A Devil Fruit Washed Ashore

A group of samurai boarded the pirate ship and quickly spotted two chests of treasure gleaming in the deck's lounge area.

The gold and jewelry inside were probably worth hundreds of millions of Beli.

They had never expected these pirates to be so wealthy.

In an instant, the samurai captain had already claimed the two treasure chests as his own.

"Attack!!"

The samurai captain shouted without hesitation. In an instant, the dozen or so samurai who had boarded drew their swords and charged at Luo Ji and Yamato.

As for that little brat, the Komainu, and the Komakitsune, there was no need to care about them at all.

"Why are you attacking us?!"

Yamato shouted in frustration, but the kanabo in her hand, Ajian, showed no mercy. One swing took down one samurai.

Luo Ji watched the samurai indifferently. Onimaru, the Komakitsune, instantly transformed into a three- to four-meter-tall Onyudo warrior monk and swung his naginata, sending sprays of blood flying with every slash.

Tama stood beside Komachiyo, watching the slaughter with some fear.

But these samurai were just as vile and brutal as the pirates of Wano Country. They had actually boarded their ship to rob them.

Thinking of that, Tama's gaze toward the samurai gained a trace of killing intent. Even Komachiyo looked eager to join in.

"Yamato, Tama, remember this: when dealing with enemies, be decisive and ruthless.

"The outside world is just as dangerous and cruel as the Beasts Pirates."

Luo Ji tossed out two scrolls. The small scrolls expanded in the wind, transforming into enormous paintings.

A ferocious eight-headed monster and a savage little giant suddenly burst out from the painted scrolls.

Hideous dragon heads stretched out and bit down on the samurai one after another, while the little giant crushed a samurai to death with a single stomp.

"Aah!! What are these monsters?!"

"They're all Devil Fruit users!!"

"We're finished! We picked a fight with the wrong people!"

"I was wrong! I knew pirates capable of sailing this far would all be monsters you couldn't mess with!"

Amid the terrified screams of the samurai, the dozen men were completely wiped out less than a minute after landing.

The screams terrified the samurai and residents at the harbor, sending them fleeing in every direction.

Pirates were going to massacre their way onto the island!

"Damn samurai. No wonder they joined Kaido's ranks!"

Yamato was extremely annoyed at these samurai for ruining her mood after coming ashore. She felt no guilt whatsoever over killing the bastards who had invaded their pirate ship.

"Let's go ashore! If they dared attack us, they have to pay the price!"

After directing Yamata no Orochi and Onyudo to dispose of the bodies, Luo Ji put away the bait treasure and leisurely jumped onto the harbor.

Tama also rode Komachiyo onto the island.

"Komachiyo, once Brother Luo Ji finds you a powerful ability, you'll be able to fight like Onimaru too."

Tama sensed her pet's awakening desire to fight and comforted him thoughtfully.

The Komainu was still very young, only one or two years old, while Onimaru, the Komakitsune, was already several decades old and had been Shimotsuki Ushimaru's pet more than twenty years ago.

After Yamato came ashore as well, Luo Ji even stored the pirate ship back inside a scroll.

As they marched grandly onto the island, the royal family and nobles of the Kingdom of Kura received word from the harbor.

Their samurai had actually misjudged the situation and attacked a powerful pirate crew.

Now, retaliation was coming.

The royal family was so frightened that they hurriedly fled the palace and ordered the ministers to quickly call for support from the Beasts Pirates.

They had paid protection money for so many years. It had to be useful for something.

News of powerful pirates invading quickly spread throughout the small kingdom.

The royal family was fleeing, and even the nobles fled at the first hint of danger.

Their speed was no less than King Wapol's when he encountered the Blackbeard Pirates on Drum Island.

The Kingdom of Kura suddenly descended into chaos.

Yet this made Kojiro, who had been assigned to escort Kikuhime away, feel that he had found a good chance to live happily ever after with her.

"Kikuhime, do you really want to marry the prince? I'm taking you away now. Are you willing to come with me?"

While they were being evacuated, Kojiro, who had suppressed his feelings for many days, finally confessed his feelings and desires to the young lady he loved.

But Kojiro's sudden confession flustered Kikuhime, and she did not know how to answer him for a moment.

She was already engaged to Prince Kula. If she ran away, she would surely implicate her family.

One of Kikuhime's maids heard that this guard was actually so brazen as to compete with the prince for Kikuhime.

She quietly slipped away and immediately relayed the news to Prince Kula.

"Kojiro, don't be like this. Between us... we..."

Kikuhime looked at Kojiro's yearning face and spoke helplessly.

"No! I will never allow you to marry someone else! You know how much I love you!"

As if he had lost his mind, Kojiro grabbed Kikuhime's hands and growled at her with reddened eyes.

"But Father's orders..."

The moment Kikuhime spoke, Kojiro hoisted her onto his back and suddenly fled from the Mikami Family's evacuation party.

Even the Head of the Mikami Family and the other guards were caught off guard.

"What's going on?!"

"Quick! Bring them back!"

The Head of the Mikami Family roared furiously, his face dark. His precious daughter was the future princess consort—how could she be taken away by someone else?

The entire fleeing group immediately descended into chaos.

Before long, Prince Kula's group came charging over as well.

He had received a report from a maid that a guard was coveting his beautiful fiancée, and in fury, he had immediately led soldiers over.

But he had not expected to be one step too late.

For a time, both the prince's army and the Mikami Family's guards were hunting Kojiro, who had taken Kikuhime away.

"Kojiro, you can't do this. Put me down and run away on your own.

"Otherwise, when Father's and His Highness the Prince's samurai catch up, you'll die!"

On Kojiro's back, Kikuhime pleaded in panic. Tears welled up in her autumn-water eyes.

"Those pirates will stop them!"

Kojiro had completely gone mad by then. If he could not be with Kikuhime, he would rather die.

But he still had one chance to escape Kura Island: use those powerful pirates to get away.

However, Kojiro still overestimated his own abilities.

Before long, Prince Kula's elite samurai caught up to Kojiro, who was carrying Kikuhime.

If Kojiro had not been carrying Kikuhime, these samurai would have shot the improper guard dead long ago.

"The harbor! I have to reach the harbor!"

Kojiro had only one thought: he wanted those vicious pirates to frighten off his pursuers.

But under the pursuit of the elite samurai, Kojiro was quickly wounded. His feet were struck by arrows, and he was ambushed and slashed several times.

That left Kojiro unable to continue carrying Kikuhime as he fled.

The elite samurai had originally intended to kill the traitor, but Kikuhime ordered them to let Kojiro go.

Kikuhime even threatened them with her own life, frightening the samurai. Taking advantage of the moment, the injured Kojiro fled and escaped their pursuit.

As Kojiro ran, he roared endlessly in his heart.

Why was he so weak?!

Why couldn't he take Kikuhime and fly away with her?

Thinking of the moment when Kikuhime had saved him, he realized that the young lady he loved still cared deeply about him.

He swore that he would return with great power and take back his Lady Kikuhime.

As he fled desperately, Kojiro lost too much blood. Gravely wounded, he collapsed by the beach and passed out.

At that moment, a fruit covered in strange patterns quietly drifted ashore.