"The Flower Capital! That bastard Aus still hasn't left Wano Country?!"
"Y-yes, sir!" The subordinate answered, trembling.
He'd assumed Aus had kidnapped Yamato and fled to the first half of the Grand Line by now.
Been planning to track him down eventually. Fly over there. Settle this.
But now they're telling him—
Aus never ran at all. Still strutting around the Flower Capital with his daughter like he owned the place?
Unforgivable!
Kaido's rage boiled over. This was worse than if Aus had vanished completely. The disrespect was absolute. His face twisted into something monstrous.
Dottore Aus!
He could already picture it—Yamato held hostage by this bastard, tears streaming down her face.
He'd thought Aus was like Roger and his crew. A true warrior. Turned out he was just like Kaido himself—someone who'd use any means necessary.
Wait for me, you foolish daughter!
I'm coming to crush Aus and bring you home!
"Roar..."
His body swelled rapidly. A colossal azure dragon emerged from the cave. Under the awestruck gazes of his men—
He burst through the stone ceiling. Shot toward the sky.
Unlike the tension gripping all of Wano Country, one towering figure moved through it like a spectator.
As if this coup had nothing to do with him.
"Father, what's happening? Why are they chasing those people?"
Yamato sat on Aus's shoulder, bandage on her head, watching the hunt unfold in the forest below with curious eyes.
She could even see two people who looked like a cat and a dog. These must be the Mink Tribe Father mentioned!
As for why they could watch from the sky—
Well, this was the almighty Lord Aus.
Flying wasn't strange at all.
Yamato thought this made perfect sense.
"That? Because Kaido wants to wipe them out. Take Wano Country for himself."
Aus walked through the sky like it was solid ground, completely detached.
Enraged Kaido couldn't pinpoint Aus's exact location. No choice but to deal with Oden's remnants first.
Before he arrived—
Atop the burning tower—
Flames roared. Only a handful of samurai remained, desperately defending the Kozuki clan's last stronghold.
"The once-mighty Shogun clan of Wano, reduced to this? Just a few stragglers?"
Crisp footsteps echoed across the tower. Fire couldn't touch him. Blades shattered against him. A towering figure appeared.
Hearing those footsteps—hearing the guards fall silent—Kozuki Toki wrapped her slender arms around her children.
Stared tensely at the sliding door.
"Good evening, Lady Toki."
At this critical moment, an unexpected voice rang out. All three turned toward the entrance.
"Aus-tarou?" A voice filled with surprised joy.
"..."
Hearing that form of address, Aus's mouth twitched. His mysterious, confident aura evaporated instantly.
What the hell kind of nickname is that?!
He'd wanted to complain about this since his time on the ship.
Aus-tarou. Redji-rou. Buggy-saburou.
The Wano-style names Oden gave them had annoyed Aus for ages!
"Why are you here?!"
Lady Toki was clearly overjoyed to see Aus. The two children still trapped in grief couldn't quite process it yet.
Momonosuke and Hiyori clung to each other.
Hiyori looked terrified.
But Momonosuke, seeing Aus arrive, lit up for a moment. Ran to him. Didn't even notice the little girl sitting on Aus's shoulder.
"Aus-tarou, where are the others?"
In his childhood memories, Father Oden had adventured with Roger and his powerful crew. He'd spent time aboard the Oro Jackson himself.
If those powerful companions helped—
"No. I came alone. The Roger Pirates...
Have disbanded."
"Wh-what?!"
Momonosuke collapsed to the floor. The hope that had just sparked died instantly.
Just Aus-tarou alone—how could he possibly defeat such powerful enemies?!
Due to Wano's isolation, their impression of Aus was still stuck on the young trainee under Roger's protection.
"They were supposed to be his comrades! Why won't they come save Father?! Those bastards!"
What a natural talent.
Raised in a greenhouse. Always depending on others. Never thinking to work hard himself.
What a pathetic attitude.
"How dare you talk like that?! This is Lord Aus!"
Yamato, annoyed by Momonosuke's behavior, snapped at him.
"Momo!"
Kozuki Toki also called her son's name sharply.
"It's fine, Lady Toki."
Aus's expression didn't change. Momonosuke wouldn't survive tonight anyway. No point getting angry.
If he remembered correctly, the main event was about to start.
Through the thick clouds, a massive azure dragon emerged. Under the respectful gazes of Kaido's forces surrounding the area, he slowly transformed into human form. Walked toward the tower.
BANG—
With one violent kick, the door exploded inward. A towering figure entered.
Seeing him, Kozuki Toki's face went pale. She frantically drew her sword.
The arrival—Kaido himself, here to eliminate every last threat.
"Well, well. If it isn't Candy-dough."
Aus slowly turned around. Flashed a smile.
Kaido hadn't expected this either. After searching everywhere—Aus was here?
And Yamato on his shoulder!
"AUS! You bastard! Let Yamato go!"
The Kozuki remnants could wait. But Aus? Kaido couldn't wait another second.
He raised his spiked club. Terrifying power gathered within it.
"Aaah!"
Aus barely reacted. Behind him, Momonosuke—who'd been so indignant moments ago—immediately hid behind his mother.
Tch...
Kozuki Toki shielded her two children. Watched Aus and Kaido tensely.
If anyone could save them now, it would only be—
"STOP! KAIDO!"
Unexpectedly, a sharp cry rang out through the burning room. Kaido's haki-wrapped club halted just before impact.
His eyes went wide.
Everything froze.
"What are you doing?! Yamato, get back here! Aus is no good!"
"NO!"
The little girl gripped the club. Stared seriously at Kaido.
"You say that because...
You don't understand him. You don't know him."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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