Chapter Seventy-Four: The War Begins! [Second Update]

“Shave!”
Shu Mingyuan’s figure darted across the ground in rapid succession, as if he had teleported—covering the short hundred meters in an instant.

“How do you want to die?” He appeared before Mr. 4 in a flash, his face dark and his voice turning icy.

Mr. 4 was aghast to see this man, who had taken six of his cannonballs without a scratch, and immediately realized this opponent was far beyond his ability to handle. But with nowhere left to run, gripping his four-ton bat, he swung it forward with all his might. Shu Mingyuan didn’t retreat a single step. He raised his left hand, his palm hardening instantly, and blocked the blow. With an explosive force, the steel bat was forcibly dented and seized from Mr. 4’s trembling grasp.

“A bunch of trash!”

“Chidori!”

A low cry rumbled from his throat as his arm was enveloped in fierce lightning. With a single strike, it pierced through Mr. 4’s chest, the wild current surging through and burning his internal organs to ashes in an instant.

“Woof!”

Watching its master fall, the pet dog that had eaten the Dog-Dog Fruit let out a furious roar, firing a cannonball at Shu Mingyuan.

“You’d best have a taste yourself.”

He caught the cannonball with a backhanded grab and casually stuffed it into the dog’s gaping mouth, pinching its jaws shut. In the next moment, an explosion echoed, and the pet dog was blown to pieces, flesh and blood scattering.

Vivi came running from the distance, her face filled with worry. “Are… are you alright?” Her heart overflowed with gratitude; if he hadn’t shielded her from the blast, she would have been obliterated without a trace.

“It’s nothing, but I’m afraid things are about to spiral out of control.” Shu Mingyuan shook his head. “How far are we from the rebel camp?”

Vivi pondered briefly before answering in a low voice, “At Karoo’s top speed, it will still take at least three hours to get there.”

“Three hours… Let’s hope we make it in time.”

—

The port city of Youcaihua lay next to the rebel encampment of Cattleya. A yellow Karoo duck sped along, carrying a pair of youths. Though halfway to their destination, they saw more and more civilians armed and heading toward Cattleya.

Stopping one of the passersby at random, Shu Mingyuan learned that His Majesty King Nefertari Cobra of Alabasta had suddenly appeared in Cattleya half a day ago, publicly admitting that the kingdom’s three-year drought was his fault for secretly using Dance Powder, which dried up the land. He had also ordered the royal army to annihilate the rebels.

In response, the rebel leader, Koza, immediately declared the final assault on Alabasta’s capital, Alubarna, to seize command of the kingdom! At that moment, a million-strong rebel army was already marching on the capital.

Vivi’s face was ashen, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her father was a wise and benevolent king—how could he have appeared in Cattleya and confessed to such crimes, let alone issue an order to exterminate the rebels? Moreover, knowing the truth behind the scenes, Vivi understood all too well that the Dance Powder incident was a three-year conspiracy masterminded by the Warlord of the Sea, Alabasta’s so-called hero, Sir Crocodile, to seize the throne!

In hindsight, the timeline matched their earlier encounter with Crocodile on the coast of Eruma. Now she realized that Shu Mingyuan’s arrival must have posed a threat to Crocodile, prompting him to accelerate his plans for war in the kingdom.

Shu Mingyuan quickly understood the crux of the matter.

“No, I won’t allow it! I can’t let this war break out!” Vivi muttered to herself again and again. She knew too well that after three years without rain, the kingdom was on the brink of collapse. If a large-scale war erupted, the people would bleed freely, and hatred would only deepen, driving the country toward ruin.

“There must be a way to stop this!” Vivi whispered, then turned her tear-filled eyes to the mysterious youth beside her. Her legs buckled, and she knelt on the sand, choking back sobs. “Lord Shu Mingyuan, I beg you, please help me. You only need to bring me to the capital—I will stop this war, even if it costs me my life!”

Shu Mingyuan gazed deeply into Vivi’s eyes, then nodded slowly. “I’ll take you.”

“Ninja Art: Super Beast Imitation—Bird!”

With two clear cries, a pair of blood-red birds soared into the sky before the rebels, heading swiftly north toward the royal capital, Alubarna.

From the back of the giant bird, Princess Vivi saw the vast, surging rebel army racing across the red earth, each soldier seemingly weighed down by a heavy resentment—with the royal family of Alubarna as its target.

The rebel horde stretched to the horizon—at a glance, their numbers exceeded a million. The vanguard, hours ahead, was already camped outside the capital, awaiting the final command.

From Cattleya to Alubarna was at least a six-hour journey. The blood-red birds, though swift, could only cut this time in half; in those three hours, anything could happen.

—

“Don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, as long as I’m here, everything will be alright.” Shu Mingyuan gently patted the girl in his arms, his voice soothing.

—

“Mr. 2, how are things on your end?” The Den Den Mushi in Bon Clay’s arms rang, Crocodile’s cold voice coming through.

“Ahahaha, Boss, anyone whose likeness I’ve copied—even their face, appearance, and voice—no one can tell the difference. Those foolish rebels are utterly at my mercy!” Bon Clay laughed.

“And old Nefertari Cobra?”

“He’s been locked away in secret. No one will ever find him. From today on, I am the King of Alabasta! Hahaha!” Bon Clay spun joyfully in his okama dance.

“Well done, Mr. 2. When the ideal nation of Alabasta is founded, you’ll be its greatest hero.”

“Thank you, Boss!”

“And the others? I’ve already received word that Mr. 4 is dead. Be cautious. The Demon Hunter, Mengqi D. Shu Mingyuan, is speeding toward Alubarna. I’ve crossed paths with him—he’s formidable.”

Crocodile’s voice was graver than ever, a knot of unease lingering in his heart.

“Don’t worry, Boss. The remaining agents are all within the kingdom. If the Demon Hunter dares show his face, he won’t leave alive!”

“Good. This plan must not fail.”

“Yes, Boss!”

Transforming into a gust of sand, Crocodile soared into the sky, gazing down at the endless rebel army below, a cruel grin spreading across his face.

“Demon Hunter, let’s see how you intend to stop a million-strong rebellion all by yourself!”