Shimotsuki Munetika stood at the center of the battlefield, surveying his surroundings. The moonlight fell like frost upon the ravaged earth.
His Samurai were completely surrounded by the Zombie Army, suffering heavy casualties. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the aura of death, while the moans of the wounded and the roars of the enemy echoed in his ears.
He took a deep breath, the cold night air filling his lungs. In that moment, he made a difficult decision.
"Everyone, listen to my command! Retreat immediately! I will cover the rear!" Shimotsuki Munetika shouted, his voice reverberating through the silent night sky, cutting through the chaos of the battlefield.
"My lord!" the Samurai exclaimed in unison, their eyes filled with reluctance and shock. They gripped their weapons tightly, unwilling to abandon their leader.
"This is an order!" Shimotsuki Munetika said sternly, his right hand clutching the hilt of his sword, the blade gleaming coldly under the moonlight. "Go now!"
The Samurai exchanged glances, eventually turning away with tears in their eyes to retreat. Shimotsuki Munetika stood alone, facing Moria and his Zombie Army. Under the moonlight, his figure appeared exceptionally solitary, yet resolute. The night wind brushed past, rustling his garments.
"How touching," Moria mocked, a scornful smile playing on his lips, his massive body casting a huge shadow in the moonlight. "But do you really think this will save them?"
Shimotsuki Munetika did not respond, instead slowly assuming a stance of certain death. His heart was as clear as a mirror; he knew he might not survive, but at the very least, he had to buy time for his comrades to retreat. His gaze was as firm as iron, without a trace of fear.
"Yeehihihihi, then let me see your resolve," Moria said, looking at Shimotsuki Munetika before him.
He then waved his hand, and the Zombie Army beside him charged directly at Shimotsuki Munetika. He wanted to see the determination of this Samurai who had three broken ribs.
The battle erupted once more.
Shimotsuki Munetika fought alone against many, his sword gleaming like a rainbow. Every strike carried the resolve of one prepared to die; wherever his blade passed, zombies were cleaved in two. Though zombies were immortal, those severed in half could no longer move.
However, the number of enemies was overwhelming, and his stamina was rapidly depleting. Sweat trickled down his forehead, soaking his clothes, and his breathing grew labored and heavy.
As time passed, Shimotsuki Munetika's sword techniques remained sharp, but his movements were no longer as agile as before. Several wounds appeared on his arms, blood dripping from his fingertips. Finally, when he confirmed that the last Samurai had successfully retreated, he knelt on one knee, using his sword to support his faltering body as he gasped for breath. Blood seeped from his various wounds, staining the ground beneath him.
"It's over," Moria said as he slowly approached, raising his massive cleaver, a victor's smile on his face. "Your sacrifice is meaningless."
Shimotsuki Munetika lifted his head, the moonlight illuminating his pale face. Surprisingly, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "No, this is only the beginning. They will..."
"Begin? Yeehihihihi!" Moria laughed exaggeratedly. "You don't actually think those samurai can escape, do you?"
Shimotsuki Munetika's heart suddenly sank. "Bastard, what are you saying?" An ominous premonition flooded his mind like a tidal wave.
"This time, to deal with you lot, we've mobilized most of our forces! There's still another defensive line outside. None of the rebels tonight will survive," Moria stated bluntly.
"Moria, you're too slow." A deep voice came from the direction where the samurai had fled. A tall figure approached slowly, his formidable silhouette appearing particularly terrifying under the moonlight—it was Bullet.
Bullet was dragging a samurai's corpse with one hand as he walked toward them. The moonlight illuminated the corpse, making its pale face especially striking.
"Mosu!" Shimotsuki Munetika cried out in despair. That was the strongest among the escaped samurai, and his most trusted subordinate. Mosu's head was severely deformed, clearly killed with a single blow while offering no resistance.
"So his name was Mosu," Bullet said casually, tossing the corpse in front of Shimotsuki Munetika with a dull thud. "Quite courageous, just lacking in strength."
Shimotsuki Munetika watched everything before him, his heart wrenching with pain. His hand trembled as he reached out, wanting to touch Mosu's already cold face, but found he lacked even the strength for that. The moonlight continued to shine coldly upon the battlefield, bearing witness to the tragedy's conclusion. The night wind moaned as if mourning the lost lives.
"Since you value your comrades so much, I'll bury you together with him," Moria said to Shimotsuki Munetika, raising his long sword.
"Thank you!" Shimotsuki Munetika closed his eyes in despair.
Without hesitation, Moria swung his blade down. Blood splattered as Shimotsuki Munetika's body slowly collapsed, lying side by side with Mosu's corpse in the pool of blood.
"Yeehihihihi, Bullet, what about those samurai who escaped earlier?" Moria asked, looking at Bullet.
"Don't worry, I froze them all. They should survive if thawed in time, so it won't affect your shadow extraction," Bullet replied.
"Yeehihihihi, that's good. The captain's Sea Stone transaction with the World Government is quite substantial, and he just called to say he made another Sea Stone deal with the Big Mom Pirates. I'm really short on manpower here. After this, it won't be easy to find this much labor in Wano Country again," Moria said.
"Right. After tonight, Wano Country won't see warfare for years to come," Bullet nodded.
The moonlight continued to quietly bathe the battlefield, as if witnessing the conclusion of this tragedy. Shimotsuki Munetika and Mosu's bodies lay still in the pool of blood, their sacrifices seemingly meaningless. In the distance, the frozen samurai would become Moria's slaves, mining Sea Stone for the pirate crew.
The outcome of this battle had been predetermined from the start.
Though the samurai of Wano Country fought bravely, their resistance proved utterly powerless against such formidable enemies.
Overnight, daimyo and noble families across Wano Country were wiped out. Although King immediately announced their rebellion, the sheer number of people involved plunged the entire nation into panic.
To stabilize the situation, King swiftly took action by distributing a portion of the confiscated noble lands, shops, and residences to commoners. This measure effectively alleviated social tensions.
Combined with the various pro-people policies previously implemented by the Beasts Pirates, Wano Country gradually regained peace after a period of adjustment.
King's decisive measures won public support, and social order was progressively restored. The Beasts Pirates' foundation of rule in Wano Country became further solidified.