The moment Carl's black blade collided with Kaido's fiery dragon form, time seemed to freeze. The space around them was engulfed in black and red hues, the colors intertwining like a vivid masterpiece.
The chaotic clash of Conqueror's Haki gradually faded, as if a grand and awe-inspiring performance had come to an end. Finally, with a resounding crash that echoed through the skies, Kaido's massive blue dragon head slammed heavily into the ground.
In the aftermath of the impact, his body reverted to its humanoid form.
Carl, his jet-black wings flaring, slowly descended from the sky. In his hand, he held a Devil Fruit covered in blue dragon scales—Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit.
With a casual gesture, Kaido's humanoid head, along with the Azure Dragon Fruit, disappeared into the pages of the Dark Bible.
The once-rowdy Onigashima had turned into a silent wasteland of corpses and blood.
Behind Carl, six figures walked forward—forming a line. It seemed they were awaiting Carl's next command.
Carl turned to them with a relaxed smile and said,
"Well done, everyone. We're not far from Wano. How about we head there for a little break?"
Carl's nonchalant demeanor made it hard to believe he had just taken down a Yonko.
...
Wano Country, Flower Capital
Eight tall figures appeared on the streets, immediately catching everyone's attention.
To the townsfolk, the group consisted of six burly men and two younger individuals—seven men and one woman.
The two in front wore matching black robes embroidered with gold, while the six behind them sported outfits so colorful they could form a rainbow.
One individual, however, stood out awkwardly. He was clad in a pink open-front robe and a flamboyant feathered pink coat that was even more extravagant.
The sheer presence of these eight was overwhelming. Wherever they passed, people instinctively cleared the way, watching silently as they headed toward the Shogun's palace.
The Flower Capital, isolated from the outside world for so long, lacked access to external news. If the citizens had read even a single recent World Economy News Paper, they might have recognized this group immediately.
They were seven Navy Admirals, accompanied by a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Together, they held enough weight to shake the very world.
And just earlier, their guardian deity—Kaido, one of the Four Emperors—had been slain by the young man leading the group.
Walking beside Carl, Lucia smiled brightly. She held a bowl of oden in one hand, blowing on a skewer to cool it before offering it to Carl.
(T/N: Oden is more like a simmered dish, in which you can find assorted fish cakes, daikon radish, atsuage and others)
Lucia knew Carl wasn't afraid of the heat, but moments like these deserved a sense of ceremony.
Carl smiled as he took a bite. To be honest, he wasn't particularly fond of oden, but for someone who had devoured three Devil Fruits, finishing a skewer of oden was child's play.
The eight strolled leisurely, occasionally stopping to admire Wano's unique scenery or to purchase local trinkets from street vendors.
In this relaxed atmosphere, even the stern Admirals began to unwind.
Sakazuki walked with his arms crossed, his red coat slightly open, revealing the tattooed chest beneath—a striking image of strength and authority.
Borsalino, in his yellow robe, held a cup of freshly squeezed banana juice he'd purchased from a stall. He sipped it contentedly, his smile blooming like a flower. His relaxed demeanor embodied the very essence of a vacation.
As they walked, Sakazuki suddenly stopped. Borsalino, distracted by his juice, accidentally bumped into him, dropping his cup. The remaining third of the juice splattered onto the ground, the glass shattering with a sharp crack.
Borsalino stared at the mess, dazed, before looking up to protest, only to see Sakazuki stride silently toward a small plant stall.
The stall was quiet, its owner dozing on a stool. Startled awake by the looming shadow of the three-meter-tall Admiral with his cold, intimidating presence, the vendor fell backward onto the ground.
Sakazuki ignored him, his gaze fixed on a peculiar bonsai.
The bonsai had fiery-looking foliage and a black, thick trunk that resembled erupting magma—at least, to Sakazuki.
To ordinary people, the bonsai was simply hideous. Its gnarled, mutated trunk made it an eyesore.
Pointing at the bonsai, Sakazuki asked in a deep voice,
"How much for this?"
The vendor blinked, relieved Sakazuki wasn't there to extort money. Realizing this giant of a man simply wanted to buy a bonsai, he quickly quoted the lowest price he could muster.
To him, that bonsai was just an unsellable piece meant to highlight the better ones.
Sakazuki nodded, crouching to lift the bonsai with one hand while reaching for his wallet with the other.
Borsalino leaned over, examining the bonsai with an exaggerated pout. In his usual drawling tone, he remarked,
"Ohhh~ Sakazuki, you're buying that?"
"What do you mean by that?" Sakazuki retorted with a frown.
Shrugging, Borsalino gestured dramatically. "You could just ask Aramaki to grow one for you. He can make any plant you want."
"No," Sakazuki replied firmly, "I like this one."
That shut Borsalino up. Without another word, Sakazuki paid for the bonsai and rejoined the group.
Carl glanced at the bonsai and immediately understood Sakazuki's reasoning. With a grin, he said,
"Sakazuki, that bonsai suits you perfectly. Good choice!"
Sakazuki's lips curled into a rare smile.
"Thank you, Carl. Your taste is far better than Borsalino's."
Just as Borsalino returned, he froze, hearing Sakazuki's remark. His exaggerated expression of shock left the group in fits of quiet laughter.
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+255 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg