Chapter 101 Landing in Nahana! A Reunion of Fire and Smoke
The journey along the Grand Line is always full of wonders.
Just a few days ago, it was a winter island where snow was falling heavily and people were almost frozen solid. In the blink of an eye, the Going Merry sailed into a sea of sweltering heat.
Under the blazing sun, the air was distorted and warped by the intense heat.
We've arrived in Nahana, the port city of the Kingdom of Alabasta.
To avoid detection by the navy, the USS Merry quietly docked behind an inconspicuous, hidden rock in the harbor.
"It's so...so hot..."
As soon as they reached the shore, the sweltering heat hit Chopper hard, who was used to the cold.
The reindeer was covered in thick fur, making it look like it was wearing a down jacket while standing in a sauna.
It lay on the deck, its tongue lolling out, its eyes rolled back.
"I can't take it anymore... I'm going to melt... I'm going to turn into venison jerky..."
Hahaha! Who told you to wear such thick clothes!
Usopp, holding a water bottle, cheerfully poured water on Chopper to cool him down.
"Hang in there, Chopper! This is a desert country, and there are even hotter places ahead!"
In order to avoid attracting attention and to resupply as quickly as possible.
The group decided to split up and act separately.
"I'm going to buy spices and ingredients; this kind of place must have local specialties." Sanji lit a cigarette.
"I also need to buy some gunpowder and Chopper's cooling tools." Usopp dragged the half-dead Chopper off the ship.
Vivi then pulled Nami along, saying, "Nami-san, let's go buy some desert clothes and sun protection products too."
"Gah gah! Big sister, wait for me!" Clay flapped his wings and followed.
As for Zoro, who was in charge of watching the ship...
In the blink of an eye, the green algae-headed man had vanished.
"I want to go too!! To a restaurant!! For meat!!!"
Luffy twitched his nose and smelled the fragrance wafting from the city.
His eyes lit up, and without waiting for anyone, he ran off like a husky that had broken free of its reins, yelling as he disappeared in a flash.
"Hey!! Luffy!!"
Viktor, who was entrusted with the important task of keeping an eye on Luffy, reached out but found nothing.
He stood on the deck, watching the trail of dust, and sighed helplessly.
"I knew it... expecting that idiot to listen is like hoping a sow can fly."
Viktor straightened his light clothing. "I just can't do anything with you."
With a light touch of his toes, Viktor leaped gracefully onto the rooftop on the shore.
"The only option is to go to the place where that idiot is most likely to appear and rescue him."
...
at the same time.
A warship flying a naval flag also entered the port of Nahana.
"Colonel! We haven't found any trace of the Straw Hat Pirates!" a marine reported.
Smoker had two cigars dangling from his mouth, a habit he refused to give up even in the desert.
He stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the bustling city with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
"No... my gut tells me they must be here."
Smoker jumped off the boat; it was a hunter's instinct for his prey.
He walked alone on the streets of Nahana, and the bustling crowds around him did not interfere with his judgment.
Sudden.
A familiar, infuriating scent seemed to drift through the air.
Smoker stopped and looked at a bustling restaurant at the end of the street.
"That unique...smell of getting into trouble."
...
The restaurant was bustling with noise.
"Boss!! Fifty more servings of fried rice, and some meat with bones!!"
Luffy was sitting at the bar, his hands moving like blurs as he frantically stuffed food into his mouth, the plates in front of him already piled up into a small mountain.
Next to him sat a strange young man with dark hair.
The man was shirtless, with a huge purple skull tattooed on his back, and wore a red beaded necklace and an orange cowboy hat.
At this moment, the young man actually fell asleep while eating.
His entire face was buried in the pasta on his plate, and he even started snoring.
"Hey... is that person dead?"
"It seems like he suddenly died while eating..."
"Oh, this is scary, should we leave?"
The diners around were whispering among themselves.
"Squeak—"
Just then, the restaurant door was pushed open.
Smoker walked in with heavy steps.
He looked around, his gaze instantly locking onto the straw-hatted figure who was frantically gorging himself.
Sure enough, it's here.
Smoker walked up behind Luffy and spoke in a somber tone:
"Straw Hat Boy!!"
Luffy was happily eating, his mouth stuffed full of meat, his cheeks bulging like a hamster.
Hearing someone call his name, Luffy instinctively turned around:
"Huh? Who is it?"
When he saw the white-haired man behind him with a fierce and menacing look.
"puff----!!!"
Luffy was startled, and the chunks of meat and rice he was chewing sprayed all over Smoker's face like shotgun pellets.
The entire room fell silent.
Smoker closed his eyes, the bits of flesh on his face slowly sliding off, and the veins on his forehead bulging.
"Cough! Cough!"
Luffy was speechless. He finally recognized the person: "Ah!! It's you! That smoke guy from Loguetown!!"
"Since you know it's me... then prepare to die!!"
Smoker flew into a rage, his arm instantly turning into white smoke as he reached out to grab Luffy.
"Whoa! I don't want to fight you! I'm running away!"
Without saying a word, Luffy grabbed the last piece of meat on the table, turned around and ran.
"Bang!"
Because he started too fast, Luffy crashed into the black-haired youth who was still sleeping next to him.
"Boom!"
The poor young man was thrown through the air, chair and all, crashing through the restaurant wall and landing in the alley next door.
"Don't even think about running!!"
Smoker completely ignored the passerby, turning into smoke and giving chase. The two rushed out of the restaurant and began a chase through the streets.
"White Gale!!"
Smoker's smoke accelerated instantly, and it looked like he was about to grab Luffy by the back of his collar.
At this critical moment.
"boom----!!"
A blazing orange-red flame suddenly appeared out of nowhere, forming a wall of fire between Luffy and Smoker.
The smoke hit the flames, making a hissing sound as it evaporated.
"Who goes there?!" Smoker was forced to stop, his eyes serious.
The flames died down.
The black-haired youth who had just been knocked away was now squatting on the rooftop water tower by the roadside.
He held down his orange cowboy hat, his bare upper body radiating flames, and a confident and hearty smile spread across his face.
"Ah, what a coincidence."
The young man slowly stood up, looking down at Smoker with a hint of mockery in his voice:
"Hey, hey, I'm telling you, you should be about the same, right?"
"Could you... spare my brother?"
Upon hearing the voice, Luffy abruptly stopped and turned around in surprise:
"Huh? Ace?!"
The young man with the white beard tattoo, his body ablaze with flames, announced his name to the crowd:
"Whitebeard Pirates, Ace, here he appears!"
...
On another towering rooftop outside the restaurant.
Victor had actually arrived long ago.
He didn't rush to make a move, but instead crossed his arms and quietly watched the scene unfold.
When you see the pure, unparalleled fire element rising from Ace's body.
Buzz—
Viktor's three-tomoe Sharingan instantly activated and began to spin rapidly within his eye socket.
"Is that... the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit?"
The firelight was reflected in Viktor's eyes, and he silently compared it to the scene:
"Unlike my Fire Release... that completely transforms oneself into the element of fire."
"No hand seals are needed, and no chakra is required. As long as you have enough stamina, you can release it indefinitely."
"What an enviable ability."
Victor glanced at the tense situation below, then at the navy gathering in the distance.
"but..."
Viktor's lips curled slightly, and he flashed away.
"Now is not the time to watch the show."
brush!
His figure vanished instantly from the rooftopChapter 102 Fire Release VS Flame-Flame Fruit? A greeting from my brother?
The streets of Nahana were now in chaos.
"boom--!!"
The billowing white smoke and the blazing orange-red flames collided violently in mid-air, creating a shockwave that charred the surrounding houses.
Smoker, with two cigars in his mouth and his hands waving, tried to break through the fire net.
But no matter how he attacked, the flames always seemed to follow him like a shadow, blocking his path.
"It's no use, Smoke Man."
Ace transformed half of his body into flames, effortlessly blocking the intersection:
"You should know very well, right? With our abilities, smoke and fire are not enough to determine a winner."
"Tch…" Smoker's face darkened.
The massive commotion caused by the collision of these two Logia-type powers instantly alerted the Straw Hat crew members who were nearby.
"That noise...and that idiotic laugh..."
Usopp, carrying a bewildered Chopper, ran frantically back the way they came, tears welling up in his eyes:
"Seriously! I don't even need to think about it, it's definitely that idiot Luffy's fault again!!"
Taking advantage of the moment when Ace held off Smoker, the entire Straw Hat crew finally reunited in the chaotic streets.
"Everyone! Move this way!"
Vivi, riding Karu, pointed out the direction:
"Once we cross this alley, we'll be at the edge of the desert! Once we're inside, the navy will have a hard time catching up with us!"
"Full speed ahead!!"
Led by Vivi, the group ran all the way and finally broke out of Nahana, escaping to the vast desert on the edge of the city.
They only stopped when they could no longer see any navy figures around them, panting heavily.
"Huff...huff...finally shaken off..." Usopp slumped onto the sand.
However, before everyone could catch their breath...
"call--"
A scorching heat suddenly approached rapidly from behind.
Everyone turned around abruptly and saw a streak of fire falling from the sky.
The shirtless young man wearing an orange cowboy hat—Ace—was squatting on a huge rock, grinning as he looked down at Luffy.
"Yo, Luffy."
"Ah!! Ace!!!"
Luffy shouted with delight, his rubber arm extended, and he launched himself forward.
"Hahaha! You're still as reckless as ever!"
"Ace! What are you doing here?!"
To everyone's astonishment, the two brothers staged a joyous reunion.
The two started arm wrestling on the scorching hot rocks, laughing and catching up as they did so, completely ignoring the sweltering heat around them.
"That... Luffy..."
Zoro and Sanji's jaws nearly dropped as they watched the handsome young man politely tip his hat in greeting and even wipe Luffy's mouth.
"impossible!"
"This polite, powerful, and handsome man... is actually Luffy's brother?!"
"You're kidding! A genetic mutation?!"
After a brief reminiscing...
Ace stood up and dusted off his pants.
His gaze swept over the crowd and finally settled on the black-haired boy who was standing at the back of the group, surveying the surroundings.
"Ah, you're the first mate with the 28 million bounty..."
Ace's lips curled up, and his eyes gleamed with interest:
"Victor, who is known as 'Crimson Lotus'?"
"I heard... you're also very skilled with fire?"
Viktor raised an eyebrow, about to speak.
"boom!!"
Ace didn't waste any words.
His muscular right arm instantly transformed into raging flames, the temperature of which distorted the surrounding air.
A massive flame rapidly condensed in the air, transforming into an enormous fiery fist.
With an aura of incineration, it blasted towards Viktor without warning!
"Then let's say hello..."
Ace's eyes were confident and fanatical:
"Fire Fist!!!"
"Ah!!! I take back what I said earlier!!"
Usopp and Chopper, seeing the terrifying heatwave rushing towards them, huddled together and screamed, "This guy's a crazy lunatic too!!"
Faced with this nature-based attack that could devour everything.
Viktor remained completely calm.
Instead, his eyes lit up instantly.
Buzz—
The crimson three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly in its eye socket, trying to track the movement of the flames.
"Oh? Good timing!"
Instead of retreating, Viktor advanced, a smirk of excitement playing on his lips:
"I'm eager to see just how powerful the flames of the Flame-Flame Fruit, which is hailed as 'one of the strongest Logia-type Devil Fruits,' really are!"
Viktor took a deep breath, his chest bulging, and the chakra within him compressed and shifted wildly in his throat.
Since you want to compete with fire, then I'll play along!
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation Arrow!!!
puff--!!!
It did not unleash a large-scale fireball as usual.
This time, Viktor spat out an extremely thin, yet incredibly dense and hot, straight arrow of fire!
After flying several meters, the flaming arrow instantly exploded in the air, spreading into a towering orange-red sea of fire.
Like a giant fire dragon awakening, it clashed head-on with Ace's massive fire fist in mid-air!
"Boom! Boom!"
Two streams of red, destructive energy collided violently in the heart of the desert.
The enormous explosion was deafening.
The terrifyingly high temperature that erupted instantly turned the golden sand within a radius of 100 meters into a bright red, and even melted it directly into liquid glass!
"Waaaaaah!!"
A giant mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
The terrifying shockwave, mixed with heat, blew Luffy, Zoro, and the others around them off balance, forcing them to raise their arms to shield their faces.
Sizzle sizzle...
Ultimately, the two flames canceled each other out and dissipated into the air.
On the ground between the two, a large area of glassy sand, still emitting blue smoke and crystal clear, remained.
That's proof that high temperatures instantly crystallize sand.
"Whoa..."
Ace held onto his hat, which had almost been blown away by the blast wave, and stared at the glass on the ground, his eyes filled with astonishment.
"It's not a Devil Fruit ability, yet it can conjure flames of this temperature and scale out of thin air..."
Looking at the unharmed boy in black, he exclaimed in sincere admiration:
"What an interesting power, 'Crimson Lotus'."
Viktor shook his slightly burning hands, the red light in his eyes gradually fading, and said with a smile:
"You flatter me, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Hahaha! It seems Luffy has found a great group of crewmates!"
Ace burst into hearty laughter.
He looked at Luffy and extended the invitation that countless people on the sea had dreamed of:
"So, Luffy? How about taking your crew... and joining the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"That includes you, Viktor and Sauron, of course."
"don't want!!"
Without even thinking, Luffy picked his nose and refused without hesitation:
"I'm going to become the Pirate King!!"
"Hahahaha! I knew you'd say that!" Ace laughed, having anticipated this.
He never thought he could actually persuade his stubborn younger brother.
A brief reunion must eventually come to an end.
Ace couldn't linger because he still had to hunt down the traitor Blackbeard, who had committed a heinous crime.
He took a white piece of paper out of his hat, tore off a small piece, and handed it to Luffy.
"This is a life card."
Ace explained, "This piece of paper will guide us closer to each other. As long as we hold onto it, we will meet again someday. Keep it safe, Luffy."
Luffy solemnly tucked the Vivre Card into the lining of his straw hat.
Before leaving.
Ace slung his backpack over his shoulder, a silhouette of someone about to embark on a long journey.
But he deliberately stopped, turned around, and took a deep look at the crowd behind him.
"Victor, Zoro, curly eyebrows, long nose, raccoon dog, orange head."
Ace's expression turned serious; it was a request from his older brother:
"I'm counting on you to take care of my silly little brother."
He smiled somewhat helplessly:
"With you all by his side, I can feel a little more at ease."
However, everyone was speechless at Ace's touching scene.
Clay yelled in dissatisfaction from mid-air. "Goo goo goo! Why isn't Lord Clay here?!"
Usopp and Chopper. "Who are you calling a tanuki?!" "Who are you calling a long-nosed one?!"
Zoro sighed. "As expected, they really are brothers."
He glanced at Sanji, who was constantly smoking beside him. "Right, Curly Eyebrows?"
"Huh? You want to fight?"
Upon seeing this, Ace and Luffy burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Luffy! Your crew is really interesting!"
"Hehehe! Of course!"
Viktor sighed helplessly.
"Don't worry, as long as we're here, he won't die."
"And... I wish you all the best."
Thanks!
Ace suppressed his smile, waved his hand, and then his body transformed into a ball of flame, gradually disappearing into the depths of the desert amidst the heatwave.
Watching that disappearing figure, Viktor's eyes held a slightly complicated expression.
Just then, a crisp system notification sounded in his mind.
[bite!]
[Contact with key figure: Portgas D. Ace.]
[Reward received: Fire Release ninjutsu power increased by 20%.]
Viktor felt the fire-attribute chakra within him becoming more active, and a smile appeared on his lips.
"20%...that's a huge gain."
"Alright, men!"
Luffy clapped his hands, pulling everyone back to reality:
"Ace is gone, it's time for us to set off too! Cross this desert, destination—Yuba!!"
"oh!!"Chapter 103 Kung Fu Manatee! The Uchiha School's "Ninjutsu Teaching"
After saying goodbye to Ace, the Straw Hat crew officially stepped into the vast desert of Alabasta, known as the "Sea of Death."
The sun beat down relentlessly overhead, and the sand beneath our feet was scorching hot.
The temperature here has soared to a terrifying 50 degrees Celsius.
"I can't take it anymore...I'm going to die..."
On the endless yellow sand dunes, Victor was pulling a simple wooden trolley.
On the sled lay a reindeer that was almost dried out by the wind.
Chopper stuck out his tongue, rolled his eyes, and his once fluffy fur now drooped down.
For it, which is used to the harsh winters of the island, this hellish heat is nothing short of torture.
"Someone save me... I saw Dr. Hiluluk waving at me from the other side of the river..."
"Hold on, Chopper! That's the Sanzu River! Don't go there!"
Beside him, Usopp was also sweating profusely from the heat.
But he cleverly held Clay on his head, forcibly spreading the raven's black wings to use as a parasol.
"Gah... I'm hot too, old man! I'll be roasted like a crow!" Clay protested weakly.
The rear of the group.
"Water...water..."
Luffy dragged his feet like a dead dog, his tongue lolling out as he screamed for help.
Zoro and Sanji are two sworn enemies who usually can't stand each other.
They were now so dehydrated that they had to support each other, weakly complaining as they went:
"You damn green-haired guy... don't wipe your sweat on me..."
"Shut up, you lecherous cook...it was you who came close..."
In this hellish environment, there is a unique "oasis".
Viktor walked at the front, his body not only free of sweat, but also radiating a cool aura.
Nami and Vivi clung tightly to Viktor, one on each side, practically hanging on him.
"Phew...it feels so cool..." Nami let out a comfortable sigh.
Viktor's hands were constantly maintaining a subtle flow of chakra.
He used water-style chakra to condense the very little moisture in the air, creating a thin layer of water vapor that enveloped him and forcibly cooled him down.
The drifting moisture became the team's only lifeline.
Viktor felt his chakra draining away and sighed helplessly.
"Hey, you two..."
He glanced at the two beautiful women clinging to his body:
"I'm the first mate, not a portable air conditioner..."
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Nami clung tightly to his arm, as if it were her duty as a boyfriend! You don't want to see me sunburnt to death, do you?
Vivi smiled sheepishly, "Please, Mr. Victor, I can't live without you."
Viktor nodded helplessly, then turned around to see why there was no movement behind him.
Upon looking, one sees a group of people behind them who look like dried corpses.
He was startled and quickly activated the Water Dragon Bullet technique, shooting it into the sky.
Soon after, a huge torrent of water fell from the sky, nourishing the people who were about to become mummies.
...
After several hours of arduous trekking, the group finally spotted a rocky area near the coast.
"There's water!! That's the mouth of the Santoro River!"
Just as everyone was preparing to rush over to cool off.
"Awoo! Awoo!"
A group of strange creatures suddenly jumped out from behind the rocks and blocked their way.
They have a round, plump body like seals and an adorable, goofy appearance.
Its back is decorated with a pattern resembling a tortoise shell, and two short fins are raised in front of its chest like a boxer, striking a pose that says, "I'm going to take on ten of them."
Kung Fu Manatee.
"Wow! What an adorable seal!" Nami's eyes lit up.
"These are kung fu manatees, the fighters of this coastline," Vivi quickly explained. "They take winning very seriously, so we have to be careful…"
"If you meet them, you must duel; if you lose, you must become the victor's disciple..."
Weiwei hadn't finished speaking.
"Move aside! I need water!"
Luffy, who was already desperately thirsty, didn't care about any rules.
When faced with the Kung Fu Manatee leader blocking his way, he charged forward without hesitation.
"Rubber rubber—pistol!"
"Bang!"
One punch.
Before the lead manatee could even unleash its attack, it rolled its eyes and was easily knocked away by Luffy, landing flat against a rock.
The entire room fell silent for a second.
Immediately afterwards.
"!!"
The manatees, which had looked fierce and menacing, suddenly had their eyes turn into stars.
They immediately surrounded him, knelt down in unison before Luffy, and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Awoo! Awoo! (Master! Accept your disciple's bow!)"
"Huh? Become an apprentice?" Luffy scratched his head. "I don't understand it, but it sounds interesting!"
Viktor found it amusing to look at this group of adorable yet martial arts-obsessed creatures.
"An interesting race."
Viktor stepped forward, his Sharingan silently activating.
With the Sharingan's insight, the seemingly clumsy body structure and muscle exertion of the manatees were instantly analyzed.
"Oh? Although the physical techniques are simple, the way they utilize this special body structure to generate power... that's quite an interesting technique."
Viktor smiled and walked up to a manatee, assuming a starting stance.
"Awoo?" The manatee tilted its head.
brush!
Victor suddenly made a move, and the action was exactly the same as the signature move of the Kung Fu Manatee.
It has even been improved in terms of the point of force application, making it more rapid and powerful.
"Is this your'straight punch'? If you lower your center of gravity a little, it will be more powerful."
As he spoke, Victor demonstrated a few simple martial arts techniques, a combination of physical skills and the manatee's body structure known as "Manatee Fighting Techniques."
The manatees were stunned.
In this human, they saw the pinnacle of martial arts!
"Awooo!!! (Grandmaster!!!)"
The manatees instantly abandoned Luffy and pounced on Victor.
Some clung to his leg, others kowtowed, and they revered Viktor as their "grandmaster."
Luffy became his "master".
"Hahaha! I have an apprentice!" Luffy laughed triumphantly.
If Nami hadn't gotten angry and declared that they absolutely couldn't bring this huge group of seafood across the desert, these manatees would almost have packed their bags and boarded the Going Merry.
...
After bidding a reluctant farewell to their manatee apprentices, the Straw Hat crew continued their journey deeper into the desert.
But soon, reality dealt them a heavy blow.
"Ah!!! My luggage is gone!!"
Luffy and Usopp knelt on the sand, screaming in despair.
They had just encountered some injured birds and kindly wanted to help them, but the birds (the deceitful birds) instantly recovered and flew away with all their food and water.
"Are you idiots?!" Nami was so angry that she beat the two of them up.
Just then.
"Help!!"
Chopper's voice came from not far away.
When everyone ran over, they saw Chopper being chased by a giant man-eating flower, and on Chopper's back was a camel that looked extremely lewd.
After dealing with the carnivorous plant.
"You mean you were being chased because you were trying to save this camel?" Sauron asked.
"Okay!" Chopper nodded.
This camel has a lazy expression and long eyelashes.
"Since they're desert camels, they'll be perfect as our mounts!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly, eager to get on.
"Pooh!"
The camel looked disgusted and spat directly at Luffy.
However, when Nami and Vivi approached, the camel immediately adopted a fawning expression, even lying down to invite the two beauties to ride on it.
"Oh, what a good camel." Nami patted its head and sat down.
Sanji roared in fury: "That lecherous camel!! It only lets women ride it?!"
Clay translated: "It said...'Men are out of the question, they're all hard as nails. Only soft, limp girls are qualified to ride me.'"
"What?!!!"
Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji instantly went berserk.
"Crackling and popping!"
A cloud of dust rose from the desert.
Three minutes later.
The camel named "Eyelash" lay on the ground, its nose bruised and swollen, tears welling in its eyes.
Viktor walked forward with a smile, twirling a sharp black kunai in his hand, which gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
He crouched down, placed the kunai against the camel's neck, and asked gently:
"Mr. Eyelashes, we are very tired now and need a ride."
"Would you rather be a glorious mount... or become tonight's main course?"
Victor pointed to Luffy, who was drooling beside him:
"That guy in the straw hat really wants to try camel meat."
"Ugh!!"
Her eyelashes were so frightened that the hairs on her body stood on end, and she nodded frantically.
"Aww!! (I'm willing! I'm willing to be your mount!)"
that's all.
Under the "persuasion" of violence and the threat of death.
The camel finally yielded and became their exclusive mount, carrying everyone towards Yuba.Chapter 104 Spider Cafe! The Gathering of Weirdos
Deep in the Alabasta wilderness, a fierce wind howls, whipping up sand and gravel.
In this desolate, rocky wasteland, which is uninhabited for miles around, stands a solitary shop called "Spider Coffee Shop".
The clock hand points to 8 p.m.
Although located in a remote area, the shop was not closed at the moment. Instead, it was filled with a group of strange people with dangerous auras and different appearances.
Behind the bar, a voluptuous blue-haired woman dressed in a biker gang style outfit was casually wiping glasses.
She is the owner of this shop and also a senior agent of Baroque Works—Miss Doublefinger.
By the window sat a tall, bald man dressed in monk's robes.
His eyes were sharp as knives, and he exuded a steely aura that kept strangers at bay—Mr. 1.
At another table sat Mr. 4, a fat man who was always a beat slow on the uptake.
And a chattering, impatient old woman named Miss. Merry Christmas.
"Why hasn't that damn transvestite arrived yet? He's so slow! It's infuriating!" The old woman slammed her fist on the table in frustration.
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.
"Your humble servant has arrived!!!"
With a high-pitched, strange cry, a figure dressed in a pink swan dress did not walk properly.
Instead, like a ballet dancer, she tiptoed and spun wildly into the store.
"Spinning around and around—Jete!!"
Mr. 2 von Clay, the last one to make a dazzling appearance.
"Seriously, I'm so sorry to have kept you all waiting!" Mr.2 struck a difficult pose and then said excitedly.
"Listen to me! I encountered a super interesting group of pirates at sea! It was the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"And I confirm that they have already landed!"
Upon hearing this news, Mr. 1, who had been silent all along, slowly raised his head, holding several of the latest bounty posters in his hand.
"Straw Hat Luffy, bounty 30 million Berries. Pirate Hunter Zoro... and this one."
Mr. 1's gaze fell on a photograph, of that always smiling, black-haired boy:
"'Red Lotus' Victor, bounty 28 million Berries."
"Oh! It's this red-eyed guy!"
Upon seeing Victor's photo, Mr. 2 instantly screamed, his expression becoming exaggerated:
"Although that straw hat kid is quite amusing, my intuition tells me... this guy named Victor is extremely dangerous!"
"That look in his eyes...it's even more terrifying than that green-haired guy with the knife! He's the kind of person you'd die if you weren't careful!"
"snort."
Mr. 1 snorted coldly, casually tossing the wanted poster onto the table, his tone filled with disdain and arrogance:
"They're just some newcomers from the East China Sea, with only a few empty titles."
He raised his arm, his skin gleaming metallicly under the light:
"Here, no one can defeat us who possess Devil Fruit abilities. Assassins don't need intuition, they only need strength."
...
Afterwards, led by the proprietress, the group rode in the giant tortoise-shaped vehicle to the largest casino in the Rainy Land – "Rain Banquet".
In that luxurious yet dimly lit underground VIP room, they finally met the mysterious behind-the-scenes boss, Mr. 0.
Amidst the swirling smoke, the man with the enormous golden hook and a scar running across his face turned around.
Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Welcome to my city, everyone."
Crocodile didn't waste any words and directly revealed the shocking plan called "Utopia":
"I have only one goal—to take Alabasta and establish our own utopia."
"Furthermore, we obtained the ancient weapon 'Pluto' that was sleeping beneath the ground of this country."
Upon hearing the word "Pluto," even these ruthless agents gasped in shock.
"Alright, enough with the nonsense."
Crocodile exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes turning sinister:
"The final operation, 'Utopia,' is about to begin."
"Go to Arubana, kidnap the king, and start a full-scale war between the rebels and the king's army."
"Go and set this country on fire...completely."
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the vast desert.
After sunset, the desert temperature plummets, turning from an oven during the day into a refrigerator at night.
Having escaped the daytime heat, the Straw Hat crew sat around a sheltered sand dune, lit a campfire, and enjoyed a rare dinner.
Except for Zoro.
The green algae-covered man was leaning against a rock, fast asleep with his knife in his arms, snoring loudly.
"Awoo! Smack smack!"
Luffy was holding a piece of unidentified lizard meat in his hand, chewing it greedily.
After chewing a few times, Luffy's expression changed, and he stuck out his tongue:
"Wow...it doesn't taste good, it's so astringent."
As he spoke, he opened his mouth to spit out the meat.
"Hey! Luffy!!"
Sanji, who was working hard grilling meat nearby, instantly lost his temper, pointing the spatula at Luffy and yelling:
"Don't spit it out! This is prey we finally managed to catch! Food is precious in the desert! Swallow it!"
"But it really doesn't taste good..."
Luffy looked aggrieved, then his eyes lit up, and he took the skewer of meat that he had taken a bite out of, grinning as he brought it to Sanji's mouth:
"Then... you can have it!"
"Who wants to eat your saliva! Get lost!!"
Sanji's face darkened. He lifted his foot and used the sole of his shoe to push Luffy's face away.
And on several dead trees nearby.
Usopp was perched on a tree branch, nervously observing the dark desert around him through binoculars.
Viktor lay on a branch next to him, his hands behind his head and one leg dangling in the air.
He was supposed to be on guard duty, but this guy was breathing steadily and was obviously asleep.
"Hey, Clay."
Usopp poked the crow perched on Viktor's belly:
"Why don't you fly around and patrol the area? What if there's any danger?"
Clay rolled his eyes, buried his head in his wing, and made an extremely perfunctory sound:
"Gah... Ulusai, long nose. Grandpa, I want to sleep."
"Huh? You lazy bird!" Usopp was so angry his nose almost twisted. "Looks like we don't have enough ingredients tonight, we'll have to eat roasted crows!"
"Gurgle?! What did you say?!"
Whether it was because they shared the same bad habits or something else, the two, despite their constant bickering, got along remarkably well.
Beside the campfire.
Vivi, Nami, and Chopper were nestled against the warm feathers of the sleeping Karuna, holding water bottles and dry rations in their hands.
Because Chopper has hooves, he's not very good at using human utensils.
It could only hold the biscuit with its two hooves and clumsily gnaw on it, its mouth covered in crumbs.
"Ah! So cute!"
Looking at Chopper's fluffy appearance, Vivi couldn't help but curiously reach out and gently touch its antlers.
Nami took a sip of water, looking at Chopper's small figure with gentle eyes:
"Chopper, you've had a tough day. Your fur must be burning up in this unpredictable weather, right?"
Upon hearing this, Chopper stopped chewing.
It raised its head, and although its face was still covered with cookie crumbs, its big eyes shone brightly in the firelight.
"hey-hey..."
Chopper shook his head shyly, then twisted his body into a wave shape and said happily:
"It's not hard at all! Not hard at all!"
"I'm so happy! I'm so happy to be on an adventure with everyone...!"
Nami's eyes widened, and a smile crept onto her lips.
"Ah! Chopper! You're so cute!"
Chopper shyly twisted into a wavy shape again.
"You...you bastard, what are you saying...?"
On a cold desert night, these simple words are warmer than a campfire.Chapter 105 The Dried-Up Yuba! The Captain's Resolve
After overcoming countless hardships, enduring the scorching sun and sandstorms, the Straw Hat crew finally arrived at their destination—Yuba, the former stronghold of the rebels.
However, the scene that came into view chilled everyone to the bone.
This place is no longer the legendary thriving oasis.
The wind howled, and yellow sand filled the sky. Most of the former streets and houses were buried by endless shifting sand, leaving only ruins that wailed in the wind.
The rebel army had long since moved on, leaving behind only a desolate, empty city.
"Hey!! Is anyone there?!" Luffy shouted, but his voice was swallowed up by the sandstorm.
In this desolate wasteland, the only one holding on was a gaunt old man.
Duoto.
He is the father of Kou Sha, Vivi's childhood sweetheart and the leader of the rebel army.
Even after everyone else had left, he remained alone, digging day after day in the long-dried-up well in an attempt to find a water source.
...
As night fell, the sandstorm subsided.
Under the half-buried eaves, Uncle Duotuo warmly welcomed everyone.
Despite his abject poverty, he still brought out his most precious possessions.
"Come on, drink up."
Doto, trembling, held up a worn-out bowl and handed it to Luffy.
The bowl contained only a tiny bit of water that he had dug up after a whole day, even digging until he bled.
It was murky water, mixed with a lot of mud and sand.
Doto looked at Luffy, his eyes gleaming with an almost obsessive hope:
"This is Yuba's water... Yuba is not dead! This oasis will return!"
"The king... would never betray us! I believe in the king who can make this land rain!"
Nami and Usopp, standing nearby, stared at the bowl of water, which was almost entirely muddy, their throats tightening, unsure of what to say.
However.
"Glug, glug."
Luffy didn't hesitate at all. He took the bowl of muddy water, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
They even licked the dirt and sand from the corners of their mouths into their mouths.
"ha--!!"
Luffy put down his bowl, wiped his mouth, and gave Doto a bright smile:
"Ah! It's delicious!!"
"Thank you for the treat! Uncle, may you live to be a hundred years old!!"
Doto looked at Luffy, paused for a moment, and then burst into tears of emotion: "Thank you... thank you for believing in Yuba..."
Viktor watched this scene quietly, deeply moved.
That's the charm of Monkey D. Luffy.
He always saw through the essence of things; what he drank was not muddy water, but the dignity and belief of an old man guarding his home.
Viktor stood up and silently walked to the dry well outside the house.
"Right now, I can't use ninjutsu to change the climate of the entire country, nor can I fill this deep well..."
Viktor looked at the empty bucket next to him and quickly formed hand seals.
Hai-Xu-You-Shen-Wei.
[Water Escape]
Instead of releasing an aggressive torrent, Viktor transformed his chakra into the purest, clearest water, slowly filling the large bucket.
"Splash..."
The crisp sound of water was especially pleasant in the quiet night.
Viktor carried a full bucket of crystal-clear water into the house and placed it in front of Doto.
"Uncle."
Viktor said softly:
"Let's get some rest tonight with this clean water."
He looked out the window at the desolate desert, his eyes growing deep:
"This land is 'sick', and it can't be cured by digging a well."
"But please rest assured... we will completely cure that 'root cause'."
...
The next morning.
The group prepared to depart from the ruins of Yuba.
"Let's go! To Cateria!"
Weiwei looked at the map, tired but with a determined look in her eyes:
"The rebels have moved there! If we can see Kosha before they launch their final offensive, we can stop this war!"
However.
"I don't want to go."
A sudden sound rang out.
Everyone turned around in surprise, only to see Luffy standing there, having even taken the huge wooden barrel he used for storing water off his back and sat down on the ground.
"Luffy? What are you talking about?" Usopp was confused.
"I said I don't want to go to that Cateria thing." Luffy picked his nose, looking nonchalant. "I'm so tired, I want some water."
"Mr. Luffy!!"
Vivi instantly flew into a rage. She rushed over and grabbed Luffy by the collar, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Stop joking! Do you know what time it is?! The lives of a million people are hanging by a thread!!"
"Do you want everyone here to die?! Get up and get going!"
"I'm not going!" Luffy remained seated on the ground, his eyes sharpening as he stared intently at Vivi.
"Because even if we go there, we can't stop that bastard crocodile!"
"Even if you stop the rebels, as long as that crocodile is still around, he'll keep causing trouble! The sandstorms won't stop!"
"We pirates don't have time to play those peacemaking games with you!"
"We should go to... that guy's stronghold—Rainfield! Let's send him flying!!!"
"What do you know?!"
Are you denying me?!
Vivi was hit where it hurt, and she completely lost control of her emotions.
She swung her fist and punched Luffy hard in the face.
"To avoid sacrifice... to prevent anyone from dying... I've been trying my best!!"
"Smack!"
Luffy's face turned to the side after being hit, but he didn't back down and threw a punch back.
"Luffy!!" Sanji tried to rush forward to stop him, but Zoro stopped him: "Don't interfere."
The two wrestled on the scorching sand.
Luffy slammed Vivi to the ground, looking at the girl who wanted to bear everything alone, and let out a deafening roar:
"Then let's risk our lives too!!!"
This roar was deafening.
Weiwei froze, her pupils contracting sharply.
Luffy gripped her shoulders tightly and shouted:
"Whether it's you, or this country, everyone is risking their lives to resist!!"
"Why are you the only one who wants to sacrifice yourself?!"
"We're partners!!!"
These words completely shattered the defenses that Weiwei had built up against "strength."
"Waaah..."
Looking into Luffy's sincere yet angry eyes, Vivi finally couldn't hold back anymore.
She lay on the sand and cried loudly, releasing all the fear, grievances, and helplessness that had accumulated along the way.
"Waaaaah... Actually, I... I wanted to kill him too... I wanted to save everyone..."
Nami stepped forward and hugged the crying Vivi with heartache.
Zoro and Sanji both smiled with relief as they watched this scene.
Victor stood aside, watching the captain who, though unreliable in ordinary times, always managed to strike a chord with the soul in crucial moments.
He stepped forward, gently placed his hand on Luffy's straw hat, and lowered the brim.
"This is our captain."
Victor looked at Vivi and said with a smile:
"Although he's usually a gluttonous idiot, his intuition is more accurate than anyone else's in these crucial moments."
"To catch the thief, first catch the king."
Victor turned around and looked at the distant sky shrouded in conspiracy:
"Once Crocodile is killed, the sandstorm will stop and the war will naturally end."
"Let's go, Your Highness."
Victor reached out and helped Vivi up:
"I'm not going to try to break up the fight."
"This time...we'll go straight to the Rain Land, to that crocodile's lair..."
"Make a huge scene!!"
And so... the wind direction changed.
The Straw Hat crew stopped pursuing the rebels and instead turned their attention to Crocodile's lair—
Las Vegas, rainy place!