Chapter 42 – The Incoming Chaos
Inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, Sengoku was doing his work when the doors slammed open. His eyes shot toward the person who had slammed the door, ready to scold him.
"Apologies, Fle-Fleet Admiral Sengoku, but we got urgent news!" the soldier panted heavily, covered in sweat.
Sengoku froze.
"What happened?" he asked, a very bad feeling arising in his chest.
"Si-sir, it's Admiral Kuzan Aokiji. He... he was defeated in battle against the new Empress of Kuja."
The soldier reported and handed over the newspaper, clearly unable to believe it himself.
After all, Admirals were the Marines' strongest force. How could they be defeated by an eighteen-year-old Empress of Kuja?
Sengoku's eyes dilated in disbelief.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
He snatched the newspaper and started reading it.
His face went pale.
"This—"
Just then, his Den Den Mushi rang.
"Peru Peru Peru Peru."
He grabbed it.
Kacha.
"It's me."
A tired voice came from the other side.
"Kuzan, where are you, and what is this nonsense in the newspaper?" Sengoku shouted, clearly hoping it was fake.
"Arara... the news already spread? That bird guy is really something," Kuzan muttered irritably.
Sengoku's last hope shattered.
"You lost?"
His voice was filled with disbelief.
He couldn't believe Aokiji had lost.
"Sigh... well, I called to tell you anyway, so something like this happened—"
He told everything to Sengoku.
The more Sengoku listened, the more astonished he became.
"This..."
He was speechless.
What kind of era was this?
First, that Oni Samurai bastard had appeared out of nowhere, killed Shiki, and started a war with Kaido.
And now this new Kuja Empress had defeated an Admiral.
Just how many monsters were emerging?
And why were they all pirates?
Sengoku sighed and looked as if he had aged years in just a few minutes.
"Come back. We will discuss what to do next."
"Understood."
---
In Wano, at Udon Prison, Ushimaru and Queen fought fiercely as Queen attacked with lasers in his dinosaur form.
Ushimaru swung his blade repeatedly, defending and counterattacking whenever an opening appeared.
Queen was going on a rampage.
He had already sensed it.
The Beast Pirates had been defeated, and the prisoners had been rescued.
He was the only one who remained here.
This was a lost battle.
It was only a matter of time.
---
In the Flower Capital, Hiyori, Kawamatsu, Denjiro, Ashura, and Hyogoro walked toward the throne room.
Hiyori walked ahead while the four followed behind her.
She cut open the doors and walked inside.
Covered in blood, with Enma resting at her waist, she looked like a war goddess returning from battle.
Orochi trembled in fear as he looked at them.
Hiyori turned toward him, her eyes looking at him as if he were an insect.
"Orochi."
She muttered his name and drew Enma.
The chilling aura of Enma filled the room.
Unconsciously, Hiyori's Conqueror's Haki also spread throughout the room.
Orochi's expression turned even paler.
"Fo-forgive me! I-I was wrong!"
Orochi jumped forward and knelt.
"It was Kaido! He threatened me! I had no choice!"
His voice was filled with desperation.
Hiyori kept looking at him with cold eyes filled with killing intent.
"I believe you."
She muttered softly.
Orochi gritted his teeth.
He wasn't an idiot.
How could he believe the words coming from someone emitting so much killing intent?
His fear slowly turned into anger.
"Damn it! Who do you think I am?!"
He snapped.
"I'm Kurozumi Orochi! I was the one who schemed and became the Shogun from a mere servant!"
"The Shogun's seat belonged to the Kurozumi, not you Kozuki bastards!"
"You killed my clan! Hunted us like prey!"
"You think I would feel sorry for what happened to Wano?!"
"Let it burn in my flames of revenge for all I care!"
His body shifted as he entered his Yamata-no-Orochi form.
Nine dragon heads emerged and shot toward Hiyori.
"Die! Die! Die! Die!"
Orochi screamed.
Hiyori wasn't surprised at all.
She had been waiting for this.
She took a deep breath and adjusted her stance.
"Amatsuki Style: Silver Moon Sword Draw."
Enma was fully unsheathed.
Orochi froze in disbelief.
In his eyes, the surroundings completely changed.
All he could see was a silver crescent moon.
As the illusion faded, six of his heads were severed.
The pain finally registered.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Orochi rolled across the ground, writhing in pain like a worm.
Hiyori wasn't done.
"Do it."
She said calmly.
Kawamatsu, Ashura, Denjiro, and Hyogoro attacked instantly.
Orochi's remaining heads were cut off one after another.
His body fell lifelessly to the floor.
"Burn it."
Hiyori muttered as she sheathed Enma.
Kawamatsu obeyed immediately.
As Orochi's body burned, Hiyori sighed.
All the strength suddenly left her body.
Her eyes rolled back and she fell unconscious.
"Hiyori-sama!"
Kawamatsu and the others rushed forward and caught her.
"She is just exhausted. Let her rest."
Hyogoro said after checking her.
Though he wasn't a doctor, he had enough experience to judge her condition.
Even then, he was amazed.
Hiyori's injuries had already healed.
That kind of regeneration was unheard of.
---
On Onigashima's rooftop, the sky was covered in a thunderstorm.
Massive bolts of lightning fell constantly while snowflakes drifted through the air.
Onigashima was surrounded by roaring thunder and crackling lightning.
Kaido's massive Azure Dragon body hovered through the storm, trying to avoid the natural disasters while fighting this monster of a future son-in-law.
Kai flew as Six flaming golden wings spread behind his back.
A golden-red halo floated above his head.
Akatsuki rested in his hand.
He looked like an angelic god descending from heaven.
"Wororororo! Still not enough, brat!"
Kaido was injured all over, but his pride refused to let him bow.
He charged forward and transformed into his hybrid form.
Kai shot toward him, swinging Akatsuki.
The blade and kanabo collided.
Their Advanced Armament and Conqueror's Haki exploded before the weapons could even touch.
Golden and crimson lightning tore across the sky.
The clouds above split apart once again.
Kaido grinned wildly.
Kai's wings flared.
Golden flames erupted around him.
Kai raised Akatsuki.
Kaido laughed loudly.
Both disappeared.
A moment later, explosions erupted across the sky as shockwaves tore through the havens.
---
On rooftop, Yamato, Toki, and King fought fiercely.
Their battle was now limited to the ground because of the violent thunderstorm raging above Onigashima.
King's flames burned brightly as he swung his sword.
Yamato met him head-on with her kanabo coated in Advanced Armament and Conqueror's Haki.
Toki moved through swarms of bats, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
The three clashed repeatedly.
Conqueror's lightning crackled through the battlefield.