Wano Country, Kuri, Amigasa Village.
The Straw Hat Pirates had returned to this place once again.
Inside the room of Tama's house, several more heavily injured figures had appeared.
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper.
The four men and one reindeer were severely wounded, having narrowly escaped death on Onigashima.
If the will of Joy Boy within Luffy's body had not suddenly awakened, triggering the true form of the Nika Fruit, they would have already perished.
Tama had drunk the polluted river water, and although she had eaten the food Luffy and the others had stolen, her illness had not yet fully recovered.
She still had a low-grade fever, but seeing the heavily injured Straw Hat Pirates, she could only force herself up to care for them.
Tama's master, the Tengu-masked old man, said in a helpless tone:
"You truly have massive luck, even daring to challenge Kaido."
To be honest, when he saw the Straw Hat Pirates confidently heading to Onigashima, he thought these people were high-level experts.
As it turned out, they were carried back in the afternoon.
Each one was battered and bruised, suffering from severe internal and external injuries.
If it weren't for their powerful constitutions, they would likely be dead by now.
Carina, Franky, and Brook helped Tama bandage the wounds of the group.
Luffy regained consciousness, but his voice sounded extremely weak.
"Sorry, Tama... I failed to blow Kaido away..."
On the way back, he had learned what happened on Onigashima.
For some reason, he had turned completely white.
He had rescued Carina and fled with the heavily injured Zoro and the others.
They were pursued by Kaido and his men, but his father had intercepted them.
Fortunately, Franky and Brook went to meet them, allowing for a smooth escape.
Carina was rescued.
But Kaido was not defeated.
The people of Wano Country, Kuri, and Tama remained under Kaido's tyrannical rule.
The food stolen yesterday from Paradise Farm would eventually run out.
At that time, Tama would return to her initial state, stomach empty and starving.
She might even ignore her health and drink the polluted river water again to fill her belly.
Luffy clenched his fists tightly, filled with unwilling frustration.
He had trained for so long with Rayleigh, mastering the use of the three types of Haki.
He had developed Gear 4 "Bounceman" for his Rubber-Rubber Fruit.
His strength had increased significantly, yet he was still knocked unconscious by a single swing of Kaido's club.
His attacks had dealt no damage to Kaido's body.
Meanwhile, Kaido's single strike had robbed him of consciousness.
Zoro lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.
This battle was a total defeat.
They had nearly been wiped out.
Of his three swords, only the Wado Ichimonji remained.
Since setting out to sea, this was the most desperate he had felt, second only to facing Hawkeye.
Usopp said bitterly: "Shall we... should we just leave?"
"Carina has already been rescued. Let's leave Wano Country..."
Before he could finish, Luffy interrupted: "I will definitely defeat Kaido!"
"The kindness of the meal Tama gave us... I haven't repaid it yet, Usopp."
Usopp fell silent.
He, too, naturally wanted to help Tama escape her current hardships.
He also wanted to defeat Kaido.
But the reality was cruel.
How could they possibly defeat such a monster?
Moreover, in the current Wano Country, besides Kaido, there was another of the Four Emperors, Big Mom.
There was also Golden Lion Shiki.
Carina, Franky, and the others remained silent as well.
Everyone wanted to help Tama.
The problem was, they lacked the strength.
Tama gently wiped Chopper's wounds and smiled: "It's okay. We've lived like this for many years."
"Big Brother Luffy, once you've healed your injuries, please leave as soon as possible."
"Kaido might send people to search for you."
She did not want to involve Luffy and the others any further, using a smile to tightly conceal the disappointment and sadness in her heart.
The Tengu-masked old man sighed softly and stood up to walk outside.
He wanted to get some fresh air to ease the oppression and despair in his heart.
Just as he reached the door, a dark shadow suddenly descended from the sky, blocking his path.
The Tengu-masked old man was startled and leaped back quickly, watching warily.
Luffy and the others also sensed it, turning their heads to look.
Outside the door stood a tall man draped in a dark green cloak.
His appearance under the hood was fierce, looking like a criminal, with a mysterious dark-red tattoo on the left side of his face.
Carina said in surprise: "Luffy's father?"
The newcomer was indeed the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon.
He nodded to the group and entered the room.
"Hello."
Dragon greeted Tama, the Tengu-masked old man, and the Straw Hat Pirates.
He spoke quickly, stating: "I've temporarily shaken off Kaido and his men."
"Luffy, you cannot continue to stay in Wano Country. You will be discovered."
The expressions of Usopp, Franky, and the others stiffened.
It seemed that even Dragon was not a match for Kaido and Big Mom.
Luffy turned to look, his eyes full of unwillingness.
Dragon understood his son and smiled slightly:
"You are still young. If you train for another two or three years, you might not necessarily lose to the Four Emperors."
"Leave Wano Country first. Staying here will only involve others."
He glanced at Tama and the Tengu-masked old man.
If the Straw Hat crew stayed, it would bring harm to those two.
Having said this, regardless of the reactions from Luffy and the others, Dragon waved his sleeve.
A gentle breeze manifested in the room, turning tangible as it lifted the heavily injured Straw Hat members.
Breezes also swirled around him as his feet slowly left the ground.
"Please endure for a while longer. Someone will defeat Kaido and liberate Wano Country."
Dragon said with a hint of apology to Tama and the Tengu-masked old man.
His strength was not enough to defeat Kaido and Big Mom.
Liberating Wano Country was something he could not do.
Having spoken, Dragon took Luffy and the others into the sky, disappearing into the distance.
Tama forced a smile and silently lowered her head.
Endure for a while longer... how long would that be?
Could she even live until then?
The tears in Tama's eyes fell like a string of pearls, hitting the floor incessantly.
The Tengu-masked old man sighed in pained sympathy, gently stroking the top of her head.
The appearance of Luffy and the others was like a sudden, brilliant firework—gone in an instant.
Aside from the light that bloomed last night, what awaited them was still endless darkness.
...
In the skies above Wano Country, Luffy turned his head, looking at the black land passing below with eyes full of resentment.
The moods of the others were equally low.
Dragon said calmly: "The situation in Wano Country is playing out in various places across the world."
"Your strength is too weak."
"You cannot help the people of one land, let alone help people in other places."
At this point, Dragon fell silent for a moment and sighed: "I am the same."
He looked toward a certain direction in the New World and said: "Currently, the only force capable of helping everyone is in Totto Land."
The eyes of Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, and the others flickered.
Totto Land was now the territory of Luo Chen's Jinghai Army.
Dragon believed that only Luo Chen could help Wano Country and others who suffered similar fates.
Luffy asked: "Then shall we go find Luo Chen for help?"
Dragon shook his head. "The Jinghai Army may not necessarily have the time."
"I heard that the Jinghai Army plans to first purge the pirates of the four seas; the New World will be handled last."
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