The Prelude to War! Kozuki Oden's Decision!

Ian felt like he was getting a little carried away.

After defeating Hyogoro, he had started to think Kurozumi Orochi and the trash under his command were beneath notice.

Still, their reaction was only to be expected.

They had only reached their current position by relying on the Beasts Pirates and Teacher Kai's prestige.

If they offended Teacher Kai, never mind the Beasts Pirates—Kozuki Oden would tear them apart the very next second.

Everyone watched Yamato's performance.

The ice-covered iron club slammed into Orochi's body once more, directly shattering his spine.

Though he was also a Mythical Zoan user, Orochi had never trained much, so he was naturally far from powerful.

Against the attacks of Yamato, an eight-year-old child, he was even more pathetic than those Ronin Samurai from before.

After two blows, he lay limp on the ground like a puddle of mush, unable to move. Even his breathing was gradually fading.

But almost in the very next instant, Yamato was abruptly thrown into the air.

Kurozumi Orochi's body beneath her feet twisted, and one ferocious head after another spread out in all directions. Beneath each head was a long neck, all connected to the same body.

"Wow! This guy is a Devil Fruit user too?"

Yamato landed lightly on the ground and stared curiously at the changes in Orochi's body.

"You little bastard! Look what you've done!!"

The seven-headed monster roared. Its flailing heads all lowered to glare down at Yamato. "I won't forgive you!!"

Ian looked down from above and counted briefly.

Only seven heads?

Yamato had actually killed him once?

This guy was way too weak, wasn't he? He was second only to Kuina, who died to Supreme Grade Swords.

Still, the Eight-Headed Serpent Fruit's ability was absurdly powerful. Each head represented a life, and Kurozumi Orochi had a total of eight lives.

Coupled with the basic physical boost of a Mythical Zoan, it was fortunate that Kurozumi Orochi was such complete trash. Otherwise, the upper limit of this fruit would have been unimaginable.

"Hehe."

Facing the vicious and terrifying seven-headed serpent, Yamato merely bared her teeth in a grin. "Then come at me!"

"What are you all standing around for?!"

Kurozumi Orochi angrily turned back toward his subordinates. "Hurry up and kill this little bastard for your shogun!"

"Cough, cough."

Kurozumi Semimaru coughed twice. "Shogun, please calm down. Lord Yamato probably didn't do it on purpose."

Pay some attention to our current situation, you idiot Orochi!

That's Kaido's beloved only daughter! You want to kill her? Maybe you don't want to live, but I don't want to die!

"That's right, Shogun."

Kurozumi Senmaru also said tactfully, "She is only a child, after all. Why lower yourself to her level?"

"You two!!"

Kurozumi Orochi was nearly driven mad with rage.

A child, my ass!

A child who took one of his lives with two swings of her club?

"Haha, looks like your subordinates don't want to help you."

Yamato smugly stepped forward, dragging her long spiked club across the ground with a clanging scrape. "Then get ready for a beating!"

"Y-You can't!"

Orochi immediately backed away in panic. "You can't do this!! I'm the shogun of Wano Country!"

Even if he had many lives, he couldn't waste them like this!

"Then get ready for a beating, Shogun!"

Yamato laughed and shot forward.

"That is far enough, Yamato!"

A rebuke descended from the sky.

Huh?

Ian looked up in astonishment.

A gigantic black bird was spreading its wings as it dove from the sky.

Only when it drew close did he see clearly—it was not a bird, but a black pterosaur!

Just before landing, the pterosaur transformed into a winged figure wrapped head to toe in black leather, crashing down in front of Yamato.

"Eh!"

Yamato jumped in fright as well. "Uncle King?"

"King!!"

Seeing this sudden arrival, Kurozumi Orochi was so moved he nearly cried.

At last, someone had come to uphold justice!

"Uncle King, don't tell me you've been here the whole time?"

Ian jumped down from Fuga's head and landed behind King, speaking in a faint voice.

King turned around. Standing over six meters tall, he was like a small mountain before Ian. "You performed very well this time, Ian. You did not disappoint Mr. Kaido's expectations."

So he really had been watching from the sky the whole time.

Good thing I didn't choose to run.

Ian secretly rejoiced.

Since you came, you could've come down and helped.

With your strength, wouldn't Hyogoro have been taken out in seconds? Why did I have to exhaust myself and unleash my ultimate move?

As Ian grumbled inwardly, King was sighing to himself as well.

This kid really was an incredible monster.

Only eight years old, yet among the Beasts Pirates, aside from Mr. Kaido, himself, and that idiot Queen, there was already no one who could defeat him.

He and Yamato were the future of the Beasts Pirates.

Still, the two of them had changed Mr. Kaido far too much. A few years ago, it would have been unimaginable for Mr. Kaido to send him to protect them.

"Hey! Uncle King! Why are you stopping me too!"

Yamato put her hands on her hips indignantly and questioned King, who had stopped her from continuing to beat Orochi senseless.

"Orochi is the ruler of Wano Country chosen by Mr. Kaido,"

King replied coolly. "He wants to see a stable Wano Country. Don't make trouble."

"King!! This damn brat wanted to kill me!!"

Seeing that things were turning in his favor, Kurozumi Orochi immediately complained, "You have to give me an explanation!"

King slowly turned around and looked down at Kurozumi Orochi. "At the very least, you should understand one thing, Orochi. What exactly is it that lets you remain firmly seated as Shogun?"

"Uh!"

Kurozumi Orochi's expression changed drastically, and he stumbled back two steps in terror.

"Ian and Yamato represent Mr. Kaido. Are you—"

King took a step forward. "Trying to become an enemy of the Beasts Pirates?"

Though King's tone was calm, Kurozumi Orochi felt a terrifying pressure bearing down on him, forcing him to collapse onto the ground. He fearfully scooted away from King while frantically shaking his head. "...No! No! Of course not!"

The surrounding Samurai and Ninja watched their Shogun's performance.

The Samurai under Hyogoro showed furious expressions. The ruler of this country was actually such a clown!

The Ninja under Orochi were not much better off either, and they felt equally ashamed.

"Alright, kids,"

King turned back to Ian and Yamato. "It's time to return."

"Eh? So soon?"

Yamato asked in confusion. "I still wanted to look around!"

"Mr. Kaido is already preparing to make a move against Kozuki Oden. This operation was merely the opening act."

King said, "War is about to begin. Outside Onigashima is no longer safe."

Yamato's eyes gradually lit up. "W-with Kozuki Oden? Then let's hurry back! I want to join the battle too!"

Behind King, Kurozumi Orochi lowered his head and trembled.

A few days later.

Kuri, Wano Country.

"Lord Oden! Boss Hyogoro has been captured by the Beasts Pirates!!"

"Brother Hyogoro!"

Upon hearing his retainer's report, the man covered his face in agony. "This is my fault!"

Kozuki Oden was in pain.

Five years ago, faced with the hostages Orochi had taken, he had made an agreement with Orochi and Kaido.

He would play the fool for five years in exchange for Orochi and Kaido building a large ship and leaving Wano Country.

But not long ago, Orochi came to Kuri to construct a new Weapon Factory. When Kozuki Oden eagerly asked when the ship would be finished, Kurozumi Orochi said that he did not remember.

He didn't remember making any such agreement.

He had been deceived.

Toyed with like an idiot.

Only now did Kozuki Oden realize it.

"I will..."

Kozuki Oden wiped away his tears and looked toward the two swords resting in the corner, which had not been drawn in a long time.

"Defeat Kaido!!"

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