Another wave of shock and uproar erupted across the battlefield.
"Samurai Kozuki Oden?!"
"That man… that samurai… he's one of the legends!"
"A samurai from Wano Country — the legend of the Roger Pirates, Kozuki Oden!"
"How is this even possible? According to our records, Kozuki Oden died many years ago!"
"It was the Four Emperor, Kaido of the Beasts, who killed him, and yet…"
"Another undead legend has returned! This can't be real!"
The elite veterans of Naval Headquarters shouted in disbelief, their voices trembling.
"Oden… is that really Oden?"
A wave of joy and emotion swept across Silvers Rayleigh's aged face.
Seeing another comrade come back to life — his eyes brimmed with tears that he couldn't hold back.
More than twenty years ago, after the Roger Pirates disbanded, they had journeyed to Wano Country alongside Oden.
After sending him home, they departed in haste.
Five years later came the devastating news — Kozuki Oden had been executed by Kaido of the Beasts.
That loss had always remained a deep regret in Rayleigh's heart.
He had thought about it countless times:
If only they had stayed one more night… shared one more meal…
Maybe the outcome would have been different.
"Ahahahaha! Oden, you've come back too!"
Gol D. Roger's voice rang out, bright and full of unrestrained joy.
"Wano Country's samurai Kozuki Oden… another unbelievable figure has appeared!"
Sabo exclaimed in shock.
"Samurai Kozuki Oden… I was just about to say that!"
Lindbergh, commander of the Revolutionary Army's divisions, stared wide-eyed.
"Samurai Kozuki Oden… Father's old companion… and Yamato's…"
Ace turned to glance at Yamato, already knowing what she must be feeling.
"Ooooh! Oden! It's really Oden! Kozuki Oden is back!!!"
Yamato shouted excitedly, jumping up and down like a child.
Eighteen years ago, Yamato had stood in the Flower Capital, watching the final moments of Kozuki Oden's life — his defiant figure burned into her memory.
Afterward, she had rushed to Oden Castle in Kuri, where she discovered Oden's logbook lying at the foot of the mountain.
Within its pages were stories so incredible, so daring, that she was forever changed.
From that moment on, Kozuki Oden became her greatest idol — his logbook her bible.
And now, seeing the man himself alive before her very eyes…
How could Yamato not be overwhelmed with joy?
At that very moment, there was another who was even more moved than Yamato herself — one who shared Oden's very blood.
"My lord father… it's really you…"
Kozuki Hiyori covered her face, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Her voice quivered with joy.
Her father — the man she believed she would never see again — stood before her.
Alive.
Breathing.
Smiling.
How could her heart not overflow?
But it wasn't only Kozuki Hiyori and Yamato.
Across the battlefield, every member of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by the Four Emperor Edward Newgate himself, was struck speechless.
After the shock faded, an eruption of excitement followed.
"Guurararara!"
A great, booming laugh resounded through the sky.
It was Whitebeard's — Edward Newgate himself — his deep laughter thundering across the war-torn air.
In all of Whitebeard's seventy years of life, never had he smiled so broadly.
Never had he felt such pure happiness.
And it was all because of the towering warrior who had returned from the depths of hell itself.
"Father! It's Oden!"
"This time it's really Oden!"
"This is unbelievable — a massive, massive surprise!"
"Lord Oden… Lord Oden is back!"
"This must be another miracle created by Lord Sugisawa Yuuto!"
"Lord Yuuto is truly the most incredible being in the world!"
Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the other captains of the Whitebeard Pirates shouted with awe and excitement, their voices trembling with emotion.
"Hey, why's everyone so happy all of a sudden?"
"I heard from the Marines that samurai used to sail with Roger's crew!"
"Why are all the veterans so thrilled then?"
The younger members of the Whitebeard Pirates, too young to know the old days, looked on in confusion.
"You fools!" one of the veterans barked, grinning through tears. "Yeah, Oden was part of the Roger Pirates — but before that, he was one of us!"
"That's right! Oden first set sail under our father's flag!"
"You kids don't know it, but before Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates was none other than Oden himself!"
The old veterans of Whitebeard's crew eagerly told the younger ones about the forgotten history — stories of the fearless samurai who had once shared their ship, their sake, and their battles.
And with that…
The uproar across the battlefield grew even greater.
It wasn't just the young Whitebeard pirates who were stunned — even the Marines were shaken to their core.
After all, this was a man who had once been a part of two of the greatest pirate crews in history!
A legend reborn, standing once again amidst gods and monsters.