Chapter 202 — Unshackles
Boom!
Thunder roared across the sky. Thick, oppressive clouds pressed down as though the heavens themselves were about to collapse. And then—
A deafening crack split the clouds apart, forming a jagged ravine through the heavens, as if the sky had been cleaved by a giant blade.
"So… so awesome!" Yamato stared upward, completely stunned. He had never imagined that human power could tear open the very sky.
"Does that man truly possess strength on par with the Four Emperors?" asked King (Jhin), his expression hidden beneath his black mask, though his tone carried a rare hint of gravity.
Even those far away in the Flower Capital could clearly witness this earth-shaking sight.
"Look! Over there—what's happening to the clouds? No… the sky itself looks like it's been split apart!"
"That's where Lord Kaido is fighting!"
"No way! Is there anyone in Wano who could possibly force Lord Kaido to fight at full power?"
Nearby, Ulti and Page One glanced at each other, then said in unison,
"It must be that man."
"Who are you talking about?" asked one of the lesser members of the Beasts Pirates who hadn't yet heard the rumors.
"[Fire Emperor] Portgas D. Ace!" Ulti and Page One shouted together.
"Fire Emperor? Who's that supposed to be?"
"No matter who it is, if he can make Lord Kaido fight seriously, there's no one among us who could ever hope to match him!"
"Look closely—the way the sky is torn apart isn't something that can be caused by brute strength alone. It's the result of two powers colliding—both wielding Haoshoku Haki at the highest level! This kind of 'celestial phenomenon' only occurs when two Yonko-level beings clash with all their might!"
Indeed—if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed that such a sight could be caused by the clash of just two men.
---
Outside the Flower Capital—
At the very center of that cataclysmic collision between Ace and Kaido.
The mountain where they had first faced off was completely gone, reduced to flat earth. A massive whirlwind now raged in its place, connecting the sky and ground, swallowing dust and rock alike. At the heart of that storm—two figures continued to collide.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each impact shook the world, every strike splitting the air and shaking the land.
"Drink!"
With a thunderous roar, Ace's body shot out of the storm, trailing flames.
"Kaido, that's enough for today!" Ace called out, reverting from his Great Flame Commandment: Entei form. He caught Yamato in his arms, then rose into the air, hovering above the raging hurricane.
"I can't beat you yet—but next time, I'll surpass you!"
"Goodbye!"
With that, Ace and Yamato transformed into a blazing streak of fire and vanished into the night sky.
---
"You brat!" Kaido cursed, watching the flame disappear. Then he turned toward the masked figure in the distance.
"Let's go, King. We're heading back."
King flew closer. "Lord Kaido, aren't we chasing them?"
"No need," Kaido replied, shaking his head. "That kid didn't come here to pick a fight. If I were to kill him now, that old man Whitebeard would probably start another war."
He paused to take a deep breath, the tension leaving his shoulders. "The most important thing right now is to crush all remaining threats in Wano. Once that's done… I'll go find Whitebeard myself—and teach that brat a proper lesson."
Though Kaido was known for his recklessness, he wasn't a fool. With Oden's retainers preparing to move, now wasn't the time to provoke another Yonko.
Still, one thing was certain in his mind:
That brat Momonosuke would not live to see another sunrise.
Kaido frowned suddenly, staring off in the direction Ace had fled. Something tugged at his memory—something he'd forgotten.
"…What was it again?"
After a moment of silence, he grunted, "Bah, forget it."
With that, Kaido turned away and began the long trek back to Onigashima, muttering, "Time to drink."
---
Kuri Region – Oden Castle Ruins
Ace descended gently from the sky, landing amidst the ruins with Yamato still in his arms.
"Ace! Are you okay? You're not hurt, right?" Yamato grabbed his shoulders and began checking him over frantically.
"I'm fine," Ace said, scratching his head with a sheepish grin. "I couldn't beat Kaido, but it wasn't easy for him to hurt me either."
"Really?" Yamato sighed in relief. Then, with a bright smile, she gave Ace a thumbs-up. "Still, you're amazing! You fought that stupid old man head-on and split the sky! That's incredible!"
"Heh." Ace smiled awkwardly, then noticed the seastone shackles still clamped around Yamato's wrists.
"…Here, let me help you with those."
"Huh?" Yamato blinked, then raised her hands. "You have the key? If you try to break them, they'll explode! I always thought that was a lie, but knowing my father… I don't dare test it."
"It's fine."
Ace stepped closer, gently gripping both shackles. His arms glowed black with Busoshoku Haki, and with a sharp crack, the shackles shattered—before he tossed them high into the air.
BOOM!
They exploded violently in the distance.
Yamato froze, staring at the rising fireball. Then tears welled in her eyes.
"That bastard… that drunken ox really wanted to kill me!" she shouted angrily, stomping on the ground. "That idiot really planned to blow up his own child! I swear—I'll never call that monster 'Father' again!"
"Stupid Kaido! Idiot! Bastard!" she yelled, kicking at the dirt as tears streamed down her face.
Ace could only sigh helplessly. He didn't know how to comfort her—but he silently agreed: Kaido had gone too far this time.
---
Ace looked around the ruins until he found Oden's grave, beside which a half-burned campfire and several empty sake bottles lay scattered.
"So, the Nine Red Scabbards were here…" Ace murmured, crouching beside the bottles. Counting them, he realized there were nine in total.
"They've probably come to say their goodbyes," he said softly. "If they try to save Momonosuke tomorrow, it'll only lead to their deaths."
He stood, looking toward the distant lights of the Flower Capital.
"Still… I suppose I should go witness that boy's fate for myself."
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