Kozuki Hiyori's eyes reddened, tears welling up. She had always been close to Kawamatsu, after her parents died, he was the one who cared for her.
Now, learning that Kawamatsu was safe, she finally felt relieved.
She slowly bowed deeply, offering Yamato a formal gesture of gratitude.
Denjiro and Kin'emon simultaneously gave thumbs-up, their eyes filled with admiration.
Denjiro's gaze fixed intently on Yamato. "Impressive! As expected of someone who upholds Lord Oden's will!"
Though brief, his words were laden with acknowledgment.
Momonosuke's tense expression finally eased, his furrowed brow smoothing as he turned slowly to gaze at the rising sun outside the window.
The warm sunlight bathed his face, but it paled in comparison to the glimmer of hope swelling in his heart.
In that moment, for the first time, he felt so keenly that the scales of fate were tipping in favor of the Land of Wano.
The dawn that once seemed distant was now within reach—the Land of Wano was finally going to be saved.
...
With the call from Oden's son Momonosuke, Kikunojo and Ashura Douji both arrived!
When Kikunojo's slender figure appeared at the hall entrance, the air in the room froze for an instant.
His appearance remained as exquisite as twenty years ago, that delicate face seemingly forgotten by time, bearing no traces of age.
The moment he saw Momonosuke, his body seemed to lose all strength.
The long sword in his hand clattered to the ground with a clear, ringing sound that echoed through the silent room.
"Mo... Momonosuke-sama?"
Memories from the past instantly flooded his mind.
His voice trembled uncontrollably, the originally calm tone now sounding as if swept by a fierce wind, filled with endless astonishment and joy.
Tears immediately blurred his vision, his sight turning hazy, yet he still stared intently at Momonosuke, as if afraid the person before him would disappear if he blinked.
His slender fingers tightly covered his mouth, his body trembling slightly, fearing this might be nothing but a fragile dream that would shatter if he made a sound.
"It's really you, Oden-sama's bloodline."
"Yes, yes, it's truly you, young master Momonosuke!"
"..."
Then, the ground suddenly shook violently.
Ashura Douji's tall figure burst through the door, his burly frame like a moving hill.
This former bandit now charged toward Momonosuke like a reckless bull, covering the distance in quick strides.
His eyes widened, fixed intently on Momonosuke, as if trying to etch every detail of him deeply into his memory.
"It's really you, young master Momonosuke!"
His rough voice carried disbelief, echoing through the room.
His calloused hands reached out to touch Momonosuke's face but stopped mid-air, as if afraid his roughness might harm this dreamlike figure.
"Twenty years... and you haven't changed at all..." he murmured, complex emotions flashing in his eyes - surprise, emotion, but mostly the joy of recovering something lost.
Momonosuke fought back tears, taking a deep breath to calm his emotions.
Then he straightened his back, scanning everyone with determined eyes, and loudly declared.
"Everyone, we'll completely end Kaido's reign!"
Though his voice carried a hint of hoarseness, it ignited the fighting spirit in everyone's hearts.
Kikunojo trembled with excitement, his body shaking like leaves in the wind, his fair face flushing red - a manifestation of boiling passion.
"Finally... finally this day has come!" He drew his sword, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"I volunteer to be the vanguard!" He gripped the hilt tightly, his eyes revealing death-defying determination.
However, Ashura Douji's reaction was unexpectedly calm.
His face showed little expression as he stood quietly, as if the earlier excitement had nothing to do with him.
He simply rubbed his nose and revealed a meaningful smile.
Kin'emon keenly noticed the anomaly, his gaze fixed tightly on Ashura Douji.
"Ashura, you don't seem surprised at all?"
Ashura scratched his messy hair before suddenly dropping to one knee.
"To be honest... I've already made contact with the Eternal Divine Kingdom."
He lifted his head, his eyes flickering with complex emotions - both anticipation for the future and a hint of indescribable resignation.
"I'm now directly under the command of Divine Kingdom Captain Squard."
The room erupted in uproar!
Various expressions of shock appeared on everyone's faces - some widened their eyes, others gasped sharply.
"Bastard!" Denjiro was the first to jump up, his face flushed crimson as he pointed angrily at Ashura.
"You actually betrayed Lord Oden—" His voice echoed through the room, filled with fury and resentment.
"Wait!" Ashura quickly waved his hands, his expression turning anxious. "Before this, I had no idea Lord Momonosuke had returned!"
His voice suddenly dropped low, carrying deep remorse. "But as you all know, the Land of Wano is undergoing earth-shattering changes. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate the Beasts Pirates... I had to seize it."
"..."
Everyone fell into silence.
In the quiet space, only their breathing could be heard as each person carefully considered the current situation.
Indeed, this rare opportunity was like a brilliant light suddenly shining through darkness.
Even these seasoned veterans who had weathered countless storms couldn't help but be moved, eager to grasp it with all their might.
Then Ashura suddenly kowtowed heavily with a loud "thump."
The hard ground collided with his forehead with a dull thud. When he lifted his head, his eyes were filled with unwavering determination as he declared loudly.
"If Lord Momonosuke wishes to punish me, please wait until after we've defeated Kaido! Then, whether you execute me or cut me to pieces, I, Ashura, will have no complaints!"
His voice echoed in the silent space, carrying the tragic grandeur of someone burning their bridges.
However, contrary to expectations, what responded to him wasn't the anticipated scolding and reprimands, but waves of laughter.
Kin'emon laughed particularly heartily, slapping his thigh as he rocked back and forth,
"Hahaha... you big oaf!" he laughed while wiping tears from his eyes, the droplets tracing paths down his cheeks without dampening his smile in the slightest.
"Do you think you're the only one who joined the Eternal Divine Kingdom?"