Kozuki Oden's sudden appearance caused every pirate and samurai on the battlefield to fix their eyes on him.
In a world where individual power could eclipse an entire nation, the arrival of a single overwhelmingly strong warrior was enough to turn the tide of war. Despite the fact that Kaido and Orochi currently held the upper hand, if the two of them were defeated, this war would reverse in an instant.
But was that even possible?
"The main character has finally arrived."
Orochi laughed as he drew the second-generation Shusui from his waist. After killing Sukiyaki, the blade had been temporarily left in his possession — and now was the time for it to be unsheathed.
"If we kill him right here, Wano Country will be completely ours."
Kaido silently drew the Hashaikai from his back.
In truth, he would have preferred to fight Kozuki Oden one-on-one, to settle the score from that unfinished battle on that pirate island over a decade ago.
But Orochi's presence forced him to abandon that notion.
If it had been the original Orochi from the story, Kaido wouldn't have needed to worry. That Orochi was nothing but a worthless coward. But this Orochi — the one standing before him now — made Kaido dare not show even a hint of weakness.
If Kaido really went all out against Oden and won but exhausted himself in the process, with Orochi's current strength plus his Seven Samurai, Kaido's position would become extremely dangerous if they turned on him.
He might be reckless at times, but when it came to the bigger picture, he knew better than to put himself in genuine peril.
"Thunder Bagua."
"Orochi Style — Black Devour."
Kaido and Orochi leapt into the air simultaneously. Powerful Haki coiled around their respective weapons. Kaido fought with Conqueror's Haki coating as his primary means of combat.
Orochi might not possess Conqueror's Haki, but his Armament Haki — capable of internal destruction — intertwined with the demonic energy within the second-generation Shusui, creating a might that was nearly impossible to match.
"Oden Two-Sword Style —"
Kozuki Oden was under immense pressure. Together, Orochi and Kaido were an incredibly difficult challenge for him.
Ame no Habakiri and Enma clashed against the second-generation Shusui and Hashaikai respectively. Almost instantly, Oden was sent flying.
But he recovered his footing in an instant. As his twin blades swept through the air, they seemed to slice through the atmosphere itself. A dark purple slash arrived almost too fast to track, forcing both Orochi and Kaido — who had been about to pursue — to halt their advance.
Kurozumi Orochi's hands suddenly became covered in scales. Though snakes had no hands, his own hands didn't disappear when he wasn't fully transformed.
Gripping the hilt with his right hand, he actually grabbed the blade itself with his left, and with a violent upward swing, deflected Oden's slash. Then his entire body lunged forward, and mid-leap, his form stretched and expanded into a grotesque, enormous white serpent.
Kurozumi Orochi had originally eaten a standard Zoan-type Snake Fruit. But later, Ren had given him an Ancient Zoan Fruit as well, transforming him into a true monster.
At this moment, every scale on his body was white, and his serpentine form had swelled to the size of a mountain.
The hideous snake head roared, exhaling a foul stench. Dark purple venom sprayed through the air. He was a monster among monsters.
Kin'emon and the others watched Orochi's transformation with deep worry etched across their faces. In sheer size alone, Orochi was now comparable to the Mountain God from before — but his power far exceeded that creature's.
Steel-like scales opened and closed, mercilessly crushing every living thing on the battlefield. The giant python surged toward Oden, intent on tearing him apart — ripping him to shreds.
THUD.
Both of Oden's swords had turned black. He crossed them like scissors, using them to brace against the python's fangs.
He gritted his teeth, but even so, the sheer weight of Orochi's massive form pushed him backward, toward the capital of Flower Capital.
"GORORORORO, so eager, aren't you, Orochi!"
Kaido roared with laughter. He actually tossed aside his spiked club, his body twisting as he transformed into an azure dragon and shot up into the clouds.
The sky darkened. Despite it being midday, the world turned as black as night.
Lightning flickered and crackled within the overcast clouds, producing a deep, rumbling thunder. Kaido's figure surged through the clouds a few times before descending toward Oden and Orochi.
He opened his maw. Enormous energy gathered within it.
"Bolo Breath."
A searing beam of light blasted toward both Orochi and Oden.
The heat was so intense that the air itself warped. Orochi sensed the attack from behind and frantically twisted his body to dodge it. Even so, the scorching shockwave left his scales burning hot.
Oden crossed his blade in an X-pattern and slashed fiercely at the wall of flame rushing toward him.
His powerful cut split the fire in two. The redirected flames surged skyward and earthward, scorching the ground red.
A single blast like that could melt mountains and rock.
"Kaido, you bastard — are you trying to hit me too?!"
Orochi glared at him, his voice cold with accusation.
"GORORORORO, I only did it because I trust you."
Kaido laughed without a care, as if he genuinely believed Orochi could have dodged it.
In reality, he was disappointed that he hadn't managed to take out both Orochi and Oden with one shot.
Orochi merely sneered, but he didn't press the issue further.
"Rein in your little schemes, Kaido. Killing Kozuki Oden is what matters most. My promise to you won't change."
Orochi's massive body coiled up. The earth and rock beneath his scales carved a wide furrow as he slithered.
His speed suddenly increased. The scales along his body rippled and shifted, creating a disorienting display that made it difficult for the entrapped Oden to track his movements.
"You think you can trap me?"
Oden understood Orochi's intent. He took a deep breath, and his aura surged even stronger. Flowing Haki wrapped around his body like a second skin.
But it wasn't for defense — it was for offense.
"Oden Two-Sword Style — Paradise Pure Waterfall."
He launched himself into the air, seemingly flying. He held both blades horizontally and spun in midair.
SHKK.
His blades tore through Orochi's scales. Crimson blood sprayed into the sky.
BOOM.
Orochi's massive body crashed to the ground. But Oden, who had been soaring upward, now faced a different enemy.
Kaido had used the Bolo Breath to shoot back into the black clouds. When he descended again, he was no longer in his dragon form — instead, he had taken on a semi-human shape covered in scales, his face grotesque and terrifying.
He stood on Flame Clouds with legs like those of a lion or tiger. His scaled claws gripped the Hashaikai, which crackled with black lightning. In a single instant, the blade tore through the air, carrying enough force to shatter an island as it crashed down toward Oden.
"Thunder Bagua — Lightning Rush to Naraka."
[
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