To say that Kaido was beyond furious would be an understatement. Setsuka always held an aura of mystery around her, so it shouldn't come to a surprise that she had her own agenda while under the constant surveillance of the Marys and his men. No, what pissed him off more than her betrayal was the fact that something in this shit country could lead him to the One Piece without the help of those Poneglyphs.

The Emperor was about to swing his mace to behead Setsuka and watch it roll on the pavement of the outside Dome, and perhaps rough up the annoying mutt at the same time. But the geisha came prepared and instead disappeared in a flash with the tanuki. Impossible for him to trace her through his Observation Haki, it was as if she became another shadow, hiding somewhere on the island. At least he could comfort himself in the idea that she couldn't face him on without losing a limb or two, so she had to run away like a coward.

Pride and honor. What a load of bullshit, he thought.

"Lost the ungrateful brat, Kaido?" a voice hummed behind the Emperor.

"Ess. I thought you were supposed to handle this traitor" Kaido growled dangerously. "Not only did she run away again, she has a way to the One Piece right in her grasp"

"That raccoon dog? Who would have thought. But there's no need to worry. Once we are done with those idiots here, we can chase the brat down without a problem" the old warrior bellowed in laughter.

"Tch. I really need a drink. How's the situation?"

"They are still fighting, but it won't be long before they surrender below your might, Kaido-sama. Actually, I was wondering if you considered my proposition from before"

"About Silvers? Do as you like. She is no longer of use to me as long as we have Nico Robin" Kaido scoffed, turning his back to Ess to walk toward the Dome. "Eat her heart or whatever freakish ritual you like to put yourself under to"

"Eh! A warrior through and through will eat the hearts of his opponents" Ess called out to him with a sneer.

Meanwhile, Setsuka came to stop after she made sure to be as far away as possible from the Emperor. This was not her fight, or her war. She already had one going on, and the outcome of this battle would matter little to her as she knew who will be victorious. Setsuka released Kotaro from her hold, who jumped a few feet away from her.

The tanuki glanced back at her momentarily, and then quickly casted his gaze to the ground. She could feel the animal's nervousness right under her fingertips.

"...So. This is where one finds you, finally" she spoke, kneeling down. "When one saw the content of the box completely empty, one thought that you probably got lost to history"

Kotaro still didn't move from his position, and refused to look at Setsuka. She heaved a sigh, knowing it was pointless to pry anything from this creature.

"No need to be scared. One will not harm you. However, you will have to do exactly as one says..."

Inside the Dome, different factions were continuing their own battle. However, they soon began to come to a closure, starting with the siblings from the Tobiroppo. It certainly was a mistake on Bao Huang's part to announce these sudden news that would shake the two sides in different manner:

"Ulti-sama has been taken down! Following Page One-sama!!! Two members of the Tobi Roppo have been defeated! GAH! I ANNOUNCED IT BY ACCIDENT!"

This made you pause momentarily before you kicked back a Beast pirate out of your way. If you recalled correctly, Usopp and Nami's group were supposed to deal with those two. You certainly felt relieved they were doing fine on their end.

"WHAT IS THIS MONSTER-?!"

Bao Huang's voice cut short, ending the announcement abruptly for unknown reasons. And when the communications came back on, you heard an unexpected voice at the end of it:

"I'm O-Tama!"

"O-Tama?!!!!" you cried out in surprise. "What is she doing here?!!!"

"What is a child doing on the battlefield?!" Queen demanded, glaring in the direction of the balcony where the Mary was situated at. "What happened, Bao Huang?!"

"Th-There they come, the Gifters! We're in trouble!"

The elite corps of the Beasts Pirates had now reached the Performance Floor. They were greater in numbers even with the added Waiters and Pleasures in your ranks. And they were also much more powerful due to their Smile Fruit.

You gritted your teeth in annoyance at the incoming enemies, wondering if you were even going to be able to push them all back.

"M-My friends who ate Kibi Dango! I need to ask you all a favor! Please side with Big Bro Luffy's group and Momonosuke-kun's group! And take down Kaido with us!"

The Gifters all paused at the demand. This only made Queen laugh hard at the little girl's strange demand to his ears.

"There's no way that the Beasts Pirates will act on some brat's order!"

If only he knew. It was like a switch was turned in each Gifter, who all began to act upon O-Tama's order. They started to fight the other Beasts Pirates who didn't believe what they were seeing. You blinked when your opponents were taken care off by some weird centipede dude and a walking alligator, yelling something along the lines of helping the samurais for their 'Master-sama'.

Sanji was fighting off Queen all the while, the latter having taken a hybrid form that was modified with more cyborg parts of his time with Judge's collaboration. A science similar to what Sanji's brothers underwent as children.

Huffing a sigh, you gazed in Chopper's direction to see how he was doing with Zoro, only to do a double take at the sight of a tiny, wrinkly reindeer in Tristan's hands.

"C-CHOPPER?! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" you cried out.

"E-Eh? What did you say? Can you say that again?" Chopper's voice wobbled.

"WHY THE HECK ARE YOU A BABY GEEZER?!"

"A-Ah. This is a mere side effect of the Rumble Ball..."

"The Rumble Ball with a longer gigantification time...How severe..." the reindeer struggled to push back up his samurai helmet that became too large for him to wear. "Becoming a geezer and a baby at the same time was unexpected...I used it fully aware of the risk...I thought if I could fight in that form for a while, I could take down Queen..."

"Miyagi, how is Mosshead doing?" you inquired to the goat Mink as you knelt beside Zoro's bandaged form.

"It's unbelievable! He must have 20 to 30 bones broken, but his breathing and pulse are steady. However, if he keeps on fighting, it'll endanger his life" he answered, the last part making your eyes widen in shock.

"That's not what I want to hear" Zoro growled deeply. "It's draining even to speak. Get on with it..."

"I guess any more stress will cost him his life...He can't fight anymore?" Chopper asked.

"...There's one good drug to inject him with" Miyagi suddenly stated, earning a disapproving look from Tristan.

"Dr. Miyagi! I think Zoro-san should rest like this!" she objected.

"Wait, let's us hear him first..."

"We, Minks, have...I mean, there is a medicine that's been handed down in Zou. It's a drug that heals even the most severe wounds in no time, so it could be called a super-healer. He could return to combat, temporarily" Miyagi explained.

"But...?" you arched an eyebrow at the Mink, waiting for the consequences of using such a drug.

"In exchange, the side effects later will cause him to suffer twice as much as he does now..."

"Twice?! That would definitely kill him!" you yelled, outraged.

"Just do it" spoke Zoro, opening his eye to stare at you. "There's no time to debate. Just give me the drug!"

"Are you stupid?! Weren't you not listening?! Once the super-healing effectiveness is gone, you'll have to suffer twice as much as you are now!" you barked, wanting desperately to smack some sense in this oaf's dumb brain.

"I don't care!" Zoro snapped back. "No matter what happens to my body later, if I can't fight now, what's the point?!"

"....Tch. You're hopeless!" you clicked your tongue. "I'm going to kick your corpse if you die on us, Stupid Marimo!"

"I would like to see you try, Old Hag!"

"All right then. Prepare the injection, Miyagi" Chopper told the other Mink.

Holding the syringe, Miyagi gave the shot to Zoro. However, the bandages were far too thick, making it impossible for the Mink to see his vein. To Zoro's pain and chagrin, he missed a couple of times until he eventually found the right angle and spot to make the injection.

The battlefield grew around to almost become a no men's land, Queen's attacks and weapons damaging the whole building as his fight with Sanji went on. The place would certainly collapse if the chef didn't put a stop to it soon enough. Sanji struggled in his fight, even more when the presence of King was added to the mix. He was fighting by himself two All-Stars, and there was nothing you could do to help at the moment.

You were pretty sure your weapons would be useless against their thick skin without the Wheel. The technique you used previously was acted upon your emotions, and affected the wounds and strains you suffered in the process. All that was left was time and hope.

A sudden shiver ran down your spine, your skin prickling as you felt the eyes of someone on you. Undesirable eyes. A glance behind told you everything you needed to know: Warmonger Ess finally arrived at the Performance Form, and his attention had zeroed on you.

"Finally found you, Silvers! Nothing will stop me from getting what I want!" Ess roared.

King's last attack on Sanji sent him crashing a few feet away from your group. Now, the All-Stars were also on your case.

"Shit! Has the drug taken effect already?!" you demanded. "How much time before it works?!"

"He was in critical condition in the first place. There's no telling..." Miyagi stated.

"We can't stay here! We have to move his stupid ass away! That old creep has found us!"

You lifted Zoro's body under your arm, and made a run for it with the Minks and Chopper trailing close behind you. You needed to get out of the Dome and leave the drug to take effect on the swordsman. That is, if luck was on your side and it did work on him. Some samurais attempted to help you by pushing back the Beasts Pirates, but King was quicker than them in his dinosaur form.

The All-Star landed right in front of you to cut your path, the plume of fire on his back exploding in bright flames that blinded your group.

"You are not going anywhere, Silvers" King spat, his fist engulfed with fire. "I will not allow Roronoa Zoro's recovery"

"P-Please, don't do it!!" Chopper pleaded in fright with a trembling voice.

Zoro's bandaged form laid at your feet as you glared at King. You could feel the Wheel pulsing under your fingertips and in every nerve of your body. It was almost ready, you just needed a little bit more time.

"King-" you started, only to be interrupted sharply by a hand grabbing your throat.

Ess gripped your neck hard, squeezing the air out of your lungs. Chopper and the Minks cried your name in horror while you were being lifted in the air. The warrior swung his arm, and tossed you into a nearby building that collapsed on top of you the moment your body connected with a fragile wall.

Sanji watched the whole scene unfold in front of him, gritting his teeth in rage as Ess barked out another booming laugh that resonated in the Dome. He was about to come to Chopper's aid first, when Queen simply sent him flying further away with another attack of his tail.

"There's no room for you to run anymore. This is it!" King brought his fist backward, preparing to hit Zoro's wounded figure. "Imperial Flame!"

"Undying Thistle!"

Even if he had reached his limit a long time ago, Marco still forced himself to move and intercept King's attack. He blocked it with the heel of his talons, pushing the All-Star backward and off of Zoro. The Phoenix simply smirked at King's glare, his eyes traveling to the plume of flames and his black wings.

"I've heard of it. A long, long time ago, on the top of the red wall...dwelled a race of people who could ignite themselves. King the 'Wildfire', huh?" Marco stated, King's eyes turning into raging slits. "I didn't expect to meet a survivor from that race here..."

"Tch. Are you still alive, Marco?!" Queen stepped next to King. "Go to hell already! Whitebeard Pirates!"

"Yeah...I surrender!" the man lifted both of his hands in a mocking way. "I'm satisfied now! This is it for me!"

"Abandoning? Dishonor doesn't suit you, Marco" Ess tilted his head to the sight in wonder.

"Heh. Here comes the stars-yoi"

The All-Stars and the Ace of the Beasts Pirates were about to strike down the ex-commander, when a flash of a green, yellow, and purple light appeared in the distance. Chopper's group were staring at the destroyed bandages where their patient once stood, eyes wide like saucers.

Zoro, who has now completely recovered, charged straight at his opponents, followed closely by Sanji. Meanwhile, a magic circle appeared right behind them, the symbols and drawings of the Wheel shifting to a purple color.

"Diable..."

"Three-Sword Style. Purgatory...."

"Hungry Ghosts Realm..."

Both the swordsman and the chef passed through King and Queen's body respectively with their attack, while a draconic appendage came out of the Wheel's circle to punch Ess straight in the face:

"MOUTON MALLET/ONI GIRI/LEVIATHAN'S CLAW!" Sanji, Zoro, and you said in unison as the hit landed perfectly on the opponents.