Chapter 119: The Kung Fu Dugongs of the Desert
The crew trudged through the desert, the sun now high in the sky, its scorching rays beating down on them relentlessly. The cool morning air was a distant memory, replaced by the oppressive heat that seemed to radiate from the sand itself. Despite the harsh conditions, the crew pressed on, their determination unwavering. Vivi led the way, her knowledge of the desert proving invaluable as she guided them towards Erumalu.
As they walked, the monotony of the desert was broken by the occasional sight of a cactus or a small oasis, but for the most part, the landscape was barren and unforgiving. The crew had fallen into a rhythm, their footsteps crunching softly against the sand, when suddenly, a strange sound reached their ears.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
The sound was rhythmic, almost like the clashing of wooden sticks, and it seemed to be coming from just over the next dune. The crew exchanged curious glances, their curiosity piqued.
"What is that?" Usopp asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.
Goku, who had been walking at the front of the group, tilted his head slightly, his sharp hearing picking up the sound. "Sounds like… fighting? But who would be out here in the middle of nowhere?"
Zoro, ever the pragmatist, placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Only one way to find out."
The crew nodded, and with Vivi leading the way, they crested the dune, their eyes widening in surprise at the sight that greeted them.
In a small clearing between the dunes, a group of dugongs—marine mammals resembling small, rotund seals—were engaged in what could only be described as a martial arts training session. They moved with surprising agility, their flippers striking out with precision as they sparred with each other. Each dugong wore a small headband, and their movements were accompanied by exaggerated grunts and shouts, as if they were in the middle of an intense battle.
The crew stared in stunned silence, their jaws hanging open.
"What… what are they doing?" Chopper asked, his voice filled with awe.
Nami blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Are they… practicing Kung Fu?"
Goku grinned, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "Looks like it. These guys are serious about their training."
As the crew watched, one of the dugongs—a particularly large one with a scar over its eye—noticed them and let out a loud, commanding bark. The other dugongs immediately stopped their training and turned to face the crew, their expressions serious.
The scarred dugong stepped forward, its flippers raised in a fighting stance. "Who dares disturb the training of the Kung Fu Dugongs?!" Chopper barked in translation. His voice surprisingly deep and commanding.
The crew exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. Usopp, ever the nervous one, took a step back, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Uh… we didn't mean to interrupt! We're just passing through!"
The scarred dugong narrowed its eyes, its gaze sweeping over the crew. "Passing through, you say? Then you must prove your worth! Only the strong are allowed to cross the domain of the Kung Fu Dugongs!" Chopper said.
Usopp's eyes widened in panic. "Prove our worth?! What does that even mean?!"
The dugong let out a bark that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. "It means you must face us in combat! If you can defeat us, you may pass. If not… you will be sent back to where you came from!"
Before Usopp could protest further, the dugongs charged, their flippers moving with surprising speed as they launched themselves at the crew.
"Looks like we don't have a choice," Zoro said, drawing his swords with a smirk. "Let's see what these guys can do."
Sanji lit a cigarette, his expression calm but with a hint of amusement. "This should be interesting."
Goku, however, held up a hand, stopping the crew from engaging. "Wait. Let Usopp handle this."
Usopp's eyes widened in panic. "WHAT?! Me?! Why me?!"
Goku grinned, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "You've been training with Ki, right? This is the perfect chance to test your skills."
Usopp's face paled, but before he could protest further, the dugongs were upon him. With a yelp, he leaped back, narrowly avoiding a flipper strike to the face.
"Usopp! Focus!" Goku called out, his voice calm but firm. "Use your Ki to enhance your reflexes and agility. You can do this!"
Usopp took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the Ki within him. He had been training with the others, learning to feel and control his energy, but he had never used it in a real fight before. Still, he knew he had no choice.
As the dugongs closed in, Usopp's eyes snapped open, and he felt a surge of energy course through him. His reflexes sharpened, and his movements became faster and more precise. He dodged a flipper strike with ease, his body moving almost instinctively.
The dugongs, however, were relentless. They attacked in unison, their flippers striking out with surprising speed and precision. Usopp found himself on the defensive, dodging and weaving as he tried to avoid their attacks.
"Come on, Usopp! You can do it!" Chopper cheered, his small voice filled with encouragement.
Usopp gritted his teeth, his embarrassment growing with each passing moment. He had always been the weakest member of the crew, the one who relied on tricks and gadgets rather than raw strength. But now, with the dugongs pressing him, he felt a surge of determination.
"I… I can't let them beat me!" Usopp muttered under his breath, his Ki flaring as he focused his energy. His movements became faster, more fluid, and he began to counter the dugongs' attacks with precision.
The crew watched in awe as Usopp's Ki-enhanced reflexes allowed him to keep up with the dugongs. He dodged a flipper strike, then countered with a swift kick that sent one of the dugongs flying. The others hesitated for a moment, their expressions filled with surprise.
"Not bad, Usopp," Zoro said, a hint of approval in his voice.
Sanji smirked, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Looks like he's finally taking this seriously."
Gin, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement. "He's definitely gotten stronger."
Goku grinned, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "You all have. None of you are the same as when we first met, or even since we arrived in the Grand Line."
Usopp, emboldened by his small victory, pressed his advantage. He moved with newfound confidence, his Ki-enhanced agility allowing him to outmaneuver the dugongs with ease. He landed a series of quick strikes, each one sending a dugong tumbling to the ground.
The scarred dugong, realizing that Usopp was more than a match for them, let out a loud bark, signaling for the others to retreat. The dugongs quickly regrouped, their expressions filled with respect as they bowed to Usopp.
"You have proven your worth," the scarred dugong said through the voice of Chopper, its voice filled with admiration. "You may pass through our domain."
Usopp, panting slightly from the exertion, let out a relieved sigh. "Finally… I thought they'd never stop."
The crew erupted into laughter, their earlier tension melting away. Nami walked over to Usopp, a teasing smile on her lips. "Not bad, Usopp. I didn't know you had it in you."
Usopp blushed, scratching the back of his head. "Well, you know… I've been training and all. I guess it paid off."
Zoro smirked, crossing his arms. "Don't let it go to your head. You still have a long way to go."
Sanji flicked the ash off his cigarette, his expression calm but with a hint of amusement. "Still, it's good to see you're not completely useless in a fight."
Gin nodded in agreement. "You've definitely improved. Keep it up."
Goku grinned, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "You all have. You've all grown stronger, and that's what matters."
The crew exchanged glances, a sense of pride swelling within them. They had come a long way since their journey began, and they knew that they would only continue to grow stronger as they faced the challenges ahead.
As the dugongs retreated, the crew continued on their journey, their spirits lifted by the comedic encounter. The sun continued to beat down on them, but they pressed on, their determination unwavering. They had a mission to complete, and nothing, not even a group of Kung Fu Dugongs, would stand in their way.
[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]