Souta Kiryuu stepped closer, his eyes locking on the trembling gaze of Komurasaki.
From within the artificial rock garden, Kyoshiro—his face smeared with blood—gritted his teeth. With a sharp intake of breath, he forced himself forward once again, charging at Komurasaki with killing intent.
If he couldn't prevent her from being taken away, then he would have to arrange for her "death"!
"No one else has the right to touch my spoils!"
A massive dragon tail lashed out behind Souta Kiryuu, striking Kyoshiro mid-charge. The swordsman was flung back violently, spewing a torrent of blood as he tumbled through the air.
Crashing to the ground, Kyoshiro's body shook, yet he still forced himself upright. Covered in wounds, his gaze never left Souta Kiryuu.
"ROOM: Sever!"
A transparent field spread outward in an instant. Trafalgar Law raised his blade, and a streak of swordlight sliced through the air before Kyoshiro could even react.
Before the stunned eyes of everyone present, the head of the mighty underworld boss rolled from his shoulders and flew upward.
The scene was horrific. Komurasaki clutched her mouth with both hands, her entire body trembling violently as tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks.
Uncle Denjiro was dead!
The one who had always protected her was gone!
She collapsed helplessly to the ground. Kawamatsu had already been captured, and now Denjiro was decapitated before her eyes.
Why? Why was this happening?!
Even Shinobu, who had been observing from the shadows, widened her eyes in disbelief, her fists clenching, breath growing ragged, tears blurring her vision.
Orochi and his Onibawan-shu swallowed hard.
These people… truly showed no mercy. Killing came as easily as breathing.
It was clear now—these were thugs far beyond their ability to provoke.
But in the very next moment, their jaws dropped in shock once more.
From nowhere, a man in a spotted hat appeared, casually lifting Kyoshiro's severed head by the hair.
"I'm not dead!" Kyoshiro's head suddenly cried out. He felt no pain in his neck—only the wounds Souta Kiryuu had inflicted still throbbed terribly.
"You're Souta Kiryuu's prisoner. How could I possibly let you die?"
Law's expression was cold and detached. With a flick of his middle finger, Kyoshiro's body was transported directly to the Ark Maxim.
"H-He's not dead?!" Orochi stammered, stumbling back several steps in disbelief, pointing at the still-talking head.
Even Komurasaki's despair was pierced by a fragile spark of hope as her tear-filled eyes turned toward Denjiro's severed head. Could it be true—that he hadn't actually died?
"Some kind of sorcery?" Kyoshiro muttered, quickly putting the pieces together. He had heard Lord Oden mention such things—strange sorcery from the seas, known as Devil Fruit powers.
They came in all forms and varieties, granting all manner of abilities.
Even Shinobu herself wielded a ninjutsu that could ripen and wither living beings and rot away materials.
"I don't have time to waste explaining!" Souta Kiryuu snarled. He grabbed Komurasaki and, with a flash of crimson scales, soared into the sky in his dragon form, carrying her toward the Ark Maxim.
"Orochi—if you have any complaints, go cry to Queen or Kaido! I'll be waiting for them!" Souta's dragon maw twisted into a vicious grin as he mocked Orochi, utterly unafraid of provoking the Beast Pirates' wrath.
"N-no complaints! None at all!" Orochi stammered nervously, rubbing his hands together and bowing repeatedly, his face full of forced respect.
Law gave Orochi a single, icy glance, enough to make the shogun stagger back again in terror, retreating from the eerie sorcerer. With a cold snort, Law teleported away, carrying Kyoshiro's head back to the Ark.
The Onibawan-shu ninja exchanged uneasy glances. This man's teleportation was terrifying—but deep inside, a flicker of envy stirred in their eyes.
When Souta Kiryuu and Law returned to the Ark Maxim, they found that Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, had already turned Kyoshiro's body to stone, her expression dark.
Souta chuckled and tossed Komurasaki onto the deck.
"What's this? Angry, are we?"
He walked over and brushed a hand through Hancock's black hair. The proud empress blushed instantly, melting against Souta's chest.
"My lord Souta… if you desire it, I will give myself to you. Please, don't waste your time with such loathsome courtesans." Hancock whispered, tracing circles on his chest with her finger, her eyes narrowing at Komurasaki with disdain.
Even Baby 5, Bonney, and Perona looked at the courtesan with open disapproval.
"Hahaha, don't worry. I captured her for a reason. Don't get the wrong idea." Souta explained, telling them about Komurasaki's possession of two great blades, and her connection with Shinobu.
Meanwhile, Komurasaki had picked up Kyoshiro's head from where Law had dropped it, tears streaming as she spoke softly to her uncle.
"Captain! Sorry to interrupt, but I think I've spotted the two-headed little kunoichi you were after."
Nico Robin, sunglasses glinting, spoke in her usual sly tone as she glanced at Souta entwined with Hancock.
"I saw her too—she's chasing us now!" Violet added. The Ark Maxim had only just left Orochi's mansion when a pink-clad, large-headed ninja appeared in hot pursuit.
"Well, well. That saves me the trouble!" Souta laughed, slipping an arm around Hancock's waist as he walked toward the stern. His Observation Haki spread outward, scanning the rooftops below.
Sure enough, a bouncing pink shape was following close behind.
"That's the kunoichi with the Maturity-Maturity Fruit?" Hancock asked lazily, still nestled against Souta. Capturing her had been the main objective of this risky trip to Wano.
"If I'm not mistaken—yes." Souta's eyes gleamed. With the power of the Maturity Fruit, his Seraphim project would progress rapidly, becoming a true force in battle.
Perhaps by the time of the upcoming Marineford War, the second generation of Seraphim would already be matured and ready for deployment—
Assuming the war would still unfold as expected.
The combination of science and Devil Fruits would allow Souta's forces to rise at an unprecedented pace. He would make the World Government pay dearly!
"Souta-sama, allow me to deal with her!" Law stepped forward. Against this kind of opponent, it wasn't necessary for the boss himself to move.
"If she escapes, the consequences will be severe." Souta warned lightly, reminding Law not to underestimate anyone.
Law's chest tightened. He understood—this was a subtle warning not to let arrogance cloud his judgment.
"Understood!"
Activating his powers, Law vanished from the deck and reappeared on a nearby rooftop, directly in front of the pursuing kunoichi.
"ROOM: Slaughterhouse!"
He slashed his blade in the air, dozens of phantom strikes aimed at Shinobu.
Her face went pale. She had just witnessed this eerie power slice off Kyoshiro's head from a distance—this was no ordinary ninjutsu.
"Maturity Ninjutsu: Rapid Decay!"
The roof beneath her feet instantly rotted away, sending her plummeting just as the phantom blades swept past. Her ponytail was sliced clean off in the process.
"That was close!!" Shinobu gasped, clutching her chest as she landed inside the house below, breath coming in ragged gulps. She had nearly been cut to pieces.
This outsider from the seas was terrifying beyond belief!