Nico Robin was taken away by Yamato and the others, while Arceus once again returned to the rooftop of Ghost Island, where Kaidou was taking hits. It wasn't that Emboar could suppress him; rather, he was intentionally taking a beating.
"Increase the firepower a bit more, this isn't enough!"
Within the flames, Kaidou seemed to be enjoying a sauna, asking Emboar to increase the firepower. His Haki was also continually honing through this process, and sometimes he needed to take a beating, which was also why he often went out looking for trouble.
However, this frequency was decreasing. While occasionally news of Kaidou fighting someone still appeared, he hadn't been captured in recent years.
Relying on a near-perfect defense, he had almost gained the title of being unscathed. His body showed very few noticeable scars, rivaling Charlotte Linlin's steel balloon physique, and the reputation of the strongest creature began to emerge.
As Arceus's power gradually strengthened, Kaidou found better methods to temper his body. Fairy and Dragon attacks were quite painful when they hit Kaidou.
"Weren't you playing with that girl?"
"Let the kids play by themselves. Where are Oden's two swords?"
"In the Treasure Vault, probably gathering dust."
After Kozuki Oden's death, Enma and Ame no Habakiri naturally became the spoils of the Hundred Beasts, only there weren't any pure swordsmen within the Hundred Beasts.
Kaidou and Yamato used Wolf Fang Clubs, and while King used a blade, it was a modified Shark-toothed Blade.
Though Kojiro used a sword, for his build and style, Ame no Habakiri was too short, and the same went for Enma. Besides, considering his physical strength, Enma would likely suck him dry.
Enma and Ame no Habakiri were both among the Twenty-One Great Grade Blades, so destroying them would be somewhat wasteful.
Now with the return of the Iron Plate, Arceus had new ideas for the two swords. Pokémon were not limited to animals and plants; as one of the most magical species, metal objects could be among them too.
With the return of the Iron Plate, Enma and Ame no Habakiri had a chance to see the light again.
...
"Rotom, where are the swords Enma and Ame no Habakiri?"
Within the underground Treasure Vault of the Hundred Beasts, Arceus asked the Rotom inside. Apart from the gatekeeper Rotom at the electronic door, there was also a special Rotom acting as a warehouse caretaker.
After querying the electronic system, it confirmed the location of Enma and Ame no Habakiri.
On Future Island, computers and such were common. Any island with electric power could use them, though without the internet, electronic computers had limitations. But they were more than enough for keeping inventory lists.
"Roto, please wait a moment."
Rotom, receiving the command, immediately entered a small robot with mechanical arms next to it and then retrieved Enma and Ame no Habakiri from the designated location.
They weren't as dusty as Kaidou had said; Rotom cleaned here daily, and it even maintained the swords.
"Roto, the items you requested have been brought. Is there anything else you need, Roto?"
"No, just continue your work."
Then, Arceus's power took over Enma and Ame no Habakiri. The power of the Iron Plate poured into the two swords, infusing them with new life among the metallic objects.
The overall appearance of the two swords hadn't changed much, but they each gained an eye on their hilt guards. The two swords, which previously relied on Arceus to float in the sky, began to float independently.
Enma version of Honedge, Ame no Habakiri version of Honedge
Compared to the Seastone form of the Rock-type Pokémon, they were more like special individual beings difficult to replicate. However, there seemed to be a troublesome child among these Pokémon.
Enma was very lively upon its creation, not particularly obedient, but when chilled by Arceus's intimidating presence, it became docile. That was the irresistible aura from their creator.
Unless Arceus fell into a world-ending berserk state, he had absolute control over his initial creations, no less than Charlotte Linlin's control over her Homies.
Once their owner was Kozuki Oden, but for swords, the holder wasn't definitive. With Kozuki Oden's death, they had been given a new purpose.
The purpose of creating the two Honedge was to free King from being the General's escort, giving him two reliable assistants.
Honedge could absorb human life, but it was controllable. For them, souls were extra meals rather than necessities. Under orders, this could be restrained, and Steel-type and Ghost-type Pokè Poffins and Berries could serve as substitutes.
If necessary, there were still criminals sentenced to death and Charlotte Linlin around. Given their current relationship, it wasn't difficult to obtain some extracted souls from her, as those things were a special tax in Tottland.
The appearance of Honedge also sparked a special ceremony in Wano Kuni, giving Kaidou a new wave of reputation. Guardian King Kaidou had found the weapons lost by Kozuki Oden and handed them to the current General, Kozuki Hiyori.
However, Kozuki Hiyori lacked the aptitude for wielding such weapons, and she couldn't use Enma and Ame no Habakiri transformed into Honedge, so they were merely placed on a pedestal in the General's room.
Pokémon with Ghost Attributes come in two types: those who can't resist playing pranks and those who can endure a lot. These two Honedge belonged to the latter, so they remained in the room as a special last resort.
Those two swords left a deep impression on many people, especially the three remaining Household Attendants of Oden, who felt many emotions seeing their former master's weapons. They hadn't expected the Hundred Beasts to give the weapons to Kozuki Hiyori.
Even Kikunojo's request to teach Kozuki Hiyori martial arts was approved, for King saw no threat in them.
Moreover, unbeknownst to them, Enma and Ame no Habakiri had opened their eyes, absorbing the skills during Kozuki Hiyori's training.
It was at this time that the talented Queen enjoyed his favorite moment: the banana harvest time. Though bananas grew like trees, they were actually herbs, and every harvest allowed the original plant to be chopped down while awaiting the growth of new ones.
Tropius-improved bananas matured in half a year. With staggered planting cycles, there were new bananas to harvest almost every period, and the island's climate met their growth requirements.
Queen exuberantly headed toward his plantation. The plants here weren't for large-scale cultivation but were new varieties he had developed. However, upon arriving, he felt an ominous premonition as he saw a line of footprints on the ground...