Chapter 222
Zixu touched the phantom scar on his chest. The man before him had once left a wound on Kaido's chest—he wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating his opponent.
"I can sense Kaido's aura on you. What's your relationship with him?" Kozuki Oden finally spoke, his twin blades already cloaked in Kōka: Busoshoku Haki (Hardening: Armament Haki).
"Why don't you take a guess..." Zixu replied, pulling out his massive mace. His body swelled with unnatural power, dense muscle fibers bulging like steel cords. Dragon-like horns sprouted from the top of his head, and Kozuki Oden suddenly seemed much smaller.
"So, you're connected to Kaido after all..." Oden didn't waste any more words. This wasn't Wano anymore—he could fight without holding back.
"So this is the great hero, Kozuki Oden? Compliant, obedient, the ideal puppet. Lucky for you, this isn't Wano. As a monarch, you've lost your honor; as a protector of your land, you lost your country. And yet you still come here to challenge me?"
Zixu's scornful words hit a nerve. Oden's fiery spirit flickered for a moment. He didn't retreat, but Zixu's remarks stirred up something deep within him. He had failed the people. So what? He hadn't saved the dying. So what? Even if he'd made countless mistakes, the fools of Wano would still beg him to be their shogun. Even his son, useless as he was, would be accepted as their ruler.
Oden exhaled. He didn't bother to argue. He already knew the consequences of his choices, and he had no regrets.
His dual swords no longer gleamed—they shimmered like soul-reaping blades from the Shinigami himself. These blades could slice more than flesh—they could sever spirits.
But Zixu was no pushover. The fusion of Kaminari (Lightning) and Hi (Fire) in his body gave rise to a new kind of power. Black lightning intertwined with fire surged around him like living chains, surging to intercept Oden's path. The flaming lightning emitted a terrifying devouring energy—Oden could feel it gnawing at the protective shell of his Busoshoku Haki.