Moonlight Deathmatch is something that has been passed down among the Minks since ancient times. The "moonlight" here does not mean nighttime, but specifically refers to the day of the full moon each month.
This rule was also made to fit with the Minks' Sulong ability. On the night of a full moon, ordinary Minks can unleash their greatest strength, whether or not they can control Sulong.
A Mink who cannot control Sulong may not necessarily be weaker than one who has mastered it.
After all, Sulong is a state, and any Mink can use this ability. The so-called "mastery" refers to freely controlling Sulong and being able to suppress the destructive urges.
Those unable to control Sulong, if they force themselves into it, might erupt with power even more terrifying because they cannot restrain it.
In history, there are even records of two Minks who could not control Sulong dying simultaneously from exhaustion due to going berserk.
It was precisely because of this possibility of mutual destruction that it is called a Moonlight Deathmatch.
"Please wait, Duchess. There's no need for you to step in, let me do it."
Hearing Setsuna suggest a Moonlight Deathmatch, Shishilian of the Musketeer Squad immediately voiced his opinion. In his opinion, there was absolutely no need for Setsuna to dirty her hands with this.
And Shishilian was not alone; many of the Musketeer Squad Minks had the same thought.
"Silence! I already said this is a personal feud. You need not interfere."
After dismissing the Musketeer Squad who wanted to fight in her stead, Setsuna had Nekomamushi's handcuffs undone. Then she spoke: "Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, even twenty years ago you two were no match for me.
Now you're even less so. Especially you, Nekomamushi. Before, you could remain stubborn and refuse to admit defeat, but in a Moonlight Deathmatch, there's no room for being stubborn.
Think carefully about your answer before you reply to me."
"No need to think, bring it on. Where's your partner? That boyfriend of yours?"
"Hahaha, you really think too highly of yourselves. This time, it's just me against the two of you. A 2v2 would be too unfair, completely meaningless.
Tonight is the full moon, treasure what time you have left."
Then Setsuna used her Aura to contact Zunesha. Amid the surging waves, Zunesha turned its massive body and headed toward a distant isolated island.
That island was the designated battleground for the Beasts Pirates' ranking matches, with every part of it designed for combat. Now it could serve as a perfect arena.
With Setsuna's departure, some of her trusted followers left as well. The remaining Minks also dispersed, leaving only a few Musketeer Squad members who continued to keep their eyes on Inuarashi and Nekomamushi.
As they left, the looks they cast at Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were full of contempt and disdain. It hadn't been long since they returned to Zou Island, but Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had already become complete outsiders. Not a single Mink could understand their actions.
Time passed quickly. By the time Zunesha reached the designated location, night had fully fallen. The bright moonlight poured across the ground, adding a sharp, killing edge to the quiet night.
Without saying much, Setsuna on the island lifted her gaze straight towards the moon above.
The full moon reflected in her eyes, and even the craters from meteor impacts were clearly reflected in her pupils.
As light and her pupils reacted, the moment Setsuna's gaze locked onto the moon, her pupils sharply contracted. At once, arcs of electricity began crackling around her body.
Her tall frame stretched even longer, her exposed fangs grew razor sharp, dangerous as blades beneath the moonlight.
Her lengthened hair flowed down her back, and her scarlet eyes had already locked onto her enemies.
"Come, both of you. Show me just how far you're willing to go for that so-called Oden."
She did not use Lucario's power, only the pure strength of the Minks themselves. At this point, neither Inuarashi nor Nekomamushi showed any sign of retreat.
The two of them, one after the other, looked up at the sky, their fur colors changing as well, though in their eyes there was only more madness.
Without systematic training, and having lost twenty years of training, they could not control this power at all.
When Inuarashi and Nekomamushi also entered the Sulong state, the island was filled only with the roars of beasts and the rumble of thunder.
Because of Setsuna's order, no other Minks accompanied her to the island. Even Meowna and Wolff were still playing around in Wano Country.
They had no idea what their parents were doing at this very moment.
But on top of Zunesha's head, many Minks had gathered, all concerned about the situation below.
No one could clearly see what was happening down there. All they could glimpse was the occasional flash of lightning.
The difference in strength between the combatants was also a blind spot in the knowledge of the Minks' people. They knew their Duchess was strong, but they didn't know just how strong she truly was.
No one knew Setsuna's way of fighting. What they did know was that the battle lasted only a short while.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the lightning had already dissipated, and there were no longer any traces of battle on the island. Two minutes later, Setsuna returned to Zou Island alone.
Aside from a hint of fatigue in her eyes, there wasn't a single wound on her body. What that meant, everyone on Zou Island understood perfectly well.
Yet Setsuna showed no joy at her victory, only deep helplessness.
"Shishilian, make sure to pass the word down: from now on, anyone going to Wano Country for sightseeing should stay far away from anything that bears the Kozuki name."
If not for their battle almost harming her own children, Setsuna would not have done this. But in her view, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had already fallen into madness. The "Oden virus," like a storm, had affected their minds.
If such a virus were allowed to spread among the Minks, the danger would be immeasurable.
Even at the very end, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi did not change their stance. They would rather embrace death than abandon the beliefs in their hearts.
If such people were teammates or friends, it would be acceptable, but once they stood as enemies, they became nothing short of a disaster.
The Minks had resolved this matter in their own way. As for Wano Country, they had no idea. To the Minks, this was a family scandal, not something to be broadcast publicly.
But the incident did not end there.
Some had already died, but the destroyed buildings in Kuri did not simply restore themselves. While Setsuna was settling her personal grudges, Kuri was also undergoing reconstruction. But compared to the Machamp family, they now had more reliable new Pokémon.
Some, with gray skin and childlike appearances, were carrying wooden beams to transport building materials.
Others, also gray-skinned but with more developed muscles and much older appearances, were mixing concrete.
Meanwhile, Pokémon in their prime were wielding massive I-beams, demolishing the old houses.
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