"Twenty years have passed since my father, Kozuki Oden, departed this world!"
"Thank you all for enduring these long, hard years."
"The name my father gave me means 'Invincible'. Under my leadership, this suffering land will become a paradise!"
"From this day forth, I—Kozuki Momonosuke—shall rule this nation!"
As the figure on the screen spoke, Ren turned and nodded slightly to the Straw Hat Pirates.
"I still have business with Momonosuke. We can catch up once my work is finished."
"Shisui, let's go."
Although the Straw Hat crew didn't know his origins or goals, his attitude made it clear he harbored ill intent.
"Wait!"
"What do you want with Momonosuke!"
Everyone rushed forward, trying to stop him.
Though some were annoyed by Momonosuke, he was a comrade they had traveled with, and deep bonds had formed.
As they moved, their eyes fixed on the man. He reached out into the air and casually waved his hand to the side.
The two figures in front of the screen vanished instantly.
The group skidded to a halt, scanning their surroundings with wary expressions, but the two men were gone.
"They disappeared?"
"Stay sharp! We don't know where they're hiding!"
"Damn it, what kind of Devil Fruit power is this?"
"Everyone, look at the screen!"
Just as they were lost in confusion, a shout drew their eyes upward.
In the center of the screen, on the streets of the Flower Capital where only Momonosuke and the others should have been, that man had suddenly appeared.
Everyone's expressions shifted drastically.
"It's those two!"
"Impossible... they teleported such a huge distance instantly!"
"This is bad! Momonosuke's in danger!"
On the streets of the Flower Capital, the citizens watched the Akazaya Nine and Kozuki Momonosuke with looks of anticipation and emotion.
Just as Momonosuke finished announcing his name, two black-clad figures flickered into existence on the street.
"Who are they now?"
"Remnants of Kaido's forces? Or Orochi's subordinates?"
"Don't tell me they're after the Kozuki family!"
The crowd erupted into a clamor at the sudden appearance of the two strangers.
Not only was Onigashima linked via Visual Den Den Mushi, but every region in Wano was broadcasting this scene.
Thousands stood before screens, watching Momonosuke's appearance with excitement and dreams of a bright future.
The sudden intruders instantly shattered the soaring spirits of the crowd.
"Who is that? Get out of here!"
"Don't block the camera!"
"Where are the guards? Get them away!"
Ren scanned the area with Shisui. The streets were decorated with lanterns and festoons, packed with people on both sides. It was a bustling scene.
Ren ignored the gasps and debates, simply walking toward Momonosuke at the front of the street with Shisui.
"Stop! Who are you?"
"This is the Great Shogun of the Kozuki family! Back off, you commoners!"
"Are they trying to assassinate Lord Momonosuke!"
Kneeling on both sides, Kin'emon and the others saw the uninvited guests and prepared to draw their blades to protect him.
Voom!
A monstrous pressure descended from the sky, instantly pinning the wary group to the ground.
The air became incredibly heavy; even breathing felt like a luxury.
The wounds they had sustained during the battle on Onigashima, which had just been bandaged, burst open once more. Blood seeped through, soaking their clothes.
"To overwhelm us... with nothing but presence..."
"...Such terrifying power!"
"Lord Momonosuke, run!"
"Brother—"
The faces of Komurasaki and the Akazaya Nine twisted as they struggled to stand, but no matter how much strength they exerted, they couldn't budge.
They could only lie pathetically on the ground, watching helplessly as the two men in black approached.
There was nothing they could do.
They could only watch as the pair's feet stepped past them.
Blood trickled from their bodies, forming a pool on the ground in the blink of an eye.
The witnesses were filled with panic.
"Even the Akazaya Nine were..."
"Just who are you people!"
"Damn it, they really are enemies of the Kozuki family!"
"Stop! Kin'emon and the others are heavily injured! They'll die if you keep this up!"
Clamorous shouts and cries rose from the surrounding citizens, turning the street into a chaotic uproar.
Ren and Shisui remained unmoved by the voices of the commoners, as if they hadn't heard a thing.
As they passed the prone members of the Akazaya Nine, Shisui's crimson eyes swept over them, his voice icy.
"Mere humans... kneeling on the ground is far more fitting for your status."
During this trip to Onigashima, Shisui could sense Ren's blatant hostility toward Wano.
He hadn't collected a single soul from the fallen samurai.
He had even specifically instructed Amanai Riko about it.
Although he didn't know why Ren felt this way, as a servant, he naturally followed his master's lead.
As Ren and Shisui closed in, Momonosuke's eyes trembled violently. Panic washed over his face, and he stood frozen as if he had lost his soul.
His gaze fell on those lying in the pool of blood before him. He wanted to summon the courage to do something, but his body wouldn't stop shaking.
'Kin... Raizo...'
'What should I do?'
Seeing the Akazaya Nine collapsed on the ground for some unknown reason, the people on the street grew anxious.
"St-Stop! Don't hurt the Kozuki family!"
"We just finally found hope—"
"If you don't stop, we won't be polite!"
Shisui's brow furrowed at the threats and cries ringing in his ears. He glanced sideways.
Boom!
His Spiritual Pressure erupted, sweeping across the entire street.
Like the Akazaya Nine, the surrounding people were pinned to the ground by the massive pressure.
The weight on the Akazaya Nine increased sharply.
Under this pressure, it took everything they had just to speak.
Their voices were weak, filled with hoarseness.
"Lord—Momonosuke—"
"Run—"
"Brother, help—"
Their groans reached Momonosuke's ears as he watched the two strangers approach.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the citizens fall instantly.
His teeth chattered, and the terror on his face grew more pronounced as tears and snot flowed freely.
'Yes! I have to run!'
'I must escape.'
'Find Luffy and the others—'
Just as his trembling leg took a step back, the two figures appeared in front of him.
Ren looked up at the massive Momonosuke, long accustomed to the nonsensical heights of the pirate world.
"He's quite tall."
Shisui, standing behind him, nodded slightly. He precisely controlled his erupting Spiritual Pressure, focusing it onto Momonosuke.
Bang!
Buckling under the weight of Shisui's pressure, Momonosuke's knees slammed heavily into the ground.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]