One Piece: Groudon the Beasts

Chapter 44 Desperate Shutenmaru
At three quarters past the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), fire engulfed the mountain.

The thieves were jolted awake from their sleep. When they saw the raging fire outside, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them, and all their drowsiness vanished instantly.

"Fire!!!"

Panic-stricken shouts echoed throughout the mountain village.

The thieves were completely thrown into chaos. They didn't even bother to grab their weapons and rushed out of the room to the square in the center of the stronghold.

But when they saw the neatly arranged bandit-suppression army and the dark muzzles of guns, a chill ran from their tailbone to the top of their head.

Goode's gaze was cold.

"Fire!"

"Bang Bang Bang!!!"

The samurai pulled the triggers, and a hail of bullets engulfed the thieves, turning the first wave of escapers into sieves in an instant.

"Ahhhh!!!"

Screams rose and fell.

The remaining thieves hid in the main hall of the stronghold, too afraid to show their faces due to gunfire, but a fierce fire had already set the house ablaze, and the heat and thick smoke were suffocating them.

Hiding indoors means certain death!

"Boss Jiutianmaru!"

The thieves looked at Shutenmaru with pleading and hope in their eyes.

Only the leader can save them.

"Despicable!"

Shutenmaru's eyes were bloodshot, and he trembled with rage. He had never expected that the enemy would use such a treacherous tactic.

As a samurai, one should fight honorably and fairly!
"Clang!"

The burning roof beams crashed to the ground!

Shutenmaru was having difficulty breathing, his lungs felt like they were on fire, and he knew very well that staying in the hall would only lead to his death.

"Qiang!"

Shutenmaru drew his sword and roared as he charged toward the mountain stronghold square.

"Brothers, let's fight our way out!"

"Come on!"

The thieves roared as they launched a death charge.

Shanzhai Square.

"coming soon!"

Goode stared into the mountain stronghold's main hall, slowly raising his right hand. The moment the thieves rushed out, he roared and swung his right arm!

"Hit me hard!"

"Oh oh oh!!!"

The samurai excitedly pulled the triggers, unleashing all their ammunition and instantly halting the thieves' charge.

For the first time in many years, they fought so smoothly, even defeating the Shutenmaru gang, who had dominated Kyuri for decades, and making them flee in terror.

Although using fire and firearms goes against the samurai spirit, the results are outstanding, and all of this depends on Lord Goode's command.

"Haha, this is so exhilarating!"

"As expected of Lord Goode!"

"He easily cornered the monsters in Kuri. Lord Goode's wisdom is probably far superior to even the legendary strategist Kin'emon!"

"of course!"

The samurai cheered excitedly.

Goode's face gradually darkened.

Kin'emon?
Can that guy really be considered a "strategist"?
These bastards, of all people to compare him to, they had to bring up Jin Huang. Apart from having a health bar that's comparable to the Four Emperors, what about him can compare to him?

What a bad luck!
"boom!"

With the final gunshot, the mountain village square fell silent, leaving only the crackling sound of the fire burning wood.

Four figures stood on the open ground.

"Hu~hu~~"

Shutenmaru was covered in blood, panting heavily, glancing at his three remaining brothers out of the corner of his eye.

"hateful!"

My heart is bleeding.

In less than a day, only three of his more than one hundred brothers remained. Even though he knew this day would come, he still couldn't accept it.

Pain, regret, anger!

A mix of emotions.

Just then, the three remaining thieves exchanged a glance and resolutely walked in front of Shutenmaru.

"Boss, run!"

"We'll cover you!" "The east side is on fire, escape to the west!"

Shutenmaru was stunned.

"you--"

“Boss, we’ve done so many bad things, we should have died long ago, but you’re different from us. You still have a mission to complete, you can’t die in a place like this!”

Facing imminent death, the thieves abandoned their fear, their only thought being to cover Shutenmaru's escape. They were all aware of their leader's wishes.

There are only five years left until the time Lady Shi predicted!
"Let's go!"

"Never underestimate a thief's ambition!"

"Kill them!"

Three thieves launched a deadly charge.

Goode's gaze was calm, showing no sign of mercy.

"Kill them!"

"Yes, Lord Goode!"

The samurai swarmed forward, instantly overwhelming the three thieves, but the next moment, more than a dozen samurai screamed as they flew into the sky.

It's Shutenmaru!

"Pirates!!!"

Shutenmaru roared to the sky, slashing his sword and sending all the samurai who surrounded him flying, his scarlet eyes fixed on Goode.

This guy was the one who orchestrated all of this.

He alone must die!
"Everyone get out of here!"

Shutenmaru roared and swung his sword, clearing a path with the swirling waves of energy before charging swiftly toward Good.

Goode's gaze remained calm as he slowly spoke.

"Big black."

"Qiang!"

Dahei appeared in front of Gude, slashing his sword to block Shutenmaru's attack. The powerful impact forced him to take a half step back, and the wound on his chest reopened.

"puff!"

Fresh blood spilled from the corner of his mouth!
Big Black's mouth was full of blood, and his eyes were filled with regret and struggle.

"Damn it, what stupid thing am I doing!"

Upon hearing Goode's order, he instinctively stepped in front of him, only realizing what he had done after he came to his senses.

His orders were to assassinate Goode!

But he was protecting Goode. He could have just stayed put and waited for Shutenmaru and Goode to fight.

Damn it, that man must have some kind of bewitching magic; even someone as battle-hardened as him has been affected!
Despite the pain of his wounds reopening, Daikoku withstood Shutenmaru's attacks without flinching; his ninja pride wouldn't allow him to back down.

"Shutenmaru, don't think things will turn out the same way as during the day!"

"It's you!"

Shutenmaru also recognized Daikoku.

It was the samurai who fought him during the day; unexpectedly, he survived.

"No chance!"

Shutenmaru looked around and saw more and more samurai charging towards him. If he didn't leave now, he would die here.

"Go away!"

Shutenmaru tensed his muscles, exerted a sudden burst of strength to knock back Daikoku, and then quickly leaped westward!

"puff!"

The moment his foot touched the ground, a sharp stone spike pierced through the instep!

Shutenmaru's pupils contracted, and a strong sense of crisis forced him to retreat quickly. The next moment, a dense array of stone cones appeared in front of him.

I was almost riddled with holes!

"What's this?!"

Shutenmaru knelt on the ground, looking at the stone cone forest with a sense of fear, but before he could think much, the enemy had surrounded him again!

Goode stepped out from the crowd and looked down at the kneeling Shutenmaru.

"Can you leave?"

"Pirate!"

Shutenmaru stared intently at Goode, realizing his impending death, but even in death, he would take the man before him with him.

Otherwise, five years from now, they will definitely become Kozuki's greatest enemy!

"Qiang!"

Shutenmaru plunged the blade into the ground, reached into his robes with his other hand, and was about to do something when a roar that shocked him reached his ears.

"Oden Two-Sword Style: Togen Totsuka!!!"

(End of this chapter)