The swordsmen had respected Usopp's orders and wishes, running off deeper into Gecko Town to somehow find the treasure Luffy wanted, as well as chiefly defend any villagers they happened across along the way. Yet in the town square, the battle between the First Mates was at a hefty start against Usopp's favor. "Lead Star!" Usopp fired first as Mohji spurred into Richie with his heels, driving him forward at a sprint. The Lead Star collided harmlessly with Richie's massive mane, cushioned by his fur. Richie cleared the distance and swung a massive paw into Usopp.
Usopp just barely had time to bring his arms up to cushion his own blow, but he was still sent into the air, the wind already knocked out of him before he landed with a crack against the pavement. He groaned as he leaned from side to side, in too much pain to pick himself up yet. He still held onto his slingshot fiercely, yet he was senseless until he heard paws padding toward him quickly.
Richie roared as he battered Usopp again. There was no defense against it this time and his claws tore into Usopp's back as he was catapulted across the town square yet again with a cry. This time, his strength gave out, and his slingshot fell ten paces from him. He was on his stomach this time and sniffled through the pain, finding his entire body was injured yet again. "Feels like I just healed up," Usopp complained.
He anticipated another attack quickly, but was surprised when he found Richie had not moved from where he'd just kicked Usopp. His head was bent down and Mohji was tugging on his mane furiously. "Come on, he's still alive! You can eat him!" Mohji barked, but Richie was deaf to his commands. He lapped up three broken eggs. Usopp found his knapsack was a little light and a couple other eggs were broken in his bag. Disgusting, he thought, but miraculously, one was still whole, only cracked slightly.
Usopp eyed Richie eating the eggs and pulled the whole egg out of his pocket as he forced himself to dart for his slingshot. It was agony to run even that short distance, and he collapsed along the way, having to pick the slingshot up from the ground. He noticed Richie finished eating the raw eggs on the ground and was licking his chops voraciously as he once again turned his focus on Usopp, lying like free prey on the ground as Usopp felt.
Yet he finished pouring the contents from the sauce bottle into a hole he'd chewed out of the top of the egg and let it fall to the side as he aimed the slingshot at Richie. "Egg Star!" Usopp cried out valiantly.
Mohji just laughed as Richie picked up the pace. "Yes, keep fueling him up. His appetite knows no limits, fool," he taunted, and Richie ate the egg from midair, chewing twice and savoring the taste -
Until the heat from Usopp's XXX Branded hot sauce he had bought from the Conomi market spread across Richie's tongue. The heat was unbearable; he already was not adept with hot foods to begin with. Mohji knew this instantly from Richie's thoughts, and he panicked. "Richie? Woah!" Richie bucked as he began to pant, salivating ferociously as his body evacuated the spice. "Easy, pal! Get some water!" Mohji said, using all his might to direct Richie toward the fountain. He looked over his shoulder at Usopp. "Nasty trick you just pulled, long nose!"
Yet his eyes went wide as Usopp had nearly cleared the distance from where he'd been to the fountain in the center of the square. Usopp grabbed hold of Mohji's leg and gave a haul that tore Mohji from Richie's back. The lion was too preoccupied with drowning the spice out with cool water to even notice Mohji get tossed to the ground. Usopp took hold of his collar and straddled his stomach to hold him down. "Take the lion out of the equation, how tough are you?"
He brought his fist down into Mohji's face, his head cracking across the ground. He was dazed from the blow, his eyes spinning. He even began chuckling deliriously, pointing at things that weren't there in the air. At this point, Richie couldn't help but notice; his friend was in danger. The spice wasn't even out of his mouth, but he turned and swiped his arm out directly into Usopp's side. Usopp screamed out as he went flying harder than either of the other two attacks, crashing through the side of a tool shop.
Cabaji cycled through town still, having struggled to find the antiquity shop; Buggy's directions had come back to him eventually, and he found the landmark of the owl-figure sign post that pointed toward the dock to follow. He was relieved to see the dock was still whole. That lazy bones is First Mate? It's the one thing I will never forgive you for, Captain, Cabaji thought as he turned from the alley he'd come out of to head to the shop.
Yet worst of all was the Navy ship pulling into dock. More of those fools from 77? he thought, figuring they'd been scared off but wondering perhaps if they hadn't phoned for reinforcements. We'll have to move fast. Buggy'll be furious Mohji bungled his job, Cabaji thought.
He pulled up in front of the antiquity shop and left his unicycle outside the front door. In this stretch of town, the Clown Pirates had not reached on their pillage quest, which Cabaji was grateful for. The quieter he could do this, the better. He entered the antiquity shop, and it was immediately dusty. He wondered if there had been a visitor here in the last year.
Cabaji bucked as a shotgun blew out and blasted a hole in a trophy case right next to the door at head level to Cabaji. He composed himself as he realized he was alive and spotted a dusty old crone standing behind the counter, holding a gun shakily and trying her best to reload it quickly. Cabaji's expression grew stern as he drew his sword.
Sprinting forward, he managed to reach the old woman as she raised the shotgun up for a second round, but Cabaji sliced up and out and in front of where the woman's hand held the trigger, the gun's barrel fell away, sliced in two cleanly. The shell she had just loaded fell out harmlessly. She began to quake, still not dropping the shotgun; she imagined using it as a club, though her old age had long since sapped her strength. Cabaji raised a finger before she could try anything and stuck it in her face. "Don't - do that again."
Cabaji sheathed his sword and let the shopkeeper retreat into her backroom, slamming the door shut behind her. Cabaji looked at the shotgun blast, taking a moment in his solitude to uncharacteristically address his mortality. "Just hope she didn't destroy the Pose," he grumbled when that thought loop became uncomfortable, and set to searching the shop. It took some dusting off, examining the tightly packed shelves thoroughly. It's all junk, though, he thought, annoyed after all with the glamor of this job.
Yet on the back shelf at the rear of the store was the Eternal Pose, high on the top shelf. Cabaji tested the creaky shelf, already weighed down with knick knacks and oddities that made the shelves themselves bow. Yet it was sturdy enough to hold Cabaji, light as he was, to climb up and quickly snatch the Pose off. He dusted it off, inspecting the bottom. Etched from a knife in jagged script was the word "JAYA."
"Yes!" Cabaji hissed, tucking the Pose safely away in his robe's pockets. He made sure the old woman hadn't returned with another gun before leaving. He gathered his unicycle up from beside the front door, feeling elated about how that had turned out after all. Maybe now Buggy will tell us more about the treasure at the end of this compass! he thought. Though his caution forced him to look toward the dock, still visible from the hill this street was on. The Navy ship had docked and he could see figures spilling off of it.
I've got to tell the others. It's time to go, Cabaji thought, and mounted his unicycle to pedal hard up the hill back to the town square. The first thing he'd do is chastise Mohji and report him to Buggy, but he was shocked to see suddenly four of the Clown Pirates get tossed to the ground before him. He held his place, drawing his sword as he narrowed his eyes. "The bounty hunters, huh?" he said scornfully.
He had recognized Yosaku and Johnny's faces; he had passed them once when they delivered a bounty. That was before he was a pirate, and his friend had told him how they were up and comer bounty hunters. "What are you two doing with a little kiddie crew? Aren't you supposed to be pros?" he asked Yosaku and Johnny as the pair cleaned their blades, eyes leveled on Cabaji.
"So I can see he's the annoying one of the crew," Yosaku said to Johnny.
"No doubt," Johnny replied, both ignoring Cabaji though letting him be stung by their scorn. Actually addressing the Second Mate, Johnny said, "Look here, guy. Seems our interests oppose one another. So if you wear a sword, let's do this."
Cabaji chuckled. "Two on one doesn't seem very fair." Yosaku made to say something in response, but Cabaji instead geared up and said, "That's fine by me, though." Shockingly to the bounty hunters, he began pedaling up the side of a building. As they stared up, Cabaji let something loose from his hand. A great gray cloud exploded above them, blinding their view as Cabaji sprang from the rooftop, still on his unicycle. He pedaled all the harder and went sideways as he cleared through the cloud of smoke.
By the time the swordsmen could see Cabaji, it was too late. His unicycle wheel spun viciously and burned Johnny's arm, also buffeting him backwards. Facing forward, Cabaji swiped his sword out and caught Yosaku's shoulder. Before Yosaku could send a retaliation, Cabaji seemed to spin sideways in midair out of the way of an attack. Yet when Yosaku turned to face him, he found he was somehow right side up. He propped his sword up on his shoulder, dripping Yosaku's blood, as he pedaled in place.
"Was that a satisfactory warm up?" Cabaji asked them. He gave them only the few seconds it took Johnny to stand before pedaling ahead for another attack.
Inside the Big Top, the Funan Brothers worked diligently at their task of crafting more Buggy Balls. They sweated bullets, both from working with such volatile explosives as well as the sounds of a never ending fight outside. "That last attack sounded brutal," Nino finally commented to break the silence, though the other brothers maintained the silence.
Outside, Luffy and Buggy were collecting themselves both from Luffy's last attack. His wounds were luckily staunching themselves; Nami noticed that, wondering what that was about. She recalled his rapid healing in Cocoyashi, as well. Is that part of the Gum Gum Fruit? she wondered, growing ever more curious about these Devil Fruit abilities. The Grand Line is going to be full of pirates like this who aren't even captains . . . I'm glad ours has a power, she realized, shivering at what the future could hold.
"Not bad, Mugiwara," Buggy said. His parts returned to form normally from the last spear shape he had crafted, though notably missing was his cape now, as well as his hands. "That one really messed me up for a second."
Luffy didn't say anything back as he looked around. Missing from him was his straw hat, and he saw it lying in the sand closer to Buggy than to him. Buggy noticed his attention turn that way and looked at the hat out of the corner of his eye. A grin sprang out on his face and he took the few steps toward it.
"Don't touch it!" Luffy yelled, and began running toward Buggy, but suddenly, Buggy's hands appeared from behind Luffy and wrapped around his wrists. They lifted him into the air, floating higher and higher as Buggy cackled. He was held above the beach, slowly moving above the ocean as Buggy towered over the straw hat. "Let me down! Don't you touch it!"
Nami instinctively took her bowstaff from the holster she had on her thigh and formed it up, taking one step forward to smack Buggy away from it. How dare you try to take my life?! she decided she would say.
"STOP, NAMI!" Luffy cried out desperately. She stopped in her tracks and looked back up at him. He bared his teeth, but looked at her with wildness in his eyes. It wasn't fury with her, but it was desperation. She didn't make another move, but still held on tight to her bowstaff.
Luffy began sending kicks toward Buggy, stretching out as far as his legs would go and as powerful as they could kick. Buggy just separated where he saw a kick coming his way, still mostly focused on the straw hat. His hands suddenly plummeted to the water, dunking Luffy in up to his chest. This was enough to render him powerless, and Buggy looked up only to confirm it.
"Shanks' hat," Buggy said as if it were a refreshing beverage. The next instant, he stomped on it with his foot. The move also sprang the blade from the sole as Buggy mashed it into the sand, crumpling the form.
"Stop!" Luffy said, strong as he could manage yet still quite weak. He struggled, too, yet his movements were stunted and only seemed to sap more energy from him with every jerk and tug he did to escape from Buggy's hands.
He was forced to watch as Buggy then reared his leg back and kicked the straw hat, plunging the blade clean through the top of the hat. He cackled as he did it, spotting the crush Luffy felt on his face, imagining the look Shanks would have if he could see it. This is what I think of your stupid hat! Buggy thought. A part of him felt like he was being a child all over again; he couldn't even fully rationalize his destructiveness as he did it. Though he cackled, he felt a pang of regret even as the blade had sunk through the straw.
"Shanks," Luffy said bitterly. Where Buggy had seeds of guilt, Luffy's guilt was completely enveloping. His promise to Shanks was ruined.
Outside the tavern in Gecko, Sanji stood in the center of the rest of Fullbody Squad, taking them all out with one kick. Fullbody stood aside, fists clenched and watching as his last ditch effort to pile onto Sanji and smother him was useless. Even more of a taunt was the way Sanji managed to kick his subordinates together onto the growing pile of men. He's smothering us! And you're doing nothing, you drunk idiot! Fullbody thought.
Yet even as he chastised himself, his last man was kicked in the throat and landed on his back at the top of the pile. Sanji loosened his tie and turned a half step to fully face Fullbody. He smirked from behind his pompous hair that Fullbody hated. He just hated it when guys hid one eye behind their hair. It made him so sick, he wanted to pummel Sanji's face in so he'd have to cover it all with his hair.
"Come on, Lieutenant," Sanji teased, raising a hand and wagging his fingers at Fullbody in an invitation.
Fullbody roared as he sprinted forward, and sent his Marine Karate toward Sanji. His branch of style was most akin to the power style; it was Fullbody's greatest pride, hence why he'd had the finest blacksmith in the East Blue craft him his gauntlets. From Sanji's point of view, they were haphazard attacks that nearly threatened to double back into Fullbody's own shins if he angled them wrong. He dodged them with relative ease, backing up to let Fullbody's momentum work against him.
Though one attack did land, and neither could chalk it up properly. Be it luck or a sliver of skill Fullbody actually possessed, his iron knuckles connected with Sanji's sternum as he was sending an upward kick at Fullbody's jaw. Sanji felt ribs break as he was sent off his plant foot. Both legs flew in the air as he landed hard on his back. Though he could feel the ribs that still probably needed time to heal after Kuroobi break in all new places, he refused to let this Marine see his pain.
Fullbody bared his fist and made to kneel by Sanji's head, but Sanji spun to his stomach, twirled on his hands, and drove his leg into Fullbody's ankles, upending him. He came to his feet before Fullbody could fall to the ground and in a quick move, brought his leg up in the air to come crashing into Fullbody's diaphragm, stomping him into the ground. "That oughta -," Sanji began to say.
He was bleeding from the mouth and he grunted with his struggle, but Fullbody was somehow still awake. He held onto Sanji with both his hands, refusing to let him pry his foot off his body. "Say goodbye to your shin!" he spat through gritted teeth, and let go with one hand, bringing it back for a punch right on Sanji's leg bone.
"I'm not letting you hit me again, boss," Sanji said, and switching his plant foot, he kicked Fullbody's wrist away, just strong enough to send it careening off course and instead, right into Fullbody's own jaw. He certainly let go of Sanji then, barely conscious as he crawled to his hands and knees to moan and massage his face.
"At least the pain from that kick is gone now," Sanji said, walking up to his side and hauling him up by the armpits.
Is he . . . gonna call a truce? Fullbody wondered as he regained his stability, still holding his already swelling face as he used all his might and ability to remain conscious. He imagined Sanji suddenly extending a hand and praising him for his fighting ability. Perhaps we'll be great rivals on the sea! A pirate and a Marine! That would be something for the ages.
And though Sanji smiled at him the way he imagined he might, Sanji instead spun on his plant foot and drove his kick straight into Fullbody's chest as he spun his entire body on that plant leg. The blow caught Fullbody and the spin transferred to him as he saw the world go upside down before passing out from the pain. He landed on the side of the pile of Marines that made up Fullbody Squad.
Sanji sighed and, after staring at the pile to make sure they were all really unconscious, he winced and massaged his chest, grunting in extreme pain. "I couldn't let you hit me again," Sanji said as he sat on the side of a Marine's head, pulling his cigarettes from his pocket. One smoke and then I'll catch up with Usopp.
At that point, Usopp was coming to inside the tool shop; there was something that had fallen into his hand that he was steadily getting a grip on. He looked around as he regained himself. That's a beautiful chandelier, he thought spacily.
At the same time, Richie nursed Mohji awake outside with tender licks and nuzzling. The punch had knocked Mohji out despite Richie coming to his rescue. Mohji was caught up by Richie quickly and silently, and they both looked into the tool shop together. It was bright out, the sun blazing high in the sky, and it made the inside look pitch black. Mohji picked himself up and climbed back onto Richie's back, patting the side of his head and spurring him forward.
Mohji and Richie both had to stoop to enter the hole, but once they were inside, they could rise to their full height. The shop had been destroyed by Usopp as he had sailed inside. Shelves were overturned, machinery was broken, and tools lay all about the floor. Mohji spotted a pile of hammers on the far wall that had fallen around a form that he perceived to be human shaped. "Where did you go?" he said out loud under his breath.
Richie sniffed the air, able to tell Usopp was still in the building somewhere. But where? he thought. All they both could hear was the sound of something creaking. They didn't think much of it.
Though the sound was Usopp, having climbed to the second story of the shop. With a broom, he had tugged the chandelier toward the railing where he'd stood and climbed atop it before the pair had entered the building. It still swayed and creaked, but Usopp got the broom ready tucked underneath his knees, and held onto the object that had fallen into his hands as he let go and fell straight down onto Richie's back.
Mohji let out a squawk as the handle of broom between Usopp's knees caught the back of his neck, pinning him to Richie's neck. The impact was painful for Richie, too, and he snapped and snarled to try and rip Usopp off of him as a new wave of destruction overcame the tool shop. "Usopp Hammer!" Usopp cried, tired of being bucked about. He brought the hammer onto Richie's head, stunning him into at least stopping the tirade.
"Richie! What's going on! I can't see anything! Get off me, longnose!" Mohji cried out, muffled by Richie's thick fur. "I can't breathe well! Richie, you stink so bad!"
"You smell worse," Usopp said as he hit Richie again with the hammer. So thick was Richie's skull that he was ultimately unharmed, but he was not unphased. He couldn't see straight as Usopp vaulted off of him, landing in front of him. He still clutched the hammer and the broom. Richie clumsily opened his mouth in a terrifying roar to chomp down upon Usopp, but he jammed the broom into Richie's mouth, propping it open. "Have some more heat, cat." Usopp grabbed another bottle of hot sauce from his knapsack and opened the cork, tossing the whole thing onto Richie's tongue.
Mohji lifted his head from Richie's mane then as the spice hit the lion's taste buds and he erupted into another frenzy of burning tongue. His jaws snapped down and broke the broom into splinters as Richie looked this way and that, looking for anything to drink, and then remembered the fountain just outside. Richie turned on his heel and sprinted out the hole in the wall, not stooping at all this time. Mohji took the wall full force, catapulted off his mount as Richie widened the hole and made for the fountain.
Mohji sat up in his place, groaning as he watched Richie make it to the fountain and lap the water up feverishly. Yet something got in the way and blocked out the sun. Mohji looked up at Usopp, who trembled in place from the savage beating he'd taken, but held strength still. Mohji trembled all the more against this foe he had so vastly underestimated. Captain Buggy, I hope his captain isn't half as devilish as this one is! Mohji thought.
"Run," Usopp told him.
"Thank you, thank you!" Mohji said, getting on his knees to clasp his hands. He took this as mercy.
Mohji stood and ran past Usopp, stumbling across the wreckage on the porch of the store as he ran for Richie at the fountain. "Richie! Come on, let's get out of here!" he called to his lion.
Usopp turned and walked out after Mohji, finding his slingshot on the ground just off the tool shop's porch. Yet as he picked the slingshot up, he looked around at the burning town all around him. He set the hammer inside it, the head bound in the sling, and he aimed it at Mohji. He fired, and the little slingshot proved powerful enough if Usopp had the strength to haul it back. The hammer spun in the short distance it took to reach the back of Mohji's head, knocking him out and sending him head over heels to land face up but knocked out in the fountain.
Richie gasped, nearly choking on his drink of water as he stared at his knocked out master in the fountain, his blood seeping into the water. He was still alive, Richie could tell, and he looked over his shoulder at Usopp. Usopp stood there, glowering at the lion in response. Richie's pupils dilated; Usopp's gaze was unwavering.
Richie began yelping and made off for the far road, sprinting faster than before to get away from Usopp. In that fear, he even forgot about Mohji, his best friend, somehow. Usopp watched the lion retreat and saw Mohji bobbing around in the fountain. Usopp's breathing began to draw heavier and heavier and he suddenly collapsed to his rear, easing himself to lay in the town square.
Did I just do all that? Usopp wondered, feeling as if he'd been taken over by some stranger. Yet he remembered the logic of it all vividly; there was no doubt, it had been Usopp fighting the lion and the lion tamer.
"He just took out Mohji!" said a voice from across the square as if it were a god bringing confirmation. Yet Usopp also logically knew that could not be, and he craned his neck up to see a group of fifteen of the Clown Pirates drawing near to him. "He doesn't look like he can defend himself. We gotta kill him for the First Mate!"
Usopp sat up and loaded his slingshot with Explosive Stars. "Explosive Star Volley!" Usopp cried, and the bundle of six slammed into six corresponding Clowns, knocking them back. The entourage were shocked by Usopp's reservoir of stamina, as well as their cohorts sudden defeat. By that time, Usopp was propped up on one knee and aimed his slingshot back at them. "Lead Star! Lead Star! Lead Star!" One after another shot, he loaded the slingshot expertly, scoring three consecutive headshots.
Usopp stood to his full height, swaying in place from his exhaustion worse than ever but already reloading his slingshot with whatever was left in his knapsack. "I'm the First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, you curs, and I'm not gonna forgive you for what you've done to this town!"
The Clown Pirates all began to scream, and like Richie, left their fallen comrades behind as they turned on their heels, too far from Usopp to clear the distance before he could take them out with projectiles. Usopp panted, still maintaining his aim until they were out of sight. He lowered his slingshot, thinking, I'm the First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates.
And we haven't heard from Luffy, or Nami, Usopp thought. He also worried over Sanji, Yosaku, and Johnny - but where should his worries lie? He had to decide quick, and he settled on Luffy. If he'd defeated Buggy by now, he'd have come here to help. Something since their arrival had told Usopp that Buggy was even more of a threat than his bounty would suggest. Keep pushing, said the little voice inside of him from earlier. His legs took off on their own.
"Buggy! Let him out! It's torture!" Alvida cried on the beach, unable to watch Luffy lose strength being dunked underwater. "Please, spare him. He had no idea!" She was desperate to say anything. Even if it meant abandoning Buggy after everything he'd done for her, she would. She would be with Luffy.
"He knew plenty well," Buggy said, and summoned his hands back to his wrists. He plucked the folded and cut straw hat in his hand as Luffy dunked almost fully into the water. He took agonizing step by step forward, but from that distance, it would take him forever.
If he even makes it at all, Nami thought, and she disassembled her bowstaff, holstering it and running for Luffy through the surf. She grabbed onto him, helping hold his head above water. "Nami . . . thanks," Luffy croaked out as he held onto her.
Buggy noticed her helping Luffy and grumbled. With his free hand, he grabbed both knives, setting them between his fingers snugly and aiming it at Nami. "Chop Chop Cannon!" he bellowed and his arm separated halfway up his wrist. The knives sliced against Nami and Luffy both, spilling fresh blood into the water.
Yet she refused to fall or let Luffy go, biting her lip through the pain to steady herself. Luffy placed a hand on her wound first, making absolutely sure she was bleeding. "I'm messing this whole day up, Nami," Luffy said through strained breath. He remembered the promise Genzo made him make at Nami's mother's grave, and the promise Shanks had made him in Fooshia Village years ago.
"Get me to the sand," Luffy said. "I won't let anything else happen."
Nami could barely even register what Luffy was saying; she had to battle against the waves and the pain on her shoulder now. She dragged Luffy up to the shore, and once Luffy was waist up, everything suddenly changed. His strength returned to what it was before he'd been dunked; it was even as if he hadn't been cut in his mind. "Thanks, Nami," he said strongly once again, and took her full weight, hauling her out of the water and setting her down gently before bouncing off the sand and spinning in midair.
"Gum Gum Spear!" He clapped his feet together and stretched his legs out, drilling his feet toward Buggy.
"Chop Chop Quick Escape!" Buggy said and separated at the waist. Luffy's feet pierced the sand behind Buggy, and he fell back to the ground. Buggy already aimed his knives at the ground where Luffy would land. "Chop Chop Cannon!" His arm shot off at Luffy, but Luffy had this in mind already.
"Gum Gum Pistol!" His fist slammed into Buggy's wrists, driving it into a small crater in the sand. Back on his feet, he sprinted for Buggy and jumped up to swing his feet up from under his waist. They wrapped around each other and went spiraling in a big arc overhead, right for Buggy's head. The wrapping continued around Buggy's body, holding him together from separating properly. "Let go of Shanks' hat! Gum Gum Giant Gavel!"
He swung Buggy overhead in an arc the opposite way. Buggy screamed the whole way, dropping the straw hat in midair. It came floating back down gently as Luffy slammed Buggy hard against the sand, in a crash that sounded as if it were wood. Buggy landed headfirst, clocking out as the straw hat landed far from him.