CHAPTER 184- Shattered Defense, Awakened Fury
"You're only here for the money?"
The moment those words landed, the faces of Nekomamushi and Inuarashi turned completely ashen.
Even Caesar Clown and the Gold Emperor, Tesoro, couldn't help the twitching at the corners of their mouths.
Yet despite the absurdity of the claim, no one could muster a rebuttal.
After all, along the way, Luo Yu had never truly ordered them to engage in combat—not even once.
"This guy is still as arrogant as ever... I've decided—after this, I'm challenging him again!" said Aramaki, chewing on a blade of grass, eyes burning.
"Fujitora, old man," he muttered, "who do you think has the better odds this time?"
Fujitora, leaning lightly on his cane-sword, raised his head slightly and smiled."Aramaki... I hope you'll still be saying that after what comes next."
"That brat… has changed."
"Changed? Changed how?" Aramaki frowned. "Are you messing with me? You know I'm not easily spooked."
"Heh, is that so?" Fujitora chuckled dryly. Though blind, his insight saw deeper than most.
He turned his gaze—not with eyes, but with his heart—toward Luo Yu.
"Young Marine… so full of arrogance," Inuarashi snarled. "If this were any other day, perhaps you'd have your fun. But today… today you chose the wrong night!"
He gripped his sword tightly.
"Tonight is the full moon—when the Mink Tribe reaches its peak strength!"
"On this night, we can erupt with power many times beyond our limits!"
"And earlier, when you accepted our one-blow wager… you never said we couldn't strike together!"
"Marine, if we must protect the honor of our tribe and Oden-sama's will—then forgive us for bullying you once!"
ROAR!!!
Two thunderous beastly howls echoed through the plaza.
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, after decades apart, were fighting side by side once again.
Their eyes lifted to the full moon, blazing high above.
Their bodies—already powerful—suddenly grew even larger.
Golden fur paled to brilliant silver, and arcs of lightning crackled across their forms.
In an instant, the two kings had fully transformed—into storm-cloaked titans, bathed in lightning and bloodlust.
Their eyes glowed a deep crimson—feral, yet strangely clear.
Unlike Carrot, who had earlier lost herself in the Moon Lion form's primal rage…
These two retained complete control.
Their immense aura surged like a tidal wave.
Even Fujitora and the others were caught by surprise.
They had thought Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were formidable.
But this transformation—this Sulong form—was something else entirely.
The lightning bursting from their bodies fractured the ground beneath them.
Cracks spiderwebbed outward as the earth groaned under their presence.
Feeling the mounting pressure, Wanda and Pedro's faces lit with grim pride.
"Carrot, watch closely!" Pedro called out firmly."This is your chance!"
"Facing a Marine Admiral, our Kings may not claim victory."
"But this single strike—born of resolve, Sulong power, and honor—will be their strongest blow yet!"
"You must witness the true strength of the Moon Lion form."
"We may not win—but we will make him stagger!"
Carrot's eyes widened, heart pounding.
Even the others present held their breath, terrified to blink and miss the moment.
All gazes locked onto the center of the square.
The two towering minks grinned fiercely, muscles coiled like springs.
Then—with a thunderclap—
They leapt forward.
BOOM!!!
Lightning surged like a flood.
The ground shattered beneath their launch.
Two silver titans, robed in lightning, tore through the air like living meteors.
"Ryuo: Oden Ittoryu—Cat Claw Collision!"
"Ryuo: Oden Ittoryu—Fang of Inuarashi!"
The polished black Haki of Ryuo merged with the Minks' crackling electric energy.
Like twin beasts of myth, cat and dog, they descended like divine punishment toward Luo Yu.
The short distance of a few hundred meters vanished in a blink.
Everywhere they passed, the earth exploded, unable to endure the raw, unchecked energy.
In their eyes, Luo Yu remained still.
Drinking calmly.
No movement.No defense.No retreat.
It was insulting.
Snarling, the two kings pushed beyond even their limits, forcing their charge into overdrive.
Their blades—infused with everything they had—smashed down on the Thousand-Hand Guanyin surrounding Luo Yu.
KABOOM!!!
An explosion of white-hot lightning and pressure swallowed the plaza.
Two bolts of fury hammered down, crashing into Luo Yu's armored shield with thunderous wrath.
The blast wave hit with such force that it flung the onlookers backward.
But no one looked away.
Everyone—every single one—stared toward the center.
They all wanted to know…
Would Luo Yu still be standing?
Would the two Kings' gamble force him to finally act?
"It's cracking!!"
Someone screamed.
All hearts clenched.
Before their eyes, the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, wrapped in deep Armament Haki—began to fracture.
Spiderweb cracks spread across its surface.
Shattering.
Wanda, Pedro, and the Minks stared in euphoria.
If this defense could be broken—then surely…
Surely even this Marine Admiral could be shaken!
"Marine Admiral… looks like you've lost!" Inuarashi roared.
"Nekomamushi! Pour it all in—don't hold anything back!"
The two surged once more, power amplifying beyond comprehension.
The cracks deepened.
The black surface of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin splintered.
Triumphant smiles began to form.
And then—
Luo Yu slowly raised his head.
The wine jug in his hand tilted back slightly.
His eyes—normally calm and pitch-black—now burned crimson.
Like blood.
Like fire.
Like a god waking up.
A pressure that words couldn't describe erupted from him.
BOOM!!
It felt like a volcano had detonated—no, like a world had collapsed inward.
And in that moment, a terrible realization dawned on everyone:
The Thousand-Hand Guanyin hadn't been shattered by the attack.
It had been—blown apart from within.
Not broken—but outgrown.