Oden Castle, Toki, and Hiyori

Noticing the two approaching, Kaido turned his head and sized them up slightly. He chuckled, slinging his Mace over his shoulder, "Oh? It seems this level of battlefield is too easy for you two brats?"

Sirius, having returned to his human form, said with a sigh, "How could it be? We gave it our all just to reach you, Uncle Kaido."

"Gave it your all?"

Kaido grinned, "Gwahahahaha, isn't this good enough? Remember this, brats, if you want to survive on this great sea, half-hearted resolve won't cut it!"

Yamato pouted, tilting her head, refusing to look at her father. She was still sulking with Kaido from the beating she'd received earlier.

"Alright, it seems the war is over."

Kaido scanned his surroundings and nodded slightly.

The war was indeed drawing to a close.

After the four Samurai who served as leaders were defeated, the Samurai completely lost their will to resist, making it impossible to stand against the Beasts Pirates.

King had already fallen onto the battlefield, his arms transforming into narrow, membranous wings—his Beastman Form.

With a casual flap of his wings, scythe-like wind blades converged into a massive storm, spreading in all directions with a devouring aura.

The Samurai couldn't resist at all. Limbs began to fly, and blood bloomed like beautiful, tragic flowers in the wind.

The Pirates seized the opportunity to attack. After a few rounds of assaults, the Samurai were essentially wiped out.

The war had started in the afternoon, and by dusk, the Beasts Pirates had already achieved an overwhelming victory.

"Then, next, we head to Kuri!"

Kaido's body suddenly expanded, his form elongating. The massive Azure Dragon reappeared in the sky, and fiery Flame Clouds swept down, once again scooping up the two of them and placing them on his back.

"The last trace of Oden will be utterly destroyed tonight."

Kaido soared into the heavens. On the ground, the great Pirates of the Beasts Pirates quickly cleaned up the battlefield and followed his footsteps towards Oden Castle.

Kuri was just behind the battlefield. With the last resisting force destroyed, the Beasts Pirates could now advance unimpeded.

Not long after nightfall, Sirius, who was with Yamato on Kaido's back, saw a castle standing atop a mountain peak. It was completely dark, like a Giant silently standing in the darkness.

That must be Oden Castle, Sirius thought to himself.

"Gwahahahaha! It's so dark, it's annoying! Let me bring some light!"

Kaido roared with laughter, opening his mouth wide. Blinding flames instantly erupted from his maw, directly striking Oden Castle in the distance.

It seemed he had controlled the power well. Though the flames hit the castle, they didn't cause any significant destruction. However, the flames had indeed begun to spread across the castle.

Almost simultaneously, the Pirates of the Beasts Pirates charged up the mountain path, quickly surrounding the entire castle so tightly that not a drop of water could get through.

"I heard Oden had a son. Let me see what kind of brat he is."

Sirius heard Uncle Kaido muttering this as he descended towards the castle.

Much like the scene on the battlefield earlier, Kaido transformed back into his human form while still some distance from the castle and smashed through the roof, crashing inside.

However, Sirius was prepared this time. He immediately transformed into his werewolf form and spat flames downwards to slow his descent.

Soon, the two landed safely on the roof of Oden Castle.

Stepping on the slanted roof, Sirius felt it was time he learned Geppo. After all, thinking about it, not being able to fly was quite inconvenient.

"Is this Oden's home?"

Yamato peered down in surprise, "It's different from what I imagined! So luxurious! Especially when Oden was so destitute!"

How could he not be destitute?

Oden's clothes were patched and re-patched. If they hadn't been relatively clean, he would have looked no better than a beggar.

"He was a regional Daimyo, after all."

Sirius replied, carefully stepping across the roof to the large pit Kaido had fallen into. He looked back at Yamato, "Want to go in and take a look?"

"Of course!" Yamato, agile as a monkey, hopped over and jumped straight into the large hole.

Sirius smiled and followed her in.

After landing on the floor below, Sirius was surprised to find that the floor hadn't been destroyed.

It was hard to imagine that someone of Uncle Kaido's weight had only managed to smash through the roof. It seemed he had controlled his landing well.

"Hurry, Sirius! Father went this way!"

Yamato shouted from ahead. In front of her, a huge hole had been smashed through the wall, and the shape of two horns could vaguely be seen where they had broken through the top.

"En."

Sirius responded and, along with Yamato, followed Uncle Kaido's advancing footsteps. It wasn't difficult; even with just a step, Uncle Kaido's weight would leave an imprint on the wooden floor.

Going downstairs and along the corridor, they could clearly see the signs of destruction on the surrounding walls.

Sirius and Yamato followed these traces until they reached the outside of a torn paper door. Inside was a spacious room, flames spreading within, and heavy smoke.

Under the moonlight filtering in through the window, the two of them saw a figure slumped on the floor.

A beautiful woman had a gash on her forehead, and blood was flowing down, dyeing half her face red.

The woman was holding a little girl in her arms, who was now looking at Sirius and Yamato standing at the doorway in terror.

"Oh! Aren't you Oden's wife?"

Yamato recognized the woman and walked in with surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, idiot? Isn't this Oden's home?" Sirius also followed, rolling his eyes at Yamato before looking at Toki, who had fallen to the ground.

It's just the mother and daughter. Momonosuke isn't here. It seems Uncle Kaido has already been here.

He's not interested in the daughter, only Oden's son?

Uncle Kaido really favors sons over daughters, huh? Is that why he later let Yamato claim to be a man without a fuss?

"Lady Toki, we meet again." Sirius greeted Toki.

Toki held her youngest daughter. She seemed surprised by the appearance of Sirius and Yamato. Then, even though things were desperate, the woman actually smiled.

"Oh, are you Oden's friends? What a shame, you've come to visit, but I can't entertain you right now."

Upon seeing the bags on Sirius and Yamato's backs, her smile widened. She patted the head of the child in her arms, "Look, Hiyori, it's your father's friends."

Kozuki Hiyori, who was the same age as Sirius this year, timidly looked up at the two of them before quickly hiding in her mother's embrace again.

"I'm so sorry, this child is very shy," Toki said with a smile.

Sirius felt a headache coming on. What was with this woman? Could she really be Kozuki Oden's wife?

"Madam, isn't this the time to be talking about this?" Sirius asked.

"That's right, that's right!" Yamato also reacted and said anxiously, "Father is here! Run, Big Sister!"

What Big Sister? If anything, she should be called Auntie. Or maybe even Great-Grandmother.

But Sirius didn't say these killjoy words out loud.

"Run away? That won't do."

Toki shook her head and said seriously, "Big Sister has things she must do."

She looked at Sirius and then at Yamato. "As for you two, children, the Kozuki Family's affairs have nothing to do with you, do they?"

"It's time to leave. Someone is here to pick you up."

Yamato was stunned. Sirius pursed his lips. Before they could say anything else, thunder suddenly boomed outside.

"You brats! What are you still doing here!"

Just then, behind Toki, outside the window, a giant Azure Dragon lowered its head, its massive eyes looking at Sirius and Yamato through the window. "It's time to go back."

It seems he had already met Momonosuke.

"Let's go, Yamato."

Sirius pulled Yamato forward. As they passed Toki, their eyes met for a moment. Toki smiled and nodded at him.

She had already made her resolve.

Not only Toki, but little Kozuki Hiyori also quietly looked up. After her eyes met Sirius's, she quickly buried her face in her mother's embrace.

As for you, we'll meet again someday. Then, I'll tell you Oden's story.

Sirius said nothing and pulled Yamato out the window.

Seeing Sirius and Yamato leave, the smile on Toki's face did not fade. She gently stroked her daughter's hair and said with a smile, "Remember them, Hiyori. Your father was an idiot, but it seems idiots always make friends with some truly remarkable people."

"Although they are both just children like you, in the future, they will completely change this world."

Amidst the flames, the young Hiyori looked at her mother with a bewildered expression.