Ares calmly lifted his sake bowl and drank as if no one else existed, never sparing a glance for the furious Shimotsuki Ushimaru or Shimotsuki Yasuie.
That posture paired with the arrogant, mocking words spilling from his mouth made the daimyō's eyes burn as if they were about to spit fire.
A samurai's dignity…
was being pressed into the ground by Ares and ground under his heel.
Uzumaki Tempura's face darkened like stormwater. Gritting his teeth, he forced the words out through clenched jaws.
"If two aren't enough, then add me Uzumaki Tempura!!"
Ares didn't even lift his eyelids.
"Still not enough."
"Two or three… what's the difference?"
Crk crk
Ushimaru bit down so hard his teeth creaked.
Yasuie's fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.
The daimyō of Kibi, Fugetsu Omusubi, slid a hand onto his sword hilt, eyes locked on Ares as he barked coldly,
"Then count me in too. Is that enough now?!"
"Not enough…" Ares set down his sake bowl, propping his head up with one hand as his gaze swept the room. "Add Kozuki Oden. Add that bald ninja with the huge head. If Sukiyaki's got the courage, he can join in too…"
"Oh, right."
"Anyone who wants to step up, go ahead."
"The more the better. Let's finish this in one go and save me the trouble."
He spoke like he was pointing at mountains and rivers from a throne utterly indifferent, utterly in control.
It made everyone grind their teeth so hard they could have shattered steel.
Arrogant.
Wildly arrogant.
These were Wano's top samurai, the daimyō of each region men who were worshipped and revered by the common people.
When had they ever been mocked like this?
One by one, the warriors' eyes turned bloodshot, filled with the urge to kill.
And Sukiyaki, suddenly, felt joy bloom in his chest.
This is what Ares asked for himself.
I didn't force him.
With this many people working together, even if he's strong… we might actually have a chance!
He crushed down the delight in his heart, forcing a heavy calm into his voice.
"Then we'll have a match."
Ares rolled his neck. His joints popped. He rose slowly, baring his teeth in a grin.
"Alright."
"Let's go find an open space outside. I'll trade a few moves with you."
He meant to shatter their pride completely to smash their so-called dignity into pieces until they finally understood the gap.
And until they understood something else too.
Out there on the sea, there were monsters far beyond them.
If they didn't want to be left behind, they'd have to improve or go out and gamble their lives in the wider world.
After all, even the Nine Red Scabbards, tempering themselves under Kozuki Oden, learning and fighting…
many of them would one day reach the level to contend with an Emperor's top commanders.
That proved it.
Wano's people had talent. They had potential. Their bloodlines could produce monsters.
The Shimotsuki line especially Ushimaru, Yasuie, Shimotsuki Kozaburo, Koushirou…
and
Shimotsuki Zoro.
Centuries ago, they'd even produced Shimotsuki Ryuma, the man revered as the Sword God.
In the worlds of Japanese-style stories, bloodline was a hurdle no one ever truly avoided.
Almost every protagonist had something "special" in their background, their heritage, their lineage.
Even Luffy's crew Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp each carried unusually strong "genes" in their own way.
Wano produced samurai.
And samurai were symbols of strength.
But centuries had passed.
With Wano sealed off, news of "samurai" on the seas had slowly faded… and the world no longer understood them.
Ares intended to rip their complacency apart.
To tear down their arrogance.
To force them to open their eyes and look beyond the cage.
The daimyō followed behind Ares as they headed out.
Meanwhile, Sukiyaki called Fukurouju close and whispered into his ear,
"Fukurouju. Gather all of the Oniwabanshu. Every ninja."
Didn't Ares say anyone could join?
Perfect.
Then we'll take this chance to defeat him drive him out of Wano for good!
Fukurouju immediately withdrew to summon the others.
Kozuki Oden, still only partly recovered from his injuries, felt utterly bewildered.
I'm… fighting Ares again already?
Third time's the charm?
But this time was different.
This time, he had the daimyō from other regions backing him up.
Oden stared at Ares's broad, tiger-like back and murmured,
"With this many people… can Ares really handle it alone?"
If it were one or two opponents, Oden wouldn't hesitate Ares would win.
But this many…
the combined force was on a completely different level.
In the open ground outside
Shimotsuki Ushimaru, Shimotsuki Yasuie, Uzumaki Tempura, Fugetsu Omusubi, and more than a dozen ninjas gathered together.
They stared at Ares like wolves.
Ares's eyes flashed with a frightening gleam, excitement sparking at last. He grinned.
"Oi no need to wait."
"All of you."
"Come at me!!"
The moment his words fell
every samurai's blade was wrapped in a strange, almost bewitching aura, burning fiercely.
The once-snowy steel turned glossy black.
Ushimaru held his swords with both hands clearly a two-sword style.
He tossed his outer clothes aside, revealing a lean, powerful body carved in clean lines.
He spoke coldly.
"Ares."
"You'll pay for your arrogance."
"We samurai "
"even if we die "
"will defend our pride and honor!!"
"Hmph."
Ares snorted.
"Samurai pride? Samurai honor?"
"All worthless."
"Only the strong…"
"deserve real dignity."
"If you don't like it…"
"then show me you've got what it takes."
"Beat me!!"
With one motion, Ares ripped off his cloak.
Those bulging muscles rose like overlapping mountain ridges, radiating savage, beast-like violence.
"I'm going first!" Kozuki Oden charged as if injected with adrenaline, sprinting low across the ground.
The others refused to be left behind.
They surged after him, becoming streaks of light in different colors.
Ares's gaze sharpened.
His arm muscles swelled instantly, veins bulging as blood roared through him like a rushing river.
He stepped forward.
Boom!!
The ground beneath his foot shattered. Stones burst upward into the air.
"New Martial Style Elbaf Spear!!!"
Blood-red Armament Haki poured off his thick, corded arm, forming a world-shaking shockwave
a crimson impact that swallowed the charging samurai whole.
The red wave blanketed every streak of light, devouring them as if it were a tidal surge.
Faces twisted in horror.
Blood sprayed from mouths.
Bodies were blasted backward like scattered flower petals, smashing into the ground in miserable disarray.
They carved out pits of different sizes where they landed.
"W-What…!?"
Sukiyaki's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His whole body trembled uncontrollably, even his voice shaking into a stutter.
"How… how can they be this powerless…?!"
One punch.
One punch and their combined assault was crushed, everyone injured.
Just how terrifying…
was Ares's strength?
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