Night had fallen, and the next evening was already fast approaching. The moonlight over the Flower Capital was faint and misty, casting a quiet beauty across the cityscape.
"The moon is dark and the wind is high… A perfect night for murder. Not that it matters anymore."
Elior and his group had already departed, with Crocodile and the others following close behind. Their target: the residence of Orochi.
Even Sugar had joined them. Though she was in her twenties, she still looked like a little girl—and she wasn't happy about being dragged along. Back when she served Doflamingo, she had elite guards to protect her. Now, she was the one acting as someone else's guard—Elior's, no less.
But there was nothing she could do about it.
The man leading them… was a Yonko.
His strength was overwhelming—every move he made was terrifying.
On the other side of the capital, the Beast Pirates were also on the move.
Behind Kaido marched Elior's allied forces.
"If any of the samurai resist—even if they're unarmed—kill them" Kaido growled. "And those damn nobles too!"
"Especially the damn ninjas raised by that snake Orochi!"
"Tch. Ninjas… just a bunch of pesky rats."
Kaido swung his kanabō over his shoulder. Frankly, anyone besides Orochi himself wasn't worth his time.
Two ships had already sailed out from Onigashima, carrying the Beast Pirates' elite warriors directly toward the Flower Capital.
That night, the capital remained lively and radiant as usual. The people had no idea…
...a storm was coming.
By the time Kaido's forces were in motion, Elior and his group had already infiltrated Orochi's estate.
As always, Orochi was indulging himself with wine, food, music, and women. Three beautiful courtesans were attending to him as he drank and feasted.
Among them sat a woman of unparalleled beauty. To Orochi, the three women beside him were already stunning—but next to her, they might as well have been commoners.
She was the object of his obsession: Komurasaki, the most revered courtesan in all of Wano. Unbeknownst to Orochi, her true name was Kozuki Hiyori — daughter of Kozuki Oden.
She had hidden her identity well, biding her time. Her goal was clear: to strike when the time was right and avenge her family by taking Orochi's head.
Orochi had countless women, but this one… was the only one he truly desired. And he had no idea she was plotting to kill him.
"My lord Orochi" Hiyori said with a sorrowful expression and trembling voice.
"A nobleman told me today that if I refused him, he'd abduct me… use me… and then sell me..."
Her delicate, vulnerable tone made Orochi tremble with rage.
"Who?! Komurasaki, who said that?! I'll have him executed by morning!"
"It was… him."
"That bastard?!" Orochi's face twisted in fury. "He dares covet the woman I desire?! I'll have him torn apart!"
Just like that, Hiyori had manipulated him into getting rid of another leech in the capital. The Flower Capital, with all its corrupt nobles and bloated merchants, would one day fall by her hand. These parasites in Wano — she'd see them all eradicated.
With practiced grace, she bowed and excused herself.
"Komurasaki won't disturb you any further, my lord."
Even her departure was elegant.
Orochi watched her go, mesmerized. Compared to her, the other women in the room looked utterly plain.
"When will I finally possess her…?"
But just as Hiyori opened the door—
—someone else pushed it open from the other side.
She froze.
Standing there was a striking young man, clearly not from Wano by the look of his foreign clothes. Beside him stood a beautiful woman with an air of nobility.
Elior and Reiju.
Outside, Crocodile and the others had already begun their slaughter. Elior had given only one order: leave no survivors.
He was surprised to see Hiyori himself—but he recognized her instantly.
Hiyori. One of the most beautiful women in the world, rivaling even Hancock.
"Reiju. Take her."
Elior didn't waste words. He had made a promise to Momonosuke, beneath the earth — that he would "take good care" of his sister.
Before Hiyori could react, Reiju was already on her. With swift, effortless strength, she seized her and pinned her in place.
As the moonlight fell on Reiju's graceful figure, even Hiyori was momentarily stunned.
She realized… Elior wasn't planning to let her go.
After all, how could any man resist a beauty like hers?
Reiju sighed inwardly.
"If it were me, what could I do?"
Hiyori tried to struggle, but Reiju — known as the Poison Pink — released a paralyzing toxin. In an instant, Hiyori's body lost all strength, and she collapsed helplessly into Reiju's arms.
"Who are you?!"
Orochi had finally taken notice, shoving the other women aside as he rose shakily to face Elior.
"I'm the one who came to kill you."
Without giving him a chance to react, Elior struck.
His fist crashed forward, cloaked in a strange, overwhelming energy.
"You brat…!"
Orochi had ruled Wano for decades in isolation. He had heard that the Yonko had shifted, that Whitebeard was gone… but he paid little attention to the outside world.
He certainly hadn't bothered to learn the face of the new Yonko who had replaced Whitebeard—
Elior.
So when Orochi saw the boy in front of him, he didn't think twice. He scoffed and tried to block the punch with his own hand.
"You dare raise your hand to me—"
CRACK!
His hand was pulverized.
Bone shattered. Flesh tore. The shock burst through his body.
But Elior's punch didn't stop there — it slammed into Orochi's gut, folding him in half like paper.
BOOM!
The impact launched him like a cannonball, blasting through multiple walls and sending explosions rippling through the estate.
"Come on" Elior muttered. "Let me see what the Yamata no Orochi really looks like."
He stepped through the wreckage — just wood and debris beneath his feet.
The three courtesans had fainted from fear.
And Hiyori, limp in Reiju's arms, stared at him wide-eyed.
The man before her…
…had just blown Orochi away with a single punch.