Gankuro waved his hand with satisfaction, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Alright, proceed. Tell the brothers to speed things up."
"Yes, my lord!"
The subordinate responded promptly, bowing respectfully before retreating to carry out the order.
Not long after, the cheers of vagrants and thugs echoed along the riverbank. The ragtag group, shouting Lord Gankuro's name in unison, eagerly rowed their stolen fishing boats toward the other side of the river.
Inspired by their leader's confidence, nearly half of the soldiers had already set foot on Hakumai's soil.
Gankuro, convinced the moment had arrived, was preparing to board one of the boats when something unexpected occurred.
On the riverbank opposite them, a group of man in pristine blue-and-white uniforms emerged, standing in perfect formation. Before Gankuro could comprehend the situation, these disciplined troops launched a sudden and decisive attack.
Darius, the Marine officer leading the defense, observed the enemy's advance with steely resolve. A glint of cold determination flashed in his eyes as he barked out orders:
"Artillery units, take your positions and commence bombardment!
Musket units, fire as soon as the enemy enters range—suppress them with overwhelming firepower!"
At his command, the Marines sprang into action with well-practiced efficiency.
Despite lacking advanced equipment to transport heavy artillery, these elite soldiers from headquarters had managed to haul forty cannons to the front line through sheer grit—two men pushing and one pulling each piece.
Without delay, the artillerymen established firing positions, expertly loading the cannons. The first volley roared through the air, delivering a devastating impact.
The ronin and samurai of Wano Country, unaccustomed to modern warfare, were thrown into disarray. The crude weapons they carried—swords, spears, and clubs—were no match for the thunderous power of Marine artillery.
As shells rained down relentlessly, the battlefield became a chaotic scene of destruction. Samurai who had confidently drawn their blades moments earlier now screamed in agony, scattered like leaves in a storm.
The remaining Marines, advancing under the protective cover of artillery fire, moved with precision. As they closed in, muskets and rocket launchers came into play, adding to the carnage.
Some particularly daring soldiers wielded gatling-like machine guns, mowing down clusters of enemies with chilling efficiency.
While Wano Country had experienced limited exposure to firearms during Kaido's initial conquest, the Kozuki Army had never encountered anything on this scale. Centuries of stagnation in technological advancement had left them woefully unprepared for the devastation brought by modern weaponry.
It didn't take long for the once-proud army of 1,500 Samurai to fall apart. The relentless artillery and musket fire turned their ranks into a panicked, retreating mob.
Even the few skilled samurai among them, attempting to break through the encirclement, were swiftly eliminated. The Marine officers in their distinctive coats targeted them with ruthless precision, cutting them down one by one.
"Impossible! This is impossible!" Gankuro screamed, his face a mask of disbelief.
"How can these outsiders possess such devastating power? What manner of weapon can produce such thunderous explosions? Is this… magic?!"
The sight of his troops being annihilated filled him with horror. The riverbank was littered with the bodies of his soldiers—men who, just moments ago, had been boasting about their eventual victory.
Now, they lay scattered like freshly cut wheat.
Fear spread like wildfire among the remaining forces. Some, overcome by terror, abandoned their weapons and fled. Others, too paralyzed to move, collapsed to their knees, sobbing and praying to their gods for salvation.
"Oni! They're Oni!" one thug shrieked, his voice cracking with despair.
"Evil spirits sent to punish us!"
His cries sent waves of panic through the ranks. Many dropped to their knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy, their minds unable to process the horrors unfolding before them.
Even Gankuro's closest followers began to falter, their courage evaporating in the face of such overwhelming firepower.
But Gankuro, consumed by rage, refused to yield. Drawing his sword, he executed several of his cowering subordinates on the spot, his bloodshot eyes blazing with fury.
"Fools! Cowards! Do you think I will allow myself to be defeated here?" he roared.
"I have yet to become the hero of Wano Country! I have yet to claim my rightful place as daimyo!
I will not fall to mere outsiders!"
Driven to the brink of madness, Gankuro shoved aside anyone in his path. Reaching the riverbank, he leaped onto a fishing boat packed with soldiers. With each jump, he moved from boat to boat, advancing toward Hakumai with reckless determination.
His fearless charge inspired a glimmer of hope in his men. Watching their leader take action, the soldiers felt a surge of renewed resolve, as if a ray of light had pierced through their despair.
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