King and Queen led a large unit towards the direction of Flower Capital, while Kaido and Arceus landed behind them, watching the pirates gradually passing through the inland river. Kaido suddenly felt a sense of accomplishment.
“Did you know? The first time I participated in a war, I was only 8 years old. That guy, White, was the army cook of my team back then. The battles that followed gave me the title of the strongest in the kingdom.”
Watching these pirates, Kaido recalled his experiences in the Vodka Kingdom. But now, he wasn’t just a soldier; he had become a commander.
“You seem to be quite sentimental.”
“I just want to say, this time, don’t interfere with Yamato’s experience. She’s already turned seven, and according to your strange age calculations, she’s eight now. She has obtained much more things than I did back then. This war is her best trial; there’s no better way to toughen her up than on the battlefield.”
This was Kaido’s purpose. He has brought Yamato along as he intends to temper her using the war. He was willing to bet that the World Government still had at least one plate in their possession.
If they only had one left, they would never trade it away. Despite Wano Country’s agricultural development, Kaido’s dream hasn’t changed. The greatest war was what he wanted to witness.
And Yamato must be one of the officers in that war. He needs Yamato to grow, even if it means paying a hefty price.
Although Arceus had done a lot to help Yamato in her training, Kaido thought he was too soft. That’s why he gave an example to tell Arceus not to interfere.
“I understand. Going through more experiences isn’t a bad thing. You don’t have to teach me that. But when it’s time to intervene, I will.”
“Worororo, I’m glad you’re aware. Let’s go. We let that Orochi live a few more years, it should be enough.”
If Yamato couldn’t meet his expectations, Kaido wouldn’t intervene, even if she was on the brink of death. However, Arceus is different. That’s the difference between the two. The current agreement also meets his requirements.
Chanseys, Maria and Jack were also traveling with Yamato. Both of them have also been going through a process of honing their abilities. After nearly two years of modification, Queen’s drug finally took effect, leading to a significant change in Maria’s Human-Beast form.
She had transformed from a peculiar, big-bottom spider-human into a spider-lady, with her lower body completely replaced by a spider and her upper body appearing on top of the spider’s head.
Due to Arceus’ modifications, Maria’s Galvantula has a special consciousness in her Human-Beast form, sharing vision, autonomous attacks, and providing Maria with a perfect power boost.
However, Nico Robin was not part of this group. As the daughter of a scholar, her identity was unique, and she didn’t qualify as a full-fledged member of the Beasts Pirates.
This grand war had nothing to do with her; she remained on Sky Island with other ordinary scholars, celebrating New Year with Saul and others.
They hadn’t spent New Year together last year either, so it wasn’t unusual.
Beasts Pirates, armed with weapons, gradually entered Flower Capital. This didn’t raise any suspicions among the local merchants and residents who were still selling their goods, unaware of the impending war.
Although Orochi had chosen Flower Capital as the stage for the battle, he hadn’t evacuated the civilians. Doing so would have raised suspicion. If the merchants at the New Year’s festival suddenly made unappetizing or unsightly items, people would question their identities.
Moreover, Orochi didn’t care about the lives of the common people. No matter how many people are sacrificed in the war, it doesn’t concern him; as long as he can achieve his goal, he will be satisfied.
Inside the palace in Flower Capital, the daimyos of various regions were already seated. They had no intention of starting the war directly; they planned to wait until Kaido was drunk and his guard was down.
When Kaido arrived, Orochi warmly welcomed him to take a seat.
“Hahaha, Kaido, you’ve finally come. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Wano Country, and there are many performances waiting for you in Flower Capital.”
With a clap of his hands, a few geisha emerged from behind a screen. Kaido did not refuse. As soon as he sat down, he embraced one of them in his arms. As for the people on the other seats, he temporarily ignored them.
Soldiers against soldiers, kings against kings. Here, the people were lying in ambush for the officers of the Beasts Pirates, while even more were hidden throughout Flower Capital. Their target: the ordinary members of the Beasts Pirates.
As a firework burst in the sky, it marked the beginning of this year’s celebration. The streets were noticeably more crowded, with both ordinary Wano Country citizens and samurais mixed in.
At first glance, nothing seemed different, but this year’s alcohol business appeared rather strange. Most of the samurais and pirates here only took a few sips, and there were no signs of anyone getting drunk.
Only the unsuspecting civilians continued to enjoy the New Year’s festival. In truth, Yamato didn’t know the details either; Kaido hadn’t told her. He intended to let her witness the brutality of war firsthand.
So, she, along with Maria and Jack, was having a great time at the New Year’s festival, currently trying their hand at goldfish scooping. The sudden growth in her power out of nowhere should have logically been difficult to control.
However, Yamato had already adapted to her new physique over the course of nearly two months. The paper net was torn apart by the struggling goldfish. As it broke, a different kind of fireworks ignited above the Flower Capital palace, and chaos ensued.
People who had been originally participating in the New Year’s festival suddenly drew their weapons and attacked the Beasts Pirates’ members around them. However, their attacks were swiftly blocked, and before they could comprehend their own failed ambush, the pirates counterattacked.
This scene was not isolated; it was happening all over the streets. Blood, blades, scattered merchandise, the roars of close combat, frantic screams, and the cries of children—Flower Capital was in complete turmoil.
In terms of numbers, the Wano Country’s allied army had the upper hand. After all, these were the troops recruited by Shimotsuki Yasuie over several years and the trusted guards of several daimyos. However, the prepared Beasts Pirates did not panic. Led by their enhanced low-ranking officers, they launched their counterattacks.
Yamato and her group had yet to figure out what was happening, but someone had already set their sights on her.
“Isn’t that a pirate’s daughter?”
“That’s right. I’ve seen her going to and from Onigashima.” With that, a gun was pointed at Yamato.
“Wait, she’s just a child.”
“So what? Isn’t she also with the Beasts Pirates?”
Yasuie had recruited people based on their combat abilities, which excluded the ordinary citizens. Aside from his trustworthy samurai, he had no choice but to recruit thugs who harbored hatred against the Beasts Pirates, and naturally, these thugs were more ruthless in their actions.
The people around couldn’t stop the gunman. A bullet was fired from the gun. Yamato still hadn’t noticed the situation, but one of the Chansey did.
“Chanseeeey!”
Although these Chanseys had been created early on, they mainly served as nannies. Their levels weren’t very high.
Defense isn’t within their regularly used skills, so their proficiency was low. When they saw the gun pointed at Yamato, one of the Chansey chose to use its body to knock aside Yamato.
Although it achieved its goal, the price was that the bullet from the gun struck it. Chansey had exceptionally high Special Defense, but when facing physical damage from bullets, it proved insufficient.
The bullet left a hole in its round body, and blood began to flow from it.
“Chansey!”
Seeing the Chansey suddenly fall, Yamato hurriedly pressed on its wound. Although she had experienced battles, this was the first time she had seen someone close to her get injured. She tried to close the wound, but she found it impossible. It was only after a moment of panic that she realized the effect of the Power of Viridian.
But just as she attempted to heal Chansey, a series of bullets came flying. Enemies in the vicinity seemed to have increased.
Chansey, who had been shot, tried to push Yamato away. The bullet had hit a dangerous spot, and it could no longer stand up. However, the surrounding environment was becoming increasingly dangerous.
The prevalence of firearms in Wano Country was low, and most people had poor marksmanship. So, the previous shot had an element of luck to it. The subsequent shots all missed their mark.
While they didn’t cause significant harm, it prevented Yamato from concentrating. After receiving the Power of Viridian, this was the first time she was using it to heal a Pokémon.
The more intense the gunfire became, the more anxious she grew, and the more anxious she became, the more difficult it became for her to summon that power. She could feel Chansey’s life slipping away. As memories of their shared past flashed through her mind, she could feel a surge of power gradually rise within her.
“Get lost!”
Suddenly, with Yamato as the center, a boundless aura erupted out. It’s range- the entire Flower Capital.
Chapter 292 Awakening Conqueror’s Haki
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