Inuarashi thought for a moment and nodded.
"The words are crude, but the logic is sound. I didn't expect that man to say something like this."
Whoosh!
A hundred-meter sword aura slashed toward him.
Pedro wore a mocking expression as he watched Inuarashi cut apart his sword aura.
"He has more sense than Oden, who only knew how to dance naked, doesn't he?"
The moment he heard that, Inuarashi's dog face darkened.
"Do not insult Lord Oden!"
With a roar, he raised his sword and charged at Pedro.
Clang!
Pedro blocked him horizontally with his sword.
Boom!
As the two exerted force, a crater exploded beneath their feet.
Inuarashi gritted his teeth.
"Did that man also teach you how to run your mouth? No wonder you've become so talkative."
Pedro's eyes carried mockery.
"So you're allowed to insult my lord, but I can't retaliate?"
Inuarashi's face darkened further.
It was true that he had started it.
Realizing that, disdain appeared in Inuarashi's eyes.
"That man is not worthy of being compared to Lord Oden."
Clang!
Pedro exerted force and knocked him back, then covered his left fist in Haki and punched out.
Bang!
Inuarashi was forced back by the sudden heavy blow.
Pedro kicked off the ground and burst upward, slashing down from above.
Clang!
Inuarashi blocked it, but Pedro's force pushed his legs slightly down.
Pedro grinned wickedly at him.
"What strength did Oden have? What strength does my lord have? Is Oden worthy of being compared to him?"
"Urgh!"
Inuarashi exerted force and slowly straightened his body.
"You arrogant fool!"
Pedro suddenly leapt behind him and kicked toward his back.
Bang!
Inuarashi was kicked, his body smashing forward.
Boom!
Watching Inuarashi lying on the ground, Pedro withdrew his foot.
"Now we're even."
Silence.
It was very quiet.
The Minks watching the battle were so shocked their jaws nearly dropped.
They did not understand how Duke Inuarashi, who had clearly held the advantage just a moment ago, had suddenly been kicked.
Bepo's brother looked utterly disbelieving.
In his mind, he remembered what his younger brother and that little raccoon had said.
Pedro is strong.
Stronger than you think.
Sicilian and the others were even more exaggerated.
They were loyal supporters of Inuarashi. If not for the rules, they would have already drawn their swords and attacked Pedro.
Inuarashi slowly climbed up from the ground, staring at Pedro fiercely.
"You were hiding your strength earlier?"
Pedro smiled.
"The captain also taught us that it's best to test the opponent first. Once you understand the situation, then deliver the fatal blow."
Inuarashi's dog face was gloomy.
He had not expected this guy to still be hiding strength and catch him off guard in such a situation.
This was humiliating for a dog.
The battle on the other side was similar.
After being suppressed by Nekomamushi for a while, Wanda had also figured out Nekomamushi's strength.
"Old dog!"
In the middle of his busy fight, Nekomamushi spared a glance over, only to be shocked.
"You still have time to look down on your opponent?"
Wanda would not miss the chance and slashed at him.
Nekomamushi barely dodged her sword, then thrust his trident fiercely.
Clang!
Wanda's sword caught between the prongs of the trident.
"What? Were you startled because your old friend overturned?"
"Hmph!"
Nekomamushi twisted his trident and knocked her sword away.
"It did startle this old cat. But that old dog's strength is only so-so. What a disgrace to dogs."
"Heh."
The corner of Wanda's mouth rose.
Lightning appeared around her body.
"Then do you want to experience what your old friend just did?"
Crackle!
Lightning also appeared around Nekomamushi. He did not dare be careless, because Wanda's aura was terrifying right now.
Wanda narrowed her eyes, and the lightning around her grew even more violent.
Crackle!
Gradually, the lightning wrapped around Wanda's entire body.
"What technique is this?"
Nekomamushi looked solemnly at his opponent.
Electricity was something all Minks naturally possessed, but the way Wanda was using it now felt unfamiliar.
Awoo!
A white hound formed from lightning raised its head and howled before her.
Danger.
That was what Nekomamushi sensed through Observation Haki.
"Thunder Hound Fork!"
With Wanda's shout, her figure rapidly closed in on him.
"Come! Let me see how much you've grown."
Nekomamushi coated his trident in Haki and thrust forward fiercely.
Boom!
With a loud crash, the surrounding Minks saw Nekomamushi's trident bitten by the thunder hound.
Crackle!
The lightning on the thunder hound became even more violent, seemingly stronger than Nekomamushi's own.
"What?!"
Nekomamushi was shocked because he felt the force from the other side increase again.
Bang!
The thunder hound broke through Nekomamushi's defense and sent him flying with one claw.
"Lord Nekomamushi!"
The surrounding Minks were shocked.
They had not expected the two kings, even after getting serious, to be forced back again.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Wanda and Pedro stood together, looking at the two rather disheveled kings ahead.
"Pah!"
Nekomamushi spat out black smoke.
The cat fur on his body had been discolored by the electricity.
Inuarashi brushed the dust off his body, his eyes turning serious.
Seeing that the cat and dog did not seem to have suffered much damage, Pedro chuckled.
"As expected of warriors who fought their way out beside Oden. You're stronger than those random cats and dogs."
"Meow! Your strength is indeed very good."
Nekomamushi gripped his trident with both claws, and his entire aura changed.
Duang!
The Haki on Inuarashi's sword shone black, and the entire dog's aura changed as well.
"Now let us show you the skills we learned from Lord Oden!"
Looking at the two kings whose auras surged majestically, the surrounding Minks became excited.
They had only seen this kind of state when the two kings fought each other. No one else had been qualified.
Clack!
Wanda sheathed her sword.
"My goal has been achieved. But the Mink Tribe only needs one king. Too many kings are not good."
After saying that, Wanda walked down, leaving only Pedro with his great sword.
"What's going on? Why did Wanda leave?"
Seeing Wanda step out of the battlefield, the watching Minks began discussing among themselves.
No one had expected this.
The fight had been going well. Even if Pedro and Wanda were ultimately no match for the two kings, they still wouldn't lose too badly.
But suddenly, Wanda had stepped down, leaving only Pedro.
Seeing Wanda return, Bepo's brother went pale.
"Wanda, you…"
Wanda shook her head and interrupted him.
"Pedro is strong. Very, very strong. Just watch."
"Big Sister Wanda!"
Carrot looked worriedly at Pedro, who stood alone in the battlefield.
Wanda smiled and rubbed the little rabbit's head.
"Don't worry. Pedro hasn't used his real strength yet.
"Besides, the Mink Tribe only needs one king. Too many is not good."
"Mm!"
Carrot nodded.
Although she did not fully understand, she believed Big Sister Wanda.
That meant Pedro was very strong.
The watching Minks discussed among themselves, but Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, standing in the battlefield, looked even worse.
Boom!
Nekomamushi's tail smashed into the ground. From the movement alone, it was obvious he was very unhappy.
"What? Have you become so arrogant?"
Clack!
Pedro sheathed his sword, then removed one of the handcuffs from his wrist and tossed it to Wanda at the side.
Hearing that, Pedro tore off his clothes, revealing his powerful body.
"No. I'm not looking down on you. This is simply the truth."
"It seems you also learned that man's arrogance," Inuarashi said with a dark face.
He was furious.
Pedro and Wanda's return this time had been nothing less than pressing their faces into the ground and stomping on them.
Pedro loosened his body, bones cracking, while his tone remained calm.
"It's not arrogance. I already said it. It's confidence."
Whoosh!
Inuarashi no longer wanted to talk and directly sent a slash flying at him.
Bang!
Pedro casually punched the slash apart and grinned.
"A flashy slash with no substance. Your foundation is too weak."
"Meow!"
Nekomamushi moved rapidly, even faster than before.
To the watching Minks, King Nekomamushi looked as if he had vanished from his original spot.
Pedro punched to his left.
Bang!
Nekomamushi, who had just appeared there, blocked the fist with his trident.
"Your Observation Haki is this strong?"
"Heh."
Pedro said nothing. He grabbed Nekomamushi's weapon and pulled it backward.
Clang!
The trident collided with Inuarashi's sword.
"What?!"
The cat and dog were both shocked by Pedro's strength.
"Did Oden not teach you that you can't be careless in battle?"
Pedro's towering figure appeared behind Nekomamushi.
"Stinking cat, watch out!"
Inuarashi was shocked.
There, Pedro's fist was aimed straight at him.
Sensing the situation behind him, Nekomamushi hurriedly turned back to block.
Bang!
Pedro's fist struck his trident.
"What tremendous strength!"
Nekomamushi was sent flying by the punch. He continuously dispersed the force in midair for quite a while before landing again.
"What is that? Why did Pedro become like that?"
Hearing the cry of surprise, Nekomamushi looked up.
Pedro stood there, over six meters tall, his muscles powerful, his eyes fierce, and his mouth spread in a savage grin.
Inuarashi's eyes carried disdain.
They had seen enough of the world to understand.
"A Devil Fruit user? I didn't expect you to choose to eat that thing to strengthen yourself."
Nekomamushi's internal organs had been shaken by the impact, and he felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Advanced Armament Haki, is it? Also, that thing you took off just now was Sea-Prism Stone, wasn't it?"
Nekomamushi took a deep breath and slowly said,
"Old dog, we have to use our full strength in today's fight."
Inuarashi did not answer. His entire body simply tensed.
"Hey, hey, hey! Is that Pedro? What happened? Why did he get bigger?"
The Minks began discussing wildly, staring at the six-meter-tall leopard in disbelief.
"Devil Fruit!"
Some Minks who had been to sea recognized why Pedro had grown larger.
But Pedro's next move made their discussion stop.
Pedro crossed both hands.
"Life Return: Mad Leopard Form!"
Buzz!
The watching Minks saw Pedro's body seem to shrink slightly.
"Hey, hey, hey… What is going on with this guy?"
Sweat appeared on Inuarashi's forehead.
It was no wonder he reacted this way. The pressure from Pedro was now too great.
"Meow damn it. This guy wasn't serious at all earlier."
Nekomamushi tightened his grip on the trident, waiting for Pedro's next move.
Pedro's eyes began to turn red.
Then he clenched his fist fiercely.
Boom!
An invisible wave of air spread from around him.
Pedro's eyes were blood-red, his face fierce as he stared forward.
"Since I am going to become the new king of the Mink Tribe, I must show absolute strength."
"Roar!"
Pedro roared.
His fur began to lengthen. Soon, it started turning white.
"This is…"
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi's eyes widened.
The surrounding Minks froze for a moment, then their breathing quickened.
This technique looked very similar to that form.
But it was broad daylight. It was impossible to use that form now.
"Roar! Not enough yet! Come out!"
Pedro roared.
Immediately after, white flames began to circle behind him, wrapping around his entire body.
"This is…"
This time, even Wanda was shocked.
"Roar! Moon Lion form, open!"
As Pedro finished roaring, lightning danced wildly all over his body.
"Moon Lion!"
The moment those two words appeared, the watching Minks felt as if thunder exploded in their minds.
One by one, they stared blankly at the battlefield.
"Impossible!"
Nekomamushi roared.
"That state cannot be activated during the day!"
Pedro stared at them with blood-red eyes.
"There are no absolutes in this world. If you don't try, how do you know whether it can be done?"
"Roar!"
The surrounding Minks flushed red, staring at Pedro with burning eyes.
They weren't blind.
That was clearly the Moon Lion form.
And that aura—wasn't it unique to the Mink Tribe?
What did that prove?
If Pedro could do it, then could they do it too?
At this moment, the Mink Tribe was ignited.
"This is the new path for the Mink Tribe. I'll use you to prove whether it is correct!"
Pedro roared and charged forward with clenched fists.
"Old dog! Stinking cat!"
The two kings crossed their weapons and rushed out fiercely.
"Oden Two-Sword Style: Togen Totsuka!"
"Moon Lion Ultimate Secret Art: Leopard King Fist!"
Boom!
The three instantly collided.
The impact of the two attacks formed a violent pressure that snapped the surrounding trees one after another.
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