Final Preparations

1512 - Udon Prison - Third Person POV

Three days before the Fire Festival, Dominic amade his way to Udon Prison under a *Disillusionment Charm*, its grim walls towering under a leaden sky. With a flick of his wand, he cast *Imperio* on the head warden, a burly man with a cruel sneer, bending his will. Dominic's voice was cold, authoritative. "Gather every prisoner and guard in the central yard. Do it now, no delays, no questions."

The warden's eyes glazed, his voice mechanical as he bellowed. "All prisoners, all guards, to the central yard immediately! Move, or face the whip!" Chains rattled, boots stomped, and shouts echoed through the prison's stone corridors.

Fifteen minutes later, the yard brimmed with hundreds—starved prisoners in tattered rags, their eyes hollow, and guards clutching spears, their faces wary. Dominic shed his charm, standing tall in his black cloak, Ace glinting at his hip. With a single, fluid swing of his sword, he cut down every guard, their bodies collapsing in a heap. Gasps rippled through the prisoners, their voices erupting in a chaotic murmur of shock and fear.

"Did you see that? He killed them all in one stroke…"

"Who is this man? Orochi's assassin? Kaido's enforcer?"

"He's mad..."

Dominic's voice thundered, amplified by magic, cutting through the noise. "Silence! All of you, shut your mouths and listen!" The yard fell quiet, eyes wide, some trembling, others defiant. He strode to a sealed cell, its iron door rusted, and struck it with Ace, the lock shattering in a shower of sparks. "Kawamatsu, get out here. Now."

A figure emerged—Kawamatsu, a kappa-like warrior with green skin, sharp eyes, and matted hair, his presence commanding despite years in chains. Prisoners whispered, their voices awed.

**Prisoner 4:** "That's Kawamatsu… the Red Scabbard…"

**Prisoner 5:** "Oden's retainer… the mysterious prisoner they kept locked away…"

**Prisoner 6:** "Thought he was dead…"

Dominic faced the crowd, his voice unyielding, his gaze sweeping over their gaunt faces. "Alright, listen carefully, because I'm only saying this once. In three days, during the Fire Festival, I'm going to kill Kaido. Yes, *that* Kaido—the dragon, the monster, the so-called emperor. I'm ending his reign, and Orochi's with it. I don't care if you think I'm insane. I don't care if you laugh or cower. I'm giving you a chance to fight for Wano, to take back your country. I could free it alone—my power's more than enough—but freedom you don't fight for isn't worth having. Don't come crying when Wano's liberated, and you didn't spill a single drop of blood for it."

Murmurs stirred again, disbelief mixing with hope.

"Kill Kaido? He's dreaming…"

"No one's beaten Kaido. Oden tried, and he burned for it."

"Why should we trust him? Could be Orochi's trap."

Dominic opened his inventory, pulling out sacks of rice, barrels of salted fish, baskets of vegetables, and stacks of bread, piling them in the yard. "Food's here. Eat if you're hungry. Starve if you're stubborn." He tossed a heap of katanas, their blades clanging against the stone. "Weapons are here. Fight if you've got the guts. Wano will be free, with or without you. It's your choice—live as slaves or die as warriors."

He turned to Kawamatsu, his voice direct, piercing. "Kawamatsu, you were Oden's man. Will you fight for Wano now?"

Kawamatsu's voice was guarded, his eyes narrowing as he adjusted to the light. "You speak boldly, stranger, but words are cheap. Kaido's a force beyond men—Oden fell to him, and Wano with him. Why should I believe you? Who are you to promise such things? For all I know, you're one of Orochi's dogs, here to lure us into a slaughter."

Dominic's voice was sharp, unyielding. "I'm Dominic Augustus, and I don't need your trust. I'm telling you the truth—Princess Hiyori's alive, and she's fighting in this war. She's risking everything for Wano. Will you let her face Kaido alone, or will you stand with her, like you stood with Oden?"

Kawamatsu's voice faltered, his eyes widening with shock and hope. "Hiyori-hime… alive? Truly? After all these years, she still lives? How can you know this? Where is she?"

Dominic nodded, his voice firm but warm. "She's alive, Kawamatsu, and she's in the Flower Capital, rallying rebels. She'll be at the Fire Festival, sword in hand, fighting for her father's dream. Ships will come to take you to Onigashima if you choose to fight. Be on them, or stay here in chains. What's it gonna be?"

Kawamatsu's voice was low, his fists clenching, his resolve hardening. "If Hiyori-hime lives… if she fights… then I'll fight too. For her, for Oden, for Wano. I'll be on those ships."

Dominic's voice was final, his eyes glinting with approval. "Good. Three days, Kawamatsu. Don't let her down." He apparated, leaving the prisoners to their food and weapons, Kawamatsu's vow sparking a flicker of rebellion in Udon's despair.

---

That evening, Dominic slipped into the Flower Capital's familiar teahouse under a Disillusionment Charm, the air heavy with jasmine and sake. He ordered tea, his voice casual but firm. "Send for Komurasaki. I want her as my oiran."

After a wait, Hiyori—disguised as Komurasaki—entered, her turquoise hair cascading with flower pins, her blue eyes sharp beneath a practiced smile. Her kimono rustled as she knelt, her voice smooth and melodic. "Dominic-sama, it's an honor to see you again. I trust the Flower Capital treats you well this evening? The sakura are particularly lovely under the moonlight, and the streets hum with anticipation for the Fire Festival."

Dominic sipped his tea, his voice warm but direct. "Good to see you too, Hiyori. Let's skip the small talk. How are the preparations for the Fire Festival? Are your rebels ready to strike when the time comes?"

Hiyori's voice was confident, her gaze steady as she leaned closer, her tone dropping to a whisper. "They're going well, Dominic-sama. Denjiro has been relentless—he's rallied Oden's retainers, samurai from Hakumai, even a few of Orochi's own men who've turned against him in secret. We've hidden caches of weapons across the capital, in teahouses, shrines, even under the castle's shadow. Our numbers grow daily, and morale is high, though fear lingers. By the Fire Festival, we'll be ready to move. But tell me, what of your efforts? Have you found others to join us in this fight?"

Dominic nodded, his voice steady. "My family's training hard in our island, sharpening their skills for war. Here, I've got Yamato on our side—Kaido's own daughter, ready to turn on him. Yasuie's considering joining, Ashura Doji's been challenged, and I just freed Kawamatsu from Udon Prison. He's in. Three days, Hiyori, and we bring down Orochi and Kaido."

Hiyori's voice was soft, her eyes widening with hope. "Kawamatsu lives? And Yamato, Kaido's child, fights with us? You've worked miracles, Dominic-sama, but Kaido's Beasts Pirates are a legion, and Orochi's Oniwabanshu are everywhere, watching, listening. Are you truly certain we can win this war? I want to believe, but Wano's suffered so long."

Dominic's voice was fierce, his smile unwavering. "We'll win, Hiyori. He's a big lizard, nothing more. But we need to be united, unbreakable." He produced a glowing soul contract, sliding it across the table. "This binds us—sign it, and I swear I'll never betray you, as you swear the same. No doubts, no secrets, just trust."

Hiyori read it carefully, her voice thoughtful, her fingers tracing the magical runes. "A contract sealed by magic… it's a heavy thing, binding hearts and fates. You offer this to me, knowing I'm Kozuki's daughter, knowing the weight I carry for Wano's people. Why such trust, Dominic-sama? What makes you so certain I'm worthy of this bond?"

Dominic's voice was warm, his eyes kind but piercing. "Because you're Hiyori-hime, Oden's heir. You've kept Wano's hope alive, hiding as Komurasaki, playing the oiran while plotting rebellion. You've got fire in you, and I trust that fire. Sign, and we're allies to the end, fighting for the same dream."

Hiyori's voice was resolute, her hand steady as she signed. "For Wano, for my father, for every soul crushed by Orochi and Kaido, I swear it. We'll fight as one, Dominic-sama, and we'll see this through."

Dominic signed it too, tucking it away, then injected her with Super-Soldier Serum, her breath catching as strength surged through her veins. Her voice was awed, her hands flexing with newfound power. "What is this strength? It's unlike anything I've known!"

Dominic applied a Charlotte Roselei Card, its vibrant glow enveloping her. "This is Charlotte Roselei's magic—briar rose manipulation, creating thorny vines that bind, slash, and protect. You'll wield them with your sword, cutting through Kaido's men like they're nothing. Master it quickly, Hiyori."

Hiyori's voice was eager, her eyes blazing with determination. "Briar roses… such beauty, such power. With this, I can face Kaido's forces, stand as my father did against his enemies? I can protect Wano, truly?"

Dominic's voice was firm, his gaze intense. "You can, and you will. Do you have a sword?"

Hiyori's voice was proud. "I do, my father's blade, passed to me. It's ready, hungry for justice."

Dominic's voice was commanding, his resolve unshakable. "Three days, Hiyori. The Fire Festival is our final war. Get ready to end Orochi and Kaido. Wano's counting on you, and I'm counting on you."

Hiyori's voice was fierce, her resolve a mirror of his. "For my father's dream, for my people's freedom, I'll be ready, Dominic-sama. We'll free Wano together, and its sakura will bloom anew."