This novel is finished, and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Akainu and the other three were trapped in the darkest hours before dawn. Yet for the people of Wano Country, the long night had finally ended, and the breaking of dawn had come.
Heaven-Manipulating Thunder God · Drums of Heaven!
Boom! Bang rumble!
Boom! Crack--!
An invisible net of lightning enveloped the world. With every resounding strike of the great drum, vast numbers of pirates were blasted apart by thunder. No matter what they hid behind, earth, steel, it was meaningless. Nothing could prolong their lives by even a second.
Not even screams were left behind. Every pirate caught within the thunder's domain vanished in an instant, reduced to nothing, not even ash, only blue smoke drifting into the sky.
At first, most of the citizens of Wano could not understand what had happened. But as the clean-up continued methodically, whispers spread across the country. Especially in places like the ruined town of Kuri, people muttered to themselves in disbelief.
"Finally… is it over?"
This terrifying nightmare was finally over.
The weapons factories Kaido built were no places of honest labor. They were blood-soaked sweatshops. Otherwise, how could the weapons they churned out be so cheap, enough to attract the World Government as a primary buyer?
The enslaved commoners were not only unpaid, but they were driven to death, their labor costing nothing. Of course, the weapons were cheap.
At the same time, the countless factories across the island poisoned Wano beyond recognition. Wastewater poured into the rivers, toxic smoke rose into the skies, turned into poisoned rain, and seeped into the earth. The soil became saturated with toxins, unable to produce crops.
For twenty years, being able to eat even a single meal had become a luxury for everyone outside of the Flower Capital.
Kurozumi Orochi only cared for the Flower Capital. That was the one place Kaido left untouched, and the first to be supplied with fruits and vegetables. Whatever was left trickled down to other towns.
A tyrant so selfish, so callous to the suffering of his people, had long earned the curses of the land.
And now…
"It's finally over!"
On a hilltop, watching Rowen unleash divine might, clearing out the remnants of the Beasts Pirates with unbelievable power, Kin'emon's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Kin'emon, are you alright?!" Momonosuke panicked, crouching down to support him. "Did your old injuries flare up again? I'll fetch a doctor immediately!"
He turned to run, but Kin'emon grabbed his arm, shaking his head silently. He opened his mouth, all his thoughts condensing into a single sentence: "Young lord, you must become a wise ruler."
Momonosuke froze in place. Then, after a pause, he stepped before Kin'emon and bowed deeply.
"I, Kozuki Momonosuke, in the name of the Kozuki clan's heir, swear this! From today forward, there shall be no more oppression or slavery in Wano Country. I will be cautious in word and deed, and place the people first, to honor my ancestors!"
That such words could come from an eight- or nine-year-old child stunned not only Kin'emon, but also the Straw Hats. Looking at the child who spoke like an adult, Kin'emon felt as though he were seeing Kozuki Oden once more. A relieved smile spread across his face.
"Good… that's good…"
Momonosuke blinked, then burst into tears.
"Waaah! Don't die, Kin'emon!"
"Out of the way, don't crowd him, I'm a doctor!" Chopper rushed over with his medical kit. After a quick examination, he kicked Kin'emon's leg sharply and roared with sharp teeth bared: "If you're sleepy just say so, don't scare people like that, you asshole!"
"…"
Zzzzt!
The void cracked with blue arcs of lightning. Finishing off the last group of pirates, Rowen clenched his cigar between his teeth and looked over at the laughing and crying group.
"Did I miss something?"
"No, nothing."
Robin leaned against a tree with arms crossed, shaking her head.
"Just tears of relief."
"Thanks for your help, Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon). Without you, even the remaining Beasts Pirates would've been a major headache for us."
Kanjuro stepped forward to bow in salute.
"No need for thanks. I only did my duty." Rowen took a long drag from his cigar, then said: "After all, Wano's position cuts off Orrick's coalition army's retreat. The cleaner we sweep, the more peace of mind we'll have."
'But… are we clean enough?'
Kanjuro instantly understood the hidden meaning in Rowen's words, and cold sweat drenched his back.
"That's right, that's right! Alright, since we're done here, I'll head back to sleep. Hopefully, when I wake up… the eyesores will already be gone." Rowen swept his cold gaze over the Straw Hats, making them all shiver in unison.
At that moment, Luffy seemed to recall something. Stretching his rubber arm to hook a branch, he swung back and shouted: "Hey, thunder guy! Next, you're going after Kaido and that… Orrick, right?"
"Mhm. That's right." Rowen nodded, then after a moment's pause, smirked teasingly. "So, are you planning to choose one of them as your opponent? Don't worry. If you lot are eager to throw your lives away, I can turn a blind eye."
'What… what a wicked guy!' Everyone was speechless.
Hearing this, Luffy looked troubled.
"I want to, of course. After all, we already fought the Beasts Pirates, and Lirisk injured my crewmates."
'Oi! You actually dare to say that out loud?!' The rest of the Straw Hats twitched at the corners of their mouths, unable to believe him.
"But…" Luffy raised his head, shedding his hesitation. "Since you've already decided to step in, I guess I won't have that chance, will I?"
"Hmph. I'll take that as a compliment. So what's your point?"
"My point is… can you leave the last guy for me? I want to defeat him myself!" Luffy's expression was firm, his tone resolute.
'The last guy?' Rowen froze for a moment, one eyebrow arching curiously.
Other than Kaido, that could only mean…
"So you're finally ready to take that step?"
Staring at the glaringly bright straw hat atop Luffy's head, Rowen narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting. To treat your savior as your enemy, repaying kindness with enmity. Truly fitting for a pirate!"
"Shishishi! That's what makes it fun, isn't it?! If I defeat him, Shanks's jaw will drop for sure." Luffy grinned foolishly, as though he didn't fully grasp what kind of opponent "Red-Haired" Shanks really was.
But no one else thought that way.
After witnessing Rowen's earth-shaking battle with Kaido tonight, the Straw Hats had understood all too well just how terrifying figures like Admirals and Yonko were.
To be honest, their power was overwhelming, enough to plunge them into despair.
And yet, that was exactly what they admired most about Luffy. Even when standing at the foot of such an impossible peak, he could still smile.
'Causing trouble for Shanks? Well… it was true that the guy had been far too quiet lately.'
Rowen silently weighed the pros and cons.
That dangerous look on his face made Zoro's hair stand on end. He muttered quietly, "Oi oi, you're not thinking of something bad, are you?"
"Of course not! Do I look like that kind of person?!" Rowen protested unhappily.
The next second, the rest of them all nodded in unison. The Marine Soryu (Azure Dragon)'s reputation was already long decided on the seas.
"Tch." Grumbling in annoyance, Rowen turned his gaze back to Luffy. "To tell you the truth, Shanks does have some ties with the World Government. Unless he commits some outrageous crime, we won't touch him. So you can rest assured, he's all yours."
"But I should warn you: back then, he cut off both my hands. And in the Pure Gold incident, he defeated me again… he's no simple man."
Defeated again?
That had to be a slip of the tongue, right? Robin raised an eyebrow, but Luffy didn't doubt him. He simply nodded earnestly.
"I know. Sabo told me about what happened in the past. That's why I must defeat him! If I can't… then I'll just end up being killed by you, won't I?"
Back in Windmill Town, Rowen's overwhelming strength had left the deepest impression on Luffy, a suffocating despair that even Garp had never given him.
When that final step came, it was inevitable that the Marines would descend upon him. If he couldn't surpass this hurdle, his path forward would vanish.
"How amusing." Rowen turned away, ending the conversation. "Eat your fill and leave early. You know me, I never joke."
Watching his back as he walked off, Luffy clenched his fists.
"San… Sanji, help me out here."
"Huh?"
"My legs feel weak…"
Luffy turned with a wailing face, his legs shaking like rubber bands.
The others: "…"
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
'Where the hell did that bravado from just now go?!'
(End of Chapter)