"Kaido-sama, do you need any assistance?"
"Worororo! Just don't interfere in my fight. Do whatever you want otherwise!"
Kaido's grin widened as he saw the grim expression on Kozuki Oden's face.
Doflamingo let out a sinister chuckle.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Well then, let's have some fun."
The black dragon dove from the sky.
As if responding to a battle signal, the briefly stalled battlefield erupted once more into chaos.
"Kaido!!!"
With a fierce shout, Kozuki Oden brandished his twin swords and charged at the azure dragon.
There was no time for hesitation—if he didn't defeat Kaido here and now, there would be no chance of turning the tide.
"Worororo! Good! Kozuki Oden, prepare to die!"
Black and red lightning crackled around Kaido's kanabo, Hassaikai, as he bent his legs and lunged toward Oden.
Kaido struck first—his Hassaikai, infused with Conqueror's Haki, spun through the air and crashed down onto Oden's swords.
"Boom!!!"
A massive shockwave tore through the battlefield as Kaido and Oden clashed repeatedly amidst the swirling dust...
...
"This wicked black dragon—allow me to handle him! I shall follow in the footsteps of my ancestors and slay the beast!"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru raised his sword before him, his eyes sharp with unwavering resolve. Flowing Armament Haki glowed along his blade.
"One-Sword Style!"
With a low growl, Shimotsuki Ushimaru launched himself at the black dragon.
"Tekkai!"
Vergo concentrated his blood to his right forepaw, reinforcing it further with hardened Armament Haki so deep it turned black with a dark purple hue.
The two warriors clashed. In the end, the sheer overwhelming power of the black dragon prevailed, sending Shimotsuki Ushimaru hurtling through the air.
"Ushimaru-sama!!!" The ever-loyal Gyukimaru rushed to his side.
Vergo reverted to his human form, flexing his slowly regenerating right hand as he furrowed his brow.
So this was the Flowing Armament Haki that Doflamingo had mentioned. It was strong enough to wound even his enhanced physique.
But it still wasn't enough.
The ground beneath Vergo cracked as he launched himself forward, vanishing from sight, rapidly closing in on the recovering Shimotsuki Ushimaru.
From the sidelines, Oden's allies felt a surge of hope.
"As expected of Lord Ushimaru, one of Wano's strongest samurai! He managed to wound the second dragon!"
"That lightning brat is ours, meow!"
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi leaped toward the descending Enel. Under the full moon's light, they transformed into their Sulong forms—ferocious, raging beasts crackling with static electricity.
Their speed and resistance to lightning made them the ideal opponents for this electric menace.
They attacked from both sides, moving in perfect synchronization.
"So you're the ones that Doffy was talking about."
Enel's eyes flashed with irritation as he hovered in midair. He felt insulted.
"So it's just static electricity, huh? Let's see how much you can take. Divine Punishment!!!"
A blinding pillar of lightning engulfed Enel and his two opponents.
Nearby, massive slashes and shadow clones clashed against Uzuki Tempura and Fugetsu Omusubi. Gecko Moria was determined to take on both of them at once.
Meanwhile, the gargantuan Pica advanced. Towering stone pillars erupted from the ground, their target—the only non-swordsman, Raizo.
"Charge, my minions!"
Seeing their reinforcements, Queen shifted into his hybrid form. His enormous mechanical jaws and cybernetic claws began charging energy.
"Black Fire!!"
Laser beams rained down upon the battlefield, followed by a deafening explosion that sent countless samurai flying.
...
Above the battlefield, the Numancia Flamingo floated in midair.
Observing the chaos from the ship's bow, Doflamingo decided it was time to add some more excitement to the mix.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Parasite String!"
Endless strings shot out from his fingertips, spreading like a thick, inescapable mist that blanketed the battlefield.
One by one, threads descended like falling stars, latching onto every single one of Oden's warriors.
The samurai immediately sensed something was wrong. When the Beasts Pirates lunged at them with their swords, panic set in.
"I... I can't control my body!"
"Me neither! I can't move!"
"What's happening?! I can't—AH!"
"What do we do?!"
...
The front line collapsed as motionless samurai were mercilessly cut down by Kaido's subordinates. Blood splattered as their bodies were sliced apart.
Even the Beasts Pirates hesitated for a moment at the eerie sight. The battlefield fell silent as all eyes turned toward the mastermind above.
Sensing their fearful gazes, Doflamingo flashed a polite smile. With a slight flick of his fingers, he played an invisible piano.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! A puppet show—'Betrayal Among Comrades'! Enjoy the performance!"
The moment he finished speaking, the struggling samurai involuntarily swung their swords at the allies beside them.
"No! Stop!! Run away!"
"Slash!"
"Slash!"
"AAAAHHH!!!"
...
But it didn't end there. The moment their blades cut into their comrades' flesh, Doflamingo loosened his grip.
One by one, the samurai regained control, horrified as they stared at the wounds they had inflicted upon their own allies.
Doflamingo's grin widened with sadistic pleasure. He lifted his hands high, then brought them down in a grandiose motion, like a conductor leading an orchestra.
The samurai once again turned their blades on one another.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Screams of agony filled the battlefield.
This cycle repeated endlessly.
It was self-inflicted execution.
"You bastard!!!"
Kanjuro, along with Oden's retainers and the three great daimyōs, watched in sheer horror, their eyes bloodshot with rage.
But with Queen, King, and the others blocking their way, all they could do was watch helplessly.
"Two-Sword Style: Dragon Hunter!!!"
Shimotsuki Ushimaru sprinted forward, his twin blades gleaming with a violet aura as he slashed across Vergo's chest.
"Splurt!"
Scorching dragon blood spurted from Vergo's chest.
Ignoring his fallen opponent, Ushimaru turned his gaze upward toward Doflamingo. If this wicked puppeteer wasn't stopped, all of Wano's samurai would slaughter each other in torment.
"Trying to ruin Doffy's fun?"
Vergo, now in his dragon form, loomed behind Ushimaru. The gaping wound in his chest exposed his ribs.
"You'll have to kill me first!"
His claws ignited with fire as he lunged forward.
"Shigan!"
"Clang! Clang!"
The twin swords barely blocked the strike, but the sheer force sent Ushimaru crashing back down to the battlefield.
...
Amidst the screams of samurai suffering under his control, Doflamingo glanced across the battlefield.
Enel was playing whack-a-mole with the Sulong Minks.
A Kappa fish-man and Urouge were locked in a contest of brute force.
Raizo was still being chased by an unstoppable rock golem.
Seeing how well things were going, Doflamingo turned his gaze to the most intense part of the battlefield.
His voice dripped with malice.
"'Unrivaled' Kozuki Oden… I'll go take care of your family."
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg