Outside, flames soared into the sky.
The pirates are searching everywhere, and shouts of battle are heard all around.
Kozuki Toki neither hid nor ran away.
She went to the stables and led out a white horse.
He mounted his horse and galloped away.
Horse hooves trampled through burning streets, over corpses strewn everywhere, and across this ravaged land.
Finally, she arrived at a high point at the highest point of Kuri.
He reined in his horse and stopped, looking down at the scene below.
The entire Kuri is spread out before your eyes.
Burning streets, kneeling civilians, pirates escorting prisoners, and desperate samurai...
Everything was clearly visible in the firelight.
Kozuki Toki took a deep breath and looked into the distance.
There, in the direction of Oden Castle.
That's where her home is.
There, she and Oden spent the most beautiful time together.
She closed her eyes and let the tears fall.
Then she opened her eyes, and there was no sadness in them, only resolute determination.
"The people of Wano Country-- "
Her voice pierced through the firelight, through the night, through everything.
"Listen to me!"
Below, countless people looked up at the figure standing high above.
The pirates stopped, the people ceased their weeping, and the samurai struggled to lift their heads.
Everyone saw it--
That elegant figure, that white steed, that face gleaming in the firelight.
Kozuki Toki.
Oden's wife.
The hope of Wano Country.
"My husband, Kozuki Oden, has died in battle!"
Her voice echoed in the night sky.
"But he gave his life to protect the hope of Wano Country!"
"And I, with my abilities, sent his bloodline, the Nine Red Scabbards, and the hope of the Kozuki Family —twenty years into the future!"
These words caused an uproar below.
"Twenty years later?!"
"What's the meaning?!"
"What is Lady Toki saying?!"
Ignoring the noise, Kozuki Toki continued speaking loudly.
"Twenty years later, on the night of the full moon, when nine figures fall from the sky—"
" The Wano Country will soon usher in its true opening day!"
"That was a prophecy of fate!"
"That future was bought with my husband's life!"
"That is the dawn that will surely come to Wano Country!"
Her voice, like thunder, resounded throughout the entire Kuri.
Everyone was stunned.
The pirates looked at each other, unsure whether to believe it or not.
The people stared wide-eyed, their eyes gleaming with hope.
The samurai struggled to their feet, staring intently at the figure, their eyes filled with fanaticism.
Twenty years later...
On the night of the full moon...
Nine shadows fell from the sky...
The opening of Wano Country...
This is a prophecy!
It is hope!
It's the future!
On the high platform, three figures silently watched this scene.
Roy, Kaido, Tesoro.
Kaido frowned, staring at the figure riding away on horseback.
"What... is that woman up to?"
Roy didn't speak, he just watched quietly.
A complex light flashed in his eyes.
Kozuki Toki...
The user of the Time-Time Fruit.
The ability to send people into the future.
In the original story, it was at this moment that she sent Momonosuke and the Nine Red Scabbards to Wano Country twenty years later.
Then, she was engulfed by the flames and perished in the fire.
And now--
"Bang!"
A gunshot suddenly rang out from the crowd below!
A bullet pierced the night sky, shooting straight towards the Kozuki Toki high above!
That was a shot fired casually by some pirate.
But this one shot was enough to be fatal.
Kozuki Toki did not dodge, but simply stood quietly on the high ground, letting the bullet come at him.
A relieved smile even appeared on her lips.
Finally... I can see my husband...
However--
Just as the bullet was about to hit her, an invisible force appeared out of nowhere!
The bullet stopped steadily in mid-air, less than an inch away from Kozuki Toki's forehead!
Then, the bullet changed direction and fell to the ground silently.
Kozuki Toki was stunned.
The pirates below were also stunned.
Kaido an eyebrow and turned to look at Roy beside him.
Roy remained with his arms crossed, expressionless.
But his fingers twitched slightly.
" Roy?"
Kaido surprise,
"You intervened to save her?"
"What, you've taken a fancy to this woman?"
Roy glanced at him and said indifferently,
I have no interest in her as a person.
What interests me is the Devil Fruit she possesses.
Kaido paused for a moment, then grinned.
"Hehehe! You little rascal!"
" Time-Time Fruit?"
"That thing can send people to the future?"
Roy nodded.
"Um."
However, it is impossible to go back to the past.
"But this ability can be a lifesaver in crucial moments!"
Roy didn't continue.
But Kaido understood.
He looked at Roy, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
This kid is really a pragmatist.
They don't value feelings or grudges; they only value interests.
But ironically, it is precisely these kinds of people who are the most terrifying.
On the high platform, Kozuki Toki finally came to his senses.
She looked at the black figure below, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
It was him...
It's Roy...
The man who allied with Kaido, the man who caused Oden's death...
Why did he save himself?
Kozuki Toki couldn't understand it.
But she knew she had to complete her final mission.
She took a deep breath and shouted again.
"People of Wano Country!"
Remember my words!
"Twenty years later, on the night of the full moon, when the sky casts nine shadows—"
" The Wano Country will surely open its doors!"
"This is a prophecy of fate!"
"This is the future my husband bought with his life!"
"This is... the dawn of Wano Country!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she yanked the reins sharply.
The white horse neighed loudly, its four hooves leaving the ground, and charged towards the sea of fire below!
" Lady Toki --!!!"
Numerous gasps of surprise rang out.
Kozuki Toki did not look back.
She spurred her horse and galloped into the heart of the inferno.
The firelight engulfed her figure, engulfed the white horse's figure, engulfed everything.
Only that voice still echoed in the night sky.
"Twenty years later... Nine shadows fall from the sky... Wano Country opens its borders..."
"You think it's that easy to die!"
Just as Kozuki Toki rushed into the sea of fire, Roy's Telekinesis enveloped her directly.
Just as Kozuki Toki felt something was wrong, Roy's mental power followed up and knocked her unconscious.
Besides being interested in Kozuki Toki's Devil Fruit ability, Roy also...
What I want most is the secret in the mind of Kozuki Toki, who traveled through eight hundred years to arrive here!
In the end, everything fell silent.
On the high platform, Roy quietly watched the sea of fire, his eyes devoid of emotion.
But a ripple stirred within him.
Twenty years later...
Nine shadows fell from the sky...
The opening of Wano Country...
Will this prophecy come true?
He didn't know.
But he knew that Wano Country would surely face a new storm twenty years from now.
Will he still be here then?
Roy withdrew his gaze and turned around.
Let's go.
"It's over."
The three of them leaped into the air and disappeared into the night.
Behind them, Kuri was still burning.
The firelight illuminated half the sky.
The future of Wano Country will be determined twenty years from now by those who were sent to the future.