Wano Country was a very special nation.
That was not limited to its closed-door policy. Its geography and terrain were also exceptionally unique.
The seas around its borders were churned by enormous waves year-round, filled with turbulent undercurrents and whirlpools. Ordinary ships found it difficult even to approach the island.
And it was only after drawing near that its true peculiarity became apparent.
"What a special nation."
The Giant Snails kept climbing up the steep cliffs. Dylan looked down in amazement. "Was it built on a plateau?"
Doflamingo, standing nearby, tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Wasn't the nation called Germa even more special?
Which was stranger, being built on a plateau or being built on the back of a snail?
Moreover, all the buildings on the snails' backs had undergone special modifications. Even climbing the cliff vertically had no effect on them.
"Not even close."
Roa smiled.
If this had been Blue Star in his previous life, Wano Country's terrain and geography would indeed have been extraordinary.
But in this chaotic world, what did Wano Country amount to?
Compared with places like Elbaf, Fish-Man Island, and Sky Island, it truly had no standing.
Before long, the enormous snails had climbed to the top of the cliff. Only then did Wano Country's true appearance unfold before everyone.
Ahead lay a sea of rippling blue waves.
"A sea within the island?"
Abel flapped his wings and flew into midair, looking into the distance. "An island within the sea?"
It was nesting dolls all the way down.
"What do we do next?"
Kaido slowly rose from the ground. No one knew where he had pulled out his club, which he now rested on his shoulder. The corners of his mouth gradually lifted. "Where do we start destroying?"
"Don't make it sound so frightening, Big Brother Kaido."
Roa stood shoulder to shoulder with him. Though there was quite a difference in their heights, the meaning was the same. "What we brought isn't destruction, but—"
"Civilization!"
Factories and machinery, workers and factory owners, new classes and new relations of production.
Put together, they were called advanced civilization.
"Worororororo!"
Kaido instantly burst into laughter. He planted his club on the ground and laughed so hard he could barely straighten his back.
"Then let's get moving! We can't keep them waiting."
The snails rumbled forward, easily crossing the inland sea, and finally set foot on Wano Country's land in earnest.
Well, this operation could be called the Snail Voyage.
"What heavy snow."
Roa raised his head as snowflakes drifted down like goose feathers.
This should be the Ringo region, right?
It lay in the northeastern part of Wano Country, where snow fell year-round.
Snow in a good harvest year—a promising sign.
"Boss! There's a town approximately thirty li to the front right."
Abel descended from the sky.
"Well done, Abel."
Roa nodded lightly. "Then let's find someone to lead us first."
"Big Brother Kaido, what do you think of finding this country's ruler and asking him for help?"
In other words, holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords.
"I don't care."
The enormous snails charged ahead, leaving enormous tracks across the land blanketed in white snow.
"Hm? What's that?"
Before long, Roa noticed an anomaly on the white earth.
Everything was covered in white, but one area was black. It stood out far too much.
"People."
Kaido suddenly spoke.
"That's perfect. We can ask about the situation in this country."
Roa said.
The snail formation changed direction and headed toward the buildings.
Yamashita Gorō was a samurai affiliated with the Shimotsuki Family of Ringo.
His proudest achievement was following Daimyo Shimotsuki Ushimaru in wiping out four groups of bandits entrenched in Ringo's snowy mountains in a single day.
However, that same operation had cost Yamashita Gorō his right arm.
A samurai who could no longer wield a sword had already lost his value.
But Daimyo Ushimaru was still a man with a sense of humanity, and he entrusted Yamashita Gorō with an important task.
He had him guard the cemetery north of Ringo.
There was nothing particularly special about the cemetery itself. What made it special was that Ryoma, Wano Country's guardian deity, the Sword God, was buried there. His beloved sword, Wano Country's national treasure Shusui, was also enshrined in the shrine there.
Although the place held great significance, the job was actually quite leisurely.
Ryoma's status in Wano Country was too exalted. Even the most vicious bandits wore looks of reverence whenever they mentioned him.
No one had ever dared come here to cause trouble.
That was why Yamashita Gorō's coworkers were all old, weak, sick, or disabled samurai.
They were all quite satisfied with the work.
What could be more honorable than guarding Lord Ryoma's peace after death?
When he noticed that something was wrong, Yamashita Gorō was performing his daily task of cleaning the gravestones in the cemetery.
He suddenly noticed the snow on the ground trembling.
Then, before long, even the gravestones began to shake.
Something was coming!
Had some beast come here?
Wano Country was home to many enormous monsters with astonishing strength.
The experienced old samurai rushed out of the cemetery at the first opportunity, his left hand pressing against the sword at his waist.
Whatever beast it was, he would never allow it to desecrate Lord Ryoma's—
His hurried footsteps abruptly stopped, and his expression gradually turned vacant.
What was this?
A group of enormous snail monsters, each as large as a small mountain, completely blocked the wilderness ahead.
House after house stood on the snails' backs.
In front of the snails, his comrades were helplessly kneeling on the ground, kneeling before a young man.
"Thank you."
The young man thanked him politely. "So Black Blade Shusui was here all along?"
He started walking.
Toward him.
Shusui!
He wanted Shusui!
Yamashita Gorō's hand closed around the hilt.
Although he had only one hand, he had never stopped training all these years.
With one hand being weaker, he had practiced drawing techniques to increase the power of his slashes.
Closer!
Closer! He was about to enter his attack range!
The veins bulged on Yamashita Gorō's left hand as it gripped the sword.
Die.
Roa passed by the one-armed samurai in confusion.
What a weirdo.
Thud.
The one-armed samurai collapsed onto the ground.
Why couldn't he draw it?
So frightening. Truly, so frightening.
A short while later, the snail formation continued rumbling forward.
Roa sat cross-legged atop the head of a Giant Snail and raised the sword in his hand.
The blade was purple-black, with an irregular serrated hamon and red sawtooth patterns.
"Isn't Black Blade Shusui amazing?"
Roa praised it.
Wano Country's national treasure, the sword of Sword God Ryoma, and one of only two known black blades in the world—no, now the only one.
Suddenly, a red current spiraled up along Roa's arm and wrapped around Shusui, making the entire sword begin to tremble.
"Stop messing around."
Roa slapped the sword at his waist. "This sword is for research, so I can help you evolve again."
Only then did the red current disappear.
Sigh, there was nothing he could do. After Tiger Soul had been completely fed, it had become somewhat yandere.
"Research?"
Kaido sat beside him drinking wine and spoke casually. "What's there to research about a lousy sword?"
"I can see you don't understand at all, Big Brother Kaido."
As the versions gradually upgraded and combat power continued to expand,
the black blade that had never revealed its true nature surely possessed some unknown and astonishing power.
Otherwise, Hawkeye would look far too pathetic.
"Judge."
Roa returned the sword to its sheath and casually tossed it to Judge beside him. "It's yours."
Haki should belong to the field of human science, right?
Judge specialized in modifying the human body, so he ought to be able to research something.
"I understand!"
Judge, whose eye circles were dark with exhaustion, accepted the new task without hesitation.
"Then next—"
Roa turned to look at the several samurai cowering fearfully at the back. "The battle is about to begin."
"The lord of this region is called Shimotsuki Ushimaru, right?"
Kaido also took an interest. "A Wano Country samurai said to possess formidable strength. Worororororo! Let me see what kind of power he really has!"
"Shimotsuki isn't important."
Roa smiled meaningfully. "The key is that invincible Kozuki Oden."
"Invincible?"
Kaido sneered. "How would frogs at the bottom of a well know the vastness of the sky?"
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Judging by that attitude, it seemed Kaido would inevitably get cut again.
But that could wait.
They had arrived.
Roa stood up.
The white earth suddenly vanished.
In its place were black farmlands, and beyond them, a prosperous city.
This was the capital of the Ringo region.
On the mountain outside the town, a tall castle towered over the area. In Wano Country's terminology, it should be called a castle keep—the residence of the daimyo.
Almost simultaneously, at the very top of that castle keep,
Ringo's daimyo, descendant of Sword God Ryoma, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, held a fox in his arms and stared in astonishment at the enormous creatures rapidly approaching in the distance.
What the hell was that?
Before you continue