In the center of the wrecked banquet hall's side chamber, Kyoshiro stood drenched in blood, surrounded by the fallen bodies of the Oniwabanshu ninjas.
"As expected of the capital's greatest swordsman!"
Gurd, who had been sitting atop a treasure chest, rose to his feet and applauded without restraint. He then reached out and pulled the massive sword embedded beside him.
"Now it's just the two of us left."
"Groudon Gud!"
Kyoshiro fixed his gaze on Gurd.
Compared to the Oniwabanshu, this man before him was far more troublesome—not just in strength, but also in cunning intellect. If Gurd dared to stay here, he must have been confident in his ability to kill him.
Moreover, his own exposure was undoubtedly linked to Gurd.
There was one question he had to ask.
Steadying his ragged breath, Kyoshiro calmly inquired, "Brother Gud, how did you discover my identity?"
"Do you remember our first meeting?"
Gurd replied expressionlessly, "That Kozuki samurai I handed over to you—you let him escape, didn't you?"
"..."
So that was it!
Just a single clue had been enough to arouse suspicion, and by luring him into a trap under the guise of bandit suppression, Gurd had exposed him.
Kyoshiro let out a self-deprecating laugh. He had prided himself on being clever, yet he had been played like a fool by a pirate.
But that was fine.
Only he had been exposed—Lady Hiyori remained safe.
Even if he died here, he wouldn't have to worry about her. Lady Hiyori was intelligent; she would surely take care of herself.
With the heaviest burden in his heart lifted, Kyoshiro took a deep breath, stepped back into a stance, and slowly raised his bloodstained blade.
Gurd likewise raised his greatsword.
In the next instant, Kyoshiro's eyes sharpened as he unleashed a fierce Slashing Wave. Without even checking the result, he immediately turned and sprinted away.
Escape!
As much as he wanted to kill Gurd, fleeing was his priority now—because he still carried an important mission on his shoulders.
He had to protect Princess Hiyori and wait for the decisive battle five years later. For that, he was willing to abandon even a samurai's pride.
Just as he had fifteen years ago, when he cast aside everything and humbly pressed his forehead to Orochi's feet.
Crack!
The floor ahead suddenly split apart!
"What?!"
Kyoshiro's expression changed instantly. Sensing the impending attack, he halted mid-step and leaped back to create distance.
The next moment, with a thunderous boom, an enormous stone pillar erupted from the ground, towering like a small mountain before him and completely blocking his path.
"Impossible!"
Kyoshiro was stunned. He knew Gurd had the power to manipulate the earth, but compared to his previous displays, this was on an entirely different level.
That man had grown even stronger!
"You won't escape, Kyoshiro."
Gurd strode toward him, greatsword in hand, his voice cold. "Abandon your futile delusions. Before coming here, I sent my men to the Pleasure Quarter. You know what that means."
"You—!"
Kyoshiro whirled around in horror, his pupils trembling.
Gurd pointed his greatsword at Kyoshiro.
"Fight me with everything you have, and I'll grant you a dignified death."
"..."
Kyoshiro remained silent for several seconds before raising his blade in response.
Forgive me, Lady Hiyori.
Denjiro... won't be coming back.
Meanwhile, on the other side of General Castle—
"This king... will slaughter every last one of you!"
Orochi, engulfed in flames, roared in fury. Of his eight heads, only one remained—the rest had been burned to charcoal.
Knowing his death was imminent, his heart was filled with nothing but hatred—hatred for Kozuki, hatred for the people of Wano Country, even hatred for Kaido.
Why, why wouldn't anyone come to save him!
Orochi lunged at Ace with a frenzied glare.
"Guhahaha, don't underestimate the grudge of the Kurozumi family! Even in death, I'll drag you all down with me!"
"How revolting."
Ace drew the dagger at his waist and leaped toward Orochi's head.
A flash of steel—and it was over.
"Thud…"
Orochi's last head rolled to the ground.
Ace grabbed Orochi's severed head and immediately rushed to the battlefield in the banquet hall. Once reunited with his crew, he raised the head high for all to see.
The sight stunned every samurai present.
"The Orochi Shogun's head!"
"Orochi's been killed!"
"How could this happen?!"
With the Orochi Shogun dead, Wano Country would be thrown into upheaval. If mishandled, the nation would face a complete reshuffling of power.
And when the Wisdom King returned, if he sought retribution for Orochi's death, none of them would escape blame.
They'd be sent to the Prisoner Quarry!
"I killed Orochi!"
Ace raised the head high.
"Listen well, all of you! I am Portgas D. Ace, captain of the Spade Pirates—the man who will become the strongest in the world!"
"…"
After a brief silence, the samurai's resolve crumbled. Their grips on their swords weakened, and the clatter of falling blades echoed one after another.
With the Orochi Shogun dead, what was the point of resistance? More importantly, they feared the pirate before them.
"Out of my way!"
Just then, chaos erupted.
A silver-haired girl carrying a spiked club stepped forward.
"It's the Wisdom King's daughter, Lady Yamato!"
"What's she planning?"
"Could it be…?"
The samurai exchanged uneasy glances.
The Spade Pirates paled at Yamato's appearance, scrambling to hide behind Ace in terror.
"Oh no, Ace!"
"That girl's a monster!"
"Ace, let's get out of here!"
Ace blinked in confusion, glancing at his crew.
Was she really that strong?
To scare them like this?
Tch. What a bunch of cowards.
A smirk curled on Ace's lips as he grinned confidently.
"Relax, I'll handle her!"
"That's not what we mean, Ace!"
His crewmates panicked.
They had personally witnessed the silver-haired girl's terrifying power. Once she unleashed it, escaping would be impossible.
"Have some faith in me!"
Ace cracked his knuckles and strode toward Yamato.
"Watch me knock her flying!"
"…"
The crew exchanged helpless, worried looks. Once Ace made up his mind, there was no pulling him back.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Yamato stepped in front of the samurai, facing the Spade Pirates head-on. She raised her spiked club, pointing it straight at Ace as he approached.
Gurd had instructed her to wait until Orochi was dead before appearing. Her mission was simple: defeat the pirates who assassinated Orochi—especially their leader, Fire Fist Ace.
Gurd had even emphasized:
Hit him hard. Beat him to death!
Go all out!
Treat him like you would Father!
Show absolutely no mercy!
"ROOOAR!!!"
Yamato threw her head back and howled. Her teeth sharpened, her hands transformed into claws, and a bushy tail sprouted from her backside. Flowing ribbons of icy-blue flames wreathed her body.
Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Makami Form!
And—Conqueror Haki, unleashed!
Yamato's entire body erupted with an astonishing surge of Conqueror's Haki, her hands gripping the frozen spiked club tightly, her eyes blazing with azure ice flames.
"This is Father's territory! I absolutely won't allow you to cause trouble here!"
"Bring it on if you dare!"
Ace's fighting spirit burned fiercely, flames erupting across his body.
He could sense the girl before him was incredibly strong.
But this was exactly what he wanted!
Only by defeating the strong could he prove his worth—he would demonstrate his power to that devil right here!
His fists ignited with flames!
"Take this, Fi—"
"BAM!"
The spiked club embedded itself in Ace's face.
"Frosty Sky: Thunderous Bagua!!!"
A streak of red light shot into the sky, twinkling like a star.
"Ding!"
The star vanished.
The Spade Pirates stared skyward, watching their captain disappear into the horizon. They stood frozen for a long moment before clutching their heads in horror.
"Captain Ace!!!"
They knew this would happen!!!
"Run!"
"No path ahead!"
"Then jump down!"
"We'll break our legs!"
"Broken legs are better than death!"
Without looking back, the Spade Pirates charged toward the edge of Great Serpent Castle and leaped straight off the hundred-meter-high fortress.
"AAAHHH!!!"
"My leg!!!"
(End of Chapter)