Boom… Boom… Boom…
The faces of the samurai were lit by a terrifying orange glow as violent explosions tore through the night. Just moments before, seven ships had been sailing toward freedom. Now, only one remained.
The other six vessels, carrying the bulk of their forces, were instantly engulfed by the scorching flames that rained down from the sky. They didn't just sink; they vaporized, transforming into monstrous fireballs on the dark sea. The entire surface of the water seemed to ignite at once.
It all happened too fast. The echoes of their celebratory cheers had barely faded. The survivors on the last ship could only stare, their pupils shrinking to pinpricks in sheer horror. Some were frozen in terror, others trembled uncontrollably, their minds unable to process the devastation.
At least eight thousand samurai had been on those six ships. Eight thousand loyal warriors, fathers, and sons who had dreamed of liberating their homeland.
And just like that, they were gone.
Not a single cry for help was heard from the inferno. The flames had been so absolute, so instantaneous, that they had been erased from the world before they could even scream.
The remaining retainers of Oden felt a grief so profound it instantly turned to white-hot rage. Their eyes became bloodshot, and they gritted their teeth like madmen, roaring at the dark sky above.
"Ah… AHHHH!" "KAIDO!!!"
As if summoned by his name, blue lightning cracked across the heavens. Beneath the dense, swirling storm clouds, the colossal form of an azure dragon coiled and writhed like a demon from ancient legends. On the sea below, the ominous silhouettes of the Beasts Pirates' fleet emerged from the darkness, surrounding the lone ship and cutting off any chance of escape.
A huge dragon head descended from the clouds, and a voice boomed across the water, shaking the very timbers of their ship. "How nostalgic!"
Kaido's eyes, as large as lanterns, gazed down at the burning wreckage and the single surviving vessel. On its deck, the remaining samurai, led by Shimotsuki Yasuie and Hana no Hyogoro, glared back with eyes full of fury and hate.
With a single Boro Breath, Kaido had slaughtered thousands, yet his expression showed no remorse. Instead, his voice held a hint of mocking regret.
"This scene almost takes me back eighteen years. When that fool Oden died, you all tried to stop me just like this. It's a shame, really. Eighteen years have passed, and the outcome is still exactly the same."
His words were the final spark. The samurai could no longer contain their rage. "Damn it… Damn you!" one roared. "Unforgivable! All those people…" another screamed through tears of fury. "KAIDO, GO TO HELL!"
Kaido's attack had crushed more than just their ships; it had incinerated their hope of ever reclaiming Wano. Those they had lost were nearly all the samurai left in the country who still supported the Kozuki Clan.
Shimotsuki Yasuie, Denjiro, Ashura Doji, Izo, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, Shinobu, and Kawamatsu drew their weapons in unison. A furious, violet aura of advanced Armament Haki—the Ryuo of Wano—flowed from their bodies onto their blades. With rage-fueled cries, they launched themselves into the air, transforming into streaks of light aimed directly at the monstrous dragon.
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Paradise Totsuka!!!"
They unleashed their strongest techniques, the very sword arts inherited from their beloved lord, Kozuki Oden. But their desperation meant nothing to the Emperor. Kaido had no interest in even moving. He simply allowed their attacks to slam into his thick, scaly hide. His body, fortified by years of unimaginable battle and his own unique training methods, was tougher than any mountain. He hadn't feared Oden's full power at the end of their duel, and he certainly didn't fear this.
The scabbards' powerful slashes rained down on Kaido's massive body, but their furious roars were the only things that had any effect. They pushed with all their might, trying to drive their blades through his scales, but they couldn't even leave a scratch.
Though Kaido didn't bother to defend, he was growing tired of the nuisance. "What boring attacks. That's enough!"
With an irritated snort, he simply shook his colossal body. The immense force generated by the slight movement was like a shockwave, sending all of them flying backward through the air. They had to use all their strength just to stabilize themselves and land back on the deck of their ship, gasping for breath.
"How… How can this be?"
The realization that their combined, all-out assault couldn't inflict a single wound on Kaido shattered their fighting spirit. The fire in their eyes was replaced by the hollow look of utter despair.
Why? They had done it. They had escaped Wano. Just a little further, and they would have been safe in the open sea, free from the grasp of Orochi and Kaido. They could have waited for Lady Toki's prophecy to come true in two years and returned to take back their home. But now, it was all over. Kaido had returned and snuffed out their future as easily as crushing an ant.
Amidst the despair, Shimotsuki Yasuie, the calm and steady leader, forced himself to see the truth. He understood now. They had never won the gamble. From the very beginning, they had been walking into a trap.
Since that was the case, there was only one thing left to do: execute the final plan. No matter the cost, they had to ensure Princess Hiyori escaped.
He shot a subtle glance at Kawamatsu. The kappa's body trembled as he understood the silent command. He immediately took Hiyori's hand, his grip firm and resolute.
But simply jumping into the sea wouldn't be enough. Kaido was watching their every move. He could easily spot them in the water and incinerate them with another Boro Breath. They needed a diversion.
Yasuie turned his gaze back to the sky, his expression cold and defiant. "So that's how it is, Kaido," he called out, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "You've been back on Onigashima this whole time, haven't you? You were waiting for this moment. Waiting to wipe us all out in one fell swoop. It seems you're actually scared. Even a monster like you is afraid of the will Oden left behind and the prophecy Lady Toki made!"
Yasuie's words were like a torch in the darkness, instantly reigniting the defiance in the hearts of the samurai. He was right. Why else would Kaido go to such lengths? It was because he was afraid.
Even the pirates on the surrounding Beasts Pirates' ships looked up at their captain with curious expressions. Was it possible? Could a great Emperor of the Sea like Lord Kaido truly feel fear? On the lead ship, the Three All-Stars, the Flying Six, and even Eneru turned their eyes toward the sky.
A low chuckle rumbled from the dragon's throat. "Wororororo… Interesting…"
Kaido, floating in the air, showed a cruel smile. He hadn't intended to be this theatrical, but since they were so eager to die, he might as well indulge them.
"I was just going to deal with you quickly. After all, you have nothing left that interests me. However, Shimotsuki Yasuie, that was a good question. It makes me willing to waste a little more time on you. Tell me, you retainers of Oden, do you know what I've been wondering for all these years?"
Kaido lowered his enormous head, his glowing eyes fixing on them. "I've been wondering… how did an idiot like Orochi become the Shogun of Wano Country?"
The samurai on the ship were stunned into silence by the unexpected question. It was true. How did a vile, sniveling snake like Orochi manage to seize control of their nation? To be honest, most of them had never truly stopped to consider it. It had just… happened.
Kaido gave them the answer himself.
"I thought and I thought, and I finally came to a conclusion," he sneered. "It's true that Orochi is an idiot. But the Kozuki Clan that used to rule Wano… they're even bigger idiots. Not just your fool of a lord, but anyone with Kozuki blood in their veins is unimaginably, hopelessly foolish…"
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