Fairy Tail: Igneel's eldest son in Anime Multiverse Chapter 503

Charles had long observed that individuals in this world generally struggled to control their facial expressions, yet he hadn't anticipated the sheer transparency of someone's happiness.

Otama, currently engrossed in a drumstick, perfectly embodied this; her unadulterated joy was infectious, eliciting involuntary smiles from both Charles and Stella.

It was precisely this innocent delight that made the tears welling in Otama's eyes incite Charles's fury. Such simple happiness, brutally snatched away by a callous hand.

Charles possessed comprehensive knowledge of Wano Country, but frankly, his interest in liberating the nation was minimal.

As he had previously stated in the Dungeon world, he was no hero and had no aspiration to become one.

Charles operated on a strong sense of self-direction; he would not compromise his core principles to harm the innocent, and he offered aid to those he deemed worthy based on his own interests – this had always been his guiding code.

Honestly, the three figures of the Kozuki lineage—grandfather, father, and grandson—evoked a desire in Charles to simply turn and depart.

While Charles acknowledged the "Momonosuke must die" sentiment as a meme, he conceded that early-stage Momonosuke was indeed difficult to appreciate.

He lacked the courage to shoulder his responsibilities but possessed an abundance of nerve when it came to lechery; it was solely due to Luffy's involvement that anyone remained willing to assist him.

Only later, influenced by Luffy, did Momonosuke begin to exhibit more mature behavior.

Regarding Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Sukiyaki, Charles felt that attempting to comprehend their thought processes would inevitably lower his own IQ.

The same sentiment extended to the samurai—their gullible faith in Oden's prophecy, coupled with their own lack of proactive measures, was baffling.

The individual who contributed most significantly to war preparations over those twenty years turned out to be a fox transformed by a Devil Fruit; it left him speechless.

Nevertheless, this nation also harbored individuals like Otama and Shimotsuki Yasuie, which provided Charles with a degree of motivation to engage in the conflict.

Gazing at Otama, who had dozed off leaning against Stella, a faint smile still gracing her lips, Charles made the decision to pay Kaido a visit.

The following day, the moment Otama opened her eyes, a sweet aroma filled the air, accompanied by the sight of a steaming pot.

It was the scent of rice—a luxury she usually reserved only for her birthday.

Curiously, she observed only Stella tending to the firewood beneath the pot; Charles was nowhere to be seen.

"Sister Stella, where has Brother Charles gone?"

Stella offered a gentle smile. "Don't fret, he has gone to resolve the issue that prevents you from having your fill."

And precisely as Charles had declared, he was already en route to confront the architect of these troubles.

While Wano's current predicament stemmed largely from Kozuki Sukiyaki's negligence and Kozuki Oden's folly, the primary antagonists were undoubtedly Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido.

Between the two, Kaido stood as the undeniable linchpin. Orochi, to put it bluntly, was merely Kaido's pawn.

Thus, after rising, Charles set his course towards Kaido's stronghold, Onigashima.

From a distance, the distinctly shaped island came into view.

It resembled a demon's severed head placed atop an island, creating an aesthetic strongly evocative of pirates.

For reasons unknown, this image brought to Charles's mind the demonic god's skull from the Black Clover world.

As he neared the island, a potent aroma of alcohol assailed his senses. The prevailing quietude over Onigashima was clearly attributable to everyone still slumbering after an all-night carousal.

He also took note of the numerous checkpoints and the dense deployment of artillery surrounding the perimeter.

Over many years, the Beasts Pirates had thoroughly transformed Onigashima into a formidable war fortress. Even the crews of other Four Emperors would incur significant losses attempting to breach such defenses.

However, Charles descended from the sky, infiltrating the island undetected by the sentries.

He remained uncertain whether the skull adorning Onigashima had always been hollow or if the Beasts Pirates had later excavated it, but the majority of Kaido's base was situated within the skull itself.

The arrangement of the structures mimicked the intricate pathways of a brain.

Striding confidently through the main entrance at the skull's maw, he discovered the gate guards already incapacitated by heavy drinking.

Proceeding down a long corridor and passing through a massive torii gate, Charles emerged into a plaza encircled by towering, island-style edifices. This area also served as the designated location for the Beasts Pirates' celebratory feasts.

The scene was one of utter disarray, littered with remnants of food. Half-eaten roasts lay strewn about the floor.

Fruits and pastries had been trampled underfoot, their remnants mingling with spilled liquor to generate a peculiar stench.

Nearby, a pile of onigiri sat untouched. The tray had been overturned, scattering them across the ground.

Charles recalled numerous details from the original narrative: most inhabitants of the Hat Village, including Otama, typically subsisted on meager rations and survived on millet.

However, this so-called "millet" was not truly a grain but rather a weed, persisting in the blighted environment solely due to its tenacious nature.

It offered virtually no nutritional value, merely sustaining life at its barest minimum.

That's why Otama could only manage to taste rice on her birthday, while the sheer amount of food the Beasts Pirates carelessly discarded in a single banquet far exceeded anything she could ever imagine.

Charles balled his fists, a flicker of flame dancing within his eyes.

His anger did not overshadow his reason. He traversed the vast plaza, his gaze landing upon the Beasts Pirates' officers positioned on the elevated dais.

With that particular man present, it was difficult for anyone else to command attention.

The man was seated on the ground, his long black hair flowing freely, the massive twin horns atop his head emanating a fierce aura.

A purple fur cloak draped across his shoulders; his front was open, revealing sculpted muscles and an extensive dragon-scale tattoo.

Even while seated, he dwarfed everyone else, and the sake gourd in his hand was nearly as tall as a person.

Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, the mightiest creature of the land, sea, and air, the strongest in one-on-one combat, the guardian deva king of Wano—these were the appellations that adorned that man.

However, he was most widely known as one of the Four Emperors… Kaido of the Beasts!

Charles made his move, and in the subsequent moment, he was poised on the railing of the dais, his gaze meeting Kaido's bleary stare.

Kaido let out a hiccup and uttered, "Unfamiliar face. Are you new here? You didn't enjoy the banquet? That's truly regrettable!"

As he spoke, he abruptly began to weep, torrents of tears streaming down his face as if a tap had been turned on.

Charles, who had been preparing to offer a greeting, fell silent. He had genuinely never encountered such a bizarre situation before.

While Kaido might be disoriented, there was someone else present who remained exceptionally lucid.

Among the pirate crews in this world, it was common for most captains to have certain flaws, but their first mates were typically reliable individuals.

Consider Katakuri, Beckman, and the formerly active Rayleigh, for instance.

The Beasts Pirates were no different. Kaido's disposition was erratic; he would often fly into drunken rages and, at times, descend into madness, even attempting to end his own life.

When Kaido was in such a state, the individual who reliably managed all affairs was the foremost of the Beasts Pirates' three All-Stars, King the Wildfire.

King drew the lengthy blade from his waist and pointed it directly at Charles. "Boss Kaido, this fellow is not one of us. He is an intruder!"

Kaido attempted to force his eyes open, but he could only perceive multiple superimposed images. He tried to rise, but his legs gave out, causing him to slump back down.

The disturbance roused the corpulent individual nearby. He was about to voice a complaint when he noticed King fixatedly staring at someone unfamiliar.

King's gaze remained locked on Charles, intense bloodlust radiating from beneath the black mask covering his face.

"Who are you? What business do you have sneaking into Onigashima?"

Charles displayed no sign of apprehension about being surrounded. "I am Charles. Someone had an item stolen by you, and I have come to retrieve it on her behalf."

The stout man scoffed. "What sort of jest is this? Do you comprehend who we are? We are—"

Before he could complete his statement, Charles vanished from the railing and reappeared directly in front of him, delivering a powerful fist to the man's head, sending him crashing backward into the chamber behind.

"Apologies. I'm feeling rather agitated at the moment, and I found that peculiar laughter unbearable."

Queen the Plague, one of the three All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, had been incapacitated by a single blow.

King's pupils constricted; he had barely perceived Charles's swift movement. Regardless of Charles's identity, he was now an adversary of the Beasts Pirates—and one who demanded utmost seriousness.

Flames erupted from King's back as he activated the innate ability of his Lunarian heritage.

"Fire Dragon Emperor!"

His long blade, enveloped in flames, swung with great force towards Charles.

However, the blade, capable of cleaving through stone, ceased its motion at Charles's throat, unable to advance further. King had not anticipated Charles catching the flaming edge with his bare palm.

Tilting his head, Charles opened his mouth and drew in the flames coating the blade.

"Thank you for the sustenance!"

King, apparently accustomed to the peculiar assortment of powerful individuals traversing these seas, was not excessively surprised and prepared to utilize his Devil Fruit transformation.

But Charles had already delivered a swift kick, sending him hurtling down towards the plaza below.

Only King and Queen had been seated beside Kaido on the dais; the remaining All-Star had likely departed on an errand, leaving Kaido isolated at this moment.

Kaido raised a hand to shield his eyes, tears trickling through his fingers.

"Damn it, why are my subordinates so utterly useless!"

Weeping, Kaido's form began to undergo a transformation; scales of blue and green spread across his body, and his entire physique elongated.

In a mere instant, he had morphed into a colossal azure dragon, his immense bulk causing the entire dais to collapse beneath him.

Charles extended a hand and intercepted the charging dragon's head, yet the airborne Kaido still propelled him through multiple walls and out of the structure.

Charles had not yet initiated any significant action, and Kaido had already demolished a substantial portion of his own stronghold—a perfectly fitting display of his character.

Charles shot forward, only managing to stabilize his flight when fiery wings unfurled from his back. Kaido lunged, his massive jaws agape.

A surge of power coursed through him—the [Dragon Slayer] ability had been activated.

Flames erupted into existence as Charles executed a twisting charge.

"Fire Dragon's Claw!"

"Let this blast knock some sense into you!"

As the words left his lips, his foot connected with the dragon's head, leaving a colossal dent and nearly forcing Kaido's eyes from their sockets.

Kaido's form went slack and he plunged to the ground, kicking up a dense cloud of dust.

Before long, Kaido's voice could be heard echoing from within the swirling dust.

"That smarts!"

As the smoke dissipated, Kaido reappeared, once again in his human guise.

At that precise moment, the onlooking Beasts Pirates snapped out of their stupor and surged forward.

Kaido turned, bellowing, "Stay out of this, you fools—he's my opponent!"

Every single pirate halted in their tracks, then retreated. They were well aware of their Governor-General's temperament; anyone foolish enough to intervene now would likely face his Thunder Bagua first.

"Master Kaido!"

King, now transformed into his pteranodon form, swooped down, extending his claws and dropping Kaido's kanabo, the Hassaikai.

Kaido extended a hand, catching his weapon with practiced ease before slinging it over his shoulder. He then cast a look back at Charles. "Brat, I haven't the faintest idea why you've come, but you're on a path with no return!"

Charles clenched his fist. "I already knew that. I'm here to defeat you!"

______

(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter

For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.