The vast blue sea rippled with each step of the Elephant Lord, its colossal shadow casting over Gern’s warship, like a moving landmass looming ahead.
Gern stood at the bow of the warship, gazing up at the colossal elephant, as majestic as a mountain, feeling a profound shock for the first time.
Because of its immense size, the Elephant Lord’s every movement was imperceptible to ordinary people.
Seemingly motionless, yet never truly stopping…
“Is this the Elephant Lord?” Gern stood at the bow, looking up at the towering behemoth, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.
The Elephant Lord’s four limbs were like giant pillars propping up the sky, stirring up massive waves as the ocean currents flowed around them, its skin covered in the ravines of time, as if recording a thousand years of history.
Sergeant stood beside Gern, equally awestruck by the sight before them.
He swallowed, his voice trembling slightly: “Rear Admiral Gern, do you mean… there’s really a country on that elephant’s back?”
Gern nodded, his gaze still fixed on the Elephant Lord’s sky-high back: “Mokomo Dukedom, a nation isolated from the world.”
The Marines on the warship exchanged glances, excited to learn about and witness an unknown nation, yet regretful they couldn’t personally set foot on it.
“Rear Admiral Gern, if there truly is a country up there, then they must not be a World Government member nation,” Sergeant hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Won’t it be too dangerous for you to go up alone?”
“Don’t worry, I’m just going to take a look.” Gern chuckled softly, patting Sergeant’s shoulder: “If there’s any danger, I’ll withdraw immediately.”
Sergeant wanted to persuade him further, but Gern had already turned and taken a step towards the Elephant Lord.
Pale white vibration particles appeared beneath his feet, and his body slowly floated into the air.
“I’m leaving the warship to you. Take them to the nearest Marine base for rest,” Gern said without looking back, “Wait for my return.”
“Yes, Sergeant!” Sergeant straightened his back and gave a solemn salute.
Before Sergeant could say anything more, Gern had already leaped, a circle of pale white shockwaves rippling beneath his feet.
Activating Moonwalk, Gern’s figure flickered continuously in the air, each step leaving a faint vibration mark in the void.
He moved as if climbing an invisible staircase, speeding towards the elephant’s back.
Sergeant watched Gern’s gradually receding figure in the sky, sighing helplessly.
Then, he turned and ordered the soldiers: “Attention, all! Change course, head to the nearest Marine base!”
“But Sergeant, aren’t we waiting for Rear Admiral Gern?” a young soldier couldn’t help but ask.
“We cannot anchor here,” Sergeant shook his head: “This is the New World’s sea! If we stay too long without Rear Admiral Gern to oversee us, we’ll be sitting ducks.”
..........
At the same time, Gern had already ascended hundreds of meters into the sky.
As the altitude increased, the sea wind grew fiercer, but his steps remained steady.
Vibration particles rhythmically burst beneath his feet, providing him with a continuous propelling force.
“This size…” Gern marveled as he ascended, “No wonder it can walk the seas for a thousand years.”
As he drew closer, he gradually made out the scene on the elephant’s back.
Dense forests covered its vast spine, with visible outlines of buildings and roads, and plumes of smoke rising.
The nation established here for hundreds of years had not yet been destroyed by the later drought, so it was filled with harmony at this moment.
“Mokomo Dukedom…” Gern narrowed his eyes and accelerated.
Just as Gern descended to land, a dark shadow suddenly darted out of the forest, attacking him with astonishing speed!
“Moonwalk? No, this is…” Gern’s pupils contracted slightly, and Observation Haki instantly locked onto the opponent.
Just then, the dark shadow gradually became clear in the sunlight!
It was a white-furred, golden-haired rabbit-eared girl flipping in mid-air, her drooping ears dancing in the wind, and the tip of her snow-white tail tracing a graceful arc.
Using the air as leverage, she bounced and changed direction three times in a row in mid-air.
Finally, she landed steadily on a tree branch in front of Gern, her pink pupils glinting with cunning.
“Heh, hairless stranger, you’ve trespassed into New Moon Village territory.”
“Are you trying to steal my carrots?” She tilted her head, the bronze earring on her left ear jingling, as she toyed with a short sword engraved with a carrot design.
Looking at this rabbit-Mink Tribe member, Gern was stunned, blurting out instinctively: “Carrot?”
Hearing Gern’s words, the girl’s ears instantly perked up, her tail fluffed out, and she backflipped onto a higher branch, glaring down at him.
“Who’s Carrot?! I’m Lippo—Lippo Hope, who can jump to the moon!” She huffily threw three dagger-short swords, accurately pinning them in front of Gern’s feet.
“Stealing from my carrot patch is one thing, but getting my name wrong too! Next time, it won’t just be a warning!”
Gern raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips: “Interesting… It seems the rabbits of Zou aren’t the only ones who bite.”
“Carrot-stealing thief!” Lippo snorted coldly, then suddenly dove down from the branch, her short sword thrusting directly at Gern’s throat!
Gern’s Observation Haki had long predicted her movement, and he shifted his body slightly, the short sword grazing his collar.
Lippo missed her attack, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, but her movements didn’t stop. The moment she landed, she bounced off the ground, her legs like springs kicking towards Gern’s chest.
“Good speed.” Gern chuckled, gently raising his right hand. Vibration particles condensed in his palm, forming an invisible barrier.
Lippo’s kick struck the barrier, the shockwave spreading, and she was sent flying, but she flexibly adjusted her posture in mid-air, landing steadily on a tree branch.
“Hmph! You’ve got some skill!” Lippo shook her slightly numb foot, her fighting spirit growing stronger.
Gern didn’t pursue, but instead watched her with interest: “In the current Mokomo Dukedom, the young Nekomamushi and Inuarashi are probably with Oden on Whitebeard’s ship, and Roger hasn’t landed yet…”
“That means the current Mokomo Dukedom is in a period of pure curiosity (not loyal to anyone) towards everything!”
Thinking of this, Gern paused, his gaze deep: “Maintaining the simple nature of animals, especially in terms of loyalty, they are truly unparalleled!”
(Referencing how no one revealed Raizo even when the country was destroyed.)
Lippo tilted her head, seemingly not understanding his words, but quickly returned to a fighting stance: “Stop saying strange things! Again!”
Gern smiled, raising his hand to signal a truce: “I’m not here to fight, Lippo Hope.”
“Then what are you here for?” Lippo watched him warily.
“To find you.” Gern smiled slightly.
“Eh~” Gern’s “to find you” made Lippo, who had instantly flashed in front of Gern, brake with both feet, her two large drooping ears, characteristic of a lop-eared rabbit, slightly perked up.
“You’re here to find me?!”