"What the hell… something's off with this guy!"
"Why do I suddenly feel scared of this long-nose?!"
"You feel it too? It's dangerous! I get the sense I'll die if I charge him!"
"So what do we do?"
"Maybe… we should back off?"
The pirates facing Usopp were trembling, torn between fear and the looming threat of Captain Kuro.
They wanted to retreat, but the pressure from Usopp at this moment made them too terrified to advance.
In that standstill—
"Yo, what's wrong? Scared?"
"Why aren't you charging at me anymore?"
Usopp suddenly spoke, his voice deep and low.
He slowly raised his head, and in that moment, his usually comical face—thanks to his long nose—now exuded solemn majesty.
At close range, the pirates saw Usopp's face and heard his commanding voice, and suddenly it felt like Usopp was growing taller and taller, to the point where they had to look up to see him.
"What the hell is with that long-nose?!"
Jango frowned, also starting to feel an unfamiliar fear creep into his heart under the pressure of Usopp's Teiō Enjin (Emperor Engine).
He turned back and saw that the pirates who had been laughing and ready to slaughter villagers were now starting to lose their nerve.
No… this can't go on.
If we retreat like this, Captain Kuro will definitely chase us down at sea and kill us all.
I need a plan. I have to think of something!
Forcing down the fear swelling inside him, Jango locked eyes with Usopp, as if trying to pierce through the illusion.
Meanwhile, the pirates directly in front of Usopp couldn't take it anymore. One by one, they dropped to their knees and begged Usopp to spare them.
Usopp, however, smirked slyly. Just as the pirates bowed low and pressed their heads to the ground, he pulled out his slingshot and launched several steel pellets at the backs of their heads.
Struck in their weak spots, the pirates collapsed instantly.
After that, Usopp's expression turned serious again as he marched toward Jango and the remaining pirates.
"WHO'S NEXT?!"
That line sent the pirates stumbling back a step.
Seeing them cower, Usopp couldn't help but burst into laughter.
But that laugh instantly weakened the pressure he had been projecting.
No… this kid can't possibly be that strong.
If he were, Captain Kuro would've taken care of him long ago.
Wait… that weird feeling—could it be hypnosis? He's using hypnosis to make us afraid?!
Jango's eyes lit up with realization. He immediately pulled out his circular chakrams and turned to his crew.
"Everyone! Look at me!"
"Remember, when I count to three, you will all become immensely strong—your hearts filled with courage!"
The pirates, having no idea what to do, clung to his words like a lifeline.
"One, two, THREE!"
As Jango's voice rang out with strange energy, all the pirates suddenly let out beast-like snarls.
Muscles bulged across their bodies, and one pirate even shattered a nearby boulder with a single punch.
Usopp, who thought he had control over the situation, instantly panicked.
Especially when these now beast-like pirates raised their weapons and charged at him.
"Usopp! Don't freeze up—we're still in a fight!"
Nami shouted, summoning a Fuujin (Wind Blade) with a swift flick of her card.
Usopp nodded and turned to respond—
But then his eyes widened in horror.
"NAMI, BEHIND YOU!"
Nami frowned and turned quickly—
Only to see Luffy, face contorted and fierce, dart past her and rush toward the frenzied pirates below.
"Huh? Luffy, what's wrong?!"
"Something's not right, Nami. Luffy looks like he's been hypnotized!"
Usopp jumped to Nami's side in concern.
But just as he said that, both he and Nami were stunned by what happened next.
The crazed, muscle-swollen pirates were sent flying as soon as Luffy collided with them.
Not a single one could withstand even one of his punches.
Just as Usopp thought Luffy would wipe them all out, a stream of red mist burst from Luffy's body and rapidly formed into a massive, monstrous Aka Oni (Red Ogre).
The moment the ogre appeared, an overwhelming pressure descended on the entire battlefield—Jango and the pirates included.
All the hypnotized pirates instantly snapped out of their trance.
Before they could figure out what had happened, their legs went weak at the sight of the terrifying crimson ogre looming behind Luffy.
"Damn it, what the hell is this kid?!"
"He was under my hypnosis—so why the hell is this happening?!"
Even Jango instinctively took a step back.
Just as everyone braced for the red ogre and Luffy to attack—
The ogre suddenly raised its hand and slapped Luffy across the face.
WHAM!!
The force of the blow sent Luffy crashing into the cliffside wall, leaving a crater several meters deep.
"Eh?! Luffy… Luffy got slapped away by the red ogre?!"
"Nami, we need to go find Genrou—NOW!"
Usopp turned to Nami in horror.
"Y-Yeah, we have to get Genrou," Nami said, dazed.
Unlike Usopp, Nami understood—the red ogre was a part of Luffy's power.
And seeing it attack Luffy himself filled her with inexplicable worry.
But just as she was about to move, Luffy suddenly jumped out of the crater, clutching his stomach.
His belly grumbled loudly.
"I'M SO HUNGRY!"
"MEAT!! I NEED MEAT!!"
With both arms in the air, Luffy turned and sprinted off into Syrup Village, completely ignoring the remaining pirates.
"Wait, Luffy! We're still fighting! What are you doing?!"
Nami grabbed his cheek and yelled.
"Nami, I'm not really sure either."
"I saw the ogre… he didn't say anything, but I felt like… he was telling me to wake up."
"But the price was a bunch of my energy got used up!"
Luffy ran in place, looking desperately hungry.
"Ah… so the red ogre can snap you out of hypnosis?"
"The Gourmet Cell Demon really is a strange thing…"
Nami sighed, her grip on Luffy weakening.
At that moment, Luffy slipped free of her hands and dashed away.
"YOU IDIOT! We haven't even dealt with the pirates yet! Eat AFTER we finish the fight!"
Nami screamed angrily.
"Shishishi, Zoro's around. It'll be fine!"
"You moron! Zoro probably got lost again—we don't even know where he is!!"
…
(End of Chapter)
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