Zou, the Furry Kingdom.
The once peaceful nation was now engulfed in war, with ruins everywhere and its citizens suffering heavy casualties.
Ten days prior, a Pirate named Jack had invaded the country, launching a senseless war.
The battle raged for five days and nights. Even the two kings were unable to defeat Jack—his strength defied all reason.
"The Pirates will return!"
"But this time, we will make them pay!"
"The full moon is coming!"
The citizens seethed with righteous fury.
Even now, they still didn't understand why the Pirates had invaded.
"Rooooooar—!"
A thunderous roar echoed across the sky.
"It's the warning of Zunesha!"
"The Pirates are back!"
"Prepare for battle!"
All members of the Mink Tribe swiftly gathered. Since it was daytime, they were led by the King of the Day, Duke Inuarashi, and the Musketeer Squad.
The Mink Tribe rushed to the front lines, but when they saw the invaders this time, they were so horrified they nearly forgot to breathe.
"So huge!"
"What is that? Giants?!"
Nearly twenty meters tall and immensely powerful, the giants stormed into the city, instantly crushing the Mink warriors guarding the front lines.
Hajrudin carried Iron Thunder on his shoulder, his cold gaze sweeping over the approaching Mink Tribe without a trace of mercy.
As a mercenary of war, battle was routine for him. His sole objective was to utterly crush the enemy.
"Stop them!"
Suppressing their fear, the Mink warriors charged at Hajrudin at the forefront, arcs of electricity crackling around their bodies.
Hajrudin sneered, raising Iron Thunder and smashing it into the center of the crowd.
"Thunder!"
"BOOM!!!"
A massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Iron Thunder before spreading outward in a web of electricity.
"Gwaaahhh!!!"
The Mink warriors were sent flying, their screams drowned out by the blast.
Though they could wield static electricity to coat their hands and weapons in battle, the thunder summoned by the giants far exceeded what they could endure.
With just one strike, dozens of Mink warriors were left charred and smoking, on the brink of death.
Hajrudin raised Iron Thunder and roared.
"Advance!!!"
"OOOOHHH!!!"
The giants bellowed in excitement, swinging their weapons and destroying everything in their path. Even the formidable Mink Tribe was no match for them.
Until Inuarashi arrived with the Musketeer Squad!
"Stop this!"
Inuarashi swung his sword, blocking a giant's battle-axe, and demanded furiously, "What is your goal? What benefit do you gain from destroying this nation?!"
"We are merely following orders," Hajrudin replied coldly.
"Orders? Whose orders?"
Inuarashi pleaded loudly, "Bring out the one who gave the command! I wish to speak with them! If you have any demands, we can negotiate!"
"I gave the order."
The giants parted, clearing a path.
Gurd stepped forward and said calmly, "As for why we're destroying this nation—you should know very well, Inuarashi, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, retainers of Kozuki Oden."
"..."
Inuarashi's pupils shrank.
From the moment he saw the flag of the Beasts, he had considered this possibility.
"Gerd."
"Here."
Gerd extended her hands, lifting Gurd up.
Standing at a height, Gurd looked down at the Mink citizens below. "Listen well. The Beasts have come with one purpose—to hunt down the two criminals who escaped all those years ago!"
"Inuarashi and Nekomamushi!"
"It was their past crimes that brought disaster to Zou. If you don't want this country destroyed, hand them over."
The king's enemies?
The Mink Tribe finally understood the reason, yet not a single one showed fear. They all stood firmly behind Duke Inuarashi.
They would never abandon their king.
"So this is your answer."
Gurd's gaze turned icy cold.
If they couldn't be used, then they would all be eliminated. Otherwise, these foolish minks would become enemies in the future anyway.
Only the obedient ones needed to be spared.
"Duke Inuarashi!"
Gurd's killing intent permeated the air.
"I'll give you one final chance. If you commit suicide, I'll spare this country. Otherwise, the Furry Kingdom will be completely destroyed."
"I refuse!"
Duke Inuarashi tightened his grip on his sword, realizing this war was unavoidable. The hatred between the Kozuki Clan and the Beasts would never fade.
"What a pity."
Gurd raised his hand and coldly issued the order.
"Kill them all!"
"Ooooh!!!"
The giants roared as they charged forward!
Duke Inuarashi immediately waved his hand to command.
"All civilians retreat to the forest! Leave this to us!"
"Your Grace!"
The citizens were deeply worried, but they knew they stood no chance against the powerful giants—the earlier clashes had proven that.
"Hurry!"
"Go find Boss Nekomamushi!"
This pirate assault was ten times more terrifying than previous attacks. Duke Inuarashi and the Musketeer Squad alone might not be enough to hold them off.
Only with both kings fighting side by side could they possibly survive this crisis.
Gurd sat down, leaning back against Gerd's chest—soft and fragrant, perfect as a backrest.
"Gerd, aren't you going?"
"I'll stay with Lord Gurd!"
Gerd smiled cheerfully.
Lord Gurd is so adorable!
"Suit yourself."
Gurd was too comfortable to move.
Against the Mink Tribe, the giants' strength was more than enough to crush them. After working so hard, they deserved a good fight.
And Hajrudin.
This was the perfect opportunity for Hajrudin to hone his skills. Fighting weak opponents every day wouldn't help him improve—the potential of Conqueror's Haki could only be awakened in battle.
"Your opponent is me!"
Hajrudin bellowed excitedly, swinging Iron Thunder at Duke Inuarashi. This was the kind of formidable foe he had been waiting for—one even The Drought Jack struggled against!
"Clang!"
The sword blocked Iron Thunder, unleashing countless bolts of lightning!
Duke Inuarashi's weapon was knocked from his grasp from the sheer force, forcing him to leap back to create distance. His eyes locked onto Iron Thunder with utmost seriousness.
"Every strike releases thunder—what kind of weapon is this?!"
"Are you afraid of it?"
Hajrudin deliberately released Iron Thunder, letting it fall to the ground. With his enemy disarmed, he didn't want to win by relying on the weapon.
He would prove his own strength!
The Elbaf Spear would shine!
Hajrudin clenched his fist and smashed it downward at Duke Inuarashi!
"BOOM!!!"
The earth shattered layer by layer!
A single punch carried the force of thunder!
"What terrifying power!"
As the dust cleared, Duke Inuarashi appeared beside Hajrudin's fist, leaping onto his arm and sprinting upward.
Against such a massive opponent, he had to strike vital points.
Once he had enough momentum, Duke Inuarashi shot forward like a bolt of lightning, his right leg crackling with electricity as he kicked toward Hajrudin's chest!
"Dog Gate Style!"
"THUD!"
His leg sank halfway in!
"Zzzzt—!"
Lightning surged outward!
However, the imagined scene of kicking the giant away did not materialize, and the attached lightning failed to deal any significant damage.
"Is this all you've got?!"
Hajrudin's face twisted into a snarl as his Haki-covered pectoral muscles contracted and tensed, firmly trapping his opponent's leg and enduring the kick.
Pain seared through his nerves!
Before meeting Gurd, a kick of this magnitude would have been enough to defeat him. But now, he was no longer the useless weakling he once was.
He would keep growing stronger!
"RAAAAAH!!!"
Hajrudin roared, reaching up to grab Inuarashi by the chest and slamming him downward with full force into a nearby building!
"BOOOOM!!!"
The multi-story building crumbled into rubble!
"Cough! Cough!"
Inuarashi spat out a mouthful of blood from within the debris.
"Monster!"
In terms of raw strength alone, this giant was no less formidable than The Drought—perhaps even stronger.
The Beasts' forces had grown more powerful than before.
"Uwaaaaah!"
Inuarashi scanned the battlefield.
Screams rose and fell as Mink Tribe warriors collapsed one after another, though a handful of giants had also been taken down by the Musketeer Squad. The situation was dire.
If they couldn't defeat the enemy's top fighters, they were doomed to lose!
"Grrrroooowwwwlll!!!"
A piercing howl erupted from the forest!
"That unreasonable bastard is finally here!"
Inuarashi stood to face Hajrudin again, a grin spreading across his bloodied face. With that reckless cat joining the fray, the tide of battle might yet turn.
Besides, tonight was a full moon!
If they could just hold out until nightfall, they could still turn this defeat into victory!
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