Wano Country, Flower Capital.
Five years.
For five whole years, Kozuki Oden had danced that ridiculous naked dance in the streets.
Through wind and rain, through scorching sun, he never stopped.
The people went from initial shock and confusion to later contempt and scorn.
"Look at that fool, the son of the shogun, just a dancing clown!"
"He's brought shame upon the Kozuki family!"
"Disgusting!"
Rotten vegetables, rotten eggs, even stones were thrown at him.
Oden did not dodge.
He just kept dancing, a foolish grin on his face.
No one knew why.
And no one cared why.
Until this day, Kozuki Oden finally learned that five years of humiliation, five years of endurance, five years of waiting.
What it bought him was deceit.
"Orochi! Kaido! Five years, do you know how I've lived these five years?"
For the first time, genuine fury blazed in Oden's eyes.
So he gathered the Nine Red Scabbards and went to settle the score with Kaido.
Meanwhile, Onigashima.
Kaido's stronghold.
"Lord Kaido!" A Pirate rushed into the great hall, dropping to one knee:
"Orochi sends word—Kozuki Oden is leading men here to kill us!"
Kaido, seated on his massive throne drinking, set down his gourd and grinned.
"Finally lost his patience? I thought that fool would dance his whole life."
He stood up, stretching his limbs.
"Pass the order. Gather all our forces."
"Yes!"
Half an hour later.
Wano Country, a certain hill.
Kozuki Oden and the Nine Red Scabbards were advancing through dense fog.
They planned a surprise attack, to catch Kaido off guard.
However, on the hill ahead, countless figures suddenly appeared.
A dense, black mass, numbering at least ten thousand.
Oden halted and looked up at the sky.
Within the fog, a colossal silhouette slowly materialized.
It was a giant dragon, its body covered in bluish-green scales.
Its enormous form coiled amidst the clouds above the hills.
Kaido.
"Oden!"
Kaido's voice rumbled like thunder from the dragon's maw, echoing through the valley:
"I heard you were coming to kill me, so I came out to greet you! I don't want my newly built house turned into a battlefield!"
Oden stared at the dragon, the hand gripping his sword hilt bulging with veins.
"Kaido!"
He ground his teeth, his voice brimming with five years of pent-up rage:
"You conspired with Orochi and deceived me for five years! Today, I will settle this debt!"
"Hahahaha!" Kaido roared with laughter, his eyes full of mockery:
"Fool! You only realize it now?!"
"If five years ago, you had thrown caution to the wind and fought me to the death, I might truly have lost to you back then. But now—"
"I am not the man I was! Not only is my Haki stronger, but my forces are greater!"
"And your allies—Orochi and I have secretly eliminated them one by one!
The daimyo who supported you, the old retainers trusted by your father, and those samurai who once served the Kozuki family—all dead!"
Oden's pupils contracted sharply.
"Now, what will you use to fight me?!"
Kaido roared with laughter, light gathering in the dragon's mouth:
"Die, fool! Wano Country is mine now!"
As soon as the words fell, the Azure Dragon opened its massive jaws, and scorching light condensed in its throat.
A pillar of fire erupted from the dragon's mouth!
The fire pillar, over ten meters in diameter, tore through the night sky, heading straight for Kozuki Oden and the others!
"Now, I can defeat you too!"
Oden roared, leaping into the air!
Crossing his two swords, Conqueror's Haki wildly wrapped around the blades!
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Paradise Waterfall!"
The sword light transformed into a barrier, like an inverted waterfall, meeting the Heat Breath head-on!
BOOM—!!
The moment the two forces collided, heaven and earth changed color!
Shockwaves spread in all directions, the earth was torn apart, and the sky trembled!
Hills within a radius of several hundred meters instantly crumbled, debris flew, and dust filled the air!
"Kill—!"
Kaido's subordinates also charged down from the hilltops!
A dark mass of people surged like a tide, their battle cries shaking the heavens!
"Follow Lord Oden's lead!"
The Red Scabbards drew their swords simultaneously and charged forward!
In the sky, Kozuki Oden and the Azure Dragon Kaido clashed fiercely!
Sword light and dragon breath intertwined!
On the ground, King and Queen led their subordinates, engaging in a bloody battle with the Red Scabbards!
Kin'emon swung his sword at a pirate, a flaming slash cutting across the opponent's chest, blood gushing out!
He turned and slashed at another pirate.
Denjiro moved like a ghost, his twin swords striking continuously, enemies falling wherever he passed!
But there were too many enemies.
Kaido's subordinates surged like a tide, one wave after another.
As if they would never end.
On the hill, Kaido had now transformed into his human form, a massive Spiked Club gripped in his hand.
He landed, looking at Kozuki Oden opposite him, grinning widely.
"Come on, let me see how much the greatest samurai of Wano Country is worth!"
Oden held his two swords before him, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"You'll see."
In the next instant, both vanished from their spots!
CLANG—!!
The moment sword and club met, shockwaves exploded outward!
The rocks beneath their feet instantly cracked, debris flying, the ground collapsing into a crater dozens of meters in diameter.
Kaido swung his club horizontally!
Oden sidestepped, the club's wind grazing his cheek.
Simultaneously, he slashed at Kaido's waist!
Kaido raised his arm to block, Armament Haki instantly covering it, his arm turning black as iron!
The blade struck it, sparking brilliantly!
Kaido smashed his club downward!
Oden crossed his swords to block!
BOOM!
The two separated, then charged again!
Sword light and club shadows, each blow landing with force!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The hills crumbled continuously under their battle!
"Thunder Bagua!"
Kaido gripped his club with both hands, Conqueror's Haki wildly wrapping around it!
Crackling crimson lightning erupted from the Spiked Club, tearing through the surrounding air!
He shot toward Oden like a cannonball!
Oden took a deep breath, crossing his swords before him.
Conqueror's Haki also wrapped around his blades, crimson light dancing along the edges!
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Paradise Ten Fists!"
The two charged at each other!
The moment blade and Spiked Club met, time seemed to freeze for an instant.
Then—
BOOM—!!
Shockwaves exploded!
The ground within a hundred-meter radius instantly collapsed, forming a massive crater!
As the dust settled, the two stood back-to-back.
On Kaido's chest, a huge X-shaped wound was gushing blood!
Oden was covered in blood, yet his back remained straight, his twin swords still firmly gripped.
"This strike..." Kaido looked down at the wound on his chest, his voice low:
"I'll remember it."
Oden slowly turned, his swords still held before him.
"The next strike will take your life."
Just then, a childish voice rang out.
"Father—!"
Oden's body stiffened abruptly.
He turned his head.
On a nearby reef stood a child.
Momonosuke.
His son.
"Momotaro..."
Oden's pupils contracted sharply.
Beside Momonosuke stood a pirate, raising a long sword with a vicious expression, ready to strike down.
Momonosuke stretched out his hand desperately toward Oden.
"Father! Save me—!"
Oden's heart clenched violently.
"Momotaro! Why are you here?!"
He instinctively took a step forward—
An opening!
Kaido moved.
He had been waiting for this moment!
Gripping his club with both hands, gathering all his strength, he poured every ounce of power he had!
Crimson Haki Lightning erupted from the Spiked Club, tearing the surrounding air to shreds!
Great Virtue Thunderous Eight Trigrams—!!
This was his strongest attack!
The Spiked Club, carrying world-shattering force, slammed mercilessly into Oden's back!
Boom—!!
Oden spewed a massive mouthful of blood, then crashed into the ground.
Boom!!
The impact carved out a crater dozens of meters wide!
Oden lay at the bottom of the pit, covered in blood, ribs shattered, organs ruptured!
He struggled to rise, but his body no longer obeyed him.
"Lord Oden—!" the Nine Red Scabbards cried out urgently.
Soon after, the Nine Red Scabbards were defeated one by one by King and Queen, all captured!
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