Just as everyone was blocked, Kaidou landed on the ground once again.
Amid the smoke-filled battlefield, Kaidou's signature maniacal laughter echoed through the ruins.
"Urorororo, I knew it—bombs in this world can't kill anyone." He rested his spiked club on his shoulder, looking down condescendingly at the scene before him.
At the explosion's epicenter, Kurozumi Orochi and Kurozumi Semimaru were perfectly protected by a translucent barrier, not even a speck of dust touching their clothes.
In stark contrast were the daimyo lying wounded nearby—Shimotsuki Ushimaru, Shimotsuki Yasuie, and others. Though they had used Armament Haki to protect themselves in time, they were still covered in injuries. The worst off was Uzuki Tempura, who lay gasping for breath on the ground, blood continuously seeping from his wounds.
"Bastard, Kaidou, what are you trying to do?" Shimotsuki Ushimaru forced himself to stand, angrily demanding an answer. His samurai attire was already in tatters, but the fury in his eyes remained undiminished.
Kaidou laughed even more wildly upon hearing this: "Urorororo, what am I trying to do? Isn't it obvious? Eliminate you all and directly rule Wano Country." Suddenly, he turned and roared at Queen, who had appeared beside him unnoticed: "Hey, Queen! With such a massive amount of explosives detonating at close range, they still have the strength to talk? You didn't embezzle my activity funds, did you?!"
Queen's obese body trembled violently, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead: "K-Kaidou boss, how could I? Why would I do such a thing?" He waved his hands frantically, like a child caught red-handed.
Kaidou narrowed his eyes. He had only said it casually at first, but now he genuinely grew suspicious. Staring at Queen's guilty expression, he wondered if this fat bastard really dared to steal his money.
"Your scheme won't succeed, Kaidou," Shimotsuki Yasuie said with difficulty, clutching his injured arm. "The people of Wano Country will never accept rule by an outsider."
"Is that so?" Kaidou suddenly revealed a ferocious grin, slamming his spiked club heavily on the ground: "Then doesn't Kuri count as part of Wano Country?" These words struck the daimyo like a sharp blade. In present-day Kuri, Kaidou's reputation was even more prominent than theirs.
"Hey, hey, hey, Kaidou, even if you want to seize Wano Country, there's no need to target our Kurozumi family, right?!" Kurozumi Orochi suddenly spoke up.
Orochi was already somewhat afraid of Kaidou—this guy had secretly planted so many explosives in the Shogun Palace without anyone noticing.
"Urorororo, Kurozumi Orochi, head of the Kurozumi clan hiding in the Shogun Palace, plans to rebel again. Unfortunately, Sukiyaki discovers it in advance and summons all of Wano's daimyo to completely eliminate the Kurozumi clan. But sadly, the Kurozumi clan had planted massive amounts of explosives in the Shogun Palace at some point, directly killing all daimyo except the Kuri Lord. Ultimately, with the Kuri Lord's help, the Shogun Palace completely wipes out the Kurozumi clan. Orochi, how do you like my script?" Kaidou said to Orochi.
"You... you... you..." Kurozumi Orochi stared at Kaidou with even greater fear.
"Alright, King, Queen, move out. Finish this quickly," Kaidou commanded directly.
"Yes!" King unfurled his black wings and strode toward Kurozumi Orochi and Kurozumi Semimaru, who were protected by the Barrier Fruit's power. His long blade gleamed coldly under the dim light.
Meanwhile, Queen hefted his broadsword and sneered as he approached the severely wounded daimyos: "Leave this to me, Boss Kaidou."
Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Fugetsu Omusubi struggled to their feet, shielding Shimotsuki Yasuie. Ushimaru whispered urgently, "Yasuie, we'll hold him off. You must escape and expose Kaidou's conspiracy."
Omusubi nodded firmly. "Go now!"
Yasuie gritted his teeth, looking at his comrades. "You... alright, be careful!" With that, he immediately turned and dashed toward the secret passage at the rear.
"Hey hey hey, don't underestimate me!" Queen roared, charging forward with his broadsword. Despite putting up a desperate resistance, the already gravely injured Ushimaru and Omusubi were forced back several steps by Queen's overwhelming strength.
Exchanging a glance, the two suddenly shifted tactics, launching a ferocious assault completely disregarding their own safety. This life-risking approach caught Queen off guard, forcing him temporarily on the defensive. In that brief moment, Shimotsuki Yasuie's figure vanished deep into the secret passage.
"It seems that fatso Queen still needs more training," Kaidou remarked coldly from his elevated position, arms crossed as he observed the battle. He showed no intention of intervening, having mobilized nearly all the elite forces of the Beasts Pirates for this operation.
If he needed to personally handle a battle of this level, then this pirate crew truly had no reason to exist.
Just as Queen was pressing his attack, a sudden chill ran down his spine, as if something terrible was about to happen.
Shimotsuki Yasuie, aided by Ushimaru and Omusubi's efforts, fled directly toward the outskirts of the Shogun Palace. But before he could get far, a blade flash sliced through the air, cutting down the desperately fleeing Yasuie.
Seeing the enemy eliminated, Morris wiped the blood from his treasured sword with a cloth, sheathed the blade, and continued watching to ensure no one else could escape.
Witnessing Yasuie's death, the already critically wounded Ushimaru and Omusubi lost their composure and were swiftly cut down by Queen.
Meanwhile, King slowly drew Enma, the blade radiating a cold gleam under the moonlight. Gripping it with both hands, he swung fiercely at the barrier, his fierce stance seeming capable of splitting the entire defense apart. Inside the barrier, Kurozumi Orochi's face turned deathly pale, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
"Clang!"
With a clear metallic ring, Enma was solidly blocked by the barrier. Kurozumi Semimaru immediately reassured him, "Please rest assured, Lord Orochi, this Barrier Technique is impenetrable." Only then did Orochi's rapid breathing slightly calm, though fine beads of sweat still dotted his forehead.
"Old man, your barrier is quite impressive," King coldly stared at Semimaru. "But no matter how strong the ability, it depends on the user's power." No sooner had he spoken than Semimaru felt his blood reverse flow, his muscles instantly stiffening, rendering him unable to maintain the Barrier Technique.
The moment the barrier vanished, King moved like a phantom. Enma traced a graceful arc through the air, and Semimaru's head flew from his shoulders, painting a bloody line before thudding heavily to the ground.
"Cicada... Cicada Maru!" Kurozumi Orochi screamed in terror, his voice filled with despair. But before he could beg for mercy, the King of Hell swung again, and Orochi's body crashed to the ground.
Just as King was about to sheathe his sword, Kaidou's deep voice came from behind: "King, it's not over yet. This guy ate the Orochi Devil Fruit - he has eight lives." Hearing this, King immediately turned to the "corpse" on the ground and indeed saw Kurozumi Orochi secretly squirming.
The feigning-dead Orochi, upon hearing Kaidou's words, could no longer maintain his act and desperately scrambled backward using both hands and feet. But with his capabilities, how could he possibly escape King's pursuit? In the blink of an eye, the King of Hell successively severed several snake heads, each slash accompanied by Orochi's piercing screams.
During this, Orochi attempted to counterattack, but the moment he raised his weapon, King effortlessly chopped off two more heads. Finally, when the eighth strike fell, only boundless fear and despair remained in Orochi's eyes. As the final snake head rolled away, the battle finally reached its conclusion.
After using Observation Haki to inspect the scene and confirming that everyone present besides their own people was dead, Kaidou nodded with satisfaction this time.
"King, proceed with the next phase of the plan!" Kaidou said to King.
"Yes!" King nodded, then immediately began making arrangements.
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