One Piece : Rise of Thunder King

You can read the advance chapters here : patreon.com/Vigilante04

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"Do you want to form an alliance with us, like you did with Fish-Man Island?" Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi looked surprised.

"Yes, thanks to the help of the Angel Empire, Fish-Man Island is now able to enjoy the peace and light they always hoped for," Arthur replied seriously, repeating the words he had prepared.

"Moreover, you should know that I have already defeated Kaido, one of the Four Emperors! My strength is among the strongest in this world. As long as I am around, Fish-Man Island and its people will live peacefully."

Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were quiet for a moment before speaking. "We live on Zou, atop the giant elephant Zunesha. We don't need the protection of the strong, and there is no reason to form an alliance with the Angel Empire, nya, nya~~," Nekomamushi said.

Arthur smiled calmly. "Living on Zunesha's back doesn't guarantee your safety—such naivety!"

"Why did Kozuki Oden die? Why is Kaido so deeply rooted in Wano? When he finds out that the Red Poneglyph isn't in Wano but here on Zou, do you think you'll still be safe? Kaido alone is more than enough to destroy you all!"

The words sent chills down Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's spines.

"What?!" they exclaimed, staring at Arthur. "How could such a thing be here with us? This is the Mokomo Dukedom!"

"But the Kozuki Clan has always been your rulers, haven't they? The crest of the Kozuki Clan above the red stone speaks for itself," Arthur pointed out.

"So what? That doesn't mean the Red Poneglyph you speak of is in our Mokomo Dukedom!" Duke Inuarashi replied, trying to stay calm.

"Then, why does the Guardian Tribe watch over the Whale Forest so closely?" Arthur asked again.

Nekomamushi took a deep drag on his pipe and replied, "Because the Whale Forest is sacred to us in the Mokomo Dukedom! That's all!"

"In that Whale Forest, there is a Red Poneglyph hidden inside," Arthur revealed.

"Kaido knows this, and he won't spare you! Unless, of course, you're willing to hand over the Poneglyph."

"That's impossible! Nya, nya~" Nekomamushi stood up angrily, glaring at Arthur.

"We are loyal retainers of the Kozuki Clan, and that loyalty goes back hundreds of years! We will never betray them! What is your purpose? And how do you know so much about the Poneglyph?" Duke Inuarashi demanded, preparing himself for battle.

Even knowing that Arthur was the man who defeated Kaido, Duke Inuarashi was ready to fight if necessary.

"Relax! I have no bad intentions. My Observation Haki covers the entire island, making it easy for me to sense the Poneglyph," Arthur said.

"I understand that you are loyal to the Kozuki Clan and would never betray them.

So, you will not hand over the Poneglyph.

But when Kaido finds out, his wrath will undoubtedly lead to the destruction of the Mokomo Dukedom.

Just look at Wano now—it's worse than ever."

"If you form an alliance and accept me as your protector, I can ensure the safety of your country and its people. Also, I know that the Kozuki Clan isn't extinct. That pink-haired boy, Momonosuke, is still alive."

Arthur recalled Momonosuke, whose Devil Fruit ability was taken in advance.

'Momonosuke must be dealt with! No...not now,' he thought, shaking his head to clear the idea.

"What?!" Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi gasped, staring at Arthur in horror. "How do you know all of this? It's impossible! The Kozuki Clan was wiped out—there are no surviving heirs!"

Arthur remained silent for a moment before smiling and changing the subject.

"This world is truly remarkable. There are all sorts of Devil Fruits. I possess the power of the Logia-type Thunder Fruit." Arthur raised his right hand.

Zzzzzzt~

Under his control, electricity took on various forms.

"Thunder and lightning—a force of nature, yet now it's mine to wield."

As Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi stared, unsure of where Arthur was going with this, he continued.

"There is a Marine named Ain with an interesting Devil Fruit ability. She has the power of the Return-Return Fruit, which can reverse a living being's age, even turning them into children.

But more significant is a power that allows one to control time—the Time-Time Fruit."

Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's eyes widened in shock, their expressions filled with tension.

"This Devil Fruit can actually send people into the future, through time! Such a powerful ability... I have been searching for it," Arthur said, his gaze intense. "Its last user, Lady Toki of the Kozuki Clan, sent her child forward in time. Perhaps... he may reappear in the near future, don't you think?"

Arthur's words left the two speechless.

"How do you know all of this?!" Duke Inuarashi asked, his voice strained.

Arthur gave a knowing smile, then decided to reveal more.

"Sadly, Lady Toki's mastery of the Time-Time Fruit was limited. She could send people forward in time, but never back."

"In fifty years, a man from the heavens will rule this world. He won't concern himself with the mysteries of the Void Century or the secrets of the D Clan, but he will unite all races under a better era," Arthur continued. "And yes, he wields the power of the Time-Time Fruit."

"Could it be... are you that man?!" Nekomamushi gasped, unable to add his usual "nya."

"But how can that be? He has the powers of the Thunder Fruit! Even if he traveled from the future, he couldn't possibly possess two Devil Fruits," Duke Inuarashi argued, his disbelief evident.

Arthur shook his head slightly. "You're both right and wrong."

"What do you mean by that?" Nekomamushi asked, his eyes filled with confusion and lingering shock.

"The Time-Time Fruit can never take someone back into the past. So, no, I'm not a time traveler," Arthur said, while silently reflecting on how different his situation was from what they imagined.

"When I was a child, I heard a voice, though I never knew its origin. It revealed many secrets to me."

"It told me about the Thunder Fruit hidden in my homeland and the appearance of the Time-Time Fruit years later. It urged me to find strength and change the future."

"As the voice grew weaker, it left me with its name—Arthur. And so, I came to understand that the regrets I must change were my own, perhaps from another future."

Arthur paused, a glint of excitement flickering in his eyes. 'I almost believe my own story,' he thought sarcastically.

"If you look into my past, you'll find that I trained tirelessly from a young age, unlike other children. Even my angelic wings were not always as they are—I learned how to make them grow from knowledge given by my future self."

"This is the first time I've shared this secret with anyone. But since you understand the power of the Time-Time Fruit, I felt it was worth revealing." Arthur spoke with a calm confidence, observing their stunned expressions.

'If this really involves the Time-Time Fruit, then he must know things no one else does. Maybe what he said about the reign of the world in fifty years is true,' they thought, already inclined to believe him.

"If you accept my terms, I will ally with the Kozuki Clan. Naturally, I will lead. I can help Momonosuke drive Kaido out of Wano, unify the land, and restore its honor!"

"What do you think? Isn't it a fair deal?" Arthur asked with a smile.

Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi exchanged glances, swallowed hard, and hesitated.

"We cannot make such a decision ourselves. We are only retainers and lack the authority to make promises for our lord. Nya, nya~" Nekomamushi said, exhaling a smoke ring.

Arthur nodded. "Understood. So, my offer pertains to forming an alliance with the Mokomo Dukedom. Once Momonosuke returns, I'll speak with him directly."

"Very well." The two nodded uncertainly, deep in thought.

Arthur waited patiently, allowing them time to consider.

Suddenly, Arthur's face changed dramatically, his eyes fixed on the entrance to the Mokomo Dukedom.

"This... this can't be!"

"Huh?" The two snapped out of their thoughts, startled by Arthur's abrupt shift in demeanor.

"King Arthur, what's wrong? Has something happened?"

Arthur, however, remained motionless, his gaze locked in shock and fear on the gate.