Oden shot off like an arrow, hurtling towards the Beasts Pirates ' executives!
His goal was clear: to deal with the Beasts Pirates who were slaughtering samurai and relieve the pressure on his subordinates!
However, the moment he turned around, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from behind him!
"Hehehe! Oden! You really don't take me seriously!"
The Hassaikai, imbued with Conqueror's Haki and carrying the power to destroy everything, swept in from behind!
The gust of wind generated by the swinging spiked clubs was so strong that it scraped away a layer of the ground.
Faced with Kaido's powerful attack, Oden's pupils shrank, and he turned around with all his might, holding his twin swords horizontally in front of him!
clang--!!!!
A deafening roar!
Oden's body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing heavily into the center of the battlefield!
Many members of both sides were caught in the crossfire and were sent flying.
boom--!!!
" Oden!!!"
The Nine Red Scabbards cried out in alarm and tried to rush forward, but they were held back by their respective opponents!
Kin'emon roared as he tried to break through, but was forced back by Jin's black flames!
Inuarashi and Cat Viper fought with all their might, but they couldn't shake off Jack and Black Maria's entanglement!
The others were also entangled and unable to escape!
As the smoke cleared, Oden was seen kneeling at the bottom of the pit, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his twin swords trembling slightly.
Kaido stood at the edge of the pit, looking down at him with a maniacal grin.
"Hehehe! Oden, you're still the same idiot!"
"He's willing to risk his life to protect his men?"
Oden gritted his teeth and slowly stood up.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes burning with an even more intense fighting spirit.
" Kaido..."
"Stop talking nonsense!"
He roared and charged forward again!
He brandished his twin swords, unleashing a frenzied barrage of slashes at Kaido!
Kaido, and the Hassaikai swept across!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!...
The two clashed again!
But this time, Oden's injuries began to affect his movements.
His speed decreased slightly, and the power of each strike was not as great as before.
Kaido, however, maintained his arrogant demeanor, steadily and methodically wearing down Oden's stamina.
In the sky, Roy watched this scene quietly, his brows slightly furrowed.
" Oden is going to lose."
Tesoro exclaimed in surprise,
"So fast?"
"Of course it can't be that fast,"
Roy shook his head.
"He was too hasty, and his energy was depleted even faster; however, his decline was already evident."
"To protect his subordinates, he deliberately exposed an opening and was Kaido."
"Right now, his injuries are worsening, and his stamina is waning, while Kaido is only just beginning to exert his full strength."
"If we continue fighting, defeat is inevitable."
Tesoro was silent for a few seconds,
"So... should we get involved?"
Roy shook his head.
"Need not."
"Our mission is to observe and provide support."
"There's still one force that hasn't made a move yet!"
"Unless an unforeseen circumstance arises, do not take action."
Tesoro nodded and said nothing more.
On the battlefield, the fighting continues.
The pirates charged forward relentlessly, while the samurai fought back desperately.
Blood stained the earth red, and corpses piled up like mountains.
Screams, roars, and the clash of weapons intertwined to create a tragic symphony of war.
Meanwhile, in the mountains three kilometers east of the battlefield.
In a secluded depression, dozens of figures lay in wait.
They made no sound, even their breathing was kept to a minimum, as if they had become one with the surrounding trees and rocks.
A dozen or so Marine Vice Admiral, some standing and some sitting, all kept their auras concealed, but their eyes remained fixed on the distant battlefield.
" Mr. Garp."
A Vice Admiral spoke in a low voice,
" Kozuki Oden's defeat is imminent."
"Aren't we going to make a move yet?"
Garp chewed on a senbei cracker and said slowly,
What's the rush?
"Let them fight. Once they're tired, it'll be easier to take advantage of the situation."
The Vice Admiral hesitated.
"But, if we make a move now..."
"Should we make our move now?"
Garp glanced at him.
Didn't you see those two in the sky?
The Vice Admiral was taken aback and looked up.
In the distant sky, two figures floated silently.
One streak of black, one streak of gold.
Roy and Tesoro.
"They're watching from there."
Garp said calmly,
"They'll notice the moment we make a move."
"If Roy gets involved then, things won't be fun."
The Vice Admiral frowned.
"But isn't Roy an ally of Kaido? Why aren't they making a move...?"
That's why it's troublesome.
Garp sighed.
"That kid is unpredictable."
"Despite being an ally of Kaido, he doesn't offer any help to Kaido."
They're keeping an eye on us.
The Vice Admiral exchanged glances, Garp, chewing on a senbei (rice cracker), had a glint of cunning in his eyes.
So, we have to wait.
"Wait until they completely lower their guard, wait until Kozuki Oden inflicts further damage on Kaido..."
"That will be the best time to strike."
The Vice Admiral Satori was happening and nodded in agreement.
"But, Mr. Garp— "
Another Vice Admiral hesitated,
"The CP0 chief... he keeps urging us to take action, saying it's an order from the Five Elders."
Garp chuckled.
"The CP0 Chief? That guy Roy hacked to pieces?"
"Let him wait."
"I don't need his meddling in my battles."
The Vice Admiral fell silent.
Garp continued chewing on his senbei, his gaze fixed on the distant battlefield.
There, the members of Kaido's Beasts Pirates witnessed Kaido unleashing his full power.
As the overall morale of the crew rose, the situation began to tilt in favor of the Beasts Pirates.
Roy and Tesoro remained suspended in the air, looking down at everything below.
"Wait a little longer..."
Garp muttered to himself,
"Wait a little longer..."
On the battlefield, Roy's brow twitched slightly.
His Observation Haki enveloped the entire battlefield and the surrounding area.
Just now, he detected an extremely faint fluctuation.
The fluctuation, though fleeting, did not escape his perception.
That was an aura of Haki.
Moreover, there was more than one.
Roy's lips curled into a cold smile.
The navy was indeed hiding there.
He turned his head and looked at Tesoro.
"Can you feel it?"
Tesoro nodded.
"Hmm. There are at least thirty auras over in the mountains, and they're all very strong."
"The one leading the group... is Garp."
Roy nodded.
"Let them wait."
"They'll strike when they think we've let our guard down."
Tesoro grinned.
"Shall we play along with them?"
"No rush."
Roy shook his head.
"We will remain inactive unless the navy intervenes."
Tesoro nodded and said nothing more.
The two remained suspended in the air, silently watching the battlefield below.
Meanwhile, in the distant mountains and forests, Garp continued munching on senbei, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
On this blood-stained battlefield, the three forces have formed a delicate balance.
Whoever makes the first move is likely to become the target of public criticism.
So everyone is waiting.
Waiting for an opening.
Waiting for an opportunity.
Waiting for the moment that can deliver a fatal blow and completely change the course of the battle.
The sunlight gradually rose, shining on the battlefield littered with blood and corpses.
A new storm is brewing silently.