Beyond Crescent Moon Village, vast farmland stretched beneath the open sky. Sunlight poured across the lush green fields, and a gentle breeze carried the clean, earthy scent of freshly turned soil.
The Mink Tribe gathered along the edges of the fields, their gazes fixed firmly on the figure standing at the center of it all—Gern Reginald Sigmar.
"Go for it!!"Lipo stood at the very front, fists clenched tightly as she bounced with excitement.
"Go, Gern! You're a hero of justice!!"
As she shouted, she even mimicked the transformation pose Gern had shown her earlier, striking an exaggerated stance like a masked hero from one of her favorite stories. Her long ears swayed with the motion, and her pink eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Nearby, Wanda and Pedro watched her with visible hesitation.
Wanda tugged gently on Lipo's sleeve and whispered,"Lipo… this field is huge. Can he really do it?"
"Yeah," Pedro added, folding his arms with a slight frown. "A flowerpot is one thing. A whole field is something else entirely."
At the center of the farmland, Gern smiled faintly as he swept his gaze across the gathered crowd—then let it rest on Lipo. He raised his hand and gave her a confident thumbs-up.
Then, slowly, he closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath.
The ground beneath his feet seemed to respond, trembling ever so slightly.
The air itself grew still—as though the world had paused to watch.
Then—
Gern gently stomped his left foot.
A dull tremor rippled through the earth.
At the same time, he lifted his left hand, palm facing upward, as if lifting something invisible.
"Rise."
The moment the word left his lips—
The entire field shuddered.
The soil churned as though grasped by an unseen hand. Carrots and potatoes burst forth from the earth in rapid succession, shooting upward with soft whooshing sounds before stopping midair.
Vivid green leaves.Bright red carrots.Golden potatoes.
They floated perfectly suspended beneath the sunlight, gleaming like treasures.
"Wooooah—!!!"
The entire Mink crowd cried out in unison, eyes stretched wide, mouths agape.
Even an eighty-year-old goat mink's dentures went flying straight into the mouth of a ninety-year-old gorilla mink.
"Did you see that?! Did you see that?!"Lipo bounced wildly, her tail standing straight up as she spun toward Wanda and Pedro."I told you! I told you he could do it!"
Wanda and Pedro stood frozen in place.
Pedro's ears were standing completely upright as he muttered in disbelief,"T-This… what kind of power is this? It's like magic…"
Gern lowered his hand. The crops gently descended and stacked themselves neatly along the edge of the field.
He brushed the dirt from his hands and smiled."So? Didn't disappoint, did I?"
The Mink Tribe immediately erupted into excited chatter, crowding around him from every direction.
"That's incredible!""How did you do that?!""We won't have to break our backs harvesting anymore!"
Gern found himself surrounded, half amused, half overwhelmed. He raised a hand to calm them.
"It's really nothing special. If you ever need help, just come find me."
Lipo squeezed her way through the crowd and grabbed his arm, eyes sparkling brightly."Gern! You promised—you said you'd teach me! I want to learn this!"
Gern chuckled and gently ruffled her head."That ability's a bit special… but I can teach you something else."
"Really?!"Her ears trembled excitedly."Then let's start right now!"
Watching her enthusiasm, something stirred in Gern's chest.
Perhaps this was it.
Perhaps this was how he would truly become part of the Mink Kingdom.
With people this sincere, there was no need for elaborate schemes—sometimes, simple kindness built the strongest trust.
But just as that warmth settled—
Rustle… rustle…
The bushes at the edge of the farmland suddenly shook violently.
Leaves rattled. Branches snapped.
A savage aura surged forward.
Gern's brows knit slightly as his Observation Haki flared instinctively.
The next instant—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three massive beasts burst from the forest.
They resembled wild boars, but each was the size of a small Sea King. Their tusks curved like scimitars, gleaming with deadly sharpness, and their crimson eyes burned with bloodlust as hot, foul breath poured from their jaws.
"Steel-Tusk Beasts!"Pedro's face went pale as he instantly drew the short sword from his back, lightning crackling around it."Why are they here?!"
"Oh no!"Wanda's tail bristled as she instinctively stepped back."They never come this close to the village!"
"Gern—watch out!!"Lipo shouted, electricity crackling in her palms as she leapt forward—but she was already too late.
The three beasts roared and kicked off the ground simultaneously, charging like runaway war chariots.
The earth shook.Dust exploded upward.Their tusks glinted with killing intent.
Gern merely tilted his head.
His gaze turned cold.
"...Get lost."
In an instant—
HUMMMMM—!!
An overwhelming pressure detonated outward like a tidal wave.
The air froze.
A monstrous Conqueror's Haki burst forth.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The three charging beasts froze mid-stride, their eyes rolling white. Their massive bodies slid forward a few more meters before crashing heavily into the dirt, unconscious.
Silence.
Dust slowly settled over the field.
Lipo, Wanda, and Pedro stood frozen, their pupils constricted, their breaths caught in their throats.
Though they hadn't lost consciousness, the suffocating pressure still gripped their bodies like an invisible hand around their throats.
"T-That just now…"Wanda's voice trembled as her tail curled tightly around her legs."I… I felt something far more terrifying than those beasts…"
"G-Gern…"Pedro swallowed hard, sweat dripping down his forehead as his sword trembled in his grip."Just… with a look… he…"
Lipo, who had halted mid-charge, slowly raised her ears. Her pink eyes reflected Gern's back as her heart pounded wildly.
"Gern… you just now… felt like a completely different person…"
Gern exhaled softly, reining in his presence. He turned toward them and offered a slightly awkward smile.
"I was already holding back… I didn't think you were standing that close."
Seeing their pale expressions, he scratched his head apologetically.
"Sorry… I think I scared you."