Chapter 98: Child's Worries

——Wano Country, Onigashima.

The master of the mansion located there was not present at the moment.

In fact, he wasn’t even in Wano Country at all. The pirates of the Beasts Pirates whispered among themselves about this.

"Hey, you hear? About Kaido and Nue…"

"They’re fighting again?! What’s the reason this time?"

"Seems like it’s family issues… And apparently, Lady Musashi, who’s supposed to be grounded, ran off, so there’s orders to catch her."

"At least they’re not fighting on Onigashima or in Wano… But if we don’t hurry up and find her, those two are gonna lose it when they get back…!!"

The crew members scrambled in a panic, preparing to set sail toward Wano’s mainland.

And the one giving these orders—now that Kaido and Nue were absent—was the highest-ranking officer of the Beasts Pirates on Onigashima, one of the All-Stars: "King the Wildfire."

"Listen up. Bring her back before Kaido and Nue finish their fight."

"Y-yes, sir!! The search party is moving as fast as they can!!"

"Hurry it up… You know what’ll happen if you fail."

"…!! Y-yes, sir!!"

King’s commanding voice carried an oppressive weight that even hardened pirates feared. That terror spurred them into action, desperate to complete their mission before their bosses returned in a rage.

Inside the mansion’s hall, where King issued his orders, there were other high-ranking officers present as well. Though not All-Stars, they were still figures the average pirate would bow to. King addressed them too.

"...Yamato, behave yourself. Don’t pull any stupid stunts like Lady Musashi."

"I’ll consider it if you take these shackles off…!! If I were free, I wouldn’t cause you any trouble!! But locked up like this, who wouldn’t want to lash out?!"

One of them was Yamato, Kaido’s child. Though bound and sprawled on the tatami, slightly injured, they remained defiant. Seeing their unbroken spirit, King snorted.

"If you, calling yourself ‘Kozuki Oden,’ set foot in Wano, you’d just stir up unnecessary trouble. That’d be a problem for Kaido, Nue, and by extension, us… We can’t let you leave Onigashima. That’s why Kaido put those shackles on you."

"What kind of parent does that…?! Damn it…!!"

Yamato cursed Kaido, who had fitted their own child with handcuffs—special ones that prevented them from leaving the island.

But knowing escape was impossible, Yamato couldn’t act further. With King standing right there, any attempt at rebellion was futile. As frustrating as it was, they had no choice but to stay put.

And there was another reason Yamato held back—someone else in the room made them hesitate.

"...Hey, Komurasaki."

"—What is it?"

King addressed this other figure. Sitting on the tatami in full samurai armor was one of the Beasts Pirates' Tobiroppo—Komurasaki.

Her quiet response marked her as the one Yamato couldn’t bring themselves to oppose too strongly. In a way, she was Yamato’s natural enemy.

"I’ve got other business. Keep an eye on Yamato for a while."

"...Understood."

Leaving Yamato in the care of their so-called "enemy," King exited the hall with his subordinates in tow.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the room, some crew members whispered among themselves.

"When are we gonna report the intruder?"

"You idiot…!! If they find out we slacked off, we’re dead!! We gotta pin it on someone else…!!"

"R-right."

"…………"

Komurasaki silently watched them leave, but another voice pulled her attention away.

"...You…"

"...What?"

"...Never mind."

Yamato started to say something but held back. Whatever it was, they swallowed it down.

Komurasaki knew why. Guilt and duty—Yamato was torn between them, and in the end, chose silence. She had seen this reaction countless times since becoming a Tobiroppo.

Dismissing Yamato’s unchanging struggles as foolish, Komurasaki quietly resumed maintaining her sword, the blade meant for cutting down enemies, as Yamato sat subdued nearby.

---

"Fuhahaha!! So you’re pirates?! Got any swordsmen?!"

"Yeah, if you mean—"

"Hey, Ace!!"

In the bamboo groves near Amigasa Village, the Spade Pirates were bewildered by a strange girl who called herself Musashi, trying their best to humor her.

They had introduced themselves as pirates, and when asked about swordsmen, Deuce cut off Ace before he could answer.

"Mmph—Pwah!! What’s the big idea, Deuce? We’ve got a few swordsmen, right?"

"If we tell her that, we’ll end up fighting!! We’re supposed to avoid causing trouble, remember?! So let’s just brush her off…!!"

"Huh… Now that you mention it, guess you’re right."

Pressed by Deuce’s urgency, Ace reluctantly conceded. If she was looking for a swordsman, it was better not to be too honest.

They were already trespassing in a Yonko’s territory. Deuce wanted them to move carefully, avoiding detection.

But with Ace around, unnecessary words were inevitable. So Deuce took over, turning back to Musashi.

"...We don’t have any swordsmen."

"Hmm, true. Some of you carry swords, but none seem worthy of being my Papa. The strongest here is probably… that woman. Wanna try being my Mama?"

"Try being your Mama?! No way!!"

Musashi’s offer to Isuka was met with an instant, vehement rejection. Apparently, she didn’t meet her standards.

"...Anyway, who are you? You were being chased by pirates earlier… Got some kinda problem?"

"Ah, don’t worry about that. It’s nothing important. Just a little chase."

Musashi dodged Ace’s question. Or rather, she answered in a way that made it clear she wasn’t interested in explaining.

Given the bizarre name she gave earlier, she might just be an eccentric with a few screws loose.

"So, you’re a samurai?"

"A swordmaster!! Swordmaster Musashi!! I’m looking for strong people who could be my Papa or Mama!!"

"You’re looking for adoptive parents, or what?"

"No. I’m looking for a Papa or Mama to teach me swordsmanship. Right now, I’ve got about thirty."

"Sounds like Big Mom or somethin’… Word is she’s got like, dozens of husbands."

"That makes even less sense."

Musashi’s ramblings left everyone either exasperated or scratching their heads. She was probably looking for sword instructors, but why call them "parents"? And thirty of them? That wasn’t normal.

"So, why’d you come to this country? If it’s sightseeing, I wouldn’t recommend it, but the soba and dango in the Flower Capital are amazing!!"

"Ohhh… Now that’s interesting."

"Wait, wait, wait!! If you’re not recommending it, don’t bring up tourist spots. Ace, don’t get sidetracked."

"But we need food for us and the village, right?"

"Well…"

Deuce nodded reluctantly. They had given all their food and water to the village, leaving nothing for themselves.

If they were staying for a while, they’d need supplies. Buying from a shop would be best—they didn’t want to draw attention, but it was necessary.

"Hm? You guys don’t have food?"

"Unfortunately not. Know any places we can get some? Shops, or… maybe somewhere with wild game?"

"Shops are in the Flower Capital or the official districts. As for wild game… I wouldn’t recommend it."

"Hah? Why not?"

"It’s poisonous. In Wano, unless it’s from a safe farm, all the animals and water are toxic. If you wanna live off the land, you gotta toughen your stomach first!! Fuhahaha!!"

"Poison, huh… We’d be fine, but the villagers wouldn’t."

"Ace, boss… We can’t handle poison either."

"Don’t lump me in with you!! Dumbass!!"

As Skull and Isuka protested, the rest of the Spade Pirates shook their heads or muttered, "No way we’re eating poison." Ace tilted his head, confused. Deuce just shrugged.

"Setting aside Ace’s freakish constitution, the rest of us and the villagers can’t handle that… So buying from a shop’s our only option."

"Then we gotta grab dessert too. Hey, Kotetsu, what kinda sweets do they have in Wano?"

"I don’t know much about that… but for sweets, oshiruko and yōkan are supposed to be famous."

"Alright, let’s go buy some!"

"Hey, dumbass Ace! You need to be a little more careful!! If we go into town, we’ll look suspicious!! We should head back to the village first…"

Isuka’s suggestion earned nods from everyone. Having someone else who could rein in Ace’s recklessness was a good thing—especially for Deuce.

And so, the Spade Pirates prepared to return to the village—until Musashi, who had been silently watching them, suddenly spoke up from behind.

"—You guys are pretty interesting… Alright!! I don’t really get it, but I’ll tag along!!"

"Huh?"

She puffed out her chest and declared it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

---

Having landed in Wano, Ace and the Spade Pirates decided to lay low in Amigasa Village for a while to avoid the Beasts Pirates' pursuit.

"Hohoho… So this is how you weave straw hats?"

"Uh… Y-You’re interested, sir?"

"Of course, purely out of curiosity!! But I won’t do it myself. I’m a swordsman—no, a swordmaster!! Watching is enough!!"

"So samurai-like, sir!! Amazing, sir!!"

"Fufufu, indeed, indeed!"

"…………"

…But among them, there was one odd presence.

A girl with two horns sprouting from her head. Right now, she was watching O-Tama, the village girl, weave a hat—and for some reason, she had ended up boasting about herself in the conversation.

Ace, who had also been observing the hat-weaving lesson, wore an unreadable expression as he watched the two.

"…More importantly, what’s your deal? If you’re from Wano, shouldn’t you go home? Why are you sticking with us… in this village?"

"Don’t worry about it. Just a whim. I’ll go home when I feel like it—no big deal. Besides, a tiny hidden village and pirates lying low? That sounds way more fun than my usual routine."

"Even paying for lodging and all?"

"Money’s no issue. If I run out, I’ll just take it from some rich-looking samurai!!"

"…Right."

Musashi answered without hesitation, while Ace—uncharacteristically for him—seemed hesitant.

It wasn’t that he disliked her or anything. The real issue was something else.

One of the surnames she had casually dropped earlier had stuck in his mind like a fishbone in his teeth.

"…Hey, Musashi. Your parents…"

"Parents? I already told you. My parents are the greatest swordsmen in the world!!"

"No, that’s not what I meant…"

"? Then what?"

"It’s just… how do I put this…"

Ace fumbled over his words, uncharacteristically awkward.

His usual cheerful, carefree demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

Deuce, who knew him well, understood why.

It was about her parents.

"…Your parents… aren’t they, like, really famous or something?"

"!"

Finally, Ace voiced his question.

For him, it was an unusually serious inquiry—one that cut deeper than expected.

Even Deuce stiffened slightly at the weight behind it.

But what surprised him more was Musashi’s reaction.

He had expected another flippant answer, but instead—her eyes changed.

For a brief moment, something dark flickered behind her bright gaze.

But just as quickly, she grinned and replied.

"…Fuhahaha!! Like I said before!! My parents are the greatest swordmasters in the world!! Of course they’re famous!!"

"…………Right. Whatever."

Ace turned his attention back to O-Tama’s hat-weaving.

But despite his dismissive tone, something still gnawed at him.

The reason?

One of the names Musashi had casually thrown out earlier was the surname of Ace’s father—Gol D. Roger.

Ace hated his real father. The resentment ran so deep that even now, only Deuce knew the full extent of it.

That was why hearing that name from Musashi—even if it was just a joke or admiration—left him with a tangled mess of emotions.

And then there was the slim, almost impossible chance…

What if she was actually Roger’s daughter? A hidden child?

Just being of Roger’s bloodline was considered a crime in itself. Ace had kept his own lineage a closely guarded secret.

On top of that, Musashi seemed to be hiding something about her real parents.

That unease was eating at him.

Of course, everyone had their own circumstances. Not talking about one’s parents wasn’t that strange.

But when little things piled up, they became hard to ignore.

And that was why Ace was acting so unlike himself.

"Your parents being master swordsmen is amazing, sir!!"

"…Nah, I think she’s lying about that…"

"Is that so, sir? Then what about your parents, Deuce, sir?"

"Hm… Ah—"

Caught off-guard by O-Tama’s sudden question, Deuce hesitated.

…Truth be told, he also had complicated feelings about family. It wasn’t something he liked talking about.

But unlike before, it didn’t feel as heavy now. Before he knew it, he was answering.

"…They’re doctors."

"That’s amazing, sir!!"

"Nah... it's nothin' special."

But perhaps some lingering rebelliousness toward parents remained, as he instinctively downplayed it. Even if she was a doctor, as a person—no, as a parent—she was... questionable. Hard to respect.

So he’d said as much to Otama... but what came out of her mouth next gave Deuce a moment of pause.

"But... I ain’t got no parents... So even that sounds real nice to me!!"

"......!"

In a different way, this too could be called a complex about family.

A child without parents. In this Great Pirate Era, it wasn’t exactly rare. Plenty of kids like that existed. For whatever reason, Otama was just one of them.

Maybe that’s why, even as she laughed awkwardly for a second, she barely showed any sadness or bitterness—instead, she seemed to genuinely envy Deuce and Musashi for having parents.

"...I see. That’s rough."

"Ah... nah, it ain’t like that!! Folks in the village are real kind to me, and I even got a master lookin’ after me!! So I’m plenty blessed as I am!!"

Realizing she might’ve made him worry, Otama hurriedly waved her hands in front of her, insisting she was happy. She was a tough kid. Hard to believe she was only five. If anything, it made him—still clinging to some petty rebellion against his parents—look like a real brat. At the very least, he hadn’t been this mature at five.

"...Yeah, guess so."

"Sure am!!"

Watching Otama work hard weaving hats to earn even a little money, he thought: Kids don’t get to choose their parents or where they’re born. No matter who they are, blood ties don’t just disappear.

He’d never say it out loud, and maybe it was just the grass looking greener on the other side... but maybe Otama, with no parents from the start, was actually the happier one. Was that just him? Or did the other two, with whatever darkness lurked in their eyes, feel the same? Deuce couldn’t tell.

By the time Ace and his crew had spent two weeks in Amigasa Village...

That night, Ace gathered his crew. Secretly, without the villagers or Musashi knowing.

"What’s up, Ace...? Calling us out this late."

"Yeah... my bad. Won’t take long, just hear me out."

Ace apologized lightly to Deuce and the others, who eyed him suspiciously, but his expression was resolute.

Right then, the crew sensed it. When Ace looked like this, his mind was made up.

He’d worn the same face when burning Whitebeard’s flag on Fish-Man Island... and when he’d gone to greet Red-Haired Shanks right after entering the New World.

"Skull’s intel confirmed it. The Beasts Pirates’ stronghold is an uninhabited island called Onigashima."

"...And we need that info because...?"

Deuce asked, though he already knew. He’d braced himself.

Still, he couldn’t help the unease twisting his face. What Ace was planning—the path he was taking—was that harsh.

"Yeah. ‘Cause we’re gonna attack it."

"Tch......"

He’d known. There was no way Ace would just walk away.

But even so, Deuce’s face soured. The only resistance left was to ask.

"You... realize what you’re saying? We’ve already got Whitebeard as an enemy."

"Course I do. But I told you—our goal is the ‘Four Emperors.’ Aside from Red-Hair, who we’ve got respect for, we’re taking all their heads. If we’re this close, it’d be a waste not to."

"I get that, but... their main base? You got a plan? The enemy’s—"

"What the hell are you thinking, Ace?!!"

Just as Deuce was about to press further, someone cut in loudly from the side. Isuka. A former Marine HQ lieutenant and their newest member—technically not a pirate, but undeniably part of the crew. Which was exactly why she objected.

"Hey, Isuka. You’ll wake the villagers. Keep it down."

"Tch... Do you even hear yourself?! You’re talking about Kaido, the ‘Strongest Creature’...!!"

"I know. One-on-one, they say he’s unbeatable, right? Perfect opponent."

"You idiot!! You don’t get it at all...!!"

Isuka glared at Ace’s arrogant dismissal. She knew better than anyone how terrifying Kaido was. The undying strongest being—even Admiral Kizaru had been wounded by his underlings, and before becoming an Emperor, he’d humbled Red-Hair himself.

"Rumors say even the Pirate King or Vice Admiral Garp couldn’t kill him...!! And you think you can take on that monster—"

"...Then beating him’ll just mean reaching greater heights as a pirate."

"...! You—"

"...Told you before. If you can’t keep up, stay behind. If you ain’t got the will to fight, don’t. I’m... aiming for the top. Doesn’t matter who’s in the way—Whitebeard or the Beasts, I’ll crush ‘em all. Kaido’s just first on the list."

So if you wanna stay, stay. Just like on Fish-Man Island, Ace gave them the choice again.

But no one here lacked that resolve. They’d all follow Ace. Even Isuka, left with no choice but to relent. Once Ace set his mind to something, nothing stopped him. All they could do was support him.

"...Ace. We’re all... ready. But if this is just a suicide charge with no plan... I’ll stop you. So I’ll ask again—do we have a chance?"

Deuce alone pressed the issue. He’d pledged his life to Ace, no complaints there—but he wouldn’t condone a reckless charge into certain death. Speaking for the crew, he demanded an answer. Ace understood and nodded.

"We’ve got a shot. Skull’s intel says now’s our chance."

"...That so?"

"Yessir, Mister Deuce. And for you too, Sis Isuka—by all accounts, this really is our best opening."

Skull stepped forward from behind Ace, addressing Deuce’s question. To Isuka, who’d objected the most, he made it clear Ace hadn’t made this decision lightly. (Though she snapped, "Don’t call me ‘sis’...!!" for entirely unrelated reasons, glaring at Skull, who just chuckled and continued.)

"Here’s the deal. Most of the Beasts Pirates are out of Wano right now. Kaido and Nue are obviously gone, but even the All-Stars and Flying Six are down to just one each."

"What’re these ‘All-Stars’ and ‘Flying Six,’ Skull?"

"The ‘Flying Six’ are the six strongest officers—the ‘Tobiroppo.’ The ‘All-Stars’ are the four right-hand men under Kaido and Nue. They’re called ‘Calamities’ for a reason—insanely strong and batshit crazy."

The Beasts Pirates, one of the Four Emperors’ crews, were the most combat-focused of them all.

Less like pirates and more like a warlord faction—or a straight-up gang of violent thugs.

Their forces numbered over 20,000. Nearly 100 officers, most of them Zoan-type Devil Fruit users.

Among them, the six strongest were the Flying Six, and above them, the four All-Stars—the Calamities, each leading their own army. At the very top sat Nue, the right-hand man, and Kaido himself.

In sheer numbers and organization, they might’ve lagged behind other Emperors like Big Mom or Whitebeard... but in raw individual strength, no one surpassed them. An unstoppable, undying legion.

"...I see. So most of their heavy hitters are gone."

Deuce crossed his arms, nodding. Fighting them all one by one would’ve been impossible. Their crew had 20 members (and one animal). Even if each took down 100, they’d still be outmatched. The grunts might’ve been manageable, but facing all the top officers at once? No way. If only one of each was present, this was their best shot. But—

"Kaido’s gone too, right? Then we can’t take his head either way."

"Right. That’s the key, Mister Deuce. If Kaido’s not there, we can’t get him... but timing’s on our side. He and Nue are due back the day after tomorrow—and they’re coming alone."

"Hah? Wait, that’s... way too convenient. The timing’s one thing, but why just the two of them?"

Deuce asked bluntly. Skull hesitated, uneasy but pressed on.

"Turns out, Kaido and Nue fight to the death on the regular. They’re on their way back from one now."

"Fight to the death...? They’re infighting?"

"Nah, not like that. More like... sparring taken to the extreme. Just on a scale that reshapes islands, so they pick remote spots."

"The hell...?"

So the Four Emperors aren't just strong—they're completely unhinged, huh?

Deuce couldn’t help but think it.

Red-Hair had been surprisingly approachable—at least on the surface—so he’d assumed the Emperors were still fundamentally human. But hearing this? It sounded like they were dealing with straight-up monsters. The scale was just too different.

"So they’re back the day after tomorrow. That means tomorrow, we hit Onigashima, take out this 'All-Star' and 'Flying Six,' then lie in wait for the rest. I’ll handle Kaido. The rest of you gang up on Nue… and we put them down for good."

Ace wrapped it up.

Hearing it laid out like that, even the crew had to admit—this was their best shot. Just getting a chance to fight a Yonko with their forces weakened was a miracle. Ace was the type to act first and think later, but apparently, he wasn’t completely reckless. On paper, at least, their odds went from zero to something halfway plausible.

"You guys aren’t backing out now, are ya? …Well, even if you do, fine by me."

"Ace…"

Deuce took Ace’s words—half-challenge, half-dare—with a complicated expression.

Truth was, Ace would charge in alone if he had to. His goal—breaking free from the shadow of his father, Gol D. Roger—meant everything.

Surpass Roger’s legacy. Achieve what Roger couldn’t. Become someone bound by nothing.

That’s why he saw every power ruling the world as an enemy: the Warlords, the Marines, the Emperors, even the Celestial Dragons. He’d smash it all—because he had to surpass his father.

So yeah, Ace would take on a Yonko solo. The strategy he’d just laid out? Purely to convince the crew. Ace himself didn’t need it. He’d charge headfirst without a second thought—and that much was clear from his tone.

"…Can’t argue when you put it like that."

Deuce sighed, then nodded. The rest of the crew followed.

If they refused, Ace would go alone. And if he did, he’d probably die.

Deuce and the others? They were all misfits who’d gathered because they believed in Ace. No matter how reckless he was, they wouldn’t let him die alone.

"Besides… I promised Otama. Told her we’d come back as a bigger crew and take her aboard."

"Right. We will come back. After taking down Kaido, then Whitebeard… Who knows how long it’ll take, or if she’ll even still wanna go… But either way, we’re keeping that promise."

Earlier that day, Otama—the village girl—had begged to join their crew.

At just five years old, they couldn’t possibly take her. But they’d promised: Once we’re a bigger crew, if you’ve grown into a fine kunoichi, we’ll take you with us.

And to keep that promise? Toppling Kaido and making Wano a place where a kid like her could grow up strong—that was worth fighting for.

"Listen up. We set sail for Onigashima at dawn. Get your shit ready by then."

Not a single voice objected.

---

Observation Haki, when trained, allows one to sense presences from afar.

And that girl had particularly sharp ears… She had overheard the conversation taking place in the bamboo forest late at night.

"Onigashima, huh… Ugh… I don’t think we can win, but… what should we do…?"

Bearing an uneasy heart, the girl flew away from the village that very night, her expression troubled. The beast beneath the full moon shone white.

---

The island was surrounded by violent ocean currents, making it accessible only by approaching head-on.

And there, blocking the way, stood a massive red torii gate, fortified like a stronghold. Closer still, several UFOs patrolled the skies above the island.

To slip past this security net and finally reach the heart of the Beasts Pirates—the rulers of Wano Country—was none other than Onigashima.

"...We made it here without any trouble."

"What’s going on…? Did they not notice us?"

Yet Ace and the Spade Pirates had arrived at Onigashima without encountering a single obstacle.

Though they had taken some precautions to deceive the eyes of the fortress along the way, they had expected the UFOs surveilling from above to spot them—and had even prepared for the ensuing battle. But they slipped through unnoticed, leaving the Spade Pirates dumbfounded.

"...Convenient, but don’t let your guard down."

"Right, stay sharp. An Emperor isn’t an easy opponent… Be extremely careful."

Deuce and Isuka warned the crew not to grow careless.

The front of Onigashima resembled a massive dock, wide enough to moor numerous ships.

…Yet there were no guards.

For the stronghold of an Emperor, it was unnaturally unguarded.

"For an Emperor’s base… or maybe because it’s an Emperor’s? If they’re this cocky, thinking nobody would dare attack… we’ll have to teach ‘em a lesson."

"...For now, let’s hide the ship. I’d hate for it to get wrecked mid-battle."

They had already decided that, aside from Mihar, the shipkeeper, the entire crew would set foot on the island.

Still, getting caught would put them in a tough spot, so they took great care in choosing where to dock.

With that, the Spade Pirates, armed and ready, set foot on Onigashima.

"...Doesn’t the island sound noisy inside?"

"Yeah… I sense people, and I hear voices. Maybe they’re having a banquet?"

Upon landing, they realized—from beyond the staircase leading into the cave ahead—came voices. Not just one, but many.

Ace and his crew casually assumed it was just a rowdy celebration, but this was still an Emperor’s domain. They proceeded with utmost caution.

"Hurry up and grab ‘em!! If we don’t move fast, we’ll—huh?"

"—Oh, excuse us~."

"Ah, no worries, thanks for—wait, huh? Gah—!!?"

Almost immediately, they ran into pirates—flustered ones, at that.

When Ace reflexively greeted them, the pirates, perhaps in good spirits, responded in kind…

Only to have their faces smashed in by Ace’s fist seconds later, sending them flying.

More pirates poured into the hallway, quickly noticing the disturbance.

"Hey!! Who the hell are these guys!?"

"No way… intruders!? Damn it, of all times!!"

"Heh heh… this just got fun!"

"This isn’t the time for fun!! Now that we’re spotted, we take ‘em out fast and move!!"

"Yeah!! I know!!"

As battle erupted, Ace grinned fearlessly, looking like he was having the time of his life.

Here they were, in an Emperor’s lair, yet he was utterly carefree—while Deuce remained on high alert.

"Whoa, whoa!! I knew I recognized this guy… It’s "Fire Fist" Ace!!"

"Oh? You know me? Then take this—"Fire Fist"!!!

"Guaaaah—!!?"

"Damn it…!! Someone, report this—now!!"

But against mere foot soldiers, Ace didn’t slow down.

The Spade Pirates, many of them combat specialists, swiftly overpowered the numerically superior Beast Pirates.

With Ace’s flames keeping the enemy off-balance, they held the advantage.

"Alright!! We’ve cleared out the small fry here!! Onward!!"

"Yeah!!"

Thinning their numbers now meant an easier fight against the big shots later.

This was a race—to weaken them before being discovered.

"So far, so good!"

"Almost too smooth… I hope nothing goes wrong…!!"

United, Ace and his crew advanced along the side path of the giant skull mountain.

They had chosen this route to avoid being surrounded inside.

For now, the plan was working…

But in a battlefield like this, irregularities were inevitable.

"...!!"

"Whoa, reinforcements!?"

"...No, wait…!!"

The next figure to appear was a tall woman with two horns.

The moment she saw Ace and the Spade Pirates, she froze in shock, raising a hand to stop them.

Seizing the opening, Ace launched a Haki-infused punch—

But—

"...!!"

"Tch—! Finally, someone who can fight back…! You one of the Tobiroppo?"

"Ngh… no!! I’m not one of the Tobiroppo!!"

She blocked Ace’s strike with the iron staff strapped to her back.

This was the first time since arriving on Onigashima that someone had stopped Ace’s attack.

Both he and the Spade Pirates widened their eyes—this was the real deal.

As Ace pressed his assault, he asked if she was one of the All-Stars instead.

But again, she denied it.

"Then who the hell are you!?"

"I’m Yamato!! The one and only—Kozuki Oden!!"

"……Hah? Another weirdo spouting nonsense… Is this some kinda trend in Wano? —Whatever. I don’t care what title you’ve got… Sorry, but you’re goin’ down right here!!"

"Wait!! I have no intention of fighting you!!"

"Oh, so we’re not even worth the effort? That’s some real disrespect—kinda pisses me off!!"

"I said that’s NOT what I meant!! Gods, you’re impossible…!! And yet you’re strong…?!"

Ace’s flame-wreathed fist clashed against the iron staff of the woman who called herself Yamato—no, Kozuki Oden.

Despite the strange disconnect between them, the Spade Pirates’ assault on Onigashima had finally begun in earnest.