From the Wandenreich's escape to One Piece

Chapter 116: Defeating Kozuki Oden; An Accidental Battle of the Golden Lion Roger?

Deep within Beehive Island, the former stronghold of the Rocks Pirates has been completely transformed by Shiki.

The rugged wooden buildings and the plundered, ornate decorations were strangely mixed together. The air was filled with alcohol, gunpowder smoke, and noise, making it a lawless pirate paradise. Shiki was not here, but in an open area further away. He also seemed to have returned from overseas not long ago, but to Li Lin's surprise, he was accompanied by Kozuki Oden.

Kozuki Oden had never yielded, so Shiki kept him locked up in a dungeon.

Why was he released today?

"Yo, Beltz's back." Shiki turned around and saw Beltz flying in. His long golden hair was loose, and he grinned with his familiar maniacal smile. "Judging by your posture, you've found out some clues about that Lunaria kid?"

Beltz landed beside Shiki and replied, "Yeah, what are you doing?"

He glanced at Kozuki Oden, who remained silent.

"Hehehehe————"

Upon hearing this, Shiki laughed loudly and said, "I've given him a chance. If he can defeat my first mate, then I'll set him free."

Upon hearing this, Beltz couldn't help but think, "You old rascal, you're really wicked."

Isn't this setting a trap for Kozuki Oden?

My current strength is no less than yours, Golden Lion. I am called the first mate, but that is only in name.

But Kozuki Oden didn't know that. He only knew that Beltz was Shiki's first mate, but he didn't know the specifics of their relationship.

However, Kozuki Oden knew one thing: since he was Shiki's first mate, his strength was definitely inferior to Shiki's.

It's one thing if you can't beat Shiki yourself, but if you can't even beat Shiki's first mate, what else is there to say?

It's no wonder he's Kozuki Oden; he actually believed such a thing.

But it seems there's not much that can be done, since this is the only chance to regain freedom.

If he disagrees, he will be imprisoned.

"What if he loses?"

Beltz asked, "Could it be that they're about to join us?"

"If I lose, I will join you personally, but you must spare my subordinates!" Kozuki Oden said in a deep voice, "And you must leave Wano Country!"

Beltz looked at Skeeter, who shrugged and said, "I never said I was leaving."

"Anyway, nothing has changed for your Wano Country. I'm not going to kick your father out of the shogun's position."

"I'm only using your Wano Country as a base for now. Who told you to have such convenient natural defenses? It's simply the perfect place for me, hehehehe!"

"Alright, I'll fight you." Beltz said, then looked at Shiki and said, "I have something to tell you later."

"Stop talking nonsense and start fighting!"

Before he finished speaking, Shiki had already leaped up and hovered in mid-air, striking a leisurely pose as if he were watching a good show.

With Shiki gone, only Belz and Kozuki Oden remained.

Kozuki Oden, wielding two swords, slashed at Beltz, who was standing close at hand!

This strike came without warning, immediately after Shiki announced the start!

For an average person, they probably wouldn't even have time to react.

But who is Beltz?

He's a psychologist, so he knows best what Kozuki Oden is thinking.

The psychologist's sacred script, combined with Observation Haki, allows Beltz to easily read minds even in the midst of battle.

Therefore, when Oden slashed at him, he had already used a flying kick to create distance.

His body vanished instantly, causing Oden's sword to strike thin air.

Kozuki Oden was, after all, the man who later inflicted psychological trauma on Kaido. Although he was still too young, his strength had improved after being taught a lesson by Shiki.

While he was imprisoned, Shiki maintained his vital signs at a minimum level necessary to survive.

But in the past few days, he released Kozuki Oden, allowing him to regain his strength.

Therefore, he is not someone to be trifled with.

Seeing that his attack missed, Kozuki Oden did not hesitate at all and immediately rushed towards Beltz in the distance!

"Tougen Shirayuki!"

The twin blades drew dazzling arcs, and the pink flying slashes swept in like blooming cherry blossoms of death!

He knew his opponent was no ordinary opponent, and immediately unleashed a powerful sword technique.

Beltz instantly entered his dragon form, and dark blue dragon scales emerged from his body. He opened his mouth and exhaled a burst of fiery breath!

This is not the same dragon-form breath attack as before. That kind of breath attack was useless against experts and could only be used to clear out mobs and cause widespread destruction.

His breath at this moment was released based on his dragon-human form, and it was also enhanced with even greater power!

Word of Power: Blazing!

This enormous wave of fire released a brilliant light, as if a sun had appeared here!

With a single slash, Kozuki Oden cleaved the flames in two!

The swordsmen of Wano Country have a special "fire-cutting style" sword technique, which gives them an advantage when dealing with flames.

But while it can cut through flames, it cannot cut through light!

The light that appeared along with the blazing fire instantly blinded Kozuki Oden's vision, and most importantly, his Observation Haki couldn't even detect Beltz anymore!

Psychology is in hiding!

Beltz not only obscured his physical vision, but also became invisible on a psychological level. With this double combination, even a master of Observation Haki could not pinpoint his location!

Taking advantage of the fact that Kozuki Oden couldn't see him, Beltz immediately reached out again, and black Haki condensed in his hand.

"The Great Sage's Bow!"

This time, Beltz didn't use a sword, but instead used the bow, which is the Quincy's specialty!

Moreover, the first move he made was a spiritual technique at the level of the Great Sage Bow!

puff!

The bowstring vibrated almost imperceptibly as the arrow was released. The black arrow pierced the air and reached Kozuki Oden in an instant!

Although Kozuki Oden couldn't see anything, he could hear the sound of arrows piercing the air through the wind. But by the time he heard the sound, the arrows were already almost in front of him!

Kozuki Oden instinctively raised his twin swords to protect himself!

boom!

puff!

The arrow struck precisely at the point where the two swords crossed!

The violent, domineering aura transformed into countless black lightning bolts that exploded!

Oden felt an immense force, like a mountain collapsing, on his arms; his tiger's mouth split open, and his famous sword cried out in agony!

Finally, the black Great Sage Bow deflected his twin swords with a whoosh, and the remaining force struck his chest, sending his entire body flying backward like a cannonball!

"Wow!"

Oden's entire body flew backward like a cannonball being blasted out!

Bang! Bang bang bang—!

His body crashed through several ruins before finally embedding itself deeply into a distant rock face, amidst billowing dust.

"What kind of move is that?!"

However, Kozuki Oden's physical body was indeed very strong, and the Great Sage Bow was weakened by his twin swords, so he did not lose consciousness after being blasted into the hill!

He stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Beltz in front of him with some disbelief.

Are you kidding me?!

The previous Shiki was one thing, but how come even his first mate is so powerful?

If that's the case, then even if I become stronger, it won't be of any use!

Even if he becomes stronger than Shiki, can he withstand the combined strength of Shiki and Beltz?

Not to mention————

He can't even handle Beltz now!

He even suspected that Shiki had gone easy on him before!

But Beltz didn't stop. He knew that one shot from the Great Holy Bow wouldn't be enough to defeat the enemy, so as soon as he was blasted away, he was already preparing for the next attack.

Word of Power: Azure Thunder Domination!

Since flames are unlikely to harm the samurai of Wano Country, then let's use lightning!

Beltz aimed his hands at Oden, and as Oden stood up again, he had already used the lightning-type incantation.

boom!

This attack came without warning. A bolt of azure lightning, as thick as a bucket, struck down from the clear sky and hit Oden precisely!

Lightning moves faster than the nerves can react. Oden only had time to cover his body with Haki before he was engulfed by the blinding lightning, his whole body trembling and his hair standing on end!

To make Oden feel overwhelming power, Beltz once again manipulated the gale!

Word of Power: The Eye of the Wind King!

Beltz's deep voice was like a command to nature.

The air currents in this vast space began to run wild. Centered on Oden, who was enveloped in lightning, countless air currents swirled and converged wildly, instantly forming a huge tornado that connected heaven and earth!

Even more terrifying, the raging lightning was swept up by the storm, and blue-white electric snakes darted and spread wildly across the gray-black wind walls, eventually forming a —

Thunderstorm tornado!

The destructive power of nature was forcibly combined and controlled by human beings, turning into a death vortex that devoured everything!

Oden was like a puppet in the hands of an enraged god, torn apart by the wind and whipped by the thunder, only able to hold on with his strong body and domineering spirit.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Even Shiki, watching from the air, dropped his joking expression and shouted, "That's enough! I want men, not charred corpses!"

"Please don't actually kill this kid!"

Shiki still had high hopes for Kozuki Oden; he was indeed desperately short of manpower.

But Beltz didn't want to kill Kozuki Oden like that.

"Don't worry, he won't die."

Beltz said, "He's physically strong; I couldn't have taken him down so easily."

Beltz couldn't achieve such results against those who knew how to use Conqueror's Haki, because Conqueror's Haki is too overpowered; it's essentially a superior form of Armament Haki.

It can be used for both attack and defense.

Covering one's body with Conqueror's Haki provides a much better defensive effect than Armament Haki.

While Kozuki Oden possessed Conqueror's Haki, he didn't yet know how to utilize it, making him relatively easy for Belz to deal with.

Once Kozuki Oden understands how to use Conqueror's Haki for defense and attack, it won't be easy to toy with him like it is now.

At this moment, the storm subsided and the lightning disappeared.

A huge, charred crater appeared in the center of the field. Kozuki Oden lay face up at the bottom of the crater, his body emitting blue smoke. His samurai clothes were tattered and torn, and his body was covered with burns and lacerations, dripping with blood.

His chest heaved violently, and his eyes seemed to have become unfocused. It was unclear whether he was still conscious, but in any case, he was clearly no longer capable of fighting.

At this moment, it would be so easy for Belz to defeat Kozuki Oden!

After glancing at it, Shiki said, "You've gotten stronger again! But why haven't you learned Conqueror's Haki Entanglement yet?"

Shiki was also puzzled. How did this guy suddenly become stronger again?

That makes absolutely no sense.

Conqueror's Haki can suddenly make you stronger, but Armament Haki generally requires training.

Beltz only went to sea once, less than half a year, how did he suddenly become stronger again?

If I had learned how to use the "Domineering Entanglement" technique, that would be one thing, but the problem is that I haven't learned it yet.

If he's already this good without even learning it, what would happen if he did learn it? Wouldn't that mean he'd be no match for me?

Should he be glad that this kid doesn't have much ambition?

Beltz would certainly not say that he became stronger because Yhwach granted him power.

He simply said, "I helped you this time, now you have to help me out."

"Oh? What?" Shiki asked. "Go and attack Marine Headquarters for me?"

?

Shiki was somewhat taken aback upon hearing this, because in his impression, Beltz had always been a very low-key person. Why would he suddenly want to attack the Marine Headquarters?

Then he thought, "Is he a descendant of the Lunaria race? Is he at Marine Headquarters?"

"Hmm." Beltz nodded. "I also sent you a promising talent. He's still on Onigashima. I'll have him come over later."

"Although he is still young, if he is properly trained, he will become a good cadre in the future."

"Hehehehe—!" Upon hearing this, Shiki once again revealed that familiar smile, full of ambition and madness: "I'm starting to admire you more and more. How come I didn't think of attacking Marine Headquarters before?"

"I agree to this!"

"However, this matter needs a detailed plan."

Shiki rushed into Marine Headquarters without thinking because Roger had surrendered, otherwise he wouldn't have been so stupid as to run over there and get beaten up.

Even if he and Beltz were incredibly powerful, challenging the Marine Headquarters would not have been a wise choice.

Even if he looked down on the Navy, he had to admit that Garp and Sengoku were quite capable.

"Of course." Beltz nodded. "But we were going to rescue people anyway, so we can just run away after we've done that."

"Leave the rescue to me, but I'll need you to stop Garp and Sengoku. Of course—ideally, neither of them should be at Marine Headquarters."

A glint of light flashed in Beltz's eyes, followed by a smile: "I know what to do."

"Hmm?" Seeing Beltz's smile, Shiki couldn't help but ask, "What method?"

"Like I just said, as long as Sengoku and Garp aren't there, everything will be fine, right?"

Beltz said, "Would you be interested in a naval battle with Roger?"