By then, Kozuki Hiyori had already risen to her feet.
The hem of her furisode kimono fluttered slightly from her swift movement, like a flower swaying in the wind.
Their gazes met in that instant, and within those profound eyes, they both saw a brilliance in each other that had been absent for twenty years.
It was a hope for the future, a longing for freedom, an unwavering commitment to justice.
"The young master has returned! Did he bring the Child of Prophecy with him?"
"Wait! Let me process this!"
"With Momonosuke-sama's return and the appearance of these Divine Kingdom reinforcements... Could the ruler of the Divine Kingdom be the legendary Child of Prophecy?"
"It must be!"
Denjiro's hand clenched tightly around his sword hilt, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force, as if trying to press the blade deep into his palm.
"Your Highness, we... we..."
His voice carried both hesitation and barely suppressed excitement.
"What else is there to say?"
Kozuki Hiyori snatched her sword from the stand with a fluid motion completely unlike her usual delicate geisha demeanor.
Her movements were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
As she forcefully slid open the paper door, a gust of wind carrying the scent of gunpowder rushed in, the pungent odor overwhelming.
"Let's go welcome my brother, and together we shall complete the work our father left unfinished!"
Denjiro saw how the princess's profile appeared exceptionally resolute under the intense light, her stubborn jawline overlapping with his memory of Lord Oden, as if time had reversed and that unwavering conviction had never changed.
"As you command!"
As their figures disappeared into the winding streets of Flower Capital, another Dragon soared into the sky in the distance.
Its massive form circled through the night sky, spewing flames that bloomed like flowers, dyeing the heavens crimson.
These blazing flames served as an impassioned signal, illuminating Denjiro's true face that hadn't seen daylight in twenty years.
The Red Scabbard samurai who once swore to cut through the darkness was finally about to be drawn again under this radiance, fighting for justice, for the future of Flower Capital!!!
...
At the summit of Onigashima,
The atmosphere had reached its peak intensity.
Dark clouds churned like overturned ink, piling up layer upon layer as if trying to envelop the entire world in darkness.
Lightning bolts darted through the clouds like furious silver serpents, each flash accompanied by deafening roars.
Kaido's terrifying massive Azure Dragon form flickered in and out of view under the lightning's illumination, reflecting an intimidating cold gleam that made one dare not look directly at it.
He suddenly dove downward, his enormous dragon head descending like a small mountain pressing toward the ground.
The "Blast Breath" brewing in his maw resembled the intense energy accumulating in a volcano before eruption, scorching the air along its path until it distorted, forming visible heat wave ripples.
"BOOM——!!!"
A tremendous roar shattered the unbearably tense atmosphere as the searing dragon flames violently collided with the Shockwave Whitebeard casually unleashed.
In that instant, brilliant light erupted everywhere.
The explosive Shockwave spread outward like a ferocious primordial beast with overwhelming force, instantly clearing the clouds within a kilometer radius, leaving behind a strangely tranquil, clear sky.
"Gurarararara..." Whitebeard threw his head back with a hearty laugh, standing steadily in mid-air.
The Murakumogiri in his hand felt as light as a feather, and his crescent-shaped white beard was stained with specks of blood—marks left from previous battles.
"Kaido, you brat, you've improved quite a bit over the years!"
Kaido hovered in the air, a flicker of surprise flashing in his dragon-like eyes.
He could clearly sense that his Haki had indeed become far more refined compared to two decades ago.
Both his Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki had seen significant progress!
Yet, what shocked him even more was that despite giving it his all, the old man opposite him still appeared completely at ease.
There was not a trace of panic in Whitebeard's eyes.
His every movement exuded the demeanor of a father, as if everything was under his control.
"You old fool!" Kaido reverted to his human form and landed on the peak of Onigashima.
The kanabo "Hassaikai" in his hand slammed heavily into the ground, producing a dull, thunderous crash.
"The times have long changed! Do you still think it's the era when you ruled the seas?" He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a sinister grin, his eyes revealing a mix of madness and resentment.
"Devil Fruits are nothing more than icing on the cake. The true path of a powerhouse lies in the pinnacle of Haki!!!"
Before his words faded, Kaido's figure suddenly vanished from sight, moving so fast that only a blurred afterimage could be seen.
In the next instant, the kanabō, wreathed in purple-black lightning, descended upon Whitebeard with earth-shattering force!
The Conqueror's Haki infused within this strike caused fine black cracks to appear in the surrounding space, as if the very fabric of reality could not withstand such immense power and was on the verge of tearing apart.
"Clang——!!!"
The Murakumogiri Blade firmly intercepted the mountain-splitting blow.
Whitebeard's cloak fluttered wildly in the turbulent airflow, and a gleam flashed in his eyes as he instantly spotted an opening in Kaido's defense.
"Well said! Then let this old man see just how far you've honed your Haki, you brat!"
As he spoke, a relaxed smile still lingered at the corner of Whitebeard's mouth.
To him, this intense battle was nothing more than a casual game.
Kaido's pupils abruptly contracted, and a sense of foreboding surged within him.
'This old man... he still hasn't gone all out?!'
An unknown fear began to spread in the depths of his heart.
Whitebeard's voice suddenly turned grave.
The muscles on his left arm bulged, veins throbbing like coiling dragons, each one seemingly brimming with boundless power.
An eerie white glow began to emanate from the edge of Murakumogiri, a mysterious force as if from another world, instilling awe in all who beheld it.
The sea for miles around suddenly fell still.
The once turbulent waves, as if placed under a immobilization spell, became as calm as a vast mirror.
This was the deterrent power of Whitebeard's Haki—suppressing everything in the vicinity through sheer presence alone.
"The warm-up should end now," Whitebeard said slowly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.
In the next moment, his sword swing appeared slow yet was swift as lightning.
That seemingly simple slash contained infinite power and skill, condensing the very essence of heaven and earth into a single strike.
"Divine Fall!"