assembly hall, the arrogance of the "Sand Crocodile" long since worn down to nothing but wretchedness.His signature black coat was torn with a large gash, its edges caked with sand and dried bloodstains.His slicked-back hair, once neatly groomed, was matted into strands, stuck to his forehead mixed with dust; the cut below his eye was still seeping blood, and droplets trickled down his cheek to his chin.Yet the murderous intent in his eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest; instead, it was as thick as poisoned sand, locking onto Luffy opposite him, his very breathing heavy with gritted teeth."Who do you think I am? Desert Spada!"He roared and swung his right arm, and yellow sand surged in front of him, condensing into two thorns as thick as arms—the spikes glinted coldly, like vipers just emerging from the sand, winding toward Luffy with a hissing sound.Sand grains flaked off the thorns, making a faint, crisp sound as they hit the rubble, as if even the air were being tightened by this ferocity.Luffy was in Gear 2, his skin flushed a light rouge, the veins beneath his skin pulsing like taut earthworms, each "huffing" breath carrying a scorching heat, his chest heaving enough to reveal the outline of his ribs.But his speed was astonishing; his footsteps left no trace on the rubble, leaving only a trail of pale red afterimages as he easily dodged the coiling thorns—The thorns "slapped" against the stone pillar behind him, instantly gouging it with dense scratches; the pillar swayed, and several pieces of rubble "thudded" onto the ground, kicking up fine sand.The two remained in a stalemate: Luffy darted through the ruins like a red lightning bolt, eyes fixed on Crocodile's movements, searching for an opening; Crocodile, meanwhile, tracked Luffy's afterimages with his gaze, fine sand leaking between his fingers—he was waiting, waiting for the moment Luffy's speed slowed, to finish him off with a lethal blow.Seeing his thorns miss time and again, Crocodile's patience ran out. He abruptly retracted his arm, and the yellow sand "rustled" as it dispersed into fine grains and fell back to the ground.Now! Luffy's eyes lit up. Taking advantage of the opening while his opponent retracted his move, his right leg suddenly stretched like a fully drawn rubber band, whipping toward Crocodile's face with a "whoosh" that cut through the air: "Gum-Gum—Armament: Leg Whip!""Smack!" The kick landed solidly on Crocodile's left cheek, the immense force sending him flying backward, spinning three times in the air before crashing heavily into a pile of rubble.Dust "whooshed" up, burying half his leg. He groaned, but didn't immediately get up; instead, he propped himself up on the ground and raised his head, a sinister smile curling at the corners of his mouth like a viper flicking its tongue: "Straw Hat, the fight is over."The golden hook on his left hand suddenly shimmered with an eerie purple in the light—it turned out the outer metal casing had long since fallen off, revealing a hollow hook tip covered in tiny pores, with viscous purple venom dripping from it.It sizzled against the floor, instantly corroding a small, dark-brown hole. Only then did Luffy feel a piercing pain in his shoulder; looking down, he saw a thin streak of blood glowing with an eerie purple, crawling up his skin toward his neck like a vine tightening around his throat.Immediately after, his heart felt as if it were being gripped by cold iron pincers, the pain causing his vision to black out, and the red of Gear 2 instantly faded from his skin.He fell heavily to the ground with a "thud," the frothy blood bubbling from his mouth and nose dripping onto the rubble, spreading into a small patch of dark red.He propped himself up with his hands, fingernails digging into the crevices of the stone, and even though his body was convulsing uncontrollably, he refused to collapse—he remembered telling his friends in the desert that they "must win," remembered the sight of Nami crying, and remembered the resolute gazes of his companions.It turned out that Crocodile retracting his move and taking the hit were all a ruse, merely a deliberate opening to lure him in close and scratch his skin with the poisoned hook."It's over!"Crocodile finally stood up, brushed the sand off his body, and swung his right arm violently; yellow sand "whooshed" and condensed into four desert blades, each half a person's height—the blades were deathly cold, harder than refined steel, and they slashed down toward Luffy's head.The wind from the blades made Luffy's hair stand on end, but everything before his eyes began to blur, even Crocodile's shadow becoming a double image.Just at this critical moment, a cool, clear voice pierced through the chaos: "Hundred Flower Bloom—Delphinium!"Countless white arms suddenly sprouted from the air around Luffy, slender yet strong, like blooming epiphyllum flowers supporting his body. They carried him as he rolled violently to the side.Almost simultaneously, there was a deafening "boom" as the four blades smashed into the spot where Luffy had been lying; the stone floor was instantly shattered, rubble sprayed, revealing a bottomless, pitch-black hole beneath."Robin?" Luffy spat out frothy blood, his vision slowly clearing, to see Robin crouching beside him, holding a transparent syringe—the tube had a reindeer head icon drawn by Chopper stuck to it.Robin gave him a reassuring look, nimbly pulled back his sleeve, and the needle "popped" into his arm. As she injected the light green liquid, she said softly: "An antidote Chopper made from the venom sac of a desert giant scorpion; it can temporarily suppress the poison, so don't push yourself.""Heh, came all this way to die?"Crocodile approached step by step, his boot soles "creaking" against the rubble like bones being crushed."Robin, my former partner is going to be jealous." The murderous intent in his tone was like sand-coated ice, bone-chillingly cold.Robin ignored his taunt, her fingertips trembling slightly as she closed her eyes—she was sensing the water source on this floor. Crocodile feared water; as long as he got wet, she could temporarily stop his sandification.A few seconds later, she snapped her eyes open, her gaze locking onto a tin water bucket in the corner: the bucket was covered in dents, and the half-bucket of water inside rippled, likely left behind by soldiers cleaning earlier.She twitched her fingertips, and with a "splash," multiple arms lifted the bucket into the air, pouring the dirty water onto Crocodile's back—water droplets exploded against his black coat, instantly staining a large dark patch.Almost simultaneously, she activated her ability: "Cuerpo Fleur: Double Clutch!"Several white arms sprouted from Crocodile's back and thighs, fingers gripping his joints tightly, attempting to snap his spine and leg bones.But Crocodile just sneered, the sand all over his body "rustling," and the dampened coat instantly dried, not even a trace of water left—he had sucked all the moisture out of his body."So what if you know my weakness?" He spun around violently, his arm transforming into a sand whip, which lashed toward Robin's face with a sharp, whistling wind."The gap in power will leave you in complete despair!""Smack!" Just as the sand whip was about to strike Robin's face, Luffy suddenly lunged over to block it.The whip lashed his back, leaving a deep red bloodstain, and beads of blood instantly seeped out. He groaned, but grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth:"Saved, thanks Robin!" He turned to stare at Crocodile, his eyes as bright as burning fire,"Your opponent is me."He threw a punch, but his body hadn't recovered yet; the punch was a beat too slow, and Crocodileeasily dodged it by turning to the side."Robin, go destroy his backup!"Luffy shouted, panting, his voice weak but still firm, "Only you can find it quickly; leave this to me!"Robin looked at the light in his eyes and nodded, a trace of worry hidden in her voice:"Don't push yourself, I'll be back soon." With that, she turned and rushed toward the side door of the assembly hall, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the corridor."Do you think you can escape?" Crocodile was furious, swinging his right arm, and the yellow sand "whooshed" into a desert blade twice as large as the previous one—the blade was thick and heavy, its cold light blinding, harder than refined steel, and it slashed down toward the top of Luffy's head. "Desert La Spada!""It's useless!" Luffy's eyes narrowed, his arms instantly coated in black Armament Haki, as if wrapped in steel. He spread his arms and precisely clamped onto the blade. "Gum-Gum—Clamp!" Luffyperformed a 100% bare-handed blade catch."Snap!" A crisp sound exploded, and the heavy sand sword shattered into countless grains, falling "rustling" to the ground.Luffy panted, cold sweat beading on his forehead—he knew he couldn't beat Crocodile right now; he had to wait for the Gear 2 cooldown to end, so he had to find a way to stall."Gum-Gum—Leg Whip!" His right leg stretched, whipping toward Crocodile's waist with a powerful wind.But his opponent was prepared, and his body "whooshed" into sand, becoming a cloud of yellow mist.Luffy's leg passed through the sand mist, missing, and kicked into a pile of rubble, sending stones flying everywhere with a "clatter."Luffy rolled his eyes, a sudden idea forming.He took a deep breath, his chest swelling like a balloon, and then his head "whooshed" and inflated—his skin stretched until it shone, quickly becoming half the size of the room, his mouth opening wide enough to swallow an ox, even his teeth looking goofy:"Gum-Gum—Big Mouth Gulp!"Before Crocodile could restore his physical form, Luffy lunged over and swallowed his upper body into his mouth.He quickly pinched his neck with his hands to prevent the sand from sliding into his stomach—partly because he feared Crocodile would cause chaos in his gut, and partly because the sand was scraping his tongue painfully, making even breathing difficult.The scene that followed was comical. Luffy, with Crocodile's upper body in his mouth, ran wildly through the ruins, hands clutching his neck, occasionally knocking over piles of rubble or kicking broken pillars, kicking up sand that filled the sky.Crocodile struggled desperately in his mouth, sand leaking out from the corners of Luffy's lips, but with his neck tightly pinched, he could only let out muffled roars, like a beast with its mouth gagged.Luffy was flushed red, his eyes wide—the sand in his mouth was gritty and dry, and his chest felt so tight he could barely breathe.Finally, unable to hold on any longer, he opened his mouth wide and "bleh" spat out a cloud of sand mist.The sand mist condensed into Crocodile's form in mid-air. He stumbled upon landing, his face ashen and dark as if painted with ink. He clutched his chest, turned, and retched:"Ugh... you motherf***er... you actually ate garlic..."Meanwhile, on the coast of Erumal, the sea breeze whipped the salty, damp air against the black reefs. Amidst the "crashing" sound of the waves, a reef suddenly "cracked" and split down the middle, the cross-section as neat as if sliced by a blade.Vice Admiral Momonga gripped his sword, his brow furrowed into a knot—the blade was bright and reflective, without a single nick, yet when he had slashed at the kid opposite him just now, it had only left a thin streak of blood.He even suspected something was wrong with his blade, so he tested it by cutting the reef; but since it could slice the reef, what on earth was that kid's body made of?Mark leaned against another reef, arms crossed, a mocking smile on his lips.He wore a black vest, and there were several shallow scars on his fair arms. The sea breeze brushed through his long black hair.When the tips of his hair swept across his shoulders, he deliberately shook them—droplets of blood slid down his arm.They hit the reef with a "tap," and were instantly swept away by the waves, as if he hadn't been injured at all."Stop staring at that tetanus-inducing blade of yours."Mark's voice was full of disdain. "It's so dull it'd be scratchy even for wiping your ass; you have the nerve to bring it out to cut people?"He straightened his body, patted his chest, and raised an eyebrow provocatively,"Come on, if you're a brother, come and cut me."A "#" vein instantly popped on Momonga's forehead, his hand gripping the sword trembling with rage."Don't get too arrogant!"He gritted his teeth and raised his sword, the blade glinting coldly, "I am a Marine Vice Admiral, and I will cut you down today!"But he didn't move—he had suffered a major loss earlier from a sneak attack by the black lion nearby, and now, unsure of Mark's true strength, rushing in recklessly would only lead to another loss.This conflict of wanting to fight but not daring to, burned like a fire in his heart, his very breathing heavy with agitation.On the other side, in the main street of the assembly hall! The standoff between Zoro and Daz Bonescontinued.The surrounding stone pillars were covered in blade marks, rubble and sand spread a thin carpet over the ground, and even the air seemed wrapped in the chill of blade winds.Daz radiated a steel-like coldness, his skin shimmering with a cold, hard metallic luster, his whole being exuding an icy aura.He stood with arms crossed, the muscle lines on his arms taut, each breath sounding as heavy as hammering iron; he was clearly full of confidence in his Dice-Dice Fruit ability—after all, for so many years, no one had been able to break his steel skin."Since awakening the Dice-Dice Fruit, no swordsman has been able to lay a finger on me."His voice was as cold as clashing metal, devoid of any emotion, "You are the same, swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates."Zoro ignored the taunt, gripping the sword handles with both hands, the third blade clenched in his mouth, an uninhibited smile curling his lips.His black coat was stained with sand, yet he remained standing tall. The blade of wado ichimonjiglowed with a warm light, the sword shura was wrapped in a biting cold, and the blade of yodo himawari seemed to be surrounded by pale orange-red flames, his very breath exuding the sharp edge of a swordsman."Today is the day your ability fails." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable firmness, like a blade pressed against stone, resonating clearly.As he finished speaking, Zoro's figure moved like lightning, the rubble beneath his feet "creaking" as he stepped on it, and he charged toward Daz like a bolt of black lightning."Three Sword Style—Bull Needle!" All three swords swung simultaneously, so fast they left afterimages, the blades whistling through the air like a rainstorm as they stabbed toward Daz's joints—each strike precisely seeking the gaps in his steel skin, attempting to tear open an opening.But Daz didn't dodge or evade, standing in place and letting the blades fall upon him."Clang, clang, clang!" The crisp sound of collisions echoed in the corridor, the blades leaving only faint white marks on his skin that disappeared in an instant. He didn't even frown, completely unharmed."Is that all you've got?" Daz sneered, the disdain in his tone like scattered ice shards. "Is this the strength of the Straw Hat Pirates? How disappointing."As he spoke, his arms suddenly transformed into two blades half a person's height, their cold light blinding, and he slashed toward Zoro's neck with a sharp blade wind—the speed was astonishing, the blades emitting a "humming" vibration as they cut through the air, even the surrounding sand grains being swept up.Zoro reacted quickly, dodging to the side, and the blade grazed his coat. With a "rip," the black fabric split open with a long gash, the edges fraying, revealing the white undershirt inside.He looked down at the gash, his brows furrowing, his tone tinged with a bit of heartache: "Hey! This is new! I just bought it yesterday, this is a desert limited edition!""You're actually worried about a piece of clothing?" Daz was thoroughly enraged—his full-power strike, and the opponent only cared about a coat; this was naked contempt!"You don't take me seriously at all!" He crossed his arms, the blades glinting coldly. "Spiral Hollow!"Two sharp blade winds were swung from his arms, sweeping toward Zoro with powerful force, kicking up the rubble on the ground to fly like bullets. Stone pillars were sliced by the blade winds, instantly splitting into two deep trenches, sand "rustling" as it fell.Zoro narrowed his eyes, the playful expression fading.He remembered what he had encountered in the desert—a mountain-like dung ball, hard as a piece of steel. At the time, he had just cut down a desert giant scorpion, and suddenly had a flash of insight—perceiving the "rhythm" of the dung ball.He closed his eyes, gripped the sword handles firmly with both hands, his fingertips feeling the "rhythm" beneath Daz's steel skin.Suddenly, Zoro snapped his eyes open, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. He swung all three swords simultaneously, the blades wrapped in cold light, cutting down along that "rhythm": "Three Sword Style... Slash!""Swish, swish, swish!" The three sword flashes were too fast to see, with only the soft sound of the air being sliced.Daz's pupils shrank, and he suddenly felt a sharp pain spreading through his whole body—his steel skin had been easily sliced open, and blood crawled down his joints, staining his clothes red.He looked at Zoro in disbelief, his body swaying before he fell heavily to the ground. After a dull "thud," he quickly went still.Zoro sheathed his swords, the "click" echoing in the street.He looked down and touched the gash in his coat, a helpless smile curling his lips:"Looks like I'll have to sew it myself. It might look ugly, but it's better than being slaughtered by Nami." After saying this, he didn't look at Daz on the ground again, turning and walking in the direction where Nami might be—he had to confirm she was safe, and by the way, look for some needle and thread.
Chapter 69: A Battle with a ScentThe Southeast Gate of Alabasta lacked the heavy barrier of a city wall; instead, the gloom of war hung over it like a thick mist of sand.A hot wind whipped past, carrying grains of sand. The air, which should have been dry, was thick with the choking, sulfurous stench unique to gunpowder explosions.Mixed with sand and dust, it clung to the skin, heated to a sear by the continuous flashes of fire.This was no heavily guarded pass; at this moment, it had become a "purgatory playground" for Usoppand Chopper.The tower-like Mr. 4 stood on a sand dune thirty meters away, his green combat suit stained dark with sweat, clinging to his bloated frame.Despite the sweltering heat, a gray scarf was wrapped around his neck. His golden hair, parted down the middle, was dusted with sand, yet it didn't hinder his movements in the slightest—He gripped a massive baseball bat labeled "4t," his arms not even trembling as he held it.The bat was grayish-white with a handle wrapped in black cloth. Every time he shifted, the base of the bat pressed shallow pits into the sand, causing grains to trickle down the edges.Standing by his white desert boots was Lassoo, the gun that had eaten the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Dachshund.Its short, greenish-gray fur was matted against its body like a layer of dust. Beneath an ordinary dog's head was the metal chassis of a bazooka, its cold, hard lines clashing with the soft fur.Every few seconds, it tilted its head back and spat out a round, white baseball with a "pfft."The baseball looked perfectly ordinary, made of white leather with faint red stitching.But when the first baseball was struck by Mr. 4's massive bat, Usopp's expression instantly changed—he knew all too well how deadly those things were.BOOM!The baseball whistled past the tips of Usopp's hair and slammed into the sand pile behind him, instantly erupting into a ball of orange-red flame.The shockwave sent him tumbling through the air for two and a half rotations. Sparks ignited small flames on the back of his clothes, so he quickly rolled into the sand.The scorching sand smothered the flames but scraped his back painfully, making him grimace as he choked on several mouthfuls of grit.Before he could even steady himself, a second and third baseball came flying in quick succession.Each one was swung with a whistling roar by Mr. 4's giant bat, hurtling toward the ground like cannonballs and landing with a thunderous crash.Craters of varying depths were quickly blasted into the sand. Wisps of blue smoke rose from the bottom of the pits, staining the golden sand gray-black before being swept away by the hot wind."This is so frustrating!" Usopp lunged into a roll to the right, sand pouring into his collar and chafing his skin.He had just pushed himself up when a baseball landed right where he had been lying. With a loud bang, the flying sand covered half his face.He spat out the sand, wiped his eyes, and looked at Chopper, who was nimbly dodging nearby. His voice was full of urgency:"We can't keep this up, Chopper! Sooner or later, we'll be buried in the sand or blown into meat pies!"Chopper had already switched to his reindeer form, his antlers sturdier than usual.He wasn't as disheveled as Usopp; his four legs moved across the sand as light as a breeze—Each time a baseball exploded, he managed to leap away during the gaps in the blasts, his hooves leaving a trail of delicate prints in the sand.But before the tracks could settle, they were leveled by the subsequent shockwaves, leaving not a trace behind."The firepower is so intense, what are we supposed to do?!"Chopper shouted back, and just as the words left his mouth, a baseball flew toward his flank.He twisted immediately, his antlers narrowly missing the edge of the ball. An explosion followed behind him, and hot wind lashed sand against his back."We can't get close at all, and there's no end to the baseballs Lassoo spits... not to mention that hag underground!"Before he could finish, the sand beneath Chopper's feet bulged slightly, the grains trembling gently.His heart tightened, and he lunged backward—a split second later, a pair of black mole claws thrust out from the sand.The nails were as sharp as small daggers, their tips stained with damp soil.That was Miss Merry Christmas, who had eaten the Mogu Mogu no Mi. She stayed hidden underground like a dormant venomous snake, striking whenever she saw an opening, leaving no room for even a moment's relaxation."I've got it!" Usopp's eyes suddenly lit up. He lowered his voice and shouted to Chopper, "You be the bait! Separate the dachshund from the tower man and create an opening for me!""Oh! Leave it to me... wait, why me?!"Chopper had nodded subconsciously, but then his ears shot up. His teeth became jagged, and his eyes widened into circles."Why am I the bait?!"Usopp quickly adopted a serious and sincere expression, even leaning forward a couple of steps as his voice rose in pitch:"Let's put it another way! Chopper, this glorious mission of 'pinning down the enemy's main force and creating a critical opening for the team' is being entrusted to you!I know you are the bravest and most agile fighter in our Straw Hat Crew! No one else can do it but you!" He didn't forget to give Chopper a thumbs up!Chopper instantly reverted to his small form. His eyes narrowed into crescents, and the corners of his mouth twitched upward, though he still acted tough:"Even if you call me the best, it won't make me happy... you bastard!"Despite his words, his cheeks were flushed red, his rear wiggled uncontrollably from side to side, and his front paws waved softly.That bit of duplicitous stubbornness was completely given away by those uncontrollable little movements.But the enemy didn't give them any more time for idle chatter. Mr. 4 raised his giant bat once more, and Lassoo tilted his head to spit out a baseball.The bat struck the ball with a whistling sound. With a dull thud, the baseball flew toward Chopper like a cannonball.Simultaneously, the sand to Chopper's left bulged again. Miss Merry Christmas's claws were already closing in on his hooves, the cold tips almost brushing his fur."Watch this! rumble ball!" Chopper bit down on a yellow bead from his pocket, its surface shimmering with a soft luster.He gave it a light crunch, and with a crisp snap, the bead broke and was swallowed by Chopper.The next second, his body erupted with incredible speed. His four hooves pounded along the edges of the sand riddled with burrows as he charged straight toward the position held by Mr. 4 and Lassoo—The burrows in the sand were exactly where Miss Merry Christmas was hiding."Caught you, little raccoon dog!"Miss Merry Christmas's raspy voice echoed from the tunnels, filled with smug satisfaction.Almost simultaneously, a pair of mole claws lunged from the sand beneath Chopper, aiming for his hind legs with a cold glint!"Jumping Point!"Chopper's hind legs instantly exploded with even greater power, his body leaping upward like a spring, tracing a smooth arc through the air.He looked down at the missed claws, his ears standing up in anger as he bared his teeth and shouted:"And another thing! I'm not a raccoon dog, I'm a reindeer!"Seeing Chopper with nowhere to maneuver in the air, Mr. 4 showed no expression but unhurriedly raised his giant bat—Lassoo happened to spit out a new baseball. With a slight dip of his wrist, the giant bat struck the ball with precision.The white baseball whistled through the air, heading straight for the airborne Chopper, leaving him no room to dodge.Chopper's gaze sharpened, and his body shrunk at a speed visible to the naked eye.From his half-man-sized reindeer form, he reverted to his usual small form, avoiding the baseball's trajectory as gracefully as a fluffy ball.Then, with a "patter," he landed on the sand in front of Mr. 4. The moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately switched to his human form."Arm Point!"Chopper's right arm suddenly swelled, as if filled with a surge of scorching power—Distinct muscle lines tightened like steel cables, and the pulsing veins beneath his skin were clearly visible.He brought his hooves together in front of his chest, precisely outlining a void in the shape of a cherry blossom, then pulled back violently.It was as if he were clutching the surrounding air into a cherry blossom-shaped charge.The next second, his rear hooves kicked hard into the sand, kicking up a half-meter spray of grit as his body launched forward like an arrow from a bow, carving a shallow trench in the yellow sand behind him."Kokutei Sakura!"THUD!A dull impact rang out. Mr. 4's massive frame was sent flying backward like a tower struck by a titanic force.His back slammed into a distant ruined wall with a thunderous crash—the wall was already precarious, and upon his impact,A massive hole was smashed open in an instant, with gravel and dust falling in showers, burying half of his body."Good job, Chopper! Now it's my turn!"Usopp's voice came from nearby; without Mr. 4's protection, Lassoo was much easier to deal with.The slingshot in his hand was already fully drawn, with a small white pellet loaded in the pouch. His fingers gripped the pouch tightly as his eyes focused on aiming at Lassoo's nose."Special Move! Pepper Star!"The white pellet flew out with a whistling sound, exploding precisely right next to Lassoo's nose.Fine pepper powder scattered like a mist, landing entirely on the tip of Lassoo's nose.Lassoo's nose wrinkled instantly, a gurgling sound came from his throat, and his ears drooped. He was clearly suffering from the stinging pepper powder."Now, Chopper!" Usopp shouted loudly, his voice full of excitement.Chopper reacted immediately, dodging a claw that emerged from the sand again. He then quickly ran to Lassoo's side, reaching out with his paw to tuck Lassoo under his arm—Unable to hold it in any longer from the pepper powder, Lassoo let out a violent sneeze, "Achoo!"That sneeze triggered something; his mouth suddenly began firing explosive baseballs incessantly like a machine gun, going "rat-a-tat-tat!"The white baseballs flew out one after another with slight whistling sounds."You like digging holes, don't you?!"Holding Lassoo, Chopper turned to face the opening of the sand hole, pointing Lassoo's mouth directly into it."I... rat-a-tat-tat!"The white baseballs were shot into the hole one by one, and a series of explosions immediately echoed from within, "Boom! Boom!"Flames burst from the hole, illuminating Chopper's face with flickering light, even tinting the fur on his face with an orange-red glow."Aaaah—!"A shrill scream came from the hole, and Miss Merry Christmas was blown out, her entire body charred black.Her clothes were riddled with holes, several strands of her hair were singed and emitting black smoke, and she flew straight up into the sky.Seeing this, Chopper quickly grabbed Lassoo by the ears and aimed his mouth at Miss Merry Christmasin the air, continuing to fire baseballs with a "rat-a-tat-tat."But Lassoo had already spat out too many baseballs, and his body was clearly becoming weak. The baseballs he spat out grew smaller and smaller, until they were eventually only the size of a thumb.When those little balls hit the ground, they only made a light "pop." Their explosive power was weaker than a child's firecracker, barely even kicking up any sand.Chopper looked at Lassoo in his arms; the creature's body had deflated, and his short greenish-gray fur clung to his metallic mechanical body.He looked like a deflated magic balloon, even his tail was drooping, completely devoid of energy.He couldn't help but mutter, "Could this be the 'scrawny dog' Mark always talks about...?""But it doesn't matter!" Chopper's eyes lit up as he immediately switched forms. "Horn Point!"His antlers instantly became thick and hard, their tips gleaming with a faint luster like two sharp weapons.Just as Miss Merry Christmas fell from the sky, Chopper tilted his body slightly, and his antlers struck her precisely in the waist—With a "thud," Miss Merry Christmas was sent flying again, tracing an arc through the air until she became a tiny speck of light and disappeared into the distant horizon like a falling star."Curse you... my partner..."A low voice came as Mr. 4 crawled out of the sand pile, a faint hoof print left on his chest and a hole in his green combat suit.He picked up the giant bat that had fallen on the ground, his steps somewhat staggering, yet his speaking speed was still frustratingly slow, every word sounding as if it were squeezed out of his throat:"I'm going to... crush you..."He carried the four-ton giant bat and walked slowly toward Chopper, the bat dragging a long furrow in the sand and pushing the grains aside."I've been waiting for you!"Usopp's voice suddenly rang out. He had produced a black gas mask from somewhere and quickly pulled it over his face.Only a pair of bright, triumphant eyes were visible.The slingshot in his hand was drawn once again, with a white ball loaded in the pouch.The surface of the ball was very smooth; unlike the previous pepper powder, it looked like a small white sphere, tinged with mystery."Special Move! Usopp Special Ultra Special Star!"The moment Usopp shouted the name, he released his fingers, and the white ball shot out like a sharp arrow.It moved so fast it almost left an afterimage, flying straight toward Mr. 4.Mr. 4 had just raised his giant bat, intending to swat the ball away, when it reached him.A second later, the white ball popped with a "snap" and turned into a transparent plastic bag, with two silver locking hooks attached to the handles—The plastic bag landed squarely over Mr. 4's head, and the locking hooks automatically clicked shut.The bag was fixed firmly on his head, leaving not even a single gap.Mr. 4 was stunned, his body freezing in place, clearly not having reacted to what had happened.A few seconds later, his face began to turn red, then his mouth hung wide open as he foamed at the mouth. His massive frame, like a tower losing its support,Collapsed to the ground with a thunderous "Boom!" The impact caused the surrounding sand to jump and even made the distant ruined walls tremble.Inside the transparent plastic bag, a pair of yellow socks was particularly conspicuous—they were stained with an unidentified black substance.Faint black smoke could be seen rising from the socks. Clearly, the "scent" of these socks had done its job.That indescribable odor was so strong that even Chopper could smell it from a distance."How about that, Chopper! My Ultra Special Star is amazing, isn't it!"Usopp took off his gas mask and triumphantly shook his fist, his face full of a proud smile, even his eyebrows arching up.Chopper walked over pinching his nose, his dark eyes full of disgust and his ears drooping. His voice sounded muffled:"I think... I need a gas mask too... that smell... blegh..."Usopp walked over, threw an arm around Chopper's shoulder, and patted his back with a boastful tone:"Chopper, this battle of ours is worth singing about on the ship for a whole year!""Really?" Chopper immediately forgot the stench, his eyes sparkling with little stars and his ears perking up."Of course!" Usopp puffed out his chest and said proudly,"Think about it, Zoro and the others are all fighting one-on-one, but we were two against three!""A dachshund that can spit explosive baseballs, a giant fat man as strong as a tower, and a mole that can dig holes! The fact that we won...""It's practically a legendary battle!""Wow!" Chopper gave an excited shout, jumping twice in place with joy.Still clutching the deflated Lassoo, he added, "I didn't expect my first time participating in such an important battle to land me straight on the legendary list!"Seeing Chopper so happy, Usopp laughed along and began to talk incessantly about his special move:"Let me tell you, the production process for my 'Usopp Special Ultra Special Star' was very complex!""I specifically found a pair of socks I hadn't washed for a month, wearing them even while I slept, just to accumulate enough 'power'!""Then I put the socks in a plastic bag, sealed it tight, and left it in the sun for three days and nights to let the smell ferment properly..."The more Chopper listened, the more he felt something was wrong. He pinched his nose even harder, his fur standing on end, and his face changed color:"Usopp... please stop! I feel like I'm going to throw up!"On the distant sand, Mr. 4 still lay foaming at the mouth, and thin smoke still rose from the sand hole.The hot winds of Alabasta continued to blow, swirling the sand on the ground, but the sounds of explosions at the Southeast Gate had ceased.All that remained was the sound of Usopp's animated boasting and Chopper's disgusted complaints,Echoing across the open desert and gradually drifting into the distant yellow sands.
Chapter 70: It's Thundering!Lead-gray clouds, like water-soaked cotton, weighed heavily upon the broken battlements of the royal palace.The white marble pillars outside the city gate were broken in two, their cross-sections still stained with dark red blood, and the reliefs, blackened by the fires of war, exposed their off-white stone cores.Nami tightly gripped the pitch-black three-section staff; the unique cold hardness of the tyrant iron in every section gave her immense courage.For within every iron tube lay Usopp's ingenuity:Blue Cold Bubbles wrapped in delicate frost, red Hot Bubbles glowing with a warm halo, and black Electric Balls crackling with arcs of electricity rolled gently at the bottom of the tubes, like three waking stars held close to her chest."Heh, is it time for this game of cat and mouse to end?"Minced footsteps emerged from behind the ruins as Paula stepped over the rubble in her stilettos, her heels making a piercing "creak" as they crushed broken glass.Tight leather pants hugged her long legs, her hips swaying slightly as she walked; her posture was lazy, yet it concealed a murderous intent.The moment the five fingers of her right hand slowly straightened, inch-long black spikes suddenly protruded from the base of her nails—the spikes reflected the dim light, glinting with a metallic luster colder than any blade."The rule of Baroque Works: kill the support first."She looked up at Nami, her tone filled with contempt."A little girl like you, who can only hide behind men and cheer, is perfect for Big Sister here to practice on."Before her voice had even faded, Paula's figure suddenly lunged forward, her high heels clicking sharply against the stone slabs as she pounced in front of Nami almost instantly.Her left arm straightened, the spikes at her fingertips pointing directly at Nami's heart."Stinger Finger!"The sound of breaking air was as thin as a needle—with this amount of force, any ordinary armor would likely have been pierced right through on the spot.Nami's eyes suddenly sharpened, and her wrists flipped with extreme speed. With a "click," the three-section staff snapped together in her palm into a two-meter-long black iron staff.Taking half a step back, the staff traced an arc along the ground, precisely parrying just below Paula's wrist—This was the "Force-Deflecting Form" of the Baji Staff Technique. The hardness of the tyrant ironexploded at that moment with a crisp "Clang!"Like refined iron striking hard stone, Paula's spikes were actually jarred, bending outward at a ninety-degree angle."So hard..."Paula's brow twitched, and she suddenly stomped her left foot down. Three finger-thick spikes instantly shot out from the sole of her shoe, stabbing straight for Nami's calf."Stinger Step!"Three deep holes were poked into the stone path by the spikes, and rubble splashed against Nami's pant legs.Using the long staff for support, she leaped into the air. Just as her toes left the ground, the staff "clicked" apart, and she gripped a section in each hand.The middle section slid along her forearm to behind her elbow, barely avoiding the spikes—The spikes at the tip of the shoe brushed past her ankle, bringing a gust of wind.Upon landing, Nami spun on her toes over the broken stone slabs, her right-hand short staff whistling through the air as it swept toward Paula's waist.Paula didn't even dodge. The skin around her waist suddenly bulged, and dense short spikes sprouted out with a "shua," like a stand of upright black thorns."Clang!" The short staff struck the spikes, numbing Nami's wrist, but the resilience of the tyrant iron far exceeded Paula's imagination—The spikes, capable of piercing through rock, were shattered by this single strike."Impossible!" Paula's expression finally changed. She retreated two steps abruptly, her high heels dragging two shallow grooves into the ground.Her legs bent slightly, and it looked as if something was scurrying beneath the skin of her entire body.The next second, black spikes protruded from her arms, shoulders, thighs, and even the sides of her cheeks. Short spikes were densely packed, while long ones jutted out like fangs—"Stinger Hedgehog!"She curled into a half-person-high ball of spikes and rolled down the slope of the ruins toward Nami, the spikes making a screeching "creak" as they scraped across the stone slabs.The hard stone slabs were gouged with deep furrows, and rubble was swept up around the spike ball, crackling and popping like a miniature rock storm.Nami retreated step after step, her gaze scanning the ruins as her left hand quietly gripped a section of the short staff.With a flick of her finger, a string of blue Cold Bubbles and a string of red Hot Bubbles drifted out with a "pop."The moment the two types of bubbles collided in mid-air, water vapor billowed up, transforming into a white mist as thin as gauze that enveloped most of the ruins."Baji Staff Technique: Silk Reeling!"Nami let out a low cry, and her right-hand short staff drew a semicircle in front of her. The staff, carrying rotational force, slammed into the side of the spike ball with a "thud"—This strike used clever leverage, instantly knocking the spike ball off course. It crashed into a broken pillar with a "rumble."The marble pillar was riddled with holes, and fragments fell in a shower, hitting the spike ball with dull thuds.But before Nami could catch her breath, Paula had already unfurled from her spike ball state. She looked up sharply.Several arm-thick spikes suddenly sprouted from the top of her head, dark and heavy like spears, stabbing straight for Nami's face— "Sea Urchin Stinger!"A cunning glint flashed in Nami's eyes as she suddenly tossed a Hot Bubble into the air.The water vapor in the white mist was heated by the Hot Bubble and instantly expanded, transforming into three illusions identical to Nami:Each held a three-section staff, each had the same orange short hair, and even the sway of their clothes was identical. They lunged at Paula from the left, right, and rear respectively.This was an illusion created using her Mirage, but it was so realistic that Paula's pupils shrank.The spikes on her arms instantly straightened, and she subconsciously stabbed toward the nearest "Nami"—But as soon as the spikes touched the illusion's hem, the "person" dissolved into a cloud of white mist."A fake?!" In the moment Paula was dazed, the real Nami had already circled behind her. Her right-hand short staff, carrying the weight of the tyrant iron, slammed into Paula's back with a "thud."Paula let out a muffled groan and stumbled forward two steps, but in her stumble, she suddenly kicked backward—A long spike shot out from the heel of her shoe with a "shua," stabbing straight for Nami's lower abdomen. "Stinger Needle!"This counterattack was so fast it was caught her off guard. Nami could only sidestep to dodge, the tip of the spike brushing past her clothes.With a "pffft," it pierced through the broken wall behind her, leaving a dark hole as stone chips showered down."You think that's all I've got?" Nami stood up straight, a smile curling her lips as she flicked out two more bubbles from her left hand:A string of Hot Bubbles drifted slowly, while a string of Cold Bubbles fell quickly. The moment the two types of bubbles met in the air, the water vapor condensed into a dark cloud with a "hum," the cloud growing larger and larger.It actually wove a small thundercloud above the ruins. Silver-blue arcs of electricity scurried through the cloud layer, and muffled thunder rolled out from its base, making the rubble beneath their feet tremble slightly.Paula looked up at the dark cloud, her face finally turning pale. She subconsciously retreated, the heel of her shoe crushing a piece of glass."You... what are you trying to do?"Nami didn't speak, but slowly raised the final section of the short staff in her right hand.The black Electric Ball inside the tube was exceptionally active now, with arcs of electricity jumping across its surface, reflecting a glimmer in her eyes.She stared at Paula's position, took a deep breath, and said in a clear voice, "It's over, Paula!"Before she finished speaking, the Electric Ball was violently tossed toward the thundercloud. "Zzzzt—!" The moment the bubble crashed into the cloud layer, silver-blue lightning, like a giant python breaking its shackles, struck straight down with a sharp sound that tore through the air!That bolt of lightning was blindingly bright, dyeing even the lead-gray clouds silver-white.Paula could even see the jumping arcs of electricity within the lightning and the reflection of the approaching thunderlight in her own pupils."No—!" Her scream was completely swallowed by the thunder.The moment the lightning accurately struck her, the black spikes, like vines drained of their strength, instantly lost their luster and retracted into her body along her skin.Her entire body's muscles convulsed in the current, and she fell stiffly onto the pile of rubble. Her leather pants were charred black, and even her breathing grew weak.But before the lightning had completely dissipated, a green figure suddenly rushed out from the other side of the ruins—Zoro was carrying the scabbards of his Three Sword Style; the scabbards were still stained with dust, and the bloodstain on his temple hadn't been wiped clean, clearly having just won against Mr. 1.He saw Paula lying on the ground and then glimpsed Nami standing under the thundercloud. Frowning, he spoke up, "Hey, Nami, why is it so...""Crack!"A residual bolt of lightning suddenly struck down from the clouds, hitting Zoro squarely on the head.The silver-blue current coursed through his entire body along his green hair, and every strand of hair instantly stood on end, looking exactly like an electrified dandelion.He froze in place, still holding his swords, eyes wide and round, with faint smoke rising from his mouth. It took two seconds before he fell onto the rubble with a "thud."His muttering was slurred and indistinct: "Damn it... just won... this stupid lightning... what's going on..."Nami was stunned for two seconds, then suddenly clutched her stomach and burst out laughing, doubling over until tears almost squeezed out, pointing at his frizzy head:"Zoro! Your... your hair... it's practically a lightning rod!"A ray of warm light finally peeked through the gaps in the clouds, falling on Nami's dust-streaked cheeks and also on Zoro's "frizzy dandelion."The smoke from the palace ruins gradually dissipated, the coldness of the spikes softened by the residual warmth of the thundercloud. This intense duel...finally came to a close with a smoking swordsman and a string of uncontrollable laughter.
Chapter 71: The Straw Hat Crew ReassemblesThe coast of Erumalu—The sound of metal clashing, a piercing screech.Mark gripped Ink Meteor tightly with both hands, currently locked in a fierce struggle against Vice Admiral Momonga's longsword.Where the staff met the blade, sparks showered down like gold dust, embedding themselves into the sand beneath their feet.The veins on Mark's forearms bulged, and his suit had long since been shredded by the sword energy:The left lapel was torn from the collar down to the waist, revealing pale red skin beneath, while only half of the right sleeve remained, with strips of cloth wrapped around his wrist, stained with fresh beads of blood.He gritted his teeth, sweat dripping from his forehead onto the sand, yet he didn't forget to shout out a joke:"Why are you getting so worked up! It's just that one stroke of your 'eight-figure mustache' is missing, making it look like a'seven-figure mustache'. Is that worth chasing me across half the coast to cut me down?"Momonga's expression was even gloomier than the sand beneath his feet.The wound on his forehead was still seeping blood, which flowed down his cheek to his chin and dripped onto the Marine uniform on his chest.What infuriated him even more was that the left side of his eight-figure mustache had been sliced off by the tip of Ink Meteor's claw,leaving the remaining tuft hanging limp and looking incredibly awkward no matter how one viewed it."Long-haired brat, today I will definitely tear you into eight pieces,"He applied more pressure to his wrist, pushing the longsword forward half an inch until the tip of the blade almost touched Mark's throat."Give it a rest!" Mark exerted a sudden burst of strength, twisting his torso and using his full body weight to swing Momonga's longsword aside."Was your math taught by a gym teacher? You've said that ten times already; I should have been torn into eighty pieces by now."He jumped back two steps and plopped down onto the sand, gasping for air, his chest heaving violently."I'm done fighting... no more. If we keep going, I'm going to end up streaking."Momonga was pushed back two steps by the force, thrusting his longsword into the sand with one hand. The blade vibrated, kicking up a trail of sand.He knelt on one knee, pressing his other hand against his ribs, his brow furrowed into a knot—He had used 'Iron Body' when taking that hit from Mark's staff earlier, and now his bones were still throbbing with a dull pain, as if a fine needle were pricking him inside."What you said... about the intel that Crocodile is in Alubarna, is it true?"He took a deep breath, suppressing the pain in his ribs. His tone held less anger and more gravity.Mark brushed the sand off himself. "If you go support Smoker now, you can intercept him. You'll get a promotion and a raise. Isn't that better than wasting time here with me?"He paused, then tugged at his tattered suit. "By the way, do you have any spare clothes at your Marinecamp? Let me borrow some.""Get lost!" Momonga roared irritably, the veins on his forehead throbbing again."Tsk tsk, the Marines really are stingy."Mark didn't get angry either. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers, and Ink Meteor instantly shed its staff form, transforming into a pitch-black lion.He flipped himself onto the lion's back and patted its neck."Let's go. I'm heading to Alubarna to watch the show.""Vice Admiral Momonga, should we pursue?" Seeing this, two nearby lieutenants placed their hands on their sword hilts, eager to move.Momonga waved them off, struggling to stand. As soon as he straightened his back, he winced in pain and was quickly supported by the nearby soldiers."No need to chase," he panted, his gaze turning toward Alubarna."That kid has Slash Resistance. You haven't mastered Haki, so going there would just be throwing your lives away.Besides... he's right. Of the two missions, we must ensure at least one is completed."He paused, then gave the order to the soldiers beside him: "Pass the word down. All units are to immediately head to the capital of Alubarna to capture all members of Baroque Works, especially Crocodile!"The metal lion's claws trod across the beach, running rapidly inland along the riverbed.Mark lay flat on the lion's back, stroking Ink Meteor's mane, and muttered in a low voice:"Good thing it was Momonga this time—that old guy relies solely on swordsmanship and the Six Powers. My Slash Resistance is the perfect counter for him.If it had been someone who uses their fists, it really wouldn't have been easy to get away today."He recalled the way Momonga looked when he used 'Iron Body' to take the staff strike and couldn't help but chuckle."Iron Body!"The river water shimmered with a pale green hue, and the shrubs along the banks rustled in the wind.Before long, the silhouette of the capital, Alubarna, appeared in his vision—The sounds of battle shook the heavens, amidst crumbling walls and broken ruins.Bon Clay lay in the middle of this mess, covered in blood.He closed his eyes and said hoarsely, "I lost. Kill me... even if you don't, I won't survive once Mr. 1 gets here."Sanji crouched before him, an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Looking at Bon Clay's pathetic state, he reached out his hand:"Don't say such stupid things. That was a magnificent duel."Bon Clay froze for three seconds before slowly raising his hand and placing it in Sanji's.His eyes suddenly reddened, and tears flowed down his cheeks, yet he still acted tough:"Is... is this the friendship of 'getting to know each other through a fight'? I-I'm not crying!""Idiot." Sanji smiled helplessly, raising his foot to lightly tap Bon Clay's forehead. "If you're going to cry, just cry. Stop acting tough. You're so flamboyant, what a pain."Bon Clay's neck retracted from the tap, but his tears flowed even harder, even as the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Palace Plaza, Smoker was standing atop a broken pillar.His body was enveloped in pale white smoke that ebbed and flowed with his breathing. His right hand gripped his signature Sea Stone Jitte, his gaze fixed intently on the palace—Bursts of booming sounds came from there, and the sky-filling yellow sand was like a yellow dragon, swallowing half the palace."Report, Captain!" A soldier ran over panting and gave a salute. "The one currently fighting Crocodileis Straw Hat Luffy!His crewmates are also at various locations in the palace, engaging the Baroque Works agents!""Straw Hat Luffy?" Smoker's brow furrowed, the smoke around him condensing slightly."How did that guy end up fighting a Shichibukai?" He thought for a moment; regardless, this was a good thing for both the citizens and the Marines.He immediately ordered: "Notify all nearby Marineunits to surround the palace at once. Do not let any Baroque Works member leave!""But... but mobilizing the warships requires approval from superiors, we don't have the authority..." The soldier's voice grew smaller and smaller.Smoker's face instantly darkened, and the look in his eyes within the smoke became sharp:"Do I look like the kind of person who acts according to orders?"He took a step forward, exhaling smoke into the soldier's face, making the man flinch in terror."Yes! Sir! I'll get right on it!" The soldier was startled, turning and running so fast he forgot to salute properly, his footsteps kicking up a trail of sand.Smoker watched the soldier's retreating back, then turned his gaze back to the top of the palace."Straw Hat... what exactly are you trying to do?"Not long after, footsteps were heard from three directions.The members of the Straw Hat Crew emerged one after another from the ruins, eventually gathering in the open space directly beneath the clock tower, which was their previously agreed-upon location."Sanji!" Chopper was the first to see Sanji leaning against the clock tower. His short legs moved rapidly as he ran toward him."Chopper, wait for me!" Usopp followed behind. "I haven't finished telling you about my 'Special Move: Stinky Sock Star' yet!"Sanji brushed the sand off his shoulder and looked at Chopper: "Chopper, are you okay? Did you win against your opponent?""Of course!" Usopp immediately puffed out his chest, closed his eyes, held his head high, and gestured with his hands."At that time, that agent rushed at me with a 4-ton baseball bat, but I wasn't scared at all! I pulled out my slingshot...!"Sanji wasn't listening to his bragging at all; his eyes had long since drifted elsewhere—Miss Nami was walking over carrying her clima-tact. "Nami-san!I'm so glad you're okay!" He immediately ran over with a squiggly body, his eyes turning into hearts."While I was fighting, I was worried about you the whole time, afraid you might get hurt...""Hey! Listen to me finish!" Usopp watched Sanji's back, jumping in frustration. "I haven't finished telling my heroic tale!"Nami smiled helplessly, pushing away the approaching Sanji. "I'm fine. It looks like everyone completed their mission. That's great.""Of course!" Sanji immediately leaned back in, his tail practically wagging. "With Nami-san's encouragement of love, I could even defeat a god!""Yo, isn't this Zoro?" Sanji suddenly caught sight of the figure behind Nami and couldn't help but burst out laughing."What kind of look is that? Did you crawl through a chimney?!"Everyone looked over to see Zoro leaning against a broken pillar. His green hair was scorched black, and his clothes were covered in sword cuts and burn marks.His face was also stained with soot, making him look like he had just escaped from a fire."Shitty Kappa, try laughing one more time!"Zoro gritted his teeth in anger, his hand resting on his sword hilt, the veins on his forehead bulging."Alright, alright, stop fighting." Nami interrupted them, looking at Chopper. "Chopper, can you catch Robin's scent? We need to find her first."Chopper nodded, bringing his nose into the air and sniffing repeatedly.But after a moment, his ears drooped and he shook his head:"It's no good... the smells here are too chaotic. I can't find Robin's scent."Just then, Nami suddenly felt a warmth on her shoulder. A fair hand rested gently on her shoulder, its fingertips carrying a faint warmth as it tenderly wiped away the dust from her cheek."Robin?!" Nami turned around abruptly, her eyes instantly lighting up.Not far away, Robin was standing behind a broken stone. Her coat had a few scratches, yet she remained composed. She looked at everyone, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly: "Everyone..."Before she could finish, Nami rushed over and threw her arms around her.Nami's strength was great as she hugged Robin's waist tightly, as if afraid she might suddenly vanish:"You scared me to death, Robin!"Robin was slightly taken aback by the hug, then she gently patted Nami's back, revealing a sweet smile—It was a smile of relief, one where all defenses were dropped: "Thank you... it's good to see everyone."Looking at the two embracing, everyone smiled. Usopp forgot to brag, Zoro set aside his anger, and Sanji wore a look of pure infatuation, as if thinking, 'As expected of Robin-chan.'As the dust drifted through the ruins beneath the Alubarna Palace, Mark's voice carried over on the wind—"Yo! Everyone's here!"As soon as he spoke, he rounded the corner from behind a broken pillar.The moment he appeared, the entire Straw Hat Crew froze instantly. Even Zoro's hand on his sword hilt paused, and the only sound left in the air was the'shasha' of the wind blowing the sand.Mark was wearing a pink and white frilly shirt with lace at the collar and small bows sewn onto the cuffs.It was clearly from Nami's private collection. The shirt was obviously ill-fitting; the collar was too wide, sliding to one side to reveal his pale collarbone.The hem only reached his waist, barely covering his tattered pants, and the overly long sleeves were rolled up twice, showing his pale wrists.His waist-length hair fluttered behind him in the wind. Combined with his naturally small face, he looked exactly like a delicate girl who had accidentally wandered into a battlefield."Th-this is..." Chopper was the first to react, his short legs moving forward two steps as his round eyes stared at the bows on the shirt."Mark, are you wearing Miss Nami's clothes? The lace is so cute!"Mark's face darkened. He reached out to tug at the collar, but it only slid down further, so he simply gave up:"Don't even mention it! The only things left in my System Space were Nami's things. Aside from this crappy shirt, it was all her navigation charts and spare change—I couldn't exactly come here shirtless, could I?""Crappy shirt?!" Nami instantly exploded, rushing over with her clima-tact, her finger pointing at the lace almost poking Mark's nose."That was the Desert Limited Edition I specifically bought! You have the nerve to call it crappy? And how did you open my bag?!""How was I supposed to know your bag was so flimsy!" Mark dodged backward. "I just gave it a pull and it opened..."Beside them, Usopp's eyes were wide open, and the slingshot in his hand fell to the sand with a 'clatter'. He pointed at Mark, his voice changing pitch:"A b-beauty?! No, no, no! You're Mark! Why are you dressed like that? The contrast is way too big!"He grew more excited as he spoke, gesturing wildly and nearly tripping over himself.Robin leaned against a broken pillar, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, a smile in her eyes:"It suits you very well, Mark. The pink goes well with your long hair, and the lace doesn't look out of place; instead... it's quite refreshing.""Robin, please spare me!" Mark wanted to cry but had no tears.As he spoke, he suddenly noticed Sanji nearby—the guy had completely frozen, his face red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.Even his neck was flushed pink, and a nosebleed was dripping down his chin. He was staring at Mark's collarbone with a vacant gaze,muttering to himself: "Th-that collarbone... those bows... this is too unfair!"Mark followed his gaze down to his own collar, then looked back up at Sanji's soul-absent state and instantly snapped:"Sanji! You bastard, why the hell are you blushing?! I'm a man! A man! What's with the nosebleed?!""Ah—! S-sorry!" Sanji snapped out of it, hurriedly using a towel to wipe his nosebleed, then gave a sleazy grin. "Maybe you should just dress like this from now on!""Get lost!"Zoro watched from the side with a look of utter disdain, kicking Sanji's foot:"Shitty Kappa, can you have some dignity? It's just a guy wearing girl's clothes.Look at you, acting like you've never seen the world—though having said that," he changed the subject, looking Mark up and down, "that look actually fits you pretty well.""You have the nerve to talk about me?" Mark glared at him. "At least I didn't burn my hair into a feather duster!""That was an accident!" Zoro pouted awkwardly and turned his face away."Forget it, you've stretched my limited edition out of shape! You can keep it!" Nami didn't forget to give him a wink.Mark wailed, "You guys are really too much!""What's the situation now?" Zoro was the first to stop smiling, looking toward the top of the palace.The yellow sand was still swirling there, and two figures could be faintly seen fighting in the sandstorm. "Is Luffy still fighting Crocodile?""Yes." Nami let go of Robin and nodded, her expression becoming serious."Also, Baroque Works planted a bomb on the palace roof. If it explodes, the entire capital of Alubarna will be destroyed. We must dismantle that bomb now."Chopper immediately raised a small hoof: "I'll go dismantle the bomb! I can pick out the smell of the bomb!""I'm going too!" Usopp said immediately. Although he was a bit scared, he still puffed out his chest."I am Captain Usopp, the 'Demolition Genius'! Dismantling a little bomb like that is nothing!"Sanji looked at Robin: "Robin-chan, I'll escort you all to the clock tower. There are small fry on the way; I'll handle them."Zoro drew his three swords and thrust them into the ground, his tone firm:"I'll stay and guard here. I won't let any agents get near the clock tower. You can count on me."Sunlight filtered through the yellow sand, spilling over everyone.Though everyone was a mess, their eyes were filled with determination—their comrade was still fighting, and their goal was right before them.This battle of friendship and conviction had only just entered its most critical moment.(o＞_＜o It's quite fun having the protagonist cross-dress. By the way, I'm straight, don't get the wrong idea!) ⊙﹏⊙
Chapter 72: Yellow Sand Collapses!The dome of the Alabasta palace suddenly split open with a hideous crack under the slash of the sand blade—Luffy's Straw Hat fluttered in the air currents, his red skin from Gear Second's activation steaming with white mist.His right arm suddenly catapulted like a fully drawn giant bow, the fist tearing through the air:"Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol!"But Crocodile quickly tilted his head, his left arm turning into a sky full of yellow sand, the fist passing straight through the sand mist."Is this all you've got?"Crocodile's laughter was harsh and arrogant."It's not over yet!"Luffy roared, about to follow up his attack, when four cold flashes of light suddenly swept towards his face—Crocodile's right hand condensed four crescent-shaped sand blades, their surfaces glinting coldly as they shot forward."Desert Girasole! Crumble into dust!"The sand blades aimed straight for his throat; Luffy's pupils shrank, and his Observation Haki instantly spread out!His body twisted into an incredible angle in mid-air, the sand blades grazing past his shoulder armor and striking the white jade pillar behind him with a "boom"—That stone pillar, as thick as three men's embrace, was actually sliced into four segments like tofu; amidst the flying debris, Crocodile's voice carried a playful tone:"Straw Hat, you can dodge once, but can you dodge ten times?"His foot ground against the glazed tiles, which instantly lost their moisture and turned into powder that crumbled at a touch."Let me show you the true terror of a Logia!" Crocodile pressed his right hand against the wall, dark yellow energy scurrying like a spiderweb."Ground Death!"Brick, beams, and even the moisture in the air were frantically sucked dry.The stone pillars supporting the dome let out a "creak" of mourning, their surfaces quickly cracking and desertifying, finally turning into falling yellow sand.Luffy's skin tightened instantly, sweat evaporating as soon as it seeped out; even his breathing carried a searing pain, and his throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire:"Damn it... I really want water...!"Gritting his teeth, his arms suddenly lengthened, Armament Haki coating his fists like ink as he blasted them out like heavy cannons:"Gomu Gomu no Jet Bazooka!""Useless!" Crocodile's body turned into sand mist, the fists passing straight through—But in the next second, Luffy suddenly twisted his wrists, his fists smashing hard into the dome's load-bearing pillar!"Collapse!"Accompanied by a deafening roar, the entire palace dome collapsed, rubble falling like a rainstorm, and dust instantly swallowed their figures."Are you crazy?!"Crocodile's sand mist hurriedly condensed amidst the chaos.Luffy crawled out from the rubble, his Straw Hataskew on his head, yet he smiled brashly:"To fight you, I can't let the surroundings be all sand—if this place collapses, your sand is useless!"Before his voice faded, he kicked off the ground and leaped, the steam from Gear Second trailing an afterimage behind him as his foot slashed toward Crocodile with the sound of breaking air:"Gomu Gomu no Jet Axe!""Courting death!" Crocodile crossed his hands, sand blades condensing again, but at the moment of impact, a massive force surged through his arms—With a "crack," the sand blades actually showed fissures! He was pushed back continuously, the floorboards beneath him shattering layer by layer as the two of them fell through the floors all the way down:Through the corridors, smashing through the hall... and finally crashing into the basement of the palace with a "boom."The basement air was damp and cold, and thick dust had accumulated on the stones engraved with the poneglyph.Crocodile staggered to his feet, his desertified arm occasionally losing control and reverting to its physical form—Continuous high-intensity attacks had already pushed his stamina to its limit."It seems... we've both reached our limit."He stared at Luffy, the arrogance in his eyes finally replaced by solemnity.Luffy was also panting heavily, the steam from Gear Second long since dissipated, and Armament Hakiflickering on his arms.He leaned against a cold stone pillar to stand up, his eyes under the Straw Hat still shining brilliantly:"Exactly what I wanted!"The two of them charged at almost the same time! No fancy moves, only the most primitive head-to-head clash—Crocodile's sand blade cut Luffy's arm, blood instantly staining his sleeve;Luffy's Armament Haki-clad fist smashed into Crocodile's ribs, making him let out a muffled groan of pain.The walls were shattered by the aftershocks of their battle, rubble scattered everywhere, the ground pitted with footprints, bloodstains and sand dust mixed together in a shocking sight."You're clearly about to give out... why can you still fight?"Crocodile's fist smashed into Luffy's face, but Luffygrabbed his wrist tightly.Enduring the intense pain, Luffy's other fist smashed hard into his stomach, his voice hoarse but firm:"Because I promised my friends! I must defeat you."These words seemed to ignite Luffy's last bit of strength; he suddenly exerted force, pinning Crocodile against the wall, his fists falling like raindrops:"And Robin! When you took her away, do you know how heartbrokedly Nami cried?!"Crocodile was beaten until he spat blood continuously; he struggled to condense a sand blade and stabbed it hard into Luffy's abdomen—With a "squelch," the sand blade pierced through his clothes, and blood instantly gushed out."Argh!" Luffy trembled all over from the pain, but he didn't let go.Crocodile took the opportunity to break free, a knee strike hitting his abdomen, then pinning him against the wall, a sand blade held to his throat, his breathing ragged but carrying the air of victory:"It's over... Straw Hat. You are indeed strong, but you still lost."Luffy's consciousness began to blur, the sand blade at his throat bringing a piercing pain, but faces of his companions flashed continuously in his mind:Mark carrying him on his back in Windmill Village, Nami holding a map and shouting "just a little longer," Sanji bringing hot soup by the campfire..."I can't lose... I haven't become—the Pirate King!"He suddenly let out a violent roar, and Conqueror's Haki exploded like a tsunami, making the surrounding rubble tremble!Before Crocodile could react, Luffy smashed his head hard against his face—with a "thud," Crocodile's nosebleed ran down his chin, and his gaze instantly became vacant."You lunatic...!"He forced himself not to pass out, his hand instinctively stabbing forward, wanting to pierce Luffy's throat with the sand blade!But just then, Luffy suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the sand blade with his bloody fingers—the moment the blood touched the sand, the blade actually solidified as if frozen, no longer able to desertify!"What?!"Crocodile's pupils shrank; he tried to pull back the sand blade, but it was stuck fast.Luffy seized this opportunity, using his last bit of strength to concentrate all his Armament Haki into his right fist, his arm swinging frantically in front of him, the resulting air currents swirling the dust on the ground:"Gomu Gomu no... Jet Gatling!""Bang bang bang bang!" Dense fists smashed into Crocodile like a rainstorm, each punch coated in blood and Haki.Every impact made his bones emit a "crack" of breaking.The sound of Crocodile's bones cracking was drowned out by the roar of the fists; blood poured from the corner of his mouth, and his body slumped backward like a broken kite."Gomu Gomu no... Jet Bullet!"Luffy roared, his arm suddenly lengthening as his final bit of Armament Haki-wrapped fist blasted out like a cannonball:This punch smashed hard into Crocodile's chest, sending him flying, shattering the basement ceiling, and soaring toward the palace plaza with a "shoo."Luffy collapsed powerlessly on the ground, gasping for air, the wound on his abdomen still bleeding.He looked at the hole in the ceiling, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth—"I won."Just then, a few drops of cool rain fell on his face."It's raining?" Luffy quickly stuck out his tongue to catch the falling raindrops; the sweet rain slid down his throat, finally relieving his parched, burning thirst.On the palace plaza, the soldiers of the Rebel Armyand the Royal Army had already stopped fighting.Everyone looked up at the sky—the rain washed away the blood on the ground, and also washed over Crocodile as he fell from the sky."Is that... Lord Crocodile?"The Rebel Army soldier's voice carried shock, but Vivi's voice was finally heard by everyone, hoarse yet firm:"He is no 'Lord'! He is the culprit who subverted Alabasta!"Koza immediately stepped forward and loudly spoke the truth about Crocodile manipulating the rebellion; the soldiers' shock gradually turned to anger, then was replaced by relief—This long-lasting war was finally coming to an end.In the basement, Luffy heard the cheers coming from outside, his eyelids getting heavier and heavier.Suddenly, a hand helped him up and placed him steadily on a back—that familiar back was just like back in Windmill Village when Garp had beaten him until he couldn't get up, and someone would carry him home.Luffy's mouth curled into a reassured smile as he fell into a deep sleep.The sound of the rain pattered, washing away the yellow sands of Alabasta, and playing the gentlest anthem for this victory.(π_π... Crocodile still lost! The fight scenes are so brain-burning!)
Chapter 73: Alabasta FinaleThe wind at the top of the clock tower was thick with sand and dust, whistling past rusted gears—parts that once turned day and night to chime the kingdom's dawn and dusk now lay scattered across the floor.Usopp knelt on one knee, the black bomb before him looking like a dormant beast.Intricate patterns were etched into the solid iron casing. The gunpowder fuse at the top had long since been extinguished, leaving only a charred, limp end.However, the crimson numbers '00:03:17' on the timer's display screen ticked down, each jump feeling like a sledgehammer pounding against his temples.This thing was ten times more complex than the time bombs he had made back in Cocoyasi Village."Damn it... who on earth made such a lethal thing..."Usopp gritted his teeth, his right hand tightly clutching an old pair of pliers he'd scavenged from his toolbox. Cold sweat from his palm soaked the handle.Sweat trickled down from his forehead, dripping onto the bomb's casing with a faint 'drip-drop' sound.He didn't dare think about it—if this thing went off, not only would the royal palace be reduced to dust, but the cheering soldiers below and his friends would all be buried under the yellow sands."The wiring should be in the left interlayer."Usopp took a deep breath, summoning his courage to pry open the casing. The screeching sound of metal friction made his heart race even faster.When his fingertips touched the tangled red and blue wires inside, his hand still couldn't help but tremble—the numbers on the display had just jumped to '00:02:05'."No... Usopp, you're the man who's going to become a brave warrior of the sea!"He slammed his eyes shut, and his mind was flooded with images—the smiling faces of his friends waiting expectantly beneath the clock tower,the promise he made to Brogy in Small Gardenwhile thumping his chest about being a 'brave warrior',and the way he had once guaranteed Kaya that he 'would become a great pirate'.He snapped his eyes open. "To hell with it!"His hand steadied. The pliers precisely clamped the red wire connected to the timer module. With a sharp flick of his wrist, there was a 'click,' and the red wire snapped in two.The red light on the display screen flickered, then went completely dark, like a flame being snuffed out.He collapsed onto the floor, his shirt long since soaked through with cold sweat, clinging to his skin and making him shiver.He tore down a curtain and wrapped the 'big guy' up tightly. Without its casing, it was significantly lighter than before—a solid weight that felt like the burden of life and death had been lifted.He walked down the steep stone steps, the 'clatter' of falling pebbles echoing through the stairwell.As he neared the entrance, he saw the figures of his friends: Sanji leaned against the doorframe with a cigarette, Nami paced on the stone slabs of the plaza, Chopper stood on tiptoe peering in, Robinleaned against a wall, and Zoro stood on the outermost edge with his arms crossed.When the burning fuse was first discovered, he had thumped his chest and shouted, "Leave the chance to save a million people to me!" and promptly stomped out the fuse.But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, a 'tick-tock' sound came from inside the bomb—a dual control system!Even though the fuse was out, the countdown was still running! At that moment, his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed.Just as he was about to turn and flee toward the stairs, he remembered Luffy was still fighting, and there wasn't enough time to run out of the blast radius anyway. He forced his feet to stay planted."Stay back, everyone! I've made time bombs before, I can disarm it!"His voice had trembled slightly then, but he hadn't retreated a single step.Though his friends were worried, they saw the determination in his eyes. They didn't argue, only saying "be careful" before retreating to wait below the tower—neither disturbing him nor being too far to help immediately.Seeing him emerge now, everyone immediately surrounded him. Sanji flicked away his cigarette butt and breathed a sigh of relief. "How is it, Long-nose? Did you handle it?""Of course!" Usopp straightened his back and deliberately brandished the cloth bundle on his shoulder. "Piece of cake!" It would have been more convincing if his legs weren't shaking."What's that on your back? It looks really heavy." Chopper leaned in, his little nose twitching."A bomb. I'm keeping it to study; it might come in handy later," Usopp said nonchalantly."Eeeh! Such a dangerous thing, you should throw it away!" Chopper shrank back in fear.Nami reached out and poked his forehead. "Honestly, Usopp! Do you know my heart was nearly jumping out of my chest down here!"Robin added with a smile, "Usopp is now the hero who saved Alabasta."Usopp was about to reply boastfully when he saw a figure approaching from the distance—Mark was carrying someone on his back, a Straw Hat hanging crookedly from his shoulder; it was Luffy. Luffy's abdomen was still bleeding, staining Mark's pink clothes red.A deep gash on his chest, revealing bone, was covered in dark red scabs. His breath was as weak as a candle in the wind, yet he was still muttering, "Meat...""Luffy!" Usopp hurried over, and Chopper ran up as well to check the wounds and listen to his heartbeat. His brow instantly furrowed into a knot."The injuries are too severe! There's still toxin in his body; we have to get back to the ship for special medicine!""Bon Clay has already docked the going merry at the east coast of the palace; it's not far from here."Sanji crushed his cigarette, his tone decisive. "Let's go, get Luffy back to the ship first!"Zoro also nodded. "Don't waste time, let's move."Just as they were about to head for the coast, a flurry of footsteps came from behind them.Princess Vivi appeared in her royal gown, the hem stained with mud and her hair disheveled, yet she still maintained her regal poise.Seeing Luffy's condition, her eyes instantly reddened. She ran over quickly, her voice trembling."Everyone from the Straw Hat crew, thank you... rooms have been prepared in the palace. Please go there to recover first; we have medicine and food!"Usopp scratched his head and was about to speak, but Sanji stepped forward first, bowing slightly. "Princess, we appreciate the sentiment, but our Captain needs emergency aid, and besides... we are pirates."Before Vivi could say another word, her knees suddenly buckled, and she knelt straight down toward the group—Her gown swept across the gravel on the ground with a soft rustle. This sudden gesture left everyone frozen in place."Princess Vivi!" Sanji reacted fastest, reaching out to support her arm and steadily helping her up. "What are you doing?""If it weren't for you, Alabasta would have been buried in the sand long ago..."Vivi's tears fell down her cheeks, dripping into the dust on the ground."Crocodile's conspiracy, the destruction caused by Baroque Works—you stopped it all... You are the saviors of our country!"Mark stood to the side, his tone calm yet firm. "Princess, we acted because Crocodile kidnapped our friend first.We never thought about the title of'savior'; we were simply protecting those we care about.""Regardless..." Vivi wiped her tears, her eyes shining like stars. "You will forever be the benefactors of Alabasta."At that moment, Mark looked up at the distant city—ruins were piled like small mountains, and villagers were digging through the debris for missing relatives, their cries occasionally drifting on the wind.He was silent for a moment, then raised his hand, and an ink-colored arc shot out from behind his waist.In an instant, a deafening roar echoed from the sky. The dark clouds were churned into a vortex, and a black creature as large as a small castle descended from the heavens.With horns glinting with a metallic cold light and a lion's body covered in thick black fur, it was Ink Meteor.Ink Meteor landed in an open space in the center of the city, its massive paws hitting the ground and kicking up a ring of dust.It opened its massive maw, a hum vibrating in its throat. The next second, a powerful suction erupted—rubble from the streets, collapsed city walls, discarded weapons, and even the remains of blown-up houses were drawn in by invisible threads, flooding into its mouth.A villager tentatively picked up a water bottle by his feet that hadn't been sucked away, only then believing that this giant black beast was only clearing the ruins. Their tensed nerves finally relaxed.In just a short while, the originally devastated city became clean and tidy. Only a few broken walls remained standing, but it no longer looked chaotic.After devouring all the debris, Ink Meteor nodded toward Mark and then transformed into a streak of black light, returning to Mark's side and shrinking to about two meters in size."This..." Vivi looked at the scene before her, too stunned for words. Her lips moved, but in the end, only a "thank you" came out.Mark nodded slightly. "Princess, the reconstruction of Alabasta is in your hands. It is time for us to leave."The group walked toward the east coast. Luffy was later carried on Zoro's back, sleeping deeply and occasionally smacking his lips as if he were eating meat in his dreams.After boarding the ship, Mark walked straight to Robin.Robin was leaning against the railing, gazing at the distant coastline. Hearing footsteps, she turned around, a hint of expectation hidden in her eyes.Mark pulled a roll of paper from his robe and handed it over. "This is a rubbing of the poneglyphfrom the palace basement. You should be interested in it."Robin took the scroll and opened it. Her fingertips lightly brushed over the ancient characters, and her gaze instantly softened, as if she had found a treasure lost for many years."Thank you, Mark."She carefully tucked the rubbing away—that was the original purpose for her joining Baroque Works.The deck soon became lively. As soon as Sanjientered the kitchen, the 'thud-thud' of meat being chopped was heard, followed by the'sizzle' of hot oil searing the meat.The aroma of meat mixed with spices soon wafted across the deck.Luffy's nose caught the scent first. His half-closed eyes snapped open, staring intently toward the kitchen while muttering,"Meat... my meat..."Zoro found a sunny corner, leaned against the mast, and closed his eyes. With his arms crossed, he soon began to snore rhythmically.Days of continuous fighting had long since exhausted his strength; this moment of peace was the best rest he could have.Chopper and Robin kept watch in Luffy's room.Chopper stood on tiptoe, using his small hooves to apply ointment and carefully clean Luffy's wounds. Robin sat to the side, occasionally handing Chopperbandages, her eyes full of concern."Luffy... it was really dangerous for him this time," Chopper said softly, his hoof gently touching Luffy's cheek.Robin nodded, her voice still gentle but hiding a certain firmness."From beginning to end, he only wanted to sail as he pleased and chase his own freedom. Yet, just like that, he became the pillar and savior for so many people."Nami sat at a table in the cabin, clutching a bulging money bag, her abacus clicking away rapidly."Hey! You guys, come over here!" she shouted toward Mark, Usopp, and Chopper, her face full of joy."The winnings from Rain Dinners total 120 million Berries! Your shares are all here!"Usopp leaned in, and seeing the numbers on the abacus, his eyes instantly went wide. "O-one hundred and twenty million? That much?"Chopper also leaned in curiously. Although he didn't quite understand the value of Berries, he knew it was a huge sum and let out an excited "Wow!"Mark only gave it a glance before turning to walk to the railing, looking out at the vast sea—to him, his companions' safety was more important than anything.Meanwhile, outside the port of Alabasta, several Marine warships were slowly sailing away.The members of Baroque Works, wearing Sea Stone handcuffs, stood in a line on the deck, their expressions as gloomy as the clouds on the horizon.Crocodile was being escorted by two Marinesoldiers, his black coat torn in several places.His once slicked-back hair now hung down, masking the emotions in his eyes, though the coldness around him remained—this once arrogant'Sand Crocodile' had finally been defeated.Vice Admiral Momonga stood at the bow, looking at the arrest list in his hand, and said solemnly:"All members of Baroque Works, including the Seven Warlords of the Sea member Crocodile, have been captured. Escort them to Impel Downimmediately."In the meeting room at Marineford, the atmosphere was like a bowstring pulled to its limit.On the transponder snail, Smoker's face was flushed red, his voice full of fury:"What on earth is Headquarters doing?! The one who defeated Crocodile was Straw Hat Luffy! Not me! I won't accept this nonsensical commendation!"On the other end of the transponder snail, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice suppressed his rage: "Smoker! This is a decision from Headquarters! Just do as you're told!""I won't..." Before Smoker could finish, the transponder snail suddenly emitted a 'beep-beep' busy tone—Headquarters had forcefully cut the communication.Sengoku slammed his hand onto the table, making the enamel cup jump and tea spill onto the documents, leaving dark stains. "Outrageous!"He turned to look at Garp, who was sitting to the side eating rice crackers, his tone even sharper. "Look at your grandson! He actually defeated one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"Garp chewed his crackers and said indistinctly, "That kid... he's like me, he's got drive..."Though he said this, his brow furrowed—he knew better than anyone that Luffy had truly caused a major incident this time."Drive?" Sengoku laughed in anger, his finger tapping heavily on the table. "He's challenging the authority of the Marines!Crocodile may be a bastard, but he's a Shichibukai, a 'military power' of the Marine Headquarters!Now that he's been defeated by a rookie pirate, if the news leaks out, the Shichibukai system will be shaken, and pirates all over the world will start getting ideas!"He was silent for a moment, his face as grim as if covered in frost. "This matter must be suppressed; the outside world must never know Luffy did it.Furthermore, re-draft the bounty posters for the Straw Hat crew—especially Straw Hat Luffy. His bounty needs to go up."Meanwhile, on the going merry, Sanji came out carrying the dishes.Luffy couldn't wait and reached out to grab some, but was held down by Chopper. "Don't move around, your wounds haven't healed yet!"Nami put away the money bag, a satisfied smile on her face.Zoro was still sleeping, the sunlight bathing him, even his snoring sounding peaceful.Robin leaned against the railing, holding the poneglyph rubbing in her hands, a faint smile on her lips.Mark stood at the bow, the sea breeze fluttering his clothes, looking at the churning waves in the distance—that was the direction of their next journey.The yellow sands of Alabasta had finally settled. The wind no longer carried the scent of gunpowder, leaving only the 'clatter' of the sea breeze blowing against the deck.The Straw Hat crew's ship raised its sails and slowly sailed toward a new sea.