"Panicking, what an undignified display!" Achi couldn't help but scold.
His son had finally fallen asleep. Even if it was a nightmare, it was better than sleepless nights.
What if this guard's shouting woke him up?
He knew that his dog-son now woke up at the slightest disturbance.
The dog guard was somewhat incoherent. "Snake… snake… Your Majesty, there's a giant snake with wings in the sky!"
Achi's brows furrowed, growing more displeased. "What nonsense are you spouting? What snake has wings, and is in the sky—"
Mid-sentence, Achi paused, suddenly remembering his son's delirious whispers in his nightmares about dragons and snakes flying in the sky.
Could this be…
They've come to kill us?!
Achi frantically ran outside. Before he even stepped out of the room, he saw the sky had turned gloomy.
Once outside, he looked up. Zou was completely shrouded in clouds. Amidst the swirling mist, a winding, colossal figure, obscuring the sun, was half-hidden within.
Achi's eyes widened in horror, and he swallowed hard.
It really was a winged snake flying in the sky!
Noro also noticed the dog below, and a cat rushing towards the dog.
But he paid them no mind.
Noro felt a deep impression from this island. In his previous life, it was after seeing this part of the anime that his fondness for One Piece began to fade.
What an absurd story it was!
Simply put, Wano and Zou were allied brother nations.
But the two kings of Zou had, from a young age, sworn allegiance to the Kozuki family, becoming their retainers!
Yes, the kings of a nation became retainers to another. Although they weren't kings at the time, they still considered themselves retainers after becoming kings!
Zou was henceforth subservient, transforming from a brother nation into a vassal state of Wano.
Then came the even more laughable part.
The two kings, to protect another retainer of their lord, were willing to see their entire nation slaughtered, their lineage completely extinguished, rather than hand him over.
What the hell!
What did you consider your citizens to be?
Tools for demonstrating your loyalty to your master?
Did they even know Raizo?
Afterward, Kin'emon and Raizo looked at Zou, ravaged into ruins by Jack, sighing with emotion.
No, Oda, you don't actually find this moving, do you?
It could only be said that Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were indeed cats and dogs. As retainers, they were absolutely beyond reproach, truly first-rate. They would sell their own country to protect their master.
But as kings, their citizens would suffer greatly.
He didn't know what kind of brainwashing they had undergone to be willing to watch their families slaughtered one by one without revealing a single piece of information.
The reason Noro didn't attack immediately, but remained in the clouds in this form,
Was to exert absolute psychological pressure on all of Zou. He wanted to cause panic among the people of Zou!
He wanted to see if Zou would submit to the Beasts Pirates, or if they would rather die than yield.
Preferring to be annihilated as a nation than to submit to Wano's enemies!
Seth had already run to Achi's side. Noro leaned down, his massive snake head hovering above the two kings.
"You two must be the kings of this Elephant Island!"
The overwhelming pressure caused cold sweat to seep from the brows of the two kings.
Achi suppressed the fear in his heart, shouting loudly, "May I ask your name, and what brings you to my Zou Island?"
Noro sneered:
"Didn't your two runaway sons tell you who I am? But it doesn't matter. I only ask you one question."
"Submission or death?"
As expected, their suspicions were confirmed. The two kings were furious. Achi pointed at the Tengu Serpent in the sky, cursing, "You are the culprit who caused our sons' miserable state!"
The snake head nodded lightly. "I'm not sure about 'miserable,' but I am indeed the culprit."
Seth followed closely, also pointing at the Tengu Serpent and angrily rebuking, "So, you are also the villain who invaded Wano!"
At this, Noro grew proud. The Tengu Serpent raised its head high. "Indeed, it is I!"
"And…"
Noro's tone suddenly changed. "I don't like people pointing fingers at me!"
The Tengu Serpent suddenly opened its maw, and two wind blades whistled out, directly striking the kings' fingers.
The two kings didn't even have time to react. The fingers they had just used to point at Noro were cleanly severed.
Noro's Tengu Serpent and Kaido's Azure Dragon were very similar, in terms of size, appearance, and abilities.
Both could ride the clouds and mist. However, Kaido manipulated the elements of lightning, wind, and fire, while Noro manipulated the elements of poison, wind, and fire.
Blood splattered, fingers fell to the ground, and the pain struck a moment later.
The two kings cried out in agony, quickly gripping their wounds with their other hands to stop the blood flow!
The surrounding guards, seeing their kings attacked, immediately shielded them, then drew their weapons and fired at the Tengu Serpent in the air.
"Bastard! How dare you harm our two kings!"
"Die!"
Dozens of pistols sprayed bullets, striking the Tengu Serpent, but only sparks could be seen.
Noro ignored the hail of bullets, his dark yellow vertical pupils dangerously surveying the two kings. "So, is this the decision of you two kings?"
Achi endured the intense pain in his fingers, his eyes wide with fury, roaring, "You vile scoundrel, do not be so arrogant! Though my Zou Island is small, we will not submit to you, the invader of Wano!"
Noro's vertical pupils turned to Seth. "And you?"
Seth gritted his teeth. "Give up that thought! You not only invaded Wano, but you also caused my son's current miserable state, and yet you still dream of Zou Island submitting to you! How laughable!"
The Tengu Serpent's dark yellow vertical pupils swirled with mockery. "So, there's nothing to discuss."
The two kings said in unison, "Even if it means mutual destruction, our Zou Island will never submit to you!"
At this moment, the island's residents had also gathered, shielding the two kings in the center.
Noro looked down at these animals, asking, "Are you all the same?"
The residents looked at the terrifying giant snake in the sky. Though their faces showed fear, their eyes held determination.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "We will not submit! Even if we die, we will perish with Zou Island!"
The others echoed, "Yes, even if we die in battle, we will not submit!"
Noro sneered. "Is that so? I don't believe it."
"Englar Alaric, Raja, Kru, Leia, kill them! Kill them until they kneel and beg for mercy!"
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