Ragnar was in the shooting gallery still battling against Gunner at the moment; everything seemed even.

"You're not too bad, kid," said Gunner.

"I haven't even begun showing you what I can do," said Ragnar.

"Then it sounds like I should take the kid gloves off and show you what I really do," said Gunner and then immediately stood on his hands. "Tempest Kick: Swan Dance!"

He then began spinning at an incredible speed, unleashing a large of slashing attacks. Ragnar then immediately ran around, jumping over tables and chairs to avoid the attacks. He quickly jumped behind the bar, but the slash attacks were able to cut through the wood.

Finally, Gunner came to a stop and jumped back onto his feet and saw practically everything had been ripped to shreds.

"You alive?" Gunner asked.

Ragnar then jumped out from behind from what remained of the bar. "Alive and kicking."

"You're impressing me more and more," Gunner smiled.

Ragnar narrowed his eyes. "Why are you doing this? I get the feeling you do not like the other members of CP9."

Gunner shrugged. "I do admit that I do find some of the jobs we do a bit tasteless. Plus, I really hate working for that spineless coward Spandam and Lael wouldn't know a joke if it bit him on the nose."

"So why do this?"

"Because it's my job, and no matter how much I might hate it, I know I have to do it."

"That seems a poor excuse to me," said Ragnar.

"Maybe it is, but I still think it's far better than becoming an outlaw like yourself."

"Then let's see which one of us has the strongest conviction, huh?" Ragnar challenged.

"I'm game if you are."

Chopper was facing against the rather fat Ake.

"I don't think I've ever seen anyone with so little self-control," said Chopper looking disgusted. "You gained all that weight in just a few minutes?"

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm…" he said, chewing something in his mouth. "… I… I…"

"Who said I was concerned about you?" Chopper yelled. "Yeah, I get it. You're just fine! Don't talk with food in your mouth!"

"… I'm just trying," said Ake. "Yes, thank you. That is indeed what I was trying to…"

"I don't know what you're trying to do, but stop it," said Chopper as Ake began copying to the side for some strange reason. "You're okay! I'm okay! Everything is great! Now get back here!"

"Ah, yes, yes, of course," said Ake as he began hopping back. "Where was I again?" He then raised his staff and grasped it in both hands. "I'll sort this out shortly. Now observe, my Life Return!"

Chopper watched as his hair began moving on its own.

"Digests!" said Ake. Then suddenly, all that fat disappeared in an instant and became extremely thin. "Absorb!" He then reverted back to his normal self. "Complete!"

Chopper practically screamed. "What? What the heck are you? What did you just do? I mean, could you do it again, please?"

"Yes, as you wish," said Ake and then suddenly he became that again. "Life Return! Now, Digests!' He then became unbelievably thin. "Absorb!" He then returned to normal.

"Cool, one more time!" said Chopper in awe.

"One more time?" Ake looked at this request. He then once again became fat. "Life Return! Digests!" He then became unbelievably thin. "Absorb!" He then returned to normal.

He then panted heavily as it seemed as if all of this to a toll on his body.

"So awesome," said Chopper. "How did you do that?"

"Well, how kind of you to ask," Ake smiled. "A 1000 years at sea, a 1000 years in the mountains, breathing in the wind and drinking the morning dew. I lived as a hermit to complete my training, and behold, at long last, the secrets of Life Return revealed themselves to me. From your head down to your toes, every inch of the human body can be controlled with a strength of will. While you can even command your internal organs and each hair to its very tip."

"Using the mind to control the workings of the body," said Chopper. "I've read about something similar in a medical journal. They called it biofeedback. Then you're able to move your hair around like an octopus because of that power?"

Ake then looked at him furiously. "An octopus! How rude of you, I am as you say a valiant lion!"

Chopper frowned. "Octopus… Lion… whatever."

"Life Return: Hair Bind!" said Ake.

He then shot his hair out towards Chopper, who quickly transformed into his animal form and jumped to safety. However, Ake controlled his hair to continue chasing him through the kitchen, and he did everything he could not get caught.

"Oh no," said Chopper as he tripped.

Thankfully, he could control his ball and avoided Ake's attack, but that was a close one.

"If I get caught by his hair, it's all over," said Chopper.

"Shave!" said Ake and vanished.

"Where did he go?" said Chopper looking around.

Ake actually reappeared directly above him without him noticing and then aimed his staff down towards him.

"Finger Pistol Q!" he yelled.

Chopper looked up and moved just in time before Ake thrust his staff towards him. It was a good thing that he got out of the way when he did because the staff was able to punch a hole right through the stone floor.

"He did that was a blunt stick," Chopper gulped.

Ake then landed on the ground with staff on hand and raised it. Chopper then quickly rolled for his life as Ake thrust his staff towards him as he did before. Chopper then quickly transformed into his human form and clenched his fist.

"Heavy Point!" he said and swung his fist.

"Iron Body!" said Ake hardening his body.

Chopper punched Ake in the face with all his might, but it was like punching a brick wall, and all he did was into his own fist.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Chopper yelled, clenching his fist.

"What is the matter?" said Ake.

Chopper tried to get some feeling back in his wrist. 'Dammit, I thought so. Unless I can hit him with Arm Point or Horn Point, she's not going to budge. But the Rumble Balls are powerful; one in six hours is about all that I can handle. Any more than that will put too much strain on my body. Even worse, if I take another, I might not be able to control my transformations anymore. If I still can't win, and if I have to take a third, I might completely lose consciousness. Is it worth it? I don't think I can damage him without it.'

"I shall skewer you and roast you alive," Ake vowed. Then suddenly, his staff caught on fire. "Lion Kebabs!"

He then slammed his burning staff under the ground, and Chopper jumped before it could hit. He then quickly transformed into his animal form and quickly ran as the flames began chasing after him. Ake kept on leasing flames across the entire kitchen until everything was set ablaze.

'I don't have time to think this over,' said Chopper and then bit down on the Rumble Ball in his mouth. 'Rumble! It's a risk, but it's the only chance I've got. It's do or die; one way or the other, I have to settle this in three minutes.'

Chopper then skidded to a stop and faced Ake. "Take this! Horn Point!"

He then charged at Ake, but instead of transforming into his Horn Point, he instead transformed into his Guard Point. Ake then thrust his spear towards Chopper, hitting him head-on, setting his fur on fire and causing him to bounce around the kitchen.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!" Chopper yelled as he hit a shelf, and plates fell down on top of him.

"Lion Kebabs!" Ake yelled.

Chopper then jumped into the air. "Take this! Jumping Point!" He transformed once again but transformed into his human form. "Wrong one!"

Ake then struck him with his blazing staff and sent him flying into the wall. Ake smiled triumphantly and blew out the flames on his staff.

Chopper was still conscious, though only barely, and to make matters worse, the entire kitchen was now on fire.

'Dammit, just like I thought,' he said, taking several deep breaths. 'My transformations are messed up. All I need is to get to Arm Point. One-shot with a Cloven Hoof should be enough, but if this fire keeps spreading, I'll end up suffocating. I can't waste time-fighting this guy when he doesn't even have a key. That's right, I have to find key number two. Toothless and Masked Wrestler are counting on me. We can't save Heather without their help.'

He then began using what strength he had left to lift himself up. "Heather, hold on, I won't let you down. I'm here to save my friend, and I am not going to let anybody get in my way!"

"You're a stubborn beast, aren't you?" said Ake and tapped his staff on the ground. "Life Return!"

His hair then once again began moving on its own and took the form of tentacles in the shape of appointing hand.

"His hair is pointing at me," said Chopper. "Who cares? I don't have time to think I have to win. I cannot let my friends down!"

He then charged at Ake and braced himself.

"Pride Finger Pistol!" said Ake, and his hair shot out towards Chopper.

Chopper took the attacks head-on and held his ground as they began pummelling him. However, one of them managed to get beyond his guard and struck him in the chest. Ake smiled as Chopper stood there covered in his own blood, and then he collapsed.

"A lion shows no mercy," said Ake as his hair reverted back to normal. "It's fury relent for no creature."

Chopper was grateful for the pain as a captain conscious, but things weren't looking good. 'I knew the second Rumble Ball would be a gamble, but I was hoping that it would be this bad. Since I have seven different forms, that means I only have a 14% chance of getting Arm Point, but as long as I can move, I'll try as many times as it takes.'

Chopper got back on his feet and faced Ake. "That's right, I have to keep fighting!" He then charged at Ake as fast as he could. "Arm Point!"

"Lion Kebabs!" Ake yelled, raising his flaming staff.

Chopper had suddenly transformed into his human hybrid form and was struck with the staff.

"I can't let them down," Chopper winced as he got back up. "Arm Point!"

He transformed once again, but you transformed into his animal form and was struck by Ake's staff once more.

"Arm Point!" Chopper yelled.

This time he had transformed into his Jump Point, which allowed him to avoid Ake's staff this time, though his three minutes were nearly up.

'Wrong again,' he said, panting. 'How many times is this going to take? My body is about to give out on me; I have to get Arm Point now!'

Ake turned to face him and swung his staff. Chopper jumped out of the way and transformed, and this time he succeeded in getting Arm Point. He quickly caught himself back to avoid Ake's flaming staff.

"I got it!" he said, surprised. "When did that happen?"

"Prepare yourself!" Ake yelled, towering above him.

'My final attack,' said Ake putting his hooves together. "It's all nothing!"

He then charged at Ake using what strength he had left this one last attack. 'Cloven…'

Ake began transforming his hair once again tentacles with pointy fingers. "Pride Finger Pistol!"

He then launches tentacles at Chopper, striking him hard; he always fell unconscious. However, he gritted his teeth and persevered, channelling all his strength into his arms.

'This is my only chance; I can't hold back!' he said. 'Cloven…'

Ake realised this could be trouble. "Iron Body! Strength!"

'…Roseo Metel!'

He then struck Ake with a barrage of attacks that managed to break through his Iron Body.

'That has to do it; that was my strongest attack,' said Chopper, completely drained.

He then fell to his knees and looked at Ake. Clearly, the attack had wounded him though whether that finished him off was still unknown. He then collapsed onto the ground, and Ake fell to his knees.

"Splendid," said Ake. "A beautiful cherry blossom blizzard. Not yet. Not yet."

Chopper pointed his eyes towards him, and it looked like he was about to topple over. "Did I win?"

Unfortunately, Ake still had plenty of strength left and got back onto his feet. He then slammed his foot down on top of Chopper's head, nearly knocking him out cold.

"You have awakened the wrath of heaven; feel the thunder of the lion's roar!" he said, kicking Chopper.

He then kicked Chopper and then punched him in the face crushing him into the wall. Chopper almost fell unconscious and reverted back to his hybrid form.

"Tempest Kick Blossom!"

Chopper was then hit with multiple slashing attacks.

'This is it,' said Chopper losing consciousness. 'I don't have the strength to fight back anymore.'

He then began thinking back to when he was to apprentice to Gothi. He had been conducting his early experiments on the Rumble Ball, and somehow he lost consciousness. When he opened his eyes, he discovered that he was in bed covered in bandages and Gothi looking over him.

"Chopper," said Gothi. "Chopper, what in the world did you do out there?"

"I don't remember," he said honestly.

"I don't remember is not going to cut it. This is serious, you know; you're lucky that no one died. While you've been here sleeping, the whole country has been in an uproar about what you did last night. What am I supposed to tell them?"

"I did something really bad, huh?"

"An entire village almost got wiped out! I know you love your experiments, just like your old man, but you have to plan these things very carefully before you jump in. Those are the rules!"

Chopper stared at her, shocked. "A whole village wiped out?"

Gothi sighed as she tended the fire. "I know you weren't doing this just for fun, and I'm sure you didn't mean any harm, but that's exactly why you need to be more careful. Much much more careful. We doctors walk a narrow cliff; people trust us with their lives, but even the tiniest error on our parts can prove fatal for them. Doesn't matter if our intentions are good or not. So imagine what kind of damage you can do by being careless. If you are willing to weigh the consequences of your actions, then you have no business being a doctor.

You wouldn't think it at first, but you're the spitting image of that crazy quack. You can't help but cause a ruckus, can you? I suppose even bad seeds bear fruit, now don't they?"

Chopper was now crying. "I'm sorry! Please, Doctor Gothi, I promise I won't do it again! So, don't kick me out, okay!"

"You fool," said Gothi shaking her head. "Just hurry up and get better already. These chores aren't going to do themselves."

Back in the present, Olaf had been punching Chopper around like a punching bag, and he now reverted to his human form.

"Life Return!" said Olaf as his hair began to move on its own again and again, wrapping itself around Chopper. "Hair Bind!"

Chopper was now trapped, unable to move and at Ake's mercy.

"Sufferers, you must, but do not cry," said Ake as he aimed his staff at Chopper. "For if you shed a tear, thy name is a man shall suffer too."

'He's going to kill me,' said Chopper.

"Far behind you is the peaceful mountain village where the birds sing, sweet memories leaping your heart have given way to the dense flames of hell looking at your feet with every step of your final journey. I give to you, the leaves of a willow tree died in crimson to honour your parting." His head and immediately tightened, almost strangling Chopper. "Now take it, never look back! See the leaves fluttering in red. Song of the Willow!"

'This is the end,' said Chopper. 'Heather… no, I can't give up yet.'

Ake then thrust his staff towards Chopper, and then using what strength he had left, he transformed into his hybrid form. Ake's staff missed him and punched a hole through the wall, much to his surprise.

"He escaped from the Hair Bind?" said Ake.

Using what strength he had left, Chopper bit down on a third Rumble Ball. 'Rumble! I'm sorry, Doctor Gothi, I can't keep my word. Maybe I am just like the doctor; after all, if he put his life on the line to save his country, then I would put my life on the line to save my friends. If I'm going to die anyway, I have to try it. Everyone, please stay away. I'm about to lose control.'

'I used three Rumble Balls, and then I don't know, I lost consciousness. What happened?'

'I suppose you could say your Devil Fruit went wild,' Gothi theorised. 'I don't care what happens; you can't let yourself go down that path. A power that destroys your foes but turns you against your friends in your own body as well. There is only one word for a creature like that… a monster.'

Ake just stared in horror as Chopper began to transform into a creature that combined parts of all his transformations apart from his hybrid form. He was easily 30 feet tall, and his hands resembled that of a human except that the tips of his fingers now resembled hooves. His entire upper body was covered in hair, and his antlers were pointing in all different directions.

He then roared loudly, which was completely inhuman and more like a wild beast.