In the world of One Piece, a massive body often signifies immense strength and extraordinary vitality. In gaming terms, it would be a boss with an incredibly thick health bar.
Nicholas's target this time was to completely defeat the giant elephant named Zunesha. Responding to Momonosuke's call to arms meant being prepared for the consequences.
After agreeing not to interfere in the war, Duke Hitsugisukan instructed the members of the Musketeers to organize the Minks for evacuation. Knowing that the battle between Nicholas and Zunesha would be fierce, no one could guarantee the Minks' safety against a rampaging Zunesha.
"Everyone, stay calm. Head towards the rear of Zunesha. We will evacuate from the back side!"
"Only take some personal belongings. Leave behind heavy items."
"Take care of the elderly and children!"
Shouts from the Musketeers echoed throughout the city, calming the panicked Minks who were alarmed by Zunesha's frenzy.
"We'll follow your lead, Musketeers."
"What's happening to Zunesha? Why does it seem agitated?"
"Zunesha seems to be in danger. I hear anger in its cries."
As the citizens started to get noisy again, Duke Hitsugisukan appeared, climbed to a higher position, and gestured for silence.
"Everyone, please stay calm. Zunesha is about to become a new battleground. We need to evacuate..."
Before he could finish, a loud elephant cry echoed across Zou Island.
"Urrrr!"
The ground beneath them began to tilt significantly. Buildings started collapsing, and the forest soil began sliding in the direction of the tilt.
"What's happening?"
"Why is the ground tilting?"
Shouts of alarm came from the Minks, but their exceptional physical abilities and instincts prevented major injuries. However, everyone noticed that Zunesha's cries had a high-pitched tone, as if it were an old war elephant hearing the call to charge.
Duke Hitsugisukan's expression changed with the tilting ground. He understood the situation perfectly, having spoken with Nicholas. It was clear that Nicholas had honored his promise not to engage with Zunesha before the Minks evacuated. The only explanation was that someone had given Zunesha an order, causing this unusual behavior.
Regardless of who issued the command or whether Zunesha cared about the Minks' safety, it was clear that the Minks were merely living on Zunesha's back. Despite having built cities and forests on Zunesha, they were at risk of sliding into the sea with Zunesha's drastic movements.
A figure darted out from the nearby forest.
"Duke Hitsugisukan, according to Monkey Scout, Zunesha is now climbing towards Wano!"
The message came from a Mink resembling a gorilla. Hearing this, Duke Hitsugisukan's heart tightened.
Off the coast of Wano Country.
The giant stork, Stark, was flying laboriously, and they could already see the outline of Wano in front of them.
"It's truly a magnificent sight. Wano Country is indeed an impregnable fortress. But what connection does that giant elephant have with Wano, and why is it here?"
Wano, located in the New World, is an island with no coastlines. It is a natural fortress surrounded by rocks, making it extremely difficult to invade. Even if the Navy or World Government wanted to attack Wano, sending hundreds of top-grade warships would not be enough. They wouldn't be able to scale the sea waterfalls to reach Wano's inner sea without controlling the giant koi to assist in climbing the waterfalls.
At this moment, in front of Wano's formidable sea waterfall, a giant elephant was slowly and resolutely lifting its front foot, attempting to climb the hundreds-of-meters-high rock layer.
"Boss, is that the Thunder God, Nicholas?"
The flame photographer, continuously taking pictures, suddenly put down his camera and pointed to a small black dot in front of the giant elephant.
"What? Let me see!"
Hearing the flame photographer's words, Morgans quickly leaned over the basket's edge, put on his glasses, and used binoculars to locate Nicholas.
Through the binoculars, Morgans soon spotted Nicholas floating in front of the giant elephant.
Nicholas was now hovering right in front of Zunesha, the massive elephant. His expression was calm. For most people or forces on the sea, Zunesha's size would be despair-inducing, but Nicholas was not among those people. While it might be troublesome, the outcome wouldn't change.
"I can't let you enter Wano."
Nicholas looked at the climbing Zunesha and produced a lightning whip several thousand meters long.
"Thunder God's Whip."
The whip crackled with black and red lightning, vibrating at high frequencies. Nicholas wielded the handle of the whip and lashed it fiercely at Zunesha.
He intended to use the lightning whip to strike the giant elephant, halting its movements.
"Swoosh."
The thousand-meter-long lightning whip struck Zunesha's face, leaving a long whip mark. The powerful force and the sharpness of the lightning caused the elephant's cheek to tear open. However, this injury was barely a scratch to Zunesha.
But with its awakened consciousness, Zunesha could feel pain. Nicholas's whip, with its penetrating lightning, gave Zunesha a deep, soul-penetrating pain. This made it instinctively pause its climb.
Zunesha's mind and instincts were in conflict.
Mind: "We must enter Wano as commanded."
Instinct: "It hurts so much."
As Zunesha paused and wailed, Nicholas didn't stop. He frowned, realizing Zunesha's immense vitality. Perhaps only Whitebeard could take down Zunesha quickly. When it comes to large-scale destruction, Whitebeard's power is unparalleled.
Under Zunesha's cries, the Minks, led by Duke Hitsugisukan, began to evacuate Zou rapidly. Zunesha tried to swat Nicholas away with its trunk, but Nicholas's speed was extraordinary, evading easily and continuing his relentless assault with the lightning whip.
Each lash seemed to fuel Zunesha's anger. After wandering aimlessly for centuries, Zunesha finally heard a call, promising freedom if it fulfilled its mission. The thought of returning to its near-mindless wandering state was unbearable for Zunesha.