"Match OVER!! Last chest snagged! Round one DONE!!"
Hattari's blare hit—Luffy thrust their fresh-grabbed chest high, grinning wild.
"Yes~! Made it~!"
"Haa... close... Luffy-san's gut saved us."
Vivi panted behind, steadying breath—face/clothes grimed. Cave mid-highest peak: tiny dead-end, lone chest perched. Steep climb payoff—last unclaimed.
Luffy's instinct led; Vivi reaffirmed trust.
Buggy/Alvida? Slipped away. Evade-mastery outshone bounties—real threat felt.
Near-quit? Luffy's grit clinched.
Vivi thanked inward—worth the chase.
Breath-catch mid—
Hattari droned on.
"Now—Qualifier Round TWO: START!!"
"Eh?!"
"Now?! Just ended...!"
"Round Two: CROSS COUNTRY!!"
Amped speaker-boom.
Duo bolted cave—peak view swept island.
Hattari bird-mounted, mic-grip, surveying—shock plain, stares locked.
Rules mid-drop.
Duo stifled panic—ears strained.
"North: slim sandbar to next isle! 'Athletic Island'—clear obstacles, hit goal=win! 100 teams advance! 200 cut! Hustle!"
"Oi Vivi—north which?"
"That way—we passed. From here? Probably there."
"That?!"
Vivi point—north: twin isle, white-narrow link, serpentine stretch. Athletic Island.
"But absolute rule: GUARD your chest! Sabotage fair—but lose it? DQ instant! No goal reach. How? Surprise! Duo finish or bust!"
"First 100 pairs only... Luffy-san!"
"Go! First to goal!"
Direction locked.
Luffy vaulted—chest clutched, downhill blaze. Vivi nod—trailed tight. North sandbar bound.
Pre: deep woods.
Eyes sharp: beach-runners dotted—hurry.
Wing-flap: Hattari's bird banked sandbar.
Grin below—loving chaos.
Cheery broadcast island-wide:
"Losers: loser boat prepped. Head there—no Gorgeous Hattari return. Sneak Athletic? Big ouch—watch it."
Smirked glee—chest-holders scrambled. Raw drive? Heart-pump spectator sport.
Downhill woods: Luffy/Vivi chatted mid-hustle.
Trees blinded; brush snared. No stop—Alabasta route dies on fail.
Treasure Battle grind sank in—not just brutal events, but no-breath chain.
Unknown rounds ahead—all hell.
Vivi fatigue-bit, no whine.
"300 teams post-one. 100 survive. Cutthroat race. Obstacles worry me."
"Don't care. Fastest wins."
"Not simple. Plan?"
"Hustle!"
"Not a plan!"
Luffy's chill irked—Vivi scanned woods.
Stranger pirates dotted—no crew. Worry rude, but unavoidable.
"Crew okay...? Hope chests nabbed."
"No sweat. They handle."
"Yeah..."
"Oi Vivi—you help everyone."
"Eh?"
"Nation stress + us? You'll burn. Skip us—don't solo-carry."
Bush-leap, Luffy grinned easy.
Vivi pace-held, eyes fixed.
"Kiri plans; Nami navs. Sanji feeds; Chopper heals; Usopp BS cheers; Silk vents. Tough guys? Me/Zoro smash. Can't say? Chikuwa geezer/Karue."
"Luffy-san..."
"Save Alabasta? We got you—always. Crew now."
Got it—Vivi softened smile.
No lone burden—lean.
His toothy kindness eased—still tense, but lighter.
"Thanks. Solo? Nothing. You all? I fight."
"Skip thanks. Ain't over."
"True. Real start: now."
"Feed me."
"Eh?"
"Post-Croc? Belly-full feast."
Blink at casual ask—princess to chow.
Grin accepted.
"Yes. Promise."
"Shi shi shi."
Fatigue? Vanished. Heart light.
"Right—prize: Eternal Pose + meat. You want meat too."
"No, I..."
"Alabasta happy? You smile. Good meat = grins."
Kid-pure—Vivi nodded, giggled.
"Two prizes greedy. Pose for Alabasta; meat Sanji-san. His grub's gold."
"Solid. That."
"Win first."
"Leave it—win!"
Hype reset—woods cleared, view opened.
Sandbar ahead—runners swarmed. Late vibe—faces set.
"There! Next isle!"
"Tons crossed. Hurry!"
"Aye!"
Sand plunge—narrow path sprint.
Front: chest-clutchers, gap wide. Post-round1 legs? Overtake grind.
Rear: chasers—zero slack.
No calm—frantic press.
Sand dragged—pace dip despite grit. Pass? Drudgery.
Pushed—stamina blind, forward.
Narrow spit: 5m sea-flanked.
Sudden: side splashes—duo eyes snapped.
Sea-leapers: not human. Instant ID.
Blue-fur beasts—charged runners: some fist-blitzed tanks, others chest-snatched, sea-dive.
Gawked close.
Blue coat, rabbit ears. Neck/finger webs, long tail.
First sight: Sea Rapaans.
"What're those? Weirdos."
"Trained saboteurs...?"
"They're here! Blueberry Times special: race wreckers! Sea Rapaans rule waves!"
"Sea Rapaans?"
"Fight pros—close=trouble! Careful!"
Hattari overhead—duo no-stop.
Five stood tall—path-block. Sabotage? Fight.
Luffy eyes hardened.
Chest to Vivi—solo brawl intent. Beasts clocked.
"Vivi—hold."
"Y-Yes. Careful, Luffy-san."
"No prob. Won't lose."
Hand-off: Luffy surged.
Arm-windup—sweep all five.
"Gum-Gum—"
Beasts synced dodge—sea plunge, split.
Luffy blinked, arms froze.
Fled—not far. Slowed for Vivi.
"They bailed. Gone?"
"Doubt—Luffy-san!"
"Ngh."
Left sea-burst: Rastaan lunged.
Vivi-target—chest direct.
Luffy blitz—mid-air kick gut.
Tumble-sand; quick rise—minimal dent.
Blocked duo—rear runners halted.
Beast pivot: rear assault.
Duo threat cleared—go.
Luffy re-chest, fronted—Vivi call, sprint.
Everywhere: leaps, screams—hellscape.
"Move!"
"R-Right."
Vivi terror-spiked.
Free-sea mobility, human-smash strength—unreal.
Chaos reigned: assaults, snatches, KOs—10+ pairs DQ'd here.
Weave downed—push.
Side seas: swimmers tailed—hunted.
"Vivi! Eyes front!"
"Front?"
"Guard you—always. Straight shot!"
Luffy's firm lead—Vivi nod steel.
Trust = forward.
Cleared mind, resolve set—step powered.
Side waves churned.
Rataan pack-swim: "rabbit waves" brewed.
Unknown trait: solo no—group easy.
Vivi sweat—checked both.
Waves built—beasts dove.
"Incoming!"
"What kinda?"
Mass leap: high arc + wave-crash sides.
Dual assault—duo yelped, fled.
Jump late—cascade swallowed, tumbled.
Prone: beasts closed.
Luffy priority—chest-holder.
Head-shake: tail-whip smacked skull.
"Buhoh?!"
"Luffy-san!"
Skid hard—chest clung.
Roll-up: glare, charge.
Trapped? Brawl.
Chest two-hand whirl—extend arm, smash beast torso.
"Take this!"
Fly-sea; quick surface—shrug dent.
No fear—tanky.
Vivi's beast: weapon-spin dodge, counter gut-slash.
"Peacock Kujakku Slasher!"
Thread-blade nick—minor.
Beast glare—dive retreat.
Tough. Fight = stall.
Evade priority.
Vivi snap-judged—called Luffy.
He'd chest-bash endless—her cue = key pair-value.
Nonstop assaults: sandbar madhouse.
Duo edge? Now.
"Push! Catch-up shot!"
"Gotcha!"
Luffy chest-high, snort-sprint—Vivi led.
Splash-cascades dodged; beast-wary; leap downed—isle-bound.
Pre-start? Carnage.
Ahead trials? Faces shifted.
Vivi slicked wet hair—scan vigilant.
Sea packs regrouped—no quit.
Grimace—dodge think. Wet fine—sea-drag = Luffy sunk. No. Sub-fight? Their game.
Run only—grim duo.
Beasts dove.
Wave-build assault—solo targets now.
Sea swell—erupt: not beasts alone.
Twist-air: chainsaw whirl.
Deep gashes—multi-beast down instant.
Right sea: duo gawked up.
Saw-faller.
Umbrella head: Arlong.
"Shaa hahaha! Straw Hat!"
"Arlong!"
Thud-land; rise-glare. Luffy matched—Vivi left-alert: Hachi emerged, four-sword + gold spear + chest.
Aid fact—regardless intent.
Arlong leered down Luffy.
Odd: blatant hate, no instant strike.
Calm start:
"Prime crush chance. I win? You die. Remember."
"Cool. Won't lose."
"Tch... same piss-off punk."
Mutter, eyes avert—no brawl, push on.
Luffy tilt-head:
"Not here?"
"Public spectacle kill. You'll hit main."
"Shi shi shi, got it. Later."
Arlong grin—Luffy matched chipper.
"Tourney: last fun! Enjoy! Shaa hahaha!"
Arlong sea-dive—inhuman speed.
Hachi trailed:
"Nyuu~! Wait, Arlong-san. Straw—later."
"Yeah. Grind."
Hachi plunge—gone.
Duo waved—re-face, bolt.
Few beasts down—not wiped. More inbound—sprint no-walk.
"Luffy-san—umbrella crew yours...? Them?"
"Yup. Kiri's push."
"Rookie-tier, yet... maybe Pirate King real."
"Duh—will be."
Shi shi shi—Luffy beamed.
Outsider? Beef vibe. Arlong chat? Zero sour.
Vessel glimpsed.
Vivi recalled Nami/Silk: forced Arlong subs—Nami's parent-killers.
Nami's casual then? Weird—now clicked.
Luffy = her laugh.
Hate/blockers? Crew makes possible.
Kingly?
Long admired—view shifted.
Now duo-pair.
Rely him; he relies her—that strength needed.
Trials build—growth spark.
Rataan full-chase sandbar: Luffy/Vivi bounded through.
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