Wano Country, a closed-off land once hailed as the "Nation of Gold," had long since lost its shine. Its surrounding seas were smothered year-round by raging squalls and tangled currents; ordinary ships were lucky to even approach before being dragged into reefs and smashed to driftwood. And if a vessel did reach the coastline, a colossal waterfall thundered down a sheer cliff face, barring the way like a heavenly gate.
Now, a hundred meters above that falls—
The sky was dim, clouds bruised and heavy.
A vast Azure Dragon rode treading flame-clouds, coiling through the firmament. Dimon stood on the dragon's brow, the high wind snapping his coat like a flag.
"This is the place, then, Dimon," rumbled Kaido.
Gazing down at the terrain, Kaido had to admit the island was absurdly defensible: easy to hold, nightmarish to invade.
"Rocks Pirates are done," Dimon said. "The Navy will be hunting what they call 'remnants' all over the map. This is a perfect bolt-hole."
Of course, "hiding" wasn't why he'd come. His primary goal was usurpation. Second, there was a man here—Wano's lovable fool of a prince, Kozuki Oden. A born Conqueror's Haki wielder, and thus prime devour-fodder.
Wano lay close to Hive Island; by ship, only a few days. With Kaido as his mount, they'd arrived by sundown.
"Let's go—head for Kuri and take Oden Castle first," Dimon ordered.
"Guh-hah-hah… Under what banner?" Kaido's jaws parted in a grin as his tail flicked and he arrowed toward the mainland. "We could just start our own pirate crew, you know."
"The Beasts Pirates, maybe? I'm captain, you're my first mate. No—how about co-captains?"
Dimon didn't buy that Kaido had just thought of it; the lug had probably been nursing that plan for ages, waiting to break from Rocks and plant his own flag.
"Pirates? Come on, Kaizo—think bigger."
"Bigger how?"
"When we take Wano, we won't be pirates. We'll be rulers. Here they call it 'Shogun.'"
As they flew, Dimon gave Kaido a crash course on Wano: six regions—Flower Capital, Kuri, Kibi, Udon, Ringo, and Hakumai. The Flower Capital was the royal seat; the Shogun's palace stood there.
"Then why not hit the Capital? Why Kuri?" Kaido asked.
"Kuri's daimyo is Kozuki Sukiyaki's son, Kozuki Oden. He's no pushover. We remove him first."
When Dimon took the lead, Kaido was more than happy to stop thinking and accelerate straight for Kuri.
Once, Kuri had been a lawless waste—bandits roamed, thugs ran wild. Two years earlier, Sukiyaki's headstrong son had wandered through and, in a single day, purged the place of villains and bent it to his will. With the aid of sworn retainers, Oden had fixed the roads, taught the rogues to farm and build, opened fields to feed the people, and raised new works. The folk adored him. They even built him a castle and named it Oden Castle.
That night, in the Banquet Hall—
The Wano way was to sit on the floor before a low table laden with food and sake. But Oden wasn't in a dining mood. Elbow on knee, chin in hand, he stared into the garden and sighed.
"So boring… Why am I a daimyo again? Tell me, Kin'emon."
Retainer Kin'emon could only answer helplessly:
"Lord Oden, your father, Shogun Sukiyaki, recognized your deeds in Kuri. He rescinded the disownment and appointed you daimyo. It's a chance to mend things."
Oden's face twisted in naked dislike.
"Boring, boring. I've traveled all of Wano. What I want now is to leave this country and see the seas!"
"Absolutely not, my lord!" Kin'emon yelped. "If you leave, what becomes of Kuri?"
"It runs itself now. You and the others handle the day-to-day. With or without me, it's the same."
Hands tucked into his sleeves, Oden stood and stepped onto the veranda, eyes turned toward Kuri's beaches.
"I read that in the age of the 'Sword God' Ryuma, pirates from the outside attacked all the time. How come in my time I've never seen a single pirate?"
Kin'emon followed, exasperated. "Isn't 'no pirates' a good thing, my lord?"
"Not at all! If pirates came, I could leave with them! I can't navigate myself, after all."
Twenty-one-year-old Oden brimmed with wanderlust for the world beyond.
Kin'emon could only clutch his head. A lord who wanted to become a pirate—what kind of logic was that?
Then clouds rolled in above Oden Castle, thick even in night's gloom. Lightning muttered in their belly, and something titanic writhed within.
"Rain at last," Kin'emon said with relief. "It's been dry for so long—the paddies will—Lord Oden?"
"No, not rain… a—dragon?"
Oden's eyes sparkled. His Observation Haki told him plainly that two powerful auras hid in the cloudbank.
Another peel of thunder flash-lit the sky. Even Kin'emon caught a glimpse: out of a mountain of cloud slid a single clawed forelimb, and then a vast dragon's head.
And atop that head… a man stood.
"What in—?!" Kin'emon choked. "What is that?!"
"A dragon! A real dragon!" Oden was beside himself. "I heard Ryuma slew one once—I thought it was legend, but it's real!"
He waved up at the azure colossus.
"Hey—! Dragon! I'm Kozuki Oden! Look here!"
Kin'emon trembled. He had a very bad feeling. "My lord, there's a man standing on the dragon!!"
The Azure Dragon coiled over Oden Castle, its massive head lowering. Kaido's eyes locked on the jubilant young man waving at him. The fellow's hair was long, wild, and gathered on top into a huge, flat lid—like a cooking pot. It was so striking that it was all Kaido remembered at first glance.
"Dimon, that idiot's the target?"
Props to Kaizo—he'd grasped Oden's essence in a heartbeat.
Dimon chuckled. "Take us down. We'll say hello before the beating—courtesy first, then soldiers."
Kaido dropped through the clouds, his full length unfurling in the night. All of Kuri gasped as the dragon's immensity came into view.
"What is that monster?!"
"A dragon—a real dragon!"
"Auspicious omen! Heaven must have sent aid to our Lord Oden!"
Most of the townsfolk were more thrilled than afraid.
Oden, eyes wide as the dragon's head drifted close, muttered in awe:
"No wings… then how does it fly?"
Only then did he look at the man on the brow. "Who are you? No—doesn't matter. Can I borrow your dragon for a ride?"
Dimon hadn't yet opened his mouth when the dragon beneath his feet bristled.
Kaido would carry Dimon because they were brothers-in-arms. But you, who exactly were you?
"Brat—go to hell!"
Kaido's jaws yawned wide, and a blast of searing flame roared out, raking the night—
"HEAT BREATH!!!"
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