The ground was smashed into a crater ten meters in diameter, and smoke and dust filled the air!
" Oden!!!"
Countless exclamations rang out simultaneously!
The smoke and dust cleared.
Oden was seen kneeling on one knee at the bottom of the pit, his two swords planted in the ground to support his body and prevent himself from falling.
His chest was caved in, and blood gushed from his mouth, staining the ground in front of him red.
His eyes were beginning to glaze over, and his body was trembling violently, as if he might collapse at any moment.
But he still didn't fall.
He remained kneeling there, stubbornly holding on.
Kaido, carrying the Hassaikai, slowly walked to the edge of the pit and looked down at him.
The moonlight shone down, illuminating that arrogant face.
"Hehehehe..."
Kaido laughed, a laugh tinged with complexity.
" Kozuki Oden, you really are a tough nut to crack."
"He was beaten all day, took dozens of hits from me, and he's still standing."
"I admit, you are a worthy opponent."
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"But that's the end of it. Wano Country Beasts Pirates now."
Kaido raises the Hassaikai, Conqueror's Haki gathers once more!
"Let me see you off on your final journey!"
Within the circular formation, the samurai closed their eyes in despair.
The Nine Red Scabbards tried their best to rush forward, but their injuries held them back, making it impossible for them to move.
Kin'emon knelt on the ground, tears blurring his vision, and roared.
" Oden --!!!"
At that very moment--
Oden raised his head.
His eyes still showed no fear, no despair.
There is only one thing-
A resolute determination to face death.
With his last ounce of strength, he gripped his twin swords and slowly stood up.
Ame no Habakiri and Enma, their blades crossed, pointed at Kaido.
Fresh blood slid down the blade, dripping onto the ground and blooming into crimson flowers.
" Kaido..."
His voice was hoarse, yet still firm.
"The glory of the Kozuki Family... will never end..."
" Wano Country... will definitely open its borders..."
"My men... will survive..."
And you--
Kozuki Oden took a deep breath, and his Conqueror's Haki erupted once more!
A dark red arc of electricity shot skyward!
That aura was stronger than ever before!
Kaido's pupils contracted slightly.
"Boss! What happened to Oden...?"
"Next should be Kozuki Oden's final blow!"
When Roy suddenly erupted, Oden sensed with his Observation Haki that Oden's life force was rapidly fading away.
" Oden --!!!"
Kin'emon's roar echoed throughout the entire battlefield.
He wanted to rush forward, to stand in front of Oden, to take the impending fatal blow for him.
But he couldn't do it.
His Haki had been completely exhausted, and his body felt hollowed out; he couldn't even stand up.
He could only kneel there, watching helplessly as that blood-soaked figure faced the invincible enemy alone.
" Oden!!!"
Kikunojo roared as well, tears blurring his vision.
She gripped the broken sword, wanting to rush forward, but Denjiro.
"Your going won't do any good! You'll only distract Oden!"
Denjiro's voice trembled, and his eyes reddened, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to break down.
In his arms, Kawamatsu's breath grew weaker and weaker, and purple poison spots had spread to his neck.
Kanjuro's severed arm was still bleeding, and his face was ashen, yet he still gripped his paintbrush tightly, standing in front of the crowd.
Raizo leaned against the wall, trembling all over. His scrolls were exhausted, but he still kept his eyes open, staring at the battlefield ahead.
Inuarashi lay in a pool of blood, the bleeding from his severed leg had stopped—not because it had healed, but because it had dried up. His consciousness was blurred, yet he continued to murmur.
" Oden- sama... Oden- sama..."
The Cat Viper lay beside him, equally dazed, yet it gripped his hand tightly, refusing to let go.
Izo, gripping the samurai sword he had found, stood at the forefront of everyone, covered in blood, yet his eyes remained sharp.
Shimotsuki Yasuie, leading the remnants of the Shimotsuki Family, formed the final defensive perimeter, their faces etched with despair and tragic resolve.
And in front of them, the figure that everyone looked up to was using his last bit of strength to slowly stand up.
Kozuki Oden.
He was covered in blood, his chest was caved in, and he had countless broken ribs.
His breath was extremely weak, and the flame of his life was flickering, as if it would be extinguished at any moment.
But he remained standing.
He was still holding the knife.
It still stands in front of everyone.
Ame no Habakiri and Enma, their blades crossed, pointed at Kaido.
Blood slowly slid down the blade, dripping onto the ground and blooming into crimson flowers.
His gaze swept over his subordinates behind him.
Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Raizo, Kikunojo, Izo, Inuarashi, Cat Viper, Kawamatsu, Denjiro...
There was also Shimotsuki Yasuie, those young samurai whose names I don't know, and those who gave everything for Wano Country.
Every face is deeply etched in his heart.
"Gentlemen..."
Oden spoke, his voice hoarse, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"Obey my command--"
"Retreat immediately."
"Take those who can still walk and leave this place."
"Return to Kuri and defend Oden Castle."
"To preserve the flame of Wano Country."
"Waiting... for the next person capable of founding a nation."
Everyone was stunned by these words.
" Oden!"
Kin'emon roared,
"What nonsense are you talking about! How could we possibly abandon you!"
"We'll go together! We'll die together!"
Yes! We'll go together!
The others also roared and struggled to their feet, trying to rush forward.
But Oden raised his hand and stopped them.
"That's an order."
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"The head of the Kozuki Family, in his capacity as head of the family, hereby issues the following order—"
" The Nine Red Scabbards, lead your remaining forces and retreat immediately."
There must be no errors.
Kin'emon trembled all over, tears welling up in his eyes.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out.
Kikunojo covered his mouth to stop himself from crying out loud, but tears still streamed down his face.
Kanjuro's hand holding the paintbrush trembled, and the blood seeped from his severed arm even faster.
Raizo closed his eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid down his cheeks.
Izo gritted his teeth, the veins on his hand gripping the knife bulging.
Denjiro held the dying Kawamatsu in his arms, his head bowed, his shoulders trembling violently.
Inuarashi and Cat Viper were speechless, only able to hold hands tightly and weep silently.
Shimotsuki Yasuie took a deep breath, slowly knelt down, and kowtowed deeply to Oden.
" Oden... Your humble servant obeys."
His voice was hoarse, filled with endless sorrow.
Behind them, the samurai of the Shimotsuki Family also knelt and kowtowed.
Then came the young warriors.
One by one, they knelt down and kowtowed to the blood-soaked figure in farewell.
The sound of weeping echoed in the night sky.
It was a cry of despair, a cry of helplessness, a cry of watching helplessly as one's lord dies.
Oden watched this scene, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Why are you crying?
His voice was gentle.
"My Kozuki Oden, has been worthwhile."
"I've been to the sea, seen the world, made friends, fought in wars, and loved."
"He has a wife, children, and a bunch of foolish subordinates like you."
That's enough.
He turned around, his back to everyone, and faced Kaido.
Let's go.
Don't look back.
Kin'emon gritted his teeth and mustered all his strength to stand up.
He helped Kanjuro, Kanjuro helped Raizo, Raizo helped Kikunojo...
The Nine Red Scabbards, supporting each other, began to slowly retreat.
Shimotsuki Yasuie, with his remaining troops, stood guard on both sides.
More than a thousand remaining soldiers began to retreat to the edge of the battlefield.
But they didn't turn back.
Because that was Oden's order.
Because their lord gave his life to give them the chance to live.
They cannot be let down.
As the footsteps behind him faded into the distance, Oden's smile deepened.