Kurozumi Orochi had fled with remarkable speed, cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation.
Kai found himself with no choice but to pursue the cowardly ruler. After all, today's primary objective was to eliminate Kurozumi Orochi completely.
If the serpentine Shogun didn't die, no matter how many samurai Kai and Yamato slaughtered, their entire mission would amount to nothing.
Kai followed the direction of Kurozumi Orochi's hasty retreat, chasing through several winding corridors in the maze-like interior of Orochi Castle. But he was finally forced to stop at a complex crossroads that branched in multiple directions.
"A miscalculation on my part. I should have learned proper Observation Haki before coming here."
Kai examined the spider web of interconnected passages sprawling before him, scratching his head with obvious frustration. He appeared to be completely lost in this architectural labyrinth.
CLATTER!
Suddenly, the crisp sound of ceramic shattering echoed from a nearby corner.
"Hm?" Kai turned and walked purposefully toward the source of the disturbance.
After sliding open an exquisitely crafted lattice door, he discovered a young woman cowering in the shadowed corner, trembling while clutching the broken remains of an ornate flower vase.
The girl possessed breathtaking beauty and was dressed in the elaborate silks of a high-class courtesan. Her lovely long hair shimmered with an emerald hue that caught the filtered light.
Obviously, the noise he'd heard was caused by her accidentally kicking over the valuable vase in her panic.
Upon witnessing Kai in his intimidating dragon-humanoid form, the girl trembled even more violently, hastily lowering her head and not daring to meet his gaze again.
Kai considered his approach carefully and attempted to make his voice sound as gentle as possible: "I'm not a dangerous person. I came here to end Wano Country's suffering and provide the people with genuine hope for a new life. I'm currently pursuing Kurozumi Orochi. Do you happen to know which direction he fled?"
Pursuing Kurozumi Orochi?
Upon hearing this declaration, the girl's eyes instantly brightened with hope but then dimmed again with the weight of harsh reality.
There were still ten long years remaining until her mother's prophecy would be fulfilled. The warrior standing before her was destined to return empty-handed from this endeavor.
But she couldn't bear to watch Kai throw away his life in pointless sacrifice, so she whispered urgently: "You should escape quickly while you still can. You cannot possibly defeat the Shogun. Behind the Shogun stands Guardian King Kaido himself, protecting his interests."
Kai responded with complete directness: "I was sent here by Kaido personally."
So this is merely one faction of villains attacking another?
The girl's budding favorable impression of Kai immediately evaporated like morning mist.
"Judging by your current situation, Kurozumi Orochi must have exploited you terribly. Such a tragedy. How many innocent people throughout Wano Country share your suffering?"
Kai adopted an expression of deep compassion and concern: "I came here specifically to protect vulnerable people like yourself from Kurozumi Orochi's systematic persecution, which is precisely why I persuaded Kaido to eliminate that corrupt ruler."
As he spoke with apparent sincerity, Kai even managed to produce a few convincing crocodile tears.
Is that truly the case?
A flash of cautious emotion appeared in the girl's expressive eyes as she studied Kai more intently.
But then her gaze fell once more, weighted with dejection: "The Beast Pirates' oppression of Wano Country won't simply cease with this change. Replacing the Shogun is merely changing the soup while keeping the same bitter medicine."
She privately feared the new Shogun might prove even worse than Kurozumi Orochi.
At least Kurozumi Orochi had been feeding off Wano Country's people for so many years that his appetite had become somewhat predictable and manageable.
With a completely new Shogun, the cycle of exploitation would begin fresh with renewed vigor.
"You're absolutely wrong about that. I won't permit such atrocities to continue!"
Kai extended his transformed hand toward the girl and spoke with solemn conviction: "Please trust me. Under the new Shogun's enlightened leadership, you and all of Wano's people will definitely live far better lives."
Just at that moment, several rays of golden sunlight streamed through the nearby window, illuminating Kai as if draping him in a sacred, almost divine cloak.
The girl stared in wonder at this striking figure, suddenly feeling an unexpected surge of courage rising in her heart. Almost without conscious thought, she reached out and grasped the hand Kai offered.
Even though the prophesied day of liberation had not yet arrived, even though the Beast Pirates still maintained iron control over this suffering country, the girl found herself willing to believe that this mysterious man before her could help Wano Country's people escape their impoverished existence ahead of the predicted schedule.
Naturally, Kai felt completely confident about delivering on this promise.
Although historical factors played a role, Kurozumi Orochi's brutally exploitative ruling methods were primitive and inefficient. The cost of maintaining control through pure oppression had grown prohibitively expensive.
Modern sustainable exploitation represented the far more profitable path forward.
"My lord, please follow me closely. The Shogun... no, I should say Kurozumi Orochi... prefers to remain in the main hall during times of crisis. Once when he was heavily intoxicated, he unconsciously revealed that location was the safest place in all of Orochi Castle."
The girl took the lead while Kai followed closely behind her graceful steps.
"I'm called Kai. And you? What should I call you?"
"This humble one is named Komurasaki, Lord Kai."
Indeed, it's you. The Kozuki family's hidden princess, Kozuki Hiyori.
Kai nodded with inner recognition and understanding.
He had found her unusual composure during their conversation rather strange initially. Komurasaki possessed a worldliness and maturity that seemed beyond her apparent station, as if she had witnessed far more than a simple courtesan should.
An ordinary entertainer wouldn't be able to maintain such calm upon seeing his hybrid transformation. Simply not fainting from terror would be remarkable enough.
The two figures disappeared into the shadowy depths of the winding corridor.
In a concealed corner behind them, a bloodied figure slowly emerged from his hiding place.
Kyoshiro watched their departure with mounting worry, but his hands gripped the stone wall tightly, preventing him from making any sound that might give away his position.
What he had feared most had finally come to pass.
He had used the opportunity of being violently blasted away from the earlier fight to leave the main battlefield, hoping to return and locate Komurasaki so he could escort her safely away from this increasingly dangerous place.
He hadn't expected to arrive one crucial step too late.
"Lord Oden, Denjiro has proven incompetent and failed to protect the princess as sworn."
Kyoshiro blamed himself bitterly, gritting his teeth in frustration, but still resolved to follow at a safe distance.
On the other side of the castle, Kai knew with certainty that he had finally come to the right location.
Before even approaching the main hall's vicinity, he could already hear Kurozumi Orochi's panicked shouting echoing through the corridors.
"Fukurokuju, quickly! Summon every samurai in the country immediately! I want to mount a campaign to subjugate Kaido... no, to completely destroy the Beast Pirates!"
Ho ho, instead of focusing on escape, you're actively gathering military forces to attack Onigashima directly?
Orochi, you absolute fool.
You really are stupid beyond all measure!
Kai gently pulled Komurasaki behind his protective bulk: "This is quite far enough. Find yourself a secure hiding place and focus on keeping safe."
"Lord Kai..."
Witnessing Kai actively shield her from danger, Komurasaki couldn't help but feel genuinely moved by his consideration. At this crucial point, she completely believed that Kai was fundamentally different from every other Beast Pirate she'd encountered.
Knowing she would only serve as a burden in the coming confrontation, Komurasaki could only offer silent prayers from her heart: "May fortune smile upon your battle!"
Positioning himself before the main hall's imposing entrance, Kai prepared his assault.
"Let's announce our arrival properly."
Kai opened his jaws wide, and the energy within his transformed body converted into violent flames, frantically gathering and compressing in his throat with increasing intensity.
"Flamethrower!"
An orange-red pillar of fire erupted like a molten lava torrent, roaring forth from Kai's mouth with devastating force.
BOOM!
The flames swept forward with irresistible power, instantly blasting through the main hall's reinforced entrance and reducing it to smoldering rubble.
Terrifying heat waves rolled across the entire scene like a blazing tsunami of destruction.
"So hot, so hot! It's burning everything!" Kurozumi Orochi's pig-like screams pierced through the roaring flames: "Extinguish this fire immediately, you useless fools!"
"Yes, Shogun!"
The surviving samurai and servants trapped within the hall erupted into complete chaos, frantically attempting to battle the rapidly spreading inferno.
"Shogun, please exercise caution."
Fukurokuju positioned himself protectively in front of Kurozumi Orochi, gazing vigilantly toward the destroyed entrance.
Kaido's daughter had demonstrated ice-based abilities earlier, so this devastating fire attack was undoubtedly from that giant dragon they'd witnessed in the sky.
CRACK!
Kai casually brushed away the door debris blocking his path and stepped through the wall of flames, slowly entering the main hall like a vengeful dragon descending upon the mortal world.
This level of temperature felt like nothing more than mildly pleasant warmth to his transformed physiology.
Kai strode confidently to the center of the great hall, his tone remaining as flat as if he were discussing mundane weather: "Kurozumi Orochi, could you please do everyone a favor and die? You're standing in my way."
"You insolent bastard! Who do you think I am! I'm the rightful Shogun of Wano Country!"
Kurozumi Orochi projected outward fierceness while inwardly cowering with fear. As he continued speaking, his confidence visibly crumbled: "Stop this assault now, and I can provide you with countless treasures and the most beautiful women in the land!"
"How utterly foolish." Kai sneered with cold contempt. "Kill you, and all of these things will belong to me anyway."
He was far too impatient for extended negotiations.
"Extreme Speed!"
The towering dragon-man instantly vanished from his position, leaving only a twisted ripple distorting the air where he had stood.
BANG!
A teeth-grinding, bone-crushing impact echoed through the hall.
Kurozumi Orochi's short, rotund body flew through the air like a broken sack struck by tremendous force. The sickening sound of multiple bones cracking accompanied his flight as he slammed with alarming speed into the solid stone wall behind the main hall.
The impact proved so devastating that a large crater was smashed directly into the reinforced wall.
Kurozumi Orochi collapsed within the crater like a pile of discarded mud, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles, blood flowing freely from his mouth and nose, completely motionless and silent.