Chapter 35
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Chapter 35: Zou! The Fur Tribe Is Destroyed!
Zou, an island that travels through the New World, rests on the back of an ancient giant elephant known as "Elephant Lord." Outsiders often refer to it as Elephant Island. Since the Elephant Lord is constantly on the move, only those with the guidance of a life card can locate it. Even when one finds Zou and stands before it, gaining entry is a challenge. The island sits several kilometers above the sea, unreachable without a specific method.
The island is home to the fur people, a unique race resembling animal humanoids with some natural animal abilities. They can produce a burst of static electricity from their outer fur. Under the full moon's light, they transform into a powerful state called "Moon Lion."
Kaido had made efforts to find this island. After sailing for nearly a day and a night, he spotted the enormous elephant at a high altitude. Yamato, perched on a flame cloud summoned by Kaido, clasped his legs with one hand and shielded his eyes with the other as he gazed at the distant elephant.
"Oh! It's amazing! I've never seen an elephant so huge... Ah no, a creature so large!" he exclaimed.
Kaido, without a word, squinted at the walking giant elephant. He wondered if the elephant was linked to the Kozuki family and if it obeyed Momonosuke's commands. He considered attacking it but decided it was too much trouble due to its size. As long as it did not provoke him, he would leave it be.
On Zou, the fur tribe lived peacefully and contentedly until a green dragon flew overhead.
"Is that a dragon?!!!" some exclaimed.
"A real dragon?!!!" others questioned, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"It seems to be headed our way," someone pointed out.
The ordinary folk looked on with curiosity and amazement at the legendary beast, but within the crowd, several officers of the Musketeer Team, led by the Day King Inuarashi, broke into a cold sweat.
"Could that be Kaido?" one murmured.
"Impossible, right? Why would Kaido come to Zou?" another doubted.
"There's no other dragon in the world like that one!" insisted another.
"Idiots! Report to the King of Day!!!" a voice ordered.
"Go! Evacuate the people and protect them!" they commanded.
These musketeers, part of the force charged with protecting the kingdom's peace, were led by Inuarashi. He was one of the last two red Scabbardss and an enemy who had seen Kaido's dragon form. He and his counterpart, the King of Night Nekomamushi, had long ago shared this crucial information with their subordinates, preparing them for times like these.
As the fur people excitedly gathered to watch the approaching dragon, the musketeers pushed through the crowd.
"Get out of here! That dragon could be dangerous!" they warned.
"Duke Inarashi, the king of daylight, has been informed! Please retreat to the Whale Forest!" they urged.
Then, a chilling presence settled behind them. The fur tribe members before them were bathed in cyan light, their pupils reflecting panic. With a collective scream, they turned and scrambled toward the Whale Forest deep within the town.
The musketeer had no time to witness the events unfolding behind him. Just two words echoed through the air, "Boro Breath," followed by a thunderous rumble. Countless wind blades sliced through the town, speeding across the kingdom and bringing a gust so powerful it toppled merchants' stands. Buildings within view were cleaved in two as the masonry flew, leaving homes to crumble. The furs and musketeers trying to escape met a grisly end, torn apart at least in half. Frozen expressions of life still adorned the fur tribes' faces as they succumbed to unconsciousness and death without a chance to feel pain. Kaido was responsible for the demise of thousands.
"Huh? Didn't you say the goal was two people, daddy?" Yamato remarked with surprise at the scene.
Kaido, floating beside Yamato, shifted back into his human form and descended gently. Observing the transformed landscape, now a mound of corpses and ocean of blood, he stated coldly, "Although they are enemies, the fur tribe is quite a cohesive family. Even if our targets were only two, the entire clan would consider me a foe. It's better to annihilate them all."
He found a relatively clean stone, took a seat, and proceeded to lecture his daughter, "Yamato, remember, leaving anything behind for your enemies only invites betrayal. When you strike, you must eradicate the roots completely."
Yamato frowned, on the brink of protesting the innocence of those people, but the creed ingrained in her stirred, compelling her to side with her father's logic, "You're right, Dad, I'll remember!"
Satisfaction curled the edges of Kaido's lips. He cherished having such a compliant and dutiful daughter. After waiting momentarily, Inuarashi arrived with his company.
Having just reached the outskirts of this town, they were shocked at the carnage strewn before them. "Who did this!" a voice demanded in shock.
Inuarashi, with a swift hand, drew his long knife. The sight of his clan's bodies scattered across the ground fueled his rage, visible even behind the tinted blue sunglasses, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints. His heart surged with anger. Then he noticed the two figures nearby, and fear gripped him. Kaido! Twenty years had only added to Kaido's formidable presence, a figure Inuarashi could never forget. He had sought them out! Was Inuarashi the cause of this disaster?
"Big dog," Kaido's voice drew his attention, expressing faint interest at the lone figure before him. "You have some time to gather the big cat, too," he tBig Momed casually.
"No need for Nekomamushi! I can behead you today!" Inuarashi declared, his hatred for Kaido evident. He borrowed another sword, feeling stronger with the passage of years and the mastered Emission technique, confident enough to wound Kaido.
Crossing the swords, Inuarashi adopted a familiar stance that had once left permanent scars on Kaido, courtesy of Kozuki Oden. He charged, channeling Emission into his blade and invoking the legacy of their lord's mightiest technique.
"Oden Two-Sword Style, Togen Totsuka!" he called out, launching a decisive assault.