Kozuki Oden, The Decisive Battle Begins

The moon tonight was perfectly round, its clear radiance casting a soft, ethereal charm over the wilderness.

On a cliff in the distance, ten figures stood in silence, the jade disc of the moon hanging directly behind them.

Sirius's head had already transformed into that of a wolf, his vision enhanced by the power of his Mythical Zoan ability as he scrutinized the ten figures.

The others didn't matter, but he had already clearly identified the tall figure standing at the very front.

His hair was tied in a topknot resembling a round disc, and he wore a coat covered in patches, yet washed clean. The hilts of two swords protruded from his waist.

His face was solemn, carrying an air of natural authority that commanded respect without the need for anger.

"So this is... Kozuki Oden?"

Sirius sighed softly.

One of the five people Uncle Kaido would one day consider his equal! A man capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Roger, Whitebeard, Rocks, and Red-Haired!

He had finally appeared!

"Kozuki Oden?"

Beside Sirius, Yamato furrowed her small brows, poked Sirius lightly, and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Who is that?"

The future number one fangirl of Kozuki Oden didn't even know his name yet.

"He's an idiot," Sirius whispered back.

"An idiot?"

"Yeah, a very powerful idiot."

"I don't understand at all!"

Kozuki Oden stood quietly on the cliff. They had been traveling for a long time, pushing forward day and night without rest.

Behind him, one of the Red Scabbards and the first man to follow Oden, Kin'emon of the Evening Shower, said in a deep voice, "Lord Oden, we are very close to Jinbu Port now. We will definitely arrive at Onigashima on time tomorrow night! We shall take Kaido's head while he is drunk!"

Oden's face, however, showed no sign of joy; he merely nodded slightly.

Suddenly, a look of astonishment appeared on Oden's face, his pupils constricting.

The previously clear night sky was abruptly swallowed by clouds that seemed to appear from nowhere. A gale-force wind whipped up in an instant, causing the forest below to tremble violently and the clothes of the people on the cliff to flutter wildly.

"Worororororo!"

A wild, unbridled laugh descended suddenly from the sky, echoing across the wilderness like a thunderclap!

"Th-this—"

The expression on Kanjuro of the Smoldering Fiend's face shifted instantly. He looked up at the sky, where a long, massive silhouette slithered above the clouds. "How could we have been exposed?! How could this guy be here?!"

"Hahahaha!! I've been waiting for a long time!!"

"Die! You of the Kozuki Family!"

"For Boss Kaido!"

Jeers and angry shouts erupted from the mountains and dense forests below.

In the darkness, countless figures emerged from the cover of the hills and trees. They were fully armed, carrying guns and swords, looking up at the group on the cliff with mocking expressions. Standing at the very front were King, his arms crossed over his chest, and Queen, wearing a cold sneer.

"Damn it!! It's an ambush! Are these all members of the Beasts Pirates?"

Kin'emon exclaimed in disbelief, "How did they reach this scale in just a few years? There must be thousands of them!"

"Kaido!!!"

Kozuki Oden clenched his fists tightly. Veins bulged on his forehead, and the muscles in his face twitched uncontrollably. Rage turned his complexion a deep, flushed red.

"Wororororo! Long time no see, Kozuki Oden!"

Above the pitch-black clouds, the massive monster slowly lowered its head.

The clouds began to swirl like a vortex, accompanied by gale-force winds and thunder, as the Divine Dragon that commanded the heavens revealed its true form.

Kaido looked down at the Kozuki group below with a strange laugh, "You really made me wait!"

Why was our location exposed? Could there be a spy for Orochi in the city?

Kin'emon's face turned ashen.

Kozuki Oden looked up at Kaido in the sky and roared, "Kaido! Five years ago—was the promise from five years ago all a lie?"

In the woods, Yamato and Sirius were still hiding in the trees. Yamato asked curiously, "What is this promise from five years ago?"

"It's just a lie told by a swindler to fool an idiot," Sirius replied.

To believe that Orochi would not harm the citizens of Wano Country for five years, and to allow the enemy to expand their influence—it was truly hard not to describe Kozuki Oden as a fool.

Although his intentions were noble, they had led to catastrophic consequences.

"Wororororo, since you still have doubts even now, I'll tell you."

Kaido lowered his head, his massive face filled with mockery. "Five years ago, my forces were still weak. If you had truly been the madman the legends claimed—the kind who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals—it would have certainly been a bitter fight."

"But unfortunately, legends are just legends. You idiot have the same naivety as Roger and Newgate. Can't you even figure this out? An ending where no one gets hurt doesn't exist in any corner of this sea!"

"How does it feel after five years, Oden? You've lost all the dignity of the Kozuki Family! You've lost the trust of all your citizens! And yet, you haven't protected a single thing!"

"But at least you've gained one thing: a magnificent joke that will be passed down for generations! Worororororo!"

"..."

Kozuki Oden remained silent. Then, he ripped off the coat draped over his shoulders, drew the two katanas at his waist, and tilted his head back, his eyes locked firmly onto Kaido high above in the sky.

"There is no point in dwelling on the past. Now, let us talk about the future, Kaido."

"Whether it is you or Orochi, this country has no need for either of you! Get out!! Get the hell out of here!!"

The man leaped into the air. His arms had already turned pitch black, and the blades in his hands were simultaneously coated in the same darkness. A wild, unbridled aura roared out from him instantly, causing the Beasts Pirates standing nearby to collapse, unconscious.

"Oden Two-Blade Style: Peach Blossom White Waterfall!!"

The dark night sky was instantly illuminated!

A massive purple-red slash transformed into a surging current flowing upward! Like a raging sea, it surged violently toward Kaido!

"Worororororo! This is exactly what I've been waiting for! Come, Samurai!"

Kaido laughed instead of getting angry. He opened his massive jaws, and flames erupted from within. "Bolo Breath!"

The scorching flames turned into a pillar of fire, and the air instantly became sweltering!

The fire and the slash collided high in the sky! The exploding light made it seem as if a sun had risen in the heavens!

The shockwave from the explosion turned into a gale that swept across the land, uprooting countless trees in an instant.

Sirius and Yamato struggled to hold onto tree trunks to keep from being blown away.

Yamato gasped in astonishment, "So amazing!! This man is truly incredible!"

He was indeed incredible; only a very select few in this world were qualified to cross blades with Kaido!

Sirius felt his heart racing. The highest-level battle on the seas was unfolding right before his eyes!

The scenery of the sea was beautiful, but even more beautiful was the brilliant radiance emitted by the heroes who stood at the pinnacle of their era!

Having failed to reach Kaido in the sky with that first strike, Kozuki Oden landed with a boom. He sprinted directly down the steep cliff, his speed like a flickering shadow.

"Keep up with Lord Oden!"

Kin'emon also drew his sword, lunged forward, and leaped off the cliff as well.

The other Red Scabbards followed, jumping down one after another.

Below, on the side of the Beasts Pirates, Queen laughed heartily, "Muhahahaha! The fun has begun!"

Without looking back, he shouted, "What are you idiots standing around for! Fight for Boss Kaido!"

"Oooooohhh!!"

The pirates roared in unison, charging toward Oden's group like a tidal wave.

The decisive battle had begun.