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Chapter 124: The Brawl Begins
Tashigi's body trembled violently. She turned her stiff neck, coming face-to-face with a pair of beautiful eyes filled with mirth.
"Fro... Frost Arrow!!"
Upon seeing the person's face clearly, her voice began to tremble, teeth biting into her lower lip, her heart filled with a mix of shame and anger. Her subordinates around her had been frozen without her noticing a thing. And standing before her now was undoubtedly the Straw Hat crew they had been chasing all this way.
It happened in a flash. The moment Tashigi realized she was surrounded by pirates, she drew her sword. The only way to survive now was to hold the blue-haired girl closest to her hostage.
Clang!
The crisp sound of metal colliding exploded in her ears. A sword was faster than hers, arriving first and striking her just-drawn blade precisely, knocking it from her hand to impale the ground.
"You...!"
Tashigi glared, shocked and furious, at the green-haired swordsman who had suddenly intervened. The opponent maintained his sheathing stance. The cursed sword "Sandai Kitetsu," which she had once seen with her own eyes, clicked softly back into its scabbard.
He didn't pay her any mind at all. He coolly sheathed his sword, his intense gaze fixed on the city gate. As if discovering interesting prey, a light burst forth in his eyes.
"Is that the one you mentioned... the opponent most suitable for me right now?"
Tashigi could tell he clearly wasn't talking to her, but asking the blue-haired girl who remained standing beside her, expression unruffled.
"Correct." Ganyu nodded gently, her voice calm. "Mr. 1 of Baroque Works, Daz Bonez. A Dice-Dice Fruit user. He can turn any part of his body into a blade."
As she spoke, she reached out and tapped her knuckles lightly on four spots: Tashigi's thighs and arms.
Sizzle.
A chill swept over Tashigi's body, and her pupils dilated violently. First her hands—ice covered her palms and fingers, then wrists and forearms. Then her feet—starting from the ankles, frost climbed rapidly, encasing her calves.
The entire process took only two or three seconds. Tashigi's hands and feet were completely frozen by thick, hard ice, firmly rooting her to the spot.
She shouted loudly, "What did you do to me?!"
"Just restricting your movement, Tashigi-san," Ganyu smiled, eyes narrowing into crescents. She looked damnably sweet and cute. "I know you definitely wouldn't stay put, so it's better to stay here quietly."
Saying this, Ganyu bent down and picked Tashigi up with one arm. The movement was as easy as picking up a ragdoll. Tashigi flushed crimson with shame and indignation, but she couldn't move a finger, forced to let the other party manipulate her.
Ganyu carried her to the shadows shielded by the rock and placed her alongside the other frozen Marine sculptures.
"Let's go. Those two over there are getting impatient." After doing all this, Ganyu pointed into the distance.
Coincidentally, Mr. 1 and Mr. 2 looked over as well; they had noticed the commotion here earlier.
"Good. A worthy opponent." Mr. 1, Daz Bonez, locked his gaze onto Zoro almost instantly, the excitement in his eyes nearly overflowing. His instincts as a killer told him this man was absolutely a rare opponent.
"The blue-haired girl must be the Straw Hat crew's 'Frost Arrow', right?" On the other side, Mr. 2 Bon Clay's eyes lit up upon seeing Ganyu. He cupped his cheeks, making an exaggerated expression of awe. "Ooh wow~ What a pitiable little cutie~ That blue hair, that exquisite face, that petite figure~ Such a pity she's an enemy! How wonderful it would be if she were a nakama~"
His gaze swept past Ganyu, landing on Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper. After looking for a while, Bon Clay's brows furrowed, and his expression became puzzled. "Strange, why isn't their Captain here? Where's that Straw Hat boy? Didn't the Boss say the whole Straw Hat crew would come?"
Just as this question left his mouth—
"CROCODILE! GET OUT HERE!!!"
A thunderous roar exploded from inside Rainbase. Almost everyone was stupefied by this sudden shout. Even the usually cold and reticent Mr. 1's eyelid twitched twice.
Mr. 2 Bon Clay was sweating profusely, muttering in disbelief, "No way... that voice just now was the Straw Hat boy? Did he already enter Rainbase?"
"We're done for! How did he get in?! The Boss will definitely be furious! He might take Moi's life!"
Bon Clay was terrified. Then, inexplicably, he started spinning in circles on the spot. He stood on tiptoe, arms spread, spinning rapidly like a frightened swan, his ballet skirt fluttering in the desert wind. The scene was bizarre beyond measure.
"Idiot." Daz Bonez looked at him coldly, his voice full of disdain. "That kid will soon be personally finished off by the Boss. The remedial measure we can take now is to stop this group in front of us and prevent them from entering the city to support him."
Saying this, the tall man stepped forward. His steps were heavy and steady, each one leaving a deep imprint in the sand. As he advanced, a tangible killing intent permeated the air, making the surroundings feel viscous. Most of that killing intent was firmly locked onto one person—the green-haired swordsman.
"That guy... definitely a great opponent!"
On the other side, a certain green-haired swordsman was trembling with excitement. If a woman wasn't blocking his way, he would have rushed out to fight this guy already.
"I didn't intend to stop you. This person was meant for you."
Ganyu saw the urgency in the man's eyes and smiled helplessly. She patted him and Sanji on the shoulders respectively, instructing them, "Zoro, Sanji, leave those two to you. I'll go into the city with Nami, Usopp, and Chopper to find Luffy. It looks like he's about to start fighting Crocodile."
"Got it." Zoro nodded immediately, wasting no words.
Seeing Ganyu step aside, he understood instantly. His body shot out like an arrow from a bow. Simultaneously drawing the Sandai Kitetsu, he opened with a slash!
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