When he looked in the direction of the approaching footsteps, a Wolf Fang Club was already smashing towards him. The buildings in Wano Kuni are generally not tall, except for the general's palace and the residences of the daimyo; most buildings are two or three stories.
Moreover, the eaves of the old-style buildings extend outward, which serve as points of leverage for Yamato, who jumped up in a few strides.
Seeing the gun in his hand, Yamato did not hesitate and swung directly at him. Instinctively, he used the gun's barrel to block, but whether it was the metal barrel or the wooden buttstock, they were as brittle as a biscuit stick under Yamato's strike.
With a bang, the gun was split into two, and the splinters cut a bloody gash on his face.
"Was it you who just fired?"
Without waiting for a reply, she swung Arceus at his head. She would ask every enemy with a gun this question but would not wait for an answer; she was simply reaffirming her reason to strike.
This time, however, she found her target.
Her strike hit the mark, though it only landed on his shoulder. However, with Kaidou's bloodline, years of training, the recently obtained super rookie power, and the newly forged Arceus 5.0, her strike was beyond what an ordinary person could bear.
The bones in his shoulder were completely shattered, even the sternum cracked under the force, leaving his arm barely connected by a few strands of flesh, with most of it effectively crushed.
The excruciating pain and blood loss did not render him completely powerless, but instead invoked his ferocity.
"It was me! It's a shame that shot didn't kill you. Having me mine for two years, you people are unforgivable. Remember, my name is..."
Although still conscious for now, the shoulder wound was less than bearable for him, prompting him into a desperate stance, drawing the Samurai Blade from his waist with his remaining right hand.
Yet Yamato wasn't interested in his self-introduction.
"Thundering Hakken!"
Although lightning hadn't entwined the Wolf Fang Club, Armament Haki enveloped Arceus for the first time. The Wolf Fang Club struck his chest with a thud, sinking it deeply and sending him flying backwards.
"I have no interest in knowing the name of someone who harmed my family."
As the nameless one was sent flying, Yamato ran towards the skirmish between other pirates and samurai. The danger wouldn't be over until those people were dealt with.
To reach her destination faster, she chose to leap directly over rooftops, spotting numerous unconscious people within houses along the way.
These were the civilians residing in the Flower Capital. Though many ordinary people were driven out by Orochi's operations, plenty still remained in the Flower Capital, albeit slightly better off.
Facing this sudden warfare, they instinctively chose to hide at home, later fainting due to Yamato's Supreme King Haki. Yamato did not bother with them, knowing well her abilities couldn't protect everyone.
Do as much as your ability allows, which is what Arceus taught her. It might seem selfish to some saints, but for individuals, this yields the best outcome.
Outside, the battle between samurai and pirates continued. Most of these pirates were in their thirties or forties. They joined the Hundred Beasts young, witnessing its rise, participating in territory battles, cannon wars with the Wald Pirates, and struggled against Golden Lion remnants. They matured into elite pirates through combat.
Though fewer, they were battle-tested, while the samurai and thug alliance had a numerical advantage. Samurai and pirates were evenly matched, but most thugs were mere cannon fodder.
They had a vicious spirit, but it conveyed little meaning.
The leader of this Samurai Alliance Army was a confidant of Shimotsuki Yasuie, commanding this region's forces. As the battle commenced, he noticed issues; these pirates seemed prepared.
"Block those men! Plug that gap! You there, grab those children, that should be Kaidou's daughter!"
He slashed down a nearby pirate while commanding. Unlike those wielding regular swords, his weapon was a Glaive, more effective on this battlefield.
However, when he intended to attack further, someone blocked his strike.
"Move aside, I don't fight women!"
His words filled with disdain at the female pirate before him, he soon paid for his scorn.
Her elbow revealed two green Leaf Blades, severing his Glaive in half, leaving a cross-shaped wound on his armor.
"Follow me! Break through from here!"
"The Gifted has arrived! Concentrate your fire!"
The Gifted were initially dispersed throughout the Flower Capital, bolstering common pirate forces, but news of this drew them near, making Yamato's location the second focal point outside the palace.
Yamato's identity gradually spread. Samurai sought to capture Kaidou's daughter, while pirates aimed to protect their crew's young mistress.
A sudden twist occurred on the frontline. Yamato didn't hide or flee as expected by the samurai, instead charging into the fray.
"Thundering... Hakken!"
Two more samurai were sent flying, as Yamato realized what Arceus had gifted her. Her stamina continually recovered, far exceeding her prior level.
Ordinary samurai couldn't stop her, allowing her to break through, spreading from the center outwards.
"Miss Yamato!"
"You scoundrels drank too much! Letting Miss Yamato charge here alone! Even if not commanders, can't you handle these grunts?! Whoever's still spirited, charge with me!"
Seeing Yamato, the pirates' fighting spirits soared, leading Gifted into furious exchanges, exchanging wound for wound in desperation.
The pirates, with the Gifted as their edge, tore a large gap towards the Samurai Alliance Army, though fewer, managing a counter-encirclement.
"Boom!"
The sky had unknowingly filled with dark clouds, drawing many eyes to a distant streak of crimson as Kaidou transformed into the Cyan Dragon, his massive form soaring among the clouds.
"Worororo! This is war!"
Kaidou's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the Flower Capital, followed by a Hot Breath spewing downward from his maw.