"This is…"
"No way…?!"
Everyone stared at the Den Den Mushi in O-Tama's hands, their pupils trembling.
Only O-Tama herself didn't quite understand, her small face serious as she looked at the Den Den Mushi.
"This isn't our first meeting. Perhaps it was many years ago. Back then, you were only a baby…"
"The poor Kurozumi family took out all the food in their home just to welcome my arrival."
Orin was someone who loved recording life and traveling everywhere, so he remembered his experiences extremely clearly.
Including the time he captured Shinobu to extract the power of the Ripe-Ripe Fruit, when he encountered the kind Kurozumi family.
In Orin's view, if one had to choose a child to become the Shogun Kurozumi of Wano, then why couldn't it be O-Tama?
It wasn't just because of a single meal's kindness.
More than anything, it was simply acting on impulse — "I want to do this, so I'll do it," without needing to consider anything else.
As for the Kurozumi clan's infamous reputation, or how the Kozuki clan had the people's support…
Orin only had one response: he liked doing the opposite.
The opinions of Wano's citizens?
If they refused, they could endure it.
This wasn't about whether O-Tama wanted to become Shogun.
It was about whether Orin wanted someone to become Shogun.
"Let me tell you this — hidden inside that scroll…"
"is a power capable of pacifying all wars and conspiracies in the world, a force nearly capable of destroying the world~"
"Take it and claim everything, O-Tama~"
"You don't want the people of Wano and Okobore Town to die, right~?"
Orin's expression was extremely gentle as he spoke, yet to everyone present, it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
Sanji gritted his teeth, his pupils trembling as he was about to say something.
But his Observation Haki sensed movement behind him. Instinctively, he kicked backward.
Turning around, he saw a tall black figure launching a sneak attack!!!
"What are you trying to do, King?!"
Marco also noticed immediately, immortal flames igniting across his body as he rushed forward.
But King had no intention of fighting them. His eyes were locked solely on the scroll in O-Tama's hands.
"Hand that over to me!!!"
Even someone as calm and composed as King could not remain unaffected at this moment.
All because of Orin's words—
"A power capable of pacifying all wars and conspiracies in the world, nearly capable of destroying the world."
How could he possibly allow such a decisive weapon for the final war to fall into enemy hands?!!!
Chopper was also shocked.
Someone who had just been fighting alongside them had turned traitor in an instant!!!
He tried to transform and carry O-Tama to safety, but before he could act, a single wing strike blasted him aside.
Seagull King directly lifted O-Tama into the air, soaring toward the sky above Onigashima.
"Eh?!"
Holding the Den Den Mushi and the scroll, O-Tama flew upward helplessly, completely at a loss.
At that moment, she suddenly remembered the story her parents had told her before they passed away.
"Once, there was a man called Orin-sama. He was the most handsome man in Wano, with endless delicious food, and he once came here…"
"You're… Orin-sama, right?"
O-Tama suddenly spoke to the Den Den Mushi.
"The all-powerful Orin-sama from the stories."
Orin found that description amusing.
"All-powerful, huh?"
"Yes. That's why I've now come to your side, O-Tama~"
"Right now, you have two choices before you."
"One — use the power of the scroll. But from then on, you must help me govern Wano properly…"
"The other — give up, pretend nothing ever happened, and continue helplessly praying for the Kozuki clan to save everything."
"Of course, whether they arrive first or Wano is destroyed first… that's uncertain~"
O-Tama bit her lip.
She saw Onigashima floating through the sky, slowly approaching Wano. Countless monsters fought atop the island, battles raging with world-destroying force.
Meanwhile, the citizens of Wano trembled as they stared into the distance.
That devil-like, tempting voice sounded beside her once again.
"What will you choose, O-Tama~?"
...
"Wo-ro-ro-ro-ro-ro!!!"
"Lightning — one of the strongest Logia powers? Interesting~"
The Azure Dragon connecting heaven and earth bathed in a sea of lightning, laughing excitedly as if mocking his opponent's weakness.
Enel, controlling the lightning, erupted with pitch-black thunder from his body, blocking every [Heat Breath] and [Demolition Gust] launched by Kaido.
A wild grin hung on his lips.
"So you're a dragon?"
"But before a god, everything is powerless."
The two clashed fiercely in the sky.
Meanwhile, the other two tank-type warriors began a brutal hand-to-hand battle on the ground.
Big Mom, who as a child could casually crush bears and destroy giant villages — was now locked in fierce combat with her opponent.
Standing before her, Tiger's massive figure appeared somewhat smaller by comparison, yet the power behind his fists was anything but weak.
Relying purely on physical combat ability, he fought Big Mom to a complete stalemate.
As for the final battlefield, the situation was entirely one-sided.
A massive cloud of dust exploded upward as several Supernovas tumbled and rolled backward.
Before them, a monster like a demon slowly stepped forward, fists crackling with black-purple lightning.
"What's wrong? Come fight me again, brats…"
It was like an adult beating children.
These youngsters who relied heavily on Devil Fruit abilities but lacked solid Haki foundations appeared pitifully weak before Bullet, who had mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
Aside from Luffy and Zoro, none of them possessed what he considered genuine Haki.
Their destructive power might look impressive, but in the end it was just superficial flashiness.
Among the older generation of pirates, Devil Fruit abilities were merely support tools.
If your Haki wasn't strong enough, no one would even bother listening to you.
Unlike Kaido, who enjoyed acting as a living target with a massive and less agile body, Bullet was a berserker whose offense, defense, and speed were all maxed out.
Though the Supernovas could still stand back up repeatedly, every one of them was already seriously injured.
The intense war dragged on endlessly.
It was impossible to say how long it would continue.
When neither side possessed overwhelming superiority, and victory couldn't be decided in a single move, battles could last for days and nights.
Perhaps to bring this war to an end—
"Thump—!!!"
The heart suddenly stopped.
In an instant, every figure standing atop Onigashima froze.
A massive sense of dread spread through their bodies, causing the blazing battlefield to fall into brief silence.
Their eyes widened.
What… was this feeling???
It was the battle instinct of the strong — the sensation one felt when facing another monster.
But this time, the feeling was terrifyingly intense, as if death could arrive at any moment.
"This overwhelming presence… is it Orin?"
"No… in some sense, it's an even more exaggerated existence."