Chapter 153: Oden? Yamato? Freedom!!
Wano Country — Udon Prison
The smoke of battle had yet to fully dissipate.
Among the ruined prison yard, Silvers Rayleigh leaned casually against a broken stone beam. A half-empty jug of sake dangled from his hand, a few drops spilling onto the dusty ground and staining it dark.
A string of jingling keys spun around his fingers.
His gaze swept across the densely packed prisoners before him.
Some sat, some stood. Their clothes were ragged, and bloody marks from shackles still scarred their wrists and ankles. Yet despite the devastation around them—and the sudden chance at freedom—each of them only stared blankly at one another.
"...Heh."
Rayleigh chuckled softly.
With a flick of his wrist, the keys flew through the air and landed on the rubble before them with a crisp metallic clatter.
"What's wrong?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"You've been treated like livestock for years. Don't tell me you don't want freedom."
A ripple spread through the crowd.
But no one stepped forward.
After a long while, a small figure squeezed out from among the prisoners.
It was Hyogoro the Flower.
His back was bent with age. Deep wrinkles lined his face, and fear trembled in his voice. He slowly approached the keys—but didn't dare touch them.
Instead, he bowed deeply to Rayleigh.
"Sir… you may not know this, but this place belongs to the Beasts Pirates. The man you defeated earlier was only one of their All-Stars—Queen the Plague."
His voice shook.
"The true ruler… Kaido, the King of the Beasts… is stationed on Onigashima not far from here!"
Even saying the name filled him with terror.
"Even if we escape… we won't be able to outrun his pursuit. There's no escaping him!"
Rayleigh narrowed his eyes slightly.
His sharp gaze swept across every face present.
He saw clearly—
It wasn't hesitation.
It was despair carved into their bones.
Years of oppression and Kaido's terrifying shadow had long since crushed any thought of resistance. Their desire to live was completely buried beneath an even deeper fear.
"Slave mentality… huh?"
Rayleigh muttered softly.
He took a sip of sake.
Even the burning liquor couldn't disperse the heavy atmosphere.
He understood perfectly well that the root of their fear was Kaido.
But the truth was—
He had come to Wano on nothing more than a whim. Just to wander around and see the land that an old friend had once cared deeply about.
Liberating Wano?
That had never been part of his plan.
And if that was the case…
There was no reason for him to interfere with the fate of these people.
"Still… the problems in Wano run deeper than I expected."
Rayleigh shook his head slightly.
A faint trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes—before being replaced by his usual carefree demeanor.
After all…
That kind of responsibility belonged to the young generation.
Not to an old man with one foot already in the grave.
Nearby, Trafalgar Law had finished bandaging his wounds. Fresh blood faintly seeped through the bandages.
He walked over to Rayleigh.
His gaze briefly swept over the prisoners still frozen in place.
He said nothing.
Only gave Rayleigh a small nod.
Then the two men turned and left.
Their figures gradually disappeared into the ruins of Udon.
The keys remained lying in the rubble, reflecting faint light.
The guards were gone.
The gates to freedom stood wide open.
And yet—
The prisoners still stared at one another.
In the end, not a single person stepped forward.
Because Kaido's shadow was heavier than any chain.
Onigashima
A thunderous roar echoed across the sky.
Two figures crashed heavily onto the ground at the same time, sending tremors through the entire island.
"Heh… you're really strong, Kaido-sensei!"
Luffy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, grinning excitedly.
Blood streamed down from both fighters' chests like small waterfalls.
Yet strangely—
Their wounds were healing at a visible speed.
The brutal scene left the Beasts Pirates watching from afar trembling in fear.
At some point, both fighters had stopped using Armament Haki to protect themselves.
They fought like mad beasts, caring only about killing the other.
In just one hour—
Both were already covered in injuries, looking as if they might collapse at any moment.
So why was Luffy fighting like this?
The answer was simple.
[Physique: 92.85]
His stats had increased by two full points.
A massive improvement unlike anything he'd achieved before.
"So tell me, Kaido-sensei…"
"How should I thank you?"
Luffy looked at Kaido with a provocative grin.
Surprisingly—
Kaido remained calm.
Half an hour ago, he had already realized the brat's intention.
Luffy was using him as a training instructor.
Using Onigashima as a training ground.
Because Kaido had discovered something shocking—
The brat was getting stronger with every exchange.
Like a dried sponge, Luffy was absorbing battle experience, Haki techniques, and combat instincts at an insane rate.
At first, Kaido had the upper hand.
But now—
He was gradually beginning to struggle.
Yet when Kaido finally cast aside all restraint and attacked with absolute ferocity—
An indescribable exhilaration burst from deep within his bones.
He looked down at his blood-soaked hands.
Then at the kanabo wrapped in black-red lightning—
Hassaikai.
"Worororo—!!"
Kaido burst into wild laughter.
"Brat! Fighting you is exhilarating to the core! In this world, the only ones who can clash with me in pure physical combat are Linlin… and now you!!"
He stepped forward heavily.
The ground shattered beneath his foot.
His arm trembled with excitement as he gripped his kanabo.
"Now!"
"Let's fight until one of us dies!!"
But Luffy slowly shook his head.
His eyes glowed crimson.
"Sorry… you might have to wait a little longer."
"Hmm?!"
Kaido froze.
His instincts screamed danger.
He turned suddenly—
And saw a tall figure streaking across the sky wrapped in violent purple lightning.
A kanabo crackling with thunder tore through the air toward him.
"Thunder Bagua!!"
BOOOOOOM!!!
Purple lightning exploded as it collided with Kaido's head.
The impact sent his massive body flying like a meteor into a cluster of buildings.
An enormous explosion followed.
Flames surged into the sky as scorching shockwaves blasted debris everywhere.
Amid the smoke—
A tall figure slowly emerged.
Crimson eyes glowed like burning gemstones.
Two curved red horns crowned her head.
Her white hair faded into a soft gradient as it flowed behind her.
A white kimono and crimson hakama fluttered in the smoke.
Like a thunder goddess descending from another world.
She was none other than Kaido's extremely "filial" daughter—
Yamato.
Luffy sighed.
Even though he had already seen this future, he still felt speechless.
Not because he was worried about Kaido.
That old monster had absurd durability.
Unless Nika appeared, killing him was basically impossible.
No—
Luffy was just marveling at Yamato's unique definition of "filial piety."
A true problem child.
Meanwhile, Yamato was also staring at Luffy.
His messy black hair partly covered his blazing red eyes.
The straw hat tilted on his head, stained with blood.
Yet instead of looking disheveled, it only made him appear even more striking.
Black-red lightning of Conqueror's Haki danced around him like an invisible crown.
Their eyes met.
Yamato's eyes immediately sparkled.
Filled with undisguised admiration.
This is the man I want to follow for the rest of my life!
Luffy raised an eyebrow slightly.
Then—
Yamato rushed forward excitedly.
"You're Luffy, right?! Ace told me all about you!"
"You're going to become the Pirate King, right?!"
"Let me join your crew! I'll help you—just like Oden helped Roger!"
Luffy remained silent.
His eyes flickered with crimson light as if confirming the future he had glimpsed.
"You said… what?!"
A furious roar exploded across the battlefield.
Kaido.
Purple-black lightning burst across the sky like countless dragons.
All the lightning condensed into his kanabo—
Hassaikai.
"ROOOAR!!"
Kaido charged forward like a demon god.
"Great Vajra: Thunder Bagua!!"
The terrifying pressure made Yamato's pupils shrink.
She had never seen Kaido like this.
Never felt such killing intent.
For the first time—
She smelled death.
At the last second—
A figure flashed in front of her.
Luffy.
He glanced back at her and smiled brightly.
"I've decided."
"If you're joining as Yamato, then I'll invite you aboard."
"But if you're joining as Oden…"
"Then forget it."
Yamato froze.
Luffy had already turned his attention back to Kaido.
Black-red lightning surged around his arm like burning runes.
"Fist Principle: Annihilation!!"
He threw a punch.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Conqueror's Haki exploded between fist and kanabo.
The collision formed a violent energy core in midair.
Black lightning spiraled outward like a cage.
The sky split.
The clouds were blown away.
Mountains on Onigashima flattened under the shockwaves.
The entire island trembled like the world was ending.
The storm hurled Yamato far away from the battlefield.
"Straw Hat brat! You dare take her away?!"
Kaido roared.
"That depends on her choice!"
Luffy replied.
He knew something clearly—
Despite everything, Kaido still cared deeply about his daughter.
That attack had looked lethal.
But it would not truly kill Yamato.
Luffy had already seen that future.
He blocked the strike for one reason only.
To give Yamato a real choice.
Kaido roared in fury.
Their battle continued, shaking the heavens.
Yamato stared at them in shock.
"What's the difference?! Luffy! Don't you want to become Pirate King too?!"
Luffy smashed another punch into Kaido's kanabo.
Then grinned.
"But I don't want to become Roger."
"W-Why?!"
Yamato trembled.
Luffy pushed Kaido's weapon aside slightly.
"Because I'm me."
"I'm not anyone's shadow."
"I'm not anyone's replacement."
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy."
The words struck Yamato's heart like lightning.
She looked at her trembling hands.
For eighteen years she had repeated one sentence.
I am Kozuki Oden.
But now—
Her throat tightened.
"I… I am…?"
Who was she?
Oden's follower?
Kaido's daughter?
Or…
Someone forgotten?
Tears suddenly streamed down her face.
Eighteen years of pretending.
Eighteen years of self-hypnosis.
She had nearly forgotten her true name.
The battlefield echoed with her quiet sobs.
Kaido's grip on his kanabo faltered slightly.
A complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
Luffy smiled warmly.
"Come aboard my ship, Yamato."
"I'll show you the real world."
"Not the one written in Oden's journal—"
"But your own world."
A breeze swept across the battlefield.
Carrying the scent of grass from beyond the war zone.
Yamato looked up through tear-filled eyes.
In Luffy's gaze—
There was no expectation for "Oden."
Only acceptance of Yamato.
The fog in her heart shattered.
She took a deep breath.
Wiped away her tears.
Her crimson eyes shone brightly again.
And she nodded firmly.
"—Yes!!"
That answer belonged to no one else.
Not Oden.
Not anyone's shadow.
Only to Yamato, daughter of Kaido.
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