Chapter 31 : Destruction!!

Flower Capital.

This name refers not only to the capital itself but also to the region in the Land of Wano where it is located.

Compared to other regions, the Flower Capital has developed much more prosperously. The area is a vast plain, ideal for agriculture, making it the largest granary for Wano, which was once an agricultural nation.

Outside the capital, many towns are scattered throughout the area. Even during these past few years under Kurozumi Orochi's tyrannical rule, these towns have remained largely untouched.

Because the Beast Pirates' factories weren't built in this region, agriculture here has retained its former vitality. Outside the towns, vast fields of green stretch out, full of life.

Ebisu Town, a small town not far from the Flower Capital.

This town was named as such because of its proximity to the Flower Capital, from which it reaped many benefits, making it relatively wealthy.

However, that was several years ago.

Since Kurozumi Orochi took power, every town in Wano has suffered equally, as that man had no interest in development.

Ebisu Town is no longer associated with wealth; its residents have become gaunt and frail. Still, the fields outside the town haven't been abandoned. 

After all, Orochi is known for his heavy taxation. If they don't work hard on their farms, starvation is not just a possibility, but a certainty.

It was mid-morning, and the farmers of Ebisu Town had already been out in the fields, tending to their crops.

They had, of course, heard about the recent events in the Flower Capital.

Kozuki Oden was executed.

Shogun Orochi was killed.

The new shogun—no, the new king—is an eight-year-old child.

But these events were little more than topics for idle conversation over meals, having no real impact on their daily lives.

At most, they would sigh during their chatter, saying, "Let's hope the new shogun lowers the land taxes a bit."

As the farmers toiled under the morning sun, they felt the ground beneath them begin to tremble.

Straightening up and rubbing their sore backs, they looked around in shock.

In the distance, a massive army was rapidly approaching.

At the forefront of the column were three samurai on horseback, their heavy hooves crushing the dirt road beneath them, kicking up clouds of dust.

The farmers stopped working, quietly watching as the army passed by.

It wasn't until the last soldier vanished from sight that they began to murmur, "Looks like a war is coming."

Ebisu Town was the last stop before reaching the Flower Capital.

Riding atop his horse, Shimotsuki Ushimaru crested a hill, and there, in the distance on the edge of the plain, was Wano's most prosperous city, just barely visible.

But what caught his attention more was the fully assembled army not far from the plain.

"They're already waiting for us."

Shimotsuki Ushimaru held the reins with one hand, the other resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Seems like it's just samurai and ninja?"

Uzuki Tempura pulled out a telescope, peering at the distant army. "The Beast Pirates haven't shown up."

"What?"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru couldn't believe it. "Kaido isn't here?"

"Not just Kaido,"

Uzuki Tempura handed him the telescope. "None of the Beast Pirates' members are here either. The only ones who've come... are two brats!"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru grabbed the telescope and looked through it.

In the distance, at the forefront of the advancing army, a black-haired boy sat astride a towering horse that seemed almost comically large for his height. His gaze was fixed in this direction.

Behind him, a white-haired girl leaned in close, her face pressed intimately against his ear, whispering something to him.

"It seems Kaido doesn't even consider us worth his time," murmured Shimotsuki Ushimaru, a wry smile playing on his lips. "He's sent his child shogun to deal with us instead."

He chuckled. "Ha! He's really underestimated us."

With a sharp pull on the reins, he commanded, "Attack!"

"Attack!!"

Fugetsu Omusubi drew his blade from its sheath.

"Attack!!!"

Uzuki Tempura roared in fury.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity?

Kaido, go ahead and underestimate us!

It would be best if you continue to scorn us until the moment we drive our blades into your heart!

The three daimyos charged forward, their horses thundering across the field. The samurai behind them spurred their mounts to follow, with the foot soldiers bringing up the rear. The entire army launched into an assault.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

Ian watched the daimyo coalition army charging down the hillside from afar, a hint of satisfaction tugging at his lips. He turned his head slightly back and remarked, "See, I told you, even if we slept in a little longer, we'd still be on time."

"Details like that don't matter!"

Yamato was practically bursting with excitement. "Let's go too, Ian!"

"No rush," Ian replied, his eyes still fixed on the approaching army. "Let's have a little chat with them first."

"Huh? What's there to chat about?"

Yamato pouted. "We just need to take them out, right?"

"There's no need to resort to violence when words can resolve the matter," Ian said calmly.

The three daimyos were all quite powerful, and if he could bring them under his control, it would be a significant advantage.

"Let's go see what they have to say."

In the next moment, a brilliant golden light burst forth as the massive Golden Dragon took flight.

"Fukurokuju," Ian called out as he lowered his head.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the bald ninja responded, kneeling respectfully.

"Wait for my signal to attack."

With that, Ian spread his wings and flew swiftly toward the rapidly approaching daimyo coalition.

Signal? Fukurokuju looked up in confusion.

But Your Majesty, you didn't mention what the signal would be!

In just a few breaths, Ian had already reached the front of the daimyo coalition.

"Is that kid a Devil Fruit user too?" Uzuki Tempura pulled his horse to a stop, looking up at the Golden Dragon in the sky. "That power doesn't seem ordinary!"

"He personally killed Kurozumi Orochi," Fugetsu Omusubi said gravely. "It's said he has the ability to control fire."

"Fire, huh?" Shimotsuki Ushimaru murmured softly.

"It seems this young Shogun is like his teacher, preferring to face enemies alone," Uzuki Tempura noted. "But he's flying too high. Our arrows can't reach him; we'll have to rely on the iron cannons."

In Wano, firearms are referred to as iron cannons.

However, before the three daimyos could order their troops to fire, Ian's voice rang out across the field from above, wings beating as he hovered in the sky.

"Although it may be presumptuous of me, would you kindly lay down your weapons and surrender? I believe it would be in all of our best interests."

Shimotsuki Ushimaru remained silent, simply gazing up at Ian. Then, he raised his right hand and waved it forcefully.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A barrage of gunfire erupted as bullets, propelled by gunpowder, soared into the sky, striking Ian squarely in the abdomen.

"So, that's your answer?" Ian remarked.

Ian nodded slightly. As expected, even in the original story, Kaido couldn't make these guys submit. Getting them to surrender would indeed be too difficult. 

"So, this is your answer? In that case—"

"Completely ineffective?"

Fugetsu Omusubi sensed something was wrong.

Not using Ryuo (Armament Haki) and still possessing this level of defense?

"First, we need to stop you from running wild."

In an instant, Ian's Conqueror's Haki spread, descending from him like a force of nature!

It swept through the entire samurai lineup in the blink of an eye.

Many of the samurai immediately rolled their eyes and collapsed.

Although Ian still couldn't fully control it at will, he could now use Conqueror's Haki.

"This is... Oden's!!"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru's face changed drastically.

He didn't possess this power, but he had seen it before!

"Then I'll join in too!"

Yamato eagerly jumped in on the action.

A similarly powerful and violent Conqueror's Haki erupted from her as well.

The two waves of Conqueror's Haki crashed down together, causing swaths of samurai to fall.

Then, Ian spread his wings and surged forward.

"Be careful! An attack is coming!"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru roared angrily.

The golden dragon streaked across the sky above the allied forces, its vibrating wings releasing a vast expanse of golden flames.

The flames suddenly expanded, covering the sky like clouds.

Then, they began to rain downwards, cascading from the heavens like a fiery waterfall.

It was a breathtaking sight.

But behind this dazzling display lay the purest, most thorough destruction.

"You bastard!!"

Shimotsuki Ushimaru was drenched in sweat, his heart racing. With a powerful leap, he frantically swung his blade, sending slashes shooting toward the sky, tearing open the flames with each strike.

But it was all in vain.

The flames eventually descended, engulfing the entire area in a sea of fire.

The samurai, who had fainted under the impact of Conqueror's Haki, remained unaware that they should flee.

Even those samurai who barely clung to consciousness could do nothing but scream in agony as they faced the terrifying heat of the flames descending from the sky.

Fire!

Fire!

In the blink of an eye, the golden flames had spread across the entire allied army, the intense heat instantly plunging all the samurai into a desperate struggle for survival.

But it wasn't over yet.

Ian hovered in the air, turning mid-flight, his mouth spewing flames.

"Blaze Cannon!"

A scorching pillar of fire descended from the heavens, sweeping through the sea of flames below from back to front in an instant. The explosion that followed split the fiery sea in two, forming a towering ridge of flames that stretched across the battlefield.

With a mere flick of Ian's head, similar ridges of fire had already formed mountains on the battlefield.

The flames had already consumed some.

Destruction descended from above!

Ian floated in the sky, gazing down at the inferno below.

Unstoppable, undeniable—I am the cataclysm!

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