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...
"Queen… Queen-sama…"
"No way… This can't be happening…" Several Beasts Pirates collapsed in terror, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The notion of a man capable of rivaling Whitebeard… it was all a lie. The man before them possessed power beyond their comprehension. The gap between Ian and Kaido was even greater than the gap between them and Kaido.
This was beyond human. This was the power of a God, a Devil. To obliterate Queen, one of the All-Stars, with a single punch… it was a feat of unimaginable power.
"Bastard! Where did you come from?!" Headliner Babanuki choked back his fear, taking a deep breath. His elephant trunk twitched, and he let out a seemingly involuntary sneeze, firing a cannonball from his trunk towards Ian.
Ian casually caught the projectile, crushing it to dust in his hand. His calm, indifferent gaze swept over the remaining Beasts Pirates in the quarry.
"W-what do you want?!"
Daifugo, the Artificial Devil Fruit user with scorpion abilities, raised his guns and fired at Ian in a panic. But Ian, a blur of white, moved like a phantom, passing through the hail of bullets. In an instant, hundreds of Beasts Pirates, including several Gifters and even a few Headliners, were reduced to ashes.
"A devil! A devil has come!" Dobon, the Artificial Devil Fruit user with hippopotamus abilities, shrieked, his usual bravado replaced by sheer terror.
Ian, utilizing Sonido and Geppo, moved with blinding speed, his Observation Haki and soul-sensing abilities guiding his movements as he struck down pirate after pirate. The vast prisoner quarry was now littered with bodies, only a handful of Beasts Pirates remaining.
The Wano samurai prisoners, who had been watching from a safe distance, exchanged glances. Finally, a small, old man, Hyougoro, stepped forward, mustering his courage.
"My lord… are you an ally of Princess Hiyori?" The former yakuza boss of Wano, trembling, knelt before Ian.
"An ally? I suppose you could say that." Ian stopped before Hyougoro and the other samurai.
"Really?"
"Thank goodness!" the others erupted in cheers, their bodies shaking with excitement. Having witnessed Ian's devastating power, they knew that if anyone could defeat Kaido, it was him.
"My lord, what are your orders? What should we do?" Hyougoro asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Gather the remaining able-bodied warriors and head to the Flower Capital. Your princess awaits. It's time to take down Kaido." Without another word, Ian vanished, his form dissolving into the air like a wisp of smoke.
...
Wano Country, Kuri region, Bakura Town.
Princess Hiyori's impassioned speech had ignited a rebellion in Bakura Town. The samurai who had remained loyal to the Kozuki clan, waiting patiently for their chance to rise up, finally unleashed their pent-up fury, clashing with the Beasts Pirates stationed in the town.
Under normal circumstances, Bakura Town, under the watchful eye of Jack the Drought, one of the All-Stars, would have easily quelled such an uprising.
But today, Jack was preoccupied. Facing the legendary Marco the Phoenix, he had to exert his full strength to avoid being swiftly defeated.
"Jack-sama, I'll assist you!"
Holdem, a Headliner of the Beasts Pirates and an Artificial Devil Fruit user with lion abilities, roared, unleashing a torrent of flames from the lion's maw in his stomach. He then drew his chain-sickle, its blade engulfed in flames, and swung it towards Marco, who hovered in the sky above.
"Inferno Whirlwind!"
Marco effortlessly caught the flaming chain with his phoenix talons, spinning it in a wide arc before slamming it into the ground where Jack stood.
To play with fire in the presence of the Phoenix… it was an act of sheer foolishness.
"Jack-sama, help…"
Holdem's cry for help was cut short as Jack, his face grim, swatted him aside like a bothersome insect.
"My, my… You're quite ruthless towards your own subordinates, Jack."
Marco landed on the roof of a nearby building, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Marco, first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, what are you doing here?" Jack's eyes, bloodshot and filled with rage, glared at Marco.
"As you can see, I'm here to ask you Beasts Pirates to leave our family's country. You've overstayed your welcome." Marco replied calmly.
"Bastard! This is Beasts Pirates territory! In the world of pirates, what you conquer is yours!" Jack roared.
"Which is why we're taking it back… Jack." Marco smiled. "You're so fond of rules, aren't you?"
"Then we'll play by the rules. Eighteen years ago, you and Orochi usurped our family's rightful place, stealing this country from Oden. Now, we're returning the favor. We'll settle this by force, just like you did."
"Kozuki Oden… I've heard of him. The foolish daimyo who was toyed with and killed by Kaido-san eighteen years ago." Jack sneered.
Marco's face darkened, his blue flames flaring, raising the temperature around them. Nearby buildings caught fire.
"Do you want to die, Jack?"
"Hahaha! Death? Do you know who I am?! Bring it on, Phoenix!"
Jack stomped his foot, activating his Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, transforming into a massive mammoth.
The ground trembled with each step he took. Even Marco's regenerative blue flames couldn't penetrate his thick hide. Despite his size, he moved with surprising agility. In the blink of an eye, he charged towards Marco.
The building Marco stood on crumbled beneath Jack's charge, sending debris and dust flying.
"Phoenix Brand!" A streak of blue fire flashed through the dust cloud. Marco, his wings flapping powerfully, launched himself at Jack, his talons piercing the air, striking the mammoth's back with devastating force.
BOOM!
Even Jack, in his mammoth form, was sent staggering by the force of Marco's attack, his massive body crashing to the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Buildings collapsed like dominoes as he slid across the earth.
"Marco!" Jack roared, his mammoth form charging again, the ground cracking beneath his massive feet.
With a deafening trumpeting sound, Jack swung his trunk at Marco, who didn't flinch. Instead, he met the attack with a spinning kick, his foot colliding with Jack's trunk.
WHOOSH!
A shockwave of force rippled outwards, leveling everything within a hundred-meter radius. Jack stumbled backward, while Marco was sent flying.
While Marco's regenerative abilities prevented any lasting damage, he was no match for Jack's brute strength in a direct confrontation. Their clash was like that of Gecko Moria and Doflamingo, a battle of attrition rather than a decisive victory.
"Die!" Jack charged again, his massive tusks aimed at Marco. But just as they were about to connect…
A searing pain shot through Jack's face as his tusks, his pride and joy, were snapped off at the base. A bloodcurdling scream echoed through Bakura Town. Even the notoriously resilient Jack couldn't withstand the agonizing pain, his howls of anguish filling the air.
Marco, clutching one of Jack's bloody tusks in his talons, admired his handiwork. These tusks, worth millions of berries, would make a fine decoration for Whitebeard's equally impressive beard.
"Those are… my tusks! Give them back!" Jack, reverting to his human form, struggled to rise from the crater he had created, his words slurred, blood gushing from his mouth.
Clang!
He drew his two uniquely shaped shotel blades, charging at Marco with unwavering determination. He was known for his stubbornness, his iron will.
Even when facing Admiral Fujitora and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he had dared to challenge them, ordering them to bring their warship closer.
CLANG! The sound of clashing metal rang through the air.
Marco's phoenix talons met Jack's shotel blades, sending the All-Star's arms flying upwards. It was time to get serious.
"What an incredible Devil Fruit…" Jack thought, his heart pounding. This was the power of Marco the Phoenix, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, a force even stronger than King the Wildfire.
In the next instant, a barrage of Phoenix Brands rained down upon Jack, each blow leaving a deep imprint on his tough hide, his flesh tearing, his bones cracking, his internal organs ruptured.
AAAAAHHHHH! Jack screamed in agony.
He transformed into his hybrid form, seeking the increased defense of his mammoth form. But even then, he couldn't withstand Marco's relentless assault, his body covered in claw marks.
"Phoenix… Ongle!"
Marco channeled all his power into his right talon, engulfing it in blue flames. It became a spear of pure fire, the ultimate Phoenix Kick, piercing through Jack's hybrid form, unleashing a torrent of blue flames that erupted from within.
Jack's bones shattered, his massive body collapsing to the ground, defeated.
Marco, observing the mangled form of Jack the Drought, shook his head with a sigh.
"It's getting late. Let's return to the Flower Capital."
...
Wano Country was in chaos.
Princess Hiyori and Denjiro's impassioned speeches had ignited a rebellion, sparking unrest throughout the land. Ronin and samurai loyal to the Kozuki clan flocked to their banner, pledging their allegiance to the princess.
As a former yakuza boss, Kyoshiro had Enhanced a vast network of loyal followers in the Flower Capital, and their combined strength, bolstered by other ronin and samurai, was considerable.
The Rasetsu District, spanning a kilometer in radius, was now under Denjiro's control.
"Hiyori, Denjiro!"
A small, old man with wild blue hair appeared before Princess Hiyori, a goofy grin plastered on his face. The little girl behind Hiyori squealed with delight, rushing into the man's arms, showering him with affection.
"Uncle Yasuie!"
"Yasuie-sama!"
Hiyori and Denjiro greeted the man, who was none other than Shimotsuki Yasuie, the former daimyo of Hakumai.
Due to the side effects of the SMILE fruit he had consumed, he was now perpetually stuck in a state of laughter, unable to express any other emotion. But his current smile was genuine, a reflection of the hope that had been rekindled in his heart. They were finally going to defeat Kaido.
When he learned of the impending arrival of Oden's former pirate crewmates, along with another powerful warrior who rivaled Kaido, Yasuie was stunned, his mind reeling from the sheer improbability of it all. But shock quickly gave way to overwhelming joy.
He knew that Wano Country, shrouded in darkness for eighteen long years, was finally going to be free.
"Yasuie-sama, we need your strength to restore peace to our country."
The second round of the "Transmission Den Den Mushi" broadcast began.
With the appearance of Shimotsuki Yasuie, the former daimyo of Hakumai, a wave of renewed hope swept across Wano Country.
His words of encouragement bolstered the resolve of those who had hesitated, fearful of Kaido's wrath. They joined the rebellion, determined to overthrow Orochi and Kaido.
Even with the Big Mom Pirates as their allies, they had two powerful warriors on their side, one of whom had already defeated both Emperors. As for the disparity in numbers, they would make up for it with their unwavering determination.
Evening arrived.
A detachment of rebels from Udon arrived at the Flower Capital. After confirming their identities, they were ushered into the rebel headquarters.
"Princess Hiyori…" Kawamatsu, a kappa-like creature with green skin, his true form that of a fish-man, cried out, his voice filled with emotion.
He was one of the Nine Red Scabbards, the loyal retainers of Kozuki Oden, who had protected Princess Hiyori for years.
"Kawamatsu… is that really you?"
Hiyori gasped, her eyes welling up with tears as she recognized the familiar green kappa. Overwhelmed with joy, she rushed towards him.
Years ago, she had chosen to leave Kawamatsu to avoid burdening him, but he had been distraught by her disappearance, eventually captured by Orochi.
Imprisoned in Udon, Kawamatsu had been forced to eat poisonous fish for ten years, his body weakened and his spirit broken.
With Udon's liberation, he had finally regained his freedom, and upon learning that Hiyori was still alive, he had immediately set out for the Flower Capital.
"Kawamatsu, and Hyo-san… Hahaha! Good, good! You're alive!"
Denjiro, recognizing the two arrivals, laughed with relief. His closest companions were still alive.
"Denjiro, you've changed so much. I almost didn't recognize you. I never would have guessed that the infamous Kyoshiro was you all along!"
Kawamatsu laughed, while Hyougoro, the small, old man, wept tears of joy.
"Hyo-san, if you're here, that means Udon has been liberated by Ian-sama, right?" Denjiro asked.
"Yes! Four thousand of our comrades in Udon have been freed and are ready to join the fight!"
Hyougoro nodded firmly.
...
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