Chapter 59: Mark vs. SmokerThe air in the restaurant seemed frozen—the customers who had been crowding around Ace to watch the excitement had long since scattered and fled, driven away by the tense atmosphere between the two. Wooden tables and chairs were knocked over in every direction.The hot desert wind seeped in through the cracks in the door, sweeping across the restaurant's wooden floor and swirling up the scattered fine sand into small waves that rolled along the ground.The white mist swirling between Smoker's fingers exuded a chill, drifting into the surroundings in thin strands; the flickering orange-red flames around Ace's body were wrapped in scorching heat waves, causing the air to warp slightly. As the two opposing forces of hot and cold collided, even the fine sand floating in the air seemed pinned in place, suspended mid-air, not daring to fall."So, you've made up your mind to make a move?" Ace slowly turned around, the soles of his boots grinding against the broken porcelain on the floor with a faint "clack" sound.He raised his right hand, his index finger lightly flicking the brim of his cowboy hat. The wide-brimmed hat lifted an inch, revealing his eyes hidden in the shadows—the corners of his eyes still carried a hint of nonchalant weariness.Smoker's gaze was fixed intently on Ace, the white mist coiling more densely in his palm, almost solidifying: "I am a Marine, and you are a pirate. Do you think I should let you go?"His voice was low but carried a firm edge, every word spoken with powerful conviction."Let me go? Heh..." Ace suddenly let out a low chuckle, tinged with a bit of mockery. The next second, he stood up abruptly, the flames around him surging upward with a "whoosh." Orange-red tongues of fire shot up half a meter high, causing the surrounding tables and chairs to emit a faint "sizzling" sound from the heat.Conqueror's Haki surged from him like a tide, making the air feel heavy. "If I can't even beat someone my little brother defeated... just thinking about that guy picking his nose and mocking me for being pathetic gives me the chills!""Straw Hat Luffy... is your brother?" Smoker's pupils suddenly contracted."That's right. If you're still going to be relentless, I'm going to get serious." As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and a spark landed on the ground, instantly burning a small black spot before quickly going out."The justice I carry will not allow me to take a single step back." Smoker glanced around the empty restaurant and then looked out the window—though the customers had fled, the town was still there. If he truly fought this monster, the entire town would be burned through.He gritted his teeth and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. As the smoke dissipated, his tone softened slightly, yet remained stubborn: "Do you dare? No Devil Fruit powers, just physical combat—fight me."These words were somewhat unexpected. He sat back down on the stool, crossing his legs, his cowboy boots swaying, his tone full of disdain:"Do I dare? You probably haven't figured out the situation. You haven't even mastered Haki, yet you dare to challenge me in physical combat? You've lost from the very beginning."Boom!A loud explosion erupted as the wooden door of the restaurant was kicked open. Wood chips mixed with dust flew everywhere, and even the roof tiles shook, rattling as they fell.Luffy's voice emerged from the smoke, shouting with a bit of confusion: "Mark! Why did you kick the door? Couldn't you have just pushed it open!""Cough, cough... I learned this from old man Garp! It's called 'Aura.' Do you understand Aura!?" Mark's voice carried a hint of obvious embarrassment.He had originally wanted to imitate Garp by kicking the door open to look cool, but he was immediately exposed by Luffy as soon as he appeared, making his ears turn a bit hot.He raised his hand to wave away the dust in front of him, a faint white light glowing in his palm—his Cleaning Ability activated, and the wood chips and dust filling the air were instantly decomposed, making the air much fresher.As for how the two found this place—earlier, Robin's comment about "becoming a mummy if we stay thirsty any longer" had sent Mark into a panic.He pulled out the vivre card he carried and expanded his Observation Haki. In less than half an hour, he found Luffy dozing in a sand pile.After gulping down ten bottles of water and stuffing himself with fifty meat buns, Luffy was instantly "revived." Then, after receiving a "Fist of Love" from Mark on the head, he finally remembered Mark's vivre card. Mark then brought him here to treat his big brother Ace to a meal; after all, it didn't sound good for his big brother to be known for dining and dashing everywhere he went.Now, Mark sat on an empty stool in an informal posture—one leg stretched out on the floor, pant leg rolled up to the knee, revealing a fair ankle;The other leg was curled up with his foot on the stool's crossbar, his knee held high. His shoulders were relaxed, his hand rested on his knee, and his fingers lightly tapped his pant leg. His gaze swept nonchalantly over Smoker, his tone teasing:"I heard from Luffy that since they were kids, he's never won a single physical match against Ace. Smoke-man, if you compete with Ace, aren't you just asking for humiliation?""Ace! Long time no see!" Luffy had already put Smoker out of his mind, standing at the door with a grin so wide it almost reached the back of his neck."Still the same as ever, never letting anyone stop worrying." Ace looked at Luffy, the corners of his mouth twitching upward slightly. He stood up and extended his right hand, walking slowly toward Luffy—each step steady, his boots making a solid sound on the floor.Luffy also immediately reached out, and their palms slapped together in the air with a "clap," full of force. They then gripped each other's hands tightly; without needing to say a word, years of brotherhood were contained in that strike and grip."Yo, you've even learned Armament Haki? You've grown pretty fast." Ace looked at the black Armament Haki covering Luffy's hand, his expression twisting slightly—he intentionally added some force to test Luffy's limits."You're not bad either!" Luffy's expression also twisted, the force in his palm not diminishing at all. "I saw your message on Drum Island and set out with my crew that same night. It's been a very interesting journey!"As soon as he finished speaking, both applied force simultaneously—the Armament Haki on their arms surged, a black Aura wrapping around both limbs as they vied for dominance. The "creak-creak" sound of wrist bones was exceptionally clear in the quiet restaurant; they were actually arm wrestling."Are you guys... ignoring me a bit too much?" Smoker's anger could no longer be contained, exploding like a volcano.He gripped his Jitte, the fire in his eyes almost bursting out, his teeth grinding with a "creak"—he, a dignified Marine Headquarters Captain, was actually being treated as thin air by three pirates. This was an absolute disgrace!Mark didn't even lift his head, his leg still propped up, his tone lazy: "You're not exactly our type, so why should we pay attention to you? Besides, we don't want to look at you at all."Crack!The crisp sound of wood splintering suddenly erupted! Smoker could no longer hold back. He suddenly snatched up the Jitte beside him and swung his arm. The Jitte whistled through the air, cleaving down fiercely toward Mark's head—this strike was fast and ruthless, the tip of the Jitteglinting with a cold light as if it were going to split Mark's head in two!Mark, however, had anticipated it. He didn't even stand up; he just shifted his center of gravity slightly, his left foot sliding lightly on the floor. His body moved half a meter to the side like a fish, narrowly dodging the strike.With a "bang," the Jitte slammed into the stool Markhad been sitting on. The solid wood stool was instantly smashed into fragments, wood chips flying, and pieces hitting the wall, leaving a shallow mark."Monkey D. Moxing is truly arrogant enough!" Smoker pointed his Jitte at Mark, his arm held perfectly straight. White mist began to coil around him again, his eyes filled with ferocity."You're probably the one who's most confused about the situation!" Mark patted the wood chips off himself and spoke nonchalantly."Then let me see the capital of your arrogance." With that, his body tensed like a leopard, ready to strike at any moment!Ace was about to step forward, but Luffy reached out to stop him. Luffy shook his head and whispered, "Mark is very strong, let him do it himself!"Ace raised an eyebrow, looked at Mark, and then back at Luffy, a playful smile curling at his lips. "Oh? Then I'd like to see what kind of skills your Vice Captain actually has."He glanced around the restaurant, a ball of fire suddenly flickering at his fingertip. With a light flick of his wrist, the fire instantly spread out, forming a circular ring of fire ten meters in diameter—The flames of the fire ring were a full half-meter high, the orange-red tongues of fire licking the air, instantly incinerating the surrounding tables and chairs into ash, leaving not even a spark. The fire ring happened to trap Mark and Smoker in the middle, forming a natural arena."An arena prepared for you." Ace turned and walked to the bar, sitting on a high stool. He propped his hands on the edge of the bar, leaning back slightly, watching the two inside the fire ring lazily. "No fruit abilities, whoever leaves the ring loses. How about it?""Suits me fine!" Smoker and Mark spoke almost simultaneously. Before their voices faded, they both kicked off the ground—with a "bang," the floor was marked with two shallow scratches from their soles, and two figures rushed toward each other like arrows released from a bow!AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteSmoker made the first move. He exerted force through the arm holding the Jitte, and the tip of the Jitte whistled through the air, slashing straight down toward Monkey D. Moxing's head—this strike was his signature move, fast and ruthless, intended to leverage his weapon's advantage to suppress Monkey D. Moxing immediately.But Monkey D. Moxing advanced instead of retreating. Utilizing the momentum, he leaned slightly forward and slid his left foot across the floor, executing a standard forward slide—his movement was as fast as an afterimage, his shoulder perfectly impacting the wrist Smoker used to hold the Jitte.Smoker's downward force collided with the thrusting power from Monkey D. Moxing's shoulder; the two forces clamped onto his wrist like hammers. He felt his wrist go numb, and the strength of his strike instantly dissipated by more than half.The Jitte fell to the ground with a "clang," sliding a long distance across the floor until it hit the edge of the circle of fire, where it was scorched by the flames, emitting a "sizzle" sound.Before Smoker could recover, Monkey D. Moxingfollowed up—he twisted his waist sharply, his back acting like an iron plate, pressing firmly against Smoker's chest. This was the opening stance of the Baji Quan "Tie Shan Kao," which emphasizes "striking from close range with power that pierces to the bone."Immediately after, Monkey D. Moxing's right heel ground fiercely into the floor with a "thud," causing cracks to spread half a meter instantly—leveraging the recoil from his foot, the power from his entire body surged up along his spine, concentrated into his left shoulder, which then slammed backward with explosive force!"Ugh!" Smoker groaned, feeling as if his abdomen had been struck by a piece of red-hot iron. A massive force surged upward from his stomach, causing his blood to churn and making it difficult to breathe.His body leaned forward uncontrollably, and he stumbled backward; with every step, he left a shallow crater in the floor.Monkey D. Moxing did not give him a chance to catch his breath. Using the inertia from his turn, he spun around, bent his right hand into an uppercut stance, and swung toward Smoker's chin. Smokerinstinctively tilted his head back to dodge—he thought Monkey D. Moxing was aiming for his chin, but that was exactly Monkey D. Moxing's plan.Monkey D. Moxing's uppercut was merely a feint. He quickly reached over with his left hand, gripped his right wrist, and pulled back sharply—leveraging the elastic recoil, his entire body's strength twisted into a single rope, surging along his arm to his elbow.His body was as fast as lightning, driving his elbow toward Smoker's chest—this was the Baji Quan"Ding Xin Zhou," a short-range strike that is fierce, swift, and specifically targets an enemy's vitals!Smoker had no time to react. Just as he tilted his head to dodge the "uppercut," he felt a tightness in his chest, and the elbow landed solidly against his heart.With a "pfft," he couldn't help but exhale a breath of stale air, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string. He retreated five full steps before bracing his hands on the ground, barely managing to steady himself.His heels were already grazing the edge of the circle of fire, the orange-red flames nearly singeing his pant cuffs; if he had retreated even half a step more, he would have lost."Good... good lad..." Smoker clutched his chest and slowly stood up. His face was pale, his breathing ragged, and a dull pain radiated from his chest, as if countless needles were pricking him.He knew he had underestimated this pirate Vice Captain—with this level of martial arts, he stood no chance in close-quarters combat.But Smoker did not intend to concede. He gritted his teeth, kicked off the floor, and his body instantly transformed into an afterimage—Marine Six Powers"Soru"! He would win through speed, moving around Monkey D. Moxing within the circle of fire to find an opening; as long as he could seize one chance, he could turn the tables!Monkey D. Moxing's gaze instantly turned sharp. He expanded his Observation Haki, and Smoker's trajectory became perfectly clear in his mind—the force of every kick, the direction of every turn, none of it could escape his perception.Seeing Smoker's fist whistling through the air toward his cheek, Monkey D. Moxing tilted his head slightly. The fist grazed his ear, the resulting gust of wind blowing his long black hair into the air.Immediately after, Smoker's right leg lifted sharply, kicking toward Monkey D. Moxing's abdomen—this was a "front snap kick," full of power; if hit, even with Armament Haki defense, he would be sent flying out of the circle of fire.Monkey D. Moxing shifted his body slightly to the side, quickly raising his right hand to block Smoker's ankle with his forearm. With a "bang," their forces collided. Monkey D. Moxing felt his arm go numb, but he still blocked the strike steadily.Before Smoker could retract his leg, Monkey D. Moxing's counterattack arrived—he lifted his left leg into the air, toes pointed, and kicked toward Smoker's cheek. This was a "roundhouse kick," the force of the leg wind fierce.Smoker hurriedly tilted his head to dodge while blocking with his arm. With a "slap," Monkey D. Moxing's toes struck his forearm, producing a dull sound.Smoker utilized the reaction force from the block to spin in place, throwing a "haymaker"—he saw Monkey D. Moxing still in mid-air, thinking it was an opening, and wanted to seize this chance to punch Monkey D. Moxing out of the circle.But he didn't know that this was an opening deliberately exposed by Monkey D. Moxing.While in mid-air, Monkey D. Moxing suddenly exerted force from his waist and abdomen, bending his body backward like a folding rule—the move was extremely difficult; his back nearly touched his own legs. Smoker's fist grazed the tip of his nose, the wind of the punch close enough to brush his eyelashes.Just as the fist was about to miss, Monkey D. Moxing twisted his waist and hips sharply, the strength of his entire body transmitting from his waist and hips to his right leg. His right leg, like a steel whip, lashed out fiercely toward Smoker's left cheek!"Snap!" The crisp sound of impact echoed through the restaurant. Smoker felt a sharp pain in his left cheek, as if struck by an iron plate, and his body stumbled to the side uncontrollably for two steps, his hand nearly touching the floor.He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to steady his body with all his strength, and clenched his fists, wanting to launch another attack—but his head was spinning, and his vision was slightly blurred; that kick had disrupted his internal energy.Monkey D. Moxing did not give him a chance to adjust. Using the reaction force from the kick, he spun his body in the air and stepped his right foot onto Smoker's left face—the step was steady and precise. Using Smoker's face as a pivot point, he instantly vaulted into the air.Immediately after, he bent his knees and then straightened them violently, his heels bringing immense force as he slammed down onto Smoker's back—this move was the "Battle Axe" he learned from Luffy, but he had added Baji Quan striking techniques, making the force even more fierce than Luffy's!"Bang!" A loud noise exploded. Smoker's back took the hit squarely; he felt as if his back had been struck by a mountain, his bones on the verge of shattering, and his body plummeted uncontrollably—with a "crack."He smashed a large crater into the floor, with gravel and wood splinters flying. Half his body was buried in the pit, and the Jitte lay nearby, but he no longer had the strength to pick it up.He lay in the pit, his chest heaving violently, gasping for air, unable to even lift his hand.The battle was over.The flames in the circle gradually subsided, the orange-red glow illuminating Smoker at the bottom of the pit and Monkey D. Moxing standing at the edge—Monkey D. Moxing's breathing was also slightly rapid, fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples, but his eyes remained clear. He looked down at Smoker, his tone flat: "You lost."Ace jumped down from the bar, flicked his fingertips, and the circle of fire instantly extinguished, leaving only a faint ring of scorch marks.Luffy glanced at them indifferently, then walked toward the door, leaving the pale-faced Smoker in the pit.Monkey D. Moxing pulled out a thick stack of Berries, placed them on the bar, shouted "Thanks for the meal" into the room, and followed.Upon reaching the door, he suddenly stopped, looked back at Smoker still stuck in the pit, and said in a flat tone: "Smokey, let me give you a piece of advice—Crocodile wants to overthrow Alabasta. If you have time to chase us, you'd be better off investigating him."Having said that, he didn't look back and followed Ace and Luffy out of the restaurant. As for whether Smoker would listen or what would happen to Alabasta, he didn't care.—They were pirates, not saints; giving a warning was already doing more than enough. Of course, there was also a small selfish motive—letting the Marine fight Crocodile might just shake off this tag-along, letting them "fight like dogs" while he and his companions could have some peace.Inside the restaurant, only Smoker remained lying in the pit, Monkey D. Moxing's words echoing in his ears. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms—Crocodile? That Shichibukai? He had indeed heard that the other party was frequently active in Alabasta, but he hadn't thought about "overthrowing the country." Could it be... that he had been chasing the wrong target all along?Sunlight shone in from the shattered doorway, falling onto Smoker. He slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with complexity—should he continue chasing the pirates, or go investigate Crocodile? This choice seemed harder than he had imagined.(Ace possesses all three types of Haki!)
Chapter 60: A Small Interlude Before Setting Sail"Look! There's a huge crowd gathered over there!" Luffy's voice carried its usual excitement. If Acehadn't reached out to grab his arm, the boy would have probably pounced over there already."What's the rush?" Ace smiled helplessly. He glanced in the direction Luffy was pointing and indeed saw a dense circle of people surrounding a street corner. He could faintly catch a glimpse of familiar green hair tips—who else could it be but Zoro?Mark patted Luffy on the shoulder. "Yeah! And it looks like Zoro and the others are all there! Let's go take a look! Maybe there's a good show to watch!"Just as the three of them squeezed to the edge of the crowd, a wave of coldness drifted over before any figures were seen—it wasn't the chill of the sea breeze, but a coldness laden with hostility, scraping against the skin like ice shards.Tashigi stood in the center of the crowd, wearing red-rimmed glasses, a purple short-sleeved shirt, and white capri pants, with a sword hanging at her waist!Her eyes were bloodshot, and her naturally docile short hair was messily plastered to her cheeks. Her entire body seemed wrapped in a faint black mist, and every breath she took carried a suppressed tremble.Her teeth ground together with a "creak-creak" sound that was particularly piercing amidst the noisy chatter. Even the old woman selling vegetables nearby subconsciously shrank back."Straw... Hat..." Her voice sounded as if it were squeezed through her teeth, her gaze locked firmly on the Straw Hat crew within the crowd.Ace raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he sized up Luffy, then shook his head with a teasing tone. "What did you do to her, kid? This girl's resentment is a bit high.""Who is she!" Luffy completely missed the teasing in Ace's voice, pointing at Tashigi with a look of utter confusion."Don't talk, Luffy." Mark quickly covered his mouth. With his other hand, he reached into the void, and with a "clatter," three small stools painted in light wood lacquer dropped onto the ground.He handed the stools to Luffy and Ace, found a corner for himself where he could see everything clearly, and sat down. He then pulled out three paper-wrapped packets of melon seeds, tore one open, and stuffed it into Luffy's hand."It's my turn to enjoy the drama. Sit down and watch, don't cause trouble." Ace took the seeds and smiled, sitting down as well. Holding a seed between his fingertips, he really did look like a bystander watching the excitement.In the crowd, Nami was pinned down by Tashigi's gaze. She tilted her head with her arms crossed, feeling that the face before her was somewhat familiar—the red-rimmed glasses, and that persistent gaze... had she seen her somewhere before?It wasn't until Tashigi stared at her through gritted teeth and said word by word, "Cat Burglar Nami, you haven't forgotten what you did to me, have you!"Nami finally had an epiphany, tapping her chin with a finger and letting out an "Oh." Her tone was full of nonchalance. "You're that Master Chief from Smoker's warship! Oh dear, I thought it was something important—"Isn't it just that I took off your clothes at the lookout tower last time? Is it really worth this? We're both women; a quick look won't make you lose any flesh."She spread her hands as she spoke, a sly smile curling at the corners of her mouth, completely failing to notice that Tashigi's face had already turned the color of pig liver."What?!" A high-pitched exclamation suddenly came from the back of the crowd. Sanji squeezed past two bystanders and leaned in, two plumes of white steam erupting from his nostrils. His eyes lit up as if he'd seen top-tier ingredients, and he leaned forward to press for more: "And then? Miss Nami! What else did you do? And then...""Is that all it was?" Tashigi's voice already had a hint of a sob. She had originally come to get back her stolen sword, but after Nami's interference, the topic had completely veered toward "taking off clothes."She trembled with rage, tears welling in her eyes, yet she forced herself to glare at Nami. "Why would you say that in public! You really are shameless pirates!""Eh? Weren't you here to get your clothes back?" Nami paused for a moment, then sized Tashigi up. Her gaze lingered on her chest for a second before she shook her head with a wicked grin. "Tsk tsk... why wrap yourself so tightly, girl! You're clearly a C, yet you insist on binding yourself into an A. That's not good for your health! It must be suffocating, right?"As soon as those words were out, the noisy crowd instantly fell silent, so quiet you could hear the wind blowing. Two seconds later, as if someone had lit a firecracker, the scene exploded into overwhelming discussion—"What? She's actually got that much? You can't tell at all!" A young man in a sailor suit widened his eyes and subconsciously stood on his tiptoes."That's where you're ignorant!" The owner of a nearby sword shop put down his cleaning rag, looking like an expert. "This girl is clearly a swordsman. Being too large would affect her drawing speed, especially during a slash—it's easy to get distracted!""So that's how it is... but isn't it uncomfortable to wrap it so tightly?" An auntie carrying a vegetable basket muttered softly, glancing in Tashigi's direction."Shut up!" Tashigi finally couldn't take it anymore. She clenched her fists, tears falling to the ground with a "patter," and shouted hoarsely, "I'm talking about the sword... my sword! Give me back my shigure!""Oh! The sword!" Nami finally slapped her forehead as if she'd just remembered. She scanned the crowd from side to side, standing on her tiptoes to find Zoro's shadow. "I gave it to Zoro. Where is he? Hmph, trying to run away won't be that easy."At that moment, Zoro was crouching low against the wall, trying to slip out through the gaps in the crowd. He had seen Tashigi earlier; the way that girl looked at him was as if she wanted to eat him alive. Besides, she looked somewhat like Kuina, and he didn't want to get involved in this kind of trouble.He tried his best to minimize his presence, his steps light and slow. Just as he was about to round the crowd, his back suddenly felt heavy. Immediately after, a string of fair arms sprouted from his shoulders, wrapping around like vines, and finally, a slender hand gently poked Nami's arm.Robin, within the crowd, pursed her lips in a smile, a hint of mischief hidden in her eyes. She watched Nami turn back and give an 'OK' sign, even lightly waving her fingers as if to say, "I'm just helping out a little.""You get the benefits and let me take the blame? You've certainly got it all figured out!" Nami walked over crossly, grabbed Zoro by the ear, and hauled him toward the center of the crowd."I'll settle the score with you later! Get over there!" Zoro winced in pain, his features scrunched together and his ear turned bright red. He grumbled defiantly, "Ow... ow... ow! You woman, sooner or later I'm going to pull up all the tangerine trees on your ship!"When Nami threw him in front of Tashigi, Zorofinally rubbed his ear and looked up. The moment he saw Tashigi's face, he froze. Those eyes, those pursed lips—they were so similar to the Kuina in his childhood memories. A complex surge of emotions suddenly welled up in his heart: nostalgia, and a trace of inexplicable confusion.Tashigi's gaze, however, didn't linger on Zoro's face. Her eyes were fixed on the sword at Zoro's waist. Her breathing became rapid, and her voice trembled. "shigure... that's my shigure...""Heh, sorry about that." Zoro snapped back to reality, and with a flick of his wrist, the sword at his waist hissed out of its scabbard. The blade gleamed with a cold red light, and a faint demonic aura instantly filled the air. Red flames seemed to flicker on the edge, making the eyes of those around him light up. "It's not called shigure anymore. Its identity is the Cursed Blade—fire dance.""shigure... my shigure..." Tashigi stood frozen like a wooden statue, muttering to herself. She suddenly snapped out of it, violently drew the sword at her own waist, and slashed at Zoro."What did you do to my shigure!" The sword light was sharp, carrying all her anger and grievance. Her rapid succession of moves was dizzying, and the people around her subconsciously backed away.Zoro easily sidestepped and parried Tashigi's blade with a flick of his wrist. Looking at the girl with red-rimmed eyes, he felt a bit at a loss. He certainly couldn't use lethal force, but if he didn't fight back, she would keep pestering him.In the end, he simply gripped his hilt and gave a slight push. Tashigi didn't have much strength left, and pushed by this powerful force, she stumbled backward and landed on the ground with a "thud."Sitting on the ground and looking at the "fire dance" in Zoro's hand, Tashigi's tears fell even harder. She could clearly feel that shigure's quality had been elevated to the level of the 21 Excellent Grade Swords, but it had become a cursed blade.It was no longer the clean sword it once was. Moreover, Zoro's swordsmanship was far beyond hers; she didn't even have the qualification to take it back."My shigure... is no longer clean..." she sobbed, her shoulders heaving like a child who had suffered a great injustice.Zoro stood there scratching his head, his eyes drifting toward his companions outside the crowd, full of pleas for help. He had dealt with many enemies in his life, but dealing with a crying girl was a first; he had absolutely no idea what to do."It's over... break it up!" Mark's voice rang out lazily. He threw the last of the melon seed shells into the paper ball in his hand, stood up, and clapped his hands."Nothing more to see, go back to whatever you were doing!" The onlookers had originally come for the excitement, and seeing no further development, they began to disperse. Someone even sighed, "Sigh, I thought I'd see a duel between swordsmen.""We'll wait for you on the ship, Zoro!" Nami adjusted her bandana and waved at Zoro with a teasing tone, then turned to follow Sanji, Robin, and the others toward the harbor."Stupid Marimo, don't make a girl cry~" Sanjipurposely stopped as he passed Zoro, a wicked grin curling his lips. He even gave him a wink before quickly catching up to Nami."Zoro, don't get lost!" Mark stood beside Ace with his arms crossed, waving at Zoro with a smile, still clutching half a bag of unfinished melon seeds.Zoro watched his companions' receding backs, then looked back at Tashigi sitting on the ground. He hesitated for a moment before suddenly turning to run. "Hey! Wait for me!""Stop right there! Roronoa Zoro!" Tashigiimmediately scrambled up to give chase, but a large hand pressed down on her shoulder.She looked back to see Smoker. He had arrived at some point, his body wrapped in faint smoke. He stared seriously at the departing Straw Hat crew until their figures disappeared toward the harbor, then spoke: "We have very important things to do. Let them go for now."Tashigi bit her lip and struggled, but couldn't break free from Smoker's grip. She looked toward the harbor, her heart full of envy—yes, envy. Besides shigure, there was wado ichimonji and another that seemed to be yuki. Why did pirates get to own so many good swords? She wasn't satisfied!"Next time, I will definitely catch you, Roronoa Zoro!"Zoro ran a few steps and glanced back at Tashigi, who hadn't caught up. He breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace toward the harbor. The setting sun stretched his shadow long, and the wind blew through his green hair, also blowing away that bit of awkwardness from earlier."I hope I never run into this troublesome woman again."
Chapter 61: The Banquet and the Kung Fu Manatees"Hey—Ace! Come look! This is my pirate ship, the going merry! And these are my crewmates!"Luffy stood by the railing with his hands on his hips, his Straw Hat fluttering in the sea breeze. As Acestepped onto the gangplank, Luffy hopped over, his voice brimming with pride.He pointed to his crewmates and introduced them one by one, his finger moving rapidly: "This is our doctor, Chopper; our sniper, Usopp; the cook, Sanji; the swordsman, Zoro; the historian, Robin; and our navigator, Nami!"Finally, he gave Mark's shoulder a heavy pat and raised his voice: "And this is Mark, our logistics guy! Pretty impressive, right?"Ace stepped onto the deck of the going merry with his long legs, his black boots thudding against the aged wood. The boards creaked slightly under his weight amidst the sound of the wind.He raised a hand to push up the brim of his hat, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "A pirate crew of only eight? That's definitely your style, Luffy.""There'll be more later!" Luffy counted on his fingers, not even noticing he was one short. "I want a musician and a shipwright too!"Ace's gaze swept over everyone on the deck. His initially smiling eyes turned solemn and respectful."Thank you all for taking care of my little brother." He bowed slightly, a gesture completely at odds with the arrogant rumors surrounding "Fire FistAce.""No, no, it's nothing!" Chopper's ears drooped and then perked up as he hurriedly bowed back, his hooves clutching his shirt. Usopp nodded along, saying repeatedly, "Luffy takes good care of us too!"Ace smiled and added, "My brother lacks manners and can be a bit thick-headed sometimes. Please bear with him.""That's not true!" Nami countered. "Luffy is very reliable when it counts!" The others waved their hands in agreement."Actually, it's quite a surprise," Usopp scratched his head. "I thought Luffy's older brother would be even more reckless than he is.""I didn't expect him to be so considerate of his brother." Sanji leaned against the railing and lit a cigarette, his tone showing a bit more respect.Robin twirled a strand of hair around her finger and said softly, "He's very lucky to have a brother like that."With tears in his eyes, Chopper wiped them with his paw. "An older brother... that's so nice!""Oh, right, Ace!" Luffy suddenly remembered something and leaned in, his Straw Hat brushing against Ace's arm. "I heard from Dalton that you're hunting Blackbeard. Why?"The smile on Ace's face vanished instantly. The sea breeze lifted the brim of his cowboy hat, and his voice turned cold."He committed an unforgivable sin—he killed a crewmate on Whitebeard's ship.""Brother Ace," Mark stepped forward, his voice low. "From what I know, Blackbeard previously attacked Drum Island to target Wapol's Devil Fruit.If he dared to do that, he must have already obtained an incredible power. If possible... I hope you'll give up the chase."He recalled that even Shanks' persuasion in the manga couldn't change the outcome. His words would likely be like a pebble thrown into the ocean.Ace turned to Mark and patted his shoulder, his palm carrying the unique warmth of the Flame-Flame Fruit."Brother Mark, thank you for your concern. But you know our pirate creed—we bet everything on our flag. I am definitely taking Blackbeard down.""Sigh..." Mark sighed softly, looking at Ace's determined gaze, his heart feeling heavy.He knew that even if he said "You will lose," Acewould never turn back—Hidden in this man's core was a persistence fiercer than fire; once he set his mind on something, he would see it through to the end, even if it meant being shattered to pieces."It's fine." Ace saw his worry and patted his back again, his tone lightening."I received word that the Blackbeard Pirates have been spotted in Yuba recently, so that's where I'm headed next. What about you guys? Where to next?""The log pose isn't full yet." Nami raised her wrist; the needle was still wobbling slightly. "It'll take about five days to stabilize. We can't head to the next island yet.""Staying here is too dangerous. What if we run into Baroque Works again... or the Marines?" Usoppshrunk his neck."Robin," Luffy suddenly turned to Robin, his eyes shining like stars with anticipation. "Are there any fun places in Alabasta? Since we can't leave, let's go explore!"A faint smile played on Robin's lips as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "If we're talking about famous places, 'Rainbase' is definitely one—it's Crocodile's headquarters.It's quite prosperous, and the world's largest casino, 'Rain Dinners,' is there. However, to get to Rainbase, we have to pass through Yuba first, and from Yubato Rainbase, it's a day's journey through the desert.""The desert?!" Luffy's eyes widened, and his Straw Hat tilted. "Then we're going to Rainbase! A desert adventure with Ace—that's going to be so much fun! Shishishi!""Well, then we can travel together for a while." Acedidn't object. He was going to Yuba anyway, and it would be good to spend more time with his brother."Since it's decided, we'll follow the Sandora River." Nami spread out a nautical chart, her finger pointing at the yellowed paper."We'll land at Erumalu first, then cross the desert to Rainbase. This way, we won't stray from the log pose route and can avoid being spotted."Just as she finished speaking, ten ships suddenly sailed out from the distant bay, the Baroque Workslogo on their sails particularly jarring. A fat man with long hair stood at the bow and shouted:"Straw Hat crew! Fire Fist Ace! We're taking your heads!""I'll handle this." Before his voice even faded, Aceflipped over the side and landed on his small boat.He activated his power, flames erupting from his palms. The boat shot forward as he pushed it into the water. He then stepped on flames to take flight, performing a somersault over the fleet—"Fire Fist!"Orange-red flames surged with the sea breeze, like a giant fire dragon with its maw open, instantly swallowing the lead ship.Heat waves and black smoke billowed out. Before the remaining ships could even turn around, they were engulfed in flames. The wood crackled as they quickly became a sea of fire.Ace landed perfectly back on his fire-powered boat as it emerged from the water, using his index finger to push up his cowboy hat. He had definitely pulled off that move with style.The people on the deck subconsciously stepped back. Luffy's eyes were wide as he murmured, "So cool...""Is this the strength of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander?" Zoro asked in awe."Hey! Don't let it go to waste!" Mark hurried over, his fingertips glowing as he used his ability to condense the scattered ship wreckage into small spheres. "I'm still short tens of thousands of energy points!""Since it's all clear, let's have a banquet!" Luffyimmediately threw the danger behind him, clapping his hands excitedly."Welcome, Ace, to our journey!""Yay! Yay!" Chopper cheered along, his eyes full of anticipation.Sanji shook his head with a smile and turned to head back to the kitchen. "Since it's a welcome party, I'll need to prepare a feast! Mark! Come help!"Usopp ran back to the cabin and brought out a pile of streamers—originally intended for crew birthdays or to set the mood for his storytelling.They were perfect for today: "I'll handle the decorations! I guarantee this welcome party will be lively!"Even though Nami grumbled, "Honestly, this is so much trouble," she still helped Usopp with the decorations.Robin sat to the side, a faint smile on her face as she watched everyone busy themselves.She used her ability to hang streamers in places Nami and the others couldn't reach.Zoro still leaned against the mast, but he handed a cup of wine to Ace, signaling that the welcome party had already begun.The deck of the going merry was soon enveloped in excitement: Sanji's dishes covered the table, and beads of water dripped down the sides of glasses filled with iced juice.Usopp stood on a crate singing "The Song of Captain Usopp's Great Adventure," in a strange tune that ordinary people couldn't appreciate.Luffy did a belly dance, his rubber stomach wobbling around and nearly hitting Chopper; Chopper spun in circles following Luffy.Ace couldn't help but burst out laughing as he watched them. He tilted his head back and downed a beer, the liquid trickling down his chin as he wiped his face. "This is quite relaxing."Mark sat to the side, watching the festivities, the worry in his heart easing slightly.The welcome party continued until sunset. The golden afterglow bathed the going merry, painting the hull a warm orange. Laughter drifted away on the sea breeze, mingling with the sound of the waves.The next day, the going merry arrived at the port of Erumalu. Once an oasis, it was now just a wasteland. The weathered remains of buildings were half-buried in the sand, which trickled down the cracks in the walls whenever the wind blew.Just as the ship docked and before the sea breeze could dissipate, a group of stout but endearingly clumsy Kung Fu Manatees leaped out of the blue sea with a "splash."Their plump bodies landed on the beach, kicking up fine grains of sand—They had sturdy trunks like manatees, with short limbs that supported their bodies without appearing clumsy.Their large heads featured round eyes that shone like two black grapes.Their wide grins made them look like they were always about to laugh, and the hard, turtle-like shells on their backs served as adorable "little shields."The lead manatee stared intently at Luffy on the railing, its round eyes burning with fighting spirit.It raised and retracted a front flipper, striking a standard sparring pose. It let out a resolute "Moo moo," as if issuing a challenge."If you want to come ashore, you have to beat me, otherwise go back!" Chopper immediately squatted down to translate."These are Kung Fu Manatees, right?" Robinadjusted the brim of her hat with a slight smile. "They only respect the strong. If you win, they'll proactively ask to be your apprentices.""Hmph, a time like this obviously calls for Great Captain Usopp!" Before he could even finish, Usoppclenched his fists and jumped off the ship.But before he could even strike an "Invincible Fist" pose, a series of sounds echoed across the beach: "Thud, Bang, Flop."A second later, he was flat on his back, his belly heaving slightly—clearly knocked silly."Kung Fu Manatees are actually quite skilled in martial arts," Robin added quickly, a hint of a helpless smile in her voice.Zoro raised an eyebrow and casually grabbed a feather duster from the ship—its straight handle made it look like a makeshift "sword."He twirled the duster in his hand, a look of interest in his eyes. "Oh? Let's see how good they really are.""I want in too!" Luffy couldn't hold back any longer. He rolled up his sleeves and jumped onto the beach with a "thud," his rubber arms swaying in anticipation."Grappling? Perfect!" Mark's eyes lit up as he began planning out Baji Quan moves in his head. "If I take on a few Baji Quan apprentices, won't things really take off later?" With that, he strode into the group of manatees.The manatees didn't hesitate either, immediately splitting into three groups to "face the challenge."Before long, the beach was filled with the sounds of fighting: Luffy's rubber punches extended with a "shoo," but the manatees nimbly dodged them.Zoro's feather duster tapped the ground with a "click-clack," precisely parrying the manatees' front flippers every time.Mark, meanwhile, sank his shoulders and threw punches. In just a few moments, the manatees were covered in bumps and were obediently bowing to the three of them.The fighting spirit in their round eyes was gone, replaced by a watery, worshipful glow. Their "moo moo" calls softened, making them look like little apprentices seeking instruction.The teaching session that followed became the most interesting sight on the beach—Luffy squatted on the sand, surrounded by three little manatees. He bent his rubber arm into an "L" shape and then suddenly straightened it: "See! Your punches need to be fast and powerful!"As he spoke, he punched a nearby reef with a "bang," instantly leaving a shallow crater.The manatees tried to follow suit, clenching their front flippers tightly, but when they threw a punch, they realized their arms wouldn't stretch.Seeing this, Luffy laughed heartily and rubbed the head of the fattest manatee. "It's okay! Just get closer and shout 'Gomu Gomu no—Punch!' with me!"The manatees immediately started shouting "Moo—Punch!" as they threw their flippers forward, gradually gaining some power.On the other side, Zoro was more rigorous. Holding the feather duster, he stood before five manatees and demonstrated a standard stance:"Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, sink your center of gravity—don't wobble, be like you're rooted in the sand."One manatee couldn't stay steady and nearly sat down as its tail flipper gave way. Zoro lightly tapped its back leg with the duster. "Keep your legs straighter, don't slouch your waist."The manatee hurriedly adjusted its posture, its round eyes fixed on Zoro's movements, not even daring to breathe loudly. Once their stance was stable, Zoro taught them how to swing a "sword":"The strike must be fast, with the power coming from your waist." As he spoke, he made a "swish" with a swing, leaving a shallow mark in the sand.Holding wooden sticks, the manatees followed Zoro's movements and swung!Mark's side was full of "raw power." He first had four manatees perform the Horse Stance while he stood in the middle, fists held at his waist:"Baji Quan emphasizes 'close-quarters rapid attacks.' First, stabilize your Horse Stance—right, don't stick your butt out too high, and don't let your knees go past your toes."One manatee wobbled violently after just a few seconds and tried to use its flippers for support. Mark immediately walked over and gently supported its waist:"Stay steady, keep your breathing even, don't panic." Once the manatees' Horse Stance was stable, he taught them the Beng Quan:"Thrust your fist forward. The power should be short, fast, and fierce, like a spring."As he spoke, he threw a punch at a rock with a "bang," and the rock instantly shattered. The manatees followed suit. Though their flippers were short, they learned the form well.Punch after punch hit the nearby rocks with dull thuds. When they finally managed to make small pits in the stones, they crowded around Mark with "moo moo" sounds, seemingly asking for praise.The sun on the beach was warm. The "moo moo" of the manatees, the "thud thud" of fists and feet hitting sand, Luffy's laughter, Zoro's pointers, and Mark's guidance all blended together into a lively scene.Ace leaned against the railing, twirling his hat. Watching the scene before him, the curve of his smile grew wider. "How lively... it looks like this desert adventure won't be boring at all."
Chapter 62: Scorching Heat and SurpriseAt the edge of Erumalu Beach, the desert lay like a massive golden blanket baked hot by the sun, stretching from beneath their feet all the way to the horizon.Luffy's Straw Hat was tilted back on his head, and the skin beneath the brim was burnt red. He tugged at his collar from time to time to fan himself, muttering, "It's so hot..."Zoro pulled his bandana down to cover half his face, his three swords slung across his back. Seeing that there wasn't even a cactus in the desert to provide some shade, he could only let out an irritated "Tsk."Mark leaned against a rock, his sun hat pressed low, yet he could still feel the sunlight piercing through the fabric, making his scalp sting.He didn't want to suffer alongside this group of "adventurers.""We can't go on like this; this is way too hard!""I came here for a vacation, not to participate in a desert survival challenge!""What else can we do?" Usopp asked from beside him, sticking his tongue out and fanning himself vigorously with a large leaf.Mark was about to complain a bit more when he suddenly remembered something. His eyes lit up, and he snapped upright, hands on his hips and head held high, his voice carrying an irrepressible smugness:"I've got some good news for you. Heheh, Ink Meteor just finished its evolution!""Really?!" Chopper had the fastest reaction. His ears perked up instantly, and his watery big eyes went wide and round.His short legs went "patter-patter" as he ran to Mark, his paws gripping Mark's pant leg tightly. "Quick, summon Ink Meteor! I want to see what it looks like after evolving!""Don't be in such a rush!" Mark laughed and patted Chopper's head, then waved his hand toward an empty space. A faint black ring appeared on the ground.A familiar large sled emerged from the space—the very one Chopper had used to help everyone escape back on Drum Island.Mark then took out the synthesized wood. "Usopp." Mark pointed at the lumber on the ground, his eyes saying everything: *you know what to do.*Seeing the wood and the sled, Usopp understood instantly, and his eyes lit up as well.He had been feeling frustrated ever since being beaten senseless by the Kung Fu Manatee at the harbor; now, he finally had a chance to show off his skills."Hmph... leave it to me!" He tossed the leaf aside and rolled up his sleeves, his tone brimming with confidence.With that, he turned and ran toward the going merry, his pace faster than usual as he even forgot about the heat.Ace stood to the side, his eyes wide with shock. He had noticed Mark taking things out of "thin air" earlier.Now, seeing him decompose the air into wood with his own eyes, he was completely stunned. He scratched the back of his head and looked at Markwith a confused face:"I've been wondering since we were at the harbor—what exactly is your ability? One moment you're decomposing this, the next you're pulling things out."Mark felt a bit embarrassed by the question. He scratched his cheek and gave a couple of sheepish laughs:"Ahem... it's just decomposing matter and then performing synthesis, plus it comes with a spatial storage ability.It's nothing special, really; it's just convenient to use.""That really is convenient!" Ace's eyes shone even brighter. He took a few steps toward Mark and slapped him on the shoulder, his tone sincere:"How about joining our Whitebeard Pirates? Pops would definitely love a talent like you.""No way, absolutely not!" As soon as Ace finished speaking, everyone objected in unison.Everyone made a big 'X' with their arms across their chests, shaking their heads like rattle-drums.Ace was a bit embarrassed by the collective rejection. He rubbed his nose, looked up at the scorching sun overhead, and laughed it off: "I see! Haha, the weather sure is nice today!"Internally, he was muttering: *It's such a shame I can't recruit someone so useful to the Whitebeardcrew—he can clean, provide materials, and has so much potential. It's such a waste for him to follow Luffy!*A moment later, a loud "thud" was heard as Usoppfell off the deck of the going merry clutching a pile of tools. Screwdrivers, hammers, and nails scattered everywhere.He didn't even bother rubbing his sore butt; he scrambled up and hurriedly gathered the tools together.He huffed and puffed as he lugged them toward the sled, sweat dripping down his cheeks with no time to wipe it away.Seeing this, the others didn't disturb him and went back onto the going merry to wait.Sanji tied on his apron and headed into the kitchen. Before long, he emerged carrying several large buckets of iced juice. "Mark, store these juices in your space so we can drink them in the desert later."As he handed the juice buckets to Mark, he didn't forget to caution him, "Remember not to tell Luffy, or he'll definitely drink it all right now."Nami and Robin each carried a travel bag and were packing things on the deck.Nami stuffed maps, sunscreen, spare water, and snacks into her bag all at once, checking her notebook every now and then.She muttered to herself, "Water is scarce in the desert, need to bring more... the snacks have to be shelf-stable, or they'll go bad."She dropped a massive bag that bulged like a small mountain onto the deck with a loud "bang." The commotion startled Chopper, who was drinking juice; his cup wobbled, and juice spilled all over the floor."You call that 'bringing a bit more'? That's clearly 'a ton more'!" Mark walked over, looking at Nami's huge bag and shaking his head helplessly.Then he turned to check on Usopp's modification progress, muttering under his breath, "Ink Meteor is a beast, but you're really not treating it like one."Usopp was currently squatting by the sled, focused on hammering nails.He had widened the base of the sled considerably and used the wood to build a small cabin on top. The roof was slanted to prevent sand from accumulating.He also added small windows on both sides of the cabin, covered with a layer of breathable gauze that allowed ventilation while keeping the sand out.He wiped the sweat from his forehead, stepped back two paces to inspect it, and nodded with satisfaction: "Alright, this should be perfect!""Everyone, we can head out now!" Usopp cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouted toward the going merry, his voice full of pride."Oh! Is it finally ready?" Zoro was the first to jump off the ship, his three swords still resting on his shoulder, his steps light.Sanji followed behind, carrying two large bags, saying, "Miss Nami, Miss Robin, your knight of love is happy to be at your service."When the group gathered around the sled and saw Usopp's masterpiece, their mouths fell open.The sled was not only much more spacious than before, but the cabin on top was exquisite—inside were several small chairs made of wood, covered with soft fabric, and even the walls were carved with simple patterns."This... this is too cool!" Luffy's eyes went wide. He instantly activated his rubber powers, stretching his arm to grab the roof of the cabin.With a "whoosh," he sat up there, swinging his legs back and forth, shouting excitedly: "Let's go... let's go! Let's head out!""Oh, it even has windows. I really didn't know your handiwork was this strong!" Mark walked over, touched the wooden wall of the sled, and praised him sincerely.Hearing the praise, Usopp immediately became smug. He lifted his head high, his nose perking up, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he closed his eyes and put his hands on his hips.Looking like he was saying *'come on, praise me more'*, he boasted: "Hmph... now you know how great I am! Back in Syrup Village, I made many incredible inventions!""Alright, that's enough, we know you're great." Nami, annoyed by his attitude, rolled her eyes. "If you don't get on now, there won't be any room left!""Oh! Coming, coming!" Usopp quickly dropped his posturing and scrambled onto the sled in a panic, fearing he really would lose his spot."Then let our protagonist of the day make his appearance!" Mark said with a smile, reaching back to take the black rod from his waist—He tossed the black rod into the air and quickly formed a hand seal (his chuunibyou acting up), his voice clear and powerful: "Ink Meteor, appear!"The black rod spun in the air, and the lion's eyes at the tip suddenly shot out two dazzling beams of golden light. Even under the midday sun, the golden light was so blinding that people couldn't keep their eyes open.Everyone instinctively squinted. When the golden light faded, they saw a massive dark shadow blocking the sun overhead, slowly descending from the sky.The shadow gradually shrank, and finally, with a "bang," a lion a full ten meters long appeared in front of the sled.The evolved Ink Meteor was a size larger than before. Its mane was fluffier, a deep black color with a faint luster.Its feet now had several dark black dragon scales, looking incredibly hard.The ram horns on its head had also changed, gradually transforming into dragon horns with faint golden tips, looking both majestic and cute.The big fellow turned its head toward Mark and stuck out its tongue, which was a full meter long.With a "splat," it licked Mark's face, then gently rubbed its large head against his shoulder like a pampered big dog.Chopper's eyes went wide. He ran "patter-patter" to Ink Meteor's side, climbed up its leg, and sat on its head. Grabbing its mane, he rubbed his face against Ink Meteor's head, tears gushing out like a fountain. "Ink Meteor, I thought you were eaten! Waaah!"Ace, standing on the sled, was so startled by the giant lion that he retreated to the very back of the sled, squishing Luffy beside him like a pancake."What... what the hell is this monster?!" His eyes were wide, and his voice trembled slightly—In all his years, this was the first time he'd seen a lion this big, let alone one with dragon scales and horns!Luffy shoved Ace away with effort, rubbed his squashed face, and said seriously to Ace: "Ink Meteor is our comrade too! It's very gentle and doesn't bite.""According to Mark, Ink Meteor is a weapon that ate a Devil Fruit. This form is the Taotie Form."Nami turned her head and explained with a slight smile, "Don't be afraid, it won't hurt us.""Alright! Alright! I get it, let's just go!" Mark wiped the saliva off his face, speechless—Fortunately, he could use his ability to decompose the saliva; otherwise, having his face all sticky would definitely give him goosebumps.Usopp took the reins he had prepared earlier and carefully placed them around Ink Meteor's neck.Ink Meteor gave its tail a gentle flick and easily pulled the sled and the cabin, walking toward the depths of the desert with steady steps."Stop!" Nami suddenly shouted, pointing behind the sled. "Look behind you!"Everyone looked back to see a group of Kung Fu Manatees following them at some point.They were carrying a long pole with several small luggage bags hanging from it. They were lined up neatly behind the sled, their eyes full of expectation, as if they wanted to follow them into the desert."Aren't they great? Why don't we let them come along?" Luffy tilted his head and asked Nami in confusion."They are marine creatures, you idiot!" Nami hit Luffyon the head, frustrated. "It's so hot in the desert; they'll burn to death if they stay too long!"Mark also facepalmed—he had been so excited that he actually forgot about the Kung Fu Manatees."Leave it to me!" Mark jumped off Ink Meteor's back and walked over to the Kung Fu Manatees.He took a large amount of meat ingredients out of his space—fresh beef, mutton, and even the giant dinosaur meat he had stored back in the Small Garden—and placed them in front of the Kung Fu Manatees.The Kung Fu Manatees' eyes lit up at the sight of the food, and the little disciples even started circling the ingredients. Mark patted the head of the lead Kung Fu Manatee and said with a smile:"These ingredients are for you. You guys go back to the sea first. We'll play together when we get back. The desert isn't suitable for you, okay?"The Kung Fu Manatees looked at each other and finally nodded. They picked up the food and walked reluctantly toward the seashore."Mark, do we have enough food? You gave them so much."Sanji walked over and asked with a bit of concern—he was still thinking about making delicious meals for everyone in the desert."Don't worry!" Mark gave Sanji a reassuring look. "I only gave them meat. The stock we saved from the Small Garden isn't even half gone yet.Besides, the desert is full of high-quality meat. We can hunt some desert animals then; I guarantee there'll be good food.""Really?" Luffy chimed in as soon as he heard about good food, his eyes sparkling. "Is it really delicious meat? Is it better than dinosaur meat?""Robin, you're knowledgeable. Why don't you give everyone some basic desert survival tips?"Mark ignored Luffy and turned to Robin, though his eyes were glancing at Luffy."Don't let certain idiots do something stupid and make us have to save them later.""Why are you looking at me?" Luffy rubbed his head with an innocent look. "I just want to dig in the sand for treasure; I won't do anything stupid.""Sigh—" Everyone looked at Luffy and let out a helpless sigh.And so, the group bid farewell to the Kung Fu Manatees, asking them to help guard the going merry.Ink Meteor strolled through the desert with its head held high, its steps steady. Even the soft sand didn't make it sink.When it encountered a sand pit, it would lift a paw and "splat," swat the sand away. If a rock blocked the path, it would simply swat it away with one paw, its movements clean and efficient.Inside the sled's cabin, Nami and Robin wore sunglasses and leaned back in their chairs, admiring the desert scenery—Distant dunes rolled on, shimmering with a golden luster under the sun. Occasionally, a few desert lizards would pop out of the sand and quickly burrow back in.They would take a sip of the iced juice beside them from time to time. The refreshing juice slid down their throats, instantly dispelling the heat from their bodies.Zoro leaned in a corner of the room, clutching his three swords, eyes closed in a deep sleep. A faint smile played on his lips; who knows what he was dreaming about.Ace had climbed onto the cabin's roof, leaning against the small mast Usopp had added. He held a small twig, waving it slowly as he looked at the distant desert with a smile.Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp sat on Ink Meteor's back.Luffy would tug at Ink Meteor's mane one moment and lie on its head to look into the distance the next.Chopper sat beside Luffy with candy in his hand, feeding it to Ink Meteor every now and then.Usopp was holding paper and a pen, seriously drawing a sketch of the desert while muttering, "This is the Great Desert Adventure of the Grand Line, with the brave Captain Usopp..."Only Sanji sat in the second row of the sled, twirling a spoon and staring blankly at Nami and Robin in the cabin, completely lovestruck:"Miss Robin's profile is so elegant, she looks so cute drinking juice... Miss Nami looks so cool in sunglasses..."Ink Meteor continued forward. The desert wind still carried waves of heat, but everyone's faces were filled with smiles—with comrades by their side, cold juice, and the adorable Ink Meteor, everything was so relaxed and pleasant!
Chapter 63: Fortuitous Encounter and PartingThe blazing sun of Alabasta was like a red-hot branding iron; even the wind that blew past carried scorching grains of sand that felt painful and irritating against the skin.Ink Meteor's back was burning hot from the sun, its dark brown fur absorbing even more heat. However, being a weapon itself, this level of heat was completely negligible to it.But the three "carbon-based lifeforms" on its back were not having a good time."I can't take it! I can't take it! Ink Meteor's back is turning into a teppanyaki grill!" Luffy was the first to jump up, fanning his cheeks with both hands, his tongue almost hanging out. "I'm going back to the sled cabin!"As soon as he finished speaking, he shot like a projectile, "whoosh," into the open door of the RV, dragging along Usopp, who had been trying to grab him.Chopper took two steps on Ink Meteor's back and immediately pulled his hooves back in pain, his small face full of panic. "So hot, so hot! Ink Meteor, can't you feel the heat?"Mark had already been made dizzy by the sun. Hearing this, he immediately held onto the RV's doorframe and climbed inside. As soon as he entered the cabin, the cool air made him let out a sigh of relief—Thanks to the Screen window design Usopp had modified earlier, the temperature inside the cabin was at least ten degrees lower than outside.Zoro leaned against the back row of the RV. He drew "Enma," and waves of cold air emanated from it, making it feel like a natural air conditioner."Crocodile really is a piece of work!" Usopp leaned against the RV window, pointing at the scene outside, his voice full of emotion.Outside the window were ruins and broken walls; weathered, yellowish-brown walls stood crookedly in the sand, and broken stones were half-buried in the dunes. It was clearly the remains of a former town, but now only desolation remained.Ace sat in the center seat of the cabin, took a sip of iced watermelon juice, and after listening to Usopp's words and Robin's low-voiced explanation of the "Dance Powder Plan," his brow furrowed slightly."I'm afraid things aren't as simple as you think. Would a pirate really settle down somewhere just to be a king?That guy definitely has other motives." His voice was steady, carrying the sharp intuition of someone who had drifted at sea for years.Robin sat in the corner, looking at the scenery outside. Hearing this, she turned her eyes, her tone calm but powerful."As expected of the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Crocodile's true goal..." Robinpaused for a moment before continuing,"is the ancient weapon—Pluton.""Pluton?!"As soon as those words were spoken, the cabin fell silent for a split second before erupting into chaos.Luffy poked his head out from his seat, his eyes staring straight at Robin;Usopp's mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist;Chopper even let out a direct "Gyah!"Ace's expression changed as well. He put down his juice and leaned forward slightly."That's a powerful existence legendary for having the power to destroy the world... Is Crocodile's ambition actually that massive?"Even he had heard of "Pluton" long ago; it was absolutely not something an ordinary pirate should lay hands on—even the thought was dangerous.Nami leaned against the window, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the window decorations, her tone grave. "It seems we still underestimated these ambitious men. To get Pluton, he's actually willing to destroy a whole country...""If he gets in my way, I'm definitely going to send him flying!" Luffy stood up abruptly, his fists clenching with a cracking sound, his eyes full of unyielding spirit, as if he were ready to go settle the score with Crocodile the next second."Luffy, you'd better not be impulsive," Ace reminded him, his tone tinged with worry."Even though you've already mastered Haki, Crocodile's strength is far beyond what you've seen. Your chances of winning against him are still slim; you must not let your guard down."He knew the strength of the Shichibukai all too well, especially a guy who hid himself as deeply as Crocodile.Mark sat to the side and, seeing Ace's serious expression, asked curiously, "Ace-aniki, you seem to know a lot about Crocodile?"Ace shook his head, his gaze becoming deep. "Not exactly. This person hides too well; I don't actually know him.But I know the World Government. Those people aren't fools; if he didn't have the strength to suppress an entire region, how could they have appointed him as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?'Legal pirates' recognized by the World Governmentare never simple characters.""Makes sense." Mark nodded, his wariness toward Crocodile increasing by a few notches.Just then, Zoro, who had been watching the outside, suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief. "Hey, look—it looks like there's a ship traveling in the desert."Upon hearing this, everyone crowded by the window. On a distant sand dune, a strangely shaped ship was moving rapidly with the wind and sand.The hull wasn't much different from a pirate ship, but it had wide slides on both sides and a small mast at the bow with a tattered cloth sail hanging from it."Those are Sand Pirates," Robin explained, her gaze landing precisely on the ship. "Their ships are specially made to travel using wind power in the desert, just like a sailing ship on the sea."Usopp quickly put on his goggles, squinting to observe closely, and soon cried out in alarm."Not good! They're coming toward us! No, they're charging straight at us!"Zoro immediately gripped his sword hilt. He pushed the blade of the wado ichimonji out slightly, producing a crisp "clink," and a cold glint flashed instantly. "Are we fighting?" His body was tensed, ready for battle at any moment."Ink Meteor, stop for a moment!" Mark hurriedly called out. Ink Meteor obediently stopped its pace, its massive body swaying slightly."We should go down and take a look. If they crash straight into us and break our Sled RV, we'll really have to walk to Yuba through the desert.""That would be quite bad; I don't feel like walking right now." Ace was the first to stand up, pushing open the RV door and stepping down.As soon as he landed, orange-red flames flickered faintly on his shoulders, dispelling the surrounding heat and carrying a powerful sense of pressure.On the other side, the atmosphere on the Sand Pirates' ship was exceptionally tense. A tall, thin pirate clung to the side of the ship, shouting toward the stern with a trembling voice."Boss! There seems to be a group of people ahead, and an unidentified creature! It looks huge!""Eh! Dammit! Hard to starboard! Fast!" Standing at the stern was a ten-meter-tall giant of a man with a face full of flesh and sand stuck in his beard. He roared commands while nervously looking back behind him—A giant pink desert scorpion was in hot pursuit, its thick stinger glinting coldly in the sun. Every swing kicked up a cloud of dust; it had clearly targeted them as prey."Why is our luck so bad today! First we run into this damn Desert Giant Scorpion, and now an unidentified creature!" The giant man kicked the deck in frustration. The ship swayed, but it didn't slow down at all.But just as the Sand Pirates' ship turned away, the Desert Giant Scorpion suddenly slammed on the brakes, its massive body carving two deep furrows into the sand.Its compound eyes swiveled, and its attention shifted completely from the Sand Pirates' ship to the Straw Hat crew—more accurately, to Ink Meteor.In its eyes, Ink Meteor's massive body was undoubtedly a "substantial" prey, much more "delicious" than the Sand Pirates' ship."Watch out!" Ace immediately jumped in front of Ink Meteor, his body coiled like a drawn bow. His right hand was behind him, orange-red flames already condensing on his fist, his "Fire Fist" ready to strike."Wait a minute!" Mark suddenly rushed over and grabbed Ace's arm. "Don't char it! This is high-grade ingredient! A Desert Giant Scorpion this big must have very firm meat!""Oh? High-grade ingredient?" Sanji's voice came from the RV door. He poked his head out, his eyes instantly lighting up as he stared at the Desert Giant Scorpion's shimmering shell."Aniki, don't roast it! Let me handle it. I guarantee I can turn it into a top-tier dish!"But just as their conversation ended, the Desert Giant Scorpion had already rapidly reached the front of Ace.It raised its massive front limb, its sharp pincer slicing through the air with the sound of wind, stabbing straight toward Ace at an alarming speed.Ace's eyes instantly became sharp, and the air pressure around him plummeted—Conqueror's Hakiwas released without reservation, pressing toward the Desert Giant Scorpion like an invisible tidal wave.The originally ferocious giant scorpion's front limb suddenly froze in mid-air. The murderous light in its compound eyes vanished instantly, its massive body swayed, and then it collapsed onto the sand with a "boom," completely losing consciousness.Chopper, at the cabin door, watched dumbfounded, his small mouth rounded in an 'O' shape. "Wha—what was that just now? So powerful...""It's Conqueror's Haki," Mark explained softly, his eyes carrying a hint of admiration. "That is the 'Qualities of a King,' a one-in-a-million existence."Zoro leaned against the RV and sheathed his sword, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "One-in-a-million?Then we are truly lucky here, to have three people with Conqueror's Haki." He was, of course, referring to Luffy, Ace, and Mark."Stop chatting! This scorpion's meat is definitely top-shelf! I can't wait to process it!"Sanji said as he grabbed his culinary kit and sprinted toward the Desert Giant Scorpion, his pace as fast as the wind."Meat—!" Luffy's eyes were even brighter than Sanji's. He practically catapulted himself, overtaking Sanji in an instant as he charged toward the giant scorpion, shouting, "I want to eat the biggest pincer!""Luffy! Leave the big pincer for me! You won't be used to eating that part!"Mark shouted quickly, fearing Luffy might just eat the giant scorpion raw.Soon, the Straw Hat crew gathered around the Desert Giant Scorpion. Usopp stood by one of its legs, looking up at the limb that was several times taller than himself, unable to help but sigh. "It's too big! I'm not even as tall as one of its joints!"Ace knelt down and poked the giant scorpion's shell, his brow furrowing."Can this thing really taste good? Besides, the shell is so hard, how do we open it?" He had never been very interested in the meat of arthropods, let alone one this massive."Zoro." Mark looked at Zoro, his tone full of trust.Zoro nodded, placing his right hand on the hilt of the wado ichimonji and slowly closing his eyes. The surrounding wind and sand seemed to quiet down, leaving only his steady breathing.In the next second, his body moved abruptly—his arm muscles tensed, veins bulging slightly. He drew his sword at a speed difficult for the naked eye to track; the blade sliced through the air almost silently, leaving only a fleeting trail of cold light.The others didn't even see how he moved; they only felt a blur before their eyes, and Zoro had already appeared behind the Desert Giant Scorpion.He slowly sheathed his sword with a crisp "clink," which seemed to be a signal—the next moment, the ten-meter-long Desert Giant Scorpion split in two right down the middle, falling to both sides.The cut was as smooth as a mirror; even the ten-centimeter-thick hard shell had been sliced through as easily as tofu.AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite"One-Sword Style Iai: Shishi Sonson." Zoro's voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable coolness."Well done, Zoro." Mark nodded with a smile and handed the kitchen tool bag to Sanji. "It's all yours from here.""Leave it to me! I guarantee you'll eat the best scorpion meat of your lives!" Sanji took the bag and immediately began skillfully dismembering the giant scorpion. The blade seemed to have a life of its own in his hands, precisely avoiding the internal organs and leaving only the tender meat.Not long after, Sanji walked over carrying a basketball-sized, ink-colored sphere and shook it in front of Chopper. "Chopper, do you want this venom sac? It looks highly toxic; you might find a use for it."Chopper's eyes lit up. He immediately took a special collection box out of his backpack and carefully accepted the venom sac. "Yes! Of course! This is great stuff! It's useful for making antidotes or even dealing with enemies!"He carefully placed the venom sac into the box and secured it with cotton, terrified of making even the slightest mistake.Just as everyone was busy processing the giant desert scorpion and preparing to enjoy a meal, a heaven-shattering sound suddenly came from the distance, mixed with human shouts. The sound was getting closer and clearer."What's going on?" Zoro immediately became alert and looked up in the direction the sound was coming from.Everyone looked up, only to see the sand pirate ship from earlier returning. But this time, the situation was even worse—a massive black sphere was following behind the ship. Wherever the sphere rolled, it left a deep trench. It had clearly rolled down from the nearby hill, and its speed was astonishing."Oh no! If that ball hits us, our top-tier scorpion meat will be ruined!" Sanji panicked instantly, nearly dropping his knife."Ah! This is a big deal!" Luffy rolled up his sleeves and was about to dash toward the black sphere, but Zoro grabbed him."Luffy, give me a chance." There was a hint of excitement in Zoro's eyes. After cutting the giant scorpion with Shishi Sonson, he had gained a new understanding of the way of the sword. "I wasn't satisfied just now; let me try."On the other side, the atmosphere on the sand pirate ship had dropped to freezing point. A short, chubby sand pirate pointed toward the Straw Hatcrew, his voice trembling. "Boss! Look! They seem to have defeated that giant desert scorpion! So strong!""What time do you think it is to be paying attention to others!" another sand pirate jumped in anxiety. "Don't you know how many people die under this dung ball every year? We're about to be finished!""Damn desert dung beetle!" the giant boss—Barbarossa—roared in anger. "If this keeps up, we'll all be crushed flat!"He looked at the rapidly approaching black sphere, gritted his teeth, and suddenly jumped off the sand pirate ship, running toward the sphere."Boss!" The crew's tone was full of worry for their Captain!The muscles in Barbarossa's arms bulged, and his veins protruded like earthworms, sending sand flying beneath his feet. His eyes were firm as he roared, "You aren't qualified to destroy my sand pirate ship! I am Barbarossa!"However, his resistance seemed exceptionally small before the massive black sphere. With a "squelch," the black sphere rolled directly over him, not even slowing down in the slightest, continuing to roll toward the sand pirate ship.The crew on the sand pirate ship turned pale, giving up on resistance and closing their eyes to welcome death.At this critical moment, Zoro moved. He suddenly drew wado ichimonji, raised the sword above his head, spread his feet into a horse stance, put on his green bandana, and tied it again, his eyes becoming incredibly focused.He closed his eyes, feeling the trajectory of the rolling black sphere and the changes in the surrounding airflow.When the black sphere was less than ten meters away from the sand pirate ship, Zoro suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his pupils.His body moved rapidly, his sword cutting several afterimages in the air. The sound of "swish, swish, swish" rang out in succession, so fast that one could not see his movements.The next second, the huge black sphere was cut into a dozen irregular pieces. With a crash, it collapsed and scattered on the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust.Zoro sheathed his sword, took off his bandana, walked over to Barbarossa, who was buried in the sand, and reached out to pull him up.Fortunately, there was soft sand underneath. Aside from his nose being pushed crooked, losing two teeth, and some abrasions on his body, Barbarossa was not seriously hurt."Cough, cough... cough..." Barbarossa coughed, spitting out the sand in his mouth, and looked at Zoro with gratitude in his eyes. "Did you save me? Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, my brothers and I would have been finished today!""It's fine as long as you're okay." Zoro waved his hand, his tone flat. "We have a ship's doctor over there who can take a look at your injuries."Zoro helped Barbarossa to the Straw Hat crew. In fact, from the very beginning, the Straw Hat crew hadn't disliked this group of Sand Pirates—although they looked fierce, they never led danger toward the Straw Hat crew from start to finish. Even Barbarossa was willing to use his own body to protect his underlings and ship. This sense of loyalty made everyone feel a bit more favorably toward them."Oh my... thank you so much." Barbarossa touched his crooked nose and said with a bitter smile, "You don't know how many people are crushed to death every year by the dung balls pushed by desert dung beetles! I almost died here today, but fortunately, I met you.""You just said... that ball is... dung?" Zoro's voice suddenly became a bit shaky. He looked sharply at the black fragments scattered on the ground, and his expression changed bit by bit."Yeah!" Barbarossa nodded, looking matter-of-fact. "I don't know how that desert dung beetle pressed the dung so big and hard, even harder than stone! If it weren't for you just now, we definitely would have been crushed flat by this 'dung ball'.""That means... I damn well cut dung?" Zoro's voice completely changed pitch. He stiffly lowered his head, looking at wado ichimonji in his hand, his eyes filled with disbelief and breakdown—the extent of which was no less than Sanji's reaction when he first saw his hand-drawn wanted poster."Mark! Quick! Clean my sword! One hundred times... no! One thousand times!" Zoro suddenly raised his head, grabbed Mark's arm, and thrust wado ichimonji in front of him, his tone filled with urgency and madness."Okay, okay, okay! Don't rush!" Looking at wado ichimonji, he quickly took half a step back, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "I'll clean it for you right away! That... I just backed up because my feet were out of control, I definitely didn't mean to be disgusted! Really!" While explaining, he hurriedly activated his ability to give wado ichimonji a full-body "dry cleaning."Soon, wado ichimonji was cleaned until it sparkled, not even a speck of dirt could be seen. But Zoro still slumped his shoulders listlessly, holding the sword in his hand, muttering non-stop: "I'm sorry, Kuina... wado ichimonji is no longer clean... I actually used it to cut that kind of thing..." That appearance, why was it so like that one guy...Unlike Zoro's breakdown, Luffy and the others were chatting enthusiastically with the crew of the sand pirate ship.Barbarossa had someone bring the sand pirate ship over to block the wind and sand outside. Everyone simply set up a grill on the sand and began preparing for an open-air barbecue.Sanji was in charge of grilling the meat, Mark helped process the ingredients on the side, and Usoppchatted with the underlings on the sand pirate ship about strange stories in the desert. The whole scene was lively and warm.Ace walked over with two mugs of beer, handed one to Barbarossa, and took one for himself. He tilted his head back, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and asked: "You often roam the desert, so you should be very familiar with this area, right? Have you heard of the Blackbeard Pirates?"There was a hint of imperceptible expectation in his eyes; after all, this was one of the main reasons he came to Alabasta.Barbarossa took the beer, gulped down a large mouthful, let out a burp, thought for a moment, and said: "The Blackbeard Pirates? Heard of them! I heard other Sand Pirates mention them a couple of days ago, saying they seemed to have gone to the west of Alabasta, but I don't know exactly what they were doing.""Oh? Is the information reliable?" Ace's eyes lit up instantly, his body leaning forward slightly, his tone filled with irrepressible excitement. Blackbeard was the person he had to find, and he couldn't let this lead go under any circumstances."It's not very certain," Barbarossa scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "But what is certain is that that group did indeed leave Yuba. A few days ago, when we went to look for water sources near Yuba, we saw traces of them."Hearing the word "Yuba," Ace fell silent. He glanced at Luffy, who was laughing and playing with the Sand Pirates, and then looked at the others, his eyes becoming complicated. He knew he had to leave."Big Brother Ace, are you really going to chase after Blackbeard?" Mark noticed Ace starting to pack his backpack, quickly put down what he had in his hands, and stepped forward to ask. He could feel the determination in Ace, but he was also worried about his safety."Ace, aren't you going to Yuba anymore?" Luffy also noticed the commotion here, asking vaguely with a piece of meat still in his mouth. Although he was sometimes slow, he could feel that this time Acewas leaving, it might be a long time before they met again.Ace put down his backpack, reached out to ruffle Luffy's hair, his movements gentle: "Luffy, keep improving your strength, and take good care of yourself and your companions."Then, he turned to Mark, patted him on the shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of gratification: "Mark, I can feel your concern. Don't worry, I'll be careful. You also need to protect everyone well, especially Luffy; don't let him be too impulsive. This is my Vivre Card—do you know how to use it?""The old man taught me," Mark said. After both sides exchanged Vivre Cards!Ace shouldered his backpack stuffed with water and food, waved vigorously at everyone, didn't say goodbye, and turned to walk toward the western desert. His back was stretched long in the sunset, carrying a sense of resolution and firmness. He always believed that they would definitely meet again, somewhere in the ocean, in the most dazzling manner.