"Hey hey—"
Before Orion could react, Yamato who had just obediently soaked in the hot spring, suddenly stood up and pointed at Gunko hovering above the pool, her feet resting on arrows.
"What do you mean 'who is that woman'? I'm a man, the manly Yamato!"
"!!!!"
Gunko never expected this woman to be so shameless.
Her pupils constricted sharply as she stared in disbelief.
In the next moment, a cold glint flashed in her eyes and an undisguised killing intent erupted.
Immediately after, arrows wrapped in bandages shot out, aiming straight for Yamato's forehead and chest.
"Hmph!"
Facing the incoming arrows, Yamato instantly shifted into combat mode.
Unshackled and unrestrained, she took a step forward, unleashing an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.
Black and red flame-like clouds erupted around her as she coated her hands in the same power.
Without dodging, she reached out to grab the arrows that rapidly enlarged in her vision.
"BOOM—"
The moment Yamato caught an arrow in each hand, a terrifying shockwave erupted from the point of impact, centered around her.
The pool exploded instantly, sending waves cascading in every direction—including towards Orion.
Yet, just as the waves were about to engulf him, they froze mid-air, suspended unnaturally.
The hovering water formed a natural barrier, completely isolating Orion from the battle.
Seizing the opportunity, he casually wrapped a towel around himself.
The moment he did, a dizzying low-frequency vibration pulsed through the air, shattering the suspended waves into mist that dispersed into nothingness.
Then, a Conqueror's Haki even more immense than Yamato's erupted, forming a storm of thunderclouds around her and forcibly suppressing her own Haki.
CRACK CRACK CRACK—
As Yamato's Haki was overwhelmed, spiderweb-like fissures split the pool beneath her feet.
Within moments, the remaining hot spring water drained away through the cracks.
At the same time, the third arrow Gunko had launched wrapped around Yamato at blinding speed.
Under the crushing weight of the supreme Conqueror's Haki, Yamato was instantly mummified by the bandages and hoisted into the air.
"Rumors say Wano Country had a courtesan named Komurasaki—that must be you!" Gunko descended slowly, pinching Yamato's cheek with a dark red gleam of killing intent in her eyes.
"With looks like these, you dare seduce the Fleet Admiral?"
"Eh?!"
Mummified Yamato blinked in confusion before snapping back.
"I'm not Komurasaki! I'm the manly Yamato! You crazy woman, let me go! Fight me fair and square!"
Ignoring her protests, Gunko turned her gaze to the figure leisurely observing from the poolside.
"Orion," she said darkly, "have you fallen for a honey trap?"
"?"
"Since that's the case, let me show you what its like to be dominated by god!"
Before the words could fade, Gunko aura surged dramatically.
Countless bolts of lightning erupted from her body as an even more overwhelming Conqueror's Haki exploded forth like raging tidal waves, shooting skyward from the open-air pool before spreading outward in all directions across Flower Capital, as if attempting to envelop the entire Land of Wano beneath her supreme will.
****
Flower Capital, temporary government building entrance.
Just as Crocodile was about to enter, he suddenly froze mid-step.
His head snapped towards the open-air hotspring direction, eyes widening in disbelief at the storm clouds mixed with flaming aura that now engulfed the entire capital.
"Conqueror's Haki?!" he gasped.
It wasn't that Crocodile had never witnessed Conqueror's Haki before.
What shocked him was the purity and dominance radiating from this particular burst - and that it didn't originate from Orion.
Most crucially, this terrifying Haki came from the pool area.
He'd experienced Yamato's Conqueror's Haki before, which paled in comparison to what now blanketed the city.
Which could only mean one thing— A powerful enemy had infiltrated Flower Capital and reached the open-air hotspring!
Inside a government office, Mihawk and Jinbei - whom Crocodile had recruited as temporary staff - sensed the Haki explosion simultaneously.
Both flashed to the rooftop in an instant.
Before they could locate the source, visible waves of Conqueror's Haki manifested as flaming clouds streaked overhead.
"This—"
Feeling the invisible pressure bearing down, Mihawk's pupils contracted sharply.
"This isn't Fleet Admiral Orion's Haki!" he exclaimed.
"An enemy invasion!"
"Who could it be?"
Jinbei also recognized the anomaly.
Having experienced Orion's Haki before, he knew this overwhelming presence wasn't the Fleet Admiral doing.
After a brief mental freeze, Jinbei snapped into action, darting towards the Hotspring at full speed.
Yet just as Jinbei and Mihawk launched their interception, a familiar voice resonated directly in their minds.
"Stand down."
"Its not an invasion. It's Imu."
"Return to your posts. The sky isn't falling."
Imu?!
Hearing the telepathic message, Jinbei, Mihawk, Crocodile and every startled Marine officer in Flower Capital collectively stiffened before displaying expressions of utter disbelief.
Imu?
The shadow ruler of the World Government whom the Five Elders worshipped?
The one seated upon the Empty Throne?
Here in Wano?
****
Meanwhile...
By the open-air Hotspring, Orion - having transmitted his message via Observation Haki - yawned boredly before addressing the 'Gunko' in front of him.
"Imu, rein in your Conqueror's Haki. Gunko's frail body can't handle your power."
"This is me asking nicely!"
As his calm tone faded, Orion's gaze locked onto Imu's crimson eyes controlling Gunko body.
"But if negotiations don't suit you... I happen to know some martial arts myself!"
Orion paused slightly, his aura suddenly intensifying as his tone turned overwhelmingly domineering.
"So, which will you choose—the former or the latter!?"
Imu met Orion's gaze without flinching and countered sharply.
"You're still protecting her?"
-----------------------------
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