Kaido flew away the moment he understood what Ren wanted. If two monsters like them fought in the capital, nothing would remain but rubble and ash. The sky trembled under Kaido's massive dragon form as he soared toward a barren stretch of land far from the Flower Capital, and Ren followed without attacking, his expression calm but resolute.
They landed on an open, desolate plain where only cracked earth and scattered boulders stood witness. Kaido shifted back into his human form, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a long-awaited festival rather than a battle. He stretched his neck and laughed thunderously.
"Wororororoorororo. Let's have a fight that decides the future of Wano."
Ren grinned, brushing dust from his coat as if mildly inconvenienced. His eyes were steady, almost disappointed.
"You aren't my equal yet, Kaido. Your Haki still needs to grow."
Kaido's grin widened rather than faltered.
"Worororo, isn't this the perfect time to train my Haki?" he roared, swinging his kanabo coated in Armament Haki—hardening infused deep into the weapon. The air itself seemed to split as the club descended toward Ren's head.
Ren sighed softly and thrust his fist forward, releasing Ryou-level Haki in a precise burst. His punch never touched the kanabo, yet the invisible emission pushed Kaido backward violently, skidding across the ground as if struck by a mountain. Dust exploded in every direction.
Kaido steadied himself, boots carving trenches in the earth as he stared at Ren with renewed intensity.
"Armament like Oden…" he muttered, eyes narrowing.
Ren's expression darkened slightly at the name.
"Kaido, you don't even know Ryou—emission-level Haki. You have no chance of winning like this," Ren said evenly.
Kaido tilted his head. "Emission… like releasing Haki outward?"
Ren smiled faintly. "Exactly. You want to learn it? Sure. I'll teach you."
Before Kaido could respond, Ren vanished in a burst of Soru, reappearing at Kaido's flank. His fist drove into Kaido's stomach with Ryou emission, the force bypassing defense and exploding inward. Kaido was launched through several boulders before dragging his foot into the ground to stop.
He exhaled sharply, feeling the strange internal vibration from that strike. "So that's how it flows…" he muttered, gripping his kanabo tighter. Sweat began to bead on his brow—not from fear, but exhilaration.
Ren appeared again at his back, delivering another Ryou-infused punch that sent Kaido crashing forward. He moved relentlessly, Soru bursts flashing like lightning as blow after blow hammered into Kaido's body. The battlefield echoed with thunderous impacts, each strike carrying the lesson within it.
Kaido roared, absorbing the punishment like a beast refusing to kneel. "Don't hold back, brat!" he barked. "If I'm to grow, I need more!"
Ren answered with another devastating strike. "Then focus. Feel the flow instead of resisting it."
---
On the execution platform, chaos reigned.
Toki stood opposite King, her blade shimmering faintly with Ryou-level Haki. The air around her seemed heavier, as if time itself bent subtly to her will. King lunged forward, flames trailing from his body, his Lunarian heritage blazing fiercely.
Their swords clashed, sparks flying in radiant arcs. King grunted. "You use Armament like that man… Oden."
Toki's eyes were calm. "You should worry about your own growth instead."
King attacked again, wings slicing the air as fire spiraled toward her. Yet every strike missed by the smallest margin, as though she had already seen it unfold. Her Future Sight granted her that cruel advantage. Each movement she made felt rehearsed, inevitable.
"The woman predicts my every move…" King muttered in frustration. "You already know what I'm going to do."
Toki didn't reply. She launched a massive flying slash that cut across the sky, forcing King to block.
She vanished with Soru and reappeared above him. King parried her blade midair, steel ringing sharply. Toki smiled faintly as multiple flying slashes suddenly converged from every direction. They had been sent forward through time, delayed and released exactly where she wanted him.
King's eyes widened. "What—?!"
The slashes struck him simultaneously, tearing into his defenses and sending him crashing into the ground. The earth shattered beneath him as Toki descended with Geppo, pressing the assault without mercy.
"You have a Devil Fruit related to time," King said hoarsely.
Silence answered him, followed by another slash.
---
Elsewhere, samurai clashed with Orochi's forces in brutal combat. The Nine Red Scabbards led with unyielding resolve, their blades fueled by Oden's final words. Ren was the dawn of Wano—that was the hope they chose to gamble on.
As the hours passed, more loyal samurai arrived, inspired by Oden's legacy. The tide shifted decisively. Orochi's forces faltered, their morale shattering under relentless pressure.
Orochi stood trapped inside the barrier created by his subordinate's Devil Fruit power. Sweat trickled down his face as he forced a mocking smile.
"Even Oden couldn't break this barrier," he sneered. "If you let me go, I will leave Wa—"
Toki's voice echoed across the battlefield as she slammed King into the ground one final time.
"Don't listen to his nonsense. He can't stay inside that barrier for his whole life, can he?"
The samurai blinked, then realization dawned.
"Yeah… that bastard can't stay inside forever," one growled.
Pure hatred filled their eyes.
Orochi cursed Toki viciously. For the first time, fear truly took root in his heart. There was no escape left.
Toki approached the barrier and struck it with her sword, Ryou flaring outward. The barrier trembled but did not break. She examined its structure carefully, noticing its cyclical nature. A slow smile curved her lips.
Orochi felt a chill run down his spine. "What are you planning?" he shrieked.
Toki turned to the samurai. "Go and bring more firewood."
They obeyed instantly. The barrier was lifted and dropped directly into the boiling oil pot below the platform. Flames intensified as more wood was added, the oil bubbling violently. Orochi screamed, begging for mercy.
"No one showed mercy to Oden," a samurai spat.
The temperature inside the barrier rose steadily.
The barrier user began to falter under the heat, sweat pouring as concentration broke. The barrier dissolved, and both Orochi and his subordinate plunged into the boiling oil.
Orochi shrieked as he transformed into his Yamata no Orochi form, multiple serpentine heads emerging in desperation. Gasps echoed across the battlefield.
Toki did not hesitate. With precise, merciless strikes, she severed each head one after another. Steel flashed repeatedly until silence fell. Orochi collapsed, lifeless.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then the realization struck like thunder. Orochi was dead—truly dead.
The samurai dropped to their knees in tears. Some laughed hysterically, others wept openly. One whispered, "It's over… it's finally over."
Another raised his sword skyward. "For Oden!"
Toki stood quietly, breathing steady, her blade dripping. "Wano will breathe again," she murmured.
---
Outside, Kaido knelt on one knee, bruised and bloodied but grinning wildly. Hours of relentless strikes had reshaped his understanding. He felt the flow now—the outward release of Haki, the invisible force extending beyond flesh.
He rose slowly, lifting his kanabo once more. "Again," he demanded.
Ren smirked. "Show me."
Kaido swung, and this time the kanabo emitted Ryou outward, clashing with Ren's incoming punch before contact. The collision exploded in a burst of invisible force, small black lightning-like sparks crackling where their Haki met.
The ground shattered beneath them as shockwaves rippled outward.
"Wororororoorororo!" Kaido laughed triumphantly. "So this is Ryou!"
Ren laughed in return, exhilaration flashing across his face. "So you finally got it, huh?"
Kaido wiped blood from his mouth. "stll don't think this means I've caught up to you."
Ren stepped forward, fists raised again.
The battlefield trembled once more as master and student clashed, the future of Wano hanging in the balance between growth and destruction.