"To think you actually saw through me, Princess. How truly disappointing for this humble one!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay stood atop the sand dune, his twisted expression stretched into a grotesque smile, gazing at Vivi, bruised and breathless. His tone grew dark, laced with murderous intent:
"Then allow me to assist Mr. 0 by removing you from the board, Princess Vivi! You are a dangerous variable that must be eliminated!"
With a dramatic flourish, Bon Clay shed the long robe of his disguise and leapt from the horse's back, executing a split kick in midair toward Vivi.
"This desert will be your grave!"
"Cough… Before I stop this civil war, I absolutely won't die here!" Vivi shouted, narrowly dodging the incoming strike.
"Caw!"
Neither of them noticed Karoo, who had been playing dead, suddenly burst into motion.
With unshakable loyalty, Karoo rushed to Vivi's side, scooped her up, and bolted toward Alubarna with every ounce of remaining strength.
Vivi clung to Karoo tightly, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"Karoo! Thank you… You saved me again."
The noble duck let out a determined caw, galloping forward through the scorching desert.
Though still alive thanks to Shirogai's timely interference—shielding him from what would have been a fatal stomping minutes ago—Karoo was far from unharmed. The earlier blows had left his belly and tailbone in searing pain. But for Vivi's safety, Karoo ignored his injuries and pressed forward.
"Stupid duck! You're still alive?! I'm going to kick you into the next life!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay snarled, lunging forward to close the distance, preparing his Human-Swan Rush to overtake them.
But the next moment, his entire body twisted in midair—he flipped backward, somersaulting away from an unseen force.
Wham!
A sharp kick cut through the air, the mere pressure gouging a trench several meters long into the desert sand.
"H-Huh? Who's there? To ambush this humble one like that!"
Bon Clay scanned the area, beads of sweat forming as he took a cautious step back.
Whoosh…
A gust of desert wind swept past, and suddenly, the sand where he had intended to advance collapsed with a loud boom, forming a deep, ominous trench.
"I-I can hardly believe my eyes!" he gasped, pale and wide-eyed. "Such power from mere wind pressure?! If that kick had connected…"
He stood frozen.
Thud!
A playful yet precise kick landed squarely on Bon Clay's backside, launching him into the air like a ragdoll.
A teasing voice drifted up from below.
"Human-Demon Fist, huh? Promising stuff. The pinnacle of martial arts isn't necessarily weaker than peak Devil Fruit abilities or even advanced Haki."
"Damn it! Show yourself! Human-Demon Fist: Sky-Spinning Memoir!"
Bon Clay twisted in midair, his legs spinning into a blinding kick toward the source of the voice.
But there was no one there.
The voice reappeared—now behind him.
"Your Devil Fruit ability's development is mid-tier, but your spirit might qualify you for future world-class battles. I've got my eye on you, Bon Clay."
Another kick hit his backside, sending him crashing into the desert. A poof of sand burst upward as his body embedded in the ground.
"Argh! Who's toying with this humble one?!"
He clawed his way out of the crater, coughing and spitting sand, eyes wild.
Still no sign of his opponent.
"This humble one is enraged!"
He stomped and growled, furious that he couldn't even see his enemy. Not even against Crocodile, Mr. 0 himself, had he been so thoroughly humiliated.
Then he froze.
"Huh? This humble one's head… there's something strange in it!"
His expression shifted from confusion to horror.
"What is this?! Advanced Human-Demon Fist… and practical battle techniques?!"
He reeled backward, stunned by the new information suddenly implanted in his mind.
---
High above, Shirogai Yamikuro floated calmly, six black wings unfurled behind him as he observed.
"So loyal to Crocodile, he's still chasing after Vivi, even after getting completely outclassed," Shirogai murmured with a sigh. "But that's what makes Bon Clay… Bon Clay."
Despite his flamboyant fighting style and eccentric Devil Fruit power, Bon Clay possessed a rare, unwavering heart. Fans of the One Piece would later grow to admire this "fool"—a man whose actions during the Utopia Plan were cruel, but whose loyalty and purity of intent could never be denied.
"That Perfect-tier Human-Demon Fist knowledge is a small investment," Shirogai said thoughtfully. "He's not strong enough to join Vespera, but who knows…"
Because of Shirogai's swift interference, Vivi and Karoo managed to escape and eventually rendezvous with Sanji, who had just arrived.
Sanji, ever the gentleman, told Vivi to run ahead. He stood still, cigarette glowing, waiting for Bon Clay to catch up.
"A battle between Black Leg's kicks and Human-Demon Fist? Sanji's got this. Bon Clay can't keep up."
Shirogai's lips curled into a sly smile.
"Assuming, of course, Sanji doesn't let his pervy brain get in the way. Which… it probably will."
Sanji was dependable—when his opponent was male.
But if they were female, or even half-female—like Bon Clay—Sanji's so-called "chivalry" became his Achilles' heel.
Speaking of fools…
Shirogai's wings flared, and with a rush of wind, he vanished from the sky.
---
Far across the Gobi Desert.
A tall, muscular, fur-covered figure crouched low, eyes darting between cave entrances.
The reindeer was frantically scanning the surroundings, wary of any baseball projectiles that might suddenly rocket toward him.
"Chopper. A fool in his own way," Shirogai thought, hovering silently above. "He's strong—yet his inferiority complex keeps him from reaching his potential."
Down below, Chopper narrowly dodged another baseball bomb hurled by Mr. 4's absurd weapon: a dog named Lassoo, who had eaten the Dog-Dog Fruit: Dachshund Form.
Mr. 4 suddenly emerged from a tunnel behind him, swinging his bat and striking the explosive ball toward Chopper's back.
Crack!
The impact sent Chopper flying through the air. He hit the ground hard, bouncing twice before lying still, dazed.
Shirogai frowned slightly.
"After he conquers that weakness… he'll become a monster in battle. A creature who earns a few-hundred Berries bounty but fights at a level worth billions."
He tapped his chin in thought.
"Of course, I could just use the [Whisper-Whisper Fruit] to erase the root of his trauma. Forge a fake backstory—inject confidence and overwrite his self-doubt."
It would work. Easily.
But then…
"Would he still be Chopper?"
Shirogai let out a quiet chuckle and shook his head.
"It's their flaws that make them them. If everyone became like me, the world would be hell."
---
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