Oden listened to the footsteps behind him gradually fading away, his smile deepened. Then, he raised his head and looked at Kaido.
Kaido remained standing at the edge of the pit, carrying the Hassaikai, looking down at him.
Behind him, the officers of the Beasts Pirates had already gathered around.
Jhin, Queen, Jack, Black Maria, Ulti, Page One...
They surrounded Oden, making escape impossible.
"Hehehehe..."
Kaido laughed, a laugh tinged with sarcasm.
" Kozuki Oden, you're quite the actor."
"I'll give my life to save those defeated soldiers."
"Do you really think they can escape?"
Oden did not answer.
He simply gripped his twin swords tightly, staring intently at Kaido.
That look in his eyes was chillingly calm.
Kaido frowned slightly.
He had thought that Oden would be angry, desperate, and beg for mercy.
But there was nothing there.
Only peace.
That calmness stirred up an indescribable feeling within Kaido.
It's not unease.
It's... complex.
" Kozuki Oden."
Kaido's smile vanished, and he said in a deep voice,
"I admit, you are a worthy opponent."
"If you are willing to surrender and submit to me, I may spare your life."
" Wano Country can have a place for you."
Oden looked at him and smiled.
That smile was contemptuous and resolute.
Kaido.
"Someone like you will never understand."
In this world, there are some things more important than life.
Kaido a few seconds.
Then, slowly raise the Hassaikai.
The Conqueror's Haki, concentrated to its ultimate form.
Dark red arcs of electricity pulsed wildly across the spiked club.
"Since that's the case--"
"Then go die."
" Thunder Bagua!!!"
The Hassaikai, with their destructive power, crashed down on Oden!
This attack brought together all of Kaido's power!
Enough to shatter mountains and tear the earth apart!
Oden watched the approaching spiked club, there was no fear in his eyes, only relief.
His gaze passed over Kaido, over the battlefield, and looked towards the distant horizon.
There, in the direction of Kuri.
Sometimes, with the Momonosuke, there is Hiyori.
His home is there.
And then there are the subordinates who are evacuating.
"Hour..."
He murmured,
"Sorry..."
" Momonosuke... Hiyori... Grow up well..."
" Wano Country... will definitely open its borders..."
The Hassaikai are just around the corner.
Oden gripped his twin swords tightly, his eyes blazing with a final fighting spirit.
Even if I die, I'll die standing.
Even if it means death, I will --
Swing the final blow!
The Hassaikai, carrying the destructive power of everything, were less than three feet above Oden's head!
The violent shockwave had already made Oden's blood-soaked body sway precariously!
At that very moment--
Oden's eyes suddenly lit up!
That was the light of burning life's very essence!
That was a resolute act, a final, desperate strike that consumed the very soul!
"Peach Blossom Spring - Ten-Fist Fist!!!"
Kozuki Oden roared, his twin swords clashing as his Conqueror's Haki erupted in full force!
Dark red arcs of electricity, like wildly dancing serpents, erupted from his body and shot straight into the sky!
That light illuminated the entire night sky!
That aura caused the onlookers, the Beasts Pirates Cadres, to all change color!
"What?!"
Jin's pupils constricted sharply, and the black flames flickered violently!
"This... this Haki... is even stronger than before!"
Queen's obese body trembled violently, and he instinctively took a half step back!
Jack, Black Maria, Ulti, Page One, and others also looked horrified!
They could clearly sense that Oden's aura was extremely weak, and his life force was on the verge of being extinguished.
How could he possibly still unleash such power?!
"That madman!"
On the battlefield, everyone stopped moving.
The pirates forgot to cheer, and the samurai forgot to weep.
Everyone stared intently at the two figures about to collide in the center of the battlefield.
The ground beneath Oden's feet shattered inch by inch!
The raging Conqueror's Haki sent the rubble flying everywhere!
His twin swords, crossed into a cross, embody the full power of his life's cultivation!
His eyes were as bright as the stars!
A relieved smile played on his lips.
"This slash--"
"It's for Wano Country!!!"
Kozuki Oden roared and swung his twin swords!
A cross-shaped slash shot out from his blade!
That slash was no ordinary slashing wave.
It embodies all of Oden's strength, his spirit, and his life!
It shone with a blinding light, piercing the night sky, and roared toward Kaido!
Wherever the slash passed, the air distorted, and the ground was plowed with a deep trench!
Kaido's pupils constricted sharply!
He never expected that Oden, who was already at his limit, could still unleash such an attack!
The power of that strike was enough to threaten him!
"Hehehe! Such power! I acknowledge you, Oden!"
Kaido, his eyes also blazing with fighting spirit.
He channeled all his Haki into the Hassaikai and slammed it down to meet the cross-shaped slash!
boom--!!!!!!!
A deafening roar erupted on the battlefield!
A violent shockwave spread out in a ring shape!
The surrounding ground was forcibly ripped off!
Countless pebbles and dust were whipped up by the shockwave, obscuring the sky and the sun!
Those pirates and samurai who were closer were hit by the shockwave and were sent flying backward with screams!
Even powerful figures like Jhin and Queen had to activate their Haki to stabilize themselves!
Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, two Doriki are clashing violently!
Hassaikai vs. Cross Slash!
Conqueror's Haki vs. Conqueror's Haki!
Strength vs. belief!
Stalemate!
One second, two seconds, three seconds--
Click!
A soft cracking sound was heard.
Kaido's pupils suddenly contracted!
That cross-shaped slash was gradually tearing through his defenses!
"Impossible!!!"
Kaido roared, desperately channeling his Haki, trying to suppress the attack!
But Oden's strikes grew stronger and stronger!
That strike carried Oden's lifelong belief—
Protect the beliefs of your subordinates!
The belief in founding the nation!
The Kozuki Family's belief in glory!
These beliefs converged into an invisible force that transcended the limits of Haki.
It transcends the limits of power, it transcends the limits of life!
boom--!!!
Finally, Kaido's defenses were completely breached!
A cross-shaped slash landed squarely on his chest!
puff--!!!
Blood gushed out!
A deep, bone-revealing wound stretched from Kaido's left shoulder all the way to his right abdomen!
Several ribs were severed, and the pulsating internal organs could even be seen!
"Ugh--!!!"
Kaido grunted, his massive body staggering backward, each step leaving deep footprints in the ground!
He looked down at his chest, where a hideous wound was gushing blood, instantly staining his entire upper body red!
Even with his recovery ability, such a severe injury will take time to heal!
He will be unable to fight at full strength for a short period of time!
The battlefield was deathly silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, looking at the scene in disbelief.
The arrogance on the faces of the Beasts Pirates ' officers vanished completely, replaced by utter shock.
The look in his eyes behind the mask shifted violently.
Queen's mouth was agape enough to fit a fist.
Jack, Black Maria, Ulti, Page One... everyone was frozen in place.
Kaido, the boss... is injured?
Kaido boss who's known as the "King of One-on-One Battles"... is injured?!
To be wounded like this by a person who was already at their last gasp and on the verge of death?!