A high-pitched, distorted shriek sliced through the air, striking the deck of the Oro Jackson like a sudden crack of lightning.
"An elephant?!"
"An elephant that walks in the sea?"
The crew members looked at each other, their initial reactions a mix of confusion and amusement rather than fear.
"Hey, you don't think Buggy's started hallucinating from all this fog, do you?" one of them joked.
"It's possible. He's never been quite right in the head anyway."
"What did you just say, Shanks!" Buggy's furious roar echoed down from the crow's nest.
However, two people on the deck couldn't bring themselves to laugh.
Kozuki Oden's expression changed in an instant. He rushed to the ship's rail, staring intently into the thick, gray mist. At the same time, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who had been playing with the crew, froze completely. Their faces lit up with expressions of pure, unbelievable excitement.
"It's Zou!" Inuarashi's voice trembled.
"There's no mistake!" Nekomamushi's eyes went wide. "That's our homeland! We're back!"
While everyone was still trying to understand what was happening, Roger's hearty laugh boomed across the ship once more.
"Kuhahaha! It really is an elephant! This is amazing! So interesting!"
He stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes shining with an excitement more intense than if he had just discovered a mountain of treasure. With his monstrous vision, Roger could already see the towering silhouette clearly through the fog.
Just then, a low, ancient cry, sounding as if it came from the dawn of time, pierced through the dense mist and echoed across the sea.
"Moooooooo—"
The sound wasn't deafening, but it carried an immense power and vitality that made the entire Oro Jackson tremble. The thick fog seemed to recoil from the cry, churning violently before it began to dissipate. Sunlight finally broke through the clouds, illuminating the sea once again.
A colossal creature, too massive to be described with words, was finally revealed to everyone.
It was a giant elephant.
It was an elephant so unbelievably huge that it looked like it carried the entire world on its back. Its four legs were like pillars holding up the sky, planted deep in the seabed thousands of meters below, while its body soared high into the clouds. They could even see the outlines of mountains, rivers, and forests on its back. With every step it took, it created enormous waves on the sea, as powerful as any storm.
Next to this living island, the Oro Jackson looked as tiny as a leaf floating in a bathtub.
"Waaahhhhhh!" Shanks and Buggy clung to each other, letting out screams that were now a mixture of pure terror and thrilling excitement.
The rest of the crew stood frozen on the deck, their minds completely blank. They had sailed the Grand Line and had seen monstrous Sea Kings and giant sea beasts, but the creature before them went far beyond anything they could have ever imagined.
As the ship drew closer, the oppressive presence of the elephant's mountain-like leg became more and more real. The sea rose and fell in a steady rhythm with each of the giant's steps, and the Oro Jackson felt like a toy boat in a cradle, gently pushed up and then slowly lowered back down.
"Your Majesty! It's us!" Inuarashi stood at the bow, shouting with all his might toward the kingdom on the elephant's back. "Inuarashi and Nekomamushi are back!"
Soon, the giant elephant, Zunesha, responded. It slowly curled its massive trunk and lifted the Oro Jackson carefully onto its back.
Several agile figures quickly approached them. Leading the group was a tall, majestic goat Mink wearing luxurious robes. He was the ruler of the Mokomo Dukedom.
"Inuarashi! Nekomamushi!" the King roared with excitement when he saw the two familiar faces. "You two rascals! You're finally back!"
The King and a group of Mink guards jumped onto the deck, and the scene immediately turned into a tearful reunion. The King excitedly gave both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi a heavy punch on the arm, a gesture that was less about punishment and more an outpouring of joy.
"Where have you been all these years? We thought you had died out there!"
"Your Majesty, it's a long story!" Inuarashi said, rubbing his head with a wide grin. "We met Oden-sama, and then…"
His gaze shifted to Kozuki Oden.
The King's eyes followed, and when he saw the swords at Oden's waist and his distinctive topknot, his expression turned serious. A look of understanding and respect appeared on his face.
"So, you are a samurai from the Kozuki clan of Wano Country." The King bowed solemnly. "Welcome to the Mokomo Dukedom."
His gaze then swept over Roger, Rayleigh, and Jabba, sensing the powerful auras that these men couldn't hide. He understood at once. To have earned the loyalty of Inuarashi and Nekomamushi and to be traveling with the heir of the Kozuki clan, these were clearly no ordinary people.
"I am Goatkhan, ruler of the Mokomo Dukedom," he said, turning to Roger. Although the pirate captain looked laid-back, his kingly presence could not be ignored. "Welcome, everyone, to our country, the kingdom on the back of Zunesha."
"Kuhahaha! I'm Gol D. Roger, a pirate!" Roger extended his hand with a hearty laugh. "Thanks for your hospitality!"
At the King's invitation, the entire Roger Pirates crew disembarked onto Zou. As soon as they stepped onto the land, everyone was captivated by its unique culture. The Mink Tribe were naturally warm and hospitable people, and they were filled with curiosity about the outsiders, especially Kozuki Oden and the human crew members they had never seen before.
"Garachu!"
A cute rabbit Mink girl rushed up and gave Shanks a big hug, rubbing her soft cheek affectionately against his.
"Wow! So soft!" Shanks exclaimed in surprise.
"Damn it! Why couldn't that have been me!" Buggy stomped his foot in jealousy nearby.
King Goatkhan hosted a grand banquet for everyone in the giant Whale Forest. During the feast, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi told exciting stories about their adventures after following Oden out to sea and later joining the Roger Pirates. The other Minks listened with wide eyes, letting out gasps and cheers at their tales.
After a few rounds of drinks, Roger got straight to the point. "Your Majesty, we came here for the Poneglyph. We heard there's a red Road Poneglyph on this island."
Hearing the word "Poneglyph," the King's friendly expression grew serious. He was silent for a moment before he nodded slowly.
"Indeed. That stone has been guarded by our Mink Tribe for generations. But since you are guests brought here by Kozuki-sama, we have no reason to refuse you."
He stood up and personally led Roger, Rayleigh, and Kozuki Oden into the depths of the Whale Tree. Kyle, Jabba, and the others remained behind to continue enjoying the banquet.
Inside the Whale Tree was a massive, hollow chamber. A vivid red, cube-shaped stone covered in ancient writing stood silently in the center, giving off an ancient and mysterious aura.
The fourth Road Poneglyph.
"Finally… We finally have them all!" Roger stared at the red stone, his eyes blazing with a light brighter than ever before. He reached out his hand, feeling as if he could almost touch the outline of the Final Island.
Kozuki Oden was just as excited. He quickly stepped forward and began to decipher the ancient script. As he worked, Oden suddenly noticed a familiar emblem carved into the wall next to the stone.
"This is… our Kozuki family crest!" Oden exclaimed in shock.
The King stepped forward, a proud smile on his face. "That's right. Since ancient times, the Kozuki clan and our Mink Tribe have been brothers. This family crest is the proof of our alliance."
The legend was true. Kozuki Oden's heart swelled with emotion. The forgotten history his father had spoken of was confirmed right here, in this very moment.
When Oden finished transcribing the contents of the last Road Poneglyph and combined it with the information from the other three, a precise set of coordinates finally appeared!
The intersection of the four points, the location of the legendary Final Island, was no longer just a distant dream.
"Set sail!" Roger held up the four rubbings, his voice echoing throughout the Whale Tree, filled with unstoppable determination. "My lads! Let's celebrate with one last feast, and then, we go find the world's last treasure!"
"OHHHH!!!"
The crew's cheers were so loud they seemed to shake even the colossal Zunesha.
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