Aboard the Mist Ark.
"Is this the little gift you were talking about?"
Moria looked at the half-dead samurai lying on the ground, his expression rather speechless.
"Don't underestimate them..."
Araki smiled mysteriously. "Although you haven't seen Kaido in twenty years, you should have paid attention to photos of him, right? Did you notice any changes?"
"Changes?"
Moria thought back for a moment, then shook his head. "What changes?"
Araki gestured with his hand. "Back when you fought Kaido, you should have noticed too, right? His body's self-healing ability is extremely strong. Ordinary attacks can't even break through his defenses, much less leave scars. But... haven't you noticed that the current Kaido has a cross-shaped scar here on his side ribs?"
"Huh..."
After Araki's reminder, Moria thought about it and realized it really was true. "But what does that have to do with them?"
"That scar was cut by a swordsman named Kozuki Oden. Although I don't think he was a qualified leader, as a master swordsman, he was more than powerful enough. And these men were once Kozuki Oden's most loyal retainers. They all received guidance from him in swordsmanship. Swallowing their shadows would probably benefit you more than swallowing another thousand shadows—especially when facing Kaido."
Araki's words successfully piqued Moria's interest. As long as he could defeat Kaido, he was willing to do anything now.
Because the Red Hair Pirates had used underhanded tricks to damage their ship, no matter how furious Kaido of the Beasts was, he had no choice but to stop and find a place to repair it first.
That was simply how this world worked. Even the strong often could not force their way through when facing the threats of nature.
You were one of the Four Emperors? But your ship wasn't