Clang!
To Jack's surprise, Kyoushiro used the momentum of Jack's own slash to propel himself forward, turning into a blur and instantly knocking away the ten or so pirates charging at Kozuki Hiyori. In the blink of an eye, he was already standing protectively in front of her.
Bang!
"What!?"
Jack was stunned. Seeing Kyoushiro already shielding Komurasaki, he realized for the first time just how formidable this man truly was. His expression twisted in rage, and his eyes went bloodshot.
"You bastard...!"
He surged forward in a blur, his dual blades swinging in a whirlwind of rapid, brutal strikes.
Kyoushiro narrowed his eyes. He had heard that Jack was reckless, but he hadn't expected someone so mindless. Just moments ago, he'd purposely avoided a head-on clash, redirecting Jack's blow and even using the back of his sword when striking the henchmen, hoping to de-escalate the situation.
But now, there was no avoiding a full confrontation.
With a silent sigh, Kyoushiro gently pushed Komurasaki back and stepped forward, ready to face Jack head-on.
In an instant, their blades collided with thunderous force.
When it came to raw strength, Jack was a monster. The might of his Fishman bloodline, combined with his ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, made him nearly immovable. Kyoushiro didn't dare challenge him in brute power. But what he lacked in strength, he made up for in blinding speed, and his mastery of Oden's Two-Sword Style gave him a precision and grace that Jack couldn't match.
Unfortunately, the clash between them was devastating. Each exchange of blows sent shockwaves through the area, tearing buildings apart and sending terrified civilians running in every direction.
Not far from the chaos, the madam of the pleasure house clung tightly to Kozuki Hiyori's hand, her voice filled with urgency.
"Komurasaki, you must get out of here! This is too dangerous!"
But Komurasaki shook her head, refusing to move.
"No… I want to stay with Kyoushiro-san! Besides…"
She hesitated, a heavy dread tightening in her chest.
"Even if I ran… where could I possibly go?"
The madam was silent for a moment, but then her eyes widened in realization. The one who summoned Komurasaki wasn't just Kurozumi Orochi. It was Kaido, a name that inspired even deeper fear throughout Wano. She had no words.
Boom!
With a single sweep of Jack's curved blades, a towering three-story building split cleanly in half. But Jack didn't even glance at it. His Kenbunshoku Haki had already picked up a presence behind him.
"Tch. Running around like some damned insect… annoying little bug."
He spun abruptly and slashed at the space behind him.
Clang!
Their swords met once again. This time, Kyoushiro was clearly on the defensive, forced to give ground under the pressure of Jack's relentless power. Still, he wore that calm, composed smile as he spoke.
"There's no point in this. Even if we battle for three days and nights, we'll never reach a conclusion. Why not let our lords decide how this ends?"
As he spoke, he redirected Jack's force with a smooth parry and leapt backward.
But his words had no effect.
Jack wasn't listening.
He didn't care about reason or negotiation. The only thing that mattered was completing the mission Kaido had given him, no matter the cost.
Seeing this, a red glint flashed across Kyoushiro's eyes.
"So that's how it is... if words are wasted on you, then I'll just have to take you down myself, Jack."
At that moment, Ryuo Haki surged over Kyoushiro's blades, coating them in a vibrant, crackling aura. An overwhelming pressure exploded from his body as he vanished in a burst of speed, becoming nothing more than a streak of crimson light.
A sharp flash cut across the battlefield.
Jack felt a sudden, searing pain in his chest. Blood spurted out violently as a deep gash opened from his collarbone all the way down to his abdomen.
"Wha... ggh!"
Scarlet blood poured from his mouth as he stared in disbelief at the subordinate of Kurozumi Orochi standing before him.
"So strong..."
Even with such a brutal injury, Jack didn't fall. Gritting his teeth, he raised his curved blades and launched another furious onslaught. His killing intent surged like a storm, violent and unrelenting.
Kyoushiro's brows knitted together, disturbed by the sheer persistence of his opponent.
"That wasn't enough to bring him down?"
Jack's attacks became more vicious with each strike. Though Kyoushiro maintained his form, he was now struggling to block every blow. Thin cuts and bruises started to appear on his body, a grim reminder that even he had limits.
The regeneration granted by Jack's Zoan abilities was terrifying. The wound Kyoushiro had just inflicted, one deep enough to fell most warriors, was already beginning to knit back together, steam rising from the closing flesh.
But Kyoushiro couldn't go all out.
Though he outmatched Jack in technique and speed, he was bound by a greater purpose. Toki-sama's prophecy still weighed on him. He had to remain hidden as Kyoushiro. He could not afford to reveal his true strength or identity, not yet. Because of that, he held back the killing blow he was more than capable of delivering.
This restraint didn't go unnoticed.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd watching the fight from a distance.
"That stamina!"
"No wonder he serves Kaido!"
"He's that badly hurt, and yet he's pushing Kyoushiro-dono back!"
"Who do you think will win?"
"It doesn't matter… what matters is Komurasaki…"
Amid the chaos, Komurasaki stood nearby, her hands clenched, eyes locked on the clash. Her heart was a whirlwind of anxiety and helplessness. From the start, she had feared this would spiral into something terrible.
Now, watching Kyoushiro being dragged deeper into a deadly fight, she made up her mind.
Without warning, she rushed forward and threw herself between them.
The sudden, reckless action froze both Jack and Kyoushiro in place. Their blades stopped mid-swing, instinctively halting at the sight of her.
"Enough!"
Komurasaki said firmly.
"This doesn't need to continue, Kyoushiro-dono. To serve Kaido-sama is my honor. Please inform Orochi-sama that once I have fulfilled my duty to Kaido-sama, I will return to serve him next."
Perhaps in her heart, this was the most rational choice and the best way to prevent further bloodshed. However, she didn't grasp the weight of her words.
Kyoushiro's expression twisted, his face contorted with a mix of rage and pain. Her decision, her willingness to go with Kaido, struck deep into his pride. His fists trembled at his sides, nails digging into his palms.
Jack, while slightly disappointed the fight had ended early, thought back to Kaido's orders and slowly sheathed his swords.
"You lot, take the woman."
"Aye!"
A group of Beasts Pirates moved toward Komurasaki, their faces filled with lecherous glee, but before they could lay a hand on her, she raised one hand with calm grace.
"There's no need for you gentlemen to trouble yourselves. I have my own palanquin."
As she spoke, a lavish palanquin was brought out from the pleasure house, guided by the madam and carried by four attendants. Komurasaki stepped inside without hesitation, her bearing regal despite the circumstances.
Jack nodded, making no objection.
"Return."
With that single command, the Beasts Pirates turned and began escorting the palanquin toward Onigashima. A strange stillness settled over the street as they departed.
From beginning to end, Kyoushiro never lifted his gaze. He kept his eyes fixed on the ground, unable to find the strength to look at her even once.
It was Jack who paused briefly, as if remembering something.
"Kaido-aniki said… if Orochi wants this woman back, he can come to Onigashima himself to get her."
With that, he turned and left, vanishing into the distance with the rest of the pirates.
Only after they were gone did Kyoushiro raise his head.
His face was flushed with humiliation, jaw clenched tight. But something flickered in his expression, a memory, a purpose, and he turned sharply, breaking into a run toward Orochi's estate.