Ringo, the Northern Cemetery.
A gloomy sky hung over Wano Country's largest graveyard, the heavy clouds seemingly ready to crush the entire burial ground. For centuries, the remains of past Shoguns, daimyo, and numerous other prominent figures had rested here. Their tombstones stood like silent sentinels on the desolate land.
The caws of crows periodically sliced through the silence, adding a touch of solemn lethality to the place. Among the many graves, the most striking was that of Shimotsuki Ryuma. This legendary master swordsman, who was active during the era of the "Country of Gold," remained undefeated in his lifetime, his peerless swordsmanship inspiring awe. Legends said he had single-handedly repelled countless invading pirates and World Nobles, and even slain a dragon that loomed over the capital. After his death, he was revered as the "Sword God," enshrined in a temple alongside his blade, Shusui, and worshipped by the people.
King walked with heavy steps through the forest of tombstones, his black leather boots crunching over yellowed fallen leaves, making a faint, shattering sound. His objective was clear—to find the Devil Fruit being offered as a tribute.
A cold wind swept up the leaves on the ground, the air thick with the scent of decay.
King's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, sweeping over temple after temple, finally settling on one location: an orange fruit lay quietly on the offering altar, emitting a faint glow in the dim light. That was his target.
"Found it," King muttered to himself, his low voice echoing in the empty cemetery. A glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes as he strode forward. The instant he reached out to take the fruit, years of combat instinct made him abruptly retreat. His figure flitted backward like a ghost for over ten meters. In the spot where he had just stood, a glint of cold steel now pointed directly—a drawn longsword.
The swordsman was a bare-chested man with well-defined muscles, his bronze skin covered in various sword scars. His eyes were sharp as blades, his entire person exuding a fierce aura.
The two faced off across a distance of over ten meters, the air around them seeming to solidify. The crows' cries ceased abruptly, leaving only the wind's mournful sigh as it passed the tombstones.
"Shimotsuki Ushimaru, by raising your hand against me, have you prepared yourself for death?" A deep, threatening voice suddenly rang out in the darkness. King's figure slowly emerged from the shadows, his right hand slowly gripping the hilt of the sword Enma at his waist. The sound of the scabbard scraping against the blade was particularly grating in the silent graveyard.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru's gaze was like a torch, meeting King's without fear. "I wondered who it was, trespassing in the Northern Cemetery and daring to touch an offering to the dead," he responded, his voice steady and powerful. "So it's you... King, underling of the pirate Kaido."
Their eyes met in the air, as if tangible sparks were flying. The temperature around them seemed to plummet suddenly, even the wind becoming cautious, not daring to disturb the impending clash.
"Hmph, a mere samurai of Wano Country dares to stand in my way?" The corner of King's mouth twisted into a cold smile, his black wings slowly spreading behind him, blotting out the sky. His right hand tightened on Enma, the blade beginning to glow with an eerie purple-black light. The air around it started to distort, revealing the terrifying power contained within this famous sword.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru's pupils contracted slightly, but his grip on his sword didn't waver in the slightest. "This is the resting place of generations of samurai. How can I allow a pirate like you to defile it?" Before his words had fully faded, his figure had already flashed before King like a ghost, his longsword tracing a perfect arc, its edge aimed straight for King's vitals.
CLANG!
A deafening metallic clang reverberated through the cemetery, startling countless crows roosting in the withered trees. King stood perfectly still in his original spot, Enma firmly blocking Shimotsuki Ushimaru's slash. The ground beneath their feet cracked from the impact, rubble flying, demonstrating the astonishing power contained in this single strike.
"Decent speed," King snorted coldly, suddenly exerting force to send Shimotsuki Ushimaru staggering back several steps. "A pity your strength is still far off." His tone carried clear disdain.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru steadied himself, the fighting spirit in his eyes burning brighter. He took a deep breath, and a faint blue aura suddenly surged around his body—the Shimotsuki family's hereditary sword technique. "Let me show you the swordsmanship of the Shimotsuki family!" he roared, his figure splitting into three afterimages that simultaneously attacked King, each one carrying a fierce sword aura.
A flicker of surprise passed through King's eyes, but it soon returned to calm. He swung Enma violently, while the blazing flames on his back directly adhered to the blade of the sword. In an instant, the raging, fierce flames shattered all three afterimages.
Flame and sword aura interwove, blooming into dazzling sparks in the night sky.
However, the real Shimotsuki Ushimaru had already appeared above King's head, his longsword descending with a fierce sword aura, aimed to deliver a fatal blow with all his concentrated power.
But King's figure vanished from before him in an instant, his speed unbelievable.
"In the darkness, my speed is unrivaled," King's voice sounded beside Shimotsuki Ushimaru's ear, cold and filled with killing intent.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru's face paled with shock as he hurriedly raised his sword to block. But King's attack came too fast and too fierce; he only had time to barely parry it.
TING!
The two longswords met in the air with a sharp, piercing sound. Shimotsuki Ushimaru felt an irresistible, tremendous force slam into him. His entire body was sent flying like a kite with a severed string, crashing heavily against an ancient tombstone. The stone slab shattered with a loud crack.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru struggled to climb out of the pile of rubble. The blood seeping from the corner of his mouth looked particularly stark in the moonlight. He raised a hand to wipe away the blood, but the look in his eyes grew sharper than ever. "To think a subordinate of Kaido's is this strong..." he whispered to himself, yet the hand gripping his sword remained as steady as a rock.
Ten paces away, King slowly descended, his black wings gleaming with a metallic luster under the moonlight. "Big Brother Kaido's power is beyond what a frog in a well like you could possibly imagine." his voice was bone-chilling. "Step aside now, and I might spare your life."
Suddenly, Shimotsuki Ushimaru assumed a peculiar starting stance, holding his longsword horizontally before his chest, its tip drooping slightly. This stance seemed full of openings, yet it made King frown for the first time. A piercing chill abruptly permeated the air, tiny ice crystals forming on Shimotsuki Ushimaru's blade.
"Shimotsuki Style: Frost Slash!"
With a furious roar, his figure instantly transformed into a streak of white light. Wherever he passed, a thin layer of ice formed on the ground. King hastily swung Enma to block, only to discover to his surprise that his movements had grown sluggish. The temperature around them had plummeted, the air itself seeming to freeze. The moment their blades collided, a layer of frost actually formed on King's right arm.
"Interesting," King snorted, the flames on his back flaring violently, instantly melting the ice on his arm. He beat his wings and shot into the air, looking down at Shimotsuki Ushimaru from above. "But tricks like these can't hurt me."
***
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