Blood streamed from Kozuki Oden's shoulder. It was as if the clotting factors and platelets in his body had died, leaving him unable to stop the bleeding.
"Gaban was right. That Cursed Sword of yours really is a headache."
Kozuki Oden tore off his blood-soaked shirt, exposing his somewhat heavy torso.
Werther had just noticed a weakness of Kozuki Oden's.
Kozuki Oden no longer knew how to fight. No, that wasn't quite right.
More precisely, Kozuki Oden was out of practice. After the Roger Pirates disbanded and he returned to Wano Country, his position had spared him the need to fight.
In Wano Country, Kozuki Oden only had to give an order. The Samurai would deal with any enemies.
As its ruler, if Kozuki Oden ever had to take the field himself, Wano Country would already be on the brink of destruction—just as it was now.
Kozuki Oden had not fought in twenty years. If he had not kept practicing his swordsmanship, he might have forgotten how to use a sword altogether.
"You've forgotten how to fight, Kozuki Oden. And you have too many ties. They may give you the will to survive, but too many will also make you weak.
"If this is all you can do, you'll lose soon."
Kozuki Oden did not argue. What Werther said was true.
"It's been a long time since I used that move, Thunder Swordsman. I'm starting to remember what it felt like to sail the seas with Roger."
Kozuki Oden took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His already stout body swelled further.
"Life Return: Steel Strength!"
Kozuki Oden's slightly overweight body began to change dramatically.
His fat rapidly vanished, absorbed by his body. Where his belly had been, eight defined abdominal muscles appeared.
The slightly pudgy Kozuki Oden had