At fifteen years old, Toki had blossomed into a tall, striking beauty.
At this very moment, she was locked in combat with a black-winged man wreathed in flames at the back of his head, their battle raging through the forest as she wielded Oto and Kogarashi.
"Lion's Thousand Rendering Valleys!"
Countless slashes erupted from her twin blades.
At just fifteen, she unleashed Flying Slashes as if they cost nothing.
Her Lunarian opponent's eyes widened in alarm.
He dodged as best he could, but still took significant damage.
Had his flames not been active, his speed would have been insufficient to escape the barrage of Flying Slashes.
Fortunately, while their flames burned, the Lunarians boasted the highest defensive capabilities among all races.
So, though his clothes were soaked with crimson blood, the wounds beneath were more gruesome in appearance than in severity.
Nothing life-threatening—yet.This is also the innate superiority of the Lunarian Race.
Against the vast majority of powerful opponents, the natural talents of the Lunarians are more than enough to secure an advantage.
However...
The one who taught Toki was Michael.
And Michael has always been someone who defies conventions.
Toki... was naturally no exception.
"The so-called Lionheart Princess turns out to be nothing special!" The Lunarian warrior laughed heartily before his flames extinguished, his speed suddenly reaching its limit.
"This battle is mine for the taking!"
"Is that so?"
Kozuki Toki instinctively crossed her twin blades, blocking the opponent's fierce charge, only to be sent flying backward by the tremendous force.
Yet, from the clash between Kogarashi and Oto, a few sparks emerged.
A mocking smile curled at the corners of Toki's lips.
And those sparks instantly swelled into roaring flames, coiling around Kogarashi and Oto.
Twisting her body midair, she planted her feet against a tree trunk and launched herself back toward her enemy.
"Look, your death omen is shining in the sky."
"Spark Talisman Blade · Heaven's Fire!"
The Flying Slash, woven from flames and entwined with violet-black Ryou, slashed toward the Lunarian from an extremely tricky angle.
The next moment...
The outcome was decided.
Kozuki Toki landed steadily, sheathing Kogarashi and Oto at her waist once more.
She lifted her head, gazing at the towering Lunarian.
"You're already dead."
As she spoke, a mist of blood erupted from the Lunarian's neck.
A thin red line appeared across his throat.
"Such a swift blade..."
With those final words, the Lunarian slowly collapsed, head separated from body.
At that moment, Michael stepped forward.
"Good job this time, Toki."
"Though the moment a Lunarian's flames extinguish is when they're at their fastest and most powerful, it's also when their defenses are weakest... At least you've come a long way from two years ago when you'd just charge in recklessly."
"Uh, Father..." Toki turned her head, cheeks slightly flushed. "Can we not bring up those embarrassing memories, please?"
"It's to remind you... never forget you're a creature with a brain." Michael rolled his eyes.
"After all, we don't have something like the protagonist's halo that can substitute for brains."
.. and be even more overpowered.
"So what exactly is this protagonist's halo thing? I want it too!"
"But what if we don't get to decide that?"
Michael patted Toki's head.
"This was the last Lunarian invading Wano, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Michael, this was the last one." Figarland Samir, who had caught up, replied. "Who would've thought the Lunarians would send a force to bypass our defenses and launch a surprise attack on Wano, located out at sea... If not for your reinforcements, the Iramburo family would probably be committing seppuku out of shame before their elders."
"This incident should serve as a wake-up call for the Ethanbaron family, right? They shouldn't assume Wano is safe just because it's outside the frontlines... In the current situation, attacks from the Lunarians could come anywhere... Not to mention Wano is the main weapons supplier for the resistance forces."
"Yes, I will convey your instructions exactly as they are to the Ethanbaron family."
Samir nodded meticulously.
As Michael's personal attendant and scribe, these tasks were well within his duties.
"This time, the Land of Wano got lucky. Joy Boy and I just happened to be here for some business..." Michael said, then suddenly paused.
"Wait, where the hell is Joy Boy!?"
"The leader was just here a moment ago..." Samir blinked, then added, "But it should be fine, right? After all, the leader has always been the type to vanish the moment you take your eyes off him..."
"Is he our leader or a husky?"
"Is there a difference?" Samir spread his hands helplessly. "But the leader does have his own sense of responsibility... He probably just saw something interesting?"
Michael curled his lip.
As a leader, Joy Boy had absolutely no sense of dignity among the entire rebel army.
The only silver lining was...
He didn't go for the authoritative route—he was more of the approachable type.
"Joy Boy is missing again?" Toki perked up immediately and made a move to dash toward the forest
. "I'll go find him!"
But she barely took a step before Michael grabbed her by the collar and hauled her back.
"Don't think I don't know what's going on in that little head of yours... Last time, you went to 'find' Joy Boy too... and the two of you were discovered together in a restaurant in Mary Geoise!"
As he spoke, Michael unleashed his Observation Haki.
In an instant, everything within a radius of several kilometers was laid bare before him.
Naturally, Joy Boy couldn't hide.
Right now, he was moving through the skies above the waters near the Land of Wano...
His target? The ever-wandering Zunesha, who had been walking since time immemorial.
Michael and Joy Boy had once tried to negotiate with Zunesha, asking the Minks living on its back to join the war...
But Zunesha refused.
In Zunesha's eyes, the Minks were, in a way, a part of itself—its wards.
Since the flames of war couldn't reach its back, there was no need to put the Minks in danger.
"Fine, don't worry about him..." Michael shook his head. "Joy Boy's just catching up with an old friend..."
Just then, a violent commotion erupted out of nowhere in the forest.
Michael's mind raced—
Before he could even speak, Toki's eyes lit up, and she bolted straight toward the source of the noise.
"Let me see what's going on!"
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