They were doomed.

Under the circumstances, the Nine Red Scabbards did not dare act rashly.

Despite their unwillingness, they could only tacitly accept Maud's decision.

They silently watched Orochi, who had been cut across the feet by Maud and fallen to the ground, screaming in terror.

Such a scene brought them no pleasure.

An indescribable grief was like a pair of enormous hands, tightly squeezing their hearts.

Hiyori was dead, and Momonosuke was dead too.

Would Wano Country still have a future?

The Nine Red Scabbards looked utterly lost.

By contrast, Yamato had not lost her fighting spirit because of Momonosuke's death.

Any great undertaking was bound to come with sacrifices.

Those sacrifices would become the stepping stones toward success.

"No matter what, we have to open Wano Country..."

Yamato was also watching Orochi scream miserably.

The past could not be changed, but the future could.

Having accepted Momonosuke's death, Yamato knew clearly.

The only obstacle still blocking the road was Kaido.

Maud paced behind Orochi.

Hearing Maud's footsteps, Orochi crawled forward like a madman while screaming.

His intense desire to live was unmistakable.

"So noisy..."

Maud stared at Orochi expressionlessly.

He released Conqueror's Haki through his body, as though a massive hammer had smashed into Orochi's head.

Orochi lost consciousness on the spot, terror-stricken.

Without Orochi's cries, the area became much quieter.

Maud picked up Orochi's body, then glanced over the corpses strewn across the ground and the various weapons that had fallen nearby.

Next came the battlefield cleanup.

Besides gathering the scattered weapons, there was also Orochi's considerable fortune.

Thinking of that, Maud was about to call his companions over to clean up the battlefield when he saw Aokiji, Lafitte, and the others bring over the unconscious Oniwabanshu.

From Jaya's attack until Maud knocked Orochi unconscious, Lafitte and Aokiji had never