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Wano Country
A land shrouded in mystery and isolation, nestled deep within the New World. A nation steeped in history, the birthplace of the very poneglyphs that chronicled the lost 100 years, crafted eight centuries ago by the artisans of the Kozuki Family, guardians of their secrets and the method of deciphering them.
Over generations, Wano's artisans had perfected the art of working with seastone, crafting the restraints and weapons used by the Marines and other powerful organizations.
Wano itself was a treasure trove beyond measure, coveted by many, yet for centuries, only Kaido of the Beasts had managed to truly conquer and occupy this land.
Then there was the geography. Wano was no ordinary island. It towered high above sea level, and entry required navigating a treacherous waterfall.
The method of ascending this waterfall, using carp to pull ships up the cascading torrent, was a secret known to very few.
Finally, there was the strength of its people, the samurai, whose prowess was feared throughout the New World..
Twenty years ago, Kozuki Oden, the rightful shogun, was betrayed and executed by Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi, and Wano fell under their tyrannical rule.
The samurai's influence had waned since then, but Wano remained free from external threats, largely due to the presence of Kaido.
Even Whitebeard, another Emperor, hesitated to engage Kaido's Beasts Pirates in open conflict without absolute certainty of victory.
Years ago, the people of Wano had developed a habit of shooting down News Coo, preventing any news from reaching the outside world. As a result, the citizens of Wano remained largely ignorant of global events.
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Off the coast of Wano, the sea churned, winds howled, and waves crashed against the towering cliffs of the unusual landmass, rising hundreds of meters above the waterline.
The closer one approached, the clearer the water became, transforming from a turbulent ocean into a crystalline stream, its depths easily visible.
Beneath the surface, massive carp, the size of small ships, their scales shimmering in various colors, gathered their strength, preparing to leap against the cascading waterfall, enacting the legendary feat of the carp ascending the dragon gate.
Suddenly, three figures appeared: a bespectacled young woman, a pale young man in white, and a phoenix wreathed in blue flames.
It was Ian, Tashigi, Marco.
"That's the Kuri region of Wano, Ian." Marco gestured towards the landmass, his voice somber as he observed the barren wasteland.
Compared to the vibrant, bustling Kuri he remembered, the current state of the land was a desolate testament to Kaido's destructive reign.
He had anticipated that Wano would suffer under Kaido's control, but the extent of the devastation was far worse than he had imagined.
With the major players of the One Piece world converging on Wano, Ian and Marco had agreed to split up, Marco to gather intelligence and Ian to explore the Flower Capital.
As evening approached, Ian, utilizing his enhanced speed, flew to the Flower Capital with Tashigi.
Upon arriving, he immediately orchestrated a shocking event that would send ripples throughout the nation.
A brazen assassination attempt on Kurozumi Orochi, the usurper shogun.
As night fell, the Flower Capital remained brightly lit, its streets patrolled by heavily armed samurai from Orochi's forces. The usually bustling city was in a state of unrest, its citizens gripped by fear and uncertainty.
The Rasetsu Town pleasure district, controlled by the enigmatic Kyoshiro, was the heart of Wano's entertainment scene.
The Flower Capital, the heart of Wano, was a hub of activity and luxury, where the nation's elite resided.
After Orochi seized control with Kaido's backing, establishing factories that polluted the land and corrupted its beauty, those who could afford it had either fled or joined Orochi's ranks, seeking refuge in the Flower Capital.
The other towns and villages were gradually falling into ruin.
"Kyoshiro-sama, what's happening?" Komurasaki, Wano's most renowned courtesan, asked with concern.
"Don't worry. It's just someone tried to assassinate Orochi at the shogun's castle. Nothing to be concerned about." Kyoshiro replied dismissively.
If anyone else had heard his words, they would have been shocked by his casual disregard for the attempted assassination of the shogun.
Kyoshiro, Orochi's loyal retainer, was secretly Denjiro, one of Kozuki Oden's Nine Red Scabbards. He had evaded Orochi's purge and, consumed by grief, had been possessed by a vengeful spirit, transforming his appearance and infiltrating Orochi's ranks.
By day, he served as Orochi's protector. By night, he stole from the corrupt officials and distributed the wealth to the impoverished citizens of Wano, his actions hidden beneath a veil of secrecy.
An assassination attempt on the shogun, a trivial matter? Komurasaki's beautiful face betrayed her shock. "What happened? Was the assassination successful? Is Orochi…?"
She pressed for answers, her voice filled with urgency and… hope. She wasn't concerned for Orochi's well-being. Quite the opposite. She prayed for his demise.
"Komurasaki, calm yourself." Kyoshiro lifted his heavy eyelids, his voice sharp.
"Forgive me." Komurasaki, regaining her composure, bowed her head submissively.
"Orochi survived." Kyoshiro revealed.
"Is that so?" A flicker of disappointment crossed Komurasaki's face. "However…"
The assassination attempt had been strange. The intruder had a clear opportunity to kill Orochi, yet had chosen to retreat. Kyoshiro couldn't understand the motive. "However what?"
"Things are going to be chaotic for the next few days. I might not be able to stay here constantly. If anything happens, have your subordinates inform me immediately." Kyoshiro instructed, his voice serious.
"Yes." Komurasaki nodded.
"Be… be careful, Kyoshiro-sama."
From nightfall till dawn, the Flower Capital remained on high alert, the shockwaves from the assassination attempt rippling through the city.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
"Haven't you found him yet?!"
"Incompetent fools! You're all useless!" Orochi's furious roars echoed through the heavily guarded shogun's castle, now under lockdown.
"Forgive us, Shogun-sama!" Orochi's retainers bowed themselves before him, trembling with fear.
"Forgive you?! How can I forgive you?!"
"I was nearly killed last night by that… that unknown assailant! What are you all good for?! How did he get so close to me?!" Orochi shrieked, his voice laced with terror.
Driven by fear and rage, his body began to transform, the power of his Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi, taking hold. He shifted into a monstrous, eight… seven-headed serpentine creature.
The floor beneath him buckled under his immense weight.
"If you don't find him, you'll all pay with your lives!" Orochi roared.
"Orochi-sama." A figure with an elongated head and ears emerged from the shadows, bowing before the shogun.
"Fukurokuju, what about your ninja squad? Have they found any trace of the assassin?" Orochi asked hopefully.
Fukurokuju, the leader of Orochi's Oniwabanshu, silently shook his head. "Are you useless as well?!" Orochi bellowed, his many mouths agape.
"Shogun-sama! Queen, the Plague, of the Beasts Pirates, has arrived!" A samurai rushed in, his voice trembling.
"Queen?! Bring him in at once!" Orochi's face lit up.
"These are the finest sake in Wano. Please, take them back to Kaido-sama as a gift, and… perhaps put in a good word for me?" Orochi, standing in the courtyard, addressed the obese man before him, raising his sake cup in a toast.
The man, easily weighing several hundred pounds, was Queen, one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates. Jack, despite his Calamity title, was merely one of the three Disasters, a rank below the All-Stars.
While ostensibly allies, Orochi and Kaido's relationship was clearly one of subservience. Orochi did not anger Kaido in any way, treating even his All-Stars, Queen and King, with utmost respect.
The reason was simple. Kaido could replace him at any moment. He merely needed a compliant puppet to rule Wano, and Orochi's position was less secure than even Queen or King.
"Don't worry. You've given me the best mochi and o-shiruko chefs in Wano. I'll make sure to look after you. Hahaha…" Queen chuckled, puffing on his cigar, rubbing his bald head and twirling his mustache.
While Orochi was a despicable ruler, he knew how to curry favor. Both Queen and King found him mildly amusing, occasionally scolding him for his excesses.
"However… you seem to have a problem." Queen observed, his keen Observation Haki sensing the tension in the air.
Orochi's face fell. "Indeed… there's been a slight incident."
Queen exhaled a plume of smoke, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "That's why Kaido-sama sent me here. Whitebeard has arrived in Wano. We suspect he might be colluding with Oden's remnants. But luckily, we've formed an alliance with Big Mom. We'll catch them all in one fell swoop."
"Those Kozuki loyalists are like a persistent rash. But with you here, I'm sure we can handle them. Thank you, Queen." Orochi's face brightened.
He was well aware of Queen's strength. Aside from Kaido, Queen was the most powerful member of the Beasts Pirates, one of the two All-Stars, his might rivaling that of King, the Conflagration.
Even his entire Oniwabanshu would struggle against Queen alone. "Think nothing of it."
Wasn't Toki's prophecy still years away? Why was everything happening ahead of schedule?
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Rasetsu Town, the pleasure district of the Flower Capital.
Within the opulent courtesan house owned by Kyoshiro, Wano's most influential underworld figure, resided Komurasaki, the nation's most celebrated courtesan, her beauty captivating countless hearts.
However, beneath her enchanting façade lay a hidden truth, a stark contrast to her perceived innocence.
As a heartbroken man, having squandered his fortune on her, wept at the entrance of the brothel, begging for another glimpse of Komurasaki, she remained indifferent.
He had no more value to her, a disposable pawn in her grand scheme. To those unfamiliar with her true motives, her actions seemed cruel and heartless, but there was more to her story than met the eye.
Komurasaki targeted only the corrupt officials who preyed upon the innocent, and the wealth she extracted was not for her personal gain.
She entrusted it to Ushimitsu Kozo, the legendary thief, who distributed it to the impoverished citizens outside the capital. She did this because of her true identity: Hiyori, the daughter of Kozuki Oden, the rightful heir to Wano's throne.
There was nothing new under the sun.
A fallen princess, hiding in plain sight, biding her time, plotting revenge against Orochi and seeking to reclaim her birthright.
This was the truth hidden beneath Komurasaki's alluring mask, a tragic tale of sacrifice and resilience.
Suddenly, two figures appeared on the bustling street: a pale young man in white, a skull helmet partially obscuring his face, tear marks etched beneath his eyes, his presence radiating a demonic aura, and a bespectacled young woman.
Their appearance was so abrupt, their attire and demeanor so unusual, that it caused a stir among the crowd.
Moreover, Orochi had already released a portrait of the assassin who had attacked him, and this newcomer, the very criminal being hunted throughout Wano, now strolled casually through the heart of the Flower Capital.
"Komurasaki… no, Princess Hiyori. I hope you enjoy this… welcoming gift."
Ian and Tashigi walked towards the courtesan house where Komurasaki resided, their path unimpeded. Only the remnants of Oden's retainers, hidden among the crowd, watched with a mixture of hope and apprehension, silently cheering them on.
While they didn't understand the newcomer's motives, the enemy of their enemy was their friend.
However, due to Wano's isolation, they were unaware of the figure before them, the one known throughout the world, the one who had sent shivers down the spines of even Kaido and Big Mom.
The Black-Winged Devil.
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