Chapter 558 - 398

Chapter 399: Adventure in Zou (Part 11)The last rays of the setting sun struggled to leak through the clouds, painting the land with a tragic layer of blood-red."Huff... huff... huff..."Duke Inuarashi's chest heaved violently. He knelt on one knee, using his rapier to support his battered body. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth and through the gaps in his armor, pooling in a small puddle on the ground.The Armament Haki on his body had weakened until it was nearly invisible. The once-blinding Blue Lightning on his sword had dwindled to a few small arcs, which flickered twice before vanishing completely.His stamina and Haki were nearly exhausted.Opposite him, "drought" Jack's massive mammoth body was covered in wounds of varying depths, yet his ferocity hadn't diminished in the slightest.The absurdly unreasonable recovery power of an Ancient Type made him nothing less than a tireless war machine."What's wrong? Old dog!"Jack's roar was like thunder, filled with the mockery of a winner."Out of juice?! Where's your Haki? Where's that flashy lightning of yours?! Is this all you've got to stop me?!"Duke Inuarashi ignored him, fixing his still-sharp eyes on his opponent. He desperately gathered the last of his strength, preparing for one final clash.Just as the atmosphere reached a freezing point and everyone held their breath—"Clang—!!!"An old, long bell chime echoed from a corner of Kraud, ringing clearly in everyone's ears.Six o'clock sharp in the evening.This bell was like a mysterious switch etched into the DNA of the Mink Tribe, instantly triggering a forced "log-off" sequence."Yaaaaawn~~~~~"Duke Inuarashi, who just a second ago had been fighting to the death with a fierce aura, suddenly let out a massive yawn, even squeezing a tear from the corner of his eye.The kingly sharpness, the warrior's bloodlust, and that final bit of fighting spirit vanished in an instant when the bell rang, like a balloon being popped.In its place was a bone-deep, terminal exhaustion, as if he had pulled an all-nighter for a month straight."Hmm...?"Duke Inuarashi rubbed his eyes, looking deathly tired. His sharp eyes instantly became bleary."It's... that time already..."Before he could finish his sentence, the longsword supporting him hit the ground with a "clatter," and he fell straight forward, limp.*Thud.*A king of his generation, the King of the Day of Zou, had... just like that... fallen asleep face-down.He even started snoring softly.This sudden 180-degree reversal didn't just stun Jack; even Luffy and the others watching from the palace balcony were collectively petrified.Uta stared blankly down below:"...What happened to him? Was he knocked out?"Law held his forehead, his face darkening. He felt his medical knowledge being challenged like never before; it was simply preposterous."No... he's just clocked out for the day."On the battlefield, Jack's massive single eye was filled with utter confusion.He held his attacking posture, frozen for several seconds before reacting."Hey! Old dog! What the hell are you doing playing dead?!"He poked the fast-asleep Duke Inuarashi with his trunk, only to find that the Duke did nothing but roll over to find a more comfortable position.After confirming that the other party had truly "lost power," Jack's confusion instantly turned into extreme humiliation and rage!"You bastard!!! How dare you fall asleep in a fight against me?! Who do you think you're looking down on?!"He roared, raising his pillar-like giant foot, intending to stomp down hard on Duke Inuarashi's body!"Don't you dare!""Everyone! Form a shield wall! Protect the Duke at all costs!!!"Wanda cried out in grief and indignation. She and all the Sharpshooters who could still stand didn't hesitate for a second, using their bodies to form a tragic yet fragile line of defense in front of Duke Inuarashi."A bunch of ants who don't know their place!"Jack's eyes were full of cruelty, and his descending giant foot didn't slow down at all!"Boom—!!!"The earth let out a groan as dust billowed everywhere!The entire line of defense was instantly scattered by that unstoppable stomp!Wanda and the Sharpshooter warriors were like leaves in the wind, coughing up blood from the massive impact as they were sent flying, instantly incapacitated.Despair, like an impenetrable night, completely shrouded the battlefield."Lord Pekoms! Quick! Go to the Whale Forest!"A heavily wounded Sharpshooter used the last of his strength to grab Pekoms's pant leg, his eyes bloodshot and pleading."Only... only Master Nekomamushi... can stop him now!"Pekoms looked at the hellish scene before him, seeing his compatriots falling one by one in pools of blood. His leopard eyes instantly turned red!He gritted his teeth and, without further hesitation, turned into a bolt of yellow lightning, charging toward the Whale Forest at the fastest speed of his life!...Meanwhile, in the Whale Forest, the territory of the Guardians.The atmosphere here was a world away from the tragedy of the battlefield; the air still carried the scent of wine and roasted meat from last night's banquet."Garchu~! What a boring day..."Master Nekomamushi was lying sprawled out on the root of a large tree, a blade of grass in his mouth. He was picking his teeth while lazily basking in the Moonlight.Around him, the members of the Guardians were either polishing their weapons or playing cards and gambling, a scene of leisure and relaxation.*Bang!*At that moment, Pekoms charged in like a cannonball, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop due to his speed."Master!!"He scrambled over to Master Nekomamushi, his voice hoarse and urgent."It's bad! 'drought' Jack of the Beasts Pirates has attacked! Duke Inuarashi... he's already lost! The Sharpshooters... the Sharpshooters are about to be wiped out!!"However, hearing this news, Master Nekomamushionly lazily lifted an eyelid, his face even showing a bit of schadenfreude."Oh? Garchu~"He let out a yawn and said dismissively,"That stubborn idiot dog Inuarashi finally got flattened by someone? That feels great!""Doesn't he spend all day 'waiting'? How did he end up waiting for a reaper instead of a savior?"The Guardians around him also began to laugh."Exactly, Master! That old dog acts high and mighty as King of Day, serves him right!""It's good for him to suffer a bit, so he stops thinking he's so tough all the time!"These words were like poisoned daggers stabbing deep into Pekoms's heart."Master!!!"Pekoms's eyes instantly turned red. He grabbed Master Nekomamushi's collar, his voice bordering on a sob."Now is not the time for this! It's our entire country being attacked! It's our compatriots!!""Compatriots?"Master Nekomamushi pushed him away impatiently and sneered,"Has that guy Inuarashi treated us as compatriots for the last twenty years?""Garchu~! In his eyes, we're nothing but a bunch of unruly stray cats! Whether he lives or dies, what does it have to do with me?!"Pekoms slumped onto the ground, two lines of tears mixed with grief and despair streaming down his face.He looked at the cold and heartless King of the Night before him, then at the mocking companions around him, and his heart turned cold.He knew that twenty years of estrangement had built an insurmountable wall between these two kings.But...He remembered the look in Wanda's eyes as she fell, and the image of Duke Inuarashi's back as he stood before the country even when he was exhausted."No... that's not true..."Pekoms's voice trembled, yet it was exceptionally clear."Duke Inuarashi... at the very last moment of the battle... before he fell asleep from exhaustion..."He looked up, his tear-stained face carrying a solemnity it had never held before."He was still muttering... 'I cannot let Kaido's lapdogs take another step into this country'...""He also said... 'This is the place Lord Oden loved so dearly'..."The name "Lord Oden" was like a bolt of lightning, exploding in Master Nekomamushi's mind!His originally lazy and mocking expression froze instantly.The laughter of the surrounding Guardians also stopped abruptly.The air seemed to solidify at that moment.Master Nekomamushi slowly sat upright. His cat-like eyes, which had been half-closed, snapped open at this moment, emitting a terrifying light!The large sake bowl in his hand let out a "crack"—he had actually squeezed a fissure into it with sheer force!Pekoms's words had touched the deepest part of his soul—the burning bond and honor of the "Akazaya Nine"!"Garchu~..."Master Nekomamushi's voice became low and raspy, hiding a storm that made everyone present's heart skip a beat."That idiot dog... he actually..."*Crack—!!!*The sake bowl in his hand could no longer withstand that terrifying power, shattering into countless pieces with a bang!A violent pressure, like an awakening ancient beast, erupted from his body!"Boom!!!"An invisible shockwave rolled out from him as the center, forcing the surrounding Guardians to retreat repeatedly under the pressure!Streaks of black lightning flickered and crackled wildly around him!Master Nekomamushi stood up abruptly. Burning in his eyes was a towering rage and killing intent that could incinerate everything!He let out a roar that shook the entire Whale Forest. The sound was filled with brutality toward the enemy and a strangely twisted recognition of his "old friend"!"That idiot dog's life...!!!""...can only be taken by me!!!"He grabbed the long-unused Double-Headed Cross Spear beside him, turned to all the Guardians who could still stand, and let out a roar of war!"Lads!!!""Grab your weapons!!!""Garchu~!!! Follow me to slaughter that mammoth!!!""Oooooh—!!!"Infected by their king's fury, all the Guardians' blood began to boil! They let out earth-shaking war cries and grabbed their weapons one after another!The King of the Night has awakened!Zou's other half of power, like a black tidal wave carrying world-destroying fury, dashed toward the battlefield shrouded in despair!