One Piece: Lord of Calamity

Wano Country is a very special nation. This isn't just because it's a closed country; its geographical environment and landscape are also incredibly unique.

The seas surrounding the nation are perpetually tumultuous with huge waves, treacherous currents, and whirlpools, making it difficult for ordinary ships to even approach the island.

And once you get close, the true uniqueness reveals itself.

"What a peculiar country," Dylan exclaimed, gazing down in wonder as the giant snails steadily ascended the steep rock face. "Is it built on a high plateau?"

Doflamingo at his side twitched the corner of his mouth. The country of Germa was arguably even more peculiar. What was more special, being built on a plateau or on the back of snails? Moreover, all the buildings on the snails' backs had been specially modified, allowing them to climb vertical rock faces without any issues.

"Far from it," Roa chuckled. If this were Earth in his previous life, Wano's topography would indeed be quite special. But in this chaotic world, what was Wano Country? Compared to places like Elbaf, Fish-Man Island, or Skypieia, it truly held no prestige.

Soon, the giant snails had reached the summit of the rock face, and the true sight of Wano Country unfolded before everyone. In front of them lay a shimmering blue sea.

"A sea within the island?" King flapped his wings and flew into the air, looking into the distance. "Islands within the sea?" It was like a set of nesting dolls.

"What do we do next?" Kaido slowly stood up from the ground, pulling out his spiked club from seemingly nowhere and resting it on his shoulder. He gradually curved his lips. "Where should we begin the destruction?"

"Don't sound so scary, Big Brother Kaido," Roa stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Although there was a significant height difference, that was the idea. "We're not bringing destruction; instead,"

"Civilization!" Factories and machinery, workers and factory owners, new classes and new production relations. Combined, they formed advanced civilization.

"Uroguroro!" Kaido burst into laughter, leaning on his spiked club, barely able to stand upright from amusement.

"Then let's go quickly! Don't keep them waiting." The snails rumbled forward, easily crossing the inner sea, and finally officially set foot on the land of Wano Country. Hmm, this operation would be called the "Snail Arrival."

"What heavy snow," Roa said, looking up as snowflakes as large as goose feathers drifted down. This must be the Ringo region, located in the northeast of Wano Country, where it snowed all year round. Auspicious snow signified a bountiful harvest—a good omen.

"Boss! There's a town about thirty li to the right front," King reported as he descended from the sky.

"Well done, King," Roa nodded slightly. "Then let's go find someone to guide us first." He turned to Kaido. "Big Brother Kaido, what do you think of the plan to find this country's ruler and ask for his help?" Also known as, commanding vassals by holding the emperor.

"I don't care," Kaido said.

The giant snails advanced rapidly, leaving massive tracks across the snow-covered land.

"Hm? What's that?" Before long, Roa noticed something unusual on the white landscape. Everything else was a vast expanse of white, but there was one spot that was completely black—it stood out too much.

"Someone's there," Kaido suddenly said.

"That's great then; we can ask about the country's situation," Roa replied. The snail convoy changed direction, heading towards the dark structures.

...

Yamashita Goro was a samurai, affiliated with the Shimotsuki Family of Ringo.

His proudest achievement was following Daimyo Shimotsuki Ushimaru in eliminating four bandit groups entrenched in Ringo's snowy mountains in a single day.

However, it was during that operation that Yamashita Goro lost his right hand. A samurai who could no longer wield a sword had lost his value.

But Daimyo Ushimaru was still humane, assigning Yamashita Goro an important task: to guard the Northern Cemetery in Ringo.

This cemetery itself wasn't particularly special. What made it special was that Ryuma, the Sword God and guardian deity of Wano Country, was buried there, and his beloved sword, the national treasure Shusui, was enshrined in a nearby sanctuary.

Although this place held great significance, the job was actually quite leisurely. Ryuma's status in Wano Country was so high that even the most heinous bandits spoke of him with reverence.

No one ever dared to cause trouble here. So, Yamashita Goro's colleagues were mostly old, weak, or disabled samurai. They were all very satisfied with this work. What could be more honorable than guarding Lord Ryuma's peace in death?

Yamashita Goro was performing his daily duty of cleaning tombstones in the cemetery when he noticed something was wrong.

He suddenly saw the accumulated snow on the ground trembling. Then, quickly, even the tombstones began to vibrate.

Something was coming! Was it some kind of beast? Wano Country was home to many enormous and powerful monstrous beasts.

The experienced old samurai immediately rushed out of the cemetery, his left hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. No matter what kind of beast it was, he would absolutely not allow it to defile Lord Ryuma's—

His hurried steps suddenly halted, and his expression gradually turned blank. What... was this?

Massive, mountain-like monster snails completely blocked the open field ahead. On the backs of these snails were buildings. In front of the snails, his colleagues knelt helplessly on the ground, kneeling before a young boy.

"Thank you," the boy was politely saying. "So, the Black Blade Shusui is here?" He took a step. Walking towards him. Shusui! He wanted Shusui!

Yamashita Goro gripped the hilt of his sword with his left hand. Although he only had one left hand, he had never stopped training these past years. With one hand, his strength was weaker, so he practiced iaijutsu to enhance the power of his slashes.

Closer! Closer! He was almost within his attack range! The veins on the back of Yamashita Goro's left hand, gripping the sword, bulged. Die.

Roa passed by the one-armed samurai, a little bewildered. A lunatic.

Thud. The one-armed samurai slumped to the ground. Why couldn't he draw his sword? So terrifying, truly, so terrifying.

Soon after, the snail convoy continued to rumble forward. Roa sat cross-legged on the head of a giant snail, holding up the sword in his hand. The blade was purplish-black, with a wild, inverted hitamono pattern and red, jagged designs.

"Isn't it cool, Black Blade Shusui!" Roa praised. The national treasure of Wano Country, the beloved sword of the Sword God Ryuma, and one of only two known black blades in the world—oh, now it was the only one.

Suddenly, a red aura spiraled up Roa's arm, wrapping around Shusui and causing the entire sword to tremble.

"Stop messing around," Roa tapped the sheathed sword at his waist. "This sword is for research, to help you upgrade again." The red aura then disappeared. Sigh, there was nothing he could do. After fully feeding Tiger Soul, it had become a bit of a yandere.

"Research?" Kaido, sitting nearby and drinking sake, casually asked, "What's there to research about a broken sword?"

"I think you completely don't understand, Big Brother Kaido," As the version gradually upgraded and combat power steadily inflated, the black blades, which had never truly revealed their full power, must possess unknown, astonishing strength. Otherwise, Mihawk would seem too weak.

"Judge," Roa sheathed the sword and casually tossed it to Judge at his side. "It's yours." Haki should fall under the realm of human body science, right? Judge, being skilled in human modification, should be able to research something.

"I understand!" The dark-eyed Judge readily accepted the new task.

"Now then," Roa turned back to the few samurai who were shrinking back in fear. "The battle is about to begin."

"The lord of this region is named Shimotsuki Ushimaru, right?" Kaido also showed some interest. "The legendary samurai of Wano Country, said to be quite powerful. Uroguroro! Let me see what kind of power he possesses!"

"Shimotsuki isn't important," Roa smiled meaningfully. "The key is that invincible Kozuki Oden."

"Invincible?" Kaido sneered. "A frog in a well, how would it know the vastness of the sky!" Tsk, tsk, tsk, with that attitude, it seemed he was bound to get sliced again. But that could wait.

They had arrived. Roa stood up. The white land suddenly disappeared. In its place were black farmlands, and further ahead, a prosperous city. This was the capital of the Ringo region.

And on a mountain outside the town, a tall castle stood majestically. In Wano Country's terms, it should be called a kyojo, the residence of the Daimyo. Almost simultaneously, at the top of that castle's keep.

Shimotsuki Ushimaru, the Daimyo of Ringo, and a descendant of Sword God Shimotsuki Ryuma, was holding a fox and staring in astonishment at the rapidly approaching colossal objects in the distance.

What in the world was that?