"Do you really intend to wait another thousand years?"
The Sea King Overlords took turns berating Zunesha.
"So this is what the new king is like?"
After hearing about Ye Zhuo's deeds, Zunesha was utterly stunned.
Could it really have been the one in the wrong?
"They're talking."
Shirahoshi's head hurt badly. She could hear the Sea Kings chatting with Zunesha.
It was like they were catching up with old friends.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Ye Zhuo patted her huge head.
Then he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki!
Boom!
Overwhelming Haki erupted.
Tsunamis, lightning, dense black clouds, and raging storms arrived alongside it.
Zunesha witnessed these natural disasters powerful enough to destroy the world.
At last, it sighed. "New King, please allow me to offer my apology."
It swayed unsteadily.
Ye Zhuo's hundred meteors and the towering waves of seawater had taken effect.
"But I can no longer stand steadily. Once I fall into the sea,
the lives on my back will be destroyed.
New King, please protect them."
Zunesha was about to fall into the ocean. The Sea King Overlords had wanted to rescue it.
But compared to Zunesha, they were like tiny fish.
The Sea King Overlords were around five thousand meters long, while Zunesha stood thirty-five thousand meters tall when its legs beneath the sea were included.
Even the portion above the surface was enough to leave the Sea King Overlords far behind.
"Die? It won't be that easy."
The power of Ye Zhuo's Horse Talisman erupted.
It immediately poured into Zunesha's back without end.
The Twelve Talismans did not consume their owner's strength.
Using them caused Ye Zhuo no harm whatsoever.
Powerful vitality rapidly healed the wounds on Zunesha's limbs, head, and trunk.
Its staggering body suddenly steadied.
It stood atop the ocean in disbelief.
"What powerful healing abilities! New King, you are truly merciful!"
"Address me as Demon King!"
Ye Zhuo did not appreciate that at all.
[Ding!] [Hidden chain mission completed: Conquer Zunesha and become its new master.] [Mission reward: Advanced Armament Haki: Iron Fist]
Armament Haki had advanced beyond Ryuo.
The new Iron Fist also merged into his body.
Ye Zhuo clenched his five fingers into a fist in satisfaction.
He really wanted to find someone to test his fists on!
[Side mission unlocked: Head to Hive Island, defeat Great Pirate Wang Zhi, and claim a place to station yourself.] [Mission reward: Life Grail: Perfect Version]
Wasn't this a divine artifact from the world of the Twelve Talismans?
As long as someone drank the water from the Life Grail, they could remain forever young.
However, if they went without drinking it for a period of time, they would revert.
The mission reward specifically emphasized "Perfect Version."
That meant it had become a true divine artifact capable of granting eternal youth.
"A barely passable reward."
Ye Zhuo was far more interested in taking over Hive Island.
The Life Grail's effects were inferior to the Dog Talisman. It was of little importance to him.
"Demon King, when the decisive battle begins, I shall follow you unto death!"
Zunesha had submitted in its heart before acknowledging it aloud.
"I'll give you a shout when it's time to call in reinforcements."
Ye Zhuo figured there was probably no Den Den Mushi in the world that Zunesha could use.
He stopped talking to Zunesha.
Looking around, everyone was dumbfounded.
Zunesha had submitted?
Such a colossal being, an existence capable of destroying the world.
It had actually submitted just like that!
The powers Ye Zhuo had unleashed earlier had made everyone tremble in fear.
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were secretly shocked.
So those meteors had been nothing more than a casual gesture to Ye Zhuo.
Momousagi, Hina, and Tashigi swallowed hard.
They could only pray that Marine Headquarters would never send anyone to rescue them!
Betty was even more wholeheartedly convinced by Ye Zhuo, finally understanding Dragon's painstaking intentions.
"What are you staring at? Use my proper title!"
Ye Zhuo gave the order.
Everyone spoke in unison.
"Demon King!
Let's eat something.
Once we've rested, we'll head out and conquer territory."
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi immediately sprang into action.
Carrot, who had watched the entire process, felt her little heart pounding wildly.
Wasn't this exactly the adventure she had been hoping for?
The sea was truly thrilling!
Demon King Ye Zhuo had made the entire Mink Tribe, the Zou Kingdom, and even Zunesha submit!
This was the kind of powerhouse she had imagined!
Late at night.
A bonfire celebration began.
The Mink Tribe members woke from their unconsciousness.
When they learned that they had a new king,
and that Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were no longer fighting, they were overjoyed.
A grand banquet began.
Ye Zhuo had not expected the Mink Tribe to have their own unique fine wine.
After draining it in one gulp and feasting heartily,
his body grew once more.
Enhanced by the Mountain Demonic Energy, he grew until he reached a height of five and a half meters.
"What kind of monster is our Demon King?"
The Musketeers and Guardians were all guessing at Ye Zhuo's strength.
Only after hearing Carrot's vivid account were they scared half to death.
"Over a hundred meteors? Enough to make Zunesha afraid?"
The more they heard, the more confused they became. Could Carrot have made it all up?
Besides, Ye Zhuo was the one who could understand Zunesha's words.
Outsiders could only infer its emotions from roars of anger, fear, and the like.
"You just don't believe me! I'll definitely set sail!"
Carrot clenched her little rabbit paws, unable to contain her delight.
The next day.
The Demon King flew off Zunesha's back.
It sailed into the open sea.
Only after they had gone far away did a cautious figure emerge.
"Garchu!"
"Garchu!"
Carrot circled around everyone, rubbing her face against them even when she reached Ye Zhuo.
She was worried that Ye Zhuo would refuse to take her out to sea.
"Congratulations, Carrot!"
Ye Zhuo did not feel the slightest bit bothered.
He had already planned out Carrot's future.
A Target-Target Fruit appeared in his hand.
"From now on, you'll be the pet rabbit on our ship, as well as our sniper!"
"Disgusting!"
Carrot had thought it was some kind of tasty fruit.
She never expected it to taste awful. It was simply disgusting!
"How am I supposed to become a sniper? Garchu!"
To Carrot, Ye Zhuo was the captain she admired most.
"Whatever. Find the enemy you want to attack, then throw something at them."
Ye Zhuo gave her a Target-Target Fruit.
Wasn't that the perfect fruit for becoming a sniper?
"But if you want to hit your enemy one hundred percent of the time,
you'll need to touch the enemy first."
Every Paramecia had its own characteristics.
The overpowered Target-Target Fruit was no exception.
"On our ship, we have Violet with the Glint-Glint Fruit, Rebecca with the Invisibility Fruit,
Tashigi with the Warp-Warp Fruit, and Hina with the Cage-Cage Fruit.
They are my royal guards.
You can have them cooperate with you for perfect sniping!"
Ye Zhuo shook his wine bottle, then returned to his cabin and fell soundly asleep.
This time, he had obtained three types of advanced awakened Haki.
He had also gathered all Eight Demonic Energies, and his Demon King Form was exceptionally powerful.
The journey to Hive Island would be perfect for getting used to them.
"I'll definitely work hard!"
Carrot clenched her rabbit paws.
She thought about it and realized she had only brought a huge bag of carrots. She wondered whether it would be enough to eat.
Future Kingdom.
Seventy-year-old Black Arm Zephyr had just fitted himself with a Seastone mechanical arm—the Crusher!
Five years later, he would defect from the Marines.
For now,
he was still one of them, though he was already growing increasingly unable to keep up.
"Teacher, our warship is ready, and the Pirate Pursuit Unit has been formed!"
Blue-haired Ain, dressed in black stockings, and Binz, carrying two swords on his back, stood at the doorway.
The Pirate Pursuit Unit was the predecessor of the Neo Marines.
Zephyr left the laboratory and bid farewell to Vegapunk and the other researchers.
The newspaper in his hand unfolded as well.
A bounty poster fell to the ground.
Demon King Ye Zhuo, with an initial bounty of 3.999 billion Beli.
He was stubbornly clinging to that final threshold.
Once he crossed it, he would become a true Emperor of the Sea.
"Find information on him!"
In Zephyr's eyes, Ye Zhuo was the source of all the chaos in the New World.
Before you continue