The island trembled violently.
Not an earthquake, but the cause was unclear. Butler and Mobambi stood bewildered, while Chopper, barely conscious, scanned the surroundings.
The source became clear.
From a distance, figures charged up the hill.
Countless animals—exotic beasts of all kinds—raced shoulder to shoulder, their desperate expressions fixed on Mobambi.
They'd come to save their friend.
"Mobambi!"
"Karasuke! Everyone!"
Karasuke led the charge.
Mobambi's smile brought a fleeting sense of relief, easing his tension for a moment.
Near the hill's peak, the animals surrounded them, halting. Thousands of island creatures gathered—hundreds wouldn't suffice to describe their numbers. Among them were Bald Parrots and Forest Guardians, their faces resolute, a stark contrast to before. Their courage bolstered Mobambi's.
His expression shifted, brimming with confidence as he faced Butler.
The sudden encirclement caught Butler off guard. Strange beasts surrounded him, none his allies.
Yet his smirk held, fueled by absolute confidence.
He hoisted Chopper's body high. Mobambi cried out, his face twisting, while the animals, unaware of the full situation, glared sternly.
That single act confirmed their hostility.
Butler laughed, bathed in countless hostile stares.
"Your king dies now. Then I'll be king. Who'll submit?"
His question met silence. Not a single growl or cry.
After waiting, nothing. Butler's smile faded.
Mobambi seized the moment.
"You'll never be king! Give Chopper back!"
"Just animals. Can't grasp a genius's vision."
Butler muttered low, anger flaring. But no one reacted to his taunts anymore.
They'd resolved to fight the moment they gathered.
"Everyone! I want to save Chopper, but I can't do it alone… Please, lend me your strength! Chopper's one of us now!"
Mobambi's shout rang out.
Boom—the animals stomped in unison, their footsteps thundering. Distinctive cries erupted, filling the air with chaos.
All affirmed. Every creature shared Mobambi's will, determined to save a stranger.
The hill roared with noise.
Furious, Butler shouted in all directions.
"Shut up! What can you do, screaming like that? Illiterate beasts!"
His rant betrayed his agitation, leaving him visibly vulnerable.
The battle began abruptly.
With their resolve set, the animals wouldn't stay silent. The Forest Guardians charged Butler en masse.
A vividly colored zebra, a gorilla with a long-armed monkey on its shoulder, a ferocious liger—all moved with practiced precision, no hesitation.
Butler turned to face the approaching horde.
The liger struck first.
While Butler held Chopper aloft, distracted, it sank its fangs into his neck.
A scream was inevitable.
In that instant, the long-armed monkey chopped Butler's arm, freeing Chopper. The zebra, already in position, caught him on its back, turned, and raced to Mobambi, entrusting Chopper to him.
Rescue achieved. Now, defeat the enemy.
The liger, still biting Butler's neck, was struck on the head and rolled to the ground.
But more rushed in. The gorilla landed a punch to Butler's gut; the monkey hurled stones.
A blow to the torso, a rock to the head—Butler screamed in pain.
"Gwooooh!? What are you beasts!? Useless trash!"
He swung wildly to hit the gorilla, but it dodged with nimble steps, only fueling his frustration. Another opening let a punch land.
From out of reach, the monkey kept throwing stones, disrupting his movements.
It was maddeningly effective, their teamwork relentless.
Mobambi, clutching Chopper, was urged by the herd to retreat to the rear.
Chopper, covered in wounds and barely able to open his eyes, noticed Mobambi nearby and seemed surprised. Mobambi spoke gently.
"Chopper, are you okay!? I'm sorry, this is my fault…!"
"No need to apologize… I just did what I wanted."
Chopper's weak smile brought tears to Mobambi's eyes.
Holding him tightly, Mobambi's resolve hardened.
He wouldn't let Chopper die.
Feeling responsible, his will was unshakable, ready to protect him even at the cost of his own life.
"Sorry. I won't rely on you alone anymore. We'll protect this island!"
"Everyone… be careful. If you get hurt, I'll treat you."
"Chopper!"
Despite his own injuries, he worried for others. How kind could he be? No complaints of fear, pain, or hardship.
He was far stronger than he realized. Worthy of respect.
As Mobambi thought this, a loud cry—likely a scream—rang out.
Turning, he saw Butler's attack.
The long-armed monkey, pierced in the side by sharp claws, was lifted by one arm.
Flung to the ground, it lay limp.
The animals' cries grew louder as their comrade was hurt.
The gorilla, enraged, charged and swung at Butler. But Butler, equally furious, moved with seasoned ease.
Aiming his antlers at the gorilla's raised fist, he lunged forward.
In a shocked instant, the gorilla's counter was too slow.
The sharp antlers pierced its stomach, lifting its massive frame before hurling it away, just like the monkey. It rolled silently, motionless.
One by one, allies fell.
Not just the Forest Guardians—anyone who attacked or stood nearby was wounded, their resistance futile, collapsing in blood.
Butler was a true monster reborn.
He took damage, felt pain, and fatigue should've mounted. Yet the endless surge of power seemed to erase it, his movements undimmed.
Now the colorful zebra fell to his fangs.
The liger, enraged, pushed through the crowd to attack.
"No matter what you do, it's futile! I'm a different class of being!"
The liger leaped to bite Butler's neck again but was caught in his arms.
Up close, it noticed something.
The flesh it had torn earlier was regenerating. With grotesque sounds, the wound began to close.
Even on this island of exotic beasts, no creature did that.
Stunned, the liger froze, its killing intent fading.
"With this power, I won't die! I'm the strongest!"
Butler bit into the liger's neck, its anguished cry echoing.
Tearing flesh and tossing it aside, the liger collapsed, nearly unconscious.
Spitting the chunk of meat, Butler eyed the surrounding animals.
The Forest Guardians fell one after another.
The animals faltered but couldn't retreat, forced to fight through fear.
Karasuke soared overhead, shouting to rally them.
The losses were heavy. Victory seemed impossible from the start. But Mobambi was behind them, and Chopper, battered, was there too.
They couldn't betray them again. All fought desperately.
"Hold on, everyone! He's not invincible! Keep moving, and he'll tire—our chance will come!"
"No chance exists! No one can beat me now!"
Roaring, Butler stretched his neck, aiming his antlers skyward.
As they watched, the antlers began to glow, power amassing.
A light distinct from the sunset. Butler swung the glowing antlers down, striking the hill itself.
"KAAAAH!!"
The rock shattered, the antlers piercing the ground, unleashing a mysterious light.
It spread across the vast hill, forming countless glowing cracks.
Then, an explosion.
The blast felt like the hill itself detonated. A blinding flash swept the area, shattered rock flew, and thousands of animals were blown back.
Mobambi and Chopper were airborne too.
No time to brace, they crashed into the ravaged ground, a scene like a mudslide's aftermath. The hill was unrecognizable.
The scattered animals, large and small, lay wounded, unable to rise. No longer surrounding the enemy, they were now its prey.
Clutching Chopper, Mobambi painfully lifted his head.
Everywhere he looked, his injured comrades suffered.
At the hill's peak, Butler laughed.
A single blow had crushed thousands. His power fueled his boundless confidence.
"Incredible! This is it! I wanted this! Now is the time to become the world's king!"
"No… Karasuke, everyone…"
Not one stood.
Only Butler remained, as if proclaiming his victory.
"UOOOOH!!!"
Glaring at the sunset, laughing, he seemed to forget he was ever human.
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