"Lion's Mane!"
Kozuki Oden roared, and his hair grew wildly once more. The needle-sharp strands formed a roaring lion.
The attack looked fearsome, but it was nothing more than a dying struggle.
"Steel-Cutting Flash: Thunder Shadow!"
Werther vanished in an instant, streaking past Kozuki Oden like a bolt of lightning.
Blood sprayed across the sand in front of Oden.
A long gash opened across his chest, as though the slash had nearly cut him in two.
"Without Masamune, you're no match for me."
A Sword Blossom flashed, and Intent Blood slid slowly back into its sheath.
Oden collapsed with a thud, unable to fight any longer.
Werther did not look back. He kept up the pursuit, confident that his slash had left Oden alive but unable to move for some time.
Blue waves washed over the golden sand. Along the coast of Wano Country, several figures fled for their lives.
They were three samurai, a woman, and a child.
Foxfire Kin'emon carried Momonosuke, while Oden's wife ran on her own.
When Raizo noticed her slowing down, he gritted his teeth.
"My lady, forgive me. I'll apologize properly for this afterward."
With that, Raizo lifted Oden's wife onto his back. She was his lord's wife; if the situation had not been so desperate, he would never have dared.
"It's all right, Raizo. Protecting Momo matters most right now. We can set aside etiquette."
Oden's wife was no stickler for old customs. She knew how dire their situation was.
Once Raizo took her onto his back, the group's pace quickened noticeably.
"Mother, Father will be all right, won't he? That Thunder Swordsman is so scary. Waaaah!"
Momonosuke burst into tears before he could finish.
Werther was the person Momonosuke feared most. He had woken from nightmares countless times in the dead of