CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 150: THE ASHURA CLAN OF MOUNT ATAMA

Golden Lion Shiki and Newgate could both sense the beastly aura rising from the bandit chief below. It was terrifying — powerful enough to rival even a great swordsman.

"Shyahhahha~! Newgate, looks like we picked the right opponent this time! He’s strong — strong enough to go all out against!"

Shiki laughed loudly as he controlled the floating island, sending it crashing down like a falling meteor. The sheer pressure made the bandit grunts nearly wet themselves as they scattered in a panic.

Ashura Jakun placed a hand on his sword hilt, dashed forward to gather momentum, and in a flash drew his blade. A massive white crescent-shaped slash shot out, slicing straight toward the island.

"You think you can cut through my island? Don’t get cocky!!!"

Golden Lion Shiki wasn’t about to back down. Drawing both Oto and Kogarashi, he slashed out a cross-shaped shockwave to collide with the enemy’s massive sword aura.

Boom!

The explosion that followed rocked the air. Shiki’s slash was dispersed, but Ashura Jakun’s attack also lost its strength — it couldn’t cleave the island in two.

Still, the island continued its unstoppable fall, crashing toward the bandits’ hideout. Another slash followed — not as powerful as Jakun’s, but enough to split the island apart.

The island’s wreckage still smashed the bandits’ lavish headquarters to rubble, leaving devastation everywhere.

"Shiki-ossan’s so strong! I want that kind of sorcery power too!"

Kozuki Oden cheered as he and his men landed safely atop the bandit base, riding on a flat wagon Shiki had kept stable with his power.

The five samurai of the Oniwabanshu quickly closed in, surrounding Oden to shield him, while Newgate and Shiki stood tall up front, their presence overwhelming as they faced Ashura Jakun and the regrouping bandits.

"Hey, hey, what’re you guys doing surrounding me like this? I’m fighting too, you know!"

Oden complained, frowning at how the Oniwabanshu treated him like some weakling in need of protection.

"That’s the uniform of the Kozuki Clan’s Oniwabanshu!"

Ashura Pengan’s face tensed as he recognized the enemy, quickly alerting his brother Jakun. Could it be that the shogun’s clan from Wano had come to strike them down?

"Such powerful sorcerers..."

Jakun’s expression darkened as he eyed Shiki and Newgate. That golden-haired swordsman’s skill wasn’t far from his own — but his ability to control the earth itself was fearsome.

"Gurarara~! The shogun’s already leased Kuri to us, the Hell Pirates! You mountain bandits have two choices: submit, or get beaten down and hauled off for... re-education through labor!"

Newgate grinned. He liked that term — "re-education through labor" sounded a lot better than slavery or forced labor. It fit his principles better, and he believed Brook wouldn’t approve of brutality either.

"Hmph! The Ashura Clan has ruled Mount Atama for over a century! I won’t let you do as you please. I choose to fight — and defeat you!!"

Jakun snarled. His clan had always loathed the rich and powerful. They made their living by raiding noble caravans and sometimes even shared their loot with poor villages.

"Shyahhahha~! Newgate, this is lawless land. Strength rules here! They don’t even fear the Kozuki Clan — why would they care about some lease agreement? Let’s fight it out first!"

Shiki had already set his sights on Jakun and wasn’t about to let Newgate steal his opponent. Without another word, he charged, twin blades slashing as he flew at high speed.

At the same time, Ashura Pengan lunged at Newgate, trying to stall him so his brother could take down the golden-haired man first.

"Gurarara~! So you’re underestimating me, huh?"

Newgate laughed, unbothered. With a sudden swing of his naginata, he smashed the upstart aside. It wasn’t Murakumogiri — one of the supreme-grade blades — but it was still plenty sharp.

If Newgate had already mastered Ryuo (the flowing Haki), this strike would’ve ended the fight then and there. His raw strength was no joke.

With the Haki foundation he already had, he figured he’d fully grasp Ryuo within the week. And if he awakened Conqueror’s Haki on top of that, he’d have Shiki beat for sure.

Seeing their second-in-command go down like that, the bandits froze in shock. Meanwhile, Oden seized the chance, charging into the fray and cutting down bandits left and right.

Alarmed, the Oniwabanshu rushed to cover him like a personal guard unit, shielding him from being overwhelmed or struck by hidden arrows.

"Pengan!!!"

Jakun roared as he broke free from Shiki’s assault, rushing to his fallen brother. Pengan lay bloodied in a crater, his breathing weak.

Jakun grabbed his brother’s hand and drew a sharp breath. His arm was broken, ribs shattered, and his organs were injured. That little giant’s brute strength was terrifying — one blow had crippled his brother!

"I let my guard down... thought I could take him head-on like an idiot!"

As a swordsman, Pengan should’ve known better than to challenge a giant’s raw power. He’d only meant to stall the enemy — not trade blows with full force. But that giant didn’t hold back and struck with everything, leaving him severely wounded.

Pengan gritted his teeth and forced himself up, though he could barely stand. His dominant arm was broken — he couldn’t fight anymore.

"Big bro... I messed up. It’s all on you now. If it comes down to it... surrender. Don’t fight to the death. Ashura Doji still needs you."

His voice was weak, but clear. He knew they were outmatched. He could also see the Kozuki warriors cutting down their men mercilessly, driving the bandits into chaos.

Who could’ve guessed that their enemies had a sorcerer who could fly and control the earth, bypassing Kuri Castle entirely and striking deep into Mount Atama? If not for that, it would’ve been Kuri’s defenders facing these monsters first.

"Enough! Stop slaughtering the weak! I’ll settle this — one duel to decide it all! If I win, you leave. If you win... we surrender!"

Jakun’s eyes were bloodshot as he roared, halting Oden and the Oniwabanshu’s massacre. Did these men have no warrior’s pride? Bullying the weak was beneath them!

But Oden had gotten carried away in the heat of battle, while the Oniwabanshu’s mission was simple: protect their young lord by eliminating all threats — no exceptions.

Hearing the bandit chief’s desperate cry, Newgate stepped in and grabbed Oden by the collar before he could charge again. The boy’s bloodlust was getting out of hand — not fitting for someone so young.

Newgate frowned as he looked at this new disciple of Brook’s. This kid... he was supposed to be Wano’s future ruler, yet here he was, acting like a cold-blooded killer.

Yeah... someone needed to teach him better.

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