One Piece: Ascending the Divine Path

Knight sat cross-legged on the soft cushion.

Two knives rested on his knees, one of which was the Nidai Kitetsu, which he had obtained from Kozuki Sukiyaki.

The other one has a white hilt and scabbard, with a three-lobed guard.

This sword is called Ame no Habakiri, one of Kozuki Oden's two swords, a great sword handcrafted by Kozuki Sukiyaki.

Having already obtained the Ame no Habakiri, the other sword would naturally follow suit.

Knight was still holding a knife in his hand.

Apart from the purple color of the hilt and scabbard, the overall design is similar to that of the Ame no Habakiri, and the tsuba is also three-lobed.

This sword is called Enma, a famous sword said to be able to destroy even hell, and it is also ranked among the twenty-one Great Swords.

Great, one of my goals for coming to Wano Country has been successfully achieved.

Knight played with the knife, then looked up with interest at Denjiro, who was protecting Hiyori and Sukiyaki behind him.

"There's no need to be wary; you are not my enemies."

"Who exactly are you?!"

Of course, Denjiro wouldn't put down his sword just because Knight said that.

By threatening Sukiyaki-sama's life, they forced Hiyori-sama to hand over the two beloved swords left behind by Oden-sama.

This man is clearly not an ally.

  

"Seriously, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Knight's lips twitched. "What I mean is, you're not worthy to be my enemies."

"ah!"

Hiyori Kozuki, who was behind him, suddenly cried out in surprise.

Denjiro instinctively turned around and saw that Kozuki Sukiyaki had already placed a knife against Kozuki Hiyori's neck.

"Sukiyaki Master—"

Denjiro felt a chill run down his spine.

What exactly happened?

Could this Sukiyaki Master be a fake?

"Grandpa?"

Hiyori Kozuki was equally shocked.

Then they heard it.

Kozuki Sukiyaki raised the corners of her mouth and said with a smile, "Didn't I tell you? You are not qualified to be my enemies."

"...!"

Denjiro's hand holding the sword felt weak, his throat was dry, and sweat was beading on his forehead.

What, what is this—

Sorcery?

Is this guy even human?

"What exactly did you do to Grandfather?!"

Hiyori Kozuki's eyebrows furrowed as she stared intently at Kozuki Sukiyaki's aged face, questioning him almost through gritted teeth.

"Hmph,"

Knight, possessing the body of Kozuki Sukiyaki, chuckled softly, casually retracting the knife from Hiyori's neck and placing it against his own. "Hiyori, you don't want your grandfather to die either, do you?"

Hiyori Kozuki's body was going weak, and the courage to question Knight was gone.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"If you want your grandfather to live, then don't resist."

Knight snapped his fingers lightly.

Kozuki Hiyori collapsed to the ground.

"stop!!"

Denjiro finally roared, pointing his blade at Knight, "What have you done! Wake up Hiyori-sama!"

Knight looked at him.

This man is quite strong among the Nine Red Scabbards, only inferior to Ashura Doji, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi. He is definitely at the level of the Sixth Prince, and should be considered very strong in this rank.

and so.

A wicked smile bloomed on Knight's lips again. "You wouldn't want Hikari and her granddaughter to die in front of you, would you?"

"..."

Chuanjiro remained silent.

And so, this guy also collapsed limply.

Knight couldn't help but laugh.

That's why I said Kaido and Orochi could win.

That's too easy, isn't it? They're just bullying an idiot.

Soon, Hiyori and Denjiro slowly woke up, and Sukiyaki, who had been possessed by Knight, regained control of her body.

The three had already met in the dream world, so at this moment, they simply looked at Knight in silence and with heavy hearts.

"Alright, we're all on the same side now, you can catch up."

Knight said casually, "Let me take a look at this knife."

As he spoke, he grasped the hilt of Yama's sword and drew it directly.

Almost the instant the blade was drawn, a powerful suction force came from the hilt, and the domineering aura was forcibly drawn into the blade. Visibly, Knight's arm became shriveled.

Denjiro, who had been somewhat lost and dejected, suddenly sharpened his gaze.

it is good!

Enma!

Suck him to death!

To suck someone to death is, of course, impossible.

"What do you want to do with just a knife?"

Knight gave a cold laugh.

The domineering aura that had been channeled into Yama abruptly stopped, and then forcibly drawn back into Knight's body.

If Zoro can do it so easily, why can't I?

Denjiro lowered his eyes in disappointment.

But does this guy want to tame Yama? It won't be that easy!

Knight knew, of course, that controlling his own domineering aura to prevent Yama from arbitrarily absorbing it was only the beginning of taming this sword.

The most important thing is to let this broken knife know that what is given to you is yours, and what I don't give you, you can't take.

Knight deliberately infused his domineering aura into Enma.

A jet of black electricity suddenly leaped from the blade, and a powerful force was brewing.

Then Knight abruptly withdrew his domineering aura, and Enma returned to her ordinary self.

Injection, withdrawal, injection again, withdrawal again.

Enma is in a superposition state of being both charged and depleted.

How do you say "inch stop challenge"?

While Knight was training his eagle, the grandfather and grandson of the Kozuki family did indeed begin catching up.

Hiyori Kozuki recounts her experience of being rescued by Kawamatsu, living with him until she was thirteen, then leaving to seek revenge, meeting Denjiro in the Flower Capital, and finally choosing to become a geisha.

Kozuki Sukiyaki, with a look of shame, recounted how he was deceived and imprisoned by Kurozumi Orochi, and how, after narrowly escaping, he found everything settled and, in despair, chose to live in seclusion.

"It's all because I was too stupid."

Kozuki Sukiyaki wept with shame, saying, "All the tragedies started when I was deceived by Orochi."

"Don't blame yourself, Grandfather."

With tears in her eyes, Hiyori said sorrowfully, "It's all Orochi and Kaido's fault. They are too despicable. You were deceived by them, and Father was deceived by them too."

"Hiyori——"

Looking at her granddaughter, Kozuki Sukiyaki was overwhelmed with emotion. "I'm sorry, I thought you were all gone, so... so..."

He was too ashamed to say the rest.

"Please don't mind, Grandfather,"

Kozuki Hiyori, who is the same age as Knight and is also seventeen, shook her head. "Given the circumstances at the time, there was nothing you could have done even if you had stood up. Rather, it's a relief that you're still alive."

"I realized I still have family in this world."

"Hiyori..."

Kozuki Sukiyaki wiped away her tears.

This child is so gentle.

She's probably more like her mother, isn't she? Oden was a devil from a young age.

"Oh, right, Hiyori,"

Kozuki Sukiyaki seemed to remember something and said seriously, "I don't want to be a geisha anymore. From now on, leave everything to me, your grandfather!"

There was no hope in the past, so we gave up.

But now that her granddaughter is alive and even prepared to sacrifice herself for revenge, Kozuki Sukiyaki feels she must stand up.

"That won't work."

Knight, who was struggling with Enma, suddenly spoke up, "You have to come with me."

"What?"

Kozuki Sukiyaki turned around and looked at Knight in astonishment.

"This country is entrusted to you, Kozuki Hiyori."

Knight looked at the beautiful young woman and said, "Denjiro is enough as an undercover agent. Go and integrate the remaining resistance forces in Wano Country."

"I?"

Hiyori Kozuki pointed blankly at herself.

"That's right, Lady Hiyori!"

Denjiro quickly chimed in, "Since Lord Momonosuke is no longer here, you are the sole heir of the Kozuki family. No one is more suitable than you!"

It's better than continuing to be a geisha.

"No, I can't!"

Hiyori shook her head repeatedly, "Where would I get that kind of power?"

"What do you think?"

Knight tilted his head. "Am I discussing this with you?"

Snapped.

An invisible slap landed on Hiyori Kozuki's face, knocking the woman to the ground.

Hiyori covered her face and stared blankly at Knight.

My dad has never hit me!

"Hiyori-sama!"

"Hiyori!"

Denjiro and Kozuki Sukiyaki were both in a hurry and glared at Knight—they didn't dare to make a move, knowing it would be pointless.

"Listen up, Hiyori,"

Knight said calmly, "Because this is my order, you just need to carry it out."

"Wano Country can only rely on you now, can't it?"

"If we can't do it, this country has no hope, and you, all of you, will only die."

"..."

Hiyori Kozuki moved her lips twice and finally sat up slowly.

She kept her face covered, not daring to look at Knight.

What a rude and arrogant man...

I really don't know what he's really like, so cold and aloof.

She had almost realized that, just like how she could possess her grandfather, the man she was seeing now might just be one of the objects he possessed.

Knight continued, "Ashura Doji is a thief on the first mountain in Kuri, and Kawamatsu is imprisoned in the quarry prison in Udon. Don't rush to rescue Kawamatsu, go find Ashura Doji first."

"Has Mr. Kawamatsu been arrested?"

Hiyori Kozuki no longer cared about pretending to be Yu-Yu, and her voice immediately rose.

Kawamatsu, that's the man who took care of her since she was six years old, and was like a father to her in many ways.

"No wonder we haven't heard from him for so long!"

Denjiro also seemed a little anxious.

Knight completely ignored Hiyori's question, saying, "There are still quite a few ronin imprisoned in the quarry's jail; they shouldn't refuse to follow you."

The Wano Country ronin, led by Hyogoro, are quite powerful.

"but,"

Kozuki Sukiyaki said with some concern, "If they really cause a ruckus at the quarry, how could Kaido possibly stand idly by?"

That's why I said it.

Knight said calmly, "Don't go save Kawamatsu yet."

"I'll go when I have time. How about we use the quarry in Udon as your base?"

Hiyori Kozuki's eyes narrowed instantly.

Yes, they couldn't resist this man.

Do you think the Beast Pirates guarding the quarry prison in Udon can resist?

"Oh?"

Knight suddenly turned around and looked at the Yama in his hand. "It's done."

The blade of Yama in his hand was completely black, and beyond this blackness, invisible currents of energy swirled around it, with streaks of black lightning leaping about.

It has already been tamed.