King and Queen led a large force towards the Flower Capital, while Kaidou and Arceus stayed behind, watching the pirates gradually pass through the Inner Sea. A sense of achievement suddenly welled up in Kaidou's heart.
"You know? The feeling I had when I first participated in a war, at that time I was only 8 years old, and White was the cook in my crew. Later on, through every battle, I fought to establish myself as the kingdom's strongest…"
Looking at these pirates, Kaidou remembered his experiences in the Walt Kingdom; only now he was no longer just a soldier but had become the main general.
"You've got quite a lot of reflections."
"I just want to say, this time, don't interfere with Yamato's experiences. She's already celebrated her seventh birthday, and according to your virtual age calculation, she's 8.
The things that girl has gained far exceed mine back then. This war is her best trial; there's no better way to train someone than this battlefield."
This was Kaidou's purpose; he also brought Yamato over, aiming to use this war as her refinement. He bet that the World Government at least had one Plate in their possession.
If they have only one, there's absolutely no chance they would trade it away; although Wano Kuni is focusing on agriculture and development, Kaidou's ideals haven't changed, and he wants to see the biggest war.
In that war, Yamato would be a great general. He needs Yamato to grow up, even if it comes at a high cost.
Although Arceus had done quite a bit in Yamato's training journey, Kaidou believed he was still too gentle, so he used the example to tell Arceus not to intervene.
"I know, experiencing more isn't a bad thing, and you don't need to teach me, but I'll still step in when necessary."
"Wugorogorogoro, as long as you're aware, let's go, Orochi has only lived a few more years, which can be considered cheap for him."
If Yamato fails to reach his goals, even at the brink of death, Kaidou wouldn't intervene, but Arceus is different; this was the difference between them. The current agreement could be considered meeting his demands.
Accompanying Yamato were Chansey, Maria, and Jack, both in the process of refining themselves. After nearly two years of transformation, Queen's potions finally took effect, and Maria's Human-Beast Form underwent significant changes.
She changed from that strange big-butt spider person to a Spider Woman Form, with her lower body fully replaced by a spider, while her upper body appeared at the position of the spider's head.
Due to Arceus's transformation, Maria's Galvantula had a special consciousness in Human-Beast Form, sharing vision, autonomous attack, capable of providing Maria with a perfect combat power boost.
However, Nico Robin wasn't in this team. As the daughter of a scholar, her identity was unique and didn't count as a full member of the Hundred Beasts Pirates.
This war event had nothing to do with her, and she stayed on the Sky Island with ordinary scholars, celebrating her new year with Saul and others.
It wasn't surprising they didn't spend last year's New Year together.
.....
Members of the Hundred Beasts Pirates, equipped with weapons, gradually entered the Flower Capital, without arousing suspicion. Local merchants and residents continued to market their goods, unaware of the impending war.
Although Orochi chose the battlefield to be in the Flower Capital, he didn't evacuate ordinary people as that would seem unusual. If the merchants attending the New Year's festival sold things that were either unappealing or unattractive, anyone would suspect their identity.
Moreover, Orochi didn't care about the lives and deaths of the populace; sacrifice in war wasn't related to him as long as he achieved his goals.
Within the Flower Capital Palace, the daimyo from various towns had taken their seats. They didn't intend to start the war directly but wanted to wait for Kaidou to get drunk and let his guard down before taking action. Orochi warmly welcomed Kaidou upon arrival.
"Hahaha, Kaidou, you finally came. This year marks the hundredth anniversary of Wano Kuni, and the Flower Capital has various programs waiting for you."
He clapped his hands, and several courtesans emerged from behind the screen. Kaidou didn't refuse but instead held them in his arms upon taking his seat, treating others present as insignificant seating companions.
Soldier versus soldier, king versus king, the people here ambushed the cadres of the Hundred Beasts, while more were hidden throughout the Flower Capital, targeting ordinary members of the Hundred Beasts Pirates.
.....
As fireworks exploded in the sky, it marked the start of this year's celebrations, and the streets became visibly crowded with ordinary Wano Kuni civilians and warriors who snuck in.
Initially, there seemed no difference, but this year's business with alcohol turned strange. Most warriors and pirates only took a sip and never got drunk.
Only ignorant civilians continued to enjoy this New Year's festival. In fact, Yamato didn't know the details; Kaidou didn't inform her, planning to let her personally witness the cruelty of war.
So she, Maria, and Jack had a great time at the festival, playing Goldfish Scooping. The spontaneous growth in power was supposed to be difficult to control.
But Yamato adapted to her new physique in nearly two months, and as the paper net tore under the struggle of the goldfish, a different firework ignited above the Flower Capital Palace, and chaos erupted at that instant.
Those originally participating in the New Year's festival suddenly drew weapons, attacking the Hundred Beasts Pirates nearby, yet their assaults were blocked. Before they could express shock at their ambush being thwarted, their opponent's attack had already swung back.
Such scenes were not isolated; they happened throughout the streets, with blood, swords, scattered goods, ferocious roars, frantic shouts, and children's cries becoming rampant within the Flower Capital.
In terms of numbers, the Wano Kuni coalition had the advantage, as this was the Shimotsuki Yasuie's recruited force and a few daimyo's loyal guards. However, the prepared Hundred Beasts Pirates did not panic, launching counterattacks led by reinforced minor cadres.
Yamato and the others didn't quite understand what was happening, but now someone was targeting her.
"That one is the pirate's daughter…"
"Yes, I've seen her frequently access Ghost Island." A gun was aimed at Yamato.
"Wait, she's just a kid."
"So what? Isn't she one of the Hundred Beasts?"
Shimotsuki Yasuie recruited people who needed combat power, discounting ordinary folk, leaving only trusted samurai and recruiting those harboring resentment towards the Hundred Beasts, resulting in their merciless actions.
People around couldn't hold him back as a bullet shot from the gun, but a Chansey noticed the situation before Yamato did.
"Lucky!"
Although these Chansey appeared early, they primarily performed nanny duties without a high level.
Protect wasn't part of their daily skills, thus lacking proficiency. Upon spotting the gun pointed at Yamato, it chose to use its body to shove Yamato aside.
Though it achieved its goal, the cost was the bullet striking its body, creating a pit as blood poured out.
"Chansey!"
Seeing the suddenly fallen Chansey, Yamato quickly pressed her hand against its wound, experiencing battlefield combat but witnessing her first injury among her companions, trying to block the wound but unable to do so, then realizing the Power of the Evergreen's effect.
Yet while attempting to heal Chansey, a row of bullets fired. Enemies around seemed to multiply.
"Lucky…" The shot Chansey intended to push Yamato aside. The bullet hit a dangerous spot, and now it couldn't stand, while the surrounding environment grew perilous.
Firearms weren't widespread within Wano Kuni, with most possessing poor gun skills. The previous shot had some blind luck so subsequent shots landed nearby.
They didn't cause effective harm, yet they prevented Yamato from focusing. Post receiving the Power of the Evergreen, she hadn't used it to heal Pokemon.
The more dense the gunfire, the more anxious she became, resulting in her failing to use that force, sensing Chansey's life draining away, their past life together surfacing in her mind, a power rising within her.
"Get…away from me!"
Centered on Yamato, a vast energy burst forth, encompassing the entire Flower Capital.