Chapter 81: Observing the Battle, Three-Way Struggle.

"So, all of this was Crocodile's conspiracy..."

In the palace of Alabasta, Vivi's father Cobra patiently explained to several rebel leaders despite his injuries. — Of course, just seeing the recently rescued king, the rebels could guess the truth!

"We... have committed an irreparable mistake..."

The rebels, who fought for their 'justice' and their country, were now in despair, realizing their passionate efforts had been manipulated. — If they had clung to the one-in-a-million hope that 'maybe Princess Vivi was lying', now:

Several young leaders sat on the ground, their faces ashen, not even needing the royal army to act. They had visibly lost their spirit, including their chief of staff, Eric, who wore a bunch of unknown medals.

"Regret is natural, and so is sadness."

The middle-aged King Cobra released the guard supporting him and took a few steps towards the rebels who once sought his head.

"We have all lost many things, but the real enemy remains unscathed!"

"Now is not the time to be disheartened! Stand up! Let's fight our common enemy and face the future together!"

"King..."

"Your Majesty!"

"You—"

Even though Crocodile had framed him everywhere, causing internal strife and chaos in the country, Nefertari Cobra still had many followers, proving he was a great king. Unfortunately:

Lacking strength, he could only...

"As people of Alabasta, you should be well aware of Crocodile's power."

The God of the Desert!

This was the title given to the Seven Warlords of the Sea by countless civilians who had witnessed Crocodile's actions. For ordinary people, — this title was not an exaggeration. And now, everyone had to face such a powerful enemy!

Thud!

"Roman, Your Majesty."

The first to gather his resolve was the rebel leader Koza, who knelt on both knees and slammed his forehead onto the stone slab, leaving a pool of blood.

"Please give us a chance to atone!"

Thud, thud, thud,

The other rebel leaders also prostrated themselves, their foreheads hitting the floor hard.

"Please!" x5

"I have no objections," Roman looked at the middle-aged man Cobra at the head, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

"...Alright."

Good, now they had cannon fodder to exhaust Crocodile.

Facing a boss far stronger than them, Roman had no qualms about using others to wear him down first, and then letting their ace, Luffy, take the stage. Otherwise:

If Luffy could solo the boss, what would they need the rest of them for?

To cheer him on?

Rubbing his temples, Roman's frown made Vivi beside him ask in a low voice.

"Roman, is there a problem with the others?"

"Ah, no."

Roman waved his hand.

"No problem, it's just..."

---

"Woof woof woof~~~"

"Woof woof woof woof——!!"

Above Chopper's battlefield, the paper crane transmitted such a bizarre 'battle' that Roman began to wonder if he had 'overdone it.'

A perfectly good Chopper, and he had corrupted him...

On the battlefield, Chopper used his animal form's high-speed movement to dodge the attacks of the Mole-Mole Fruit user Miss Merry Christmas, while using 'mouth cannon' to suppress the real 'mouth cannon'—Mr. 4's weapon: the gun-cannon dog named Lassoo, which had eaten the Dog-Dog Fruit: Dachshund Model.

Translated roughly:

'You say you're a dog, but are you really a dog? Dogs are carbon-based lifeforms, but you clearly have silicon-based characteristics...'

'I...'

'You say you're a gun, but are you really a gun? Guns are just tools, but you can think, move, and even sneeze...'

'I...'

'Who are you? Where did you come from? What is the meaning of your life...'

'I...'

"Gun-dog, or dog-gun, that is the question..."

'I...'

The gun-cannon dog fell into indentity crisis

"what's wrong with you?"

Even the slow Mr. 4 was getting anxious about his confused pet. But:

Without a provider of cannonballs, the coordination between Mr. 4 and Miss Merry Christmas immediately showed a fatal flaw!—Normally, Miss Merry Christmas would burrow underground to drive the enemy, the gun-cannon dog Lassoo would provide cannonballs, and Mr. 4 would use his immense strength to hit the cannonballs and injure the enemy! But now...

"Reindeer, stop running!"

"I'm not a reindeer, I'm a human..." Chopper instinctively retorted, then realized, "Sorry, force of habit..."

But dragging it out like this wasn't a solution, once that dog snapped out of it...

"Rumble Ball!"

Swallowing a golden pill, from now on my fate is in my hands, not the heavens!

*Cough cough*, although it's also a golden ball, the Rumble Ball is essentially a drug that can disrupt the transformation wavelengths of Zoan-type Devil Fruits, developed by Chopper himself. It allows him to have several additional Zoan forms, such as:

"Jumping Boost!"

Instantly transforming into a half-beast form, Chopper leaped up, dodging the claw attack from the underground mole granny Miss Merry Christmas, and pounced towards the dachshund cannon dog 'Lassoo' in mid-air. Before the two could react, he wiped the dachshund's nose and pressed its head into a nearby hole!

"Sorry about this."

Achoo—

Boom!!!

After a series of sneezes, there was an earth-shaking explosion! Miss Merry Christmas was suddenly blasted out of the interconnected holes on the battlefield.

"As expected, these holes are all connected."

Just a bit of simple pepper made the dachshund cannon dog 'self-destruct' and lose consciousness, and also left Miss Merry Christmas covered in soot. Although Mr. 4 was very strong, his movement speed was extremely slow...

The battle was decided!

Thud,

In that moment of distraction, Chopper, in his half-beast form, felt a tight grip on his ankle and heard an urgent voice from below.

"Got you, you pig, pig—"

Oh no...

————————

"Special Attack: Gunpowder Star!"

Boom,

Although this move wasn't very powerful, anyone who could only take hits without fighting back would feel miserable. The woman codenamed Miss Doublefinger, who originally had a blue afro hairstyle, now had a charred, smoking afro and was on the verge of going crazy:

"Stop! I'm going to tear you apart!"

"Ahhh, like hell I'll stop—"

Usopp sprinted away, leaving Miss Doublefinger to eat his dust. Did this slingshot guy put all his points into running away?

"Special Attack: Gunpowder Star!"

Boom,

"Ahhh, I'm going to turn you into a pincushion!!"

"Ahhh, stay away~~"

...Not bad, just like that.

The battle scene looked comical, but Roman, observing the battlefield through a circling paper crane, nodded in satisfaction.

Although Usopp's hit-and-run, keep distance, hit again, and keep running strategy was very sneaky, it had to be said:

That's how an ADC should play!

Kiting the enemy to death is the essence of an ADC. Wielding dual swords in close combat and still calling yourself a ranged class?—Do you think just throwing things makes you an archer?

It seems Usopp and Chopper are still reliable—

"With subordinates who run so fast, no wonder that straw hat-wearing captain had to cover the rear alone, how pitiful..."

"What did you say?!"

Usopp's steps faltered.

"I said, with cowards like you as subordinates, that straw hat kid died so miserably."

!

"Luffy isn't dead! And I'm not a coward—"

?

My goodness!!! Usopp, what are you planning? Do you want to go all hot-blooded too? Dude, you're an ADC, just keep your distance and attack...

"Sigh,"

Out of sight, out of mind, Roman switched his attention to the third paper crane, and what he saw made his expression serious. Because:

"Doohahaha, run, run faster~~"

"Bang bang bang!"

Facing Nami, who had disappeared around the corner of the corridor, the cowboy known as Mr. 10 grinned and fired four shots with his dual revolvers. Wood chips and smoke flew, but the four shots were aimed at the corridor walls!

Pop pop pop pop,

Despite Nami's best efforts to dodge, she still ended up with several cuts on her body!

Magic Gun Technique - Refracted Bullets

It was the cowboy Mr. 10 behind her who cleverly used the bullets' collision with the walls, seemingly shooting at the walls absurdly, but the four bullets miraculously refracted into the left corridor, successfully injuring Nami!

No, it should be said that all of this was:

Intentional.

"Nyahaha, run faster, even faster!"

Miss Monday, wielding a giant long sword, passed Mr. 10 with his dual guns and swung her long sword towards the left corridor.

Soft Sword - Waltz..

The long sword, as tall as she was, flowed like water, like a gentle breeze, easily deflecting several pieces of white paper flying towards her, embedding them in the corridor wall behind her.

"I advise you not to waste your energy,"

Dressed in leather, Miss Monday swung her long sword in circles. It was as soft as noodles, protecting the two of them! — Even if Nami stubbornly threw a bunch of white paper as flying weapons, they were all easily deflected by her.

"Don't think that just because we're ranked low, we're weak."

Chasing Nami through the ship's cabin were the dual-gun cowboy Mr. 10 and the leather-clad long sword woman Miss Monday. In fact, if they weren't bored and playing around, with their strength, Nami would have been captured long ago.

"Huff huff,"

Although they were just playing, Nami was now covered in gunshot wounds and sword cuts, and Roman's serious voice came from the paper crane on her shoulder.

'Wait for me—'

"No need."

?

"I can handle them!"

Roman, we're partners, not just relying on you—

"...Alright, you little..."

The worried words turned into firm ones.

"Take them down."

"Got it."

——————

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