Tonight's moon was full, its clear radiance casting a gentle sheen over the wilderness.
On a distant cliff, ten figures stood silently, the round moon hanging behind them.
Sirius's head had already transformed into that of a wolf, and he used the vision enhanced by his Mythical Zoan powers to study the ten figures.
The others did not matter. He had already seen the tall figure standing at the front clearly.
His topknot was shaped like a disk, and he wore a patch-covered but impeccably clean coat. The hilts of two swords protruded from his waist.
His face was solemn, carrying an imposing aura even without anger.
"So this is Kozuki Oden?"
Sirius sighed softly.
One of the five men Uncle Kaido would deem capable of matching him in the future! A man comparable to Roger, Whitebeard, Rocks, and Red-Haired!
He had finally appeared!
"Kozuki Oden?"
Yamato, beside Sirius, furrowed her little brows. She poked Sirius lightly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Who's that?"
The future's biggest Kozuki Oden fangirl did not even know his name yet.
"He's an idiot," Sirius said quietly.
"An idiot?"
"Yeah, a very powerful idiot."
"I don't understand at all!"
Kozuki Oden stood quietly atop the cliff. They had traveled for a long time without pause, rushing onward day and night.
Behind him, Kanjuro of the Smoldering Fiend, one of the Red Scabbards and one of the first men to follow Oden, said solemnly, "Lord Oden, Jinbu Port is very close now. We'll definitely reach Onigashima on time tomorrow night! We'll take Kaido's head while he's drunk!"
Yet there was no joy on Oden's face. He merely nodded lightly.
Suddenly, a look of astonishment appeared on Oden's face, and his pupils contracted.
The clear night sky was abruptly covered by clouds that seemed to come from nowhere. A violent wind swept in at once, shaking the forest below and sending the clothes of those on the cliff fluttering wildly.
"Wororororororo!"
A wild laugh descended from the heavens, becoming thunder that echoed across the land!
"Th-this—"
Kanjuro of the Smoldering Fiend's expression changed drastically. He looked up at the sky, where a long, gigantic figure moved amid the clouds. "How were we exposed?! Why is this guy here?!"
"Hahahaha! We've been waiting for you!"
"Die, Kozuki scum!"
"For Boss Kaido!"
Mocking laughter and furious curses rang out from the mountains and forests below.
In the darkness, countless figures emerged from behind hills and trees. Fully armed with guns and swords, they looked mockingly up at the people on the cliff. At the front stood King with his arms crossed and Queen wearing a cold sneer.
"Damn it! It's an ambush! Are these all Beasts Pirates?"
Kin'emon cried out in disbelief. "They've grown to this scale in only a few years? There must be thousands of them!"
"Kaido!!!"
Kozuki Oden clenched his fists, veins bulging across his forehead. The muscles in his face twitched continuously, and his anger flushed his face bright red.
"Worororororo! Long time no see, Kozuki Oden!"
Above the pitch-black clouds, the enormous monster slowly lowered his head.
The clouds began spinning like a vortex. Amid howling winds and crashing thunder, the Divine Dragon that commanded the weather revealed his true form.
Kaido looked down at the Kozuki group below with a sinister laugh. "You sure made me wait a long time!"
Why had their whereabouts been exposed? Was there an Orochi spy in the city?
Kin'emon's face turned ashen.
Kozuki Oden looked up at Kaido in the sky and roared, "Kaido! The agreement from five years ago... was it all a lie?"
Still hidden in the trees, Yamato asked Sirius curiously, "What agreement from five years ago is he talking about?"
"It was probably a lie two con men used to fool an idiot," Sirius said.
Believing Orochi's promise that he would not harm the people of Wano Country for five years and allowing his enemies to expand their power—Kozuki Oden was truly difficult to describe as anything other than an idiot.
His intentions had been good, but they had led to disastrous consequences.
"Worororororo! Since you still have questions even now, I'll tell you."
Kaido lowered his head, his enormous face filled with mockery. "Five years ago, my forces were still weak. If you'd really been the lunatic from the legends who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, it would've been a hard fight."
"But unfortunately, legends are only legends. You idiot have the same naivety as Roger and Newgate. Can't you even figure that out? An ending where nobody gets hurt doesn't exist anywhere in the entire sea!"
"How did five years of dancing feel, Oden? You lost all the Kozuki Family's dignity! You lost the trust of all your people! And yet, you didn't protect anything!"
"But at least you gained one thing: a wonderful joke that'll be passed down for generations! Worororororo!"
"..."
Kozuki Oden remained silent. Then he tore off the coat draped over him, drew the two katana at his waist, raised his head, and fixed his gaze firmly on Kaido in the sky.
"There's no point saying more about the past. Now, let's talk about the future, Kaido."
"Neither you nor Orochi are needed in this country's future! Get out of here!!"
The man leaped into the air. Both his arms turned jet-black, and the two blades in his hands darkened as well. A wild aura roared from his body in an instant, and the nearby Beasts Pirates below fainted outright.
Oden Two-Blade Style—Peach Blossom White Waterfall!!
The dark night sky instantly blazed with light!
An enormous violet-red slash became a sea current surging upstream, roaring toward Kaido like raging waves!
"Worororororo! This is exactly what I've been waiting for! Come, samurai!"
Rather than angering him, Kaido burst into laughter. He opened his huge mouth, and flames poured forth. "Bolo Breath!"
Scorching flames became a Fire Pillar, and the air instantly turned searing hot!
The flames and slash collided in the sky! The exploding firelight raised a sun into the heavens!
The shockwave from the explosion became a violent gale that swept across the earth, uprooting countless trees in an instant.
Sirius and Yamato clung desperately to the tree trunk to keep from being blown away.
Yamato gasped in amazement, "He's incredible!! That man is really incredible!"
He truly was incredible. Only a very small number of people in the world were qualified to fight Kaido!
Sirius's heart surged with excitement. A clash between the very strongest on the sea was unfolding before his eyes!
The sights of the sea were beautiful, but more beautiful still was the dazzling brilliance displayed by heroes standing at the pinnacle of their era!
His strike having failed to reach Kaido in the sky, Kozuki Oden crashed down to the ground and immediately sprinted down the steep cliff, moving with the speed of a fleeting shadow.
"Follow Lord Oden!"
Kin'emon drew his sword as well, took a step forward, and leaped off the cliff.
The other Red Scabbards jumped down one after another.
Below, Queen burst into laughter from the Beasts Pirates' side. "Muhahahaha! Now this is getting interesting!"
Without turning back, he shouted, "What are you idiots standing around for?! Fight for Boss Kaido!"
"Ooooooh!!"
The pirates roared in unison and charged toward the Kozuki group like a tidal wave.
The final battle began at that moment.
Before you continue