Nidai Kitetsu

Of the four, Nami was the only one with basic knowledge of ship medicine. Hearing this, Luffy's expression grew solemn.

Tama would rather starve herself than accept their help without repaying their kindness?

Moonlight nodded. Nami was absolutely right. Tama had fainted from hunger, and she had probably been starving for more than just a day or two. He immediately looked at Komachiyo. "You know the way to the town, right? Take us to the nearest town."

"Yes."

Komachiyo immediately nodded, signaling for them to place Tama on his back so they could set off at once.

Moonlight immediately understood and placed Tama onto his back.

After training his Observation Haki to the peak of Level 7, infinitely close to Level 8, he could vaguely hear the voices of all things. Though they were unclear, he could generally understand their meaning.

The group was about to leave for the nearest town.

However, at that moment, a man wearing a red mask, with a long nose and pure white wings on his back, suddenly stepped in from outside. When he saw them, he froze, seemingly not expecting them to be here. Then, upon seeing the Kusanagi in Moonlight's hand, he immediately drew his sword and lunged for it.

He was actually trying to steal Moonlight's sword!

"Who are you?"

"Usopp?"

"No!"

The three of them were startled.

Nami was shocked by the newcomer's identity. Seeing his long nose, Luffy instinctively thought he was Usopp. Moonlight shook his head, immediately recognizing him. This man was definitely not Usopp. He instantly drew the Kusanagi Sword and met the man's blade head-on!

It had all happened too suddenly. The man's appearance had already been abrupt, and his sudden attack caught them even more off guard. They had been preparing to take Tama into town and were just about to leave. Even Moonlight had not fully reacted in time.

But with his current strength, even if his mind had lagged behind for a moment, his body had already reacted instantly.

Bang!

The two swords collided with a dull crash. The man was immediately sent flying backward, smashing through several trees before finally coming to a stop. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He was clearly badly injured.

Yet the man paid no attention to his injuries. His eyes remained fixed on the Kusanagi in Moonlight's hand, burning with fervor. "As expected of the third known Black Blade in the world! As expected of the man who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's strongest swordsman! What overwhelming presence and power!"

His eyes held only the Kusanagi in Moonlight's hand, as though no one else even existed.

"Who are you?"

The three were equally astonished. What exactly was the background of this man who had suddenly appeared? He looked like an enemy, yet somehow did not seem like one. Nami could not help asking.

"My name is Tenguyama Hitetsu. I am a swordsmith, and Tama's master."

Hearing this, the man nodded and looked at Tama on Komachiyo's back, his expression grave.

"X Drake is currently leading his men in slaughtering villages in the town, especially targeting outsiders. If you move around like this, you probably won't even reach the town before being surrounded. You'd best disguise yourselves."

He seemed to know Tama's situation well, so he did not even ask about it.

"Tama's master?"

"A swordsmith?"

"X Drake? Isn't he one of the Supernovas? We saw him back on the island!"

The three were startled upon hearing this.

Luffy was shocked by the man's identity. Especially after seeing his long nose, he was still hung up on Usopp's identity. Moonlight narrowed his eyes. No wonder the man had looked as though he had lost his soul the moment he saw the Kusanagi in his hand—he was a swordsmith. Nami, meanwhile, was stunned by the current situation.

X Drake was one of the Supernovas. Along with Kid and Hawkins, he was said to have formed an alliance. Why was he here? And from the looks of it, had he submitted to Kaido? He was even slaughtering villages? Had Wano Country already fallen into such chaos? Still, his suggestion was a good one. Against such a powerful enemy, they really did need disguises. But they had just arrived—where would they find the means to disguise themselves? "For the sake of this swordsman's strength, come into my room."

Seeing this, Tenguyama Hitetsu seemed to have anticipated it all along. He took the initiative to invite them in, looking at Moonlight with nothing but admiration.

Moonlight's sword and strength had clearly conquered him completely!

Tenguyama Hitetsu's room was about the same size as Tama's, but it contained many ronin outfits, some sword-forging tools, and a purple sword hanging on the wall.

The instant Moonlight stepped into the room, that purple sword seemed to resonate with him. Then its sheath detached from its body, and it actually flew straight toward Moonlight! "What is this?"

Moonlight's pupils contracted at the sight.

He had not expected this to happen. He reached out, and the purple sword fell directly into his hand! Its entire body was marked with purple patterns, exuding an eerie and ominous aura. Holding it felt as though something bad was about to happen.

At the same time, a bone-chilling Oni Aura continuously invaded Moonlight's body, as if trying to possess him and steal both his soul and flesh.

Yet the blade itself was smooth, gleaming with a sharp radiance!

It was obvious that this was an incomparably fine sword!

"What an evil sword. This is Nidai Kitetsu, isn't it?"

Feeling that power, Moonlight looked at Tenguyama Hitetsu.

But Tenguyama Hitetsu's mouth hung open at that moment. He clearly had not expected Nidai Kitetsu to react like this. Hearing Moonlight's words, he nodded instinctively. "That's right. This is the Nidai Kitetsu forged by my master. I never expected it to seek you out on its own. It seems fate has decreed that this sword belongs to you!"

Tenguyama Hitetsu spoke with a somewhat dazed expression. "Though following you would be a fine choice, you already possess the Black Blade Kusanagi. This is not a wise choice!"

His final sentence was clearly directed at Nidai Kitetsu.

As a swordsmith, what he wanted most was naturally for the swords he forged to be wielded by the strong. Only then could they display their true worth.

Moonlight was more than qualified to be Nidai Kitetsu's master, but he already had the Kusanagi.

Clearly, Nidai Kitetsu was somewhat unsuitable for him.

Yet Nidai Kitetsu seemed unconcerned by such matters. It clung tightly to Moonlight's hand, as though afraid he would abandon it! "It's fine. Though I may not be fated with it, I can find it a master it will be satisfied with."

Moonlight shrugged, took the sheath from the wall, and immediately claimed Nidai Kitetsu.

When Nidai Kitetsu had first come into his possession, he had still been wondering how he could acquire it. After all, this sword was one of the Great Grade Swords. Though using it would be somewhat beneath his strength, it was perfect for a disguise.

If his identity was exposed, he could just give it to Zoro. After all, Zoro had once used Sandai Kitetsu!

Now that the sword had sensed his aura and flown to him on its own, things could not have worked out better.

"It chose you, so you are naturally its master."

Tenguyama Hitetsu naturally had no objections.

A good sword would choose its own master.

As a swordsmith, he naturally respected the sword's own choice!

"..."

Nami and Luffy, who had been watching from the side, were already dumbfounded with shock.

They had never imagined such a scene would unfold.

Especially the sight of the sword flying from the wall toward Moonlight the instant they entered the room.

This sword was obviously extraordinary.

Moonlight had just gained another fine sword like that?

"No time to lose. Let's hurry. Tama is still waiting for us to find food to save her."

After obtaining Nidai Kitetsu, Moonlight saw that there were no clothes he liked, so he casually took a mask instead.

He had no intention of hiding his identity.

With his current strength, on the verge of breaking through to Level 8, he could speak as an equal even before one of the Four Emperors. Why would he need to hide? Besides, a man who stood shoulder to shoulder with Hawkeye, the world's greatest swordsman, disdained hiding. He had his own pride!

He wore the mask only because he did not want to implicate anyone else!

Luffy and Nami both nodded. The two of them were different. After changing their outfits, they immediately looked like entirely different people.

At the very least, they no longer looked any different from the people of this country.

The three of them immediately set off, with Komachiyo leading the way toward the nearest town.

Tama's condition was extreme hunger, and it was also related to the surrounding environment.

After all, living in such a toxic environment for a long time would gradually affect the body.

The nearest place was a small town called Ruined Town, over sixty kilometers away. At Komachiyo's speed, they could probably reach it in half an hour.

The group of four immediately moved out, heading toward Ruined Town.

They had only just arrived earlier and had encountered Tama, so they had not properly taken in Wano Country.

But as Komachiyo continued toward Ruined Town, they finally witnessed Wano Country's true face.

No wonder Momonosuke had harbored such hatred at only eight years old!

What Kaido had done here was truly inhuman!

Even Moonlight could not help trembling.

As they raced across the land, everything in sight was barren and devoid of even a blade of grass.

The rivers around them were green, poisonous green gas drifted through the air, and along the way they occasionally encountered creatures mutated from drinking toxic river water, as well as the corpses of innocent villagers slaughtered everywhere. All of it was like hell on earth.

And the one responsible for all of it was Kaido! "How could it be like this?"

Nami covered her mouth at the sight.

"How can someone like that be forgiven?! Kaido, I'm going to send you flying!"

Luffy gritted his teeth, wishing he could find Kaido immediately and punch him away.

But in the next moment, hunger made him collapse onto Komachiyo's back. He was simply too hungry.

"This truly is not something a human should do!"

Moonlight trembled inwardly.

Forget that he had already formed an alliance with Law and Momonosuke to take down Kaido—even if they had no connection at all, he would never forgive someone like this after seeing such a scene! "Stop!"

"Let's see where you can run!"

At that moment, faint shouts suddenly carried over from the distant land, startling the three of them as they looked over.

They immediately saw a woman in heavy makeup and a kimono, like a figure from an ukiyo-e painting, fleeing in panic.

Behind her, several pirates rode savage beasts, pursuing her fiercely with murderous intent.