"Meowroar!!!"
The Cat Demon's howl rapidly approached.
Gurd sat atop Gerd's chest, speaking nonchalantly.
"Jack!"
"Understood!"
Jack led his subordinates toward the direction of the howl.
Gurd glanced up at the sky.
It was evening, the sun about to set.
And tonight—was a full moon.
This was the day he had deliberately chosen.
Crushing the enemy in their proudest and strongest state would shatter their morale!
He also wanted to witness the Moon Lion for himself, to see if its power truly lived up to the legends.
Gurd turned his gaze to the battlefield nearby.
"Hajrudin has grown stronger!"
Environment forced growth. Among the Beasts, where only the wicked thrived, the weak could not survive. Even those without the will to grow stronger were pushed forward.
Moreover, Hajrudin had decent potential and never slacked in training. Even his determination to grow stronger ranked among the best of the officers.
All he needed was the right opportunity for transformation.
"Meowroar!!!"
In the distance, explosions roared without end!
When enemies met, blood ran hot.
Jack and Nekomamushi had also begun their battle!
"I remember there's a Red Poneglyph here."
Gurd looked toward the massive Whale Tree.
If his memory served him right, the Red Poneglyph Text was hidden inside that tree. Finding it would give the Beasts two Poneglyphs.
Big Brother Kaido would surely be pleased.
Time passed slowly.
As the sun set, the battle gradually reached its conclusion. Across the ruins, Mink Tribe warriors lay everywhere, covered in blood and unable to fight.
Nearly annihilated.
"Captain Sicilian has fallen too!"
Wanda and Carrot stood back-to-back, their faces smeared with blood. All their comrades around them had fallen—only the two of them remained.
"They're girls."
"Bwahaha, they look kinda cute!"
"Little ones, go home already!"
The giants burst into laughter.
This unfair war felt more like play to them. Of course, if the enemy refused to surrender, they would fight seriously.
"Damn it!"
Wanda and Carrot panted heavily, their eyes fixed on the center of the battlefield where Duke Inuarashi still clashed fiercely with the giants' leader.
Yet they had become the weak link.
The giants also shifted their attention to Hajrudin's battle, marveling at his strength, which far surpassed that of ordinary giants.
Hajrudin was growing stronger by the minute!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The ground trembled violently!
Hajrudin unleashed a barrage of punches into the earth, displaying the overwhelming might of the Giant Tribe. Against such attacks, an ordinary human wouldn't even have a chance to resist.
When the tremors ceased, the battlefield's center had been flattened—not a single intact stone remained, only scorched earth.
Hajrudin's eyes darted around until they locked onto Inuarashi. Fighting small, agile humans was always troublesome—catching them was the hardest part.
"Huff… Huff…"
Inuarashi's fur bristled as he gasped for breath.
Every strike from the giant carried terrifying destructive force, leaving him no choice but to evade continuously.
And more importantly—
Inuarashi's gaze shifted to Gurd.
The true threat hadn't even stepped onto the battlefield yet. He had to conserve enough stamina. The man who commanded so many powerful fighters must be even stronger than Jack.
"Crackle!"
Electricity surged through his fur!
One strike—to decide the battle!
Inuarashi's fur bristled all over as he dashed forward along the ground, grabbing the sword embedded in the earth before charging toward Hajrudin.
"It's coming!"
Hajrudin's gaze darkened as he took half a step back with his right leg, tilting his body into a punching stance, his right arm muscles bulging.
From the opponent's posture, the next strike would decide the outcome!
Then, he too would give it his all!
"Oden One-Sword Style!"
Inuarashi leapt like an arrow from a bow, his body wrapped in lightning, resembling a silver-white giant wolf baring its fangs to tear into its prey.
"Dog Slash - Might Arrow!"
"Spear of Hero!"
The ground beneath Hajrudin shattered layer by layer as his fist collided with the silver wolf—the strongest technique of Elbaf unleashed!
"BOOM!!!"
Blade and giant's fist clashed!
"OOOHHH!!!"
Both roared, pouring everything into their strikes!
"CRACK!"
The razor-sharp sword energy pierced through Hajrudin's punching arm, shattering every bone within!
At nearly the same moment, the cylindrical shockwave of the Elbaf Spear struck Inuarashi like a warhammer!
"Guh!"
Inuarashi spat blood as he was sent flying backward!
Hajrudin staggered back as well, collapsing into the rubble.
Mutual destruction!
On the other side of the battlefield, Nekomamushi and Jack slashed at each other wildly.
"BOOM!!!"
A sudden explosion nearby forced the two combatants to pause, turning their heads toward the source.
When Nekomamushi saw Inuarashi lying in the deep crater, his eyes instantly flooded with blood vessels.
"Useless mutt, you're pathetic, meowr!"
"Shut it, freak cat!"
Inuarashi propped himself up with his sword, blood dripping from his body.
"You're just as battered!"
"Meowr, this old cat hasn't fallen yet! And look closely—that guy's wounds are worse than mine, nya!"
Nekomamushi bared his fangs in a grin.
Unlike the previous battle of attrition, the enemy's offensive was far fiercer now. The Swordsmen who had followed him had all fallen, leaving no room for slowly wearing down the opponent's stamina.
Thus, the only option was to fight with their lives on the line!
The two kings stood side by side.
The Beasts' army had also arrived.
Night had fallen, and a full moon rose steadily. The fallen warriors of the Mink Tribe began to rise one by one.
"Zzzzt—"
Electricity crackled across Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's bodies as their fur grew wildly, gradually turning white!
The revived Mink warriors underwent the same transformation!
"AUUUOOOO!!!"
Their howls shook the battlefield!
"Moon Lion?!"
Jack's pupils contracted.
He had long heard of the Moon Lion's reputation. In this form, the Mink Tribe's lifespan would rapidly deplete—but in exchange, they gained unstoppable power!
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had transformed into monstrous figures, their ferocious beast-like aura now several times stronger than before.
"Time to counterattack, freak cat!"
"No need to tell me, meowr!"
The two monsters charged at Jack simultaneously!
"Oden One-Sword Style!"
Jack's eyes flared with rage as he swung his twin blades.
"Cat Laugh Impact!"
"Dog Slash - Might Arrow!"
Nekomamushi's claws struck Jack's swords, sending them flying before raking across his face, leaving deep gashes!
Inuarashi seized the opening, driving his blade into Jack's abdomen—the tremendous force piercing clean through his body!
"Guh—!"
Jack's mask shattered as he vomited blood, sent hurtling backward.
"BOOM!!!"
A pillar of dust erupted into the sky!
"Don't think we're still as weak as before!"
The two kings stood side by side, their faces like demons!
"Swordsman Corps!"
"Growl!!!"
"Musketeer Squad!"
"Howl!!"
"Eliminate all invaders!"
(End of Chapter)