Raging flames tore through the forest, sending up plumes of choking, suffocating smoke. The rolling heat waves turned the world into a blistering furnace.
Countless Mink warriors struggled for survival amidst the sea of fire. Because of their highly flammable fur, many had already been burned alive, their numbers dwindling by the second.
"Explosive Fire Rain!"
A barrage of washbasin-sized fireballs rained from the heavens. They fell in a dense, relentless formation, blanketing the entire region. Each fireball erupted into a wave of flame upon impact, engulfing everything within a ten-meter radius.
"Damn it! You bastard!"
Nekomamushi leaped clear of a fireball's blast zone. He looked around at the ancient trees being reduced to ash, the wildfire spreading through the forest, and the charred, blackened remains of Mink warriors still wreathed in flame. The heartbreak was beyond words.
The Mink Tribe was not a large population to begin with. On Zou, the gathering place of their kind, there were only a few hundred thousand. Even including those scattered across the world, their numbers remained thin. To lose so many rare warriors, the very strength the Mokomo Dukedom relied on to deter its enemies, was a devastating blow.
"Hold on! Today's Eruption Rain hasn't come yet! It'll be here soon!" Inuarashi cried out, his voice thick with grief but fueled by the need to rally his people.
Zunesha, the giant elephant, needed to douse itself. Twice a day, it would spray massive quantities of seawater onto its back using its trunk. It was the equivalent of a heavy downpour over the entirety of Zou. Much of this water would flow through the filtration system in the center of the city, feeding the waterways that provided the Mokomo Dukedom with its daily supply. Furthermore, the water often brought with it a bounty of fish, ensuring the Minks never had to worry about food.
Thus, the Minks called it the "Eruption Rain," or more reverently, the "Rain of Grace."
Once the Eruption Rain fell, it would extinguish the forest fires and neutralize the deadly heat.
"Hahaha! Burn! Burn until you're nothing but ash!"
Floating in the sky with a hideous sneer, Zhurong continuously spewed high-temperature flames into the forest below. One by one, the great trees were ignited. From time to time, a Mink warrior would be swallowed by the fire, becoming a "living torch" writhing in agony.
"You demon! I'll kill you!"
A warrior from the Mink Musketeers could no longer contain his rage. With several powerful leaps, he vaulted up the tree trunks and launched himself into the air. His longsword crackled with visible, violent arcs of Electro as he slashed down at Zhurong with all his might.
Chime!
A flash of sword light cut through the air, and the floating entity of flame was instantly sliced in two.
"Waaaaah! It's shocking me! I'm being electrocuted!!"
The two halves of the flaming body flailed wildly, sparks of electricity still dancing across the fire. Zhurong darted back and forth in the air, screaming as if in excruciating pain.
"I got him!"
The Mink warrior's face lit up with joy as he looked at the severed form of his enemy.
But in the next heartbeat, Zhurong's body snapped back together. A surge of fresh flames erupted, smothering the remaining current. He looked at the warrior with a cruel, mocking grin. "Fooled you, moron! Your electricity is pathetic compared to that lightning brat's!"
Whoosh— Boom!
A concentrated blast of searing fire erupted, instantly transforming the warrior into a ball of flame. He plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily into the ground.
"Bastard... Its master is a monster, and even the pet is a freak?!"
Inuarashi clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with agony as he watched the scene unfold.
This wasn't the first time such an attack had failed. Whether it was strikes imbued with Electro or those coated in Armament Haki, nothing seemed to work. They were left helpless, subjected to the whims of the creature's assault.
Including Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, the entire Musketeer Squad and the Guardians were being forced into a desperate retreat. A single monster was effectively dismantling the entire Mokomo Dukedom.
Rumble— Rumble—
Suddenly, the earth began to quake and sway. In the distance, a massive shape, like the opening of a volcanic crater, began to rise.
"The Eruption Rain!"
"The Eruption Rain is coming!"
The Minks were overjoyed. Some warriors even knelt in gratitude, kissing the ground, the very back of Zunesha.
Pshhh—!
The volcanic trunk twitched before geysering a colossal volume of seawater toward the heavens, forming a curtain of water that seemed to shroud the world.
"Eh? No way!"
Zhurong, the arsonist, froze mid-action, staring up at the sky in disbelief.
The next moment…
BOOM!
The massive curtain of water came crashing down like a collapsing sky. Great blocks of seawater fell from the firmament, slamming into the elephant's back with thunderous force.
Splash!
As the seawater cascaded around him, a massive, crimson square stone floated above Aeridar's head, acting as a shield against the deluge.
"Whew! Saved!"
Zhurong let out a sigh of relief, extending an arm made of flame to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.
"To think such a spectacle existed... truly an eye-opener."
"And so many fish. It really is like a gift from the heavens to the Minks."
Aeridar held the Poneglyph with one hand while looking down at the flood-like torrents of seawater sweeping across Zunesha's back. Seeing the various fish flopping in the water, he couldn't help but feel a hint of envy for the Minks' lifestyle.
Under the onslaught of the surging seawater, the raging fires of the Whale Forest were extinguished in an instant. The air grew fresh again, and the sweltering heat vanished, replaced by a refreshing cool.
Deep within the Whale Forest...
"Now, the time for our counterattack has come! We must reclaim the sacred land!" Inuarashi brandished his longsword, his voice booming with renewed vigor.
"Our turn to hunt. It's time for revenge!" Nekomamushi bared his fangs, letting out a low, guttural growl.
"Reclaim the sacred land!"
"Revenge! Revenge!"
"Kill those two monsters! Vengeance!"
"Awoooo—!"
Countless Mink warriors within the forest were galvanized. They swung their weapons wildly, their battle cries echoing through the trees.
"Charge!"
With a unified roar, hundreds, thousands, of Mink warriors poured out like tigers descending a mountain. they blurred through the trees, racing toward Aeridar's position.
"Quite the momentum. I was planning to play around for a bit longer," Aeridar remarked, looking down at the swarm of black dots approaching. He let out a sharp grin.
Clap.
"Stay up there for a while, baby."
His right hand, clad in a thin black glove, lightly tapped the crimson Poneglyph. The massive stone suddenly became weightless, drifting slowly upward into the air.
"Zhurong, get ready."
"Ready, Master!" Zhurong sneered.
"Hah—!"
Aeridar let out a raspy shout. His body began to expand as if being inflated, swelling until he stood over three meters tall. Simultaneously, pitch-black Armament Haki coated his entire frame, making him look like a formidable, polished metal statue.
Whoosh—
Zhurong's flaming body grew even hotter and more violent. He lunged forward, wrapping himself around Aeridar, forming a suit of sharp, angular flame plate armor. Aeridar now stood like a God of Fire descended upon the mortal realm. The intense heat radiating from him caused the very air to distort and shimmer.
Life Return Esoteric Art: Universal Law — Fire Demon God!!!