RUMBLE—!!!
Just as Shiryu and Jack had yet to decide a victor—
a massive tremor shook the entirety of Kuri.
Jack's expression changed as he looked toward the source of the disturbance.
"W-What the hell happened?!"
"Hmph!"
A flash of killing intent burst from Shiryu's blade.
He slashed fiercely across the iron mask on Jack's face.
"Gahhh!!"
Caught off guard, Jack let out a pained roar as his iron mask shattered, leaving a deep gash across his face.
He fell backward onto the beach.
With the broken mask gone, his sharp fish-man fangs were revealed.
"Hmph! That was unsatisfying."
Shiryu sheathed Raiu, clearly displeased.
Even though he had won—
it hadn't felt satisfying at all.
If Jack hadn't been distracted by outside factors, breaking through that thick hide would've taken far more effort.
"That was the captain's Float-Float ability… did something happen?"
Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin turned to look toward the source of the disturbance.
The rising mass of earth earlier had clearly been Xia Te's doing.
"Stop gawking, you useless newcomers."
Shiryu sat down and coldly ordered:
"Bind that beast with Seastone chains."
Bepo and the others didn't dare hesitate.
Even trembling, they quickly brought over Seastone restraints and approached the fallen Jack.
They had no choice—
they were new, and they were weak.
Meanwhile, on Onigashima, only a few nautical miles away—
Page One, Queen's top subordinate, reported:
"Lord Queen, we've lost contact with Lord Jack."
"What?!"
Queen nearly choked on his favorite dessert—oshiruko.
His eyes bulged as he shouted:
"What did you say? That idiot Jack—"
"Most likely failed."
King said coldly.
"We're heading out."
Amigasa Village — Ruins
The overturned earth had completely swallowed the village.
Houses lay scattered like broken toys, buried beneath layers of soil.
"Stubborn fool."
Looking at the unconscious Tenguyama Hitetsu, Xia Te gave his verdict without a hint of sympathy.
Even at the cost of the entire village, he refused to hand over Kozuki Oden's swords.
Admirable loyalty—
but wasted on a useless heir.
"Come to think of it, Luffy and Momonosuke are both second-generation elites, aren't they?"
Xia Te suddenly found a common point between the two.
Both had incredibly powerful fathers.
Luffy—no need to elaborate. Possibly the strongest background in the entire sea.
As for Momonosuke—
not far behind.
A dead father who left him loyal retainers, legendary swords, a sister, and even a country.
"Tsk… even Sun Quan didn't have luck this good."
Xia Te clicked his tongue.
Why didn't he get such a powerful father after transmigrating?
After briefly entertaining himself, Xia Te raised his hand slightly.
The massive pile of soil and debris floated into the air like clouds.
Under his control, the dirt separated cleanly from the remains of buildings.
Soon—
he found Hitetsu's residence.
It was already in ruins.
The simple furniture inside had been crushed into fragments by the Float-Float power.
But one thing remained untouched—
a bundle wrapped in white cloth.
Xia Te used his ability to pull it toward him.
With a flick, he tore the cloth open.
Inside—
two pristine blades rested on a sword rack.
Polished to perfection.
Ame no Habakiri.
Enma.
The very swords once wielded by Kozuki Oden—
the blades that had scarred Kaido himself.
Clearly, Hitetsu had taken excellent care of them.
A stark contrast to Xia Te's worn-out Oto and Kogarashi.
"Sure enough… giving blades like these to a useless brat like Momonosuke—"
"Even the swords would weep."
Xia Te smiled in satisfaction and reached out, taking both blades.
Buzz—!!
The moment he gripped Enma—
his entire right arm shriveled rapidly, as if all moisture had been drained.
This was Enma's nature.
It devoured the wielder's Haki.
Without overwhelming Haki to control it—
it would drain its user to death.
"I happen to enjoy taming things that refuse to behave."
Xia Te smirked.
A surge of Haoshoku (Conqueror's Haki) burst outward.
At the same time, Armament Haki coated Enma's blade black.
It was as if an invisible hand forcibly reclaimed all the Haki Enma had stolen.
"At the end of the day—"
"A sword is just a sword."
His voice carried absolute, domineering authority.
Moments ago, Enma had been like a feral beast, baring its fangs—
but now—
it was like a whipped dog, completely subdued.
It no longer dared to drain Xia Te's Haki.
Slowly, it calmed.
"Good."
Xia Te nodded in satisfaction.
He sheathed Enma and Ame no Habakiri at his waist.
As for Oto and Kogarashi—
though nearly ruined, they were his first blades.
He still had some attachment to them.
They could rest as collectibles in his quarters.
With that—
one more preparation for the upcoming Summit War was complete.
Only one thing remained.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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