Prelude to the Great Battle

"Captain, you absolutely cannot imagine what has happened in Wano Country over the past six months... or perhaps it should be said that it has happened in the last few days?" the crew member who went to gather intelligence said in an exclamatory tone.

"Speak quickly." Johnson's lips twitched, wondering if he had been too mild lately.

"Oh, oh." Seeing that Johnson was about to explode, the underling quickly said, "It's like this, just as you said, Captain, Wano Country was engaged in a war that lasted for twenty years. The two sides were Wano Country General Kurozumi Orochi, the Shogun of Wano Country, and Kozuki Oden Kuri, the Daimyo of Wano Country. Although the Kozuki Family had the upper hand, they were unable to eliminate the enemy, and the war remained deadlocked. However, this situation was completely rewritten half a year ago because Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, joined this protracted war..."

"What? Kaido!"

"Is that kind of monster on this island too? It's too dangerous, we'd better leave quickly."

"Rumor has it that Kaido is capricious and impossible to communicate with. His only two interests are suicide and destroying the world!"

The mere mention of his name instilled an uncontrollable panic in the crew, prompting them to flee the country without a second thought. This was the power of the Four Emperors in the latter half of the Grand Line.

"Calm down, let him finish." Although Johnson was also deeply shocked, he appeared unmoved on the surface, as if he wouldn't flinch even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. His crew couldn't help but secretly admire him, thinking, "Our captain is truly reliable!"

"It must be said that Wano Country's foundation is indeed strong. Under the joint attack of the Beasts Pirates and the Wano Country General, the Kozuki Family was still able to maintain a fighting and retreating situation, barely surviving. This situation lasted for half a year until three days ago when another force entered the scene, Nightmare, one of the Shichibukai."

Everyone was startled and looked at Johnson in unison. They had all joined Johnson entered the New World, so they knew how their predecessors, the previous Demon Pirates, had been destroyed.

Seeing that Johnson didn't show much emotion, the underling cautiously continued, "The Kozuki Family, which could hold out for half a year against the combined forces of the Beasts Pirates and the Shogun of Wano Country General, and whose head was even known as the greatest swordsman of Wano Country, was wiped out in less than half a day under Nightmare's powerful offensive."

"How is that possible? Could it be that the Phantom Sword Pirates have completely surpassed the Beasts Pirates?" a crew member said with a distorted expression.

"To annihilate the strongest force in Wano Country in just half a day, is this the power of Nightmare?" As pirates who have been in the New World, this is the first time they have felt the significance of this title.

"No wonder even..." The pirate, caught up in the conversation, covered his mouth and looked at Johnson in horror. Seeing that the captain's eyes were also lifeless and his pupils unfocused, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"After that, Nightmare officially declared war on Kaido, which will take place three days from today, and the battle will take place at the peak of Wano Country - Mount Fuji."

His final words, though brief, were more shocking than any of the previous news, like a deep-sea bomb that briefly stunned everyone, leaving them unable to think.

"A... a declaration of war against the Four Emperors? This is news that could shake the entire world!"

"If this news were to spread to the seas, the entire world would be shaken, and countless powerful figures would surge forth like a tide to witness this earth-shattering battle!"

If the news of Fire Fist Ace challenging Whitebeard was just a joke to the world, then Nightmare Roy challenging Kaido was a battle that could change the course of the world.

After all, Nightmare's strength has long been recognized by the world, and he is even known as the man closest to the Four Emperors. His challenge to Kaido does not seem abrupt. In fact, most people believe that Nightmare will fight one of the Four Emperors sooner or later.

"Captain, what should we do now? Should we leave this island immediately?"

Johnson touched the scar on his chest with a solemn expression. It was a mark from being burned by Demon Fire. Every time he touched it, he felt a heart-wrenching pain. The name of this feeling was defeat!

"If you don't even have the courage to watch them fight, you don't deserve to be called a real pirate." Johnson gritted his teeth and said with a ferocious expression, "At least... at least let me know how big the gap is between me and him."

"Hiss! How many Master Swordsman are there here? There aren't even this many Master Swordsman in the entire ocean!" Feeling the violent and raging Sword Qi around him, Johnson's underlings felt as if they were in a forest of swords, and could suffer the pain of being pierced by ten thousand swords at any moment.

"Hoo!" Johnson took a deep breath and looked around with a shocked expression. "Besides the Master Swordsman, there are actually three Great Sword Masters in this forest. Wano Country is a terrifying war machine!"

"You are... pirates?" The incongruous atmosphere quickly alerted the nearby Master Swordsman that something was amiss.

"Visitors from the sea?" In fact, if it weren't for the subtle sense of danger Johnson gave them, coupled with the intimidation from Roy and Kaido earlier, they probably would have been tempted to drive away or even wipe out this group of pirates.

Seeing the fearful expressions on the Master Swordsman around him, Johnson quickly understood what was going on. However, he was not weak himself, and even surrounded by wolves, he was not afraid. That is, until the arrival of another white-haired old man with a long beard.

Seeing this, Johnson's face turned ugly, because this old man was one of the three Great Sword Master he had noticed earlier, and this level of combat power was simply beyond his ability to handle.

"Kamiizumi Sword Saint!" All the Master Swordsman respectfully stepped aside to make way for the old man, showing that he held an extraordinary position in Wano Country.

"Young man, don't worry, I mean you no harm." The old man first reassured him, then asked in a deep voice, "You must also be a pirate from the outside world, right?"

Johnson knew there was no way to deny it, and lying might only anger the Great Sword Master in front of him. "That's right, I am indeed a pirate."

The surrounding Master Swordsman weren't too surprised; their clothing and tone of voice clearly indicated that these people were definitely not natives of Wano Country.

"I'd like to ask you about two groups of pirates. They seem to be called... Kaido and Nightmare Roy. If I'm not mistaken, they're certainly not nobody in the outer seas."

Johnson's eyes widened; he hadn't expected them to make such a big fuss over something like this.

"But this is for the best." Johnson breathed a sigh of relief. After all, for pirates, the old man's question was as simple as common sense.

Johnson nodded and said in a solemn tone, "They are certainly not insignificant figures. Even on a global scale, they are truly great men. In terms of strength, wealth, and influence, they are at the very top of the world. A single word from them can sway the world order, influence the course of the oceans, and even determine the rise and fall of countless nations and races!"

Considering the author didn't get a single day off during the National Day holiday and still had to work hard writing, could you please give me some votes?