A moment later, Kaido reluctantly transformed into a kilometer-long Azure Dragon.

With Shiki's assistance, the two of them dragged Wano Country, imbued with the power of levitation, flying toward the waters of Jaya Island.

Loya, on the other hand, rode Pluton alone, drifting toward the ruins at the center of Wano Country...

At this moment, in a foul mood, Kaido was somewhat rough in his hauling, triggering another round of tremors across Wano Country.

Most of the survivors of Wano Country knelt on the ground in dazed bewilderment.

"What on earth is that giant Azure Dragon? And what is that huge ship?"

"Does the Heavenly God still refuse to spare our Wano Country?"

"It's all Kozuki Oden's fault! It's all the disaster brought upon us by the Kozuki Family!"

Amid the discussions of the survivors, an old man seemed entirely out of place.

Watching the Azure Dragon dragging Wano Country into the sky, the old man began muttering under his breath.

"In the 763rd year of Wano Country's closed borders, the Kozuki royal family ruled with a lack of virtue, perversely defying righteousness.

Kozuki Sukiyaki neglected state affairs, and Kozuki Oden accumulated malice and grievance, ultimately incurring the wrath of the Heavenly God.

On this day divine punishment descended, the earth roared and shook, tsunamis surged across the four seas, plunging the land into turmoil and displacing countless people in suffering.

Fortunate it is that the Azure Dragon God descended to the mortal realm, shouldering the land, pulling it from the vast sea and mortal world, dragging the entire nation up into the sky.

The Azure Dragon God is the true guardian beast of our Wano Country!"

The old man continued to mutter mystically.

He waved repeatedly to the apprentice beside him.

"Quick, help me back! This scene of the gods unleashing divine punishment and the Azure Dragon God saving all living beings must be recorded!

The Kozuki Family must be nailed to the pillar of historical shame forever!"

Hearing the old man's words, the surrounding citizens of Wano Country prostrated themselves one after another, continuously bowing toward the battleship Pluton that was drawing ever closer in the distance...

Behind the crowd, Lord Fugetsu, who had been heading toward Kozuki Sukiyaki's palace to investigate the situation, halted in his tracks.

As the current leader of the Fugetsu Family, one of Wano Country's five great families, he glared fiercely at the old man.

"Baka! He's just an ordinary stonemason, what does he know?

What does this have to do with the Shogun and the others?!"

With that, Lord Fugetsu immediately moved to draw his sword and slay this fellow who was slinging mud at Kozuki Sukiyaki.

The few people standing beside him hastily stopped him, pointing toward Pluton descending toward the Flower Capital.

"Lord Fugetsu, please reconsider!

That giant battleship is floating over; in all likelihood, our Wano Country is about to welcome a new ruler...

Besides, Lord Shimotsuki and the Uzuki Family should also be rushing toward the Flower Capital right now.

You can discuss it with them before making a decision!"

Watching the battleship Pluton draw closer and closer, Lord Fugetsu ultimately abandoned the thought of drawing his blade.

Although he was loyal to the Kozuki Family, he also understood.

Facing that kilometer-class giant battleship and the Azure Dragon dragging the entirety of Wano Country into the sky in the distance,

the katana in his hand was utterly useless.

He could take the stonemason's head with his katana, but there was no way he could use it to stop that gigantic warship from landing.

After a moment of internal struggle, he followed the example of the surrounding populace and knelt down.

Concealed beneath the wide sleeves of his kimono, his hand still gripped his katana tightly...

In a corner of the Flower Capital, Kurozumi Orochi, user of the Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi Fruit, and Kurozumi Higurashi, user of the Clone-Clone Fruit, cowered in the shadows.

Their personal bodyguard, Kurozumi Zenimaru, the current user of the Barrier Fruit, stood guard in front of them.

Compared to the ignorant populace and samurai, the trio from the Kurozumi Family appeared exceptionally excited.

Especially Kurozumi Higurashi, who had once left Wano Country.

"Kaido! That Azure Dragon is definitely Kaido!"

With that, she slapped Kurozumi Orochi across his broad forehead.

"Orochi, the Kurozumi Family's chance to rule Wano Country has arrived!"

Kurozumi Orochi licked the corner of his lips, a glimmer of greed showing in his eyes.

"Splendid! Soon we'll seek out the people on that ship to cooperate.

As outsiders, they will ultimately need us to help them govern Wano Country!"

...

Under the gaze of people with disparate motives, Pluton, imbued with the power of levitation, carried Loya down onto the ruins in the center of the Flower Capital within minutes.

Boom—!

The terrifying weight brought by Pluton's colossal size instantly flattened the nearby remaining rubble and collapsed buildings...

Possessing the guilty pleasure of showing off, Loya unleashed the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit the very moment Pluton touched down.

Dense black mist cascaded down from Pluton's hull like a tidal wave.

In just a few short breaths, before the survivors of Wano Country could even react, the thick black mist had enveloped them all.

At this moment, all light and sound in heaven and earth were swallowed by darkness, plunging the entire Flower Capital abruptly into a dead, pitch-black silence...

Tap, tap, tap—

The crisp, distinct sound of footsteps echoed with striking clarity amidst the dead silence.

Everyone looked up toward the direction of the sound.

From within the hazy, profound darkness, Loya strolled out at an unhurried pace.

Cihai floated behind Loya, the pale golden electricity along his blade serving as the sole source of light in this darkness.

All eyes were drawn to Loya.

The old stonemason who had been in a hurry to leave began muttering to himself once again.

"Following the manifestation of the Azure Dragon God, the God of Darkness and Thunder has descended upon the Flower Capital aboard a gigantic warship.

Darkness upends delusions, thunder severs deep-seated decay—Wano Country is bound to welcome a new dawn..."

On the other side, Lord Fugetsu, who had been clutching his katana tightly, began to tremble all over.

"What... what kind of divine power is this?!"

The terror in his heart caused him to unconsciously release his grip on the katana.

In the face of such an unknown entity, he lost all courage to swing his blade...

Kurozumi Orochi, meanwhile, stared at Loya with eyes filled with dread and wariness.

Who on earth is this man? With him around, will I truly be able to rule Wano Country in the future?

Kurozumi Higurashi said nothing, her eyes filled with doubt as she looked at Loya.

This fellow named Loya seems even stronger than Rocks.

Just where did he come from...

At this moment, Loya stepped onto the black mist and walked into midair with calm, composed strides.

An exceedingly faint wisp of Conqueror's Haki was quietly released.

A subtle pressure swept outward in all directions, bearing down heavily like an invisible mountain.

Under Loya's precise control, this Haki descended with pinpoint accuracy upon every samurai and member of the prominent families in the Flower Capital.

Loya controlled this power with extreme precision, leaving them unable to stand yet preventing them from losing consciousness and fainting.

Only after finishing all this did Loya speak out at an unhurried pace.

"My name is Loya, ruler of the sky.

Starting today, Wano Country shall become my domain. Who approves, and who opposes?!"