoku's reasoning. The Navy prided itself on its image of "justice," but that image often required compromise and secrecy.

As an organization dependent on the World Government for funding and resources, the Navy couldn't afford to act independently of its benefactors.

To maintain appearances, even an arrangement as beneficial as this one—aligning with a figure as powerful as Wood—had to be kept under wraps.

For once, Aokiji and Kizaru couldn't fault Sengoku for his decision. Unlike Akainu's rigid, absolute sense of justice, they had always been pragmatic. To them, what mattered most was the greater good for the Navy.

However, Kizaru couldn't shake his own frustration. Not long ago, he had been penalized for the incident at Sabaody Archipelago, losing several months of pay.

He had hoped to redeem himself during this war and earn some recognition from Sengoku. Now, knowing that Wood was secretly an ally all along, he realized his efforts had likely been in vain.

"If I don't lose more months of pay over this," Kizaru muttered, "I'll consider it a miracle."

Meanwhile, aboard the Queen Mama Chanter, the flagship of the Big Mom Pirates, Kaido and Big Mom sat opposite one another.

Behind Kaido stood his towering officers, the Three Disasters, while Big Mom's Sweet Commanders and several of her children flanked her.

Big Mom spoke first, her tone casual yet firm.

"Kaido, as we agreed: if we take down Marineford, all the treasures in the Navy's vaults, as well as any prisoners we capture from Whitebeard's crew, are yours to keep.

But Wood is mine. That was the deal. Do we have an understanding?"

Kaido took a swig from a massive sake jug before answering, his voice booming. "Wood's yours, fine. But I want thirty percent of his weapons stockpile for my Beast Pirates. That's non-negotiable."

Just days ago, the two Yonko crews had been locked in a bitter conflict on a distant island, as the Navy's intelligence had reported.

But everything changed two days ago when news of the War of the Best at Marineford reached them.

As rulers of the sea, Kaido and Big Mom were no fools. While their personal tendencies often led them to reckless behavior—Kaido's suicidal tendencies and Big Mom's food cravings—they were also capable of great cunning.

The opportunity presented by Marineford was too tempting to ignore.

A full-scale conflict between the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates was the perfect chance for them to strike. Whether by coincidence or conspiracy, the timing couldn't have been better.

And whether this chaos was a coincidence or part of a larger plan orchestrated by the Navy didn't matter to them.

Kaido and Big Mom knew one thing for certain: this was their moment to capitalize on the chaos. They wouldn't let it slip through their fingers.

Chapter 478: The Yonko's Fearsome Alliance

The two Yonko, Kaido and Big Mom, understood perfectly well that continuing their internal war would lead to nothing but losses for both sides. There was no real benefit to fighting each other while draining their respective forces.

But if they joined the War of the Best, the situation changed entirely.

With the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy locked in a deadly struggle, swooping in to reap the spoils was an opportunity too tempting to pass up.

While all the Yonko were formidable, Kaido and Big Mom had to admit that the Whitebeard Pirates were historically the strongest among them.

This war was bound to leave Whitebeard's forces severely weakened, even if they somehow managed to rescue Fire Fist Ace.

Taking down the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates would elevate Kaido and Big Mom's standing in the seas, and if they could also crush the Navy, their dominance would be unmatched.

Kaido and Big Mom's ambitions extended beyond just defeating Whitebeard. They aimed to bring Marineford to its knees and completely dismantle the Navy's influence.

Both Yonko knew their pirate crews harbored spies from other factions. To avoid tipping off their plans, they had staged a mock war between their forces, fighting tooth and nail for days before abruptly calling a truce when the time was right.

Even Stussy, an undercover agent for the World Government, had been caught off guard. By the time she tried to relay the information, Kaido and Big Mom had already set sail with their core members, leaving no time for anyone to intervene.

The excitement among Kaido's Three Disasters and Big Mom's Sweet Commanders was palpable.

This was no ordinary battle—they were making a bid for supremacy over the seas.

If they succeeded, the Whitebeard Pirates would be reduced to a shadow of their former glory, and the Red-Haired Pirates, already the weakest of the Yonko crews, would fall even further behind.

More importantly, capturing Wood—the Ancient Weapon and leader of the world-dominating Wood Weapons Company—would give them control over the most advanced weaponry, unparalleled wealth, and an extensive global network.

Securing Wood would be the ultimate prize, placing the title of Pirate King firmly within their grasp.

Kaido had reluctantly agreed to let Big Mom claim Wood, primarily to avoid another drawn-out conflict after their recent skirmish during the Tea Party debacle.

However, as they approached Marineford, Kaido's frustration boiled over.

"You're saying you want thirty percent of Wood's weapons stockpile on top of everything else?" Big Mom sneered. "That's not happening. We agreed—Wood is mine, and you can take whatever else is left."

Kaido's face darkened with rage, veins bulging on his forehead as his massive hand crushed the sake jug he was holding.

"You greedy old hag!" Kaido roared. "What the hell am I supposed to do with a half-destroyed Marineford?!

The junk in their treasury isn't even worth a fraction of Wood's company! I made some concessions, sure, but if you're going to play dirty, we might as well fight it out again once we hit the island!"

Big Mom's "Whole Cake Island" had suffered immense damage during the chaos of the Tea Party, with nearly half of its territories destroyed. She was desperate to recover her losses and had no intention of backing down.

Meanwhile, Kaido was acutely aware of the threat posed by Wood's empire. If Big Mom gained control of his resources, Kaido's Beasts Pirates would be left in the dust.

Sensing the escalating tension, Big Mom changed her tone.

"We'll settle the distribution of spoils later," she said, her voice measured. "First, let's focus on taking Marineford and crushing Whitebeard, Wood, and the Navy.

After that, we can discuss who gets what. If we can't agree, we'll settle it the old-fashioned way—through battle."

Kaido begrudgingly nodded, the promise of action temporarily quelling his anger.

With their shared objective reaffirmed, the two Yonko, wielding their signature weapons, stepped onto the shores of Marineford, their towering figures exuding an aura of dominance.

"Kaido," Big Mom called, her tone filled with dark amusement. "Shall we start with a little greeting for the island's brats and Whitebeard?"

"You sure you're up for it, old hag?" Kaido replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Standing side by side, the two behemoths raised their weapons—Kaido with his massive kanabo, and Big Mom with her Napoleon sword. Their synchronized movements mirrored one another, signaling the unleashing of devastating power.

From a distance, Wood watched the unfolding scene, his expression grim. Without hesitation, he utilized Soru to appear directly in front of the two Yonko.

At the same moment, Whitebeard, who had been relentlessly pursuing Blackbeard, suddenly felt an external force pulling him. His body moved against his will, bringing him to Wood's side.

The battlefield froze as the two Yonko faced off against the duo standing before them: the Ancient Weapon Wood and the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard.

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