"Floral One-Sword Style!"
The long-dormant swordsman of the Flower Capital made his move once more!
Boom!
The city gate, reinforced with Seastone, shattered on impact.
The sight left Orochi's samurai in stunned silence.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Fire!"
Swords clashed, and arrows rained down in a chaotic storm.
From the inner castle, Fukurokuju observed the scene without a hint of panic. He turned to his subordinate and ordered,
"Bring the prisoners."
...
With a single stroke, Hyogoro's blade slashed through the stunned samurai behind the gate.
In an instant—
Blood and entrails splattered onto the ground, painting it in gruesome shades of red and green.
"Lord Hyogoro, please go and take Orochi's head! Leave this place to me!"
As he cut down an approaching enemy, Daijo grinned, his bloodthirsty gaze locked onto the parapets.
"Follow me! Today, we reclaim Wano!"
"Understood! It's in your hands, Daijo!"
With that, Hyogoro led his men toward the inner castle.
The priority now was clear—
Kill Orochi.
Purge Wano of his corruption once and for all.
...
Meanwhile, at Itachi Port—
As they parted ways, Toki clung tightly to Oden, burying her face in his chest as her voice trembled.
"Momonosuke, Hiyori, and I will wait for your triumphant return."
"Don't worry, Toki. I swear, I will restore peace to Wano."
Oden gently patted his wife's head before turning and striding toward the waiting ship.
Behind him, apart from the ever-loyal Kanjuro, a new face had joined their ranks—Shinobu. The Nine Red Scabbards followed silently.
As the ship set sail, Oden looked toward the shrinking figures on the shore.
He knew—
Toki was watching him, too.
"Oden, do you think we can win this?" Shimotsuki Ushimaru, accompanied by Onimaru, stepped forward and asked.
Oden gripped the hilts of Enma and Ame no Habakiri at his waist, his gaze locked onto Onigashima.
"We will be victorious."
His unwavering confidence spread to those behind him.
"Victory is ours!"
"For Wano! We will not falter!"
...
In Orochi's inner castle—
Bang!
The doors to the hostage chamber were brutally kicked open.
A group of fierce-looking samurai stormed in.
The prisoners, gaunt and malnourished, huddled together in fear.
"Damn it! Why do I have to handle this? I should be on the battlefield, cutting down enemies and making a name for myself!"
"Move it!"
"Hurry up!"
The hostages, like livestock being herded to slaughter, were forcibly marched toward the inner walls.
...
Outside—
Hyogoro wiped his blade clean on the corpse beneath him.
His sharp gaze locked onto the towering inner walls.
"Fukurokuju, you were once a loyal retainer of the Kozuki clan."
"Orochi is nothing but a usurper, a traitor who bit the hand that fed him. Tell me, when has he ever shown his face in public since inheriting the title? Other than the day Lord Sukiyaki passed, when has he dared to meet the people?"
Hyogoro's voice carried an unmistakable edge of fury.
"Open the gates, Fukurokuju. We seek only the death of Orochi!"
Open the gates? Ridiculous.
For the sake of wealth and status, they had betrayed the Kozuki clan and aligned themselves with Orochi. Countless atrocities had been committed in their name—persecuting the remnants of the Kozuki supporters, silencing dissent.
And without Oden, these so-called rebels stood no chance.
Orochi would remain the victor.
Fukurokuju sneered and signaled his men.
"Bring them forward."
One by one, hostages were dragged onto the parapets.
The gaps in the battlements became execution platforms.
"Please, don't kill us!"
"Oden-sama had an agreement with Orochi, didn't he?!"
Desperate, tear-filled pleas echoed across the battlefield.
"Save us, Hyogoro-sama!"
"Hyogoro-sama!"
...
Hyogoro clenched his fists, his fury barely contained.
"Fukurokuju! These are innocent citizens of the Flower Capital, not thieves or pirates! They don't deserve this!"
Suppressing his rage, he tried to reason with the traitor.
So this... this was what Oden had faced.
Behind him, the gathered warriors seethed with righteous anger. Their burning gazes bored into Fukurokuju, their killing intent palpable.
And yet—
Fukurokuju only smiled.
With a wave of his hand—
Swish!
The executioner's blade fell, severing a hostage's head.
"Ahhh! Nooo—!"
Screams erupted, mixing with the stench of blood and urine as terror spread among the prisoners.
"Fu..."
"Ku..."
"Ro..."
"Ku..."
"Ju!!"
Hyogoro felt his fury surge, blood rushing to his head. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth nearly cracked, and the veins in his hands bulged like writhing snakes.
"Hyogoro-sama, what do we do?"
...
If Oden couldn't do it, then I will!
Hyogoro closed his eyes briefly, his heart heavy.
Then, he spoke.
"The sin... the burden of this battle... I will bear it all alone."
"I, Hyogoro of the Flower, swear to commit seppuku before the people of the Flower Capital when this war is over."
"Floral One-Sword Style!"
...
At Itachi Port—
Toki stood motionless, staring at the sea like a woman waiting for her husband to return.
Behind her, Kanjuro's lips curled into a sinister smile.
"Lady Toki! Oden-sama can't see you anymore. Allow us to escort you away."
Toki offered a gentle smile. "Thank you, Kanjuro."
"It's no trouble. It is our duty."
As Toki stepped into the carriage, Kanjuro took the reins.
But he did not steer toward Kuri, Oden's stronghold.
Instead, he headed straight for the heart of the conflict—
The Flower Capital.
...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Oden's fleet, preparing to land, was met with a relentless bombardment from the Beasts Pirates.
Oden, about to charge forward, suddenly felt a pang of unease.
"Allow us to clear the way, Oden-sama!" The Scabbards stepped forward.
Explosions filled the air as slashes and projectiles clashed against enemy fire.
The fleet surged forward once more.
"Damn it! If Kaido-sama doesn't get back soon, I'm getting out of here!" Queen grumbled.
He had expected to fight Oden's retainers and a handful of samurai.
But now, Oden himself was here.
And he wasn't dancing anymore.
Orochi's rebellion had begun.
Crack!
Thunder roared as a massive shadow loomed overhead.
"Wororororo! Oden, why aren't you dancing?"
A massive dragon head emerged from the storm clouds, a mocking grin stretched across its face.
Oden looked to the sky.
At last, the true cause of Wano's suffering had revealed itself.
"Kaido!!!"
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg