The Mink Race

Color splash page featuring Monkey D. Luffy in his straw hat and backpack, riding a large striped tiger-like creature through a lush jungle. He points forward excitedly amid vines and a cascading waterfall. Nami stands nearby in a pink hooded outfit, smiling. Other Straw Hats are visible in the background foliage as light beams filter through the trees.

Panic erupts in the forest as a horned mink shouts, 'INVADERS IN WHALE FOREST!I' A stern mink warrior clenches his fist, declaring, 'WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT WEAPON... FOR A SECOND, I FELT ELECTRICITY COURSING THROUGH ME!' and 'THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS MINK RACE!' Another mink on a massive crocodile-like beast yells, 'ARE YOU SERIOUS!I THIS IS BAD!' while a background figure warns, 'THEY'RE GOING TO ANGER THE GUARDIANS!*' Sanji appears furious, shouting, 'DID YOU GET THOSE CLOTHES!I WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH NAMI!I' An unseen mink demands, 'O... OI! YOU! WHERE IN THE HELL...' while another asks, 'ARE THESE THINGS HUMANI ANIMAL PERHAPS...I'

Chaos continues as a mink screams, 'GYAAAAAH! I'M SORRY! TRUST ME, I TASTE AWFUL!' while fleeing. Nami questions, 'WHY IS IT ALWAYS WORST CASE SCENARIO WITH YOU!' and wonders, 'MAYBE THEY ARE A RACE THAT DINES ON HUMANS.' Carrot leaps high with powerful jumps, prompting the cry 'WHAT JUMPING POWER...' and 'SO THIS IS THE PHYSICAL ABILITY OF THE MINK RACE, HUH...' Below, Carrot calls out, 'HOW'S IT LOOKING!I DO YOU SEE ANYTHING, CARROT!I' as someone plummets with 'WHOA AAA!' and a mink growls '<grrr...!!>'.

Carrot leaps high above the treetops, glancing back with wide eyes as a massive crash erupts behind her. "JUST OUTSIDE OF CLAW CITY! THEY'RE DEFINITELY GOING AT IT IN WHALE FOREST!" she shouts. A close-up shows her worried face: "THERE IT IS! I THINK WE MIGHT BE A LITTLE LATE, THOUGH..." Below, a fierce mink warrior with a bow tie yells, "'KAY! GET ON, CARROT!" while riding a massive crocodile-like creature. "WE GOTTA HURRY! LET'S GO, CROCCY!" The warrior points ahead and issues rapid directions: "CONTINUE THE RIGHT FROM HERE, THROUGH RIGHT BUTT FOREST. TURN LEFT AT DEEP DARK SWAMP! CONTINUE ON UNTIL YOU REACH RIGHT BELLY FOREST! YOU SHOULD FIND THE CORPSES OF YOUR FRIENDS THERE!" She adds urgently, "WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BABYSIT YOU LOT AS WELL! PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU!" Carrot reacts with shock: "EH!I"

Luffy and Chopper scream in panic as the massive creature carrying them lurches forward. "WAIT THERE AT RIGHT BELLY FOREST! WE'LL BE COMING FOR YOU AFTERWARDS!" someone yells. "WHAA AAAA AAAA AAT!I" Luffy and Chopper cry out. The creature floats through the air with "FLOAT" and "ドドド..." effects. Onlookers react: "THEY'RE THE 'STRAW HAT PIRATES!'" and "ARE THEY GONNA BE OKAYI THOSE GUYS..." A four-panel sequence shows the forest scene and close-ups of Carrot and Wanda. "STRAW HAT LUFFY. THE PERSON WHO'S JUST TRESPASSED INTO WHALE FOREST IS IN ALL LIKELIHOOD..." Wanda says. "WE SHALL SHOW HIM NO MERCY. HE MIGHT BE THEIR CAPTAIN, BUT..." Carrot adds, "THERE'S NO HELPING THAT! WHAT'S HAPPENED HAS HAPPENED." "THEY'RE IN FOR QUITE THE SHOCK, THAT'S FOR SURE."

Wanda reacts angrily to the sight of intact corpses: "THE FACT THAT THEIR CORPSES ARE STILL INTACT MEANS THAT THEY WEREN'T USED AS SUSTENANCE, SO..." A massive mink warrior roars in fury, "WAAAAAA AGGHHHH!! AAAGGGHH! THEY'VE BEEN SLAUGHTERED!I" Wanda snaps back, "THAT'S NOT WHAT'S AT ISSUE HERE, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" Law's crew discusses the situation. "INDEED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM IN THE SLIGHTEST." "THIS IS JUST A TRAP TO SHAKE US UP AND LEAD US ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE." "THAT'S RIGHT. THERE'S NO WAY THEY'D KICK THE BUCKET SO EASILY!" Law tells Bepo, "TRAFFY-KUN, YOUR CREW SHOULD BE IN THE VICINITY, RIGHTI" Bepo holds up a card: "OUR NAVIGATOR BEPO'S CARD." "THIS IS..." Penguin and Shachi appear, recognizing a mink: "COME TO THINK OF IT, THERE WAS THAT TALKING POLAR BEAR, HUH. IS HE A MINK TOOI" "WAIT, THAT'S RIGHT! I FORGOT I HAVE ONE OF THEIR CARDS."

Law explains while holding up a Vivre Card: "HE LEFT THE ISLAND WHEN HE WAS STILL FAIRLY YOUNG. HE'S BEEN A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE FOR 10 YEARS AND COUNTING. HE CAN BE TRUSTED. IF WE WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS, WE'VE GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO PRESS ONWARDS." The group walks through a dense jungle path. "HE DOESN'T REMEMBER MUCH OF IT, THOUGH. THIS IS HIS HOMELAND." Law murmurs, "ZUZU..." Sanji asks the group, "THEN WE CONTINUE FORWARD. BETTER THAN FOLLOWING SOME RANDOM ANIMAL'S ORDERS. WHADDYA GUYS THINKI" Usopp replies, "OH YEAH! THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A CITY NOT TOO FAR AHEAD..." Suddenly a large sign appears: "ELSEWHERE, WHALE FOREST" as the group halts. "STOP, PLEASE!"

A bandaged bear mink in a bear onesie leaps forward with arms outstretched, shouting desperately, "HE'S A FRIEND!" and "HOLD YOUR HORSES! THAT'S ENOUGH, I'M TELLING YOU!" A furious gorilla mink bares his fangs and roars back, "I DON'T CARE IF HE'S YOUR DAMN BROTHER! AN INVADER IS AN INVADER! MOOO!" The gorilla charges and the bear mink clashes with him. In the center, Straw Hat Luffy stretches his arm and yells "GOMU GOMU NO" as massive impact lettering erupts: "GALAVA!", "CLASH BOOM", "BELL!", and "CLASH" fill the panel while the two minks are sent flying apart from the force of the blow.

The gorilla mink snarls with crossed arms, "IF THEY WON'T LISTEN TO REASON, THEN WE'VE GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO USE BRUTE FORCE!" while another mink yells in shock, "WHO! WHY ISN'T THE 'ELECTRO' AFFECTING HIM!I" A massive figure labeled Jean Bart is kicked hard with the cry "BUTT OUT!" and "UGH!" as debris flies. A small mink in the lower panel shouts, "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, GUARDIANS!" The gorilla mink stares in disbelief, "WHAT CRAZY STRENGTH!!!" and "CRAP! THEY'RE ALL OUT OF CONTROL!"

A wild gorilla mink with bananas screams "YAAAAY! BA~NA~NA~" with hearts while Luffy is sent flying by a powerful kick, "NGHH!I" and "ドスーン!!" A rabbit mink leaps in, yelling "YOU, BANANAS!!!" and "HERE, A FLUTTERY THING!" In the wide lower panel set in the Whale Forest, Blackback the gorilla mink sits cross-legged with a stern expression while Luffy lies dazed on the ground groaning "UUGH..." A narration box labels the location: "WHALE FOREST, GUARDIANS, BULL MINK, RODY" as background minks watch the chaos unfold among the massive trees.

A close-up of a serious dog mink's face asks, "YOU. YOU'RE STRAW HAT LUFFY, NOI" while a rabbit mink named Carrot stands nearby saying, "I'M WANDA! THOSE GUYS WON'T BE POSING A THREAT TO YOU ANYMORE. PLEASE STOP FIGHTING AS WELL." Labels identify them: "FIGHTING BEAST TRIBE RABBIT MINK CARROT" and "FIGHTING BEAST TRIBE DOG MINK WANDA". Luffy stares up in surprise, exclaiming "A... DOGI" and "IT'S LIKE A WHOLE COUNTRY OF CHOPPERS. THIS CRAZY PLACE SURE IS FULL OF A BUNCH OF WEIRDOS." A small flashback panel shows him being swarmed earlier.

A large bear-like mink addresses the Guardians: "GUARDIANS! I'LL BE REMOVING HIM FROM THE VICINITY. I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD LOOK THE OTHER WAY, THIS ONCE." Wanda leans in and kisses Luffy on the cheek while declaring, "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRESPASS INTO A FOREST UNINVITED..." Luffy yelps, "WAH!" as a small "Poo!" sound effect appears. Pedro stands nearby with a serious expression. In the next panels, a voice commands, "IN DEFERENCE TO WANDA... FALL BACK! RODDY! BB!" Roddy and BB react as an explosion erupts with a loud "THUNK," sending debris flying. A massive impact shakes the forest as someone shouts, "EVERYONE, FALL BACK!" Luffy sits up in shock amid swirling dust and motion lines, crying out "HUH!I" and "WAH!" while huge "HAAAH!!" sound effects dominate the panel.

The minks continue arguing with Luffy. One shouts, "WE SAVED YOUR BEHIND DURING THE WAR OF THE GREATEST!" Another adds, "OI OI! THERE'S MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE TALKING ABOUT! STRAW HAT, DON'T TELL ME YOU'VE FORGOTTEN WHO WE ARE!" Luffy reacts in surprise: "I'M SHOCKED!" and "JUST BE THANKFUL THE MOON ISN'T OUT RIGHT NOW." "HOLD ON.... THEY HAD ME SURROUNDED!I" In the lower panels the group discusses their alliance. A penguin-like mink says, "MAN, WE'VE BEEN KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH THE PAPERS! CRAZY NEWS AT EVERY TURN! I GUESS WE'RE IN AN ALLIANCE NOW, HUH!I" Bepo is identified as "HEART PIRATES NAVIGATOR (GUARDIANS' HELPER) BEPO." Luffy realizes, "TRAFFYI YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG, WE'RE SUBORDINATES OF TRAFALGAR LAW!" The minks react with excitement: "SO THE CAPTAIN REALLY IS HERE! YAY!" "I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE CAPTAIN! WAAAH!" and "YEAH. TRAFFY'S HERE TOO."

Nami surveys the ruined city and thinks, "FOR EVERY SINGLE INHABITANT OF A CITY THAT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD HOUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS..." She notes, "I DON'T THINK WE'D BE AMISS IN ASSUMING SOME SORT OF INVASION OCCURRED HERE..." and "MIDDLE OF THE ELEPHANT'S BACK, CROW CITY." In the streets she observes, "LOOK... THERE ARE STILL SIGNS OF LIFE." and "WHICH MEANS IT MUST'VE BEEN A RECENT OCCURRENCE." She adds, "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE! LET'S FIND SANJI AND THE OTHERS AND HIGHTAIL IT!" and "I GOT THE CREEPS! THIS COUNTRY GIVES ME THE CREEPS!" Nami continues, "TO HAVE COMPLETELY VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE... MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING HUGE." Close-ups reveal claw marks on the walls as she exclaims, "EEEEK!!!" and "THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THESE CLAW MARKS DECORATING THE ENTIRE AREA... LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING TORE AT THE WALLS." A voice warns, "I'M STILL NOT ENTIRELY SURE THE CULPRIT IS EVEN HUMAN..." and "OUR ENEMIES ARE PROBABLY LURKING CLOSE BY! WE'RE SITTING DUCKS OUT HERE!" Someone yells, "WAAAGH! WE SHOULDN'T BE OUT IN THE OPEN LIKE THIS!"

Franky examines the massive footprints and declares, "IT'S AS BIG AS AN ELEPHANT..." and "AND THESE MASSIVE FOOTPRINTS!" A mink adds, "GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH CLAW MARKS, THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS WAS A FALLING OUT BETWEEN MINKS." Nami replies, "WELL, WHAT DO WE DO NOW..." The group stares at the devastated city as narration states, "SUDDENLY FELL TO RUIN..." A large speech bubble questions, "INVADE THE MINKS' COUNTRYI" Nami wonders, "IS THAT LESS THAN A WEEK OR A MONTH AGO, THIS COUNTRY..." The crew reacts in shock: "WHA AAA AT!I" and "THEN... WHAT ABOUT SANJI AND THE OTHERS!I" Franky stands ready in the ruined plaza while the others look on in alarm.

The narration explains that this country is several centuries old and known as the Mokomo Principality. Less than half a month ago, friends laughed and smiled here. A female mink with a bow stands with a straw-hat wearing boy as they survey the ruined landscape. "FELL TO RUIN!I" someone exclaims. "So that's why the city was all empty, huh..." the boy muses. Suddenly the ground shakes violently with "ZUZUZU" and "!!I" effects. "THE ERUPTION RAIN APPROACHES! MAKE HASTE INTO THE TREES! WAH! WHAT'S THIS EARTHQUAKE!I" voices cry. A close-up of a dog mink's face reveals "THE ONE WHO LAID WASTE TO THIS COUNTRY IS KNOWN AS... JACK." The mink turns, sweat visible, and says "WAIT... COULD IT BE... HMM!I" In the next panel the female mink leaps into action, shouting "TO YOUR FRIENDS! OR, RATHER... GET ON CROCCY! I'LL TAKE YOU TO RIGHT BELLY." The straw-hat boy reacts with relief: "SO SANJI AND THE OTHERS REALLY ARE HERE! THAT'S A RELIEF!"

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