Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Strong Men Conquer Fear

Chapter 222: Strong Men Conquer Fear

“So it’s settled. When people from my organization go to Elbaf later, please host them for me.”

“GABABABABABA! No problem!”

“GEGYAGYAGYAGYA—A partner of a warrior of your level must be a powerful guy too. Dorry and I will definitely host them well. But if you can come together, that would be even better, we can fight again then!”

“If there’s a chance, I will naturally go together—if you want to fight, I’m ready anytime.”

“But now, I have things to do… won’t stay long!”

As these words fell.

Amidst bold laughter, the figure wearing a monkey mask rode the golden cloud, soaring into the sky.

“Skeleton, Tatsu asked me to pass a message—although you found partners now, you are still his friend. If free in the future, he will find you to drink again.”

Accompanying such a voice echoing in the clouds, Saru disappeared into the sky instantly, leaving no trace.

“Yohohoho, truly heartwarming words… oh, although I have no heart.”

Brook wiped the corner of his eye.

But…

“Mr. Saru—since you are leaving anyway, why not take us along to find the ship?”

“Say that to him earlier!” (x5)

Now, the Straw Hat crew squeezing on a small piece of land with Brook glared angrily at the afro skeleton.

“However… truly unbelievable.”

After roaring, Nami still couldn’t believe it. “One strike actually destroyed such a huge island…”

“Simply unimaginable power.”

She was somewhat disappointed.

Although she personally didn’t pursue power much, since knowing Luffy and witnessing Luffy save her hometown.

She always had deep confidence in Luffy and partners.

But today.

After witnessing this battle personally, even Nami understood.

“We are still far from it.”

Whether completing the promise of traveling through the Grand Line, drawing all sea charts of this world, becoming Pirate King, finding All Blue, becoming the strongest swordsman and brave sea warrior.

Their distance from dreams was still very far.

And facts were just as she said.

That ancient island ’Little Garden’, existing on the Grand Line since ancient times, witnessing the duel of two giants for a century.

Now, no longer existed.

Straw Hat crew could still recall the scene of that strike just now.

That sky-connecting giant staff smashed down abruptly—the ’Elbaf Spear’ jointly issued by two giants collapsed almost instantly under that strike.

Then they just felt the whole island crumbling.

They saw the volcano in the center of the island shattered along with lava by black-red Conqueror’s lightning instantly.

They saw tsunamis hundreds of meters high rising out of nowhere from all sides.

Even they, blown up together, could see—the giant ’Island Eater’ goldfish originally devouring dinosaur corpses nearby fainted instantly without strength to resist, swallowed by huge waves sinking into the sea.

Now, in the sea area where Little Garden was, only island wreckage floating on the sea proved that island once existed.

And this was the most terrifying part.

“Yeah.”

Sanji picked up a cigarette, wanting to light it.

“This is the powerhouse of this sea.”

He said, eyes somewhat dazed.

This time, they personally saw the power possessed by powerhouses at the top of this sea.

Fortunately, the opponent had no malice toward them, even somewhat friendly due to Brook, and the attack just now wasn’t aimed at them.

But even so, this strike destroying a whole island still made them extremely wretched.

But what if next time, the top powerhouse they meet has malice toward them?

Sanji couldn’t help thinking of Germa—although hating his father and brothers only, he had to admit Germa’s strength.

But even Germa, before The Zodiac coming with true malice… just silently turned into news in the paper.

“We… indeed are just ’Rookies’ of this sea.”

He recognized this.

“I told you before, idiot cook.”

But now, Zoro wiped the dusty Wado Ichimonji—in the chaos just now, he cut open many flying rocks.

“Guys like The Zodiac… aren’t opponents we can challenge now.”

He raised his sword, looking at the edge through sunlight.

Still that saying—after witnessing his teacher’s contest with Inoshishi (Boar) in Shimotsuki Village personally.

He already understood.

True top powerhouses of this sea were definitely not enemies he could challenge now.

Since then, he also gave up the plan to challenge that ’Hawk Eyes’ Mihawk directly, but polished his sword peacefully.

One day, his sword would face that level of guy too.

By then, he should be very close to the position of the world’s strongest swordsman, right?

Now, even Luffy nodded with a rare solemn face. “Mmph mmph mmph mmph mmph, mmph mmph mmph… (Uncle Monkey is indeed strong, feel like he might even beat Gramps…)”

“Why are you still eating!? And why can we actually understand you!?” (xN)

Just as they were sighing.

“GABABABA!”

“GEGYAGYAGYA!”

“You guys are still so energetic!”

They saw the two giants swimming over from the sea now.

Their weapons were completely destroyed, bodies still injured, but spirits were clearly good.

Seeing them, Usopp, still sitting somewhat limp on the ground, got up hurriedly, approaching the two. “Master Dorry, Master Brogy, are you okay?”

His standing motion was somewhat stiff, legs clearly weak.

“Ah? Of course we are fine—just minor injuries.”

Blood-covered Brogy laughed loudly.

“Saru controlled the force of that strike just now. Although destroying the island, most force didn’t land on us…”

Dorry also sighed very much. “Otherwise we would definitely be dead—this martial art, truly an amazing guy.”

As top warriors, they naturally knew what this control meant.

“That level of strike wasn’t even his full strength!”

“Truly incredibly strong warrior!”

“If he can come to Elbaf with his companions later, we recover, then fight him again… although probably still not opponents, but—thinking about it makes one excited!”

“Correct, Dorry!”

They sighed so.

“…”

But Usopp, listening to the two masters’ words, felt suddenly very ashamed.

The reason for shame was simple.

Because now he suddenly found.

He couldn’t understand why Dorry and Brogy could still laugh now.

They just faced that kind of attack, almost killed just now, right?

Why still want to fight that guy strong enough not to seem human… isn’t that scary?

Or to be precise.

He could understand his two masters—they were brave warriors.

But he couldn’t empathize.

Because even now, he still couldn’t control his legs—they were still trembling instinctively.

In his heart, there was only one emotion now.

“You are afraid, right? Usopp?” (x2)

Next moment, he heard the voices of the two masters before him.

He raised his head, looking at the two giants, trying hard to suppress the emotion in his heart.

But finally, he couldn’t help shedding tears.

“Yeah, very afraid—scared to death.”

He felt extremely guilty.

Yes—he was very afraid, even more than Nami.

When that strike fell just now, when blown away by battle aftermath, even earlier, when fighting Kuro, when in Loguetown… every battle even watching battle, he was scared to death.

But he clearly didn’t go to sea for this.

Clearly he wanted to be a brave, fearless warrior of the sea, so he went to sea.

But looking like this now… he was just this level of man.

“…”

Usopp lowered his head, feeling ashamed for himself.

But next moment…

“Afraid is right, Usopp.”

He heard Brogy’s voice.

“…Ah?”

Usopp raised his head instinctively.

Then, he saw the usual smiling faces of the two giants.

The two brave warriors didn’t despise him, a coward, but remained bold.

“GEGYAGYAGYA… everyone gets scared, Usopp—we get scared too.”

Dorry laughed loudly. “When just starting warrior training, knowing to fight beasts brought from ’Underworld’, I was scared to death!”

“That guy Brogy even said he didn’t want to train after being cut by an axe once.”

He exposed his friend’s shortcomings, words full of emotion.

“People get scared, Usopp.”

He looked at the human before him.

All creatures in the world have innate fear of death and danger.

Meeting stronger creatures, all creatures fear instinctively.

But the difference is.

Cowards, when afraid, are driven by instinct—they turn and run, kneel and beg, give up everything.

But so-called warriors…

“Are people who, even trembling with fear, even with blood boiling reminding to flee, still choose to charge forward bravely surrounded by fear!”

They said so.

So, Usopp turned his head instinctively.

Then, he noticed many things he didn’t notice just now.

Sanji kept lighting cigarettes, but the hand holding the lighter trembled imperceptibly.

Zoro held the sword, but his hand had sweat stains.

Luffy ate food and drank water, but eyes held solemnity.

So, Usopp realized suddenly.

“You guys…”

Those three who always played the main combat roles in the team—did they actually get scared instinctively when facing strong enemies too?

“Ha?”

Facing Usopp’s doubt now, Sanji shook his head helplessly. “That’s natural, right, idiot?”

“Let’s make it clear, I’m different from the smelly cook—this great me won’t be afraid.”

“You moss head, wanna fight!?”

“Mmph mmph mmph (Water! Water! Water!)”

Driven by fear initially, couldn’t even hold weapons steadily.

Then endure fear, forcing oneself to fight.

Then enjoy fear, turning fear into own power.

So-called warriors and strong men were creatures growing up like this.

So now, the two giants looked at Usopp before them.

Usopp called them masters.

And in fact, they indeed acknowledged this human friend known not long ago.

Not because how strong he was, nor because he was powerful.

But because…

“Usopp, you have stepped on the path of warriors.”

Yes.

In past battles, although Usopp was more afraid than anyone, often saying weak words.

But when truly fighting… even knowing likely to meet death, he never ran away.

“Master Dorry… Master Brogy…”

So, Usopp trembled all over, wanting to say something.

But…

“Eh—look over there, it’s Going Merry!”

Nami pouring water for Luffy looked up, then saw the Going Merry floating up slowly from the sea not far away, and…

“Eh!? What’s under Going Merry… hey hey, it’s that Island Eater goldfish!”

“Clearly injured like this, actually still alive—it’s going to eat the ship! Think of something quickly!”

“GABABABA! Let me and Dorry handle it… just right, no ship back to Elbaf, building a temporary one with this guy’s bones should be good!”

“Here we go, Brogy!”

“Hey hey, you guys move smaller, island will sink…”

Moments later, Usopp’s scream reached the sky again.

“Noooooo!”

At the same time.

New World, Dressrosa.

This World Government allied nation called ’Country of Love, Passion, and Toys’, joy and expectation coexisted.

“Hey, heard? Half a month later, Corrida Colosseum will have an extra ’Grand Tournament’!”

“Real or fake? What scale?”

“Said to be unprecedented level, even Corrida Colosseum expanded—it’s King Doflamingo’s personal order, said to offer a ’Prize’ unique in history, enough to change the entire sea situation!”

“Enough to change the sea? Real or fake?”

“King Doflamingo is a Warlord, impossible to lie, right!?”

“Said World Economic News Paper will publish relevant content soon… go go go, buy tickets quickly!”

“No need to buy tickets, said to be free viewing this time!”

Such discussions spread in this country.

And at the highest point of this kingdom, the place named [King’s Plateau].

Dressrosa Royal Palace, also residence of Donquixote Doflamingo, existed here.

Now, at the highest point of the palace.

“Doffy… really doing this?”

A sloppy uncle holding a staff, wearing a cloak and sunglasses, with snot hanging, said somewhat tremblingly.

He was one of Donquixote Family Top Executives—’Trebol’ (Clubs).

Not just him.

Pica, Diamante, Sugar, Dellinger, Lao G… all core executives of Donquixote Family gathered here.

Now, listening to the plan announced by the master they served just now, they all felt incredible too.

“Doffy, although you had friction with The Zodiac’s Tori (Rooster) before, if really doing this—we completely offend them to death, even besides them, even Kaido will…”

Trebol looked at his young master incredulously.

“Fuffuffuffuffu.”

But now, flamingo-like Doflamingo just sat on the throne with crossed legs.

“Yes, Trebol…”

He let out that unique, hoarse laughter.

“Even for us, this is an unprecedented gamble.”

He grinned, spreading his hands.

His body was tense too.

Yes.

He knew better than anyone—the meaning of his words now.

The ’Plan’ he mentioned originated from a coincidence not long ago.

That coincidence changed all his original plans.

“If failed, The Zodiac and Beasts Pirates will strangle us at all costs… we will all die, Fuffuffuffuffu.”

He naturally dreaded that failure result too.

That was unavoidable death, absolutely a ’Catastrophe’ even for a Warlord.

But…

As a ’Strong Man’ and true ’Hero of Chaos’.

Fear couldn’t occupy his heart, only making him… more excited.

“But as reward.”

“If successful, what will we gain?”

While asking the ’Family’ before him smilingly, he raised his hand, moving fingers slightly.

Now.

An ancient tree root stained with blood was dancing with his fingers constantly.

He extended his tongue, as if feeling the stimulating aura on that root.

“Correct…”

In his hoarse laughter, contained… undisguised ambition.

“The prize is—This World.”

☆☆☆

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