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Chapter 130: Luffy's State
Less than ten minutes after leaving Ganyu, Robin, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper searched through the collapsed buildings. At a street corner half-buried in dust, they found something amiss.
"Wait... there seems to be something down there!"
Usopp sharply pointed to a splash of conspicuous color peeking out from the debris gaps.
It was the brim of a straw hat, currently half-buried by gravel.
"Luffy?!"
Nami screamed and was the first to rush over.
The four frantically dug away the broken bricks and sand. Soon, a blood-soaked figure was revealed.
Luffy lay face up in the sand pit, his straw hat askew.
His clothes were reduced to rags, and his exposed skin was covered in crisscrossing wounds, some deep enough to show bone. It was a shocking sight.
"Luffy! Are... are you alive?" Nami's voice instantly cracked with tears.
She knelt on the sand, carefully lifting Luffy's upper body into her arms.
The temperature she felt reassured her slightly—he was still warm.
Usopp and Chopper were frozen in shock for a moment, until Nami's tearful urging reached them: "Chopper! Quick! Treat him!"
"Ah... Yes! Yes!"
Chopper snapped out of it, scrambling to take off the small medical kit on his back.
"Usopp, hold him down for me! Nami, lay him flat!"
Working together, Chopper began emergency treatment on the wounds. Robin didn't intrude, merely watching with concern.
Before long, Chopper let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"How is he?" Nami asked urgently.
"Stable for now," Chopper said, his voice filled with relief. "Luffy's vitality is just too strong... Although the injuries are severe, his internal organs didn't suffer fatal damage. If he rests properly for a few days and takes my medicine, he should recover."
"That's great!" Nami and Usopp sighed in relief.
Robin, who had been watching silently, spoke up softly. "That means he can't continue fighting right now. So... Ganyu has to handle Crocodile alone."
The sentence was like a bucket of cold water dumped over the relieved Weakling Trio.
They immediately grew anxious.
"R-Right!" Usopp jumped up. "Ganyu is still dueling that Warlord! We have to go help!"
"But Luffy needs someone to look after him." Nami bit her lip, thinking fast. "Here's the plan. We split up. One person stays to take care of Luffy, and the rest..."
"Go find Zoro and Sanji!" Usopp interjected. "They should be near the city gate! If we find them, three of us together should be able to help Ganyu!"
The proposal was agreed upon.
However, just as they were assigning tasks, Robin suggested another possibility.
"Perhaps we can also consider finding another reinforcement." She looked toward the direction where the faint sound of fire explosions could be heard.
"That 'Fire Fist' Ace is your captain's brother. Under these circumstances, he might be the only one with the strength to confront Crocodile head-on."
Nami and Usopp exchanged a look, their eyes lighting up simultaneously.
"Right! Ace is Luffy's brother, and a Whitebeard Commander!" Usopp clapped his hands excitedly. "If he's there..."
"Let's do that!" Nami quickly made a decision. "Usopp, you're fast, go toward the city gate to find Zoro and Sanji. Chopper and I will go find Ace—given the noise of their battle, we should be able to find the direction. Robin, you..."
She looked at the woman in black, hesitating slightly.
Robin naturally walked to Luffy's side. "I'll stay here. If something unexpected happens, my ability might come in handy."
Nami and Usopp exchanged glances again. In truth, neither was entirely willing to leave this dangerous woman alone with Luffy.
But with no other option, they nodded.
Subsequently, Nami, Chopper, and Usopp departed according to the plan, leaving only Robin with Luffy.
Robin looked at Luffy, whose breathing was weak on the ground, with a complex gaze.
This guy... really is brave, daring to fight Crocodile alone.
But, what exactly is making him fight so desperately?
Alabasta was a completely strange country to these pirates, and Princess Vivi was merely a passerby to them.
Was it really worth risking their lives like this?
Robin couldn't understand. Looking at the straw hat boy on the ground, she recalled the blue-haired girl who had stood before her moments ago—so petite, yet so strong.
Truly, a strange and powerful group of people...
Suddenly, Robin's expression changed. she quickly leaned down, bringing her ear close to the boy's mouth.
She heard him whisper a single word with a weak voice:
"Meat!"
Meat?
He wants to eat meat?
Robin was surprised. Though she didn't understand why he wanted meat, knowing this city well, finding some wouldn't be difficult.
.....
At the city gate.
A green figure flashed by, three blades drawing three substantial sword beams in the air as his body sprinted forward.
"Santoryu Ogi: Sanzen Sekai!"
Crack.
A shattering sound rang out abruptly. A tall man, his body shimmering with a metallic cold light, looked down in astonishment at his own arms.
The blades formed by his Devil Fruit ability had cracked, revealing fissures from which blood flowed.
His defense... was broken.
"You... can actually cut... steel..."
Before he could finish, he collapsed, his massive body burying into the sand, revealing a green-haired man who was slowly sheathing his swords.
Mr. 1, Daz Bonez—Defeated!
The three swords clicked into their scabbards one by one.
Zoro removed the green bandana from his head, casually tied it back around his arm, and looked down at his fallen opponent with a hint of respect in his eyes.
A decent opponent.
If he hadn't comprehended that level of swordsmanship beforehand, this battle would likely have been much harder than imagined.
At the same time.
"Collier Shot!!!"
Zoro turned at the sound.
He saw Sanji spinning in mid-air, his right leg chopping down like a battle axe, smashing ruthlessly onto Bon Clay's crossed arms.
The immense force shattered the defense directly. The okama opponent flew backward like a kite with a cut string, plowing a long trench in the sand before collapsing amidst a group of screaming Baroque Works minions, motionless.
Mr. 2, Bon Clay—Defeated!
Tap.
Sanji landed lightly, tapping his toe on the sand to disperse the remaining force.
He habitually adjusted his suit collar, then took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled a smoke ring with enjoyment.
"Not bad," Zoro walked over, arms crossed, the corner of his mouth lifting in a slightly smug arc. "Though a bit slower than me."
"Hah?!"
Veins instantly popped on Sanji's forehead. "What did you say, moss-head?! If this guy hadn't talked so much trash, I would've finished ages ago! How could I be slower than a directionally challenged marimo like you!"
"Oh? Making excuses looks pretty ugly, Curly Brows."
"You want to get kicked, don't you?!!"
While bickering, the two unintentionally headed toward the city center.
In their hearts, they were both anxious to know how the most important battle was progressing.
Just as they entered the city, they ran headfirst into the oncoming Usopp.
"Sanji! Zoro! Ganyu is... she's fighting Crocodile alone!" Usopp was overjoyed to see them and quickly explained the situation.
"What!" The cigarette dropped from Sanji's mouth. He shouted, "Where is Luffy?! How could he let Ganyu-san face such a dangerous opponent alone!"
"Where are they fighting?" Zoro's brows furrowed tight, a flash of imperceptible worry in his eyes.
"Right in the center of the city. The commotion is huge, you should feel it once you get close." Usopp pointed, his tone anxious.
"That Warlord is absolutely a monster! Luffy's already been beaten by him—I've never seen Luffy hurt like that! Ganyu stayed behind alone to protect us..."
Before he could finish, Sanji interrupted with a wave of his hand. "Got it. I'm going to support Ganyu-san right now!"
With that, he dashed out, sand exploding in small pits under his feet. His speed was so fast he was almost a blur, showing just how worried he was.
Surprisingly, Zoro was no slower, keeping pace right behind Sanji.
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