"Is it them? They don't look like they have any strength at all. Sensei, you are underestimating me a bit here. I am Usopp, the man with 8000 followers!"
Beautifly's doll-like cuteness gave the illusion of being harmless, but compared to the Heracross who had arrived at Boin Archipelago first and grown into rulers, these Beautifly didn't seem to have much combat strength.
Even after all this time, Usopp's nature hadn't changed, like his mysterious 8000 followers out on the seas.
He had bragged like that even when he was weak, and now that he'd gotten stronger, he did it even more so.
"Usoppun, don't underestimate any opponent, and don't be fooled by appearances. As a sniper, your mission this time is simple. Stay alive."
Heracles paid no attention to Usopp's so-called 8000 followers. He had witnessed Usopp's hard work during this period, but he knew exactly how much Usopp is really capable of.
Without him back then, Usopp's chances of surviving in the Boin Archipelago would have been quite slim.
Even though Usopp can be surprisingly useful in desperate situations, like a special item second only to Oden's aura, and has gone through a long period of training, he was still not suited for close combat.
His time was limited, and Heracles couldn't train him forever. In this short period, Usopp had to learn how to cultivate the island's unique plants, how to obtain seeds, and how to strengthen his body. That was already his limit.
Now, with the date of their reunion drawing closer, Heracles could only intensify Usopp's training, namely, the first principle of a sniper: stay alive.
Not causing trouble for your teammates, being able to protect yourself on a chaotic battlefield, and finding the right opening to fire—that was the demand placed on a sniper.
"Remember to go easy."
"Don't worry, Sensei, I won't hurt them."
"No, I'm telling them to go easy on you. If you're injured too badly, it'll be hard to deal with."
"Sensei, aren't you overthinking this? Just watch me show the results of my training."
Several Beautifly each held a fruit in their arms, their sharp proboscises already pierced into the fruit as they sucked out the juice inside. The juice of these carnivorous plants' fruits had a unique flavor to them.
Usopp didn't know that Beautifly were carnivorous as well, they could feed on plants but also drain the fluids of animals.
And he overlooked one crucial fact: Dustox, Beautifly, and Heracross were equals within the territories of the Boin Archipelago.
Even within the same Pokémon species, groups were divided into ranks depending on strength. This wasn't Wano Country, where the highest position was forever reserved for Arceus.
Their equality wasn't because they got along, but because their group strengths were evenly matched. Heracross could fly, but flying wasn't their forte. Beautifly and Dustox used their aerial superiority to fight them to a stalemate.
On top of that, unlike Tinkaton and Bisharp who constantly waged fought each other, these groups each occupied different regions, creating this harmonious situation.
"I'm going, Sensei."
Usopp strode into the trial area with a touch of arrogance in his steps, and the Beautifly also noticed their target.
Usopp drew his oversized slingshot - Black Kabuto.
Usopp aimed at the Beautifly in the sky.
"Hissatsu Green Star: Sargasso!"
The entangling seaweed had excellent binding force and toughness. Usopp's plan was to trap the butterflies in the air. But the Beautifly's response was simple: they gathered together and began flapping their wings.
A whirlwind materialized from nowhere, quickly swelling into a gale that blew straight at Usopp, and the Green Stars he launched were blown right back at him.
Even bullets fired at high speed could have their trajectories shifted by wind, let alone projectiles from a slingshot. Usopp hasn't yet mastered the skill to shoot sniper bullets with a slingshot.
These plants didn't recognize their master, and in the end, Usopp could only watch helplessly as his Green Stars were blown back by the wind.
"This is—"
Bang!
A puff of smoke, and Usopp was instantly wrapped up in the sargasoo he had released himself.
"Do your best, Usoppun, the trial has only just begun."
Heracles turned around, unable to bear watching what was about to happen.
Through personal experience, Usopp quickly understood why Heracles's only demand of him was simply to stay alive.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The whirlwind had blown back his Green Stars earlier, but now what swept past him was no longer ordinary wind, it was sharp wind blades.
The silver wind blades sliced through the sargasso wrapped around him like razors, leaving deep gouges in the ground.
Silver Wind was Beautifly's signature move. The graceful bearing combined with its gorgeous attack made them the most beautiful killers of the sky. Accompanied by Usopp's screams, the island became lively.
Beautifly attacked relentlessly from high above. The plants and beasts in Usopp's path had no intention of letting him pass either. It turned into the Great Escape, testing both his reflexes and endurance. [TN: Movie- The Great Escape.]
As the name suggested, this was Beautifly's hunt, and Usopp was the prey caught in their net. His limited attack methods were completely countered by the wind created by Beautifly, leaving him with no choice but to run.
And in the process, he accidentally crashed into a Dustox nest. Although Dustox were gentler in temperament compared to Beautifly, their bodies were poisonous, and their nests were filled with toxic dust.
Having intruded, Usopp, who had neither superhuman constitution nor immunity to poison, was completely defeated within a minute, and in the end, was carried out by Heracles, who wore a gas mask for protection.
"Hang in there, Usoppun. This is just the beginning. The days ahead are only going to get harsher for you."
Usopp didn't reply. His mouth had gone stiff, but tears flowed from the corners of his eyes; two streams of tears, whether from fear or happiness, it was unknown.
At the same time, Grand Line, Kamabakka Kingdom.
Ivankov had returned from the Revolutionary Army's base to his own kingdom.
The Newkama on the island welcomed him warmly. Relying on the powers of his Horm-Horm Fruit, Ivankov had saved countless people from incurable conditions and even rescued entire kingdoms. His legend made him the strongest Okama King in history.
To outsiders, he was a weirdo and a miracle doctor, but to the okama, he was a god.
For Bon Kurei, Kamabakka Kingdom was paradise, where he could enthusiastically immerse himself in the joyful atmosphere of okama every day. For Sanji, however, this place was hell.
Not only did he have to train daily, but he also had to guard against being assimilated. In this terrifying environment, there were many times he ended up wearing little pink skirts, even putting on lipstick.
If his will had been even a bit weaker, he would have truly become an okama.
"Lord Ivankov~ You've finally returned!"
"Your Majesty Ivankov! I've missed you so much My heart can't bear it"
The bustling okama surrounded Ivankov. This was the pink scenery of Kamabakka Kingdom, a sight ordinary people could never accept. But at that very moment, a sudden commotion broke out behind them. A spray of blood had shot into the sky?
"Sanji-kun! What's wrong with you! Stay strong! Doctor, is there a doctor?!"
"What? Is there an attacker?!"
Ivankov had no idea what was happening. The amount of blood looked as though Sanji had been slashed, but when Ivankov rushed over, what he saw was just Sanji spurting nosebleed.
"What… is going on here?"
A stack of newspapers slid down beside Sanji, containing the recent news about the outside world. To ensure they trained properly, Ivankov had temporarily cut off Bon Kurei and Sanji from outside information.
Only after returning from the Revolutionary Army's base had he allowed the okama to bring them newspapers, so they could learn of what had happened on the seas during this period.
"Women… real women…"
Trembling, Sanji muttered incomprehensible words, and when Ivankov picked up the paper on the ground, he saw that the opened page was exactly the news of Egghead's destruction.
From that day on, the people of the seas finally knew Vegapunk's appearance, through a posthumous photograph.
Further down was Shayna's wanted poster.
"Just a single bounty poster can have this effect? He really is a special boy. But a crewmate of Straw Hat boy can't be this weak. Everyone, it's time for him to undergo a new round of special training."
Ivankov's fingers transformed into five needles and jabbed straight into Sanji's buttocks. Special hormones were injected into his body, and thus began Ivankov's special training.
Sanji liked women. The Kamabakka Kingdom lacked normal women, and under the long torment, Sanji's desires began testing his willpower, ultimately leading to this situation.
He didn't need to see real women, just a woman's wanted poster was enough to make him spray nosebleeds.
The photographer of the wanted posters must have studied somewhere special, as they could capture a unique beauty in most people's wanted posters, especially those of women, and just now, Sanji had unfortunately fallen victim.
While Ivankov was preparing new training for Sanji, Zoro had already completed his own. The leader of the baboons on the island had finally been defeated by him.
The baboons on this island excelled at mimicry, and the leader in particular had been imitating Hawk Eyes' swordsmanship every day.
Though only a baboon, it had reached a level that many humans could never achieve in their entire lives. To defeat this baboon, Zoro had paid no small price.
The scar over his eye told the tale of his hardships during this time. But every effort has its reward. After nearly two years, he once again stood before Hawk Eyes, weapons in hand.
"So, defeating a beast has given you the illusion that you can defeat me, Roronoa?"
"You've always been my goal. That's never changed. This time, let me experience the style of the Strongest Swordsman in the World."
"Indeed, the little toy I once used is no longer suitable for facing you."
Seeing that Hawk Eyes wasn't reaching for the tiny knife at his chest, Zoro's lips curled into a faint smile. Just as he clenched Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, ready to fight, Hawk Eyes' next move froze his expression.
"What do you mean, pulling out a leek?! Are you messing with me?!"
Instead of the little knife, Hawk Eyes had picked up the leek he'd bought online.
"Roronoa, there aren't many famed swords on the seas. Whether Shusui or Wado Ichimonji, they're all rare swords. But you still lack a blade that truly belongs to you."
The leek in Hawk Eyes' hand was coated with a layer of black. During this time, Hawk Eyes had discovered their peculiar qualities. Beyond being food, they could even serve as weapons.
"You still have much to learn. This is just another lesson. By the way, this is far stronger than that little knife."
Though it looked like an ordinary leek, the moment Hawk Eyes held it seriously, a sharp aura enveloped Zoro completely.
Flocks of birds took to the air, the island's baboons were drawn to the spectacle, and the injured baboon king stood up again. It knew—the most terrifying man on the island had finally made his move.
Future Country - Baldimore. York had found herself a willing laborer. As the embodiment of greed, her greatest goal was indulgence, not hard daily research.
With the knowledge she inherited from Stella, she earned Franky's admiration with just a few words, tricking him into becoming her top-tier tool.
Of course, Franky also learned a great deal from the technology she revealed, so both sides gained something.
York's body had mostly recovered, and she had already prepared plans for the future.
South Blue, the Torino Kingdom, also known as the Birdie Kingdom, is a unique nation.
Its people lived in a caveman-like style, and alongside them dwelled a unique species of giant bird. This was Chopper's location.
On this day, a peculiar iron bird descended onto the island.
A bird covered in steel feathers, which was, of course, the Beasts Pirates' Corviknight. On its back rode a pirate with no number tattooed on him, just an ordinary member.
But for missions in the Four Seas, someone like him was already enough.
"Where's the chief? I've come to purchase herbs!"
Though the island's people were primitive, it was rich in medicinal herbs, making it a favorite source of supply for the Beasts Pirates. Because of the locals' backwardness, they could trade cheaply for great quantities, reselling the herbs later for high profit.
The goods provided by the Beasts Pirates greatly satisfied the people on the island, a benefit of their excellent transportation technology. However, after today's transaction, Chopper's state of mind took a hit.
To maintain their trade relationship, the members of the Beasts Pirates who came to collect the medicinal herbs casually left behind a bag of candy. When the children on the island shared the candy with Chopper, its appearance completely shattered his worldview.
"Wait! Don't eat those! Where did you get so many Rumble Balls?!"
"Eh? These aren't Rumble Balls. The traders said it was their new product, something called… QQ Candy?"
Queen's Q4.0 was declared a failure and ultimately rebranded for sale as candy. During the improvements, its original glass-like brittleness was transformed into a delightfully chewy texture.
Now a modified version of the failed Q4.0, named QQ Candy with various flavored fillings, it has become the most popular new candy on the Grand Line.
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