Chapter 439: Chapter 439: Shinko’s Mythical Beast Power
Chapter 439: Shinko’s Mythical Beast Power
The following day, in the second half of Grand Line, New World, the sea sparkled under a clear sky.
Waves rolled across the blue ocean, forming crystalline foam that shattered into tiny water droplets.
On this relatively tranquil sea, compared to the New World’s usual harsh weather, a massive creature loomed.
Beside this unimaginable behemoth, a ship sailed.
"There it is, the monster is there, on the right side of Zunesha’s back." A furry, clothed orangutan on the ship shouted into a Den Den Mushi.
Hearing his cry, the recipient on the other end acknowledged the message and promptly hung up.
Soon, several more ships approached.
Aboard them were various fur-covered creatures, members of the Mink Tribe, a rare race in the world.
This race primarily resided in the Mokomo Dukedom of Zou, located on the back of the legendary giant creature known as Zunesha.
At that moment, the presence of multiple ships carrying Mink Tribe members, brimming with hostility, was due to a crisis.
Zunesha, the foundation of their existence, was in grave trouble, compelling them to descend and address the issue.
"There, you can see it..." many Mink Tribe members on the ships said, fixing their gazes into the distance.
They beheld a colossal pillar resembling elephant skin, nearly filling their field of vision.
This was because they were too close to the creature, but from a wider perspective, it became clear that the pillar was merely one hind leg of a super-sized elephant.
This was Zunesha, the cornerstone of the Mink Tribe’s survival, a legendary creature.
Unlike ordinary elephants, it possessed an extra joint in its legs, boasting two pairs of extraordinarily long limbs.
When traversing the sea, only a third of its feet touched the water, with the distance from the sea to its back exceeding 10,000 meters.
Its total height reached 35,000 meters, making it a true titan in this world.
It was difficult to fathom that any creature could surpass its size.
The Mink Tribe, living alongside Zunesha year-round, had long grown accustomed to its presence.
Now, their attention was drawn to an anomaly on the elephant’s leg.
Attached to Zunesha’s thigh was a leech-like creature, approximately twenty meters long.
Its body bore three vertical, blood-red lines running its length, with the rest cloaked in dark hues.
At that moment, it feasted under the furious gazes of the Mink Tribe, its target was unmistakably Zunesha.
A low, eerie sound, like liquid flowing, reverberated in the surrounding area.
All the Mink Tribe members stared at the monster clinging to Zunesha’s hind leg.
Their eyes burned with anger, yet beneath that fury lay a trace of fear.
The twenty-meter creature before them was no trivial foe.
It was notorious worldwide, even among the insular Mink Tribe, who rarely interacted with outsiders.
Its is known as the Blood Leech, a pure demon species of Gluttony, it was one of the five major disasters wrought by Gluttony in the world.
It relished devouring the blood of living creatures and typically dwelled in the sea.
Wherever it roamed, large sea monsters and even sea kings suffered grievously.
The Hunter Association classified its danger level as S-level two-star.
If such a monster were encountered elsewhere, the Mink Tribe would have fled without hesitation.
However, this was not elsewhere.
The creature was feeding on Zunesha, the bedrock of their existence.
Driven by emotion and duty, retreat was unthinkable.
Regrettably, their resolve did not bolster their strength.
At that time, though the Mink Tribe’s overall power had grown with the advent of the great martial era, they lacked a champion capable of confronting such a monster.
Their strongest warriors were Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who had returned from overseas two years prior.
They both had been imprisoned in Wano Country for mining labor before.
After enduring turmoil, they escaped Wano and returned to Zou Island.
Over the past two years, their dedication earned them recognition from most of the Mink Tribe.
They emerged as some of the mightiest warriors among their people.
When Duke Hitsugisukan, the current king of the Mokomo Dukedom, expressed his intent to abdicate, calls grew for Inuarashi and Nekomamushi to assume the throne.
Yet, even with their prowess, they were powerless against the monster before them, their strength paling in comparison.
This was not their first attempt to confront the Blood Leech.
For days, Zunesha had groaned in distress.
After swiftly identifying the culprit, the Mink Tribe launched attacks on the Blood Leech.
No matter how fiercely they struck, the creature seemed indifferent to their efforts.
Most critically, the minimal damage they inflicted was rapidly healed.
The toll on Zunesha was far graver than its cries suggested.
This left the Mink Tribe feeling helpless.
Each time, they could only watch as the creature fed until evening, then departed of its own accord.
Yet, at a specific time the next day, Zunesha wailed anew.
This legendary disaster appeared to possess considerable intelligence.
It drew blood without causing large wounds, varying its feeding sites across Zunesha’s body.
It was evident the creature treated Zunesha like livestock.
Indeed, this was precisely the case.
While roaming various seas, the Blood Leech had stumbled upon the colossal Zunesha.
To this monster, the 35,000-meter behemoth was a magnificent, inexhaustible granary.
It fed selectively, ensuring the elephant’s survival, as only fresh blood suited its palate.
Though a gluttonous species, the Blood Leech, as a pure demon with notable intelligence, had its own preferences.
During the day, it rose to feed and bask in the sun.
At night, it clung to Zunesha’s leg in the sea, sleeping soundly as it drained blood.
It lived a splendid existence.
As for the Mink Tribe’s attacks, it dismissed them as insignificant.
With only a few kilograms of blood to spare, the creature deemed retaliation unnecessary.
Their assaults were mere tickles to it.
As a gluttonous species with blood-devouring abilities, the Blood Leech possessed terrifying vitality and regenerative powers, granting it unchecked dominance.
"Inform Shinko quickly! Tell him the location here " Inuarashi said.
On the lead ship of the Mink Tribe, Inuarashi gazed at the dismissive monster and sighed with a mix of anger and resignation.
"Very well, Inuarashi-sama. I will notify Shinko-sama to come immediatelym" a Mink Tribe member beside him replied, holding a Den Den Mushi.
"Excellent, now we can finally deal with this monster!" another exclaimed.
"I heard Shinko-sama has enlisted powerful foreign aid." whispered others among the Mink Tribe.
Shinko, a tiger-like Mink Tribe member, had been wandering abroad for years.
Believed dead by his people, he unexpectedly returned months ago.
Not only had he survived, but he wielded formidable power.
Even Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, then the strongest warriors of the Mink Tribe, were swiftly defeated by him in tandem.
This was not the most astonishing revelation.
What stunned the tribe was Shinko’s ability to transform into Sulong form independently, even outside a full moon.
He attributed this to a new power he called the Mythical Beast Power.
(End of Chapter)