Zou, Mokomo Dukedom.

Whale Forest.

Several Mink Tribe members gathered beneath towering trees, their gazes fixed deep into the woods.

As dusk darkened the already eerie forest, a pair of crimson eyes suddenly snapped open.

A domineering figure then emerged from the depths, striding forward with overwhelming presence.

Soon, the figure stood before the members of the Musketeer Squad—none other than one of Zou's two rulers, Nekomamushi.

A feline Mink with golden fur covering his body, Nekomamushi's ferocious visage—complete with jagged teeth—exuded an indescribable pressure.

Clad in a red coat adorned with ring patterns, he sat cross-legged against a massive tree, puffing on his pipe with regal authority.

"Master Nekomamushi, you're finally awake!"

One Musketeer hurried forward anxiously.

"Pedro just sent word—major events have been unfolding beyond Zou recently. Most critically, Wano Country has been completely taken over by the Marines."

"Huh?" Nekomamushi's head jerked up at the news.

"Since when?"

The Musketeer relayed the full report without omission.

"And you're only telling me this now?!"

After hearing the tale from a member of the Musketeer, Nekomamushi could no longer stay seated.

He immediately stood up and strode quickly to the warrior's side.

"Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi have both been defeated? Damn it... Why did Pedro only send such crucial news back now?"

"Even if you had told us at the time, it wouldn't have made a difference, Master Nekomamushi!"

A member of the Musketeer Squad shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Right after Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were executed by the Marines, Admiral Kuzan immediately took up residence on Whole Cake Island. Then Admiral Sakazuki led numerous vice admirals, along with Mihawk, Crocodile, and Jinbei, into Wano Country!

The remaining Beast Pirates under Kaido's command stationed in Wano couldn't hold them off at all. Kurozumi Orochi and his shogunate were completely obliterated by Mihawk and Crocodile working together."

"After that, the Fleet Admiral himself arrived to rule over Wano. According to the news Pedro sent back, Ashura Doji, Denjiro and Lady Kozuki Hiyori have all been taken under Marine control and are currently on Onigashima, participating in the construction of Wano's Marine base!"

Hearing this, Nekomamushi fell silent.

As a former retainer of Kozuki Oden, he knew he should stand up no matter what—even if reclaiming Wano was impossible, he at least had to rescue Kozuki Hiyori, the last surviving heir of the Kozuki family.

But now, Wano had been completely taken over by the Marines, restructured into a city-state.

Not only was Crocodile, a former Warlord, seated as its mayor, but also Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman and Admiral Sakazuki, one of the Marine Headquarters' top combatants, were stationed there.

Faced with such overwhelming military power, even if all nine of Kozuki Oden's former retainers reunited, they wouldn't be able to turn the tide.

The forces occupying Wano were far stronger than Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi had ever been.

"Go wake up Inuarashi!"

After a brief silence, Nekomamushi spoke in a low, resolute voice, as if he had made up his mind.

"The feud between us must end now. Even if Wano is already lost, we must rescue Ashura Doji, Denjiro, and Lady Hiyori!"

BOOM—

Suddenly, an earth-shattering explosion erupted, startling everyone present.

They all leapt to their feet, their gazes snapping toward the exit of Whale Forest.

RUMBLE—

The moment their eyes turned in unison, thunderous roars erupted across the sky.

Then, an immense shockwave surged upward from the sea beneath Zou, defying gravity like a cascading galaxy, its dazzling radiance instantly enveloping the entire island in blinding light, turning the newly darkened night into broad daylight.

"!!!!!"

The sudden celestial phenomenon left everyone, including Nekomamushi, frozen in shock, their pupils dilated, bodies stiff with terror at the unknown force.

Before they could react, an invisible pressure descended from above, manifesting as a visible gale that swept mercilessly across Zou.

Wherever it passed, the earth cracked and forests collapsed.

"Dammit, what... what's happening?!"

After a brief moment of stunned paralysis, one of the Musketeers snapped back to his senses. Trembling at the apocalyptic scene before him, he stammered.

"Is Zou under attack?"

"No, not Zou!"

Nekomamushi stepped forward, shielding the others from the raging winds, his face pale with horror.

"It's Zunesha—he's suffered an unprecedented attack!"

"WHAT?!"

The Musketeers gasped in unison, their faces twisted in disbelief.

The attack on Zunesha wasn't particularly shocking news.

After all, this was the New World, where reckless pirates would occasionally encounter the colossal elephant and foolishly attempt to prove their strength.

The outcome was always predictable—no matter how powerful the pirate, angering Zunesha meant being swatted into oblivion with a single swing of its trunk, ships and crew destroyed alike.

Over time, Zunesha became an immovable force in their minds—a perfectly reasonable conclusion.

This was, after all, a creature that had lived for over a thousand years.

Such a titanic being couldn't possibly be moved by human strength, could it?

BOOM—

Just as the members of the Mink Tribe's Warrior Division stood frozen in shock once more, another deafening explosion rang out.

The ground beneath their feet began to tilt.

"No way!"

As the earth shifted unnaturally and the distant forests accelerated their slide—threatening to plunge into the sea at any moment—Nekomamushi's pupils constricted sharply.

"Zunesha... has been knocked down?" he gasped.

****

Meanwhile.

Standing firm on the Marine battleship's deck with his sword gripped in both hands, Orion radiated a dazzling, rainbow-hued Conqueror's Haki.

Waves of overwhelming pressure rippled through the air, crashing relentlessly against Zunesha.

"ROOOAAAR—!"

Faced with this descending might, the giant elephant roared continuously, its massive frame gradually tilting under the irresistible force.

It gave the terrifying illusion that the behemoth might collapse at any moment.

Bathed in radiant light, Orion stood like a god descended upon the mortal world.

The awe-inspiring sight struck everyone present with unprecedented visual impact, stirring an involuntary urge to kneel in worship.

"So... so strong!"

"Is this his true power?"

The most shaken of all was Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman.

Though they'd briefly crossed blades at Marine Headquarters—revealing the gap between them—he'd never imagined the gap would be this huge.

Just raising his blade, Orion had already delivered a spiritual shock beyond anything Mihawk had witnessed.

What apocalyptic scene would unfold if that sword actually descended?

As Mihawk reeled from the revelation while others stood dumbfounded, Orion's voice suddenly rang out, his blade pointing directly at Zunesha.

"Kneel!"

"This is an order!"

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