Chapter 428: One to One
The cotton-white clouds lazily wandered in the transparent azure sky. A gentle breeze carried a hint of fragrance, and the swaying tree shadows dispelled the scorching air.
The golden sunlight pierced through the gaps in the green leaves, and specks of dappled light fell on the ground. The father and son sat in the shade of a tree, chatting idly.
Sometimes they would talk and laugh loudly, and sometimes they would fall silent.
"Dad, have you heard any news about Mom?"
"Mm. I have."
Yasopp's expression was complicated. He leaned his back against the tree trunk and quietly looked at the moss-covered, broken wall before him, falling silent.
A while after he had left the village, his wife had fallen seriously ill and was bedridden. Not long after, she had passed away from her illness.
Since then, the young Usopp had started to live alone. During the day, he would shuttle through the forest. At night, he would return to that lonely little wooden house.
This was the news he had heard while at sea.
Later, they had returned to the East Blue.
At that time, Usopp was still young. It was too dangerous to take him out to sea.
But if Usopp was not living well in the village, even if he had to beg Shanks, he would have taken Usopp with him, or quit the pirate crew and stayed behind to take care of Usopp.
That's what he had thought. So he had made a trip to Syrup Village alone.
There, he learned that Usopp had started to hang out with three other children, and they would cause all sorts of trouble in the village every day. It seemed he had made friends and had started a new life.
After knowing that Usopp had no problems in his life, he had quietly left without revealing himself to him.
He didn't quite remember what he had felt at that time. Thinking about it now, it was probably because the young him had felt that he had no face to appear before Usopp, and perhaps he also didn't want to disturb the life that had just started to get better.
After all, not everyone longed for the outside world. The sea was not just about adventure and freedom. The sea was cruel.
To be able to live a peaceful life in a quiet little village might not be bad. Even if Usopp wanted to go out to sea, he should at least wait until he was old enough to make his own decision, instead of being forced to be taken out to sea by him.
So Yasopp had left, and had never gone back.
Until two years ago, when Usopp had just turned sixteen, a wanted poster had appeared in his hands in the New World.
After the Alabasta incident, Usopp had appeared on a wanted poster. Only then did he know that his own son had actually been pulled onto Luffy's ship...
"Usopp, do you hate me?"
"H-how... how could I..."
Usopp's retort gradually died down. He lowered his head, pursed his lips, and didn't know how to speak.
To say he had never hated him... in fact, he had.
No matter how much he denied it, no matter how much he told himself that he actually admired his old man, the seed of resentment that was hidden deep in his heart would still quietly sprout.
At the very least, when his mother had died, he had really resented the selfish father who had abandoned his mother and himself.
"Thinking about it now, the things I used to boast about freedom and adventure before I went out to sea... the things about admiring my dad and wanting to be a brave warrior of the sea like you... it all seems like I was lying to myself."
"It's probably just because that's what Mom said before she died. She said she was very proud to have married you and hoped that I would also become a brave person like you in the future."
As he spoke, Usopp's eyes gradually dimmed.
Sometimes he would also doubt himself. Could it be that he had never really admired his old man, but had only been lying to himself and wanting to become such a person because of his mother's hope?
After all, he was just a coward.
Unlike Luffy, who was full of hot blood and fearless, who could bravely face and challenge everything. And he didn't have that kind of strength.
He had been lying his whole life. Perhaps the biggest lie was to deceive himself into admiring this father who had abandoned his wife and son, as if his mother in heaven would not be at peace if he didn't.
"But I don't think so anymore. Not after going out to sea and coming all this way,"
a glimmer of light gradually appeared in Usopp's eyes, and a corner of his mouth couldn't help but lift.
"The adventures on the sea are really wonderful. The upstream sea current, the whale as big as an island, there are dinosaurs, giants, the cherry blossoms that bloom in a snow country, the kingdom that lives in a desert, the island that floats in the clouds ten thousand meters high..."
"Although I still feel I can't forgive you, I have slowly come to understand your longing for the sea."
"Now, I have truly fallen in love with adventure, and from the bottom of my heart, I hope to become a brave person like you."
Usopp said with a hopeful look in his eyes.
"Is that so..."
Yasopp looked at the Usopp before him and suddenly felt that in some aspects, he had been left far behind by his son.
"I am very happy to see you like this, Usopp. You are a responsible man."
Yasopp smiled with relief and said to him:
"I am proud to have a son like you."
"R-really...?"
Usopp stared blankly at Yasopp, his expression a little confused, but it also contained a hint of the excitement of being recognized.
"But... why? I'm so weak. I was defeated so easily..."
"Even a person with great strength will encounter things that are beyond their ability. In this world, no one can truly overcome all difficulties."
Yasopp placed two fingers on Usopp's heart and said with a light laugh:
"And when you are faced with these painful situations, the only strength that can help you walk out of the trough is here."
"Whether my choice back then was right or wrong... even to this day, I still can't give myself an answer. In comparison, you have already far surpassed me, Usopp."
The lingering feeling that he had hidden deep in his heart for more than a dozen years, that he dared not expose to others, and even dared not let himself discover, was finally revealed on this day.
Whether it was Yasopp or Usopp, the father and son had both chosen to come to terms with their former selves.
——————
At the same time, battles were still taking place in several other places. Some were in a stalemate, while others showed a crushing advantage.
Reiner sat cross-legged on the highest dome of the castle, taking in all the battle scenes in the various fields below.
He had only summoned a few undead to join the battlefield, to pin down some of the people from the Cross Guild, so that his companions would not fall into a situation where they were unable to spare a hand and were besieged.
As for himself, he would just watch the overall situation. When a place needed support, he would send more undead in. Of course, there were some battles he would choose not to interfere in at all.
He had seen the battle between Usopp and Yasopp, but that was a matter between father and son. No matter the outcome, it was not appropriate for him to interfere.
At any rate, could Yasopp really kill Usopp?
And there was Red-Hair and Luffy, Zoro and Hawk-Eye.
These were all battles that were not suitable for him to interfere in. As for the other opponents, Reiner basically had no interest and simply started to watch the show.
Beckman sat at the side, a cigarette in his mouth, watching the battle with him.
He knew that it would be meaningless for him to join in. It would only drag Reiner into the battle. The current situation was quite good.
After all, the purpose of this battle from the beginning was Shanks's final test for Luffy and his crew. Reiner was clearly not in this category.
At the very least, in terms of combat power, no one could suppress him.
Originally, he had been thinking that if Reiner joined the battle, he and Hawk-Eye would join forces to intercept him. But that guy, the moment he had seen Roronoa, the two of them had directly run off to the side.
Fortunately, it seemed that the other did not intend to make a move. Otherwise, this test would have been meaningless.
The two of them just watched the battle below. The place where the battle had first broken out had gradually spread to various places. Some had even fought to the edge of the giant's village outside the ruins.
Sanji's opponents were Lucky Roux and Snack. The two were the chef and navigator of the Red Hair Pirates, respectively.
Needless to say about Lucky Roux, Reiner was quite familiar with this guy. A fat man in a green striped suit, every time he appeared, he would have a bone-in meat chop in his hand. He was either talking, eating, or talking while eating. In short, his mouth never stopped.
As for Snack, he was a man with long gray hair. A long red dragon tattoo was on his arm, and the dragon's head extended all the way to his face. He used two longswords as weapons and seemed to also be skilled in kicking techniques.
A one-on-one fight would have been fine, but the tacit cooperation of the two, especially Lucky Roux, whose Armament Haki was extremely strong, and his physique, which came with a shock-absorbing ability... even when facing Sanji, who had the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, they could fight on par.
Franky's opponent was Roaring Gab. A big guy with long, wild hair like a lion, his muscles as hard as cast iron. He had formidable strength and Armament Haki, and could spew out a roar with a slashing effect from his mouth.
Chopper's opponent was the fellow ship's doctor, Hongo. Not only was his medical skills superb, but he was also proficient in various weapons. What impressed Reiner most about him was that the other seemed to also be skilled in information gathering.
Robin and Brook joined forces. They were fighting the musician duo—Bonk Punch and Monster.
This pair, composed of a man and a monkey, cooperated with great tacit understanding. Monster was as agile as Brook, and Bonk Punch also had a terrifying brute force that matched his fierce appearance. The man and the monkey showed very strong physical skills.
Finally, there was Nami, who showed a crushing posture with a huge advantage. Her opponent was named Limejuice, with long, smooth golden hair wrapped in a black bandana. He was a combat cadre of the Red Hair Pirates, and the weapon he used was a long staff with lightning.
And lightning against Nami...
It could only be said that he was really unlucky to have run into her. His own lightning was directly immune to his opponent, and he couldn't withstand his opponent's lightning.
Although he had an advantage in Haki and fighting skills, he couldn't bring them into play at all. After Nami had elementalized, her speed of flying in the air was so fast it was invisible to the naked eye. After pulling away, she would rely on long-range attack methods to suppress him.
Limejuice was beaten so badly. Just dodging took all his effort, and he couldn't find any means to counter.
It couldn't be helped. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was just that strong. Its stats were high, and its ability was also comprehensive. It was an all-in-one attack, defense, and speed, and it had both long-range and close-range combat capabilities.
Anyone who ate it, as long as they mastered it, could become one of the top powerhouses on the sea.
Not to mention someone with a good combat IQ like Nami. Her cautious and calm style of doing things meant that it was very difficult for her to suffer a loss in battle.
Reiner could only lament that Eneru's intelligence-lowering halo was still getting stronger.
Before long, Moria, under the bat wings that his shadow had transformed into, flew up to the roof. His shadow dispersed, and with his big belly, he came to Reiner's side.
"Kishishishi! Long time no see, Black Snake Reiner. I heard you caused a big scene on Egghead. How did it turn out? Did you really get your butts kicked like the Marines said?"
"The Marine's report is not as exaggerated as what you said. What? Don't tell me you're still holding a grudge about what happened before? If you want to get a beating, I can grant your wish."
Reiner said nonchalantly without turning his head.
"Kishishishi! Forget it, forget it. I'm no longer interested in those old stories."
Moria grinned with his two rows of sharp teeth and looked at Reiner, then continued:
"You, on the other hand... to actually defeat Kaido shortly after entering the New World. I was so excited when I heard this news."
"Kaido..."
Reiner remembered. Moria had also challenged Kaido back then, but in the end, all his subordinates were killed, and only he had escaped from Wano with Ryuma's corpse and sword.
The huge blow of his comrades' deaths... in order to no longer experience the pain of losing his companions, he had chosen to place his hope in the zombies that would not die, and had been hiding on Thriller Bark for so many years.
What a pitiful guy.
But in fact, it was probably that cruel. Brook's experience was also enough to prove this.
"Another one is about to be decided."
Beckman suddenly spoke in a low voice, his line of sight on the battlefield of Nami and Limejuice.
After a long pull, Limejuice, who was tired of dodging and resisting, was almost exhausted. Relying on the method of using his electric staff as a lightning rod, he had held on until now. Finally, with one lightning strike, his weapon was sent flying.
It was this very instant. Nami seized the opportunity and directly erupted with all her strength. Her lightning-wreathed Clima-Tact separated into three sections and flew out, spinning at high speed!
As they passed over Limejuice's head, the lightning on the Clima-Tact intertwined into a net. With a嬌喝, a curtain of lightning descended from the sky, enveloping his entire person!
"Two Hundred Million Volts: Amaru!!"
Crackle—Crackle—!!
"Urgh, aaah!!"
The lightning flashed, and a dazzling light bloomed. In it, the silhouette of a person being electrocuted into a skeleton could be vaguely seen, their wails miserable.
Until the electric light gradually dimmed, the sound also subsided. Limejuice, who had turned into an afro with his entire body charred black, let out a burp, and a cloud of white smoke came from his mouth. He fell forward to the ground.
Under the pull of the electromagnetic force, the three sections of the Clima-Tact spun and flew back, reassembling into a long staff.
"That was a hearty battle."
Thump.
Nami slammed her Clima-Tact on the floor, and with one hand on her smooth, jade-like waist, she stuck out her tongue playfully.
"I accept your defeat."
"Well done. That makes it one to one."
Reiner smiled faintly, and with his finger, he carved the score on the floor of the castle dome. The bored him had started to play the role of a fair and just referee.
(End of chapter)