Battlefield Above

Four men stood before the ranks of samurai.

Four samurai with katana at their waists.

The two standing in the center: one was well-proportioned, with green hair tied in a topknot and a resolute face.

The other was much shorter, with fluffy blue hair and a grave expression.

Of the two at the edges, one was tall and thin while the other was short and stout. Both wore equally solemn expressions, their hands resting on the hilts at their waists.

"That idiot Oden, did he think he could shoulder everything himself?"

The blue-haired man, Shimotsuki Yasuie, the Daimyo of Hakumai, gritted his teeth. "In the blink of an eye, the situation has already deteriorated to this extent!"

"Ha ha ha ha! It can't be helped. He's Oden precisely because he's such a naïve idiot."

The green-haired man beside him had a blade of grass hanging from his mouth. He laughed heartily. "But that kid did accomplish one good thing, Brother Yasuiye. At least Wano Country is on our side once again."

When Oden was executed, the agreement between him and Orochi had been exposed.

The people of Wano Country had finally learned what Kozuki Oden's five years of ** had been for.

"But it's already too late."

The tall, thin man sighed as he looked up at the monster drifting among the clouds. "This is the end."

The green-haired man drew the blade at his waist and lightly spat out the grass stem. The smile on his face did not fade. "It may indeed be the end for us, but there is still a future! Let us entrust everything to those who come after us!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie smiled as well. "Ushimaru is right. Our lives may end here, but someday in the distant future, someone will surely inherit our will and wage this war for freedom against Kaido and Orochi once more!"

"Ha ha ha ha! That's exactly right! Now that we have nothing left to worry about, let's make as much trouble as we can!"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru, the Daimyo of Ringo, raised his blade high. "Brother Yasuiye, Omusubi, Tempura! Show these bastards the spirit of samurai!"

The other three drew their swords at the same time. Shimotsuki Yasuie took a deep breath, then—

"Charge!!!"

Roaring and howling, the samurai charged under the leadership of the four daimyo.

"Overestimating yourselves."

King folded his arms and sneered, casually waving a hand. "Kill them."

"Yeah!!!!"

The Beasts Pirates roared as well and charged toward the samurai.

In the sky, Kaido looked down at the two groups rapidly closing in on one another. His attention was fixed on the four samurai charging at the forefront.

"The Daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuie! The Daimyo of Ringo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru! The Daimyo of Kibi, Fuzuki Omusubi! The Daimyo of Usagi, Uzuki Tempura!"

"Worororororo! Wano Country's four most renowned samurai daimyo have all come!"

The Divine Dragon rapidly descended from the sky. The next instant, when he was already close to the ground, Kaido reverted to human form. He slammed heavily into the earth, blasting a huge crater into the ground.

With a casual swing of his Spiked Club, Kaido blew away the dust before him and laughed. "Come and fight, samurai!"

The four samurai daimyo exchanged glances, then rushed forward together.

"Die, Kaido!"

"Worororororo!"

As Uncle Kaido burst into laughter again, Sirius and Yamato had only just landed.

As he neared the ground, Kaido had transformed back into human form. Sirius and Yamato, who had been sitting on him, naturally lost their footing and instantly fell from a height of dozens of meters.

"Aaahhh!! We're going to die!!"

Yamato clung desperately to Sirius, tears welling in her eyes as she screamed.

Sirius was terrified too. Was this even something Uncle Kaido should do? Did he really consider Yamato his daughter?

But now was not the time to curse Kaido. He had to find a way to save himself first.

Black fur grew over Sirius's body once more as he transformed into a werewolf again, flames surging from his mouth.

Blazing fire condensed into a Fire Pillar and roared downward. It slammed into the ground in an instant, blasting out a crater while the recoil slowed Sirius and Yamato's descent.

Sirius kept breathing fire until they were only a few meters from the ground. Only then did he stop, landing safely while holding Yamato.

"Sirius, you're amazing! I thought we were dead!" Yamato said with a grin, still clinging to his arm.

"Now isn't the time to celebrate!"

Sirius looked around. They had descended with Kaido and now stood right in the center of the battlefield.

Slaughter played out in every direction.

Sirius's face stiffened.

A samurai sliced halfway through a pirate's neck. Blood poured out without stopping as the pirate desperately tried to cover his wound, but it was useless.

Before the samurai could press his attack, another pirate stabbed a blade into his stomach. With a casual slash, he opened the samurai's abdomen, spilling his organs directly onto the ground.

That was only one small corner of the battlefield. Blood and slaughter unfolded everywhere.

Sirius's eyesight was sharp. He could clearly see every severed limb and mangled body.

Sirius's hearing was sharp. Agonized cries, screams, and wails rang endlessly in his ears.

Sirius's sense of smell was sharp. The stench of blood nearly suffocated him.

So this was... war?

Sirius felt as though his mind had gone blank.

This was completely different from hunting on the isolated island.

People who looked like him, people whose veins carried the same red blood, were falling one after another. Blood sprayed, and screams echoed.

It was different from watching Oden fight the Beasts Pirates before. That man's attacks had been grand and overwhelming; with a single casual swing of his blade, he could send pirates flying through the sky. Compared to this, that battle had been far less bloody.

"Sirius? Sirius, what's wrong?"

Yamato had no idea what was happening to Sirius. Seeing him standing frozen in place, she pushed him in surprise.

"N-Nothing."

Sirius slowly let out a breath, feeling somewhat ashamed.

This wouldn't do.

If he wanted to survive on these seas, he absolutely could not fear the battlefield.

But even as he told himself that, Sirius still felt weak and limp, with a nausea that made him want to vomit.

But what was with this girl?

Sirius looked at Yamato, who was staring at him curiously. How could she be so calm?

Didn't that just make him look even more pathetic?

"Watch out, Sirius!"

Yamato's expression suddenly turned alarmed. She shoved Sirius aside, drew the Spiked Club strapped to her back, and rushed forward.

Clang!

A blade crashed heavily against the Spiked Club.

"Damn it!"

The sword-wielding samurai roared, "Get out of my way, little girl!"

"Hey! What do you think you're doing? Sirius is my most important companion!"

Yamato shouted angrily. "Idiot samurai!"

With a roar, she exerted force with both hands and snapped the samurai's blade in half. Her Spiked Club smashed into his face and sent him flying.

Sirius stared blankly at Yamato.

Yamato looked back at him. The little girl rested her Spiked Club on her shoulder and grinned as she gave him a thumbs-up. "Is Sirius scared?"

"But it's okay. I'll protect you!"

That was kind of cool.