Chapter 265: Despicable Move
The arrival of King and Queen instantly changed the atmosphere within the Castle Tower.
Upon seeing Toki bound there and Momonosuke whose life or death was unknown, Kin'emon's body instantly tensed up, then his eyes widened and teeth gnashed, blood even flowing from the corner of his mouth.
And when the other Kozuki Retainer saw their captured mistress and young lord, they all struggled desperately as if they had gone mad.
The sudden burst of Power was so immense that even the Beasts Pirates, who were originally responsible for holding them down, couldn't suppress them, allowing Kin'emon, Denjiro, and others to break free.
Almost the instant they escaped control, they unhesitatingly chose to rush towards Toki and Momonosuke, even knowing that rescuing them was impossible in their own precarious situation. Yet, they still chose to do so, exposing their backs to the Enemy.
This conditioned reflex-like reaction and choice indirectly demonstrated these individuals' blind loyalty to the Kozuki Family.
This was the truth.
After all, Hyo Goro of the Flowers and the other Daimyo, when they saw the captured Toki and Momonosuke, were somewhat surprised, but their reactions were clearly not as intense as these Kozuki Retainer.
Facing the Retainer rushing towards herself and Momonosuke, Toki's gaze passed over them, landing on those behind them.
Her face didn't show a joyful smile of being rescued, but rather a look as if she had witnessed a terrifying Scene.
"Don't!"
Almost at the same time as Toki shouted, columns of Blood erupted from behind several Kozuki Retainer, staining a large area of the Ground red.
King had made his judgment in an instant, the moment these Kozuki Retainer violently rose up.
On the High Platform, as the Kozuki Retainer were cut down and fell to the Ground, King slowly sheathed his Long Sword.
Queen, facing this Scene, showed no surprise. Instead, he swallowed the Pork Knuckle he had taken from Orochi's table, meat and bone together, and then revealed a Taunt smile.
It could be said that after Charlotte Linlin chose to join forces with Kaido, the Situation in Wano Country was already stable.
"They're really restless fellows."
Kurozumi Orochi looked at the fallen Kozuki Retainer on the Ground, disgust on his face. Back then, these people had looked down on him so much.
"Someone!"
Kurozumi Orochi shouted loudly, and soon dozens of Samurai emerged from the left and right.
"Cut off one Arm of each of these guys, then hang them up!"
"Yes!"
Hearing Kurozumi Orochi's Order, King and Queen glanced at Orochi with strange expressions, but it was just a glance. Then, they turned their gaze towards the Battlefield of the Flower Capital, where the Battle between Kaido and Kozuki Oden had entered the decisive moment.
Meanwhile, on a hilltop far from the Flower Capital, a Ninja-dressed girl was nervously watching the Battlefield of the Flower Capital and the direction of the Castle Tower where Orochi was.
Her reaction was not only due to the shocking Power displayed in the Battle between Kaido and Kozuki Oden.
It was also because huge Wooden Stake had been erected on the Castle Tower, and tied to them were Big Shot renowned throughout Wano Country. Among them, Kozuki Oden's Retainer had been directly deprived of an Arm by Kurozumi Orochi!
The Situation was undeniably dire!
In this Situation, Shinobu felt an unprecedented Sense of Crisis.
"Sister Shinobu, should we go save Mama, Older Brother, and them?"
Kozuki Hiyori beside her asked Shinobu, her face stained with tears.
Shinobu didn't speak, only pulled Hiyori into her embrace. Hiyori couldn't clearly see the Battlefield's Situation, but Shinobu, after rigorous Training, could see everything clearly. If there were no Accident, Kozuki had lost.
It seemed their only option was to seek Protection there.
Shinobu silently thought, looking towards the direction of White Dance.
Just then, Kurozumi Orochi suddenly walked towards Toki. Amidst the puzzled Gaze of everyone, he grabbed Toki's hair and dragged her to the railing of the Castle Tower.
He then let out a bizarre Laughter and abruptly grabbed at Toki's clothes.
*Ripping sound!*
Accompanied by the Sound of tearing cloth, the Castle Tower suddenly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a needle drop.
Almost everyone was stunned by Orochi's sudden Action.
"Orochi, you bastard, what do you think you're doing!"
"Orochi, I'll kill you, you bastard!"
"If you dare do anything to Toki, I swear I'll make sure you die without a burial place!"
Evidently, Nekomamushi, Kawamatsu, and others might not understand Orochi's intentions, but Denjiro, Kin'emon, and those who had struggled in the Flower District and society understood perfectly well.
Toki, realizing Orochi's intentions, began to struggle violently.
"Hey, get two people over here! Hold her down and don't let her move!"
Kurozumi Orochi spoke again, watching Toki's relentless struggle.
"Mama, I want Mama."
Amidst the commotion in the Castle Tower, Momonosuke, who had been kicked unconscious by Daikoku, had somehow awakened. Upon waking, he found himself in an unfamiliar environment, terrified by the sharp pain from his Body and the horrifying Look of the bound Retainer with severed Arms around him.
"Momo, close your Eyes and don't look!"
Toki, pinned against the railing with her arms held down, couldn't even activate her Ability. She could only shout loudly for Momonosuke to close his Eyes and avoid seeing the disgusting Scene that was about to unfold.
The other Daimyo, their Complexion grim, felt their hearts sink to the bottom.
The fierce Battle between Kaido and Kozuki Oden had continued for a long Time.
"Ho! Ho! Ho!"
Kozuki Oden's Complexion had turned deathly pale, his breathing rapid and ragged. Muscles all over his Body trembled slightly. Having unleashed his Ultimate Move repeatedly, he was beginning to run out of Stamina.
"Is this your limit? Samurai!"
Kaido roared, his own State not much better than Kozuki Oden's. Numerous Wounds marked his Body, including a gaping gash on his neck still oozing Blood. Had he not defended at the crucial moment, he would have been critically injured.
However, this prolonged, high-intensity Battle made Kaido Feel that he had advanced another step!
As expected, fighting the Strongest was the best Method to grow stronger!
"Don't be ridiculous!! It's far from over!"
Kozuki Oden roared back, throwing himself forward again. "Before you bastards are driven out of Wano Country, how could I possibly fall!"
"Uro ro ro ro ro! Come on! Come on! Use Battle to bring me even more joy!!!"
Kaido laughed maniacally, resembling an Evil Ghost as he swung his Spiked Club to meet the Attack.
*Rumbling sounds!*
The fierce Battle between the two continued.
But Kozuki Oden was too exhausted, utterly spent.
His Stamina was far inferior to Kaido, a Zoan Devil Fruit User. As the scales gradually tipped, his Disadvantage grew, forcing him to expend even more Energy and Stamina to counter Kaido's Attack.
He was truly on the verge of collapse.
The Arms wielding his Dual Swords no longer moved with their previous ease. With each clash against Kaido, he could Feel his arm Muscles tremble. But Kaido was also nearing his limit; he couldn't last much longer either.
If he could just defeat Kaido, and then burn his Life, perhaps Wano Country could overcome this Crisis.
Just as the two clashed again, Kozuki Oden's peripheral vision caught a Scene on the Castle Tower. Toki was being held down, tears welling in her Eyes, while Kurozumi Orochi was reaching for his pants, and behind them stood a row of Wooden Stake with his Companions bound to them.
Even the Strongest Kozuki Oden faltered for a fleeting moment, revealing a Flaw.
In a Battle at this stage, a single Flaw
Was all it took.
"Three Realms Demise: Naraka Drop!!"
Kaido soared into the air, trailing long streaks of black Lightning, and his Iron Rod, wrapped in two-color Haki, slammed down.
Then, it struck Oden squarely on the head.
Boom!!
The Ground instantly cratered, and a ring-shaped Shockwave erupted outwards, the Gale it generated whipping up a massive Dust Cloud.
"Oden..."
"Lord Oden!"
The Red Scabbards, bound to the erected pillars, watched this Scene, tears streaming down their faces.
It was over.
Wano Country's final resistance ended here.
The Invincible Kozuki Oden, defeated today.
"Kurozumi Orochi!"
Kaido, victorious in Battle, felt no joy. Instead, he turned his furious Gaze towards the Castle Tower, the events there being the root cause of Oden's Flaw!
As Kaido's enraged Roar echoed, Orochi, who was lowering his head to unbuckle his pants, suddenly shuddered, as if targeted by a high-level predator.
(End of Chapter)