Chapter 45: Adventure in Little GardenExpedition to the Primeval IslandStanding at the railing of the going merry, Usopp's jaw nearly dislocated as he pointed straight ahead at the dense jungle that stretched to the horizon.His voice trembled: "This... is this really what you call Little Garden?"Luffy already had his hands on his hips, his Straw Hat slid to his back.He leaned forward, pressing for an answer: "Robin! Is this really the Little Garden you were talking about?"Robin gently pressed her fingertips against the spine of her book, closing it seamlessly.A smile played on her lips: "That's right. This island has an even more fitting name—""The 'Primeval Island', where time seems to have slowed its pace.""Primeval Island?" Luffy's eyes went wide instantly.He tilted his head, his eyes full of curiosity.Nami pressed her fingertips to her temple, her brows knitting slightly as she struggled to dig through her memory for that yellowed book on board, the "Grand Line Chronicles"."I remember the book saying—the Grand Line hides quite a few 'Time-Stagnant Islands'.""The environment is still stuck in the primeval era, and even creatures that should have gone extinct long ago are still alive!""Primeval creatures? You mean dinosaurs?!" Luffy's voice shot up suddenly.The deck beneath his feet thudded as he stomped.The light in his eyes was fiercer than the sun; he couldn't wait to dive straight into the jungle.Just as he finished speaking, a boom that made eardrums ache suddenly exploded from the heart of the island.Even the air trembled three times over. Immediately after, the sea waves were pushed by an invisible hand.Ripples surged toward the going merry, and the ship rocked like a leaf caught in the wind.The wooden barrels on deck rolled about.Nami instantly hid behind Robin, her fingers clutching Robin's sleeve for dear life.Her voice was filled with lingering fear: "We really should find a safe place to dock.""Just quietly fill up the Log Pose and leave! This island is too dangerous.""With that commotion just now, I feel like there are some incredible creatures on this island!""No way!" Luffy shook his head like a rattle, his fists clenched tight.The light in his eyes burned even brighter than before: "An island that hides dinosaurs is the most perfect place for an adventure!""I'm even going to catch the fiercest one to use as a mount!""Fine, fine, you win." Nami slumped her shoulders, like a deflated balloon.Her finger pointed listlessly to the left—where a river channel was hidden, completely obscured by mangroves.Branches and leaves hung over the water, like a natural barrier: "We can take the ship into the island from there.""But I'm staying on the ship!"As soon as the going merry was anchored in the river channel, Luffy snatched the bento box Sanjihad just prepared with lightning speed.The box was packed full of roasted meat, without a single leaf of green vegetable in sight. He kicked off the ground.His whole body shot into the jungle like an arrow released from a bow, leaving only a blur behind.Zoro was carrying three swords over one shoulder, his boots having just crushed the sand.Just as he was about to head into the jungle, he was called back by Sanji behind him."Zoro, where are you going?" Sanji flicked the ash from his cigarette, the smoke drifting into the air.He was genuinely afraid this guy would get lost in the jungle."Taking a walk." Zoro's tone was flat, but his footsteps didn't stop.The sound of his boots crushing the sand was a soft rustle."Stop right there!" Sanji ran a hand through his blond hair, his temper flaring up."The meat on the ship is almost gone! If you run into good prey—""Just chop it up and drag it back!"Hearing this, the corners of Zoro's mouth curled into a mocking arc.Without turning his head, he tossed back a line: "Got it. I'll catch some prey.""Something you'd never have the skill to catch in your entire life.""What did you say?!" Sanji's face instantly flushed a liverish color.He rolled up his sleeves and jumped off the ship, his soles thumping heavily onto the sand."Stop right there! You moss-head, say that again? What do you mean I can't catch it?"Zoro finally stopped in his tracks, glancing back at him.His eyes were full of disdain: "What? Want to fight?""A fight isn't enough!" Sanji clenched his fists, his gaze colliding with Zoro's.Like two lightning bolts splitting the air, sparks were almost flying."Let's have a contest! See who bags the bigger prey. The loser scrubs the deck tonight!"As the words fell, both of them dashed off—one to the left, one to the right.Their figures instantly vanished into the green of the jungle, leaving only the sound of leaves rustling as they brushed past.On the deck of the going merry, Nami scrambled over in a panic.She grabbed the corner of Robin's clothes, her voice laced with tears: "Robin, you can't go to the island!""Just stay on the ship, okay? This island looks terrifying!"On the other side, Usopp was hanging off Mark's leg.He shook his head like a rattle, tears almost squeezing out: "Mark, are you going to the island too?""Can't you leave Ink Meteor behind... I, Nami and I can't guard the ship alone!"Mark had one foot on the railing, his elbow resting on his thigh.With his palm supporting his chin, he actually looked quite imposing.His tone was full of sorrow: "Oh, Usopp! I've lived this long as a foodie.""I've had a great dream for a long time—to taste what dinosaur meat actually tastes like!""Are you trying to stand in the way of a man pursuing his dream?""Then, then leave Ink Meteor for me and Nami!" Usopp stamped his feet in anxiety.His grip on Mark's pant leg tightened."No way." Mark frowned and took half a step back.He looked at the mud in the mangrove forest with disgust, and the next second, he flipped onto Ink Meteor's back."I hate stepping on wet, squishy things. By the way, Robin said there are brave Giant Race warriors dueling on this island.""Right, Robin?"Robin's eyes held curiosity about the jungle: "That's right. Baroque Works is also plotting against them—""Those are the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates, Dorry and Brogy.""They have been fighting on this island for a hundred years and still haven't decided a winner.""That tremor just now might have been the sound of them clashing.""B-brave Giant Race warriors... fighting..." Usoppslowly let go of Mark's leg.His fingers curled into fists, and his gaze shifted from hesitation to determination."I've decided! I'm going to the island too! I am a man who wants to become a brave warrior of the sea!""That's too much! You're all leaving and just leaving me alone on the ship!"Nami flopped onto the deck, supporting herself with her hands.Her mouth was pouted enough to hang an oil bottle, and her voice dragged on long and mournful.She looked just like an abandoned kitten, her eyes rimmed with red from grievance.Robin looked at her, a flash of craftiness in her eyes.She slowly threw out the bait: "I remember ancient texts saying that complete dinosaur fossils can sell for a sky-high price in the black market...""Maybe this island hides quite a few that haven't been discovered yet.""A sky-high price?!" Nami's eyes lit up in a flash.The previous grievance was instantly thrown to the back of her mind, and she scrambled up with nimble hands and feet.She leaped onto Ink Meteor's back in a flash, patting Ink Meteor's neck."What are you still standing there for? Hurry! Don't let someone else find the fossils first!"Mark held his forehead and sighed helplessly, thinking to himself: "This Cat Burglar really is money-grubbing."But out loud, he called out: "Ink Meteor, maximize!"Ink Meteor's lion head reared up suddenly, and a roar that shook the jungle tore through the sky.The sound waves caused the surrounding leaves to rustle and fall. Its body expanded at a speed visible to the naked eye.Its mane shimmered with a cold, inky light in the sun, finally transforming into a giant Taotie six meters long and four meters high—Its sharp claws sank into the sand, full of intimidation.Robin stepped on the railing and jumped lightly onto Ink Meteor's back.Usopp also gritted his teeth and climbed up, gripping the black fur on Ink Meteor's back tightly.Following Ink Meteor's pace, the four of them slowly advanced through the primeval jungle.The dense vegetation was gently brushed aside by it, and amidst the sound of branches and leaves parting,an adventure full of the unknown quietly pulled back its curtain.The hot, humid wind carrying the sweet, fishy scent of rotting leaves and wild fruits traveled through the forest.Just as Ink Meteor's group rounded a bush covered in purple-black poisonous vines,a massive object suddenly crashed out of the shadows—it was an adult Smilodon.Its build was even more burly than Ink Meteor's by a third. Its gray-brown fur was stained with mottled mud and dark red blood.Two milky-white fangs, half a foot long, protruded diagonally from the corners of its mouth, with dried black scabs hanging from the tips;most terrifying were its eyes, like two pieces of glass burning with green fire.They locked onto Ink Meteor's throat, and every breath carried a low, thunderous growl.The stench hit their faces, pungent enough to make one's nose ache.Before anyone could react, the Smilodon kicked off the ground with its hind legs.Two deep pits were dug into the ground, and its massive body leaped into the air like a black boulder.Its sharp claws, accompanied by a "whooshing" sound as they tore through the wind, flew straight at Ink Meteor's face.But its movements were as slow as slow-motion in Ink Meteor's eyes; Mark didn't even raise a hand.Ink Meteor had already tilted slightly, and its right claw swung out with the force of tearing the air—With a muffled "thud", the thick tiger paw was slapped directly aside.The Smilodon's body instantly lost its balance and flew off sideways like a kite with a broken string.Along the way, it snapped a dozen saplings as thick as a bowl, the crisp sound of breaking trunks mixing with the giant beast's mournful cry.It echoed through the forest. Finally, it crashed heavily into a pile of rotting leaves.Its neck twisted at a weird angle, and its green-fire-like eyes instantly dimmed.It didn't even twitch twice before it lost its breath.Mark jumped off Ink Meteor's back, kicking the Smilodon's stiff front paw with the toe of his boot.He pinched a strand of tiger fur that had been shaken off, his brows furrowing enough to crush a fly: "What a pity."He clicked his tongue, his tone full of disdain: "The meat of a fierce beast is always tough and fishy.""Even if you let Sanji marinate it with thyme and lemon juice for a whole day...""It can't even cover up that earthy smell; it's just a waste of seasoning.""Oh my god!" Nami clutched her chest, her long orange hair disheveled by the strong wind from just a moment ago.Her fair cheeks were flushed with the lingering remnants of shock, and her heart was pounding "thump-thump" in her chest."I had my eyes squeezed shut just now, thinking I was about to become a tiger's snack the next second!"Her voice trembled slightly as she gently patted Ink Meteor, her eyes filled with relief."You're underestimating our Ink Meteor!" Usoppimmediately puffed out his chest.Hands on his hips, he tried hard to strike a calm pose.But his legs, resting on Ink Meteor's back, trembled unhelpfully, his pant legs shaking like cloth hanging on a clothesline."It was just a mere saber-toothed tiger; wouldn't Ink Meteor have it in the bag as soon as it acted?""I had already reached for my gunpowder just now, but before I could even raise my slingshot—""—it had already been swatted away!" He said, exaggeratingly raising his hand to mimic the gesture of holding a slingshot.Yet his eyes darted away from the saber-toothed tiger's corpse, and the tips of his ears turned red.Robin, on the other hand, remained composed as she gently brushed the grass clippings from her skirt.Her fingertips held a freshly plucked emerald leaf—the dew on the leaf was still trembling.She lowered her head to smell the fresh fragrance of the leaf, and when she looked up, there was a faint smile in her eyes: "I once saw a record in an 'Encyclopedia of Ancient Creatures'.""There is a species of 'Ancient Bird' in this jungle, which is the ancestor of the ostrich.""Its meat is a hundred times more tender than ordinary poultry, and its feathers are soft enough to make down pillows.""It's just very vigilant and extremely fast, making it hard for the average person to catch.""Oh? An Ancient Bird?" Mark's eyes lit up instantly.He placed his hands at his sides, and a faint silver-blue halo emerged around him—Observation Haki spread out like an invisible net, rapidly expanding in all directions with him at the center.The next second, everything in the dense forest was clearly reflected in his mind: on the east side, among the vines, a colorful parrot dragon was pecking at berries.In the bushes on the west side, three small dinosaurs were hiding and gnawing on grass roots.By the stream to the north, an ankylosaurus was crawling slowly... until a gentle aura intruded into his perception.It was massive yet completely devoid of ferocity, possessing the exact silhouette of an ostrich!"Ink Meteor, one kilometer to the right!" Markopened his eyes abruptly, his voice full of excitement."It must be the Ancient Bird!"Before the words had even faded, Ink Meteor's figure had turned into an afterimage—the fallen leaves beneath its feet were swept up by the strong wind.Dancing in the air in swirls, it took only three seconds to rush to the open grassland a kilometer away.Fortunately, Robin had already used the power of the "Hana Hana no Mi" to firmly secure Nami and Usopp to Ink Meteor's back.Otherwise, the two of them would have been thrown off long ago.Sure enough, a giant bird stood on the grassland: it was half a head taller than an adult ostrich.Fluffy, light-brown feathers shimmered with a soft luster in the sunlight;Its long neck was bare, revealing pale pink skin.The area around its beak was covered with fine, light-gray barbs, and it was currently stretching its neck to peck at red fruits on a wild fruit tree.The Ancient Bird seemed to have sensed danger and suddenly raised its head.Its black eyes were full of vigilance, and its long neck retracted slightly.Its wings were already half-spread, and it was about to take flight.But how would Ink Meteor give it a chance? It leaped up, power gathering in its right paw.It was so fast that only a black shadow remained—with a muffled "bang".The sharp claw struck the Ancient Bird's skull with precision, the force combining both hardness and softness.It didn't crush the feathers, yet it instantly knocked the bird unconscious.The Ancient Bird's massive body crashed to the ground, and its light-brown feathers were sent scattering everywhere.A few uneaten red fruits rolled out from its beak, disappearing into the grass.Mark hurried over and squatted down beside the Ancient Bird's carcass.His gaze was fixed on those two thick, sturdy legs—the muscle lines beneath the feathers were firm.It still felt warm to the touch, and one could sense the tenderness of the meat with a single brush of the fingertips."Well done!" He patted Ink Meteor on the shoulder, his eyes practically glowing."Just these two legs are enough for us to roast, stew, and pan-fry.""We can eat for at least three days!" He said, rubbing his hands together and swallowing his saliva.His mind was already calculating a dozen ways to eat it: roasted chicken legs, salt-baked chicken, Kung Pao chicken...He had even thought of the seasoning recipes."Roasting it is the best way!" A loud, booming voice suddenly exploded behind them.It shook the very air, the certainty in the tone allowing for no doubt.Even the surrounding leaves rustled from the sound waves.Everyone turned around in unison, only to feel their vision darken—a giant as tall as a four-story building was standing there.His burly figure was like a small mountain, and his shadow instantly covered more than half of the clearing.Even the sunlight was blocked out.The iron helmet on his head gleamed with a cold light, its two pointed horns sticking straight up.The edges were still stained with a bit of dinosaur blood; his large yellow beard looked like an exploded bristle brush.It swayed gently with his breathing, and every single strand of his beard could be seen clearly;A dark blue cape draped over his broad shoulders, its edges somewhat worn.The armor underneath clattered with a "clank" as he moved.The white fur waist guard at his waist was stained with a bit of mud, yet it remained fluffy;Beneath his plaid capri pants, brown boots were planted firmly on the ground.Sand grains were embedded in the treads of his boots; old cloth strips were wrapped around the handle of the giant axe in his right hand.The axe blade glinted with a cold light, and the edge of the round shield in his left hand was worn shiny.It still bore several scratches of varying depths—it was clearly an old companion that had been used for many years."A-a giant!" The exclamation exploded instantly.Usopp was scared out of his wits, diving into Ink Meteor's fluffy fur like a cannonball.He clung tightly to the beast's fur, burying even his ears completely.He muttered vaguely in his mouth, "Can't see me, can't see me";But then he thought, "Isn't this the brave Giant warrior Mark mentioned?"He secretly peeked one eye out through a gap in the fur, his expression a mix of cowardice and curiosity.Nami, who had originally been sitting at the very front on Ink Meteor's back, saw this and scrambled to shrink behind Robin.Her hands gripped Robin's sleeve tightly, her head buried low.She kept muttering, "Don't eat me... he's so big.""He surely won't notice a tiny person like me!"Mark and Robin were also stunned at first—anyone would be stunned for a moment if they suddenly encountered such a huge giant.Mark carefully observed the gentleness in the giant's eyes; there was not a shred of malice.Only then did he let out a soft sigh of relief, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth;Robin raised her hand to tuck back the hair strands blown messy by the wind, her fingertips brushing the loose hair behind her ears.Seeing the giant grin and reveal his honest, simple gums, the surprise in her eyes gradually turned into gentleness.She even quietly patted Nami's hand, her voice as light as a feather: "Don't panic, he has no malice.""That's truly rare!" Brogy spoke in a rough voice, leaning his giant axe onto the ground.With a "thud," the ground cracked, and sand particles jumped up."No guests have come to this island in decades; for you lot to find this place, you must have some skill.""Since you're here, come be my guests at my home! By the way—you came from the outside world.""Did you bring any booze? I haven't tasted any in decades."Hearing this, Mark flicked his wrist, and the black ring in his palm suddenly glowed with a faint light.A pale blue halo circled the ring's opening. The next second, a rich aroma of alcohol surged out from the opening.It made one's nose itch, and an oak barrel bound with iron hoops "thudded" onto the ground.The top of the barrel was bubbling with fine foam, and it was over a meter tall.The barrel body was even stamped with the word "Whiskey". "I have twenty more barrels of this kind of wine."He patted the barrel, his voice full of laughter, "However—I have the wine, but do you have the meat?""I actually don't." Brogy stroked his beard, his tone tinged with a bit of embarrassment.But no sooner had he finished speaking than a "rip" sounded from behind him—an adult T-Rex was biting the hem of his cape.Its massive head shook, saliva dripping down its fangs, and a foul, fishy stench rushed toward them.He didn't even blink, gripping the axe handle tightly, and his burly body spun like a top.The giant axe sliced through the air with a "whoosh," the sound of the wind filled with killing intent!With a crisp "crack," the T-Rex's head rolled straight to the ground.Fresh blood splattered half a person's height, yet it didn't stain a single corner of his clothes, and even his cape remained perfectly neat.Brogy shook the blood droplets off the axe blade, the droplets landing on the ground and blooming into small splashes of blood.He grinned, revealing two rows of sturdy teeth, his tone full of heartiness: "Now I do."Mark looked at the still-twitching T-Rex carcass on the ground, and then at the frankness in Brogy's eyes.He couldn't help but laugh out loud, his voice full of approval;Brogy also slapped his thigh and laughed heartily, shaking the surrounding bushes until they rustled.Even the leaves in the distance swayed along with it.The wind carried the aroma of wine and the newly spreading scent of blood, which, when mixed together, inexplicably gave rise to a lively, earthy atmosphere.Even the air became vibrant—this unexpected encounter.It felt like a destiny that had been ordained long ago
Chapter 46: The Appearance of Mr. 3In Brogy's home (a wasteland) on Small Garden, firewood split from a giant tree crackled in the campfire.Usopp, Nami, and Robin sat around the campfire.The giant Brogy's massive frame occupied almost half the clearing—Sanji was not there.The job of cooking naturally fell to Mark.He set up an iron rack nearby, his hands wrapped in coarse cloth gloves, turning large chunks of dinosaur meat.Grease sizzled as it seeped out, dripping down the iron rack.As it hit the fire, it sparked and sizzled, filling the air with the charred aroma mixed with the scent of smoke.It was enough to make anyone swallow hard.The conversation on the other side was lively. Brogyheld a chipped wooden bowl.He tilted his head back to take a swig of ale, the amber liquid trickling down the corner of his mouth.He wiped his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing heavily, and replied in a deep, booming voice, "Pirates, huh... that's really not bad!""Uncle Brogy and Uncle Dorry, why are you two dueling?" Usopp leaned forward.He propped his elbows on his knees, his eyes shining as if soaked in light, and asked with great curiosity."Hahaha! Alcohol is just the best!" Brogy laughed so hard his chest vibrated.His fingers, thick as a ship's mast, tapped against the wooden bowl, causing the ale to foam."The reason? I forgot why we started dueling ages ago! Now—it's just for the honor of a warrior!""What's the point of a fight like that?" Namifrowned, resting her hands on her knees and pursing her lips.She found such behavior hard to understand."Nami, you don't understand!" Usopp immediately turned his head to retort."The flag they carry on their chests is more precious than life itself! They just don't want that flag to fall.""They've been locked in battle for a hundred years!" His tone was suddenly filled with reverence."This is the brave warrior of the sea I admire most! So I've decided—""I want to be just like you, I'll call you Master from now on!""Just like us?" Brogy's eyes lit up when he heard that."Usopp, do you want to become a giant too?""That's not it!" Usopp's mouth twitched, almost stretching to his ears.His teeth bared like a saw blade—Brogy's comprehension skills were completely off the mark!Robin closed the book in her hands at this moment, her fingertips still resting on the edge of the page.She spoke softly, "By the way, Uncle Brogy, I heard""that it takes a full year for the log pose to store the magnetic force on this island. Is that true?""That's right!" Brogy swallowed the roasted meat in his mouth and set the wooden bowl down with a "thud."He spat out the two words cleanly."What? A year?!" Nami's voice instantly spiked, and she slammed her hand onto the ground.Sparks from the fire were shaken in all directions, and her tone was full of anxiety: "That's way too long!""This island is full of ferocious beasts, isn't there any other way?"Brogy raised a finger and pointed to the pile of bones not far away.The ghastly white bones were piled high by the rocks, some still embedded with tooth marks.It was particularly chilling next to the stone pile."See that pile of skeletons? People who came to this island in the past, some became snacks for the dinosaurs""with hardly any bones left; others didn't know any better and came to provoke me and Dorry, so they died;""and some tried to set sail without enough magnetic force, ending up feeding the sea." He changed the subject.He looked at the steaming roasted meat on Mark's iron rack, then glanced at the wine barrel Usopphanded over."To friends, we warriors of Elbaf will certainly protect you, hahaha."Suddenly! "Boom—!" A loud crash came from the mountaintop.It was like a giant thunderbolt striking near their ears, making the air tremble.The ground shook violently, and volcanic ash flew into the sky.Even Brogy's unfinished bowl of ale jolted, spilling liquid onto the grass.It was quickly absorbed by the soil.Brogy's expression turned stern, and his previous gentleness vanished instantly.He grabbed the giant axe beside him, which was taller than a small boat, its blade flashing with a cold light in the embers.He said in a deep voice, "Has the will of the war god Elbaf arrived again?"As soon as he finished speaking, he strode into the pitch-black jungle—the huge footsteps made the ground tremble slightly.The shadow of the giant axe was stretched long by the firelight, and in no time, it melted into the shadows deep in the woods.On the other side, another giant wearing an iron helmet, holding an iron sword in one hand and a shield in the other, also rushed toward the center of the jungle.It was none other than Dorry!Soon, a loud "clang" echoed in the jungle—Brogy's giant axe and Dorry's iron sword collided fiercely.Sparks flew dozens of meters high, and the shockwave pushed the surrounding bushes to both sides.Luffy, at Dorry's camp a few kilometers away, could feel the ground beneath his feet humming and vibrating.That Haki, laden with a century of obsession, made one's chest feel stifled.The center of the battle was even more chaotic: the dinosaurs in the forest had long since been scared out of their wits.They dragged their tails as they bolted deep into the dense forest; giant trees as thick as bowls were swept by the shockwaves.With a "crack," they were snapped in half, the crowns crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.No one dared to get close, only able to stand far away, watching those two massive figures trade blows in the smoke.This century-long duel started quickly and ended just as quickly.When both men swung their fists, slamming them heavily into each other's chests, they both stumbled back two steps.Then they looked at each other and smiled, their rough faces filled with satisfaction. "73,466 matches, still a draw!""Dorry!" Brogy pulled five one-meter-high wine barrels from the lapel of his chest.He shoved them into Dorry's hands, laughing until his face was full of wrinkles: "I have a few friends at my place""This is the alcohol they brought. I bet you haven't tasted the flavor of booze in a long time! Hahaha!""Hahaha!" Dorry took the barrels, hugging them carefully to his chest as if holding a treasure."They must be the companions of that Straw Hat kid on my side! Alcohol? It's been a while since I've had some—""After I finish drinking, I'll definitely show you my power, Brogy!"With that, both turned and returned to their respective camps.Leaving only a mess behind: broken trees lying everywhere.The ground was still scarred with trenches from the axe and sword blades.As soon as Brogy returned to the campfire, Usoppimmediately went up to greet him.His eyes were shining so bright they were almost glowing: "Master! How was it? Did you win?"Brogy's massive frame sat on the ground with a "thud" that made the earth shake.Pebbles rolled far away along the grass. He picked up a piece of roasted meat and shoved it into his mouth, mumbling: "Want to defeat Dorry?""It's not that easy—it's a draw again this time." He said, grabbing a wine barrel again.He gulped it down, the alcohol dripping down his chin and onto his lapel."Uncle Brogy, is there really no way to make the log pose store the magnetic force faster?" Nami was still holding onto a glimmer of hope.Her tone was full of anticipation—she didn't want to stay in this jungle full of dinosaurs for a year.Just thinking about it was terrifying."A method? Actually, there is one." Brogy rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before speaking."Use an eternal pose to go to the next island first, and then start recording the magnetic force from there.""But I only have an eternal pose pointing to Elbafhere.""An eternal pose?" Nami was stunned, her eyes filled with confusion."This is the first time I've heard that term!"Robin explained patiently, her voice soft yet clear: "An eternal pose is a very important navigation tool on the Grand Line""Its core function is to permanently lock onto the direction of a specific island—no matter how the surrounding magnetic field changes""the needle will always point to the pre-recorded target island.""What, are you going to Elbaf?" Brogy asked.Nami shook her head: "Where we go is up to our Captain. But given Luffy's personality""he definitely wouldn't choose to go straight to Elbaf."The group started chatting lively again.Mark took the opportunity to ask for advice on techniques for exerting force—the warriors of Elbafwere fighting every day.They were absolute experts in this regard.On the other side, Zoro was leaning against a tree.He carved a fifth mark on the tree trunk with his sword, his brow furrowed so deeply it could wring out water: "Why am I back here again?""This time I'll head to the front right!" He was dragging a huge triceratops by his feet.He was clearly lost in the jungle, his face full of impatience.Sanji put down the Diplodocus carcass he was carrying.He walked up to a strange little cottage—the house looked like it was made of congealed white wax.Even the door was made of wax. He pushed the door open, and to his surprise, there was a white table inside.There was even a pot of hot tea on the table. "Strange, why would there be such a leisurely cottage in this jungle?"He picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and his eyes lit up after taking a sip."This is delicious! The owner of this cottage has good taste!"Just then, "Boom—!" The volcano on Small Gardensuddenly erupted.Lava flowed down the mountain, and black smoke blotted out the sun.Brogy grabbed his giant axe once again and headed toward the center of the jungle—but this time, the battle.had become one-sided. Dorry had just taken two axe strikes from Brogy.He stumbled backward, his arms trembling, completely devoid of his usual momentum.A small figure was darting around in the combat zone—that iconic Straw Hat.Who else could it be but Luffy! "Uncle Dorry! This is an unfair duel!""Someone is cheating in the shadows! Stop, you two!" Luffy hopped around between the fists and feet of the two giants.Dodging the shockwaves while shouting loudly, sweat beading on his forehead from anxiety."You can't stop me!" Dorry roared, his voice hoarse, but he still gripped his iron sword tightly."Once a battle begins, to avoid it is to abandon the name of a warrior!""Without the identity of a warrior, I am no longer myself!" He said, suddenly swinging his fist.The fist grazed Luffy's Straw Hat, and the force of the wind sent Luffy flying.Luffy did a few somersaults in the air like a leaf.He slammed onto the grass with a "thud," rolling a long way before stopping, his Straw Hat skewed to the back of his head."Luffy!" Usopp rushed over to help Luffy up, his face full of anxiety.Luffy stood up, leaning on Usopp's hand, rubbed his waist, and panted: "Mark, Usopp... everyone is here!""Quick, stop this battle! It's been interfered with, it's unfair!""I absolutely do not accept this—a hundred-year battle cannot end this way!""Calm down, Luffy." Mark pressed down on his shoulder, his tone deepening."Dorry said that avoiding a battle is abandoning the name of a warrior, so whatever we have to say must wait until the battle is over.""That's right Luffy, what exactly is going on?" Usoppalso leaned in, his eyes full of confusion.Luffy took a deep breath and recounted what happened—it turned out that after Dorry drank a cup of wine earlier.A sharp pain suddenly came from his stomach, as if something had exploded inside.He was spitting out mouthfuls of blood.Mark's heart sank—that's not right! In the original work, it was clearly tampering with the wine.But he had been watching over the wine the whole time this time, how could it have been tampered with?"This sounds like the methods of Mr. 3." Robinsuddenly spoke, her eyes showing a hint of realization."He is a notorious schemer in Baroque Works and is also a Wax-Wax Fruit user""He excels at using schemes to achieve his goals, maybe he is the one behind this.""So, that bunch is nearby?" Luffy clenched his fists.His knuckles cracked, his eyes widened, and he scanned his surroundings.He couldn't wait to find the culprit immediately.At this moment, the battle between the giants had already ended.Brogy's giant axe slashed heavily into Dorry's chest, and blood sprayed out with a "whoosh."It stained Dorry's battle garb red, looking exactly like the scene when Zoro and Hawkeye dueled back then.Dorry groaned, and the iron sword in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang."His massive body slowly collapsed.Brogy crouched down, his eyes welling up with moisture, his voice deeper than usual: "I know...""From the moment you couldn't block my giant axe the first time, I knew something was wrong.""But I had to fight with all my might—only then could I honor your hundred-year persistence""and honor the resolve of us Elbaf warriors, my friend...""Who the hell did this?!" Usopp clenched his fists and shouted loudly."Ho ho ho... I didn't expect such impatient little wild beasts to be howling in this jungle." A mocking voice came.Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a man wearing a black suit and square glasses.His most prominent feature was his huge "3"-shaped hairstyle.He wore a smug, insidious, cunning, yet slightly comical expression on his face.
Chapter 47: A Complete BreakMr.3 stood with his arms crossed, his spectacle lenses glinting coldly in the sunlight.Standing atop a massive dinosaur bone, he looked down at the Straw Hat crew."Straw Hat crew, our boss has said that as long as you don't interfere with him, in the end, we have no conflict of interest."His gaze swept over Luffy and the others as if looking at a group of ants blocking his path."This time, we are only here to capture the leaders of the Giant Warrior Pirates, so don't bring trouble upon yourselves.""You're the one who interfered with the old guys' duel, aren't you!"Luffy's voice exploded instantly, his fists clenched tight, the fury in his eyes seemingly burning through his pupils.His body leaned forward slightly, his toes grinding the gravel on the ground until it made a "crunching" sound—a signal that he was ready to charge at any moment, and even the Straw Hat tied to his head seemed to be agitated along with its owner's emotions.Mark stood slightly behind Luffy, his expression much colder than Luffy's, the sharpness hidden in his eyes not missing a single subtle expression on Mr.3's face—after all, when the giant Dorry drank the wine and collapsed, everyone's first reaction was that "the logistics keeper responsible for the wine made a mistake," and he didn't want to take the blame for that."Also, I want to know how you tampered with the wine?"His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a thin blade, precisely piercing to the core of the issue.Hearing this, Mr.3 suddenly scoffed, shrugging his shoulders exaggeratedly as if he had heard some huge joke."People! They are most relaxed when they are happy, like someone with a craving for alcohol finally getting a drink. And besides, I didn't tamper with the wine."He paused intentionally, scanning the suddenly changed expressions of everyone before slowly adding,"I just accidentally let someone's booger fall from the sky into the giant's mouth."Then Mr.3 made a gesture."Come out! My lovely partners, if we finish work early, we can go home and have a pot of hot tea.""Whoosh—"As soon as he finished speaking, a slight sound of breaking air came.Miss Valentine stepped on the light airflow and floated out from the dense forest, her umbrella tracing an arc in the air and landing steadily on top of Mr.3's head.She pinched the brim of her hat, looking at the Straw Hat crew with contempt, her laughter loud and grating:"How about that? Flying onto the back of a Pterosaur and throwing Mr.5's bomb precisely into the giant's mouth—only someone like me, a user of the Kilo-Kilo Fruit, could pull off such a maneuver perfectly! Hahaha!"She swung her legs as she spoke, seemingly still showing off her recent "feat."Following closely behind, Mr.5, wearing sunglasses, walked out of the forest, swaying with every step.His face had an oily sheen, and his finger was unconsciously stuck in his nostril, a gesture that made people feel disgusted."If it weren't for my booger bomb exploding inside the giant, this mission would have failed long ago."His tone was full of self-importance, as if he were the most crucial person in this plan,"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be able to touch a single finger of the giant.""All of you are within my perfect plan; how could it fail?"Mr.3 puffed out his chest, chin tilted slightly upward."I am the strongest strategist of Baroque Works! From the moment you set foot on Small Garden, you were already in my calculations."That arrogant look made Usopp clench his slingshot pouch tight; these people not only plotted against them but also mocked the giant warriors he admired most.Usopp couldn't take it anymore; there was no need to endure it."Take my special move—Supernova!"Usopp suddenly roared, the veins on his forehead bulging like earthworms.He gripped the slingshot and pouch tightly with both hands, firing in an instant, and the black gunpowder pellet shot out from the pouch, accompanied by a sharp "whoosh" sound as it cut through the air, heading straight for Miss Valentine, who was still looking smug atop Mr.3's head.Miss Valentine's laughter stopped abruptly, her pupils shrinking—she never expected this seemingly cowardly guy to suddenly attack her.The pellet was too fast, so fast that she didn't even have time to activate her Devil Fruit ability to dodge, and she could only watch as the black pellet grew larger before her eyes."Boom!"A violent explosion instantly echoed through Small Garden, orange-red flames shooting into the sky, stinging everyone's eyes and making them squint instinctively.A scorching blast wave, carrying gravel and debris, spread outwards.At the center of the explosion, Miss Valentine's hat was blown off first, tumbling in the air, followed by her clothes being shredded into strips, hanging on her like rags.Her eyes rolled back, black smoke poured from her mouth, and her body went limp, losing all strength, falling straight toward the ground like a kite with a broken string."Thud!"The ground was cratered, dust flying everywhere.Miss Valentine lay in the pit, completely motionless, even her Kilo-Kilo Fruit ability losing its effect—she had fainted.The other side never expected the battle to start so suddenly; they had just finished posturing and immediately lost a member.Usopp understood this clearly; he was the only ranged attacker in the team, so sniping enemies in the sky was most suitable for him. Striking immediately while the opponent was relaxed was all about the element of surprise."I see, then the rest will be easy."Mark flexed his wrists, his knuckles making a "click-clack" sound.His previously calm eyes turned completely cold, like frozen seawater,"You actually used the old guys' trust in us to ambush them while they were off guard, and you almost made me take the blame—next, don't die! Booger-man."Before he finished speaking, he stomped his back foot hard, gravel splashing instantly, and his body shot toward Mr.5 like an arrow released from a bow.Mr.5 hadn't recovered from the shock of the explosion when his vision blurred, and a stream of air filled with pressure arrived right in front of him.He instinctively tried to raise his hand to activate his explosive ability, but Mark was much faster.Using the momentum, Mark drove his elbow sharply into Mr.5's chest."Ugh!"Mr.5's face turned pale instantly, as if all the color had been drained away,his body leaned backward uncontrollably, his clothes caving in where the elbow had struck his chest. His guard was completely broken, and even breathing became difficult.Mark didn't give him any chance to catch his breath. His elbow-striking hand transformed into a fist, his waist exerted force, and his fist, carrying the weight of a thousand catties, struck forward— "Crack!"The fist slammed hard into Mr.5's face, and a crisp sound of cracking bone was vaguely heard.Mr.5's sunglasses shattered instantly, shards scattering everywhere. A fountain of nosebleed gushed out, his eyes rolled back, and his body swayed limply.He didn't even have a chance to detonate his body bombs before Mark's subsequent rapid punches struck him—left hook to the side of the face, right jab to the abdomen. Each punch carried enough power, until Mr.5 collapsed completely onto the ground, motionless like a puddle of mud.Mark withdrew his hand, lightly brushing off non-existent dust, his eyes filled with obvious disdain:"You didn't even give me a chance to use a combo; what trash.""It seems you are determined to go against the Crocodile studio."Looking at the miserable state of his two companions, Mr.3's face remained emotionless, instead curling into a vicious grin, his smile filled with killing intent,"Since you are so eager to die, I'll make you all into my private collection!"He crouched down abruptly, pressing his hands to the ground. Wax instantly gushed from his palms, spreading across the ground like molten gold."Take this—Candle Lock!"Following his shout, the wax suddenly accelerated, surging toward the feet of Luffy and the others like a rising tide.Wherever it passed, even low shrubs were instantly coated in a layer of wax, turning into stiff sculptures."Don't touch the wax!"Robin's voice rang out in time, calm as a deep pool.She stood at the back of the group, her eyes fixed on the spreading wax, her hands forming seals rapidly,"Galdino's wax becomes as hard as steel; once trapped, it's hard to break free!"Before she finished speaking, countless arms emerged from the surface of the wax, spreading out densely to form a temporary "arm floor."These arms stuck closely together, just enough to block the path of the wax.Luffy, Nami, and Usopp immediately jumped onto the arms, stepping on the soft limbs, finally avoiding the entanglement of the wax.But the giant Brogy and the fallen Dorry were not so lucky—Brogy was too large, and having consumed too much stamina in the duel with Dorry, he hadn't managed to stand steady when the wax surged to his ankles like a tide;Dorry was already paralyzed on the ground due to severe injuries, and now he was firmly wrapped by the wax, unable to even move his fingers."Roar!"Brogy roared, struggling with all his might, but the wax had already begun to harden, locking his body like steel shackles. No matter how he exerted himself, the wax shell didn't move an inch.Dorry lay on the ground, gasping for air, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with unwillingness—he still wanted to make these brats who made him eat boogers pay the price; how could he be trapped like this?Mr.3 looked at the giants trapped by the wax, the smile on his lips widening.He turned to look at Robin, his eyes full of undisguised jealousy, like poison-tipped needles:"Miss All Sunday, I was wondering just now why you would be with the Straw Hat crew.I naively thought you were an undercover agent; is your current behavior an act of betrayal against the boss?""Betrayal?"Robin leaned against a massive tree, her fingertips gently tracing the rough texture of the trunk, her eyes calm and waveless, as if speaking of a trivial matter unrelated to her,"I only had a cooperative relationship with him from the beginning; who I choose to follow now is my freedom.""Nico Robin, from the day you joined us, you haven't had any freedom!"Mr.3's face suddenly twisted, his voice rising, carrying a hint of hysteria,"Do you think I haven't investigated you? Your current position should have been mine! If it weren't for you, I would have long been the most trusted person by the boss's side!""Shut up."Luffy's impatient voice interrupted Mr.3's roar.He leaped up from the arms, his body tracing an arc in the air, his arm instantly stretching, taut to the limit like a rubber band,"Gum-Gum—Pistol!"His fist, carrying a whistling wind, shot straight for Mr.3's face. The powerful force made the air itself emit a "humming" sound."Candle Wall!"Mr.3's expression changed, and he hurriedly raised his hand. The wax on the ground surged instantly, like a suddenly rising fortress wall, forming a ten-meter-high, two-meter-thick wall of wax in the blink of an eye, blocking in front of him.But Luffy's Armament Haki-infused fist was never something that could be blocked by this level of defense."Crack!"The newly formed wax wall was instantly shattered by the fist, wax chunks splashing everywhere like hail, some hitting the ground, some bouncing off nearby trees with a "bang-bang" sound."Candle Multi-Wall!"Mr.3 was completely panicked, cold sweat seeping from his forehead. He raised his hands three times in succession, and three wax walls rose one after another, stacking together like a thick barrier.This time, it finally managed to barely block Luffy's fist.He wiped the sweat from his forehead, gritting his teeth, his eyes full of wariness:"The 100 million bounty is no joke, after all... But, take this! Candle Lock!"Wax gushed from his palms, condensing into several soft candle globs in the air, whipping toward Luffy with a sound of breaking air."I can smash this kind of stuff with a flick of my hand!"Luffy grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, his arm retracting sharply and then instantly snapping out, turning into a bullet punch, crashing hard into the flying wax chains.But the next second, his smile froze, his face changing slightly:"What's going on? I can't shake it off..."Those wax chains were like living things; as soon as they touched his fist, they stuck tightly, turning into shackles. No matter how he swung his arm, he couldn't shake the wax chains off.The wax chains grew longer, even starting to coil around his arm, as if trying to bind his arm firmly.Seeing this, Mr.3 showed a smug smile on his face:"Hahaha! My wax can stick to anything; you can't escape!"He didn't give Luffy any time to react, throwing out several more wax chains, aiming directly at Luffy's body.Luffy's eyes sharpened, and he dodged the incoming wax chains. Although his arm was stuck, it didn't affect his movements:"Since I can't shake you off, I'll use your own shackles to beat you! Gum-Gum... Cannon!"He violently retracted his arm and instantly snapped it forward.His fist, weighted with the wax chains, was heavier and stronger than usual, like a real iron cannon.With a sharp whistling sound, it smashed fiercely against the three stacked wax walls."Boom!"The three wax walls were shattered one after another, wax fragments splattering everywhere.The final punch, carrying its remaining momentum, slammed heavily into Mr.3's face.Mr.3 didn't even have time to scream before his body flew out like a kite with a broken string, slamming into a giant cedar tree with a "bang" that shook the trunk.He slid down the trunk."It's not over yet!" Mr.3 roared, his eyes bloodshot. "Candle Champion! This is my strongest mode!"Wax surged from his entire body, wrapping around his limbs and torso like flowing water, even covering his head.In the blink of an eye, a heavy suit of wax armor had formed—the shoulder pads were like sharp barbs, the chest had a protruding heart-guard, and the armor on his arms and legs featured sharp edges.He looked like an iron robot, full of oppressive power.He turned his head and shouted to the woods nearby: "Miss Goldenweek! Hurry up and color me!"Only then did everyone notice a little girl wearing a Straw Hat standing at the edge of the woods.She looked only five or six years old, holding a silver tray filled with paint in one hand and a paintbrush in the other.She stood timidly behind a tree, her eyes full of nervousness, like a frightened little rabbit.Hearing Mr.3's command, she shuddered, scrambled to pick up the red paint, and swung her paintbrush vigorously.The red paint coalesced in the air into a strange symbol, resembling a flame, and landed steadily on Mr.3's armor.The originally white armor was instantly dyed a bright red, looking even more impactful, and even the edges of the armor seemed to become sharper."Wow... so cool!" Luffy looked at the red armor, his eyes instantly lighting up.The tension from just a moment ago vanished, and he even forgot he was still in a fight."Is now really the time to be excited?" Namifrowned, raised her hand, and gave Luffy a loud chop to the head."Hurry up and defeat him! Don't you see the giant is still tied up?""Ah! Right!" Luffy finally came back to his senses, rubbed his sore head, and his gaze became serious again."Strongest Fist Technique — Plow Fist!" Mr.3's voice came from inside the armor, carrying a metallic quality.He raised his arms, and the armored fists began to rotate at high speed, like two sharp wheels, causing the surrounding air to whistle.He charged fiercely toward Luffy, the weight of the armor pressing two deep tracks into the ground beneath his feet, crushing even the gravel into powder.Instead of retreating, Luffy advanced.He took a deep breath, and his arm was instantly covered in a layer of black Armament Haki, as if plated with steel."Gum-Gum... Armament Heavy Punch!"He charged towards the rotating fists and landed a precise punch on the heart-guard on Mr.3's chest."Crack!" A crisp shattering sound rang out.The red heart-guard instantly cracked, and the fissure spread, causing the entire heart-guard to shatter completely, sending fragments flying.Mr.3's body stumbled backward uncontrollably, and much of the red paint on his armor fell off, revealing the white base underneath."No! Impossible! This is colored, its hardness is comparable to steel!" Mr.3's face went pale, his voice full of disbelief.He hurriedly retreated and waved his hands, "Wax Dolls!"The wax on the ground instantly rose up, forming dozens of wax dolls identical to him in the blink of an eye—from the details of the armor to the expressions on their faces, they were exactly like the real Mr.3.These wax dolls surrounded Mr.3, blocking his figure like a wall."How about that? Can you find the real me?" Mr.3 hid behind the wax dolls, his voice filled with smug laughter."Even if you break all the wax dolls, you won't find me! By then, I'll be able to turn you all into wax statues one by one!"Mark stood to the side, helplessly rubbing his forehead, unable to help but complain internally: In terms of Devil Fruit ability development, Mr.3 really had some skill—single-target control, wide-range attacks, arming himself, confusing opponents, and even creating things out of thin air.If he had Armament Haki fused with his fruit ability like Katakuri, he would definitely be at the level of a Yonko Commander.It's a pity, though; as he is now, he doesn't even know Haki.Trying to deal with Luffy is just asking for trouble.Sure enough, Luffy looked at the dense crowd of wax dolls and frowned impatiently: "Making so many fakes, what a pain!"He took a deep breath, and his arms began to rotate rapidly, causing the surrounding air to form a small whirlwind."Gum-Gum... Gatling!"Countless fist shadows sprang from Luffy's arms, raining down on the wax dolls like raindrops.Some wax dolls had their heads smashed in, others had their bodies shattered, and wax fragments splattered everywhere."Bang!" Just then, a "wax doll" that had just poked its head out of the bushes was hit hard in the face by a fist.This "wax doll's" nose was instantly crooked, nosebleeds streamed out, its eyes rolled back, and its body collapsed softly to the ground—it wasn't made of wax; it was the real Mr.3!It turned out that while the wax dolls were attracting attention, he had snuck around to the back of the bushes, intending to ambush Luffy, but was discovered the moment he poked his head out.Mr.3 lay on the ground, his armor shattered everywhere, wax flowing from his body onto the ground, completely unconscious."Next is just you, little lady." Mark turned to look at Miss Goldenweek, who was still trembling, his eyes carrying a hint of complexity.He had read the manga and knew about Miss Goldenweek's ability—concept-based emotional manipulation.As long as you were hit by her paint, no matter how strong you were, your emotions would be manipulated.Even Haki couldn't defend against it, unless your willpower was extremely strong.But this child looked quite innocent, and there was no malice in her eyes like there was in Mr.3 and the others.Robin had already stepped forward.She walked up to Miss Goldenweek, moved her hands slightly, and countless flower-like arms emerged from the ground, gently holding down Miss Goldenweek's paintbrush.Whenever Miss Goldenweek tried to draw a symbol on the ground, the flower arms would promptly wipe away the paint, leaving not even a trace.Miss Goldenweek tried several times—first, she wanted to draw the "Betrayal Black" symbol to make everyone lose their fighting ability; then she wanted to draw the "Green Leisure" symbol to make everyone lie flat; but every time she was halfway through drawing, the paint was wiped away by the flower arms.After several attempts, her eyes turned red, tears swirled, and the paintbrush in her hand dropped to the ground.She looked at Robin's calm eyes, then at her defeated companions, and finally slumped to the ground, her voice small and tearful: "I... I surrender."With this, the Baroque Works squad was completely defeated, and the conflict between the Straw Hat and Crocodile's organization shifted from "no conflict of interest" to a complete break—the next time they met, it would be a fight to the death.Just then, heavy footsteps came from afar, accompanied by Sanji's voice: "Huh? What happened here? Why is there so much wax?"Everyone turned to look and saw Sanji dragging a giant Crocodile over—this Crocodile was even bigger than the Tyrannosaurus they had caught earlier, its tail spanning over ten meters long.It was now lifeless, its body still twitching slightly.Sanji had sweat on his forehead and his suit was covered in dirt, but he didn't forget to straighten his tie, maintaining his gentlemanly appearance."Wow! Sanji! This Crocodile is huge! So much meat!" Luffy was instantly attracted by the creature, his eyes shining, the exhaustion from the battle just now wiped away, and he even threw the matter of explaining to the back of his mind."Nothing much, some people from Baroque Workscaused trouble, and we just beat them up."Mark said lightly, pointing to the unconscious people on the ground."The giant has been rescued, and the fruit ability has already started to wear off."Brogy had already helped Dorry up at this point and was removing the remaining wax blocks from his body."Sanji, did you get anything?" Nami looked at Sanji, her eyes full of anticipation."Nami-san, Robin-san, have you missed me while I was gone?"As soon as Sanji saw Nami and Robin, he immediately put on a lovesick face, his eyes turning into heart shapes, and his tone became gentle."I've been thinking about you every moment, even when I was catching the Crocodile. I just wish you could have seen my heroic figure defeating the Crocodile.""Cut the crap, tell me what you got!" Nami was already immune to Sanji's flirtatiousness.She raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of threat."Ah! Strict Nami-san is also so cute!"Sanji then composed his expression, straightened his tie, and laughed triumphantly: "I had a big harvest this time—I was in a wax house, and I spoke with the boss of Baroque Works, Mr.0, who is Crocodile.""What? You talked to a Shichibukai?"Nami's expression changed, and she hurriedly asked, "What did he say? Is he going to continue trying to kill us? Did he say anything about his next plan?""Hehe, clever as I am, how could I be stumped by him?"Sanji patted his chest, pulled a silver eternal posefrom his pocket, and presented it to Nami like a treasure."Not only did I fool Crocodile by saying the Straw Hat had been taken care of, but I also got this from the subordinate he sent—an eternal pose to Alabasta!""Sanji, you're so reliable! This is the biggest harvest!"Nami's eyes lit up instantly.She took the eternal pose, examined it over and over again, and after confirming it was real, she even winked at Sanji, "I'll give you an extra chicken leg tonight!""Nami-san..." Sanji instantly blushed, looking like he had lost his soul.The Crocodile leash in his hand dropped to the ground, and he kept muttering "Nami-san's wink," floating away in a daze."With this eternal pose, we don't have to wait here for a year!"Nami gripped the eternal pose, her tone excited."I was worried about how to fill the magnetic force, but now it's fine, we can set off for Alabastatomorrow!""Great! We can go to a new place!"Luffy cheered and jumped up, even picking up a small stone nearby and throwing it hard into the air."Sanji's assist this time is definitely MVP material."Mark said with a smile, his eyes carrying a hint of appreciation—he hadn't expected Sanji to not only catch a delicious Crocodile but also fool a Shichibukai, and most importantly, get the eternal pose.He was certainly clever enough."What's an MVP?"Usopp scratched his head, looking puzzled.He was just about to ask for clarification when he suddenly remembered something, and his expression changed."By the way, has anyone seen Zoro? I haven't seen him since we split up this morning!"Only then did everyone realize that Zoro was indeed missing.Meanwhile, in another part of the forest in Small Garden, Zoro stood in a messy clearing, smashing his fist fiercely against a huge oak tree.With a "crack," a deep fist print appeared on the trunk, and bark fragments flew everywhere.The veins on his forehead bulged, and he gritted his teeth, his voice full of rage: "Damn it! I've circled this tree a dozen times! How the hell do I get back!"He held a broken branch in his hand, originally intending to make a mark, but he had long since thrown the branch away and couldn't find it.A small dinosaur nearby looked at him curiously, and he glared at it: "What are you looking at! Keep looking and I'll turn you into barbecue!"The little dinosaur was so scared it turned and ran, disappearing in the blink of an eye.Zoro took a deep breath, looked at the identical forest all around him again, and despairingly covered his face: "Maybe I should just flatten the whole island!..."In the distance, the laughter of the Straw Hat could be heard faintly, while the lost swordsman was still in the jungle of Small Garden, engaged in an endless struggle with the issue of "not being able to find the way."
Chapter 48: Hurricane and ProtectionThe going merry had been sailing away from Small Garden for half a day.The sea breeze, carrying the lingering heat of the tropical island, made the canvas on the deck sway gently."Elbaf! One day, I'm definitely going there—the village of warriors!"Usopp clutched his binoculars, staring at the horizon in the distance.This was the third time he'd blurted that out today.Luffy draped his arm over Usopp's shoulder, the two of them hopping across the deck with chaotic, mismatched steps.They kept chanting a strange melody of "Elbaf...", looking for all the world like two lizards dancing on scorching sand."That's an eyesore." Mark emerged from the lounge, holding a steaming cup of coffee.He caught the scene the moment he looked up and hurriedly covered his eyes with one hand.He didn't forget to nudge his coffee cup closer to his body with his fingertips, terrified of being splashed by their "chuunibyou virus."He quickly scurried over to a lounge chair by the railing and curled up.Turning his side to the sea, he muttered to himself: "Even if I act a bit cringey sometimes, it's just for a joke. If I actually had to dance like that, I'd be so embarrassed I'd probably dig a hole in the deck.""Why do I have to be the one to divide the meat?!" Zoro's muffled roar suddenly exploded from the stern.He was standing on a wooden board over ten meters long, tied to the stern of the going merrywith thick hemp ropes.It hung swaying above the sea, piled high with the prey hunted in Small Garden—most of which he had slashed while getting lost.Mark's storage space was already stuffed with Small Garden's specialty fruits and spices.As for the remaining meat, he had suggested turning it into cured meat and sausages: after all, the upcoming voyage was long and uncertain, and food that could be stored at room temperature was always a safe bet."You still have the nerve to ask?!" Sanji stood on the aft balcony.With his plaid shirt draped over the railing, he stood with one hand on his hip, shouting at Zoro below.His golden hair was whipped about by the sea breeze, and flames seemed to flicker in his eyes."You didn't take down a single enemy in Small Garden, but you managed to hack up an old, tough dinosaur for ingredients!""And you delayed our departure because everyone had to look for you, you lost-cause moss-head!""Doing this little chore counts as a trivial form of compensation."Zoro rubbed his mossy head awkwardly and glanced toward the cabin.He muttered, "That's not my fault; all the trees on the island look the same.""Cut it into smaller pieces! It won't cure properly if it's this thick!" Zoro bent down and grabbed a chunk of wild boar meat.With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it precisely to Sanji.The latter, wearing gloves, was rubbing sea salt in handfuls onto the meat in a large wooden tub.He worked with great efficiency; as the salt grains hit the meat, blood began to seep out quickly."Color-changing kappa, one day I'm going to slice you into sashimi!" Zoro spat out unhappily.Suddenly, he lifted his foot and kicked the giant wild boar carcass at his feet into the air.The cold gleam of wado ichimonji flashed, followed by a few "swish, swish" sounds.In an instant, the wild boar was divided into dozens of uniform chunks, with bones and meat clearly separated.This wasn't just processing ingredients; he was clearly venting his frustration through work—he was still fuming about getting lost in Small Garden and hacking up the wrong food."These guys really have endless energy." Nami sat on the stairs leading to the second floor.Clutching the eternal pose and the sea chart, her voice sounded weary.Her complexion was much paler than usual.Even her orange hair, which usually shone like a little sun, lay limp against her cheeks."It would be truly troublesome if they lost that energy one day." Robin walked over with a smile.She held an old book in her hand, and with a gentle flick of her fingertips, the power of the Hana Hana no Mi activated.Several slender arms appeared out of thin air beside Sanji.They steadily took the meat he had cured and transported it into the storage room.Then, they skillfully hung it on the pre-prepared iron wires, the movements as fluid as if practiced a thousand times."Robin, could you help me check the pose?" Namibraced herself against the stair railing, trying to stand up.As soon as she straightened her back, she swayed, her voice weak."I feel a bit dizzy; I've probably been staying up too late and haven't rested well."Robin hurried over and took the eternal pose she handed over.The moment her fingertips touched Nami's hand, it was like touching a reef soaked in morning mist—chillingly cold.Even though the sun was blazing on the sea, there was a thin layer of sweat congealing on her palms."Your complexion is terrible. Are you feeling unwell?" Robin crouched down.She reached out and touched her forehead; the temperature was shockingly hot. "You're burning up; do you have a fever?""I'm fine, I'll just rest a..." Nami didn't finish her sentence.Suddenly, everything went black, her body went limp as if all her strength had been drained away.She fell straight down toward the stairs.Robin was quick-witted and caught her back before she hit the ground.She immediately scooped her up and rushed toward the second-floor room, her voice full of urgency.Even her usually calm tone had changed. "Everyone! It's bad, Nami has fainted!""What?!" Everyone's nerves tightened instantly.Luffy was the first to spring up from the deck, his rubber legs leaving two shallow indentations on the deck as he ran straight to the second floor.Usopp followed Luffy up, muttering "Nami, please be okay."Sanji tossed the salt jar in his hand into the wooden tub.He didn't even bother to grab his coat, turning and running to the stairs, his golden hair flying wildly in the wind.Even Zoro jumped up from the wooden board, the look in his eyes beneath his mossy green hair unusually tense.He caught up to the others in a few strides, the action of sheathing his sword even faster than usual.Nami's room wasn't large, and the bedside was quickly crowded.Robin retrieved a thermometer from the medical kit and carefully placed it under Nami's arm.Everyone waited for that tiny glass tube, not daring to breathe.Luffy, for once, wasn't making any noise, just squatting by the bed.Everyone stared blankly at Nami's furrowed brows, their hearts feeling as panicked as if scratched by a cat.A moment later, Robin gently pulled out the thermometer, pinching the edge with her fingertips.The mercury column had stopped at the forty-degree mark, glaringly red."Forty... forty degrees." Her voice sounded tight."Forty degrees? Is that very high?" Luffy scratched his head, looking at Usopp with a blank expression.He had never been sick since he was a child and had no concept of body temperature."I... I only know that colds cause coughing! Forty degrees... just hearing that sounds scary!" Usopp's voice was wavering."Forty degrees is a high fever, very serious." Robinwrung out a towel soaked in cold water.She gently applied it to Nami's forehead, her brows knitted tightly."Normal human body temperature is only thirty-six to thirty-seven degrees. Forty degrees is enough to damage the body.""If we don't find a doctor, there could be a risk to her life.""What?! Nami's life is in danger?!" Luffy suddenly grabbed Mark's shoulders.His grip was so strong it almost crushed the bone. "Mark! You must have a way, right?""You know so many things, you can definitely cure Nami!""Mark, if you need any help, just say it! Even if I have to go to the bottom of the sea to find medicine, I'll go!" Sanji clenched his fists, his eyes full of sincerity.Mark took a deep breath, suppressing the panic in his heart—he wasn't a doctor.The medicine in his space was mostly for external injuries, but he couldn't panic now."I'm not a doctor, but we must lower Nami's temperature for emergency relief!""Everyone, listen to me—" He looked at Robin, his tone as steady as possible."Robin, help Nami change into loose cotton clothes.""Use warm towels to wipe her neck, underarms, and thighs; these areas can temporarily lower her body temperature.""Don't use ice water; it will shock her."Robin nodded immediately. "Okay."Mark turned to Sanji. "The willow branches with the greenish-brown bark that we used for skewers last time.""Is there any left in the kitchen?""Yes! There's a bundle left in the locker! How do I prepare it?" Sanji's eyes lit up.His golden hair whipped, and he turned to run to the kitchen."Don't rush, listen to me first." Mark held him back."Peel off the willow bark, wash it clean, cut it into small sections, and boil it in water for ten minutes.""Let it cool down and feed it to Nami in small, frequent amounts. Willow bark has ingredients similar to fever reducers; it can work as an emergency measure.""But it treats the symptoms, not the root cause.""Got it! It'll definitely be boiled within ten minutes!" Sanji's figure vanished instantly at the stairwell, leaving only a hurried response."Let's all go out and let Robin change Nami's clothes." Mark said, pulling up Luffy and Usopp who were still trying to crowd around the bed."Nami needs air circulation; too many people is bad. Leave it to Robin.""We'll stand guard outside and close the door behind us.""By the way, who is watching the ship? The going merry can't be left unattended.""Zoro." Usopp pointed to the railing.Everyone turned to look. Zoro was leaning against the railing, his sword sheath propped against the deck.His gaze was locked on that chubby cumulus cloud on the horizon—wherever the cloud drifted, he adjusted the tension of the sail ropes from time to time, but his ears were pricked straight.Clearly, he was more worried about Nami's condition than anyone else.Just as they reached the door, Zoro spoke without turning his head. "Calm seas, the ship is moving in a straight line, no deviation.""How do you know it's a straight line?" Mark raised an eyebrow—he knew about Zoro's sense of direction."Just stare at that cloud, isn't that enough?" Zorosaid matter-of-factly.Mark rubbed his forehead, looking at the cloud being pushed slowly by the sea breeze.He silently prayed: "Please don't drift too fast, or we'll go off course again."Just then, Nami's voice came from the room.It was weak, as if she had no strength, but it carried a navigator's stubbornness. "Robin, let me see the pose... just one look."She had clearly heard the conversation outside the door, even if she was feverish and delirious.She hadn't forgotten her duties as a navigator."You're still running a fever, you should rest properly." Robin hesitated.She touched her forehead again; it was still burning hot."Just one look, and then I'll sleep..." Nami frowned.Her fingers fumbled on the quilt, as if looking for the familiar pose.Robin had no choice but to bring the eternal posefrom the table.She gently placed it in her hand. Nami gripped the pose and looked at it with half-open eyes.Fortunately, it wasn't too far off course. She said again, "Robin, open the door a crack, I want to check the weather..."Robin complied and pushed the door open a small gap.The next second, Nami suddenly reacted as if pricked by a needle.She abruptly propped herself up on Robin's arm and rushed out the door barefoot.Her orange hair was messy, but her eyes were exceptionally clear. "The air is wrong!"She stood at the doorway, raising her hand to feel the wind, her brows knitting tighter and tighter.Her fingers moved rapidly in the air, as if calculating. "The humidity in the wind is too high, and it's fluctuating between hot and cold.""The air pressure is dropping—no good! Act fast! Hard to starboard! Get out of this sea area immediately!""If we're any later, it'll be too late!"No one asked why. Trust in Nami was already carved into everyone's bones.Usopp was the first to rush down the stairs, grabbing the steering wheel, the muscles in his arms tensing up.He turned it hard to the right, the wooden wheel creaking "creak, creak."Mark and Zoro rushed over at the same time to pull the sail ropes; even though the thick hemp ropes chafed their palms red, they didn't let go.Luffy jumped onto the stern, his rubber arm stretching out with a "swish."He wrapped it around the thick hemp rope tying the wooden board and pulled hard—with a "bang," the rope snapped in two, and the wooden board, carrying the remaining meat scraps, fell into the sea.It was instantly swept away by the waves.With everyone's cooperation, the going merry tilted sharply to the right.The canvas was filled by the wind, and their speed increased instantly.It wasn't until the ship had sailed several hundred meters away from that sea area that Nami let out a long sigh of relief.Her body went limp, and she happened to fall into the arms of Robin, who had rushed over to support her.Closing her eyes, she fainted again.Robin quickly helped her back to bed and reapplied the towel.Following Mark's instructions, she carefully wiped her neck and underarms with a warm towel, her movements as gentle as if caring for a fragile treasure."Quick, look, what is that?!" Usopp suddenly pointed at the distant sea, his voice trembling.He could barely hold the binoculars in his hand.Everyone looked in the direction he pointed—on the previously clear sea surface.A mass of dark air currents suddenly surged, like ink spilled on blue cloth, expanding larger and larger.The seawater was churned upward, forming a black tornado reaching the sky.Even the sunlight was completely blocked, and waves dozens of meters high lashed the sea.Just looking at it made one's scalp tingle. If they hadn't turned the rudder just now, the going merrywould have been shredded to pieces long ago."That was close..." Zoro stared at the column of wind, his Adam's apple bobbing.He gripped his sword sheath a little tighter. "As expected of Nami, she could sense this in advance.""We escaped with our lives!" Luffy touched the back of his head and smiled luckily.But as he laughed, his expression turned serious again. He turned to look at the second-floor room.His voice was firm. "We absolutely cannot let anything happen to Nami! We must find a doctor as soon as possible!""No matter which island it is, as long as there's a doctor, we'll go!"Mark nodded and took out the Grand Line map, which marked the nearby islands. "Nami is our most important navigator.""Without her, we wouldn't have made it this far. Sailing southeast for two days should lead to the Drum Kingdom.""The map marks it as a major medical nation; it must have excellent doctors and advanced medical technology."At this moment, Sanji walked over with a bowl of brewed willow bark water.The bitter scent drifted in the wind. He saw the tornado in the distance and was stunned.He hurried over to the group. "How is it? Is Nami-san any better?""Thanks to Nami's timely warning, otherwise we'd all be fish food!" Usopp patted his chest.Still shaken, "Quickly feed the medicine to Nami; she has a high fever."Sanji nodded and carefully carried the bowl toward the second floor.His footsteps were extremely light, for fear of waking Nami.Everyone watched his back, then looked at the gradually shrinking tornado in the distance.Their eyes became determined—no matter what they encountered next, they must make Nami get better.Luffy leaned against the ship's railing, looking at the sea, and suddenly raised his fist. "Full speed ahead to the Drum Kingdom.""Hang in there, Nami. Once you're better, we'll continue our adventure!"Robin sat by Nami's bed, gently tucking her sweat-dampened hair behind her ear with her fingers.Looking at her flushed cheeks, her voice was as soft as the sea breeze. "Don't worry! We'll find a doctor soon.""Everyone is waiting for you to get better."The sea breeze blew gently across the deck of the going merry, and the white canvas shone brightly in the sunlight.It sailed steadily toward the southeast.