Chapter 365: The Two Different Choices
"Oden's Two-Sword Style — Tōgen's Ten Fist!"
Ashura Doji, transformed into a streak of light, seemed like a shooting star streaking across the sky!
In an instant, a dazzling red light flashed, and the two swords crossed in front of him, slashing forward!
"Clang!"
The unstoppable attack was easily blocked by Esdeath's sword.
"What—?!"
Ashura Doji's eyes widened in shock, fear evident on his face.
"This isn't your move, is it?" Esdeath laughed scornfully. "I can feel the power of the one who created this technique, but you are not him."
"You merely follow the path of the deceased, without adding your own swordsmanship. Do you dare to show off such a hollow technique?"
"This is a technique created by Lord Oden!" Ashura Doji roared in anger, tightening his muscles, but he couldn't budge Esdeath's European sword.
"I'll ask you again, are you willing to contribute to the defeat of Kaido?"
"Heh..." Ashura Doji grinned, determination showing in his eyes. "I am a samurai of Kozuki Oden!"
"I see." Esdeath said coldly. "Though I look down on your following of the dead, your refusal to yield proves you're a warrior of quality."
Esdeath, holding her European sword, flicked it aside, deflecting the two crossed blades, leaving a flash of sword light in the eyes of those watching.
"Ugh—!"
Ashura Doji let out a grunt, a sword wound appearing across his chest, blood splattering out.
"Killing you now would be too much of a waste..."
As Ashura Doji fell unconscious, frozen, Esdeath's voice echoed in his ear.
...
"Hah..." Erza was leading a black cow, walking behind Esdeath. "Now I finally understand why Eric asked me to follow you."
"These people are mountain bandits." Esdeath replied nonchalantly. "We learned all about them before we came to Tōyama, didn't we?"
Erza pointed to the ice figure on the cow's back. "Then why leave this guy alive?"
"Doesn't he want to die meaninglessly?" Esdeath chuckled lightly. "We have Kurome in our group; we can make sure he dies with purpose."
"I don't wish to control the dead." Erza grimaced. "That's like a forbidden, dark practice."
"It's just using the bodies of evil people. Eight Death can't bind souls, though."
Erza paused. "How do you know?"
"I did an experiment earlier." Esdeath explained as she walked. "Devil Fruit users killed by Eight Death , their Devil Fruit abilities will regenerate. The Devil's soul resides within the user's spirit."
"But I still think..."
"After two months of travel, do you still have any illusions about pirates, bandits, and thugs?" Esdeath interrupted Erza . "Most of them are evil criminals who deserve to die, and their evil deeds won't vanish with their deaths."
"..."
"It's better to have Kurome control their bodies and clean up the pirates than to let our comrades die in battle." Esdeath turned and looked at Erza . "What do you think?"
Erza stared into Esdeath's eyes. "Your sophistry hasn't convinced me, but I'll acknowledge the latter part of what you said."
"That's good enough." Esdeath took another step forward.
◇
"Kurome, don't stop me!" Kuina tried to break free from Kurome's grasp.
"Foolish people rush into a fight knowing they're no match for the opponent," Kurome scoffed. "Let me catch him, and then you can do whatever you want with him."
"Damn it!" Kuina couldn't do anything about the strings tying her up.
Kurome chuckled. "I've already summoned Doflamingo. You didn't think you'd escape, did you?"
Kuina sat cross-legged on the snowy ground, pouting, with Doflamingo, wearing a pink feather coat, standing behind her.
Meanwhile, Kurome raised her head to look at Ushimaru . He was in battle with the enhanced Weeble, their fierce clash kicking up snow, making their figures appear and disappear.
Amidst the snowstorm, Ushimaru shouted again and again, his attacks easily blocked by Weeble, and soon, Weeble's furious counterattacks came.
Slashes, stabs, cuts, sweeps, and thrusts — Weeble's seemingly chaotic attacks flowed effortlessly, the brilliant and sharp sword lights flashing between the two.
Though Ushimaru was a Komainu from the side of Ryoma of the Shimotsuki clan, and he had eaten the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the Great Ino-do form, his strength was still inferior to the second Whitebeard before him.
The large polearm danced in Weeble's hands, and Ushimaru gradually began to fall behind in the weapon duel.
Ushimaru yelled, "You're using the dead to fight! Did you steal Ryoma's body?! You're trying to control Wano's strongest samurai?!"
When Kurome summoned Doflamingo, Ushimaru had figured it out. The towering man before him was also a moving corpse.
"Stop spouting nonsense." Kurome made a face. "Ryoma's body was stolen by Moria, and the famous sword Shushuiwas stolen by Moria too. It has nothing to do with me. Also..."
"You're about to get cut~"
"What—?!"
The sword, made from Sea-Prism Stones, slid smoothly through Ushimaru 's body, embedding itself in his flesh.
His white monk robes were quickly soaked in blood, the blood shooting out and landing on the cold snow. The warm liquid steamed as it rapidly froze under the harsh temperature.
"This is... Sea-Prism Stone...?" Ushimaru , being a Devil Fruit user, quickly lost strength under the effect of the Sea-Prism Stone, first dropping to his knees, then falling forward into the fluffy snow.
"Hmm?" Kurome paused. "This guy's a Devil Fruit user?"
"Ugh, damn it!" Ushimaru pounded the snow weakly with his right fist.
"Well, this is easy." Kurome laughed. "I'll take you back. I wonder if my brother-in-law will praise me."
Kuina shouted, "Let me go!"
"Got it~"
The white strings tying Kuina quickly retracted into Doflamingo's fingertips, and Kuina shook off the snow from her clothes.
The large wound on her body was sewn up by Doflamingo, and the Sea-Prism Stone sword continuously touched Ushimaru 's body, preventing him from using his abilities to escape.
"..."
"Why are you crying?" Kuina blinked, noticing Ushimaru silently shedding tears.
Kurome teased, "Don't tell me you're afraid of the pain?"
"You guys, kill me!" Ushimaru growled. "Losing to you... I can't face Lord Gyomaru in the afterlife!"
"Heh..." Kurome was about to mock him but was stopped by Kuina.
"Are you referring to Shimotsuki Gyomaru?"
Ushimaru sneered, "Yes, Gyomaru of the Shimotsuki clan, a great name of Suzuka!"
Kuina and Kurome exchanged glances.
Kuina squatted down in front of Ushimaru , saying, "I also have the Shimotsuki name."
"Nonsense!" Ushimaru immediately exploded in anger. "The Shimotsuki clan has almost vanished. After Lord Gyomaru's death, only Kōka Shimotsuki is left!"
"We met him just recently." Kuina sighed. "I'm the descendant of Shimotsuki Kozaburo ."
"!" Ushimaru widened his eyes in shock.
"Let's go. We'll talk as we walk."
Weeble lifted Ushimaru , and the group headed toward the position of the Invincible.
Only a few sheathed samurai swords and a broken rucksack remained at the scene.
◇
Later that night, Kōka Shimotsuki secretly gathered the remaining samurai loyal to the Kozuki clan in the Flower City.
"Kōka-sama," one of the samurai said gravely, "We cannot immediately follow the orders of an outsider and go into a final battle with Orochi and Kaido!"
"Indeed," another samurai agreed. "Moreover, the battle is in two days. It's too rushed! Even if we contact all the samurai who share our goals, we won't be ready in just two days."
A third samurai added, "Also, with Kurozumi Orochi now strictly controlling weapon distribution, only official samurai can carry swords. We don't even have weapons, so how can we fight against Orochi's warriors and the Beast Pirates?"
Kōka Shimotsuki sighed. "But Kozaburo 's granddaughter and her companions have returned..."
"Kōka-sama!" A samurai interrupted. "Kozaburo has been gone from Wano for more than forty years! We can't prove she's his descendant. Besides..."
"Kozaburo , who left Wano with many of the Shimotsuki warriors, we can't trust him!"
"That's right!" Many samurai nodded in agreement.
"I understand." Kōka Shimotsuki was convinced, nodding. "I'll try to persuade them not to go to war with Kaido."
...
"You've captured this guy?" Eric looked at Ushimaru , who was tied up like a dumpling.
"Yes," Kurome stepped forward. "I caught him."
"Well done," Eric reached out and patted Kurome's head, her soft hair feeling smooth to the touch.
"Hehe..." Kurome began to laugh foolishly.
Ushimaru , kneeling on the ground, coldly said, "Kill or torture me, I leave it to you!"
"Even though I know Kuina is the descendant of Shimotsuki Kozaburo , this guy still has this foul temper."
"You should be willing to do your duty for the Shimotsuki clan, right?" Eric asked curiously. "Why don't you want to become Kuina's partner?"
"Hmph." Ushimaru snorted, glancing at Kuina. "Her strength isn't enough."
"..." Kuina tightened her grip on the sword handle.
"Kuina will definitely become a world-renowned great swordsman," Eric said. "I've always believed that, and you can see it too, right?"
"..." Ushimaru stayed silent.
"In the ruins of Suzuka, destroyed by Kaido, for five years, alone..." Eric smiled faintly. "A Komainu
, quietly protecting Suzuka, stopping tomb robbers, even when injured and not retreating."
"He's a fox?" The others looked at each other in surprise.
"You can see through my identity and know the past. Who are you really?"
"I know a lot of things," Eric turned to ask. "Master, Chiron, did you see Kawatsune in the prisoner dig site at Tōwan?"
"!" Ushimaru was stunned.
"Yes." Chiron nodded. "He was captured while searching for food in the Flower City and has been locked up ever since."
Ushimaru muttered, "I see."
"He probably doesn't know you've been collecting weapons for him, preparing for the upcoming decisive battle."
"Thank you for clearing that up." Ushimaru continued, "But if you think you can recruit me, you're dreaming!"
Kurome raised the sword sheath and tapped Ushimaru 's head.
"However, if you die here, who will stop the tomb robbers? Who will protect Suzuka?" Eric asked curiously. "Do you know?"
"!" Ushimaru clenched his teeth.
"I'm back~" A soft, charming voice entered everyone's hiding spot.
Kurumi frowned. "You're a bit late... Who's this?"
Erza sighed. "We wiped out the mountain bandits of Tōyama and caught their leader."
Esdeath quickly stepped behind Eric and hugged him tightly, inhaling deeply.
"It's Eric 's scent~"
"Ahem..." Eric cleared his throat. "There are people watching."
Esdeath ignored the others' gazes and continued to inhale deeply.
Ushimaru looked at the unconscious man on the cow's back. "He is... Ashura Doji?"
"Oh, you know him?" Esdeath finally noticed the man tied up. "Who are you?"
Akame raised her hand to her forehead. "How obsessed are you with Eric ..."
Genos explained, "A Komainu, ate the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, partnered with Ryoma from Suzuka, Eric is trying to make him our ally."
"Turns out he's an animal." Esdeath volunteered, "I'm great at training pets, leave him to me."
"Forget it." Eric shook his head, nodding at Ashura Doji. "You should understand, these samurai are as stubborn as rocks in a toilet, they're just like their long-time partners."
Ushimaru didn't deny it, sneering.
Eric stared into Ushimaru 's eyes. "You should know that Orochi and Kaido are destroying Wano, the rivers and soil are polluted, and the people are oppressed. Ryoma and the other three daimyos followed Lord Kozuki Oden to fight Kaido, and they ultimately lost and died."
Ushimaru : "..."
"So you took on Kawatsune's task, collecting weapons for the upcoming battle. If we defeat Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi, free Wano, and establish a new Wano..."
"You just said you want to establish a new Wano?" Ashura Doji opened his tightly closed eyes.
"That surprised me." Eric patted his chest. "Yes, I plan to establish a new Wano!"
"You, you actually think like Lord Oden..."
"I am who I am, I don't want to compare myself to anyone," Eric glanced at him. "I want to become the Shogun of Wano, no, the Emperor of Wano!"
Ashura Doji and Ushimaru furrowed their brows simultaneously.
"I will bring Wano, a nation slowly heading toward death, back to life!" Eric looked at them both. "So, will you join the Dawn Pirates?"
Ashura Doji grinned. "I am a samurai of Kozuki Oden, a man who should have died but hasn't."
Eric looked at the pondering Ushimaru . "How about you?"
"If you free Kawatsune, defeat Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi, and if Kuina's strength meets the requirements of a great swordsman, I will agree to become her partner." Ushimaru repeated. "Just her partner, nothing more."
"Good."
(END CHAPTER)
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