Chapter 373: Return to Wano
Brett brought Tesoro along. The two quickly arrived at the island called Zou.
"Though this isn't my first time seeing it, when it appears before my eyes again, the shock remains just as powerful!"
Tesoro, sitting on Brett's flame clouds, gazed down at the giant elephant walking across the ocean's surface, unable to help his amazement.
Feeling amazed was perfectly natural. After all, what now appeared before them was the world's most massive creature.
Even the largest Sea Kings absolutely couldn't match this elephant's size.
After all, even the deep sea couldn't conceal his body. His feet tread the dark, lightless ocean floor, yet his back towered into the clouds.
"Save the amazement. Let's rendezvous with Nekomamushi and the others first."
Brett dove toward the elephant's back, descending directly into the city at the center of the forest on the elephant's back—the Mokomo Dukedom.
"Brett!! You got here fast!"
The moment they landed, before even reverting to human form, both cat and dog had already leaped over, landing before Brett.
Without even activating Observation Haki, Brett could already sense their urgency.
"Couldn't keep you waiting."
Brett simply maintained his red dragon form, hovering in the sky. He smiled. "After all, I'm guessing you're both already impatient to liberate Wano, right?"
"Naturally."
Duke Inuarashi's hand pressed against the hilt at his waist. He said solemnly, "Brett, my friend—we'd love to properly welcome you at Zou, but our eager hearts can no longer be restrained. So, could we postpone this banquet until after victory?"
Brett nodded. "Of course no problem. Then let's depart now."
"Infinite gratitude!"
Inuarashi smiled brilliantly.
Time to prepare departure again.
Not just Nekomamushi and Inuarashi would head to Wano—both had brought their elite Mink warriors.
Including Nekomamushi's Guardians and Duke Inuarashi's Musketeers—all carefully selected warriors from this nation.
Total numbers around five hundred.
Not particularly many.
After all, though the Kozuki clan were the Minks' generational allies, strictly speaking, this operation was Inuarashi and Nekomamushi personally avenging their former lord.
The Mokomo Dukedom's two rulers hadn't called citizens to war as kings. These Minks were warriors voluntarily following them.
But that didn't matter.
In the coming war, a few more or fewer Minks wouldn't greatly impact the outcome.
Brett deployed flame clouds to sweep them all up, then rushed toward Wano.
When Brett reached Zou, Zunesha's distance from Wano was still somewhat far. Fortunately, Brett's flight speed could only be described as lightning-fast.
Just about a day later, he'd already returned above that massive island.
Above the clouds, Duke Inuarashi's hand gripped his sword hilt so tightly it creaked.
He quietly gazed down at the island below.
This was Kuri's coast. Years ago, he and Nekomamushi had drifted here and been adopted by Lord Oden.
Back then there was also Kawamatsu. When the three were captured by Kuri residents as monsters and about to be executed, that lord had saved them.
Lord Oden...
Now was the time to repay that debt!
Inuarashi's eyes held only absolute determination!
Even if it meant death, they would definitely defeat the Beasts Pirates and restore this nation's vitality!
To avoid exposing their whereabouts prematurely, Brett deliberately flew very high, then under Nekomamushi and Inuarashi's guidance flew toward the region called Ringo.
The place where Kawamatsu and Yamato had been hiding when Brett last visited Wano.
Nekomamushi guided Brett to fly above snow-covered mountains, then descend onto a plateau.
Nekomamushi first jumped from the clouds, landing in thick snow, opening his mouth to begin calling out.
The calls alternated between rapid and prolonged. Seemingly random, yet actually possessing unique rhythm. The sound spread across this silent snowfield.
"To avoid communications being monitored, we rarely use Den Den Mushi for contact."
Inuarashi explained.
"Indeed. Kaido's quite cunning."
Brett, having reverted to human form, agreed completely.
Though lacking the Charlotte Family's surveillance technology, with Queen's intellect, monitoring Wano's internal communications shouldn't be difficult.
After all, in this nation, almost no one besides their own people used Den Den Mushi or communication snails.
"Yes."
Inuarashi sighed. "Several times our whereabouts nearly got exposed, but fortunately we transferred in time and barely escaped."
"Just the underground bases we've dug—we've already changed locations several times."
Brett nodded.
Seems Yamato and the others' underground life hadn't been pleasant.
Brett didn't wait long. A familiar presence was already detected by his Observation Haki.
Soon, a white figure leaped from the snow-covered forest depths in the distance.
"Oh? What's that?"
Tesoro raised an eyebrow. "A wolf?"
That was a white canine creature, body covered in white fur, trailing long, floating ribbon-like vapors.
Brett smiled. Tesoro was visiting Wano for the first time, so didn't recognize the approaching figure. "Zoan Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Model: Okuchi-no-Makami."
"Mythical Zoan?"
Tesoro paused, then nodded knowingly. "Kaido's daughter, right?"
Brett had told him about Yamato.
"Brett!"
The wolf leaped into the air upon approaching, body reverting to human form mid-flight.
The woman—face beaming with a brilliant smile—swung her kanabo down with a roar. Pitch-black lightning wrapped around the club.
"The current me has absolutely no problems anymore!"
Brett smiled casually. "Bring it on!"
His fist also crackled with lightning as he struck upward!
BOOM!!
Fist and club collided through the air. Black lightning shot in all directions.
The thick accumulated snow around Brett was instantly blown away. Even the ground beneath sank and shattered. A massive crater formed in moments.
Yamato lightly leaped backward, landing on the crater's opposite side. She shouldered her kanabo, chin raised slightly, asking proudly,
"How's that, Brett! I've been training diligently, and finally mastered this technique!"
Undoubtedly—Conqueror's Coating.
Brett nodded lightly. "Completely sufficient."
Though she lacked the ability to clash and split the skies with him, still some distance from Emperor-level—it was enough.
At minimum, the current Yamato shouldn't fall too far behind Katakuri.