Chapter 278

Orochi Castle.

A grand ball was in full swing.

The audience in the stands went wild, their cheers and applause echoing through the castle like thunderclaps.

In the most opulent section of the stands, a beautifully crafted pavilion stood under a golden canopy. Beneath it, the Shogun of Wano Country, Kurozumi Orochi, was drinking lavishly, his lips curled into a gleeful grin.

It had been more than a day or two since Orochi began lusting after Komurasaki, the most beautiful Oiran in all of Wano. Using the pretext of the Oiran Banquet, Orochi summoned her to his castle. He wanted to possess her publicly but feared losing face. Here in the castle, however, things would be different.

But at this moment, a group of strangers suddenly appeared, moving slowly towards the stage. Komurasaki, who was in the midst of a graceful dance, froze for a moment, her entire body tensing up as she became aware of their presence. Her eyes, darting ever so subtly, sought out one person—Dozing Kyoshiro.

He's the only one I can trust in this cursed place.

To most, Kyoshiro was just a yakuza under Orochi's thumb, but in reality, he was Denjiro, one of the legendary Nine Red Scabbards, sworn to protect Kozuki Hiyori.

Suddenly, Denjiro's sharp gaze locked onto the group of foreigners advancing toward Hiyori. His muscles tightened with alarm. His mind raced.

Who in their right mind would target Komurasaki here? Do they not know that General Orochi's favorite is untouchable?

Without hesitation, Denjiro sprang into action, his body a blur as he leaped onto the stage, drawing his katana in one swift motion.

Suspended in midair, the blade gleamed, slicing toward the man at the front of the group—wearing a straw hat—undoubtedly their leader.

But just as Denjiro's sword neared Luffy, a sudden presence filled the air. A faint, deadly sword intent cut through the atmosphere like a silent storm.

Bass!

Denjiro's hair stood on end, his skin crawling with an instinctive terror.

This... this is the aura of a true swordsman!

It was unmistakable. The sheer power radiating from the individual was overwhelming. Even with just a hint of sword intent, barely leaking into the open, it was enough to make Denjiro feel utterly powerless.

Who in the hell is this?!

Denjiro wasn't afraid to die for Kozuki Hiyori's protection, but he hadn't survived this long just by brute strength alone. His caution and sharp intellect had kept him alive in this perilous land.

He quickly pulled back, his body twisting midair before landing protectively in front of Hiyori.

"Why are you here? If you're here to make trouble, you've come to the wrong place," Denjiro said, trying to maintain his composure.

Though Denjiro wasn't the type to reason with others, the palpable power in front of him left him no choice.

"Get out of my way!!!" a booming voice suddenly rang out.

From the side, a massive mace, crackling with electric arcs, came crashing down toward Denjiro like a storm.

What?!

Denjiro barely had time to process what was happening before his heart sank.

That's... Kaido's son?!

Had Kaido discovered Hiyori's true identity? His mind whirled in a frenzy of panic.

Damn it!

But the mace left no time for contemplation. Denjiro's instincts took over, and with a desperate swing, he raised his sword to block.

Boom!

The force of the collision sent Denjiro flying through the air like a cannonball. His body slammed into the distant wall with a sickening thud.

Logan watched, unperturbed, curling his lips in mild annoyance.

Denjiro may be Hiyori's protector, but Yamato doesn't know that...

It was simply bad luck on Denjiro's part. He had attacked first, and now, facing Yamato, who had long been imprisoned and itching for a fight, he stood no chance.

"Kozuki Hiyori!! I've found you!!" Yamato exclaimed excitedly, rushing forward and grasping Hiyori's delicate hand with a triumphant shout.

"Ah~" Hiyori gasped, her mind clouded with confusion and uncertainty. She could only play the part, feigning weakness as she let out a frightened scream.

"Bastard! Don't hurt my Komurasaki!!" Orochi's voice bellowed from the stands.

His face twisted with rage as he slammed the armrest of his chair. "Go! Save Komurasaki!!"

Yet none of Orochi's subordinates moved. Fukurokuju, the captain of the Oniwabanshu, regarded Orochi with an unreadable expression.

"Shogun," he began, his voice deep and ominous, "that... is Kaido's son."

The moment Kaido's name was mentioned, fear gripped Orochi's heart, draining the color from his face.

Kaido...

But before he could fully react, Yamato spoke again, her voice brimming with confidence.

"Don't worry! I am Kozuki Oden! The Beasts Pirates have been driven out of Wano by us! Now, we will save this country!!"

With that, Yamato charged toward Orochi, her mace raised high, electric arcs snapping like thunderbolts around it.

"Ah~?" Orochi blinked in disbelief. What... what is happening?

Did Yamato just say that the Beasts Pirates had been driven out? If Kaido's army was gone, then...

A new realization dawned on him, and Orochi's face twisted with malice.

"Kill her!" Orochi screamed. "She's betrayed Kaido! Kill her now!!"

After hearing about Yamato's betrayal of Kaido, the Orochi Oniwabanshu immediately found their resolve, their fear dissipating like mist in the wind. Confidence surged within the ranks, led by the stoic and cold Fukurokuju. The bizarre-looking warriors rushed forward in unison, their eerie forms cutting through the air.

"Nine Swords Style: Asura Reiatsu!!————————"

A low, guttural shout echoed through the hall.

Suddenly, an overwhelming energy burst forth like a tidal wave, swallowing the Orochi Oniwabanshu in its dark, chaotic grip.

"What the hell!?"

"Why does he have three heads and six arms?!"

"You must be kidding!"

The Oniwabanshu, though seasoned warriors, found themselves paralyzed, immersed in a ghostly aura so thick it suffocated them. Their bodies reacted instinctively, recoiling from the sheer power that radiated around them, a primal fear rising within their hearts.

Brush!

It was as though the world around them had fallen into darkness, an endless void. In that abyss, only the faint glimmers of sword beams sliced through the black, illuminating their doom.

The energy surged from every direction, sword slashes cutting through the air at lightning speed. Nearly a hundred slashes occurred, all in less than a heartbeat—swift, deadly, and precise.

In the blink of an eye, Zoro stood in front of Orochi, like a towering pine, unmoved and indomitable.

Orochi's trembling voice barely escaped his lips, "You… you… what did you do?"

With a casual flick of his hand, Zoro sheathed his Wado Ichimonji. The eerie silence hung in the air for a moment, and then, behind him, the bodies of the Orochi Oniwabanshu, frozen in time, crashed to the floor. The ground was awash with a rainbow of blood, vivid and unsettling.

Zoro, unfazed, glanced at Logan, who stood nearby. "What should we do with this man?"

Logan's eyes narrowed as he assessed the cowering Orochi. "He's useless. Just kill him."

"Bastard! Don't think you can bully me, Orochi, so easily!!" Orochi's voice cracked with desperation, his fury masking his fear. He knew his life was on the line, and in a final act of defiance, he roared, his body beginning to transform. The Mythical Zoan powers surged through him.

Orochi's head morphed grotesquely into that of a hydra, with seven additional heads sprouting around his neck, each one hissing venomously. He became a monstrous, half-human, half-hydra abomination, towering over the scene with his terrifying form.

"Iai!"

In an instant, Zoro vanished from sight, his movement so fast it seemed like teleportation. Before Orochi could react, the eight hydra heads dropped to the ground with a sickening thud.

Orochi's massive body collapsed in a heap, seemingly lifeless.

Logan, ever cautious, reminded Zoro, "Cut him into pieces. He must have a way to survive. He did in the original timeline."

At that very moment, Orochi's decapitated body twitched. With a guttural cry, his severed form leapt from the ground in a desperate bid to flee.

"Ah!!"

He was trying to escape!

But Zoro's spiritual energy surged forth. "Reiatsu Barrier!"

A suffocating wave of spiritual pressure burst from Zoro, trapping Orochi's headless form within its invisible walls. Orochi's escape was halted instantly.

"Storm Slash!!——————"

Zoro's form blurred as he transformed into a whirlwind of blades, small yet terrifyingly powerful. The whirlwind shredded through the space, forming a deadly array of slicing edges.

Crash!

Orochi's body disintegrated, his remains scattering across the ground like debris from a mudslide, coating the battlefield.

Logan's Observation Haki swept over the remains, but he sensed nothing—no sign of life from the once-mighty Orochi.

"You… you're really here to help Wano Country?" came a soft, hesitant voice.

Kozuki Hiyori, finally emboldened after seeing the demise of Orochi and his elite guards, dared to speak. Though she had yet to fully reveal her identity, her words acknowledged her true self.

"Yes! What I, Kozuki Oden, want is to save this country!" Yamato proudly declared, grasping Hiyori's hand and raising it high.

"Kozuki Oden… wait. That's my father's name…" Hiyori frowned, her confusion deepening as she looked at Yamato. She stared at the young woman beside her, puzzled. Why does she keep insisting she's my father?

"Ah! Yes, yes, yes! Kozuki Oden is your father, and he's also my idol! I read your father's diary, and I admire him so much! I've wanted to be Kozuki Oden since I was a child!"

Yamato's enthusiasm bubbled over as she continued. "But when Kaido found out, he locked me up, trying to break my spirit. But I never gave in. I was imprisoned for years, until the Straw Hat Pirates saved me!"

Her voice grew softer as she pleaded, "So, please, call me Kozuki Oden!"

Hiyori's expression remained perplexed.

This woman… what on earth is she saying?

"Princess!" Denjiro's urgent voice interrupted the moment. He came rushing over, still reeling from Yamato's earlier attack. He had barely shaken off the dizziness when he made his way to Hiyori's side, determined to protect her.

"There's still one left!!"

Seeing Denjiro approach, Yamato raised her crackling mace once more, lightning dancing across it as she prepared to strike.

"Wait!!" Hiyori cried out, panic lacing her voice as she grabbed Yamato's arm. "He's on our side! He was left behind by my father to protect me!"

Denjiro's sharp eyes took in the situation. He wasn't a fool, and after seeing what had just happened, he quickly realized these strangers were here to help Hiyori.

"I'm a spy under Kurozumi Orochi," Denjiro admitted, his voice firm. "But my real identity is Denjiro, a retainer of Lord Oden!"

"I see…" Yamato grinned, her face lighting up with a childlike innocence. She punched Denjiro playfully in the chest. "Sorry about that!"

"Ahem…" Denjiro's face turned pale, his body barely holding together from the series of hits he had already endured.

First you nearly killed me, and now you give me a friendly punch?

But he bit his tongue. After all, these people had saved Wano. There was no use in complaining now.

Besides, he thought, casting a glance at Zoro, the one who wiped out the Orochi Oniwabanshu in an instant—he's no ordinary human.

The thought of Zoro's overwhelming sword intent made Denjiro's scalp tingle with unease.