LightReader

Chapter 210 - Chapter 209: Cross Country (2)

Sandbar from Ancient Isle—participants streamed to Athletic Island.

Bird-back Hattari commentated, scanning.

Athletic: long vertical snake—diverse terrains, winding natural path. Obstacles: some man-made, most raw island hazards blocking.

Sandbar entry: first trial.

Runners ahead—Hattari mic'd:

"Round two minutes in—lead pack in Athletic! Entry: first trial—'Trap Road'!"

Voice hyped.

Participants ear-tuned mid-run.

Road: dry dirt plain—but stuff not.

"Blueberry Times traps! No pits/death—calm. Just caltrops/snare jaws. But saboteurs lurk—like before! Watch!"

Heard: Silk/Chopper hit traps.

True—open scatter: caltrops/jaws everywhere. Alien vibe.

Dodge = trial one.

Human Chopper chest-clutched; Silk blade-bared alongside.

Round2 start: near sandbar—early cross.

Others dotted; front: few.

Trial simple: evade, push. No sweat.

Hope high—advanced.

"Traps—tons."

"Fine. Eye 'em, skirt—easy."

"Yeah, but saboteurs. Like beach beasts?"

"Likely..."

Silk nod—Chopper's unease twist.

"But slots limited. Risk it—hustle."

"Crew okay?"

"They're good. Focus us."

"Right."

Chat mid: trap zone neared.

Two types—caltrop/jaw hordes. Dense—time-kill if snag. No clear steps; no blind rush.

Concentrate.

Self + crew stakes.

Hype reset—step in.

"Go Chopper. Feet + sides."

"Got—Silk! Danger!"

Chopper yell—yanked Silk arm.

Halt: fist-stone whizzed past.

Thrown—speed/arc screamed sabotage.

Full stop—source scan.

Expected: beast flinger.

"They're moving! New saboteurs: Rapaan pack! Dodge rocks—go!"

"Jump scare... Rapaan? Sea Rapaan kin."

"Rapaan home island. Vicious, man-hunters. But these..."

Path straight—sides plain grass, trap-free. Suspicious empty—off-path doom likely, despite no-pit claim.

Beasts: cliff-edge to sea—ギリギリ drop-zone.

Big rabbits: scary mugs, punk glares. Plump white fur, long ears—cute? Nah, stone-toss thugs.

Prior speed? Threat real. Counter tough.

Grim faces—no stall, bolt.

"Strong. Wilder than wild."

"I guard. You lead."

"Got it—cover me!"

Resolve: Chopper front—trap plunge.

Instant: Rapaan rock barrage.

Silk blade-whirl: gale defense. Sea-back beasts—yeet 'em off, no harm.

"Hya!"

Storm raged—stones veered harmless. Pack-blast to sea.

No dice.

Dug claws—braced, cold stares.

Chopper right: trained smarts.

Blueberry contract—smart foes.

Sea-fail? Rock-block easy—edge.

Push: foot-trap dodge mid-sprint.

Eyes: attacks + ground.

Simpler than feared.

But not solo.

Tails closed—difficulty spike.

Sabotage mutual—race thrill.

"Outta way! Don't block me!"

"Silk... that..."

"Die flashy! Chop-Chop Cannon!"

Buggy catch-up: right hand detached, knife-fingered—backstab duo.

Chopper whirl—spotted; Silk clocked.

Halt mid-trap: blade-up counter.

"Lead! Kamaizuchi!"

"Uo?! What?!"

Slash-gale roared—hand + Buggy slammed.

Gashes; rear tumble.

Trap-free zone lucky—roll only. Float-reform quick.

Instant ID: Straw Hats—prior Silk sight. Chopper? Adjacent = crew.

Targets. Alvida's stun ignored—rage bare.

"Damn Straw scum! Always cockblock!"

"You started."

"Shut it! No champ for you!"

Float-form charge.

Pain—evade faster, bolt.

Chaos: Rapaan rocks flew. Silk re-gale: stone-deflect, Chopper shield.

Buggy + beasts? Focus split.

Gap: Alvida surged.

Left-chest tuck, right-club, bare-foot glide—fast. Traps slid off; rocks bounced—no mark.

"Not bad. Luffy's crew quality."

"You?"

"Luffy's girl."

Beam—stunner beauty.

Answer? Baffling—Silk puzzled.

Casual overtake—no speed drop.

"Sorry—passing."

"Ah, wait!"

"Let her, Chopper. No attack."

"But—"

"Bigger worries."

No dwell—traps + rocks = injury mine.

Buggy rear thunder—ignore.

Forward lock—no engage.

Buggy rage brief—

New voice slammed him.

"Wait, bastards! Alvida—why ditch?! All Straw's fault—!"

"Rocket!"

"Obu?!"

Luffy missile—zero warn, back-crash. Caltrop pile-up.

Yelp duo.

Voice pull: Silk/Chopper mid-run glance—rolling screamers: Luffy/Buggy spiked.

"Gyaaa?! Hurts~?!"

"Gyaaa?! Stab stab?!"

"Luffy—safe."

"Nah... spiked."

Roll-escape; rise shaky.

Slash-tough? Point-pierce weak. Buggy fume-stand; Luffy sit-glare down.

Clocked.

"Damn rubber! What?! Always ruin!"

"Hm? Buggy?"

"Don't play! Cocky—end you here!"

"Cool. But rushin'—raincheck?"

"Yeah... fine, later... LIKE HELL!!"

"Loud as ever."

Rage: dual-knife hands, six blades Luffy-aim.

Race? Fight now—stuck.

"Fate clash—today I win—oge?!"

"O? Flew in."

Idle: Rapaan rock waist—disassemble scatter. Trap-snag parts—screams.

Luffy hat-press: Rapaan spot—eyes sparkle curiosity.

"Whoa—what?! Gorillas?"

"Rabbits. Rapaans."

"Luffy—Vivi?"

"O—Silk, Chopper. Vivi's here."

"Luffy-san!"

Vivi chest-clutch—late sprint.

Silk/Chopper relief halt—not alone.

Sync: familiar foe—Arlong Kiribachi-run, no slowpoke.

Overtook Vivi: ground-slam—high leap.

"Shahaha! Move!"

"Arlong!"

"Gyaa?! Bastard what?!"

Drop-slash: Luffy/Buggy aim—dodge, ground gouge. Blade-hook propel—zoom past.

Attack bonus—overtake instant. Land-push.

"Shaa hahaha!"

"Nyuu~ Arlong-san cheery. Good vibes."

"Ah, Hachi."

"Yo. Stopping?"

Aggro Arlong bolt; Hachi chest-haul followed.

No linger—Luffy grit (hate lose?): eyes sharp, dash.

"Go Vivi!"

"Yes!"

"Silk—us too."

"Yeah—can't lose."

Luffy/Vivi lead—Silk/Chopper hustle.

Overtake sting; Buggy reform—fury yell.

"Damn! All flashy idiots! Prize MINE! No scraps!"

Buggy rage-dash; rock-storm road = madhouse.

All raced—head snatch.

Odd: brawls low—pure race vibe.

Lead: Alvida hit trial end.

Path cut.

Hattari confirmed—ongoing, now trial two.

Ahead: sheer cliff.

Vertical rock—stepper slabs like stairs. Gaps wide—tricky climb.

"Road clear: trial two—'Cliff Crawl'! Straight-up—but miss step? No guarantees!"

25m—no cakewalk.

Alvida halt pre-cliff—gazed up.

Smirk: sandals don.

"Can't slip here. Careful."

Seconds pause—

Tails swarmed: Arlong lead.

Ignored her—ground-kick, overhead torpedo to holds.

Club-drop immune force.

"Shark ON DARTS!"

Quick hops—multi-step up; turn-glare.

Runners closed.

Luffy lock—taunt yell:

"Come on! Straw Hat!"

"Duh! Vivi—grab!"

"Eh? Y-Yes!"

Chest hand-off; Vivi piggyback.

Left-clutch; right-arm stretch—Arlong-right holds snag. No attack—overtake intent?

"Blast past! Gum-Gum... ROCKET!"

Pull-shot: Vivi aboard—sky-arc, over Arlong, lead snag—top land.

Luffy smirk-turn.

Arlong tch—leg-blast hop chain.

"Shi shi shi—saw?!"

"Tch... game on!"

Arlong cue: Vivi drop-off.

Chest back Luffy—duo sync-lead.

"Us first? Sweet—go~!"

"Careful—unknown ahead—"

No foes sight; no saboteurs; trials distant.

Slight ease—vigilant push.

Then: rear whoosh.

Whirl: cliff-base flame-trail skyward.

Head-top: human-form, smug grin.

"Sorry Luffy—your lead? Nah."

"Ace!"

Air-reform: hat-press call—legs flame-jet flight.

Ability soar—overhead zip, lead theft.

Duo shock—no slow.

"Damn~ Ace badass. But no lose."

"World pirate... wow."

"Me too."

"O? Ah~ Kiri!"

Flap: paper bird—Kiri cross-legged, chest-hug, chill grin.

Luffy beam; Vivi awe-up.

"Oi Kiri—ride us!"

"Nope. Ace duo now."

"C'mon—bit. Captain order."

"Cheat. Race fair—grind."

"Stingy."

"Am."

Vivi watched banter—elite.

Luffy/Kiri/Ace/nearby: zero round1 fatigue. Monster stamina—no brag.

Panting Vivi: worlds apart.

Round2 instant—more? Unknown.

Anxiety linger—useless, head-shake.

Follow Luffy.

Face set—eyes front.

-------------------------

Hey everyone, thanks a ton for following my story till now. If you wanna read ahead, I've already uploaded about 30–40 extra chapters on Patreon. Your support really keeps me going and helps me bring you more cool stories!

[patreon.com/Greyhounds]

More Chapters