One Piece : Brotherhood

The battle between Whitebeard and Scarlett had long surpassed the realm of mortal clashes; it was an unrestrained storm of fury and power, like two gods ripping apart the very island beneath them in their wrath.

The center of the island—or what was left of it—was now a colossal crater, stretching out for miles, gouged hundreds of meters deep.

At its heart, Scarlett lay battered and broken, barely able to lift herself with the last vestiges of her magnetic abilities. Her body was mangled, bruised, and barely functional, yet her defiant spirit blazed on.

Across from her, Whitebeard loomed, a titan scarred from the battle, a gaping three-pronged wound slashing from shoulder to hip like claw marks from some divine beast. The pain was searing, but he refused to yield. He had to see this through.

Scarlett coughed up blood, her lips twisting into a smirk even as she swayed on her feet. "Heh… still think you can save your brother, Whitebeard?" Her words dripped with mockery, challenging him even from the brink of death. Despite her crushed body, Scarlett's spirit was unbroken—she would not die lying down.

Whitebeard met her gaze, rage flaring in his eyes like a tempest upon the seas. "You took my time. You held me back. For six whole days, you kept me from saving my brother." He lifted his naginata, the blade gleaming with Haki as he prepared to end it. Every fiber of his being demanded justice, demanded he cut her down.

But just as he raised his weapon, Whitebeard halted, his instincts screaming a warning. His Observation Haki flared outward, sweeping the surrounding sea as he scanned for the disturbance.

Something was there—something dark, powerful, lurking just beyond his sight. He sensed a presence, an aura so potent it made even him, the so-called World's Strongest Man, hesitate. This was no ordinary threat.

It wasn't Scarlett that made him pause—it was the chilling recognition that whoever was out there had their eyes set upon his crew. A force with the strength to end his family while he stood by. His gaze sharpened, attempting to pinpoint the figure hiding in the shadows, a figure whose strength was undeniable.

Even though they hadn't clashed yet, Whitebeard could sense it: this presence was as powerful as he or Scarlett. A sickening suspicion gnawed at him, a face surfacing in his mind that he dared not acknowledge.

Scarlett's laughter rang through the crater, broken but mocking. She saw his hesitation and seized on it. "Do it, Edward," she sneered, blood trickling down her chin. "Strike me down if you dare, but are you willing to sacrifice your crew for my head?" Her voice, weak yet defiant, held a dark confidence.

The challenge cut deep, a reminder of the brutal reality he'd tried to protect his family from. Whitebeard's grip on his naginata faltered. His every instinct screamed to end her, to strike down the one who had dared keep him from his brother.

Yet, he could feel the oppressive presence watching, lurking in the shadows with malice, ready to strike at his crew the moment he made a move. He took a step back, his heart pounding with uncharacteristic doubt.

Scarlett cackled, her laugh coarse and harsh. "I told you, Edward… you've grown soft. You should've left the seas if you wanted a family. You're weak because you care. That's the difference between us! As long as anyone can hold a sword over your family's heads, they'll control you. And you know it."

Her words stung, seeping into his mind like venom. She was right—he had let his guard down, believing he could keep his sons safe just by being the strongest. Perhaps he'd forgotten how merciless the world truly was, how it preyed upon the things one held dear.

But for the first time since he betrayed his former captain, Whitebeard felt a crack in his resolve. His fingers tightened around the naginata, his expression a battle of fury and uncertainty.

And then he felt it—a surge of Haki so immense it was like a wave crashing down on him, freezing him in place. It radiated pure, unbridled strength, an aura that commanded silence and submission. It was as if the very air had thickened, and a weight pressed upon his chest, forcing him to acknowledge the power of the mystery figure.

This Haki was on a scale he hadn't felt in years, a power that could surpass the likes of Roger himself. Whoever this was, they were not a mere pirate—they were a force of nature, a monster in the truest sense.

Whitebeard's hands clenched as he fought against the Haki bearing down upon him, but his hesitation grew. A part of him urged to swing the blade down, to end Scarlett and face this hidden adversary. Yet another part held back, unwilling to risk his sons' lives on a gamble.

Scarlett grinned, blood staining her teeth, the madness of victory in her eyes. "You feel it, don't you, Edward? That power. That monster in the shadows. You know he's real."

Whitebeard's gaze remained fixed, his senses still searching for the truth of the shadowy figure who dared to challenge him. But in that moment, he knew—this was a battle he couldn't afford to finish, not here, not now. The weight of his family, his sons, his crew—it was a price he couldn't bear to wager.

"Come out!" Whitebeard roared, his voice booming across the sea, stirring waves into towering swells that crashed against the shattered remnants of the island. His Haki flared, rippling outward like a storm, but still, the figure lurking in the shadows didn't appear.

Instead, an ominous silence hung in the air, heavy as iron. It was as if the unknown presence were taunting him, remaining just out of reach, a ghostly threat that would strike if he dared finish what he started with Scarlett.

For long moments, they stood locked in this silent standoff, tension thickening like a vice. Whitebeard's instincts itched to move, to end Scarlett once and for all. But that unseen aura, cold and calculating, kept his fury in check.

The warning was clear: as long as Scarlett lived, his crew would be safe. His loyalty to his family, to his sons, outweighed his vendetta.

Finally, Scarlett stirred, her broken form struggling to gather the last shreds of her strength. With a grunt of pain, she shoved Whitebeard's massive form aside, her fingers digging into the cracked earth as she clawed her way up the rim of the crater.

Each step left a smear of blood, a grim testament to her battered state, but her eyes burned with defiance. Despite the unbearable pain, despite her mangled body, she pushed onward, driven by sheer willpower.

Whitebeard watched her, his jaw set, but his hand didn't move to stop her. The safety of his crew loomed in his mind, a weight that held his fury in check. His gaze darkened, and he forced himself to swallow the urge to strike, his hand steady on his naginata. His need to protect his family had to come before vengeance.

Scarlett turned, blood trickling from her mouth as she gave Whitebeard one last mocking grin.

"The next time we meet, Edward, the outcome won't be the same," she sneered, her voice low and ragged, laced with bitter satisfaction. "And don't think for a second that I'll spare you, even if you showed me mercy today."

Her laugh was a broken, hollow sound, but it carried an unyielding malice. Each step she took left a crimson trail as she dragged herself toward where Izumi and Dorian lay, battered but alive.

Their mission here had succeeded. They had stalled the mightiest man in the world, repaid old debts, and bought themselves another chance—albeit at a bloody cost.

Whitebeard's fists clenched as he watched her retreat, every instinct screaming to end her, to settle this here and now. But that silent, invisible force in the shadows held his wrath in check, a reminder that the lives of his sons hung in the balance.

His eyes followed Scarlett's retreat, and for the first time in years, the feeling of being restrained, of a battle unfinished, gnawed at him.

As Scarlett vanished into the distance, he murmured to himself, a quiet promise that echoed across the silent battlefield. "Next time, I won't let you walk away."

*****

The clash reached its fever pitch as the whole of Onigashima seemed to shudder, the very earth trembling beneath the force of Kozuki Oden's final strike. His figure, illuminated by the fires of battle, stood over Kaido's fallen, massive dragon form.

The wound he had dealt was no mere slash; it was a brutal, deep gash that split Kaido's face almost to the bone. Blood poured from Kaido's mouth as he crashed down from the sky, his massive body slamming into the ground with an impact that sent waves of dust and debris rolling across the battlefield.

In that moment, everything stilled. Pirates, samurai, and soldiers alike—those who had been locked in vicious combat seconds before—paused, gazes transfixed on the towering figure of Oden as he stood, battered yet resolute, his twin blades gleaming with an unyielding fire.

Kaido's labored breaths echoed, rumbling like thunder across the battlefield. The once-invincible dragon, a symbol of terror and power, now lay on the ground, bloodied and broken. Never before had anyone struck him with such devastating force; never before had he been laid so low.

Kaido lay sprawled across the battlefield, his immense form heaving with labored breaths, a deep, almost primal rage boiling within him. The pain from Oden's attack radiated through his entire body, a wound not just of flesh, but of pride.

Blood trickled from the near-fatal gash that split his face, but the wound to his ego cut far deeper. The shame, the burning humiliation of being laid low once again by Kozuki Oden, consumed him like fire.

In Kaido's mind, the memory of his past defeat resurfaced, a brutal reminder of the humiliation he had suffered before at the hands of Rosinante. But even then, he could find solace in the idea that it had been a "sneak attack," an ambush that hadn't given him a fair chance. This time, there was no such excuse.

Oden had bested him openly, in the heat of battle, and Kaido had even had the support of Big Mom, one of the few forces in the world he'd once considered his equal. And yet, it hadn't been enough. Even with his brutal training, the years spent honing himself into an indomitable force, he had still been felled by Oden.

His emotions churned within him, a chaos of shame, disbelief, and fury that threatened to drive him to the edge. He was the "Strongest Creature in the World," the Emperor of the Seas, yet here he was, lying broken at Oden's feet. The thought of it, the sheer absurdity of it, clawed at his mind, his rage swelling until it felt like he might explode.

"Damn you… Oden…" he growled through clenched teeth, his voice a guttural snarl. His fists tightened, and the ground beneath him cracked as he slammed his hand down, trying to force himself to his feet. But his strength betrayed him, his battered body refusing to rise.

He had pushed himself to his limit, thrown every ounce of power he had into this fight, and still… still, Oden had beaten him. The shame of it gnawed at him, and within the recesses of his mind, a dark voice whispered, taunting him, telling him that he was unworthy of his title, unworthy of the power he had fought so hard to claim. The image of Oden's defiant, unyielding gaze burned into his mind, a constant reminder of his failure.

"Is this… all my strength amounts to?" he muttered, almost in disbelief. A sick feeling settled in his gut, a loathing that wasn't just directed at Oden but at himself. He had believed himself to be invincible, the ultimate force, the dragon who ruled the skies and seas alike. And yet, when it truly mattered, he had been found wanting.

But even amidst the swirling chaos of his emotions, one feeling rose above all others—hatred. Hatred for Oden, the man who had broken him, who had exposed his weaknesses to the world.

The man who stood as a living testament to Kaido's failure. Kaido's bloodied lips twisted into a snarl, his gaze darkening with fury as he looked up at the figure of Oden standing victorious above him.

"Oden…" he whispered, his voice thick with venom. "I will not forgive this… I will not forgive you."

Kaido's mind raced, consumed by thoughts of vengeance, each more brutal than the last. He would not let this humiliation stand. He would not allow Oden to live freely, to bask in victory while Kaido's pride lay in ruins. No, he would make Oden pay for this, make him suffer in ways he could scarcely imagine.

"You think… you can just walk away after this?" he spat, his voice barely more than a growl. His hatred, his need for vengeance, began to fuse with his willpower, reigniting the fire within him even as his body lay broken. "I will make you suffer, Oden. I will tear apart everything you hold dear… I swear it."

And as Kaido struggled to even raise his head, it was clear to all present that the myth of his invincibility had been shattered by this one man. A man who refused to bow, who refused to break—Kozuki Oden, the rightful heir of Wano.

The samurai, scattered and weary, felt a surge of strength as they watched Oden emerge victorious. Back then before Oden cut down Orochi, they had fought in the shadows, bearing the heavy weight of resistance against Kaido's and Orochi's tyrannical rule.

But now, in this moment, they felt the burden lift. Awe filled their eyes, and a low murmur spread through their ranks, voices trembling with reverence as they looked upon Oden with a mixture of disbelief and devotion.

"Oden-sama… he's done it. He's truly done it," one of the younger samurai whispered, clutching his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white. "He's defeated the dragon."

The older warriors, veterans who had endured countless battles, couldn't help but recall the ancient legends of Wano, tales they'd grown up hearing in hushed voices around campfires.

They thought of Ryuma, the Sword God, the man who had once defended Wano against all threats, the man who had cut down a dragon in the skies above the Flower Capital.

Now, as they watched Oden standing victorious, blood-soaked and defiant, they felt as though they were witnessing a legend reborn. The spirit of Ryuma lived again in Oden, a warrior who fought not for himself, but for the very soul of Wano.

"Oden-sama…he's our Sword God reborn," an elder samurai murmured, tears glistening in his eyes. "He's given us hope."

All across the battlefield, the samurai felt a deep, unshakable reverence, as if the very spirit of Wano had risen to watch over them through Oden's strength. This was more than a victory—it was a miracle.

Even the pirates, fierce and bloodthirsty, found themselves stunned into silence. They had mocked the samurai, belittled their strength, and derided Oden as a mere relic. Yet, here he was, a living testament to Wano's unbreakable spirit.

They could feel their own morale faltering as they looked at their fallen leader, Kaido, who they had believed to be invincible. If a man like Kaido could fall, then what chance did any of them truly have?

Big Mom, who had been watching with a mix of rage and grudging respect, now stood frozen, an unfamiliar feeling twisting in her chest. Her left arm hung limp at her side, crimson staining her clothes and flesh, her mouth set in a grimace of fury and—yes, of fear.

She gritted her teeth, trying to suppress the foreign feeling clawing at her heart. Fear. It was something she hadn't felt in decades, something she believed long buried. But now, faced with Oden's raw power, that feeling crept back, tightening like a noose around her heart.

She attempted to call upon her Soul-Soul powers, the potent ability that had given her command over life and death, but for the first time, it faltered. Her souls felt subdued, cowering in the presence of Oden's aura, his will so immense it was as though the heavens themselves had granted him their strength.

"What… what is this man?" she growled, her voice trembling as she took a step back, feeling her resolve waver. She glanced around at her forces, watching her own crew members hesitate, their eyes wide with terror and disbelief. "Kaido, you fool… this is what you underestimated?"

Even her eldest children, once so proud and sure of themselves, looked shaken. They exchanged nervous glances, their confidence fading. None of them had expected this.

None of them could have imagined that Oden, the man they had once dismissed as reckless and stubborn, would rise to defy not one, but two of the world's most fearsome emperors. Oden's spirit had crushed the very air around them, filling the battlefield with a force beyond anything they had ever known.

Across the battlefield, Oden's subordinates, the Daimyo of various regions—Tempura, Ushimaru, Omusubi, and the others—stood with pride surging through their hearts.

They had always believed in him, trusted in his strength and honor. But this… this display of courage and power had surpassed their wildest dreams. Oden had not just proven himself; he had transcended into a legend.

Omusubi's eyes filled with tears as he whispered, "Oden-sama… this is why we followed you. Why we would follow you through life and death."

Tempura nodded, his voice choked with pride. "He… he's truly the hope of Wano. Our Shogun, Our lord, our Sword God."

Oden took a step forward, his expression fierce yet calm, his gaze burning like the sun. His hands, still gripping his twin blades, trembled slightly from the exertion, but his spirit remained unbroken.

He turned his gaze toward the samurai, his retainers, his people, and in his eyes, they saw a leader who had sacrificed everything for them. A leader who would stand against the world if it meant securing their freedom.

With a voice that echoed like thunder, he addressed them, his words ringing out across the ruins of Onigashima. "Samurai of Wano! Today, we stand not as conquerors, but as protectors! We have fought for our people, for our homeland, and for the freedom that Kaido and his kind sought to strip from us! Today, we show the world that Wano bows to no tyrant!"

His words surged through the samurai like a lightning bolt. Their eyes blazed with renewed fervor as they raised their swords high, a chorus of cheers erupting from their ranks.

Even the pirates, usually immune to lofty speeches, couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines. They watched with a mixture of awe and dread as Oden, defying all odds, continued to stand unyielding.

But Oden's gaze fell back upon Big Mom, her expression twisted in both fury and fear. He tightened his grip on his swords, his aura intensifying as he prepared for whatever might come next. "Linlin," he called out, his voice carrying an unmistakable warning.

"If you value your life, you will leave Wano and never return. Today, I grant you mercy, but should you cross me or my people again, I will show you no quarter."

Big Mom clenched her fists, but for the first time in her life, she felt herself taking a step back. The fierce defiance in Oden's eyes, the promise of retribution—it was more powerful than any threat she had faced in decades.

She, who had once ruled the seas without fear, now found herself humbled, acknowledging the strength of this man who refused to be broken.

As Oden took a step forward in the direction of Kaido to finish what he had started, the battlefield watched him in silence, the awe of what they had just witnessed settling deep in their bones. Kaido lay defeated, Big Mom subdued, and the very spirit of Wano stood victorious.

In that moment, Oden had done more than win a battle. He had become a legend, a symbol of hope, a force that would forever be etched into the hearts of Wano's people.

Just as the dust began to settle and the warriors of Onigashima braced for a moment of relief, a dark, oppressive force rippled through the battlefield. Big Mom's laughter erupted across the field, ringing like a sinister bell as her Conqueror's Haki flared once again, stronger and darker than before.

She who had seemed on the edge of doubt, shaken by the sight of Oden's overwhelming strength and Kaido's fall, now stood tall, her resolve rekindled. Flames and lightning crackled around her massive frame, her eyes alight with defiance as a smirk twisted her blood-streaked face.

"Mamamama…! Oden!" she bellowed, her voice shaking the very ground beneath their feet. "You think this is your victory? Do you truly believe you can put an end to me?" Her booming laughter carried an unsettling confidence, echoing through the battlefield and stirring fear in the hearts of those who dared to listen.

Oden turned his gaze on her, his swords still drawn, his eyes flashing with fury. He had granted her a single moment of mercy, a single chance to retreat with her life. But it seemed Big Mom would never acknowledge that mercy. If she wanted to challenge his strength, he would oblige her.

But just as Oden braced himself to put an end to her once and for all, a small, unassuming object cut through the air and thudded against the ground near his feet. His eyes flicked down, caught by the unexpected intrusion. What he saw sent a sudden chill through his veins, freezing him where he stood.

It was a severed head—weathered and bloodied, with eyes glassy and lifeless. Oden recognized the face in an instant. Bonzaburo.

Shock flashed across Oden's face, and then, with a sickening realization, horror took its place. His mind raced, each thought more chilling than the last. This wasn't just Bonzaburo's death. This was a message. A warning. They had gone after his family.

"Bonzaburo-san…" he whispered, voice trembling as he processed the sight before him. The old retainer who had been his mentor, his guide, the steady hand that had helped him grow as a leader—was gone.

And in such a brutal, dishonorable way. Oden's grip tightened around his swords until his knuckles turned white, his body vibrating with rage. In that instant, he understood the true meaning of Bonzaburo's death. It was a signal, a cruel declaration of war that no one was safe—not his friends, not his family.

Big Mom's sinister laughter filled the air, jarring Oden back to the present. She watched his reaction with a twisted smile, savoring his grief like a predator delighting in its prey's suffering.

Her Conqueror's Haki flared up again, meeting his in a volatile clash of wills. She wanted him to feel the helplessness, the dread, the utter terror of knowing that those he held dearest were now in danger.

"Mamamama! Did you really think this was going to be that easy, Oden?" Her voice dripped with mockery, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "You can't protect them all. Not against us."

The realization hit him like a dagger to the heart: If Bonzaburo had fallen, who else might be next? Had they already reached his family—his children, Toki? He envisioned their faces, their voices, his heart clenching as his mind spun in frantic desperation. His hand shook with the weight of the choices before him.

*****

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