Gurgle… Pop!
The huge soap bubbles, still floating in the sunlight, kept repeating the process of rising and bursting.
In the open space in front of Shaqi's bar, the duel between Ace and Zoro continued.
The battle had entered a white-hot stage.
With his solid physical skills that had crushed Luffy since childhood, and his slightly improved Haki, Ace quickly gained the upper hand.
But—
the green-haired man opposite him had a terrifying will that impressed him. Knocked down again and again, Zoro still stood up again and again.
In a blink of an eye, the fight had lasted half an hour.
Even after all this time, Ace still couldn't defeat him completely.
"Hey, green algae-head!"
Ace's expression grew serious as he spoke in a deep voice:
"My Spade Pirates already have seven companions. We have a doctor, a collector, a chef... but we're still short of a swordsman like you! Let's call it a day today, and shake hands and make peace! You're a fellow I admire, and you're worthy of being my companion!"
He stared at Zoro lying on the ground, but what he got was a sneer.
"Hah, the battle isn't even over yet, and you're already recruiting people... Don't dream about that!"
Zoro gasped for breath, stood up leaning on the hilt of his sword, and growled, "Who do you think I am!"
"I'm the captain of the Two-Headed Adventure Group! There is indeed a man I could willingly join, but there's only one! And he's not someone of your level to compare to!"
Ace sighed, rubbing his temples.
"One by one, they're all so stubborn... what a headache."
His gaze sharpened, and seizing Zoro's momentary lapse, he lunged forward, his right leg whipping out like lightning!
"Go!"
The kick was incredibly fast.
Zoro's face paled. Even though he immediately grabbed his swords, he couldn't keep up. Both blades were kicked flying, spinning as they pierced distant tree trunks.
"And now? You're weaponless."
Ace folded his arms and grinned. "A swordsman without blades is no different from a toothless beast. You're no longer worthy of fighting me. Please reconsider joining the Spades!"
Surprisingly, Zoro didn't look dismayed. Instead, he gave him a strange grin.
"Who told you I'm just a swordsman?"
Ace froze.
Before he could react, Zoro soared into the air, his right leg suddenly ablaze with flames. With a sinister grin, he slashed down fiercely!
"Devil's Wind Kick: Pork Hot Pot SHOOT!"
At the same time.
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 40, at the shopping street intersection.
Sanji, cigarette in hand, sat on a bench, carefully polishing his two beloved swords.
One was "Dichuan" and the other was "Witsu."
He had purchased both at the weapon shop in Loguetown.
"Hey, Chopper, have you bought everything on your medicine list?" Sanji asked, looking up. "Fever reducers, anti-inflammatories, bandages, antibiotics..."
"Yeah, I bought everything!"
Chopper nodded with a grin, patting his bulging backpack. "I also bought some extra ingredients for making blue balls, just in case."
"I've got all the cooking ingredients too," Sanji said with relief. He sheathed his swords and smiled. "The boat's at the coater. We're free now. Looks like we can relax and enjoy this island today."
"Great! I want to ride the roller coaster!"
Chopper cheered.
He'd heard of the famous amusement park in Shampooland, and after being exhausted from traveling, he finally had the chance.
"But before that, I suddenly remembered something important I have to do—"
Sanji's eyes sharpened as he turned to look at Tashigi, who was walking toward the intersection.
"Uh." Chopper felt a bad premonition. "Sanji, you're not going to—"
A second later, Sanji's eyes turned into hearts. He leapt up, sliding on one knee before her.
"Ah~ Tashigi-san—!!!"
He conjured a rose out of nowhere, voice magnetic.
"On this bright summer afternoon, to meet such an elegant, dark-haired beauty twice in one day—what a blessing! Surely it's a gift from heaven to my pitiful fate!"
"Huh?"
Tashigi took a step back, startled.
"Mr. Sanji."
She instinctively grasped her sword hilt, stammering:
"We're not familiar, please don't be like this... Didn't I make it clear at the dock before? I'm not the female swordsman you know, I just look a little like her..."
"Of course I remember! But if it was that tigress, I wouldn't be so enthusiastic! It's entirely your charm that has conquered me, Tashigi-san! Would you honor me with lunch at a high-end restaurant nearby?"
"This... uh, this."
Tashigi looked embarrassed. She carefully chose her words. "I went to sea to follow a senior I've admired for years. Apart from him, I'm not interested in any man. Thank you for your pursuit, but... I'm sorry."
She bowed slightly, then quickly turned and left.
Crack!
Sanji froze, struck as if by lightning. The rose fell from his hand, his body shattering like a statue into pieces.
"Sanji?"
Chopper poked his shoulder nervously. "A-are you okay?"
"I... am fine..." Sanji turned blankly, eyes hollow. "It's just... my heart... pierced..."
"Pierced!!!"
He collapsed to his knees, forehead pressed to the ground.
"Why is fate so cruel? A beautiful woman with the same appearance as Kuina, but gentler in temperament... Do you know how attractive she is to me, Chopper?"
"And she already... has someone she loves?!"
"And it's some 'senior I've admired for years'?!"
"Ahhh!!!"
Sanji roared to the sky, tears streaming, pounding the ground.
"Damn it! Who is that bastard senior who stole Tashigi-san's heart? I want to duel him! Let him know how powerful I am!!!"
"I think I know this."
Chopper held up a photo weakly. "This fell from her pocket. I think this is the person she longs for..."
"Give it to me!"
Sanji snatched it, looked, then froze.
"Then it's fine."
He stood up calmly, twisting his neck. "Hey, Chopper, let's go. Time to enjoy Shampooland."
"You're scared off too easily!" Chopper roared. "You said duel!"
"Ahaha, the weather's nice today. Come on, Chopper, the roller coaster's popular. We'll need to queue."
"Hey! Answer me properly!"
"How much is the ticket? Do I have enough? Chopper, you have change?"
"Hey!!!"
At Shampooland Amusement Park, the roller coaster queue was packed.
"Sure enough, we have to wait," Chopper said bitterly. "At least a hundred people ahead... so boring."
"I hate queuing too."
Sanji exhaled smoke, then looked off. "There's a cotton candy stall by the side door. Chopper, you keep our place. I'll buy some for you."
"Ohhh!!!"
Chopper's eyes sparkled. "Okay, okay, get pink, I love pink most!"
"It's the color of cherry blossoms. Don't worry, I'll remember."
Sanji waved and left.
Nearby, three men in flowered shirts watched.
"Hey, did you see that?"
A tall, thin man lowered his voice, pointing at Chopper. "That blue-nosed tanuki can talk. If I'm not mistaken, it's one of those rare species, right?"
"No mistake. A Fur-Bearer, only found in the New World."
The bald, burly man's eyes flashed with greed. "Cute little thing. At the Grove 1 auction, Fur-Bearers sold for nearly the highest prices, just under female mermaids."
"But I heard their fighting power isn't weak."
The bearded leader said calmly, "Force isn't ideal. Didn't you hear? He likes marshmallows. We'll trick him."
"I'll buy the marshmallows."
"I'll get the drugs."
"I'll distract the curly-browed guy."
The three exchanged glances and dispersed.
"Hey, Chopper!"
Ten minutes later, Sanji's joyful voice rang out. He held three pink marshmallows.
"I got them! Strawberry flavor, the boss even gave me extra—"
Bang!
A bearded man in a flowered shirt slammed into him, scattering the marshmallows.
"Hey! Bastard!"
Sanji grabbed him by the collar angrily. "Do you know how hard those were to buy?!"
"I'm sorry, brother!" the man said, panicked. "I was in a hurry. Let me make it up to you. Take me back to the stall, I'll buy you ten more!"
Sanji frowned, then sighed. "Forget it... just give me money for three. I'll buy them myself."
"Thank you, thank you!"
The man handed over the money. Sanji checked it, nodded, and turned to leave—
But then he froze.
Huh?
Not far away, Chopper was surrounded by two men, one offering him a pink marshmallow.
Though Chopper stepped back cautiously, his eyes locked on the candy. Saliva dripped in seconds.
And both men...
also wore flowered shirts.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
Sanji roared, rushing forward.
But it was too late. Chopper had taken the marshmallow and bitten in—
His body trembled, eyes blurring, before collapsing.
"Chopper! Don't eat it!"
Sanji swept his right leg like a whip, blasting one man into a wall.
"Damn it!"
The other drew a dagger, stabbing fiercely.
The bearded man from earlier also unsheathed a dagger, sneaking up from behind.
Sanji sneered, shifting his body slightly. His legs lashed out, striking both men's wrists.
Crack!
Bones broke. Daggers clattered to the ground. The two screamed.
"Hold on, Chopper, I'll get you to a hospital!"
Sanji crouched, checking him.
The tall, thin man he'd kicked spat blood, staggering up with a pistol.
"Go to hell!"
He pulled the trigger—
"ROOM."
A calm voice echoed. A pale blue hemispherical space spread out, enveloping them all.
"Slaughterhouse."
A flash of light—
The three traffickers were sliced apart into pieces, collapsing like blocks.
"What's going on?!"
Their heads widened in horror, still alive but unable to move. Even the bullet had been severed, falling harmlessly.
Sanji looked up in shock at a young man in a leopard-print hat, sheathing his blade.
"This guy, and Chopper, are supernovas of my era—and fellow doctors."
Law glanced at him lightly. "I happened to pass by, so I lent a hand. Be careful next time. Don't capsize in a place like this."
"Huh?"
Sanji scratched his head. "Hey, don't get cocky. Did you really think that bullet could kill me?"
What a joke!
He'd already noticed the move—checking Chopper was more important.
"A fifty-Beri bounty brat, still this stubborn."
Law shook his head, bored. Too lazy to argue, he turned away with his crew.
"Wait a minute!"
Law frowned, Bepo readying his fists.
"Don't get me wrong!"
Sanji waved his hands. "Forget who saved who. My attitude was wrong! Leopard-hat, you said you're a doctor, right? Please check on my friend! I don't know what poison they used. I'm worried!"
The Heart Pirates exchanged looks, then glanced at Law.
"Fine."
Law crouched to examine Chopper—
But then a commotion erupted in the distance.
"Shalulia Palace, Purming Saint, descend upon this place!"
"All outsiders, stand aside!"
Navy soldiers cleared the streets.
The crowd parted like a tide. Locals and tourists alike fell to their knees, not daring to look up.
"It's a Celestial Dragon!"
Law's face changed. Abandoning Chopper's check, he shouted:
"Everyone, follow me! We can't cause trouble now! We'll talk later!"
The Heart Pirates nodded, retreating fast.
Bepo tugged at Sanji, who still stood confused.
"What are you doing? What's a Celestial Dragon? Why is everyone scared stiff?"