The Terrified Momonosuke

In the wasteland outside the city.

A group of people who had only recently arrived there all tilted their heads high, staring dumbfounded at the massive clouds of smoke shooting into the sky from within the Flower Capital.

The earthquake-like tremors coming from beneath their feet had subsided, yet the sensation still lingered in their hearts, leaving them unable to calm down for a long time.

"What in the world was that...?!"

The boy looked only seven or eight years old. His eyes were wide open, his body trembling violently, and terror filled his young face.

That apocalyptic scene had frightened him to the extreme.

"Lord Momonosuke, please calm down."

A warrior who appeared somewhat older crouched down and held the boy by the shoulders. In a deep voice, he said, "No matter what dangers we encounter from here on, we'll swear to protect you with our lives!"

"Kin'emon..."

Momonosuke stared stiffly at the warrior before him. How could a warrior's vow make the fear in his heart disappear?

If this had been the Momonosuke from the original story, who had accidentally eaten the Devil Fruit replicated using Kaido's Lineage Factor...

He would probably have lost control from fear and transformed into a pocket-sized pink Chinese dragon.

But because Maud, that enormous butterfly, existed—

Momonosuke had not been separated from Kin'emon and the others, nor had he drifted to Punk Hazard. Naturally, he had not eaten the Devil Fruit replicated using Kaido's Lineage Factor.

And because they had successfully reached Zou, they had brought back the Day King Inuarashi and the Night King Nekomamushi, who were also among the Nine Red Scabbards.

Besides them, there were also the Musketeer Corps and the elite warriors of the Mink Tribe.

After gathering a considerable fighting force, Momonosuke and the others decisively returned