Chapter 41: Davy Back Fight (Part 1)
Several fireworks shot into the air, making the opening ceremony look surprisingly legit—more serious than the Tokyo Olympics.
"The opening ceremony is starting! Everyone quiet down!"
"Brothers~ don't be noisy, settle down~"
"Porche, our little sweetheart!" pirates shouted from the crowd.
"We now announce the three major rules for the losing team to obey:"
"Rule One: Any personnel, symbols, etc. taken during the Davy Back Fight are considered spoils of war."
"Rule Two: Those selected by the winners must immediately pledge loyalty to their new captain."
"Rule Three: The losers may never again raise a stolen Jolly Roger."
"Anyone who violates these rules shall be deemed a disgrace to pirates and sent to Davy Jones' Locker. Do you swear to abide by them?"
"I swear."
"I swear." Both pirate captains declared.
"Now, Darren Eric , pick—one coin, two coins, or three?"
"So generous, Boss!" What a great setup man. I'll be stealing you soon enough, hmph.
"Two, then."
"According to official rules, that means two rounds. Notify Davy Jones." With that, two coins were tossed into the sea.
A member of the Foxy Pirates handed Eric a slip of paper. "Write down your team's battle order and give it to our coordinator. Once decided, you cannot change it."
"Events are rowing and ball game. Rowing: no participant limit. Ball game: three players."
"Alright, Da Vinci, Cricket, and I will do the rowing. Akame, Chiron, and I will do the ball game. Any objections?"
"OK."
"First match: Around-the-Island Canoe Race. The canoes must be built using only two paddles and three empty barrels. Using other materials will result in disqualification. This tests your crafting skills."
"Oh genius of all trades, I leave the motor to you," Eric said to Da Vinci.
"Leave it to the almighty me. Easy."
"Oh, so reliable!"
Eric knew how shameless the Foxy Pirates were. Even their ridiculous three-barrel canoe counted as valid. So with Chiron and Akame, he quickly got to work on crafting three large barrels, securing them with plenty of iron rings.
"Ah! Eric 's team is cheating by making new barrels to increase material!" As expected, the Foxy Pirates' announcer was infuriating.
"While the boats are being built, let me explain the rules."
"The course runs around Long Chain Island. It seems simple, but it's a tough route. If your boat sinks, you're out. Guns, cannons, bombs, knives—no restrictions on weapons."
"The race is starting soon! Ready?"
"Teams, take your positions. Here's a record compass to help navigate. Ready—BANG!"
At the sound of the starter pistol, Eric grasped the generator's terminals, forming a closed circuit. WHIRRR! The motor-powered propeller spun underwater, and Eric 's team's canoe, "Thunderbolt," shot forward like a missile.
"What?! Eric 's 'Thunderbolt' just rocketed forward!"
"Wha—" Porche, riding in the "Cute Little Truck" with swordfish-man Capote and star-shark Monda, couldn't match their speed.
Meanwhile, the giant boat "Barrel Carrier" had just opened its hatch to release exploding barrels with waves of seawater.
"Did 'Thunderbolt' cheat?! Even our exploding barrels can't keep up!" yelled the commentator from his bird.
"Screw you!" Eric lost his cool and swore.
"Oho! Looks like Captain Eric 's been provoked!"
"You're the one broadcasting fake news!" Eric snapped, without letting go of the motor contacts.
"The 'Cute Little Truck' has sharks pulling it, but still can't catch 'Thunderbolt'!"
"The Foxy Pirates' strategy—'Stall Tactic Banquet Plan'—has failed since the 'Drunkard' and 'Beauty's Prayer' boats can't catch up!"
"Right now, 'Thunderbolt' is way in the lead! Second place is 'Cute Little Truck'!"
Outside the track, Hamburger whispered to Foxy, "Boss, this isn't looking good."
"Time to get serious," Foxy said darkly—clearly planning something shady.
Akame noticed and instinctively adjusted her blade, ready to intercept any tricks.
"Remember what Captain said before the match: 'I won't lose. I'll deal with their dirty tricks myself.' Trust your captain," Chiron said, calming her.
Akame nodded, backing down.
The bird-riding commentator shouted, "Soaring in on Four-Legged Sprinter Hamburger is the one and only, master of sabotage, king of dirty play, our infamous boss—Silver Fox Foxy!"
"What sort of tricks will he pull this time?!"
"Fehfehfehfeh…"
"Up ahead lies the most perilous stretch—Long Coral Reef!"
"Thunderbolt is about to enter the Long Coral Reef! But don't forget—our boss Foxy is waiting on land, ready to interfere!"
"There are a lot of whirlpools ahead. Da Vinci, can we get through?" Eric asked. If not, they'd use the recoil from Impact Dials to launch the boat over.
"Of course. I'm the genius, remember?" Da Vinci replied confidently. "Head toward eleven o'clock!"
"Careful. Foxy might try something," Cricket warned.
"Yeah. He's a Slow-Slow Fruit user! Don't let his beams hit you!"
An arrow shot toward "Thunderbolt," hissing through the air. Eric moved to shield Da Vinci, but the arrow flew past and hit the reef, releasing a cloud of smoke.
Startled, Da Vinci smiled and said, "Captain, taking an arrow for a lady—such a gentlemanly act. Big points."
Cricket exhaled smoke, unfazed by their flirting.
[Ding… You have a new message]
[Leonardo da Vinci's affection increased. Bond Level: 2 (Close Friend) → 3 (Trusted Friend). Bond Points +2]
"That man's interference is like a demon! Smoke now covers the sea—but 'Thunderbolt' broke through the fog easily! How is that possible?!"
'Of course—Observation Haki combined with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. I expanded the range tenfold. Smoke may block vision, but it can't block perception!' Eric thought.
"After the coral reef comes the long whirlpool zone!"
"Hold on!" Eric warned. "I'm activating the Impact Dial!"
"Ready!" the others braced.
BOOM! The Impact Dial exploded in the water, launching the canoe and all three riders into the air.
"'Thunderbolt' accelerates again! It even flies over Long Cape!"
"'Thunderbolt' is far ahead! 'Cute Little Truck' is still stuck at the coral reef! Is this the end for the undefeated 'Cute Little Truck'?!"
"Damn, I underestimated them. Miss Porche, hang on," said Capote, drenched in mustard, as he prepared his ultimate move.
"All yours," Porche encouraged her teammate.
"Fusion! Swordfish-Man Swim Style!" Star-shark Monda bit down on Capote's lower half for a strange combo move.
"Hm? The signboard says—turn right." Da Vinci spotted a sign ahead.
"Just go around. Don't destroy it," Eric ordered.
"No deception here! Boss's signature 'Fake Sign Trap' has failed!"
Ahead of "Thunderbolt," Foxy and Hamburger reappeared in disguise.
"Granny… boss… no, granny." (Hamburger)
"I can't go on…" (Foxy)
"Here comes Boss's third sabotage attempt!" (Commentator)
"Please, kind strangers, help this poor old woman~" (Foxy)
Eric ignored him and sped past.
"Totally ignored the sickly old woman! Cold-blooded and heartless—Captain Eric only cares about himself!"
"You're so loud!" Eric shouted, veins bulging.
"What's this?! 'Cute Little Truck' turned right, veering off course! Fooled by a fake sign! What a pure, innocent heart! Porche, please return to the real track!"
"'Thunderbolt' is about to reach the finish line! 'Cute Little Truck' is nowhere in sight! Is the match already decided?!"
Just then, Foxy, riding on Four-Legged Sprinter Hamburger, formed a peacock-shaped hand gesture, preparing to fire the Slow Beam.
CRACK! A bolt of blue lightning struck Foxy. Both he and Hamburger were electrocuted and collapsed, smoke rising from their bodies.
"What?! Just as our boss Foxy was about to use his Devil Fruit power, he got struck by lightning! Was it divine punishment for his shamelessness?!"
Meanwhile, "Thunderbolt" crossed the finish line.
"Victory goes to 'Thunderbolt'! The winner of the first round of the Davy Back Fight is the flagless crew of Eric !"
(END CHAPTER)
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