Even though he had started learning Red's thick-skinned philosophy long ago…
Even though he knew that what Robin had relayed was nothing more than Red's usual professional motivational speech meant to fire up the Straw Hat crew…
After being force-fed a bowl of hot-blooded encouragement, Usopp still couldn't help but feel stirred.
"God…!?"
"Can I really live up to a title like that?"
Usopp knew better than anyone that a timid, insecure person like himself would never possess the innate Conqueror's Haki potential of Luffy or Zoro.
But he also remembered something Red had once told him—
The moment a person can truly acknowledge their own weakness, they become invincible.
"Let's hope Red's judgment isn't wrong…!"
After taking a deep breath, Usopp suddenly swept his arm forward, releasing countless insects that surged forth like dark storm clouds in the night sky, flying straight toward Amazon Lily.
With specialized reconnaissance insects and command insects at his disposal, the insect swarm could flawlessly complete its mission even without Usopp personally directing them.
"Then… let's go all out without holding back!"
A dark green glow flashed through Usopp's eyes, radiating a dense vitality brimming with life.
His powerful and precise Observation Haki spread outward, quickly locking onto the figure hidden atop the Sky Island.
"So it's you… Evil King Avalo Pizarro."
The enormous rhinoceros beetle beneath him suddenly spread its metal-like carapace, its wings beating silently as it carried Usopp at high speed toward his target.
…
…
At the same time, on the Sky Island of the Black Lion Alliance.
Unlike Amazon Lily, which was shrouded in shadows and suffering the ravages of war—
This place basked in bright sunlight and gentle breezes.
Though pirate-ruled territories were inevitably somewhat chaotic and grimy, overall it could still be considered a paradise of indulgence.
At the very center of the island stood a palace crowned with a massive black lion-head sculpture.
Inside the palace, the Evil King—left behind to guard the island—had one alluring female pirate tucked under each arm, being fed grapes as he reclined with a blissful expression.
"Now this is how people are meant to live!"
Having been imprisoned in the hellish depths of Impel Down for decades, Abalo Pizarro sighed from the bottom of his heart.
Unlike the freewheeling Blackbeard Pirates of the original timeline, the Black Lion Alliance was still dominated by Golden Lion Shiki, resulting in an extremely rigid hierarchy.
This only made pirates like the Evil King—those inclined toward Blackbeard—despise Golden Lion's rule even more.
As for Blackbeard, he showed no reaction at all.
Or rather… this was exactly the situation he wanted.
The more these powerful pirates grew dissatisfied with Golden Lion, the easier it would be for him to win them over in the future.
"If only Golden Lion and Blackbeard never came back~"
"Then I could enjoy this kind of life forever!"
Lounging amid soft embraces, Abalo Pizarro bared his teeth in a wicked grin.
But at that moment, an unexpected voice suddenly drifted in from outside the palace window.
"Then I should congratulate you."
"Because your wish… has already come true."
"Huh!? Who's there!?"
The Evil King froze in shock.
Interrupted in the middle of his pleasure, he shoved the women away and shot an angry glare toward the window.
There, he saw a man standing atop a gigantic insect, aiming a strange slingshot weapon straight at him.
"You—wh—"
Before he could finish his question, the man outside released the slingshot without hesitation.
"Special Move—Improved Usoppgy Bomb: Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspice!!!!"
Words like a blessing rang from Usopp's lips.
Before the Evil King could even register what was happening, a crimson projectile engraved with a divine dragon and fire phoenix streaked past his eyes and slammed into the wall behind him.
Just as Abalo Pizarro was about to scoff, thinking Usopp had simply missed—
A terrifying surge of energy erupted behind him.
BOOM!!!
In the next instant, without giving him even a split second to react, a devastating explosion engulfed him like a ferocious beast.
The entire palace was swallowed by blazing fire, and with a thunderous crash, the once-grand structure collapsed into ruins.
Roar—!
Cry—!
Raging flames clung to the wreckage, forming the phantom shapes of a soaring dragon and a blazing phoenix in the air, faintly echoing with roars and cries.
"Did I… get him!?"
Usopp lifted his goggles, staring at the palace reduced to rubble, yet the vigilance in his eyes never wavered.
Just then, the ground beneath him let out a faint rumble.
In an instant—
A towering pillar of earth shot skyward, transforming midair into a gigantic hand that lunged toward Usopp.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy!"
Facing the sudden attack, Usopp remained calm. A mysterious light burst from the rhinoceros beetle beneath him, which instantly accelerated into a blur, carrying Usopp out of the massive hand's grasp.
Psychic-type move — Agility!
As Usopp's trump card, this rhinoceros beetle had long been brought into the Pokémon world with Red's help and equipped with carefully selected moves.
"Annoying little insect!"
At that moment, several enormous craters suddenly opened atop a nearby mountain, arranged like facial features on a human face.
It was the Evil King's Devil Fruit ability—
The Island-Island Fruit, allowing him to assimilate with the island itself!
If he hadn't reacted quickly and merged with the island in advance, that explosion wouldn't have merely caused him some pain.
After becoming one with the island, any damage inflicted on the island would still be transmitted to his body—
But to the island itself, Usopp's attack was little more than a cigarette burn.
Rumble—rumble—rumble!
Seeing Usopp escape again, the Evil King condensed yet another massive hand and pursued him relentlessly.
"Persistent as ever!"
Usopp frowned slightly, scanning his surroundings with Observation Haki while using Bug-type energy as a signal medium, commanding the beetle to evade the attacks.
In moments, the island's land, rocks, forests, and lakes seemed to come alive, launching assaults from every direction!
At this moment, the true might of the Island-Island Fruit was fully revealed.
"Hahahaha—!"
"It's useless, little bug!!!"
"As long as you're on this island, you'll never escape my grasp!"
Having been ambushed earlier, the Evil King now reversed the roles, transforming into a colossal mountain-face and playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with Usopp across the Sky Island.
Faced with the overwhelming barrage, Usopp didn't dare counterattack.
The opponent was already far stronger than him—and with such a terrifying Devil Fruit ability as support, it was an enemy far beyond his current level.
Each time he thought about it, Usopp felt something strange stir in his heart…
Why did Red always have such inexplicable confidence in him?
He had even trained him as if he were Zoro or Sanji.
When there were clearly so many outstanding members in the crew—
Nami, who commanded the weather; Robin, swift and precise in combat; Chopper with his multiple forms; Franky with his steel body; Brook with his soul and bones…
Usopp had never thought of himself as exceptional.
Especially not among the Straw Hat Pirates—a crew overflowing with geniuses.
Even everything he had achieved so far was thanks to the help of his companions.
"So seriously… Red, you bastard—stop believing in me for no reason!!!"
"You're putting so much pressure on me!!!"
Whoosh!!!
The enhanced rhinoceros beetle carved a crescent arc through the sky, narrowly dodging another "nose-hair attack" made of trees.
But just then, after being pursued for so long, Usopp suddenly brought the beetle to a halt.
Under the blazing sun, Usopp's shadow stretched long across the island, casting a towering silhouette.
"Hm?"
The massive body tilted slightly, as if the Evil King had raised his head.
Those hollow yet keen eyes flickered.
Abalo Pizarro split his mouth into a mocking grin.
"Why'd you stop running, little bug!?"
"Thinking about how to escape the island?"
"Then let me tell you—you can give up that foolish idea right now!"
"With Golden Lion's power, I can move freely in the air as well!"
As if to prove his words, the entire island suddenly rose dozens of meters under his control, nearly skewering Usopp on a jagged spike.
Watching Usopp forced to ascend again, the Evil King burst into laughter.
But in the next second, scorching magma erupted from the mountain face bearing his visage.
His mood plunged, his voice turning low and ominous.
"It's useless!"
"You dared to destroy the Alliance's headquarters while I was guarding this island…"
"Today, no matter what, you're dying here!"
"I remember now—you're that Straw Hat pirate with the 1.08 billion Beli bounty… the so-called Insect Swarm Usopp, right!?"
"Blackbeard even mentioned your name to us before! Seems there's some bad blood between you two…"
"If I bring your head back to the higher-ups, I'll surely redeem myself and gain even greater authority!"
"So then…"
"Say goodbye to this world, brat!!!"
WHOOOOSH—!!!
Two enormous mountain hands roared toward Usopp's position.
And yet, at that very moment—
"Finished talking already?!"
"Didn't expect your last words… to be so damn long."
Standing atop the rhinoceros beetle, Usopp slowly raised his head, a faint smile on his face as he spoke calmly.
Excessive expectations always bring pressure.
But at this moment, even Usopp himself didn't understand why—
All of Red's expectations for him were miraculously transforming into the driving force that pushed him to climb ever higher.
(End of Chapter)