Battle of Yamatai (1)

At Kozuki Oden's request, Buggy, along with Hawkins and the group escorting Jorogumo and Hannya, arrived at the battlefield of Yamatai.

Kozuki showed no mercy to the assassin who killed his son, ordering his men to Jorogumo and Hannya and hang their heads on a high pole in the camp.

Buggy pushed aside the curtain and entered the main tent. He looked at Kozuki Oden sitting in the main seat and was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Kozuki Oden's figure had become exaggeratedly thin, his face was haggard, and his temples were half black and half white, making him look like an old man with a candle flickering in the wind. Compared to just a few days ago, he was completely different. Who could have imagined that he could change so much in such a short period of time?!

What surprised Buggy the most was the demeanor of Kozuki Oden. He used to give off an impression of being refined and peaceful, always able to handle things in an orderly manner, but now he exuded a gloomy and cold aura...

If you had to describe his change in one simple sentence, it would be that he turned to the dark side.

"You've come, Buggy..."

Kozuki Oden spoke, the invisible coldness and gloom around them seemed to dissipate.

Buggy paused for a moment, then said somewhat apologetically, "Kozuki, I also bear some responsibility for this."

"No, I should thank you for capturing those two assassins from Izumo." After saying this, Kozuki stood up, bowed, and added, "Thank you for coming to my aid this time as well."

Buggy stepped forward to help him up, saying, "No need to be so polite. Now that I'm here, I'll do everything I can to help."

A long-absent smile appeared on Kozuki Oden's face, though it still looked very forced. After a brief conversation, he began to give Buggy a simple introduction to the enemy's situation.

The current Admiral Genji rules Wano Country, leads eight daimyo (feudal lords) stationed in Yamatai. The eight daimyo are Shimazu, Takeda, Shang Qian, Hojo, Mori, Asakura, Imagawa, and Yamamoto. Their forces, roughly estimated, number as many as 80,000.

Kozuki Oden had followed Whitebeard and Roger in his youth, so he was quite knowledgeable. However, he still emphasized to Buggy that Wano Country's foundation was far deeper than ordinary people could imagine, far surpassing many countries in the four seas and the New World, and should not be underestimated.

Buggy listened to Kozuki Oden's words and simply nodded noncommittally.

Before long, a soldier came to report that a general under the command of Daimyo Asakura had come to challenge them again.

Battles within Wano Country are always protracted offensive and defensive struggles, not something that can be decided overnight. During battles, it is usually a battle between generals and soldiers. Often, after a commander wins a duel, he will cover his troops and fight to the death, taking advantage of the situation to suppress the main citadel. However, there are also times when there are chaotic battles, so it is not a fixed situation.

The eight daimyo under Genji each formed a separate force, supporting each other. Even if one of them was defeated, the other seven would swarm in to cover the retreat.

Kozuki Oden knew this well; a direct attack would only result in wasted manpower. Therefore, he chose to defend rather than attack, waiting for an opportunity to strike again. This time, he put on his general's helmet and gave orders to engage in battle.

Buggy also stepped out of the tent and followed Hawkins and the others who were waiting outside, standing beside Kozuki Oden. A moment later, they arrived at the front.

As the commander-in-chief, Kozuki Oden personally led the charge, standing at the front of the army, followed by tens of thousands of soldiers.

Faced with the challenge from the samurai under the command of the Daimyo Asakura, a samurai in red armor also rushed out from Kozuki Oden's army. After exchanging names, the two immediately began to fight, and the drums of the army beat loudly to cheer them on.

Buggy didn't follow Kozuki. Instead, he found a high platform overlooking Yamatai. The area was vast and expansive, easily capable of withstanding the charge of tens of thousands of people. Presumably, even if the giants waged war on this plain, it would be more than enough.

Looking again at the enemy's marching formation, he also came to agree with Kozuki Oden had just said.

As Kozuki Oden said, the war that broke out in Wano Country would definitely be accompanied by the "Battle Horn" and the "Drumming Method." When the battle horn was sounded, the soldiers were as if hypnotized, stimulating the potential power within them. Often, the weaker ones would receive a greater potential boost, while the stronger ones would receive a smaller boost. In a sense, this was a kind of correction. The "Drumming Method" was the same. When soldiers fought one-on-one, the Drumming Method could stimulate their bloodlust and make them more excited.

However, both the "Battle Horn" and the "Drumming Method" are only effective against people born and raised in Wano Country. Wano Country is closed off from the outside world and isolated from the outside world, so few people know about these battle tactics, whether in the four seas or the Grand Line.

The battlefield was enveloped in this exhilarating atmosphere. Even Buggy, who had activated his Observation Haki, was astonished by the pulsating power within the marching formation, thinking to himself that the world was vast and full of wonders.

The two samurai in the middle of the battlefield exchanged blows fiercely for over ten rounds. The samurai under Kozuki's command was more valiant; with a swift stroke, he brutally beheaded his opponent, blood splattering all over him. He was panting heavily, but his blood was boiling, and he roared three times, "Who dares to fight me?!"

The morale of the Kozuki Army was also boosted, and the drumming became even more intense.

The Daimyo Asakura, protected by his personal guards in the distance, widened his eyes in shock, a mixture of grief and anger flashing in his gaze. The samurai whose head had been severed was the youngest of his nine sons. Because of his youthful vigor and competitive nature, he had always requested to go into battle. He could not persuade him otherwise, and he was convinced that Kozuki Oden would not fight and that nothing would go wrong, so he sent his youngest son... but he never expected him to end up like this.

"Damn bastard, give me back my brother's life!"

"You won't leave here alive today!"

"Die! I'm going to kill you!"

Three figures rushed out of the Asakura army formation, wielding fine katana, and charged towards the samurai under Kozuki's command.

The three moved with incredible speed and perfect coordination, suppressing the red-armored warrior under Kozuki's command in the blink of an eye. The latter was desperately trying to defend himself, and if it weren't for his armor, he would probably be covered in blood.

Die!

The man in the middle, aiming at the moment the red-armored warrior blocked the two men beside him, gripped his katana like an eagle eyeing its prey, aiming it at the latter's throat. The cold glint grew closer and closer, about to pierce him through!

Clang!!

Swords clashed, producing a crisp sound. A sudden, sharp blade blocked the katana about to pierce the throat of the red-armored warrior. The blade then flicked outward, deflecting the katana, and swiftly thrust towards the faces of the three men. The three were immediately thrown into disarray and forced back, their faces contorted with rage as they cried out in unison, "Who is it?!"

A man slung the back of his katana over his shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Kin'emon, Kin'emon, reporting for duty."