One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

You can read 5 chapters in advance in ficnest.com

----------

The dense canopy stretched above like a vast umbrella, casting a deep shadow over the forest floor.

This forest, surrounded by towering and lush trees, was the Whale Forest, a place the Mink Tribe regarded as sacred and forbidden.

"Pedro..."

Shishilian glanced at his companion leading the way. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, betraying his unease.

Unlike the rivalry between Nekomamushi and Inuarashi in the original tales, their relationship here was harmonious, without any division of rule by day and night. Instead, Pedro shared the kingdom's responsibilities equally with his co-ruler. Because of Pedro's adventurous spirit and wanderlust, the Mink Tribe had chosen him as one of their kings to ensure balance in the governance of Zou.

At this moment, Shishilian, the lion Mink, cast a worried look toward Pedro. He knew all too well how deeply Pedro cared about the Red Poneglyph.

But there was no escaping the truth—they were outmatched. The enemy's strength far exceeded anything the Mink Tribe could contend with.

In a one-on-one battle, Pedro would likely throw his life on the line without hesitation. However, as a ruler of Zou, his responsibilities weighed heavily on him. He couldn't afford to act recklessly, not when the lives of tens of thousands of Minks rested on his shoulders.

Though he seethed with frustration, Pedro couldn't allow his emotions to cloud his judgment. As king, he had to think of the bigger picture.

He remembered his youth vividly, back when the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had come to Zou. Pedro had watched from the sidelines as Roger and his crew explored the Whale Forest, learning firsthand the significance of the Red Poneglyph and the history it represented.

Now, as they walked into the cave at the heart of the Whale Forest, they followed a narrow path that led them to a vast, hollow space. Though deep within the massive tree, the cavern was faintly illuminated by natural light filtering through unseen cracks.

The walls bore the emblem of the Kozuki Clan of Wano, an enduring reminder of a legacy long passed into history. Beneath the crest stood a colossal stone—a Poneglyph, its surface etched with ancient, dense inscriptions.

Standing before the stone, Alex raised his hand, activating his ability. Under his command, the massive ten-meter-tall figure that had been dormant until now broke free from the ground. It floated beside him, an imposing force under his control.

With his objective achieved, Alex showed no interest in lingering. Carrying the Red Poneglyph, he left the Whale Forest without a second glance.

For a long moment after Alex departure, Pedro stood frozen in the tree hollow. Then, as if overcome by frustration, he struck the trunk beside him with all his might.

"Damn it!!"

Pedro's mind raced with memories. He recalled the words of encouragement Gol D. Roger had once spoken to him. Despite the tragedy that befell Inuarashi and Nekomamushi nineteen years ago, Pedro had never forgotten the Pirate King's parting words. Those words continued to fuel his resolve, even now.

'The Road Poneglyph I've spent my life guarding was taken from right under my nose, effortlessly. It felt as though the very symbol I had placed my faith in was ripped away, and I couldn't even muster the strength to resist.'

'Is this the "opportunity" I've been waiting for?'

'Was my purpose all along just to hand over what I've been entrusted with—to give it up in shame?'

In less than half an hour, nearly a third of the town lay in ruins. As the figure of the intruder disappeared into the distance, the Mink Tribe watched in silence. Their emotions were a tangled mix of relief and bitterness.

Some hated the enemy for what they had done, but perhaps more so, they hated themselves for their helplessness. Against opponents like these, they couldn't even defend their homeland.

Far above the chaos, a thousand meters from Zunesha, Baby 5 sat aboard the ship, gazing at the massive elephant shrouded in clouds.

Before long, a figure appeared in the distance, standing atop a giant red stone—the Road Poneglyph. Slowly but surely, the stone floated closer, carried by Alex's powers.

Using his Float-Float Fruit, Alex manipulated the Poneglyph with precision. With a burst of speed, he crossed hundreds of meters in an instant, landing smoothly on the deck of the ship with the enormous artifact.

The Poneglyph settled gently, its immense weight betraying its otherwise soundless descent—like a leaf falling onto a still lake.

With the Road Poneglyph secured, Alex resumed control of his ship. The ship disappeared into the dense clouds as they left Zou behind.

At the same time, Nojiko, relinquished her control over her powers.

Suddenly—

BAAAAAAAROOOOOOM!!

A thunderous cry erupted from Zunesha, shaking all of Zou to its core. The ground began to tilt, the mountains buckled, and massive cracks tore through the earth. Trees toppled into newly formed chasms, and buildings crumbled into rubble.

Waves rolled across the sea in every direction, the aftermath of Zunesha's powerful cry.

"Zunesha is angry!!"

"What's happening? Zou is going to collapse!"

"Quick! We have to calm Zunesha down before it's too late!"

The Minks, panicked and desperate, scattered in search of answers. Their love for Zunesha was unparalleled—this ancient, gentle giant who had carried their civilization on its back for centuries. Yet now, overcome with emotion, Zunesha's anger was causing untold destruction.

At last, Zunesha stopped its endless march, its massive limbs pausing for the first time in centuries. Slowly, it turned its head, gazing into the skies where the Flying King's Authority had vanished.

Another deep cry echoed through the air, this one filled with a mix of sorrow and unease. Zunesha remained still for an hour, lamenting its helplessness before continuing its eternal punishment of ceaseless walking.

Unseen by the Minks, Zunesha's ancient body bore new signs of wear. The toll of centuries was evident, its strength slowly fading.

Meanwhile, aboard the ship, Alex remained oblivious to the turmoil he had left behind. His focus was entirely on the Road Poneglyph he had just acquired. His thoughts turned to the search for the final historical landmark—the last Road Poneglyph.

In the world of One Piece, many mysteries remained unsolved. Though Alex hadn't seen the end of the original tale, he had pieced together clues from the process of elimination.

The final Poneglyph's location was narrowed to two possible places:

The land of giants, Elbaf, or a site somewhere within Whitebeard's former territories.

With two years left before the chaos of the new era began, Alex felt no rush.

In the coming years, he planned to solidify his influence over Elbaf. Through Lola's connection to Prince Loki of the giants, Alex was steadily working to strengthen his ties. When Loki finally ascended from prince to king, Alex intended for Elbaf to stand as one of his strongest allies. On the day of the decisive battle, Elbaf's might would be an invaluable force under his command.