Inside the grand halls of the Shogun's castle in Wano Country, an uneasy stillness lingered in the air.
The soft rustle of silk and the distant murmurs of attendants were the only sounds that dared to break the silence, yet even those seemed subdued, as if the entire land was holding its breath.
"Hah," Seated gracefully on the small podium, Kozuki Hiyori let out a soft sigh.
Her delicate fingers rested lightly against her lap, her gaze lowered, yet her thoughts were anything but calm. The gentle composure she usually carried had faded, replaced by a quiet worry she could no longer suppress.
Near the entrance of the room, Denjiro stood like a silent guardian, his sharp eyes observing her carefully.
After watching her sigh once more, he finally spoke.
"Princess… what happened?" He asked in a respectful yet concerned tone. "Why are you sighing so much?"
Hiyori lifted her gaze slightly and offered a faint, bitter smile.
"It's nothing much," She said softly, though her voice lacked conviction.
She shook her head gently before continuing. "I'm just worried for the people…"
Her eyes drifted toward the open window, where the fading light of the sky cast long shadows across the room.
"Even though Luffy reassured me…" She paused briefly. "…they are only four people, while the Beast Pirates have around twenty thousand."
Her fingers tightened slightly. "I just can't help but worry."
Denjiro listened quietly before letting out a small sigh of his own.
"I understand, Princess," He replied, his tone calm but serious.
He crossed his arms, his brows knitting together. "To be honest… I also think Luffy-san is overly confident."
His gaze hardened slightly. "The Beast Pirates are not that easy to defeat."
The weight of his words settled between them.
Hiyori's brows furrowed as her concern deepened, but before she could respond, something changed.
The atmosphere around the palace shifted, and a strange heaviness pressed against the air.
The light in the room dimmed noticeably.
Both of them instinctively turned their heads toward the window.
The sky had completely changed as dark, ominous clouds now blanketed the heavens, swirling slowly as flashes of lightning tore through them like cracks in the sky itself.
The sparks of thunder rumbled in the distance.
Hiyori's eyes widened, and she stood up without hesitation, hurrying toward the window.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Her steps were quick and unsteady.
As she reached it, she looked up at the sky, and her face instantly turned pale.
"This…!"
Her breath caught in her throat.
Even without understanding the full meaning, her instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong.
Behind her, Denjiro walked forward and stopped beside her.
The moment his eyes landed on the storm-filled sky, his expression changed, and his face turned pale.
Unlike Hiyori, he understood exactly what this meant.
This was no ordinary storm.
This was a sign of a monster's arrival.
"…Kaido," He muttered under his breath.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Before he could explain further, the soft sound of footsteps echoed from behind.
Both of them turned their heads simultaneously and looked toward the entrance to see Kuina stepping inside.
Her posture was relaxed, yet her presence carried a sharp edge. One hand rested casually on the hilt of her sword, her eyes calm but filled with a faint excitement.
Kuina said simply. Her voice cut cleanly through the tension. "Hiyori-san, I think you should ask your people to help the citizens evacuate to the Shogun Castle for a little while."
She stepped further inside, her gaze briefly flicking toward the dark sky outside.
"After all…" A faint grin appeared on her lips. "The Strongest Creature is coming to the capital."
Those words struck like thunder.
Hiyori's face turned completely pale. Her lips parted slightly as realization dawned upon her.
"Kaido…" She whispered the name as if it carried a curse.
Her heart began to race, and she quickly turned toward Kuina.
"Where is Luffy?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What about him?"
Kuina's fingers lightly tapped against the hilt of her sword, and her grin widened.
"Captain is right where he should be," She replied casually. Her tone held absolute confidence. "He's the type of person to charge ahead recklessly."
She turned slightly toward the window, her eyes gleaming faintly. "He must be waiting for Kaido at the entrance…"
A hint of amusement slipped into her voice.
"…probably worried that someone might snatch his prey."
For a moment, the room was filled with silence.
Hiyori and Denjiro's expressions twitched simultaneously.
That explanation did not bring them comfort.
If anything, it made the situation feel even more absurd.
Before either of them could respond, Kuina moved, and her figure blurred.
In the next instant, she had already passed by them, her speed so fast that only a faint gust of wind remained in her wake.
Without slowing down, she leapt out of the window, and her figure disappeared into the stormy sky.
Outside, she landed lightly on a rooftop before springing forward again, moving swiftly from one roof to another as she headed straight toward the capital's entrance.
Her excitement was unmistakable.
Back inside the room, Hiyori stood frozen for a moment before stepping closer to the window, her eyes following the direction Kuina had gone.
Then she turned sharply toward Denjiro and said, her voice firm despite the fear in her heart. "Quickly... Order the men to help the citizens evacuate."
Her hands clenched slightly. "Move them to the palace for now."
"On it, Princess." Denjiro nodded immediately.
Without wasting another second, he turned and rushed out of the room, his steps echoing through the hallway as he moved to carry out her orders.
Left alone, Hiyori slowly turned back toward the window.
The sky had grown even darker.
Lightning flashed again, illuminating the land in brief, blinding bursts as the thunder roared.
She placed a hand gently over her chest, her heart beating rapidly. Her lips moved silently into a quiet prayer.
It was not for herself, but for those standing at the forefront of the storm.
For Monkey D. Luffy and the others, so they would be safe and succeed in defeating Kaido.
And that this night would not end in despair.
------
At the grand entrance of the capital in Wano Country, the wind howled like a restless beast, carrying with it the scent of rain and destruction.
Perched casually atop the massive wooden gate, Monkey D. Luffy sat with one leg dangling freely, his Marine coat fluttering behind him like a banner of defiance. The word justice emblazoned on its back seemed almost ironic in the face of the storm that was about to unfold.
Above him, the sky had turned into a churning abyss.
The dark clouds twisted and collided violently, lightning flashing through them in jagged streaks that illuminated the land in brief, blinding bursts. The thunder that followed shook the very air, echoing like distant war drums.
Yet Luffy remained completely calm. His eyes were fixed on the heavens, sharp and unwavering.
Slowly, the corner of his lips curled upward into a grin.
It was neither carefree nor playful, but something far more dangerous.
"You're finally here, Kaido…" He muttered under his breath.
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