Wano Country, Kuri.
The soaring flames dyed the sky blood-Red, and smoke billowed into the heavens.
Black clouds surged in from overseas, engulfing the waterfall, a turbulent black current, and a giant shadow, like an approaching siege, covered half the sky.
Half clear sky, half dense clouds.
In the distance, a raging inferno consumed the Kuri town, enveloped by the fierce blaze.
Kozuki Oden's face was grim, fury burning and spreading within his chest.
Kaido's army of Beasts Pirates, each with a sinister and terrifying smile, stared at Kozuki Oden.
Kozuki Oden stood in the sunlight, the beams illuminating him: "I've been preparing for this war for six years... I remember this is our first meeting, who exactly are you?"
"Worororo!"
Kaido couldn't help but laugh uproariously, his laughter making the air tear violently.
Since arriving on this island, he found himself growing calmer, his mood becoming increasingly pleasant.
It was as if decades of accumulated regrets had found an outlet; resentment, unwillingness, and regret had all vanished!
His entire spirit seemed to have subtly elevated by several points.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly, his eyes narrowed with a cold glint, revealing his characteristic menacing fangs: "My name is Kaido, and I am a pirate... Oden, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death... No, perhaps no one will remember you, because this time, I will make this country undergo a massive change!"
"O-Oden-sama!!"
Just then, the chubby Shutenmaru arrived, panting. The moment he saw the Beasts Pirates, his flushed cheeks immediately turned pale from his hurried rush, and his pupils visibly constricted.
Shutenmaru gasped: "So many... pirates!"
From a distance, they were a dense, dark mass, like a tide!
"Shutenmaru..."
Kaido looked at Shutenmaru with a half-smile. In his previous life, Kaido had tried to recruit Shutenmaru multiple times, but Shutenmaru had always refused.
Kaido valued talent. Even though he knew Shutenmaru was entrenched on Mount Atama, he never launched a full-scale siege.
However, the battle on Onigashima made Kaido completely abandon the idea of recruiting Oden's former retainers.
"Kaido, is it? Although I don't know why you know my name, I am Kozuki Oden, the daimyo of Kuri... Since you want to invade this country, you are my enemy, and I will never let this country fall into your hands!"
With a whoosh, Oden drew Ame no Habakiri and Enma from his waist. One black, one white, the two swords exuded completely different auras.
Ame no Habakiri was calm and peaceful, while Enma was violent, sinister, and its sharp aura commanded respect.
Seeing this, Shutenmaru, like Kozuki Oden, drew the long sword from his waist.
Redfield watched Kozuki Oden with interest and said to Kaido: "Two-sword style... Kaido, how about you let me handle him?"
Kaido immediately shook his head: "Red, I will deal with him myself. Wano Country has five daimyos, all of whom are formidable. I'm sure they will arrive in Kuri very soon... You all continue forward, I'll take care of things here!"
A Red light flashed in Redfield's eyes. He already understood Kaido's intentions. He glanced at Oden again, knowing that the other party was now prepared for a fight to the death.
Redfield's lips curled slightly: "As you wish. Since you consider this a duel, I won't interfere. Bullet, Abel, and the rest, come with me."
Under Redfield's Observation Haki, he had already detected several forces approaching the Kuri border.
Redfield led the dense pirate army forward, but how could Kozuki Oden let them pass?
"You won't pass me!!"
Kozuki Oden crossed his two swords, Ryuo coiling around them like cherry blossoms dancing in the wind. The Ryuo Haki spiraled up the blades, and streams of Haki, flowing like flames, erupted from the tips!
With a crash, the rocks beneath his feet exploded, and Oden, like an arrow, rushed towards Redfield, who was at the forefront!
Just as he was about to unleash "Togen Shirataki," a dark shadow fell before him!
A giant club swung, forcefully blocking Oden's attack!
Haki clashed, light and shadow intertwined. Redfield, not far away, glanced at Oden, scoffed, and continued to lead the main force forward.
"Hey, Oden, I told you I'm your opponent. How could I let you interfere with my subordinates?"
Kaido's lips curled. Under the massive shadow, a pair of blood-Red eyes shone like fire in the night!
The two famous swords and the spiked club collided violently. Haki transformed into gusts of wind scattering in all directions, and the ground beneath them collapsed with a roar.
Boom!!
Kaido violently sent Oden flying back over a hundred meters. Oden's feet plowed a deep furrow in the earth!
Kozuki Oden looked at Kaido in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
This was the first time in his life he had encountered such a terrifying opponent. Not only did he react later but arrived first, blocking his move, he even managed to subtly suppress him with his brute strength and Ryuo.
"So strong!!"
Shutenmaru was astonished. No one knew how strong Kozuki Oden was better than him. Even with the combined strength of all his retainers and the other daimyos of Wano Country, they would probably only be able to fight Kozuki Oden to a draw.
Yet, what did he see now?
Kozuki Oden, who was always known as undefeated and invincible, was actually powerfully repelled by someone?
Shutenmaru immediately understood that these were not ordinary pirates.
It was a pity that Wano Country had been isolated for many years, having long lost contact with the outside world, and had no idea about the changes overseas.
If they had known some details about the pirates, perhaps they wouldn't have been so passive.
But now was not the time for regret. Shutenmaru knew that Oden needed his help!
"Oden-sama, I'm here to help you!!"
Shutenmaru shouted, leaping high. His corpulent body did not hinder his speed at all. Ryuo coiling around his long sword made it glow with a dark luster. He brought down a powerful, heavy strike towards Kaido's face!
Seeing the incredibly sharp long sword cleave down on Kaido's head, a hint of triumph flashed across Shutenmaru's face, but the next moment!
Clang!
A sound like metal hitting rock echoed. The powerful, heavy blow failed to connect. Instead, the recoil shook Shutenmaru's hand, causing a trickle of blood to run down the hilt from his tiger's mouth!
Shutenmaru was astonished: "So hard! How can this be?!"
Kaido looked up, gazing at Shutenmaru playfully: "Is that all your strength? You try taking a hit from me!!"
He raised his hand and swung his club!
Boom!!
The spiked club was swung violently, and the streaking crimson lightning caused the air to explode.
Shutenmaru frantically drew his sword to block, but the moment the club swung, the long sword snapped, and a terrifying Haoshoku energy powerfully slammed into Shutenmaru's chest.
With a crack, his chest caved in, bones fractured, and Shutenmaru was sent flying hundreds of meters like a rag doll, smashing through dozens of trees along the way, finally embedding himself in a hill with a thunderous roar.
Kozuki Oden was shocked, shouting: "Shutenmaru!!"