The loud crash of Queen falling to the ground still echoed through the valley.
The smoke and dust in the square slowly dissipated, revealing the obese figure lying in the center of the ruins.
One of the once invincible All-Stars was now lying on the ground like a dead dog, muttering something unconsciously, probably about the song he hadn't finished singing.
The released samurai raised their weapons high, tears welling in their eyes.
"Twenty years... a full twenty years..."
Hyogoro knelt on the ground, trembling, and scooped up a handful of dirt with both hands.
That was the soil of Wano Country, the soil he hadn't been able to touch even during his twenty years of imprisonment.
He pressed the mud to his forehead, and murky old tears streamed down his wrinkled face, dripping onto the gravel beneath him.
" Oden, did you see that? The Beasts Pirates... have finally fallen."
The other warriors followed suit, kneeling on the ground. Some wailed loudly, some wept silently, and some roared to the sky, pouring out all the anger and resentment they had suppressed for twenty years.
Luffy stood atop the collapsed watchtower, looking down at the scene.
He didn't grin foolishly as usual; he simply watched the weeping samurai quietly, the shadow of his Straw Hat obscuring his expression.
Kid leaned against the ruins, arms crossed, and snorted.
"A bunch of old men, crying like this."
But his clenched fist betrayed his true feelings. He saw his own reflection in these samurai, and if Luffy and his crew hadn't arrived, he probably would have ended up like the samurai.
Zoro sheathed his three swords and walked to Luffy's side:
What are you thinking about?
I wasn't thinking about anything.
Luffy looked up, a smile appearing beneath his Straw Hat.
"I just feel like we should beat Kaido next."
"Whee!"
" Straw Hat is the head of the household."
Luo's voice came from below.
He stood beside Queen, Kikoku on his shoulder, a rare look of ease on his face.
"What should we do with this guy?"
Luffy jumped down from the watchtower and landed next to Queen.
He looked down at the unconscious fat man, tilted his head, and thought for a moment.
"That's it. We've already beaten them to a pulp anyway."
Luo's lips twitched slightly. "You really are generous."
"I'd rather beat up Kaido than him."
Luffy spoke in a very calm tone, as if he were asking what he wanted to eat for dinner.
But those who know him understand that this calm tone actually means he's serious.
More serious than ever.
"Hey, Straw Hat Boy."
Kid strode over, his massive metal arm reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.
Don't think I owe you a favor this time.
Kaido is my prey, don't even think about taking him by yourself.
Luffy looked at him and grinned. "Let's see who beats him up first."
"You little brat--"
The two were about to start arguing again when Zoro and Law held them down at the same time.
The cheers in the square gradually subsided.
Kin'emon and the Nine Red Scabbards began organizing the released samurai to clean up the battlefield, recruit the surrendered guards, and treat their wounded comrades.
Franky and Usopp discovered a large quantity of Seastone in Queen's office.
These are all raw ores that haven't been transported away yet, enough to make hundreds of shackles.
"This trip was worthwhile."
Franky loaded the Seastone onto his makeshift transport vehicle, which he had cobbled together from the ruins, and gave it a thumbs up.
Nami had already started converting these Seastone into Beli in her mind, her eyes gleaming with gold.
Sanji walked over with a tray, having somehow managed to prepare several decent-looking dishes from ingredients he'd somehow acquired on the battlefield.
"Miss Nami ~ This is a special post-war meal prepared especially for you~"
Nami, unusually, didn't hit him; she took the plate and said thank you.
Sanji froze on the spot as if he had been electrocuted, and then started spinning around wildly.
Chopper is bandaging the wounded samurai.
He carried his first-aid kit on his back throughout the battle; it still contained enough bandages and ointments.
Brook helped by applying cold compresses to the injured person to relieve the pain using the freezing energy of the Soul Solid.
Apoo leaned against the wall, watching the lively scene before him, and shrugged.
"Although I hate to admit it, working with the Straw Hat Boy is definitely Kaido."
Bege nodded, a cigar dangling from her lips.
"At least he won't treat my men like bowling balls when he's drunk."
Hawkins flipped through the tarot cards, revealing the upright "World" card, a very faint smile playing on his lips.
Drake remained silent, but the hesitation in his eyes was much less than before.
Luo stood in the center of the square, looking around.
The Straw Hat Pirates, the Nine Red Scabbards, the Supernovas Alliance, and the released samurai of Wano Country.
This rabble took over Udon Prison in just a few hours, defeating one of the All-Stars with a bounty of over 1.3 billion.
He quickly calculated his next move in his mind.
Udon is just the beginning; the real target is Onigashima.
Kaido will not give up easily; the main force of the Beasts Pirates is far from being crippled.
Queen's defeat will inevitably provoke Kaido's wrath, and the next confrontation will not be as simple as dealing with one of the All-Stars.
What's the next step?
Sanji walked over to Law and handed him a cup of coffee.
Luo took the sip, and the bitter liquid flowed down his throat, slightly invigorating his weary spirit.
"Let's go back to the Oden residence to rest first."
News of the battle in Udon will definitely reach Onigashima, Kaido will likely take action.
We must prepare for the next step before he realizes what's happening.
Sanji nodded, about to say something, when a deafening dragon roar suddenly echoed from the distant horizon.
Everyone looked up at the same time.
A giant blue dragon soared into the sky from the direction of Onigashima, piercing straight into the clouds.
Its terrifying power soared straight into the sky.
Even from a great distance, that fierce aura could be clearly heard.
The expressions on everyone's faces in the square changed instantly.
Having just finished fighting Queen, the wounded haven't even had time to be fully bandaged. If Kaido were to attack now, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Let's retreat!"
"Let's leave here first, and discuss how to deal with Kaido after everyone has rested!"
Luo's suggestion was immediately accepted by everyone, and the group hurriedly evacuated towards the perimeter of the prison.
Meanwhile, at the Onigashima Grand Hall.
Kaido was about to take off, Roy stopped him.
" Roy! What are you doing stopping me?!"
His voice shook the beams of the main hall.
Roy walked in through the main hall entrance, his expression calm as if nothing had happened.
"You're going to Udon?"
"Nonsense! Queen was defeated!"
Straw Hat Boy has escaped from prison!
I'll go and twist all their heads off right now!
Kaido grabbed the Hassaikai and was about to rush out.
"Then what?"
Roy's voice wasn't loud, but Kaido's steps abruptly stopped.
"After you've finished making Udon, what's next?"
Roy walked to the throne, poured himself a glass of wine,
"The mine is destroyed, how will you make Seastone weapons?"
The warriors ran away, Queen was defeated, it's definitely a loss for you.
But if we rush over now and put the battlefield in Udon, even if we win, we'll still lose.
Kaido frowned.
Roy continued, " The Seastone production from the Udon mine accounts for more than 60% of Wano Country's output."
These Seastone are a core resource for us to manufacture weapons and restrain ability users.
If you were to go and fight the Straw Hat Boy in the mine right now, given your destructive power and the chaotic abilities of those Supernovas, how long do you think that mine could last?
Kaido fell silent.
He may be short-tempered, but he's not stupid.
The Seastone Mine is one of the Beasts Pirates' most important assets for establishing themselves in the New World. If the mine is destroyed, it would be like cutting off one of their own arms.
"Then let's wait for them to come to Onigashima?"
Kaido slammed the Hassaikai heavily onto the ground, creating a crater.
Roy nodded:
"Let them come."
Onigashima is our home turf, with a complete defense system, your Beasts Pirates force, and the two of us to hold the line.
It's safer to settle things here than to fight a mess in Udon.
Kaido sat back on his throne, grabbed a new gourd of sake, and took a big gulp.
Seeing that Kaido had been persuaded to back down, Roy turned around and looked at the inland areas of Wano Country in the distance.
In that upcoming final battle, Kaido will beat Luffy to the brink of death as promised, forcing the Awakening of the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika.
Then, the Awakening Luffy will bring Kaido the long-awaited, truly all-out battle.
I can also give myself a try to see if the legendary Nika can put some pressure on me.