"Boom!!!!!" The heavens and earth roared! A storm swept through, and flames ravaged everything around. The shockwave instantly destroyed the remnants of the buildings in the Daimyo's estate, sending debris flying like volcanic ash toward the distance.
Power, power, power, power! An unparalleled force! A terrifying power far beyond human belief surged from Kaido's fist.
"This..." Vlad's eyes widened dramatically.
"Whoosh!!!" "Boom!!!" Incredibly, after a brief standoff, Vlad was sent flying by a punch from Kaido, a scenario he had never experienced since obtaining the power of the Fire Dragon Fruit.
"Whoosh, whoosh, bang!!!" Under immense force, Vlad was hurled far away, tumbling on the ground before crashing into some ruins.
"Brat! Who do you think you're talking to!!!" The man with monstrous strength who had sent Vlad flying, Kaido, roared, "I am..."
"Kaido of the Beasts!!!!" "If you refuse me, then prepare to die!!"
"Sob, sob, sob." Tears appeared in the man's eyes, "Such a pity, really such a pity. The mythical Fire Dragon Fruit, wouldn't that have been wonderful if you had joined my forces?"
"Damn it!!!" "Boy, you've shattered my dream of building a Zoan-type army!!!" "You owe me..."
The ground shattered, and the massive figure soared again, plunging toward where Vlad had fallen.
"How are you going to compensate me!!!!"
"GIAAAAAA!!!!" A sharp cry erupted, and with a cherry-red glow, a massive slashing attack descended from the sky like a divine stroke, carrying a terrifying power to rip everything apart, striking directly at Kaido in the sky. It was an incredibly beautiful aerial slash, shining and brilliant.
"What?" Kaido quickly turned his head as the considerable slash neared him.
"This won't do, Beast." Kozuki Oden, standing leisurely on a piece of rubble, seemed relaxed with a slight bend in his back, his hands hanging naturally. His left hand held the scabbard while his right grasped the handle of his sword, letting the blade hang naturally, showing no sign of guard, appearing utterly at ease.
"I can't just watch you attack Mr. Vlad like that!" Kozuki Oden spoke, squinting slightly as his oversized kimono fluttered in the gusting wind. "What kind of host treats a guest like that?"
"Crack!!!" The cherry-red slash instantly shattered, like waves crashing futilely against the shore, unable to shake the ancient rock.
However, Kozuki Oden's intention to thwart Kaido was indeed achieved.
"Thud!" The terrifying monster landed gently, with no visible wounds on Kaido's body, but his face was utterly displeased. Naturally, any creature would be annoyed by being thwarted, and Kaido was no exception, for monsters always dislike restraint.
"So you are, the Daimyo of Kuri in Wano Country."
Kaido spoke, "Kozuki Oden, I presume."
"I've heard of you!"
"What?" Oden looked surprised.
"I came here looking for you!" Kaido declared. "You were once a Pirate King Gol D. Roger crew member, weren't you?"
Kozuki Oden's pupils shrank; he had guessed what Kaido meant.
"You know the location of the final island, don't you?" Kaido continued, "Honestly, instead of searching for four elusive Poneglyphs, it's better to ask someone who knows the way."
"So that's it!" Kozuki Oden looked at Kaido with a newfound disdain. "Is that your reason?"
"Ha!" Oden chuckled softly and did not speak further.
"So, tell me everything you know!" Kaido stepped forward, his immense form exuding an overwhelming pressure.
"Phew—" Oden exhaled slowly, casually tossing his scabbard aside, then placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, gripping it with both hands. "That won't do, Beast. Some things can never be spoken of!"
The man, the Daimyo of Wano Country, a companion of the Pirate King, declared, "Because..."
"It's a promise!"
"Everyone refuses me?" Kaido growled, visibly angered by the defiance.
"You don't take me seriously, do you!!!"
"It seems I won't get you to talk unless I break every bone in your body!"
Kaido raised his fist, a terrifying aura gathering around him.
"ZILLA!!!!" Like the vast ocean, a deep blue slash tore through the sky, matching and surpassing the previous slash made by Kozuki Oden. "Enough of one after another!!!!" Kaido roared as his fist heavily smashed into the incoming slash. "GIAAAA!!!!" A teeth-gritting sound erupted as the slash shattered under the monstrous force of Kaido, breaking into tiny dots of light that glowed a dreamy pale blue, stunningly beautiful.
"Hey, big guy, what are you doing to someone else's master?" The deep voice of a man named Kanjuro rang out; somehow, he had positioned himself behind Kozuki Oden. "What are you doing back here?" Oden didn't turn his head as he spoke, "Didn't I tell you to run away with Momonosuke?" "I refuse!" Kanjuro, always rich in inner drama but usually reticent, spoke, "Running away when a formidable enemy attacks is not what a samurai should do. I've already sent Momonosuke away with Kin'emon!"
"Ha, so you're refusing my orders for the first time, Kanjuro; go on!" Oden said. "You never really cared about being a samurai, did you?" "Whether I care or not is one thing," Kanjuro replied softly, "but acting is another." "I've never cared about being a samurai," Kanjuro stated solemnly, "but I adhere to the way of the samurai!! Something inside tells me, Master, that I can't follow your orders this time!"
"Even if it means death?" Oden asked. "I will not die!" Kanjuro responded. "Good, if you don't want to die," Oden said as he gripped his swords tighter, "then prepare to fight with all you've got!" "Roar!!!" In the distance, flames soared to the sky, and a platinum-colored pillar of fire reached into the clouds. "Also," "don't forget about me!"