Chapter 266: The Collapse of the Mink Tribe
"Come!"
Luo Han's eyes sharpened as he stared directly at Zunesha.
The moment the words left his mouth, Zunesha's colossal trunk came whipping toward him!
As it struck—
Luo Han's massive crescent-shaped blade, condensed from telekinetic force, shimmered with blinding light.
Zzzz—!
A sharp slicing sound echoed as if a blade had torn through thick flesh!
Blood sprayed into the air as Zunesha's trunk sliced through the telekinetic blade, whipping past Luo Han—
Then…
It split in two!
Rip—!
At the same time, Zunesha let out a shriek that shook the heavens, rearing its trunk high into the sky.
BOOM!
SPLASH! SPLASH!
A two-kilometer-long segment of trunk crashed into the sea, sending red and white waves erupting in every direction.
Hiss… hiss…
Even with its trunk raised high, blood poured uncontrollably from Zunesha's severed end, gushing like a volcanic eruption.
Sprays of crimson rained down on Zou Island like a torrential downpour.
"This is… blood?"
Soaked from head to toe, the Minks stood frozen. One of them instinctively stuck out his tongue and muttered in disbelief, "It… it's blood."
No one answered.
They all stared blankly at the sky above—where Zunesha's raised head now spouted a fountain of blood from a gaping wound.
No fish.
No sea water.
No blessings this time.
Only an overwhelming scent of blood choked the air.
"Zunesha's trunk… was severed!"
A whisper cut through the shock—even amid Zunesha's agonized screams.
BOOM!
The entire Mink Tribe erupted into chaos.
"Who…?!"
"Or what?!"
"What could cut off Zunesha's trunk?!"
Though blood gushed from the cleanly severed stump, they could still sense it—
That was a perfect slice.
"That man…"
Recalling the earlier strike and the aftermath—
Tiger Fang murmured, "Was it you… Blue Demon?"
Right then, a silver flash passed through his pupils.
Thud!
Tiger Fang suddenly dropped to his knees, staring blankly at the silver arc still hovering above Zunesha's head.
All hope drained from his heart.
"It's over… the Mink Tribe is finished…" he whispered, stunned.
Below the silver arc—
Luo Han hovered calmly, watching the still-screaming Zunesha.
Its trunk still rained blood like a crimson waterfall.
There was no pity in his eyes. His voice was cold and unwavering.
"Your life ends here. Your mission dies with you."
Ignoring Zunesha's desperate pleas—
Luo Han's eyes narrowed. With a thought, dozens of telekinetically formed spears streaked down—
Stab—!
Zunesha's cries stopped instantly.
Its trunk collapsed, still gushing rivers of blood.
BOOM! SPLASHHH!
A crimson tide spread across the sea. Within moments, hundreds of kilometers turned red.
"Beg for mercy?"
"Too late."
Luo Han's gaze was icy.
Somehow, Zunesha had initiated mental communication—pleading for its life, claiming it carried the world's destiny.
Too bad.
From the moment Zunesha attacked him, Luo Han had decided—screw the storyline.
The "chosen one"?
The Kozuki clan?
Oda's foreshadowing?
To hell with all of it. From now on, this world would be what he made it.
Fwoosh!
With a thought, Luo Han teleported above the Whale Tree.
BOOM!
With another massive blast, he lifted the red Road Poneglyph with telekinesis. At the same time, he destroyed the copy the Minks had made.
"If anyone wants this Poneglyph, let them come to Evernight City to find me."
He left that chilling remark behind.
Ignoring the stunned, furious Minks, Luo Han sped off at supersonic speed—headed for Evernight City.
...
Though Zunesha had died, its corpse still stood tall in the sea.
Luo Han's final words echoed in the ears of every Mink.
But…
They didn't react—
In truth, the moment Zunesha died, their beliefs had completely collapsed.
Their home was gone.
Their purpose, shattered.
When Zunesha's heart stopped beating—they lost everything.
A long silence followed.
"Chief…"
The wolf-headed Mink stepped forward, voice trembling, eyes bloodshot. He stared at his king, searching for guidance.
"Blue Demon…"
"Evernight City…"
Tiger Fang muttered those names, eyes filled with burning hatred.
"If he wants what the World Government wants most…"
"Then let him face the wrath of the World Government!"
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes.
Tiger Fang had made his decision—
He would notify the World Government. Notify the Five Elders.
He would tell them that the red Road Poneglyph—the one countless pirates had sought for centuries—was now in the hands of the Blue Demon.
And it was inside Evernight City!
"Chief Tiger Fang…" the wolf Mink spoke again, voice shaking.
Blood vessels bulged in his eyes. He was on the verge of breaking down.
"Wolfbeet…"
Seeing that pair of hopeless eyes, Tiger Fang's fury began to fade.
Looking around, he saw the others—Mink warriors collapsed on the ground, overwhelmed by despair.
No…
No matter what happens next, the Mink Tribe can't fall apart on my watch.
First, he had to rebuild faith. Give his people a new reason to live.
His mind raced. Then a light sparked in his eyes.
Tiger Fang shouted, "Wolfbeet! Everyone! Listen to me!"
Hearing their leader's powerful voice, the warriors slowly stood up, eyes full of hope.
"Everyone…"
After a brief pause, Tiger Fang declared solemnly,
"Though Zunesha is dead, and our sacred artifact is lost, one copy of the Poneglyph still remains!"
"It was made centuries ago by a former king—hidden beneath the palace throne. Maybe he foresaw this day!"
Hope returned to the eyes of the warriors and Minks alike.
"Our mission and our promise are not over!"
"From now on, we will wait here for the one destined by fate!"
"When that day comes—we will avenge Zunesha!"
His final roar ignited every heart.
"Blue Demon!"
"Evernight City!"
"One day—we'll destroy you! We'll burn it all to the ground!"
The Minks shouted their fury to the sky, then fell silent, their rage simmering beneath the surface.
"Let's return to the city and inform everyone!" Tiger Fang turned and marched.
"Yes!"
"Let's go tell the people!"
Everyone followed him back. Once the message was shared, the Mink Tribe began to recover—slowly adapting to a life without Zunesha's blessing.
Soon—
Two days later, as Luo Han neared Ark Island—
A dense mist rolled in, enveloping Zunesha's corpse.
From then on, it would remain there, forever sealed in fog.
...
Ark Island
Central Lake
Luo Han descended from the sky, red Road Poneglyph in tow.
With a casual toss—
Plunk!
The stone sank slowly to the bottom, beside the other three Poneglyphs.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Akatsuki , Cole , Aishi , and Aishi instantly appeared at his side.
They had been waiting by the lake, knowing Luo Han would place the Poneglyph here.
"You're okay?" Aishi asked.
Cole looked concerned. Aishi landed on his shoulder. Akatsuki also watched him anxiously.
They all knew how powerful Zunesha had been.
And though Luo Han had returned safely, they needed to hear it from him to feel at ease.
"I'm fine."
"Zunesha is dealt with."
Luo Han shrugged and smiled. "But if you want to vacation again, we'll need to pick a new destination."
He remembered what he'd seen before leaving—Zou soaked in blood. The vibrant green it once had was gone.
"As long as you're okay," the others sighed in relief. No one cared about the vacation anymore.
"Good to hear…" Aishi said softly. She felt guilty—it was her fainting that led to Luo Han staying behind to avenge her.
If anything had happened to him, she wouldn't have forgiven herself.
"Alright!" Luo Han patted his stomach. "Enough standing around. I haven't had a decent meal in days!"
"Haha!"
"I'll start cooking!" Aishi grinned. "Cole , go grab some ingredients!"
She took off toward the mountaintop plaza, dragging Cole along.
"Okay!"
Cole flipped midair, disappearing into his storage space—off to Gourmet City for supplies.
"I'll be heading back to Fantasy Island. Tonight…"
Akatsuki paused. "Come to the palace."
"Got it," Luo Han replied. For now, her place would do—the Penguin ship was gone, after all.
"I'll see you later then."
And with that, she left, leaving Luo Han and Aishi alone.
"So what was up with that elephant?" Aishi frowned.
Heh.
Luo Han chuckled—he knew what she meant.
"That red Road Poneglyph," he said simply.
"All that… over a stone?" Aishi was skeptical. Zunesha didn't seem like the type to care about it.
Unless...
"You guessed it."
"Someone must've commanded it to guard the Poneglyph—no one was allowed to take it."
"That fish again…" Aishi muttered darkly.
"Don't overthink it," Luo Han said with confidence. "As long as I'm strong enough, no one can touch us."
"I'm going to train. Do what you like."
With that, he vanished—appearing atop a tree in the island's forest.
His mind sank into his spiritual world as he began cultivating his Devil Fruit powers.
"I need to awaken mine too," Aishi said to herself, eyes gleaming.
"Cole and Luo Han have already done it. I won't be left behind."
She turned and headed off—determined to master her own powers.
(END CHAPTER)
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