The Great War Begins! Surprise Attack on Oden Castle!

Kuri, this is a region located in the southwestern part of Wano Country. It used to be the lawless zone of the country, where thieves and ronin gathered.

That was until Kozuki Oden arrived, defeated the bandits here, and began organizing the people to rebuild their homeland. He also became the daimyo of Kuri as a result.

However, Kozuki Oden, who was once deeply loved in Kuri, was now as infamous as a rat crossing the street.

He ignored the state of Wano Country, danced naked like a fool, groveled before Kurozumi Orochi, and watched with his own eyes as the country descended into hell. No one loved him anymore.

So today, as the sun set and the sky bled like a wound, when the neatly dressed Kozuki Oden, accompanied by his nine fully armed retainers, walked through the streets of Kuri towards the outskirts, people felt more surprise than anything else.

Surprise at what madness this fool Oden was up to again.

Kozuki Oden didn't care about the thoughts of the people he loved; he had only one thing on his mind.

Defeat Kaido!

This was the only path left to atone for his mistakes and save this country.

Only defeat Kaido!

As long as he defeated Kaido!

They set off at dusk, without a moment's rest, heading towards Onigashima.

They would arrive at night and then, while Kaido was drinking, they would cut off his head!

Next, they had to pass through Rano.

At the same moment, as they traveled from Kuri to Onigashima, a group of people were also traveling from Onigashima to Kuri across Wano Country's inland sea.

A dazzling golden dragon soared through the sky.

"Ian! Fly faster!!"

On his back, a little girl with white hair urged him on.

"Sorry, this is already full speed."

Ian's voice was somewhat listless as he struggled to flap his wings, "Stop talking nonsense when you're riding on my back."

Especially since he wasn't flying alone right now; he was carrying three people on his back.

Yamato, Jack, and Black Maria.

Yamato was fine, being quite petite, but Jack and Maria were rather heavy.

Flying with a load was tiring.

"Speed up, Ian!"

Yamato said with anticipation, "Hurry up and complete the mission Dad gave us, then maybe we can catch up to Dad and Kozuki Oden's fight."

"I already said this is full speed."

Ian responded weakly.

This guy never listened to anyone, as usual.

Their destination this time was calculated in thousands of kilometers.

"But, are we really okay?"

Black Maria nervously fiddled with her spider doll, "Even though the executives have left, there are still quite a few samurai staying behind, right?"

Jack looked confident, "Who do you think Big Brother Ian is? With him around, any enemy is insignificant!"

Ian's lips twitched.

How could you say that with such pride?

Are you still the same thick-headed Jack I remember?

"Don't worry, Maria!"

Yamato also said confidently, "We'll protect you!"

Ian added, "No matter what, you're an Ancient Zoan type Devil Fruit user. Ordinary samurai are no match for you, so don't worry."

"Okay."

The little blonde girl nodded cautiously.

They crossed the inland sea and entered the inland region of Wano Country. They flew past the edges of Rano and finally entered the Kuri region.

By this time, it was completely dark, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.

The golden glow of Ian's body, which had dimmed due to the fading light, now shimmered with a captivating fluorescence under the moonlight.

Looking down at the Kuri region from above, all Ian could see was an endless expanse of farmland and a few scattered villages.

Unlike other regions, there were very few factories here.

Oden was somewhat useful after all.

Ian suddenly remembered something.

"Speaking of which, where is Oden Castle located?"

"Huh?"

Yamato tilted her head in confusion. "Ian doesn't know?"

"That sounds a bit troublesome."

Ian suppressed a laugh and sighed tactically.

It seemed they would have to ask for directions first.

Rano.

Late at night.

Deep within the mountainous forest, a group of ten people were rushing along.

Kozuki Oden and his nine retainers were on their way to Onigashima.

They had to reach Onigashima by tomorrow night and deliver a fatal blow to Kaido while he was off guard.

Soon, the forest ended, and they arrived at a cliff.

The next second, their pupils contracted, and the muscles on Kozuki Oden's face suddenly tensed. He was so shocked that his eyes widened involuntarily, and his teeth clenched.

Before the cliff, on that small mountain in the distance, the monster was coiled.

Its slender body, hundreds of meters long, was wrapped around the peak, its massive head almost touching the dark clouds!

And below the monster, on the gentle slope of the peak, dense pirates were laughing and welcoming their arrival!

How could this be!

Kozuki Oden couldn't believe it.

They had been ambushed!

But how was that possible!

How could Kaido have known about this!

"You've kept me waiting, Kozuki Oden!"

The monster's laughter sounded like thunder, shaking the dense forest, "Are you ready? Let's begin this final battle!"

"Kaido!!"

Kozuki Oden stepped forward, walked to the edge of the cliff, and roared with all his might, "All of this was a lie, wasn't it!!"

"Yes, ugh-ho-ho-ho! All of it."

Kaido's body slowly rose, circling in the sky amidst flame clouds, "If you were truly the reckless madman the rumors say, that would have been troublesome, but fortunately, you have the same naivety as Roger and Newgate."

"At this point, why don't you go back to dancing? Naked, ridiculed by others, that's a more fitting way for you to live."

"I have nothing more to say about the past."

Kozuki Oden slowly drew the twin swords at his waist, dark Haki coiling around them. He lowered his stance, tensing his legs, "Let's talk about the future of this country instead!"

"Kaido! Get out of this country!"

Kozuki Oden leaped from the cliff.

"Follow Lord Oden!!"

The retainers followed closely behind.

"Ugh-ho-ho-ho!!"

Kaido burst into laughter, "My subordinates! Engage the enemy!"

"Ooh!!"

The great battle began.

Time returned to a little earlier.

Kuri, Boro Town.

This small town was the castle town of Oden Castle, with Oden Castle located on a small mountain to one side.

Late at night, the town was completely quiet. The citizens had no idea what earth-shattering events would unfold in their country tonight.

Above the town, a Golden Flying Dragon pierced through the dark clouds and arrived stealthily.

"That must be it!"

Yamato climbed onto Ian's head, clutching the sapphire on his forehead, and excitedly looked down at the small mountain below.

At the summit of the mountain stood a castle.

Ian was helpless. How could asking just anyone for directions immediately lead them to their destination? Was Wano Country really this hospitable?

Below, within Oden Castle.

In the courtyard of the main keep, a man with a blue afro sat cross-legged under a pine tree, holding his katana and quietly gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

Scattered around the courtyard were many Samurai.

"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Kanjuro."

A woman with beautiful long green hair walked out of the house, "The children are all asleep. Perhaps you should rest as well?"

She wore a sword at her waist.

"No,"

The man named Kanjuro shook his head, saying with a solemn expression, "Brother Oden asked me to come and protect you. No matter what, I will hold my ground here until everything is settled."

He paused. "Lady Toki, please prepare yourself. Our opponent is Kaido. Even Oden wouldn't have a sure victory."

Kozuki Oden's wife, Toki, gently pursed her lips, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"However, you don't need to worry too much,"

As if realizing his words were ill-timed, Kanjuro spoke again, offering comfort. "Oden is certainly not a man who would lose easily— Huh!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly looked up.

Something was falling from the sky!