"You're not out of danger yet!"
Suddenly, Law's figure appeared again. His cold voice sent a chill crawling up Shinobu's spine.
Before she could even turn around, a flash of light streaked past—her head went flying into the air.
"Ahhh! My head—it's gone!" Shinobu's severed head floated midair, wailing in terror, her eyes filled with raw fear.
"Noisy."
Law's expression remained icy as another slash of his blade split her head cleanly in two, the upper and lower halves of her jaw separating. Calmly, he found a piece of cloth in the house, wrapped up the two halves, grabbed her body, and vanished. In an instant, he reappeared on the rooftop, then back aboard the Ark Maxim.
"Mission complete."
Law spoke lightly. With Souta Kiryuu's approving nod, the tension in his chest eased. Their mission in Wano was nearly finished—soon it would be time to turn against the Donquixote Family.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea had already dwindled to just three. It was laughable to think of their former power. Against Souta Kiryuu, even the Warlords were nothing. Crocodile had been captured, Moria and the Pirate Empress had bent the knee. Now the might of Souta's crew was enough to completely crush the Donquixote Family. If Souta chose to act, Doflamingo wouldn't be able to stir a ripple.
Shinobu's head and body were rejoined, shackled with seastone cuffs. Denjiro's petrified form was released by Hancock and reattached to his head, though he was restrained with explosive collars.
"Kozuki Hiyori," Souta said casually, sprawling back on his sun chair, "I want the swords Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri. Hand them over, and the three of you can walk free."
At the sound of her true name, Hiyori and Denjiro froze, eyes wide, faces drained of all color.
Their identities… exposed?
If even Souta Kiryuu—this 'guest' who had only just arrived in Wano—knew who they were, then surely the Beast Pirates would soon discover their infiltration as well.
"Relax. Kaido's crew and Orochi don't yet know. But if you cling too tightly to those two blades, that might change." Souta's voice was nonchalant as he plucked the black blade Shusui from the display case, examining it.
To him, the weapon was too small—better suited for a swordsman like Ryuma or Zoro, neither of whom stood more than two meters tall. Oden, nearly four meters in height, had wielded Enma, a blade over two meters long. How could Zoro, only 1.8 meters, use it? The sight must have been more absurd than Mihawk lifting his massive blade Yoru. Could such a blade adjust itself to its wielder's size?
"Shusui—the national treasure!" Hiyori and Denjiro gasped in unison. The blade that had been missing for more than twenty years was now in the hands of this foreigner.
What cut them most deeply wasn't just that Souta possessed it—but that he treated it with disdain. After a glance, he sheathed Shusui and tossed it onto a table as if it were worthless.
Their hearts clenched. To them, Shusui was sacred, a symbol of Ryuma's honor and Wano's pride. To see it disrespected so casually was unbearable—yet in their peril, they dared not speak out.
"Souta-sama," Hiyori said gently, her voice trembling with politeness, "that black blade, Shusui, holds greater fame than either Enma or Ame-no-Habakiri. Why reach so far, when you already have such a treasure?"
Her words were cautious, her thoughts desperate. She was willing to part with Enma, her father's blade, but Ame-no-Habakiri was Momo's inheritance—she had no right to surrender it.
"You're teaching me how to handle my affairs?" Souta tilted his head, smiling faintly. Hiyori's pupils contracted, her knees weakening under his gaze.
"Courtesan, are you trying to bargain with us?" Hancock sneered through her mask, her disdain palpable. "The so-called greatest beauty of Wano? You're nothing compared to me—the most beautiful woman in the world. Truly, there is no comparison."
Denjiro shifted protectively in front of Hiyori, shielding her from Souta and Hancock's oppressive aura. He realized now—this golden vessel was home to not one, but two rulers. No wonder Kaido treated Souta as a guest.
"I despise discourteous men!" Hancock snapped, touching her lips with her finger. A pink arrow shot forth, striking Denjiro's legs and turning them to stone.
"Uncle Denjiro!!" Hiyori cried out, tears streaming once more.
"Oi, woman! Stop wasting time and just accept Souta-boss's terms already! Otherwise, when my old man shows up, we'll just extract your memories ourselves!" Bonney barked angrily, storming forward. With a wave of her hand, she transformed Hiyori into a girl of barely seven or eight years old.
"Hiyori-sama!!" Denjiro shouted in shock. Another bizarre power!
"Could this be the opposite of my Maturity Technique? A Reversal—youth instead of age? No… if it's like mine, it must be irreversible!" Shinobu gasped, recognizing a kinship—and then paling with horror. Her own ability could only age and decay. If this power worked in reverse, Hiyori might be trapped as a child forever.
Hiyori nearly fainted at the thought. To live through growing up all over again? It was unbearable.
"This isn't some 'Reversal Jutsu,' idiot. It's a Devil Fruit ability that controls age." Bonney rolled her eyes, clearly irritated. "You all still don't get your situation. Keep wasting our time, and I'll show you what that really means."
She walked over to Shinobu and, with a flick, transformed her into an old woman of seventy or eighty.
"Your sorcery—just like mine—it makes people old! No… no! I'll wither away! I'll die of old age!" Shinobu screamed, staring at her wrinkled hands, convinced the change was permanent.
"Too noisy." Souta's voice cut through the panic, calm but cold.
"Kozuki Hiyori. Tell me where Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri are. I don't have time to play games."
"Bonney. Change them back."
Bonney stuck out her tongue, canceling her power. Both Shinobu and Hiyori returned to normal.
"It can be undone?!" Shinobu gasped in relief—only for Hancock to immediately fire another arrow, petrifying her into stone.
"Shinobu!!" Hiyori and Denjiro cried out, stricken.
"You have one minute," Souta said flatly. "Tell me the location of the blades, or we'll find them ourselves. And you three will die."
"Let the three of us go, and I'll give you both Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri!" Hiyori's voice cracked. For the sake of Denjiro and Shinobu, she could only overstep, surrendering even the heirloom blade meant for her brother.
"She's not in a position to negotiate." Souta's eyes narrowed.
"But—"
"Thirty seconds."
"I… I'll take you to them…" Hiyori's body collapsed to the floor, her tears flowing freely. Why had it come to this?
The Beast Pirates alone had been enough to drown her in despair. And now—an even greater monster had arrived.
The God-Slayer: Souta Kiryuu.
...
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