"Is this necessary?" Kaido grunted behind me, sounding more than a bit annoyed as a pair of chains was clamped around his wrists, "I agreed to follow you, but you're pushing your luck, brat!"
"'Brat?' I think you mean 'Your Highness,'" I glanced over my shoulder, smirking as Kaido's face just twisted at my words, "To be blunt, I don't really give a shit if you truly respect me. What I do care about is that you at least pretend to respect me."
I didn't expect Kaido to just roll over and become a loyal dog, even if his alternative to bending the knee was death. He was still a Yonko, and until today, had believed himself to be possibly the strongest being across this entire world.
Now, he was walking behind me, head down, with a chain around both his neck and wrists. The situation was certainly humiliating, and I didn't expect him to take it without any argument. And, that was fine with me - as long as Kaido followed my orders and was a productive member of my Kingdom, he didn't need to love or respect me.
But what he did need to do was hide his disrespect. I wasn't so arrogant as to demand that he throw himself head-over-heels to please me, but I did expect him to showcase to the rest of the Beast Pirates what was going on here. That he was bending the knee, showing his submission, and completely giving his life to my Kingdom.
"You can think I'm a brat, and call me whatever you want in private, but right now…" I narrowed my eyes, my smirk fading as my face became deathly serious and [King's Aura] flared to life, "I am your new King. Your new Master. Refer to me accordingly, and make sure your subordinates know it. If your actions won't show them that they have no choice but to submit, then maybe chopping off your head in front of them will, y'know?"
Kaido stared back at me for a moment, his face still twisted in disgruntled annoyance. Then, slowly, he nodded as his lips twitched up a bit.
"Hah. You remind me of an old bastard I used to know. He cared way too much about what everyone thought, too…" He chuckled, but agreed as he continued, "Fine, Your Highness. Annoying brat…"
"Good. We're about to be there, so don't mess up," I hummed, narrowing my eyes as we approached our destination - the Flower Capital.
Behind me, Tiamat was towering overhead in her massive dragon form, and the three 'All Stars' were walking behind Kaido in chains as well. What happened next would be a pivotal moment, and I needed to ensure everything went smoothly.
My forces had been ordered to gather anyone of importance - both in the structure of Wano and the Beast Pirates - at the Flower Capital, and they were about to be introduced to their new King. Appearances were important, and if I wanted them to bend the knee quickly and willingly, I needed to show them just how deadly their new King was.
As we approached the official entrance of the Flower Capital, which was an overhead arch covered with various beautiful flowers, I spotted the sight my forces had set up for my arrival. I didn't know who among my generals was a showman, but as I looked forward, one of them definitely was.
The orange-brown dirt road ahead of me was clear for the most part, but to the sides, as if they were a crowd waiting for a parade to arrive, were layers upon layers of people. There was seemingly no discernment between sides, as those robes were standing next to those in Beast Pirate uniforms. Mixed in with them were occasional soldiers from my army, who were in place to ensure that no one stepped out of line.
But, instead of cheering as one would do when a parade arrived, the faces of the citizens and pirates were instead set in stone. An eerie silence rang out into the air, with only the steps of myself, Kaido, and the three All Stars breaking it - along with the constant boom that came with each of Tiamat's massive steps.
Some of the people were staring down at the ground, their eyes not daring to even look in my direction, while others were much more confident - staring me down with glares as their home was conquered in a single day. But, whether they were angry, sad, or scared, they didn't say a word. The silence stretched out, and I enjoyed it.
As we reached the arch, Tiamat stopped, waiting outside the Flower Capital as her form was much too large to fit in the narrow streets. I continued forward without her, keeping my gaze and my expression blank as I casually strode through the streets.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see varying degrees of reactions to the sight. Beast Pirates were filled with disbelief and horror as their leaders walked behind me submissively, while citizens were filled with equal levels of disbelief, but awe instead of horror as they watched their former tyrant follow me.
"I-Is that really…"
"It's Kaido… that's really Kaido!"
Soft murmurs came around us as we walked through the dirt street, heading towards the large, still-burning castle at the end where Orochi had lived. I tuned out most of them, as they were mostly just repeated words of disbelief as their entire world was flipped on its head.
Yesterday, Kaido had ruled over Wano with an iron fist. His reign had no end in sight - he was one of the most influential beings in the entire world, he had the strength to back up his rule, and there was no hope in sight.
Today, he walked, head down, in chains. The World's Strongest Creature had been defeated, and Wano couldn't believe their eyes.
We reached the end of the road after only a few minutes of walking, and I resisted looking a bit dryly at the sight ahead of me. I had wanted such a showcase, but I still felt a bit weird as I took in the sight of Sirzechs, Azazel, Ragnat, and Falibum on their knees. Their heads were bowed, their eyes locked onto the floor, and they didn't look up even as I arrived.
I paused as I arrived at the area they had set up below the burning castle, which was just a small, cleared-out circular area within the crowd of onlookers. The parade-esque line died out behind them, finishing off in a circular manner as the crowd stood nervously a few feet behind the kneeling figures.
I glanced to the side of my kneeling subordinates and took in the form of the 'important figures' I had ordered them to gather throughout the conquest. I didn't know exactly where in the timeline we were, and I didn't have an encyclopedic knowledge of every person in Wano worth speaking to, so I had done the best I could.
We were evidently before Momonosuke and Kin'emon arrived from the past, as Kiku was missing from the group, but besides them, the group in front of me was pretty decent. The farthest to the left, who was standing tall and barely holding herself back from waving at me, was Yamato.
She didn't necessarily need to be here, as she served the same purpose Kaido was - showing the Beast Pirates that their leaders were defeated, and submitting to my rule. But, she'd come to the Flower Capital to get in on the action after Kaido was defeated, and probably strong-armed Sirzechs into letting her be one of the examples. The woman wanted to be involved in pretty much anything she could be, simply because it was 'fun.'
Next to her was a much more nervous woman, as Kouzuki Hiyori stood stiffly, looking like a mixture of nervous, hopeful, confused, and disbelieving. The woman was as beautiful as I imagined she would be, and was in a fancy-looking, elegant green robe.
She was here to serve as an example for the old regime - for those who still followed the memory of Oden, and who believed that a rebellion would come to save them. As the sole descendant of Oden, even if most of Wano didn't know it, her submission was necessary.
To her side was a much shorter figure, and one who looked much less elegant than the robe-wearing Hiyori. Shimotsuki Yasuie was a shell of his former image, as instead of a towering, intimidating Samurai, the elderly man was instead a small, short, and fragile-looking old man. Instead of fancy clothes, he was wearing just a dirty and torn-up robe. You wouldn't know it from his image, but the man was a former Daimyo, and one of the lifelines of the 'leftovers' town - Ebisu.
He was someone who wasn't necessary, and I had told my forces as much if they couldn't find him in all the chaos, but a nice addition to have. The man, despite not holding any real power or authority, had wormed his way into the hearts of the 'leftovers' in Ebisu, and they would ride for him.
To his side was a much more respectable elder, as compared to the short and feeble Yasuie, Kouzuki Sukiyaki, the father of Oden, was taller and more muscular. He had a face set in stone, though his usual expression was broken a bit as he stared at the chained Kaido with wide eyes. The father of Oden's identity wasn't widely known at the moment, but soon, it would be spread throughout the region.
Finally, to his side was a duo of men - one who looked much more human-like than the other. The first was Denjiro, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, and the current bodyguard of Orochi. Next to him was a figure I was already familiar with, as Kawamatsu was standing much less stiffly than his fellow Scabbard.
The Scabbard's inclusion was pretty clear - to drive home what was truly happening. The hope of rebelling against Kaido was dead in the water, because a rebellion wasn't needed anymore. Kaido was gone, and whether Wano liked it or not, their new King wasn't someone who could be risen up against.
And, the final finishing touch of the showcase was a man lying on his stomach in front of the line, and at my feet as I stopped in my tracks. His hands were clamped together in chains, and a seastone collar was around his neck.
"Y-You have no idea who you're messing with, bastards! K-Kaido won't let this slide! Kaido will come- w-wait…" Orochi shouted at the kneeling form of Sirzechs for a moment before his eyes glanced over and realized who was standing over his prone form, "K…Kaido?!"
"Shogun Orochi," I said bluntly, staring down at the man with a stony expression, "I am Valon, King of Beasts, and ruler of the Underworld. I'm here to add Wano to the Beast Kingdom. Do you surrender?"
My words were blunt and to the point, and if Orochi wanted to keep his life, he'd be just as blunt. However, I didn't expect him to be, and I was quickly proven right.
"S-Surrender?! What the hell are you talking about?! K-Kaido, don't just stand there! Do something!" Orochi shouted, turning his gaze to Kaido, who was simply standing behind me as he cast a shadow over the entire area.
In response to Orochi's words, I simply shifted my body and turned to face the Yonko. Then, all I needed was one word.
"Kneel."
For a moment, there was silence as Jack, Queen, and King glared at me, looking for a second like they wouldn't comply. Then, Kaido slowly fell down onto his knees, his eyes staring at the dirt road.
"Yes, Your Highness."
There was barely concealed venom in Kaido's words, and I could tell he hated saying them, but he didn't argue back nonetheless. He stuck to the order I had given on the way here and simply knelt in submission. A moment later, seeing their leader give in to my demands, the three All Stars followed his lead.
"K-Kaido…" Orochi muttered, his eyes wide, and he wasn't the only one. Inhales came from the crowd around me, and from the line of figures behind Orochi, but no one spoke. The area became deathly silent as I turned back to Orochi.
"The Yonko Kaido has been defeated, and the Beast Pirates hold no power anymore. Wano is no longer theirs, nor is it yours. It is mine," I stated simply, taking a step towards Orochi's downed form as a small grin spread across my face, and he shifted with fear, "Whether you were a Shogun, a noble, a courtesan, or a beggar doesn't matter now. You are all mine, and you'll do as I say."
"W-What are you-g-guh!" Orochi started as I bent down, casually wrapped my hand around his throat, and lifted the former Shogun into the air.
"Your former tyrant is gone, but that doesn't mean you're free. This land, and all of its people, are mine to command. Going against me won't be met with just imprisonment," I said coldly, pulling Orochi towards me as he gasped in my grip, "Those who disobey will become nothing but food."
"W-Wh-What a-are-GRAH!" Orochi tried to speak between his gasps, but barely got out two words before I reached his shoulder. My teeth buried into his flesh, and in one bloody, gruesome display, I ripped his flesh from his body.
Breaths got caught in their throats as the citizens of Wano watched the display, staring with wide eyes as Orochi let out one final loud, pained shriek, before his body started to disintegrate into nothing but blue dust. To my side, a notification appeared, but I paid it no mind.
The display was dramatic, but it was also necessary. I wouldn't be a cruel ruler, and Wano would find itself flourishing much more under my rule than it had suffered under Kaido's, but for any hiccups to be avoided, I needed to be harsh.
I was a benevolent King, and the citizens would come to respect me in due time, but right now, I needed them to fear me. I needed any thoughts of rebellion to leave their minds, and for them to let me take over Wano as efficiently as possible.
"This country is now mine, and soon, the entire world will be. You will either kneel before me, or you will…" I reached up, casually wiping some blood from my lips.
Then, I turned my gaze down the line of stiff and fearful individuals in front of me. [King's Aura] flared to life, and my presence overpowered even the shadow the giant form of Kaido was casting. Slowly, my eyes met each of the figures - moving from Kawamatsu to Denjiro, then Sukiyaki, then Yasuie, then Hiyori, and then, finally, Yamato.
"Die."
The order had been given, and the response was immediate. Unsurprisingly, Yamato fell to her knees first, and then Kawamatsu. They had known this was coming, and they had already willingly accepted it.
After them came Yasuie. Then, Denjiro. Then, Sukiyaki. And then, finally, Hiyori. All of the figures kneeled before me, their faces covered in various emotions ranging from awe and respect to fear and horror.
The image was clear - whether they were someone as grand as Kaido, or someone as weak and feeble as Yasuie, all would kneel before the Beast King.
In one day, Wano had been conquered.
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AN: Thank you for reading! The next chapter will be posted in around a week!
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