The battle raged from dawn till late at night.
The moonlight, like water, spilled over this land soaked in blood.
The once lush and green plains have now been turned into a scorched wasteland.
The ground was riddled with deep pits and cracks, and broken swords and shattered armor were scattered everywhere.
And -- layers upon layers of corpses.
Of the original three thousand Kozuki warriors, only a little over a thousand remain.
They formed a final circle, back to back, blades pointing outwards, their breathing heavy.
Yet, an unquenchable fighting spirit still burned in his eyes.
However, it was clear to everyone that defeat was inevitable.
In the center of the circular formation, half of the Nine Red Scabbards were severely injured.
Inuarashi's left leg was torn off by Jin's pterosaur claws!
He knelt on one knee, his severed leg a bloody mess, yet he still brandished his rapier, desperately protecting his companions behind him.
" Inuarashi!"
The Cat Viper roared and tried to charge, but it was entangled in the Black Maria's spider silk and could not move.
"Don't come any closer!"
Inuarashi gritted his teeth, slashing through the incoming pirate weapon with a single blow, his voice hoarse.
"I can still fight!"
Anyone could see that he could barely stand; his pale face and trembling body betrayed him with every swing of his knife.
Kawamatsu lay in Denjiro's arms, his body glowing an unnatural purple.
Queen's virus was raging through his body; his breathing was growing weaker and weaker, and his lips had turned bluish-purple.
Denjiro desperately tried to force the antidote into his mouth, but to little avail.
Kin'emon knelt on the ground, leaning on his sword with both hands, panting heavily.
His Haki had been completely exhausted; his body felt hollowed out, and he didn't even have the strength to stand up.
He stared at the figure still fighting in the center of the battlefield, his eyes reddening and his teeth grinding together.
Kanjuro, having lost an arm, used his remaining hand to hold a paintbrush-like sword, standing in front of the crowd.
Raizo covered in wounds, had exhausted his scrolls, and leaned against the wall, panting.
Kikunojo's sword was broken, but he held onto the broken half and refused to take a single step back.
Cat Viper was also covered in wounds, his Sulong form long gone, and he lay beside Inuarashi, panting weakly.
Hyogoro died in battle.
To cover the retreat of the young samurai, the big boss of the Wano Country underworld led the last group of underworld experts in a head-on charge against the Beasts Pirates ' formation.
He fought with all his might, killing seventeen pirates and repelling two real fighters, before finally being pierced through the chest by Queen's laser cannon.
Even on his deathbed, he remained standing, the blade pointed in the direction of the enemy.
"Boys... live on..."
These were his last words.
The Shimotsuki Yasuie, along with the remnants of the Shimotsuki Family, guarded the outer perimeter of the circular formation.
Despite being covered in wounds, he stood firmly at the front of the battle, his aged yet still sharp eyes fixed on the enemy ahead.
At the very front of the circular formation, Kozuki Oden was covered in blood, some of it his own, some of his enemies', making it impossible to distinguish between them.
The wound on his chest, inflicted by Kaido, bled with every swing of his sword.
His movements were no longer as swift and fierce as before; his speed had decreased, his power had weakened, and each strike seemed to require the utmost effort from his entire body.
" Oden!!!"
Kin'emon roared, trying to rush forward, but Kikunojo held him down firmly.
"Your going won't do any good! You'll only distract Oden!"
Kin'emon trembled all over, tears mingling with blood as they streamed down his face.
They all knew that Oden was risking his life to buy them time to retreat.
But...
Can they back down?
Ahead, the Beasts Pirates ' formation, like an iron torrent, completely surrounded the battlefield.
Kaido stood at the very front, his massive body like a mountain, unleashing his Conqueror's Haki without reservation, making everyone feel suffocated.
His condition contrasted sharply with that of Oden.
The power gained from the Bloodline Transplantation gave him physical strength far exceeding that of ordinary people.
After a day of fierce fighting, Kaido's breathing remained steady, his muscles were still taut, his wounds were healing rapidly, and his attacks grew increasingly ferocious.
Behind them were Jhin, Queen, Jack, Black Maria, Ulti, Page One...
All the cadres stood in a row, each exuding a terrifying aura.
Although the three thousand pirates also suffered casualties, they still held an absolute numerical advantage at this moment.
The members of the Beasts Pirates, like a pack of wolves, stared at their dying prey within the circular formation, their eyes filled with bloodthirsty excitement.
"Giggle giggle giggle!!!"
Kaido's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the entire battlefield.
He carried the Hassaikai, looking down at Oden with a mocking gaze.
" Oden! How long are you going to keep struggling?!"
"Look at those people behind you! Broken legs, poisoned, exhausted, dead!"
You think you can protect them?!
You can't protect anyone!
Kozuki Oden did not answer, gripping his twin swords tightly, his eyes fixed on Kaido, unwavering in their gaze.
There is only one thing-
The unwavering commitment to protecting one's subordinates.
The obsession with opening the Wano Country to Wano.
We must not allow the Kozuki Family's legacy to be severed by this obsession.
" Thunder Bagua!"
Kaido strikes again!
The Hassaikai, imbued with Conqueror's Haki and carrying the power to destroy everything, slammed down towards Oden!
Oden crossed his twin swords and raised them above his head!
boom--!!!
A deafening roar!
The ground beneath Oden's feet collapsed again, sending him flying back more than ten meters, his feet carving two deep furrows in the ground!
"Puff--!"
Kozuki Oden knelt on one knee, spitting out a mouthful of blood!
" Oden!!!"
Numerous gasps of surprise erupted behind them.
Oden did not turn back.
He simply stood up slowly, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and gripped his twin swords tightly.
Then, he stepped forward again, blocking everyone's path.
Kaido looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Then, he grinned and laughed wildly again.
"Great! That's awesome!"
"I'll see how long you can hold out!"
Kaido unleashed his Hassaikai, like a raging storm!
Oden fought with all his might to block, and each collision aggravated the wound on his chest, causing blood to seep out continuously!
His movements grew slower and slower, his strength waned, his body trembled, the blade trembled, even his breath trembled.
Within the circular formation, the warriors gazed at that retreating figure, tears streaming down their faces.
That was their lord.
That is the hope of Wano Country.
That is the pride of the Kozuki Family.
He could have escaped.
He could have broken through with his remaining troops, preserved his strength, and made a comeback later.
But he didn't.
He chose to stay and face the invincible enemy alone, to fight for their survival.
" Oden..."
Some people knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Some people bit their lips until they bled, gripping the knife tightly, but were powerless to do anything.
Some people closed their eyes, unwilling to look anymore.
On the battlefield, only the roar of clashing metal and increasingly heavy breathing remained.
finally--
Kaido once again wielded the Hassaikai, his Conqueror's Haki reaching its peak!
" Thunder Bagua - Largest Wheel!!!"
boom--!!!
This blow struck Oden in the chest!
Click--!!!
The sound of ribs cracking was clearly audible!
Oden's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the front of the circular formation!
boom--!!!