Chapter 246: Line Up
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"Gyukimaru?!"
Kozuki Oden's pupils trembled as he pulled his gaze away from the blade in his hands.
It was none other than Enma, his former katana, which he had lost in Wano over a decade ago during his defeat.
He never imagined it would return to him now. Then suddenly, he recognised Gyukimaru's true identity.
"You're that fox companion of Shimotsuki Ushimaru, aren't you?" Oden asked in disbelief.
Gyukimaru said nothing but nodded excitedly. The next second, his form shimmered and shifted into a white fox.
After that, things moved quickly. Under Gyukimaru's lead, the samurai recovered a vast number of swords and were armed once again.
Though they still looked ragged, like simple farmers from the fields, the moment they gripped their blades, their spirit changed entirely.
Arashi left the samurai's affairs entirely to Oden.
Over the next three days, the Marines received support from the people of Kuri—food, medicine, and other essentials were replenished enough to ease their burden.
Meanwhile, at Oden's temporary estate, more and more samurai and ninja joined by the day.
Some were former retainers of the Kozuki clan. Others were freedom fighters hoping to overthrow Orochi and drive out Kaido.
The army grew steadily, and preparations for war intensified.
"We don't have the luxury of dragging this out. The fastest way to end it is a direct confrontation with Kaido on Onigashima," said a Marine officer in the war room.
"Kuri has very little to offer. The real resources of Wano are stockpiled in the Flower Capital. These villagers have already given us all they can—two days of food and minimal medicine."
"This has to be the stingiest war I've ever fought since joining the Marines."
"Can't be helped. We're crossing the sea to face the strongest enemies alive—Kaido and Big Mom."
Within the makeshift war room, the voices of Marine vice admirals rang out.
The operation had gathered a significant number of top-tier forces, and they were constantly reviewing tactics, refining their approach, and analysing weaknesses.
Simply put, the Marines couldn't afford to waste time or manpower. That's why Arashi decided on a full-scale assault in just three days.
While the decision seemed impulsive, it was the most strategic move to avoid a drawn-out war that would drain the Marines in hostile territory.
Taking over Kuri meant little when Orochi and Kaido still held the real supplies in the Flower Capital.
As the first day passed, vice admirals continued to run simulations on a sand table, utilising intelligence gathered from Wano's rebels.
Arashi stood silently, arms folded, eyes locked on the sand model, listening intently.
"A frontal assault won't work!"
"Onigashima is surrounded by the sea on all sides. Its terrain is naturally defensive—it favours them."
"This is another Marineford, but we're in Whitebeard's position this time!"
"Our top priority must be minimising casualties among lower-ranked Marines and officers."
"They'll have layered defences and artillery around the island. What if we imitate Whitebeard's entry strategy and strike straight into the heart of the enemy?"
"No—we have our aerial fleet. Using them to draw attention while we move from another route might be a better option."
Ideas clashed fiercely. By the second day, the samurai were fully assembled and had begun intense pre-battle training.
Formed into disciplined formations, they swung their blades in unison. The sight was grand. From a platform above, Oden watched with a serious expression.
Even with Arashi's support, the pressure on him was immense. This battle would decide the fate of Wano.
If they won, Wano could reclaim peace and finally open its borders, forging ties with the outside world and perhaps becoming stronger than ever.
But if they lost, not only would the samurai and Oden fall, but the Marines would suffer a critical blow. The world itself might face disastrous consequences.
Before long, the third day arrived. At Kuri's harbour, countless Marine warships lined the shore. The black barrels of their cannons gleamed ominously under the sun.
Lines of people moved steadily, orderly, boarding the ships. The air was thick with a cold, iron discipline.
"So this is the Marine force, huh?"
"They're like a battle-hardened machine. Even standing still, they make your heart pound from sheer pressure."
"With a fleet this huge, even Kaido should feel the heat."
"These are our allies?"
The samurai were visibly in awe. They had never seen such a disciplined, silent army before. Their respect for the Marines grew with every moment.
"Our ships—are they ready?" Oden shouted.
"No problem! They may not look as good as the Marines', but in terms of speed, they're just as fast!" answered Sukiyaki, his voice filled with pride.
"Don't forget—we haven't spent these past years doing nothing!"
Oden nodded. Many of their allies had worked in secret for years, building weapons, constructing ships, and preparing for this very day.
It wasn't just Gyukimaru's blades—these ships were also the product of years of effort. As time passed, the Marine ships ahead were already full. That signalled it was time for the samurai to board.
"Board the ships!"
"Head for Onigashima!"
"Samurai, it's our turn to fight!" Oden's voice thundered.
"Yes, sir!" came the unified shout.
The samurai climbed aboard, their faces tense, eyes resolute. Though they still looked like humble farmers, their presence was sharp as blades.
The Kozuki clan's crest unfurled in the wind, like a divine bird spreading its wings and crying to the sky.
"It feels like a dream…"
"For more than ten years, I've imagined this moment again and again."
"Are we setting out to defeat Kaido?"
Tears welled in many eyes as the ships set sail. This wasn't sentimentality—it was the realisation of a long-held hope.
"The war has just begun!"
"This is no time to get emotional!"
"Save your tears for the moment we defeat Kaido and claim victory!"
Oden's voice snapped them out of it. The samurai straightened up, eyes fierce, gripping their blades tightly.
Ahead, the sea narrowed. The massive fleet shifted formation quickly. From above, it looked like a giant dragon winding through the rivers between Wano's islands.
It was long and magnificent. Soon, people across Wano noticed.
"Who are they?!"
"Wait… isn't that the Kozuki crest?!"
"Kozuki… has returned?!"
"This must be the army coming to defeat Kaido!"
Shock, awe, excitement—all emotions surged across the land.
"Wano… is about to change forever."
From commoners to nobles, everyone felt the quake in their hearts. The return of the Kozuki meant only one thing, and the vast fleet behind them left no doubt.
Thunder roared above Onigashima. Storm winds howled across the sky. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere shrouded the entire island.
"Wororororo~! So the Marines have made their move… and the Kozuki brats too? Looks like we're finally getting a proper fight!" Kaido laughed wickedly.
He glanced sideways. "Are the preparations complete?"
"Everything's ready!"
"We've laid traps and weapons all through the Onigashima tunnels. Queen's virus weapons are also in place. The Marines are in for a surprise!"
Kaido grinned. "Good. Let them witness the might of the Beasts Pirates."
"What about Linlin?"
"Big Mom's enjoying her chocolate dessert of the day. The other ministers and Sweet Commanders are ready for battle," a pirate quickly reported.
Kaido nodded and looked toward the harbour of Onigashima. His gaze narrowed. Everything was in place. Now, it was time to see what the Marines were truly capable of.
Lightning tore across the sky.
Thick clouds loomed above. The air on the island grew heavier with every breath.
No one knew what Kaido or Big Mom were thinking, but the ordinary pirates could feel the crushing pressure.
The Marine force was too overwhelming—five admirals and a supreme commander hailed as "invincible."
And worst of all—what made the Marines truly terrifying—was their immense number of foot soldiers spread all over the world.
They were the most prominent military organisation on the planet. No pirate crew could ever match that.
Winds screamed through the clouds. Thunder cracked again and again. All around Onigashima, countless silhouettes moved into position.
Beast Pirates, each wearing their unique animal-shaped helmets, swallowed nervously and stared at the harbour ahead.
"Where will the Marines come from…?"
Seconds ticked by. The skies only grew darker.
Massive bolts of lightning fell from the clouds like giant ropes hurled by titans, slamming into the ground around the island.
In the eerie quiet of Onigashima, Big Mom's heavy snores echoed clearly.
Nearby, Kaido sat cross-legged, gaze cold and unmoving. His kanabo was stabbed into the ground beside him. His presence was as towering as a mountain.
Everyone was waiting. At that exact moment, deep within Onigashima's prison—
"The air… has changed."
"What's going on out there? After several days of feasting and celebration, everything suddenly stopped. Instead, there's this heavy, tense atmosphere in the air."
"It feels like a major war is about to break out!" Sengoku said grimly. Garp sat nearby, his expression equally puzzled. "Oi, what the hell is happening out there? Why is it so quiet today?"
Not far away, Helmeppo raised his voice and questioned a pirate standing nearby, who looked dazed and anxious.
Unexpectedly, the pirate slowly turned around, his forehead soaked in cold sweat, face pale and eyes unfocused.
"The Marines… have arrived!" he murmured, almost in a trance.
The moment those words left his lips, the expressions of everyone in the SWORD squad locked in the prison changed dramatically.
"What?! The Marines are here?"
"How could they have arrived so quickly?" Sengoku shouted in disbelief. But the pirate turned his head back around and said nothing more.
"It looks like Marine HQ got word of our capture," Garp sighed. "So they sent a vanguard unit to try and break us out."
"That Arashi kid... couldn't he just be patient for once?" But Sengoku frowned at those words.
They sounded fine on the surface, but when he thought deeper, something felt off.
He lifted his head and stared at the pirate who had turned away again, still looking like he'd entered a different state of mind.
"If it was only a vanguard unit, it wouldn't be enough to make the Beasts Pirates this shaken."
Sengoku hadn't paid attention earlier, but now that he looked closely, the pirates all seemed extremely tense.
He had only seen expressions like these in the Marines before the Summit War.
A flash of realisation surged through Sengoku's mind like lightning.
He suddenly turned to look at Tsuru across from him. She, too, was visibly shocked. When their eyes met, she gave a slight nod.
"That Arashi brat… he went and started a war!" Sengoku trembled, his entire body shaking with awe at Arashi's resolve and decisiveness.
"Rumble rumble!" The thunder above Onigashima grew louder, the sky darkening as light seemed to vanish.
Though it was daytime, the island looked like dusk had fallen. "Crackle!" Blue lightning streaked across the sky like branches, twisting violently.
The pirates looked up and sensed something unnatural in the sky above.
"Crackle!" Another bolt of lightning flashed, dazzlingly bright, causing many to shield their eyes instinctively.
When the light faded and they looked again, a collective gasp spread. "T-The Marines!"
"The Marines are here!" From beneath the dark clouds and at the tips of the lightning, warships began to appear one after another.
The next moment, panicked reports came from all sides. "Massive Marine fleet spotted at the main harbour entrance!"
"They're approaching from the west! There's also a huge Marine force in the east!"
"They've appeared from the north and south, too! Captain Kaido—the Marines surround us!"
Screams of terror spread like wildfire through Onigashima. From every stronghold on the island, pirates could see the approaching Marine fleet. They were completely surrounded.
"Rumble!!"
Lightning roared through the clouds, striking down like a thousand blazing tendrils from the sky.
The once-dark heavens were illuminated in an instant. Faces full of fear and disbelief stared blankly in every direction.
The Marine fleet had appeared out of nowhere, covering the sky and sea—ships everywhere, dense and unrelenting.
By the lightning's illumination, rows of Marines stood firmly on the decks—faces grim, eyes sharp and cold, clad in white uniforms.
Their expressions sent chills down the pirates' spines.
"When did they get here?" a pirate muttered, trembling. The suddenness of the situation was beyond comprehension.
Maybe the darkness of the storm had kept them hidden until the lightning revealed everything. It felt like ghosts had silently appeared within reach.
"Rumble!"
Thunder cracked again as lightning flared even more violently, bathing Onigashima in blinding light.
Kaido slowly raised his head, sensing something strange in the atmosphere. He narrowed his eyes and stood tall, his enormous form exuding dominance.
At the harbour, a massive Marine warship stood motionless.
A lightning-shaped emblem was etched at the bow, and the flag of the Marines fluttered above like a banner of judgment.
Standing at the front of the ship was a towering, muscular figure radiating a terrifying aura.
"Marine Fleet Admiral Arashi!!"
"The living legend of this era! The man who single-handedly crushed the combined might of Whitebeard and Red-Haired!"
"The demon of the seas feared by all pirates—the most terrifying existence alive!"
Seeing him, the pirates' eyes widened in horror, some screaming uncontrollably.
There was no pirate alive who didn't fear Arashi. His exploits spanned across two whole pirate eras, elevating his reputation to nearly mythical levels.
Even Kaido squinted in seriousness at the sight of him. Behind Arashi stood Vice Admirals with fearsome reputations from the Summit War.
"The swordmaster, Kuina! The man who shattered the world—Buggy!"
"The one who freezes all—Smoker! And the mysterious Rosinante!" Pirates gasped at the lineup behind Arashi.
Just this one warship's combat power was enough to strike fear into their hearts. But then screams erupted from every direction.
"Marine Admiral Aokiji! Admiral Kizaru is at the front!"
"Crocodile—the one they call Desert King—is here too!"
"Fujitora Issho—the man who became Admiral through the World Draft!"
"Bullet—former right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger—now Arashi's most powerful subordinate!"
The Marines had deployed a full encirclement, surrounding the entire island of Onigashima.
"The Marines… have mobilised their entire force!!" The scale of this deployment made the pirates shudder to their core. It was clear—the Marines had gone all in.
Even Kaido and Big Mom, two of the Four Emperors combined, would feel the immense pressure.
"All in, huh?" Kaido muttered, eyes sharp as blades. He was shocked by Arashi's audacity—the nerve to bring every elite force of the Marines right to his doorstep.
This Fleet Admiral… was no ordinary man.
"Fleet Admiral Arashi! This should be our first face-to-face meeting." Kaido took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
His voice carried across the wind and reached the enemy warships. "Rumble!" The thunder echoed even louder.
"Indeed," Arashi replied calmly. "I didn't expect someone I once thought of as insignificant to become a real player."
His tone, calm as it was, carried an undertone of subtle contempt. Kaido's eyes darkened, but he didn't retort—because in terms of accomplishments, he couldn't compare.
Arashi had captured two legends during the Roger era. He sent Whitebeard himself to Impel Down during the height of his power.
That kind of strength was beyond imagination. How strong was Arashi truly? Kaido didn't even dare speculate.
"Just a real player, huh?" Kaido suddenly laughed. "Whitebeard was old, Red-Haired is crippled!"
"You defeated two who were no longer at their peak. That's nothing impressive. But now... You face me!"
"I am Kaido of the Beasts, the man invincible on land, sea, and sky! I've been captured by the Marines countless times. I've got scars all over my body—but none have ever taken my life."
"And standing beside me is another Emperor who rules the seas! Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin!"
Kaido sneered. "We're not like Whitebeard and Red-Haired. We're not easy to deal with!" He squinted, eyeing Arashi. "Bringing your entire Marine force here?"
"It's laughable! Throwing yourselves into the fire, marching right into death's embrace!" As his voice fell, Big Mom took a powerful step forward.
Prometheus and Zeus surrounded her gigantic frame. Fire and lightning coiled around her, erupting with overwhelming power.
"Boom boom boom boom!" The ground shook violently as Onigashima itself trembled. An oppressive aura surged from the two Emperors.
Kaido released his Conqueror's Haki, and it fused with Big Mom's, forming an immense tidal wave of pressure that swept toward the Marines.
Their commanders also stepped forward, faces cold, eyes burning with battle spirit. Across the battlefield, countless Marine officers were visibly shaken.
"Kaido of the Beasts—called the strongest creature across land, sea, and sky, Charlotte Linlin—a monstrous giant born with terrifying strength and a near-indestructible body!"
"These two are true monsters of the New World! And standing behind them are the most powerful officers of their pirate crews…"
Tension crackled in the air as a Marine officer pointed toward one figure among the enemy.
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