Chapter 380: Onigashima on Full Alert!
Wano Country · Flower Capital · Secret Courtyard
Zoro's words fell like the edge of a blade—"Because you simply have no backbone."
The air froze. Kyoshiro and Kozuki Hiyori both stiffened, their chests feeling as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer. Fury, shame, and humiliation surged through them. But as their thoughts drifted back to the past, that anger was quickly swallowed by a deeper, more profound agony.
Twenty years.
Under the iron hooves of Kaido and Orochi, not a single soul in Wano had truly stood up.
Some chose to live in silent submission.
Some preferred to kneel and beg rather than pick up a weapon.
Others, for the sake of a meager meal, willingly sold themselves to the factories, worked to the bone like slaves.
When the blade fell, they bowed. When the shackles were locked, they lowered their heads. No one dared to resist. Even the most loyal retainers could only linger in the shadows, never daring to raise their blades in the light of day. This was a national disgrace.
Hiyori's fingers trembled. In her mind, the silhouette of her father appeared—Kozuki Oden. The man once hailed as Wano's strongest, the most revered heir. If he were still here... could he have changed everything?
However, the cruel reality cut through her fantasies like a cold knife. Oden could have struck Orochi down on the spot back then and engaged Kaido in a decisive battle. The outcome might have been uncertain, but at least it would have been an honorable struggle.
Instead, he chose to believe in the enemy's absurd "promise"—dancing naked in a boiling pot, persevering for five years in exchange for the "opening of the country" and "freedom." He was foolish enough to believe that a pirate with no honor would keep his word.
The result? Kaido and Orochi spent those five years expanding their reach, building factories, seizing land, and consuming the flesh, blood, and hope of the people. And Oden himself? He danced naked in the streets once a week amidst the mockery and insults of the public.
Those five years of shame became Wano's longest nightmare. If he had truly intended to win, he could have gathered strength in secret, or at the very least, sought help from the remnants of the Whitebeard or Roger pirates.
But he didn't. He bet everything—the entire future of the nation—on a joke of a promise.
Hiyori's vision blurred. She vividly remembered the scenes of her childhood—her father dancing pathetically in the streets while the people threw stones at him, cursing him as the "Idiot Lord." The retainers' eyes were dead, filled with helpless sighs. And her father? He just kept dancing like a puppet. He had an unparalleled sword, but no mind for governance. He could challenge the world, but he underestimated Kaido's cunning. He didn't just bury himself; he buried the last hope of Wano.
Kyoshiro lowered his head, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. This was the most despairing part of it all:
The people of Wano chose to swallow their breath in silence.
Kozuki Oden, the man most qualified to lead the resistance, chose a humiliating "contract."
They were passive, weak, and ignorant, never truly taking their future into their own hands. Therefore... even though they were furious at Zoro's insult, they had no power to refute it. The courtyard was deathly silent, the flickering lanterns illuminating their shame and helplessness with pitiless clarity.
High Above the Flower Capital
The deep night was suddenly torn apart by a pitch-black silhouette! Flaming wings trailed a jagged streak of fire as King streaked across the sky like a black meteor, skimming low over the Flower Capital.
He looked down at the chaotic lights and the frantic shouts coming from the Shogun's palace. King narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. "...Something is wrong."
In the next instant, he folded his wings!
"BOOM!!!"
He dropped from the heavens, slamming heavily into the Shogun's estate! The stone pavement shattered, and a wave of fire rolled outward, knocking back the guards.
Kurozumi Orochi, who was still screaming at his guards in a blind fury, felt a massive shadow press down on his back. When he turned around, his eyes bulged, and his legs went so weak he nearly lost control of his bladder.
King's flaming wings slowly retracted. Behind his mask, his eyes were as cold as iron, staring dead at Orochi.
"K-K-King-sama!!!" Orochi immediately donned a fawning smile, his voice trembling. "What... what brings you here?!"
King's gaze swept over the wreckage. He spoke in a low, chilling voice. "I saw the chaos while passing by. Speak—what happened?"
Orochi shivered and scrambled up, wailing and crying. "It was two swordsmen! They burst in and kidnapped Komurasaki!!" He spoke with frantic speed. "It was a green-haired man, a swordsman with three blades! And a woman swordsman with him!"
"Green hair... Three-Sword Style?!!"
King's pupils shrank. He grabbed Orochi by the collar, lifting him into the air. His voice made the hall vibrate: "ARE YOU CERTAIN?!!"
Orochi shook like a leaf, his voice breaking into a sob. "Y-Yes, I'm certain!! He even decapitated my Yamata-no-Orochi form!!!"
King's expression turned grim. He threw Orochi aside and pulled out a Den Den Mushi. His tone was heavier than it had ever been. "Queen! Put Onigashima on full alert immediately!! Notify Kaido-sama to return at once!!!"
On the other end, Queen was humming a tune while eating red bean soup. He jumped so hard at the roar that he nearly choked. "Huh?! What's wrong?! Did that idiot Jack screw up again?!"
King's voice boomed through the shell like freezing ice. "It's not Jack."
"—It's the Marines. Two of those Marine brats have already set foot on Wano!!!"
"WH-WHAAAAT?!!!!" Queen bolted upright, completely ignoring the fact that his favorite soup was now spilled all over the floor!
King hung up, but his heart sank. The signal flare?! This is bad!!! He unfurled his wings, fire billowing as he transformed into a Pteranodon and shot into the night sky like a black-flame meteor, heading straight for Amigasa Village!
Amigasa Village
In the courtyard, Zoro was returning Enma to its scabbard, the blade still radiating a cold purple glow. Suddenly—
"RUMBLE—!"
The night sky roared as a gargantuan, flaming black shadow streaked across the firmament! Zoro's pupils shrank. He looked up, locking onto the massive Pteranodon. "Is that... King?!"
Kuina's gaze narrowed, her expression lethal. The two shared a look, and their sword intent erupted!
Zoro let out a cold snort. "We were ordered to subjugate Onigashima anyway. Since you lot don't have the guts to strike—"
"—Then stay out of our way!"
With that, the two blurred into shadows, vanishing into the night as they rushed toward the battlefield!
The Battle of Amigasa
Flames surged, the firelight illuminating the very heavens!
Ace's Armament Haki covered his arms like black iron, with white-hot flames coiling around them, looking like a set of armor forged from the sun and the abyss. His aura spiked as he compressed his flames to the absolute limit.
"Great Flame Commandment: BLAZING RADIANCE!!!"
His fist struck with the heat of the sun. A ring of condensed black fire expanded outward, transforming into a roaring beast of flame that lunged for Jack!
"BOOM!!!"
The explosion was like the world being torn apart. The village entrance was transformed into a purgatory of fire! Jack's massive mammoth form was swallowed head-on. His hair was scorched away, his skin charred, and the very air warped under the intense heat!
"UUUAAAAGH—!!!" Jack shrieked as he staggered back, his massive hooves sinking into the burning soil.
Tama watched with tearful eyes, clutching her skirt. "Big Brother Ace... please win!"
Within the flames, Jack gasped for air, a trace of genuine panic finally appearing in his eyes. "Dammit... why isn't King-aniki here yet?! If he doesn't show up, I'm going to be cooked alive!!!"
Ace's pupils looked like burning suns. He spiraled his fire and Haki together, condensing them into a blinding ball of light!
"JACK!! YOU'RE FINISHED!!!"
"Flame Emperor: SUN WHEEL!!!"
The flames detonated as the fireball transformed into a rising sun, crashing down with a world-shaking roar! Just as Jack was about to be utterly consumed—
A gargantuan black shadow suddenly slammed down from the sky! The flames were torn apart amidst a roar: "YOU MARINE BASTARDS!!!!"
King's flaming wings unfurled in a violent sweep as he dove from the heavens like a judge from hell!
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