In the Kuri region, astonishing news spread like wildfire.
"A pirate ship has docked at Idate Port!" whispered a fish vendor at the market to a nearby customer, his voice trembling noticeably.
"This situation is completely different from usual," frowned a middle-aged merchant selecting fish, pausing his movements. "I heard that ship is terrifyingly large—several times bigger than any ship we've ever seen."
At a street corner tea stall, several villagers gathered with uneasy expressions. "That ship is incredibly huge and looks extremely powerful!" said a young farmer, rubbing his rough hands together.
The bald tea stall owner anxiously wrung his hands, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "In all my years, I've never seen such a massive pirate ship. Just the skull emblem on its sails is enough to send chills down your spine."
"Don't joke, boss. You're here all day—when would you have the chance to see pirate ships? Besides, I heard the port is already under lockdown, and no one is allowed near," countered a middle-aged man.
Kurozumi Kanjuro stood at the edge of the crowd, taking in all the discussions. He calmly adjusted his collar and strode steadily toward the port. Villagers along the way made room for the samurai, their eyes filled with awe and expectation.
Meanwhile, Kouzuki Oden had already rushed ahead to Idate Port. When he arrived, he found Kaidou and his crew waiting in formation. The pirates stood in orderly ranks, each wearing fierce expressions, their weapons glinting coldly in the sunlight.
At the forefront of the group stood a massively built man carrying a huge Spiked Club, a savage grin stretching across his face.
"Finally here?!" Kaidou raised his Hassaikai, the metal gleaming in the sunlight. His rough voice echoed across the beach, startling a flock of seabirds. "I've been growing impatient!"
Kouzuki Oden stood on the sandy shore, the sea breeze ruffling his robes. Facing such a powerful enemy, he showed no fear—instead, he revealed an excited smile. He slowly drew his two famous swords—"Heavenly Feather Cutter" and "King of Hell"—their blades emitting a cold gleam under the sun.
"Perfect timing!" Kouzuki Oden's voice brimmed with power. "Braving terrible weather, scaling massive waterfalls—I've finally reached this place. I've waited too long for this moment, pirate!" Before his words faded, he pushed off with his legs, shooting toward Kaidou like an arrow from a bow.
"Urororo! Come at me!" Kaidou laughed wildly, the muscles in his thick arms bulging as his Hassaikai met Kouzuki Oden with a howling gust of wind.
BOOM—!
Two tremendous forces collided mid-air, erupting in a deafening explosion. The shockwave radiated outward from the two combatants, sending fine sand flying several meters high. Pirates standing nearby lost their footing and tumbled to the ground, some even vomiting blood from the impact.
"Hahaha, not bad at all!" Kouzuki Oden used the recoil to leap back several meters, landing steadily. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he gripped his swords in an offensive stance. Kaidou also adjusted his posture, his enormous body displaying surprising agility.
The ensuing battle was a breathtaking spectacle. Kouzuki Oden's twin blades transformed into two silver flashes of lightning, striking at Kaidou from every conceivable angle.
Kaidou swung Hassaikai in response, each parry accompanied by sparks from clashing metal.
Their movements were too fast for the naked eye to follow, with only the deafening crashes of their weapons echoing across the beach.
Bullet watched the fierce battle between Kouzuki Oden and Kaidou, a flicker of regret in his eyes: "Truly impressive strength. Pity I won't get to cross blades with him."
Queen puffed on his cigar and let out his signature laugh: "Muhahaha, nothing to be done about it. This guy's the biggest obstacle to our plans."
Moria stared intently at the battlefield, rubbing his hands excitedly: "Kishishishi, to last this long against the Captain... I'll need to double my training efforts."
Urouge clasped his hands together and said calmly: "Another powerful warrior will soon fall before our Captain."
The eight-year-old Enel clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "One day, I'll become this strong too... no, even stronger than them!"
Everyone held their breath, completely absorbed in watching this earth-shattering confrontation.
Every exchange between Kaidou and Kouzuki Oden sent shockwaves through the air, leaving the onlookers both awestruck and inspired.
"I've been waiting for someone like you!" Kouzuki Oden suddenly withdrew his blades and leaped back after a particularly intense exchange. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his smile grew even brighter. "I'm Kouzuki Oden. I don't know who you are, but let me join your crew!"
Hearing this proposal, Kaidou's movements faltered slightly. For a brief moment, he genuinely considered the offer.
Kouzuki Oden's talent and potential were truly extraordinary - given time, he would undoubtedly become a Yonko-level powerhouse. But upon second thought, rather than recruiting a powerful subordinate, what Kaidou truly wanted was the entire country of Wano as his stronghold. Moreover, their goals were fundamentally incompatible - Kouzuki Oden yearned for adventure on the high seas, while Kaidou aimed to conquer Wano as his base of operations. Their positions were naturally opposed.
Kaidou's expression twisted back into a ferocious grin. "Worororo! Want to join my crew? Survive this first!" Before the words faded, Kaidou erupted with terrifying presence, Conqueror's Haki coiling around Hassaikai as dark red lightning crackled across the weapon's surface.
"Roaring Thunder Trigram!"
Seeing this, Kouzuki Oden immediately assumed a defensive stance, crossing his blades before his chest. His arm muscles bulged as equally powerful Haki enveloped his swords. He could feel the terrifying force approaching, but his eyes showed no trace of retreat.
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Peach Garden Waterfall!"
BOOM—!
This collision was more violent than any previous exchange. The two forces held against each other for a brief moment in midair before Hassaikai shattered the twin blades' defense with overwhelming force, crashing brutally into Kouzuki Oden's head.
Kouzuki Oden flew backward like a broken kite, smashing through several small hills along the shoreline before finally coming to a stop.
"Guh!" Kouzuki Oden struggled to rise from the rubble, spitting out a mouthful of blood. A deep gash marked his forehead, blood streaming down his face to stain his kimono crimson. Yet he still gripped his twin blades tightly, his knuckles white from the strain.
"Wororororo! Not bad physical strength, you can still stand." Kaidou carried Hassaikai on his shoulder, leisurely walking toward Kouzuki Oden. His footsteps sounded particularly heavy on the silent beach, each step causing the surrounding air to tremble.
Kouzuki Oden struggled to his feet, blood continuously dripping from his forehead.
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