Two days later.

Kuri Beach.

Morgans, the Fleet Admiral's personal guard, was leading naval soldiers in loading various supplies onto the warships.

Orion's return to Marineford didn't require this many supplies, but after Mihawk and the others successfully landed on Zou and obtained the third Road Poneglyph, they would continue sailing across the seas until finding the final Road Poneglyph before returning.

"Report to the Fleet Admiral, all supplies have been loaded onto the warships!"

Morgans, who had just directed soldiers to bring the last crate of supplies aboard, approached Orion.

"Fleet Admiral!"

Just then, another voice called out.

From among the soldiers who had been helping with the supplies emerged a tall figure—Yamato, who had been training in the military camp all this time.

Like Moria, Yamato was now dressed in a marine soldier's uniform, looking every bit the fresh recruit. (Seaman Recruit)

"Soldier Yamato, what are you doing?"

Before Orion could react, Morgans immediately turned and reprimanded.

"Return to formation at once!"

Ignoring Morgans, Yamato quickly strode up to Orion, saluted crisply and said eagerly.

"Fleet Admiral, I request permission to join Mihawk and the others on their mission to Zou!"

"Why do you want to go to Zou?" Orion asked with interest, observing Yamato who had undergone the most noticeable changes recently.

"I want to earn military merits!"

Yamato answered honestly, "I want to rise through the ranks quickly and make Captain Morgans my subordinate!"

Hearing this, Orion blinked in bewilderment before glancing at Morgans.

"What did you do to her? To make her so fixated on this?"

"Nothing much, really," Morgans chuckled sheepishly. "You gave orders that Yamato wasn't allowed in the men's restroom or the men's baths. She thought I was nagging too much and picked a fight with me!"

"Then, I punished her with two days of confinement for insubordination and assaulting a superior officer. After that... I made her carry three thousand pounds and run from dawn till dusk!"

"And then—"

Hearing Morgans was about to continue with "and then," Orion nearly burst out laughing.

Thankfully, Morgans had his backing—otherwise, given Yamato's temperament, she would have long since sent Morgans flying.

Still, this showed Yamato wasn't beyond redemption.

With the right motivation, she could become a valuable asset in the future.

Thinking this, Orion gestured for Morgans to step back and then looked at Yamato, whose eyes were shining with anticipation.

"Permission granted. Once we reach Zou, you'll accompany Mihawk's team."

With that, Orion wasted no more time, leaping onto the warship's deck.

Soon after, Mihawk, Robin, Gunko, Gion and the others joined him on deck, standing behind him.

"Set sail!"

Once everyone was aboard, Morgans immediately ordered.

"The Fleet Admiral is departing—Men Salute!"

"LOYALTY"

...

******

Evening.

On the decks of the two warships that had left Wano Country, everyone gazed up at the colossal figure ahead.

Except for a select few, the rest widened their eyes in disbelief, their faces filled with astonishment.

Before them stood an elephant of unimaginable size.

If not for its trunk dragging across the sea's surface, most aboard the warships would have mistaken it for some unknown island rather than a living creature.

"Is this... the legendary Zunesha?"

Standing beside Orion, Robin looked up at the towering figure that reached into the clouds.

Even as she tried to suppress her emotions, the sheer visual impact of the colossal silhouette left her deeply shaken.

"Zunesha, the Elephant of Zou!"

Yamato, now dressed casually in a long skirt, spoke with fervent excitement.

"Finally, we meet!"

"Finally meet?" Perona tilted her head, her large eyes filled with confusion.

"Does that mean you knew about Zunesha before this?"

"Of course," Yamato replied, a flash of pride in her eyes. "I read about Zunesha in... well, a diary! That diary recorded many legends and prophecies about the elephant!"

"Oh," Perona drawled, "I see. It's that 'Voyage Log of the Glorious Whatever' again, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Yamato nervously glanced at the Fleet Admiral standing ahead of them.

Seeing that he didn't react to the mention of the log, she relaxed and nodded.

"So what if it is? The Fleet Admiral isn't like you, always holding onto people's embarrassing pasts!"

"Finally admitting it's your embarrassing past, huh?" Perona stuck out her tongue mockingly, mimicking Orion's tone.

"Even dumbass can be taught, indeed."

The banter between Perona and Yamato eased the tension among the group.

Gion, standing to Orion's right, felt the overwhelming presence of Zunesha as their ship drew closer and couldn't help but murmur.

"It's unbelievably massive."

"Indeed, staggeringly so," Mihawk added. "Legends say this colossal elephant committed a grave sin in ancient times and was condemned to walk endlessly. But due to its sheer size, its pace is painfully slow."

Turning to Orion, Mihawk asked, "How do we get up there?"

"There are many ways," Orion replied calmly, his gaze fixed on Zunesha as it grew clearer in their vision.

"Robin could use her Devil Fruit powers to weave a net up its side for climbing. Or Gunko could use her abilities to send arrows carrying you all up."

"However, every day it uses its trunk to spray water onto its back..."

Before Orion could finish, the massive figure, which had been standing still in the sea, suddenly stirred.

Its enormous trunk coiled upward, lifting towering waves into the sky.

Everyone held their breath, many tensing in fear that the trunk might swing towards them.

If such a massive trunk struck, their tiny ship—dwarfed beneath Zunesha—would surely be obliterated.

But their fears were unfounded.

After sending the water cascading onto its back, Zunesha slowly lowered its trunk.

Then, a pair of crimson eyes snapped open, glaring down at the ship less than two hundred meters away.

The oppressive aura it radiated instinctively put everyone—even Mihawk—on guard.

When its gaze locked onto Orion, Zunesha's crimson eyes flickered with disbelief.

Its voice boomed, trembling with shock.

"You... who are you?!"——

--------------------------------

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