Challenge Issued

"Still alive? That's quite tenacious."

On the ground, Cifer stood beside the blood-covered body, watching his struggle in astonishment.

"The loser has no right to make demands, but I still want to ask for one thing."

Kaido, covered in blood, knelt on one knee and forced himself to speak.

"Explain."

"Don't let my stupid son see me in this sorry state."

At this critical moment of life and death, many things flashed through his mind.

The daily life of the Rocks Pirates, the mystery of Roger's ONE PIECE, and Linlin's kindness towards him...

But in the end, Yamato's adorable appearance from before Oden died Yamato appeared.

Right now, she probably hates herself the most.

"Can."

After a slight pause, Cifer still gave him a satisfactory answer.

"I was born to fight, and I will die to fight. It's not shameful to be defeated by you."

My life has been both cruel and fulfilling.

Born into a world ravaged by constant war, where almost everyone went hungry, I wanted to change this absurd world.

But the result was that the country was assimilated by the world, and in the end, it turned into a hell where everyone couldn't get enough to eat.

The one who started the war was defeated by the one who stopped it, which, in a way, could be seen as fulfilling his childhood wish.

"But I'm not going to just sit here and wait to die, wa la la la la~"

Kaido stood up step by step, trembling as he walked a short distance away and picked up the Hachisai Kai from the ground, hoisting them onto his shoulder and letting out a wild laugh.

"I've heard that the Banlong is a dragon-slaying blade. I wish you a safe journey ahead."

The Banlong was drawn from its sheath, pointed at Kaido was approaching step by step.

"Don't let your hand shake, and be quick with the knife!"

With his somewhat weakened hands, Kaido once again raised the Hachisai Kai and charged at his opponent with all his might:

"Thunder Bagua!"

"Savage Dragon Break".

As the blade flashed, Kaido and Cifer's figures swept past.

Cifer slowly sheathed the Banlong, while Kaido maintained his forward stance, though his steps became slower and smaller.

Finally, the Hachisai Kai he had been holding fell limply to the ground, but he still held them in his hand, which just managed to support his swaying body.

Kaido, one of the Western Emperors and the World's Strongest Creature, has perished.

"The view is beautiful tonight."

Cifer looked up and saw the full moon in the sky casting its light to illuminate the earth.

"At the last moment of his life, he was very open-minded, truly worthy of being called the Western Emperor."

At this moment, Yisheng landed with Chopper and the others, standing beside Cifer.

"The little devils are coming. You take care of his funeral arrangements."

Cifer raised his finger and created a large hole at the foot of Kaido's corpse, and Kaido fell in.

"Clear."

The latter raised the Gambler's Fireline, and in an instant, various kinds of sand and stones that had collapsed on the ground flew up and quickly buried the hole.

In an instant, it was as if the ground had returned to normal, and nothing had happened.

"Kaido... Where is Kaido?!"

Luffy was the first to rush back here, and after looking west and not seeing the person, he spoke.

"Dead."

In just a few steps, Cifer West had returned to normal.

"Dead?!"

The rest of the group arrived at that moment and happened to hear Cifer's reply.

"It seems the maritime landscape is about to change again."

Luo hugged the knife to his chest, adjusted his hat, and prepared to find the Poneglyph and leave.

To him, the person in front of him had spared him several times and had no intention of being an ONE PIECE; they were not enemies.

"Wow, you're amazing! You actually managed to defeat Kaido, something I've never done even once!"

Yamato had regained consciousness and was beaming with excitement, as if the dead had nothing to do with her.

Cifer did not respond to this.

If Kaido were still alive, he would probably burst into laughter and then burst into tears upon hearing these words.

"Of course! He's Cifer! One of the famous Western Emperors in the outer seas, a man on par with my Old Man! Hahahaha~"

While praising Cifer, Ace didn't forget to pat his own Old Man on the back.

In his heart, Whitebeard will always be the strongest one.

"Hey, Cifer, what are your plans for dealing with this country?"

Luffy's sudden outburst broke the silence.

"This is my territory, so naturally I should choose the people to govern this country."

He stood in front of Luffy, looking down at "Nika" with a blank expression.

"This country is the culmination of the Kozuki Clan's efforts, and the Kozuki Clan bloodline still exists. We urge you, sir..."

Kin'emon spoke without thinking: Momonosuke is dead now, and their hopes are pinned on Hiyori and the former head of the family who seems to still be alive.

Before he could finish speaking, he was met with Cifer's dark green pupils, which were extremely eerie in the moonlight.

"Cifer, I want to challenge you."

Luffy seemed to have given this challenge a lot of thought.

"Hey~ Luffy!"

Ace paused for a moment, then rushed over, pinched his younger brother's face and stretched it out, asking him what he wanted to do.

"This is the country of the person I consider my younger brother... I want to make Wano Country my territory!"

Luffy's eyes were resolute; he had already prepared himself mentally.

He knew, and he had heard, that the islands and countries under the protection of Las Noches were all doing very well, if not better than anyone else in the world.

But Wano Country the only place he wants.

Perhaps it was a premonition, or perhaps it was a promise he Momonosuke, but he wanted to return the country to the Kozuki Clan.

"Eh~ Are we going to fight a monster like that?!"

Usopp and Nami embraced, both trembling with fear.

"You mean if I lose, I'll hand over Wano Country to you? And what about you?"

"Failure in a challenge comes at a price. What can you give me? This insignificant little life?"

Cifer did not agree, but casually sat down on a nearby rock and looked at him.

"Luffy, you'd better think this through!"

Ace didn't try to stop Luffy anymore. Once his younger brother made up his mind, he wouldn't change it, but he still hoped that the latter could think it through.

Declaring war on the Sea Emperor is no joke!

(Ace: I just created an Old Man for myself)

"If I... I lose, you can do whatever you want with me!"

Luffy thought and thought, but couldn't figure out what he had that would make Cifer look at him, so he could only ask in this way.

"Then add me to the list!"

"Me too!"

Zoro and Sanji spoke one after the other, then stepped forward and stood on either side of Luffy.

"It's time for this old man to have a good time! You won't mind, will you, Cifer-kun? Hahahaha~"

As Jinbe, who had remained silent, Jinbe forward, the remaining Straw Hat Pirates members all stepped forward, vowing to stand with Luffy through thick and thin, even in life and death.

"Please allow us to lend a helping hand to Luffy!"

Of the remaining Scabbard Nine, all except Ashura stepped forward.

"I'm not going to play along with your nonsense. The people I serve have never been the Kozuki Clan. Now that even Momonosuke- sama is dead, it's time for me to leave."

Ashura understood much more clearly, and the person before him was a powerful figure who had killed Kaido; in a sense, he was their benefactor.

"In that case, if you lose, after I deal with those scumbags from the World Government, you'll become New Marines."

Cifer pointed at Luffy and spoke calmly.