"I let him learn Ryuo?"
Denjiro's eyes widened in disbelief as Alastor's words echoed in his mind.
Then, he saw it.
Alastor's cursed blade, the Sandai Kitetsu, transformed into a blackened sword. The once still energy began to shift, flowing along the blade like water, yet never leaving its edge.
Denjiro was stunned.
There was no doubt about it—the man standing before him was now wielding Ryuo, the same advanced Haki that Denjiro himself had been using moments ago.
"Thank you for letting me learn Ryuo," Alastor had said.
The realization struck Denjiro like lightning. This man—this monster—had been fighting him all along, not just to defeat him, but to comprehend his techniques.
"Learn the enemy's skills in battle... What kind of monster is this?"
Denjiro's heart trembled. He felt the absurdity of it all and couldn't help but curse the heavens.
"Why?" he lamented silently. "Why does such a creature exist among the ranks of the Beast Pirates?"
His mind turned to Lady Toki's prophecy, the one he had clung to for years.
"Lady Toki... I've never doubted your words, but reality seems to stray further from your vision with each passing day. Twenty years... Will that day truly come?"
For the first time in over a decade, Denjiro's unwavering faith faltered.
Meanwhile, Hiyori's worst fears came true. Watching Alastor with her own eyes, she realized how terrifyingly resourceful and relentless he was. He wasn't merely strong—he was adaptable, cunning, and insidious.
Her body trembled, and despair filled her beautiful eyes. If Denjiro, her strongest protector, could not prevail, then who else could save her?
Alastor, however, paid no mind to Denjiro's shock or Hiyori's despair. Even the notification from his system—[The host has sustained severe injury. Defense +100]—barely registered in his thoughts.
He was entirely focused on controlling the Ryuo now flowing along his blade, familiarizing himself with its usage.
Then, he activated the cursed aura of the Sandai Kitetsu, merging it with Ryuo.
A terrifying energy erupted from the blade.
The dark, malevolent aura intertwined with soft, pink sakura-like energy, creating a strange black-and-red vortex of power that spiraled menacingly around the sword.
Alastor's eyes gleamed with savage intent. His right arm tensed, muscles bulging as an immense force gathered in his palm.
It was clear to anyone who saw him—Alastor's next attack would be unimaginably destructive.
Hiyori's despair turned to panic.
"No... don't!" she cried, her voice cracking with emotion.
Summoning all her courage, she rushed toward Alastor, desperate to stop him.
"Hiyori-sama, no!" Denjiro roared. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up despite his injuries, forcing his battered body to move.
"Don't risk yourself! You're the daughter of Lord Oden! If anything happens to you, I'll never be able to atone, even in death!"
Hiyori froze mid-step, stunned by his words. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Denjiro, who was on the verge of collapse.
Denjiro turned his gaze to Alastor, his voice hoarse yet resolute. "This is a fight between men. Leave her out of it!"
Alastor glanced at him, a faint smirk playing on his lips, but he said nothing.
The cursed energy around the Sandai Kitetsu surged to its peak. Alastor raised the blade, ready to strike.
"No!" Hiyori screamed, her voice filled with desperation. "Don't kill him! I'll give you anything—anything you want! Just spare him!"
Alastor cast a calm, cold glance at her.
"I told you... your future will be worse than death."
And with that, he swung the blade.
"Ghost Aura: One-Sword Style – Purgatory Funeral!"
A black-and-red sword slash several feet long cleaved through the air, leaving a deep, charred mark on the ground.
Denjiro, though prepared for death, couldn't suppress the fear coursing through him as he faced the overwhelming attack.
"So this is it..." he thought bitterly.
"I'm sorry, Hiyori-sama... I'm sorry, Lord Oden..."
Exhausted and drained of both strength and Haki, Denjiro had no way to defend himself.
The slash hit with devastating force, slicing him in two. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
Hiyori screamed, tears streaming down her face as her vision darkened. Overwhelmed by grief and despair, she fainted.
---
Alastor, ignoring the system notification about his defense increasing to 1,780, placed a hand on the scar on his abdomen. The wound still throbbed despite being partially healed, but he was used to the pain.
He glanced at Hiyori's unconscious form. Her tear-streaked face, ruined makeup, and trembling lashes made her look even more pitiable.
Without a word, he picked her up and disappeared into the shadows.
---
Kozuki Hiyori dreamt of endless tragedy. She saw her father die, her mother follow soon after, and her companions—Denjiro, Kawamatsu, Kin'emon, and even her brother Momonosuke—all perish one by one.
Sweating and gasping, she awoke with a start.
"Where... am I?"
Her eyes darted around, taking in the unfamiliar yet elegantly furnished room. It was clear she was no longer in her home.
At that moment, memories of the previous night surged into Kozuki Hiyori's mind.
Her eyes lost focus, and she whispered in anguish, "Denjiro is really dead... I killed him..."
If not for protecting her, Denjiro could have escaped with his strength. In fact, he didn't even need to appear in the first place.
"It's all because of that man!"
Kozuki Hiyori bit her lower lip so hard that it bled, tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly, she threw off the quilt, stormed out of the room, and screamed into the air: "Alastor, you murderer! I'll avenge Denjiro!"
A calm, feminine voice responded instead.
"Stop yelling. Lord Alastor isn't here."
Speed, with her four hoofed legs, approached Hiyori with an air of indifference.
Hiyori's expression darkened as she demanded, "Where is he?"
Speed spread her hands with a shrug. "How should I know? Lord Alastor's movements are not for us to question."
She circled Hiyori, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.
"Miss Komurasaki is truly stunning—worthy of being the top oiran. You should feel honored. Being favored by Lord Alastor is far better than belonging to that hideous Orochi."
Speed's words stung, and Hiyori clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
Her fury boiling over, she charged forward, but was quickly stopped.
The courtyard she found herself in was spacious, enclosed by high walls, with only one gated exit.
Speed blocked her path effortlessly, her voice turning icy. "Lord Alastor gave strict orders. Miss Komurasaki is to remain here and is forbidden to leave."
Hiyori's eyes blazed with rage. "He plans to imprison me, doesn't he?"
"You could see it that way," Speed replied coolly. "In short, you can't leave this courtyard. Nowhere else is permitted."
Hiyori's body trembled with grief and indignation.
Suddenly, she pulled out a dagger and pressed it to her neck.
"I will never yield to that man!"
It seemed she was ready to end her life.
But Speed remained unmoved, watching her calmly without making any effort to intervene.
She spoke slowly, her tone deliberate: "Lord Alastor gave another order. As long as you stay within this courtyard, Miss Komurasaki may do anything she wishes—even suicide or self-mutilation. No one is to stop her."
Hiyori froze, stunned by the indifference.
A storm of emotions churned within her—anger, hatred, and helplessness.
Her heart screamed with despair: That man doesn't care whether I live or die!
She gritted her teeth and resolved to leave this world, which had brought her nothing but suffering.
But as the cold blade of the dagger touched her delicate neck, fear consumed her.
In the end, she couldn't go through with it. She lacked the courage.
After all, she was just a fragile woman, someone who hadn't even killed a chicken in her life.
Tears poured from her eyes like a broken dam.
Hiyori dropped the dagger to the ground and fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
Her nightmare, however, was only beginning.
General's Mansion, Capital of Flowers
Inside the grand hall, Kurozumi Orochi erupted in fury.
"Where is Komurasaki? Find her immediately! She's the top oiran—how could she simply disappear?"
His rage sent spittle flying as he glared at his trembling subordinates.
"We've searched everywhere, Lord Orochi!" one of them stammered. "We checked the geisha hall and Miss Komurasaki's residence several times, but she's nowhere to be found!"
Orochi's face twisted with frustration, his teeth grinding audibly.
"My Komurasaki—my oiran! Where could she have gone?"
At that moment, Orochi's trusted aide, Fukurokuju, stepped forward.
"My lord, another peculiar matter has arisen. Kyoshiro has also gone missing."
Orochi's eyes widened in shock as he suddenly realized that his captain of the guard was nowhere to be seen.