After embracing Doto tightly, Vivi led the group away from the ruins of Yuba, her heart filled with determination.
As they were about to depart, Doto's weathered hand trembled slightly as he pulled out a dented metal can. Inside was murky water, clearly gathered with great difficulty. With hopeful eyes, he handed it to Luffy.
"This water... represents all the hope I have left," Doto said solemnly. "I'm counting on you."
Luffy looked down at the can in his hands, the weight of responsibility sinking into his chest.
"Uncle… leave it to us."
For someone who had spent most of the journey loudly complaining about being thirsty, Luffy now fell completely silent. He clutched the can as if it contained not just water, but the soul of the country.
The group continued their journey across the unforgiving desert, the golden sands stretching endlessly under the heat of the sun. The sky was cloudless. The wind dry. Silence settled over them like a heavy shroud.
Then, suddenly, Luffy stopped.
He dropped to the ground and sat under the shade of a dried-out tree stump, looking unusually serious.
"…I'm not going."
The group turned to look at him in surprise.
"I'm not going to Albana," Luffy murmured.
"Luffy!" Vivi exclaimed, stunned.
Luffy raised his head, eyes locked on hers.
"Vivi… I want to beat the crap out of that alligator."
Everyone's expression changed at the bluntness of his words.
"Even if we make it to Albana and somehow stop the rebels," Luffy continued, "what then?"
He lowered his gaze, his voice dull but heavy.
"Will that really save this country?"
There was no anger in his tone—only bitter clarity. From Whisky Peak to the vast desert of Alabasta, Luffy had seen too much, heard too much, and learned more than he expected.
Stopping the rebels might bring a temporary halt to the chaos, but it wouldn't stop the drought. It wouldn't restore the people's trust in the king. It wouldn't make rain fall.
Only by defeating Crocodile, the true source of this suffering, could the country's future change.
"Our enemy is a pirate. One of the Shichibukai."
"And this isn't just a fight—it's a war involving millions of people. You really think everyone will walk away unscathed?"
Luffy leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes, frustration and despair bleeding through his words.
"Naïve."
"W-woo woo woo!" Nami began to speak, but Sanji stepped forward and gently held her back, placing his hand over her mouth.
Even Leo stepped in to stop her from interrupting.
"I get it!" Vivi cried. "I know! But I don't want anyone to die! Is that so wrong?!"
She looked at Luffy, eyes filled with pain and defiance.
"Tch…"
"People die," Luffy replied coldly, without opening his eyes. "That's just how it is."
"Shut up!"
BANG!
Vivi's anger exploded. She clenched her fist and delivered a powerful punch straight to Luffy's face, knocking him over.
"If you dare say something like that again, I won't forgive you!"
Tears streamed down her face as she shouted.
"Aren't we doing everything we can to stop that from happening?! Isn't that why we're here?"
"Neither the King's Army nor the Rebel Army is wrong! They're all victims of this twisted situation! Why should anyone have to die?!"
"It's all that alligator's fault!!"
WHAM!
Luffy got back up and immediately punched Vivi back, not holding back in the slightest.
"You talk big, but then you go off risking your life, thinking you can solve everything alone!"
"How the hell do you plan to fight an entire country on your own?! You think this is a fairy tale?!"
Chopper and Usopp gasped, jaws nearly hitting the sand.
If Leo hadn't been holding Sanji down with one arm, the cook would've launched himself at Luffy without hesitation.
"AHHHH!! What am I supposed to do then?! I've already lost everything!" Vivi screamed, her voice cracking.
"I have nothing left but my life!!"
She threw herself at Luffy, fists pounding his chest and face as tears fell without end. Her sorrow turned to rage, her fear to desperation.
Luffy pushed her back slightly and shouted in return, "Then count our lives too!!"
"We're your friends, aren't we?!"
"...!"
Vivi froze.
She covered her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief as sobs choked her breath.
"Woo woo woo…"
"You're the one who's hurting the most," Luffy said quietly. "And no one blames you for that."
"I wish I could beat that guy senseless too."
Luffy cracked his knuckles, then rested a hand atop his straw hat.
"Vivi, tell me where that crocodile is."
Leo finally released Nami, who rushed over to comfort Vivi.
"He's right, Vivi," Nami whispered gently. "Crocodile is the cause of all this."
"Going to Albana won't change anything. We need to stop the source."
Sanji lit a cigarette, clearly still fuming but trying to keep calm.
"This plan might be reckless… but it's the fastest way to end this."
"Agreed!"
Usopp and Chopper nodded simultaneously.
Leo stepped forward, kneeling beside Vivi and gently rubbing her head.
"Don't be afraid. We're with you."
"You're worried about Albana, right? Velis is already there."
"When she passed through Yuba earlier, she left us something."
He held up a metallic gear—one unlike any they had seen before.
It began to glow.
A soft hum filled the air as an illusory image slowly formed above it.
The figure of a girl appeared in the light—smiling warmly.
"Hello, Creator, Miss Vivi, Miss Nami, and dear companions," said Velis cheerfully.
"Whoa! Miss Velis, we meet again!" Sanji's eyes sparkled with pink hearts.
WHAM!
"Not the time," Nami said, knocking him to the ground with a well-placed punch.
"She's just a projection!"
Sanji groaned from the ground but nodded. "Understood…"
Velis continued speaking from the hologram, her expression turning more serious.
"I'm truly sorry. I wasn't able to deal with Crocodile directly. After our last battle, I tried several times to assassinate him, but he was always prepared. I failed."
"Because of the circumstances, I joined the rebels heading to Albana, hiding my identity."
"But don't worry—when the time comes, I'll act. I'll take Vivi's place if necessary to stop this war from escalating."
"If you're seeing this message… go to Rainbase. Crocodile is there."
"I'll make sure nothing goes wrong in Albana."
"Creator… I hope to see you again soon. —Velis Liu."
As her final words faded, the figure of Velis dissipated into shimmering light, and the gear crumbled to dust in Leo's hand.
A soft smile tugged at Leo's lips.
"She's grown," he said quietly. "She even learned to construct the gear herself."
Everyone fell silent, but then nodded in agreement.
Even Chopper, though confused, was intrigued. Nami quickly explained who Velis was and how she had been helping from behind the scenes.
With their path now clear, Zoro stood tall and spoke.
"Let's head to Rainbase. That's where Crocodile is."
"But where exactly is Rainbase?" Usopp asked.
Vivi took out her map and pointed. "It's just north of Yuba. We're already halfway there."
"If we keep moving, we can reach it by tomorrow."
She looked up, her eyes sharper now. "Then we can finally confront Crocodile."
And with Leo promising to solve the rest of the country's weather problem after that… hope stirred once more.
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