CHAPTER 190- The Blade That Could Not Break the Shell

"You sold me to honor Lord Oden's dying wishes?"Ashura Dōji's face twisted in fury, hands clenching tight around his sword's hilt as he roared:

"Fine then! Let's see why Lord Oden would turn in his grave!"

"Ryūō — Armor-Breaking Slash!"

His blade instantly surged with an overwhelming torrent of black Armament Haki, swirling like a storm.In the next second, his entire body coiled like a drawn bow—and then exploded forward like a sea dragon breaching the surface, sword crashing down at Luo Yu!

BOOM!

A hurricane-force shockwave erupted from the strike, blasting the ground into fragments.Samurai nearby were blown off their feet, sent tumbling through the air by the sheer force.Even the earth beneath split and crumbled under the pressure of the attack.

Ashura glanced toward Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, expecting support.

But what he saw instead made his pupils contract in disbelief.

They were running—fast.

They'd fled nearly 80 meters in an instant, their silhouettes already vanishing into the swirling dust.

Ashura's thoughts reeled.Was this boy really that terrifying?

So terrifying that even Nekomamushi and Inuarashi would abandon pride, duty, and even Lord Oden's name… just to escape?

No. He couldn't believe they'd forgotten Oden's legacy.The only explanation… was that this boy truly was a monster.

And right then, through the clearing storm of dust and wind—Luo Yu looked up.

Still holding his gourd of liquor, he spoke with terrifying calm:

"I'm sorry. Honestly, I think twenty million's a fair price—I even like it."

"But if I want Fleet Admiral Sengoku to add a bonus, I'll need you to go all out."

"Otherwise, I'll be too ashamed to tell him you're even worth that much."

BOOM!

Suddenly, an explosive wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Luo Yu's body.

It rolled forth like a crashing tsunami, slamming toward Ashura Dōji with an aura as sharp and vast as a god's wrath.

"Th-this is...! The same Conqueror's Haki Lord Oden had?!"

Ashura's face shifted.But in the next moment, he barked with defiance:

"Don't think you can intimidate me with Conqueror's Haki!"

He surged forward, sword raised high.

Yes, he respected Oden.And yes, this kind of Haki was the mark of a king.

But that didn't mean he'd flinch.He was Ashura Dōji—chosen by Kaido himself!

"Fool!" barked Inuarashi from afar."This isn't the same kind of Conqueror's Haki as Oden's! This isn't just pressure—it's a weapon!"

"Run, Ashura! That Haki isn't meant to intimidate—it dominates!"

Ashura froze for the briefest instant.

Was there really more than one kind of Conqueror's Haki?

But he didn't back down.

I'll cut through it head-on!

He charged straight into the storm of black lightning.

Only—he didn't break through.

CRACK!

It felt like slamming face-first into a wall made of steel and willpower.

Ashura's eyes went wide.This wasn't just pressure—it was force. Real force.

Like a mountain collapsing. Like a tidal wave slamming down.

"This... this is like getting hit by Kaido's Thunder Bagua...!"

BOOOOOM!!

A blast of invisible force struck Ashura Dōji square in the chest.He coughed up a mouthful of blood and was hurled through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into a mountain hundreds of meters away.

CRASH!!!

The cliffside shattered under the impact, massive chunks of rock flying in every direction.Ashura's body embedded deep within the rubble.

The samurai who had followed him stood in shock.

That was Lord Ashura Dōji… someone handpicked by Kaido himself.Someone who had fought Jack the Drought to a draw—And yet he was just blown away by a glance?!

Was this… a joke?

"Ashura!"Nekomamushi, now several hundred meters away, shouted back urgently.

"Stop fighting! Twenty million is a great deal!"

"We felt lucky to get you on board at that price!"

Inuarashi, panting beside him, added:

"Ashura, we're not trying to harm you! We don't want Oden-sama to suffer even in death—please, stop this!"

From within the debris, a bloodied Ashura Dōji began to stir.

He stood, trembling but furious.Clutching his blade, his eyes burned with rage.

"Shut up!"

"You… traitors who threw away your honor—you don't deserve to speak Oden-sama's name!"

"I'll find out who truly made Oden die with regrets—you two, or me!"

"Let's see how long you can keep acting like a god, Luo Yu!"

His muscles tensed, blood and fury blending into his rising aura.

Ryūō—Armament Flow exploded from his body, igniting his spirit.

With a single step, he launched forward like a human cannonball—

"Oden's Two-Sword Style: Togen Totsuka (Peach Blossom Tenfold Slash)!"

BOOOOOOOM!!!

A criss-crossing dual slash ripped through the air, tearing apart earth and sky alike.

Even space seemed to distort under its power.The hundreds of meters between them vanished in a blink.

Ashura's eyes were filled with fire.

He had trained in Oden's style in secret for decades.If he couldn't injure the boy, he'd at least shatter that "turtle shell" defense!

But the moment he closed the gap, he saw it.

A figure surrounded by a monstrous golden construct—Not the Thousand-Hand Guanyin this time.But an enormous spectral warrior, towering, armored, glowing with ominous majesty—

Susanoo.

Ashura Dōji's thoughts stalled.

This… was not something he could cut.

This was not the shell he could break through with Oden's blade.

Now, he understood why Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had fled without hesitation.

Why they'd said invoking Oden's name would only make his soul mourn harder.

Was I the fool… who truly shamed Lord Oden's memory?