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Chapter 101: Usopp's Moment of Glory
Meanwhile.
In a snowy field just outside the village of Big Horn, a long-drawn-out battle was finally coming to an end.
"Special Attack: Gunpowder Star!"
Covered in dirty snow, Usopp pulled back his slingshot with both hands. He aimed at the last enemy attempting to flee and fired the ultimate move he had recently strengthened.
Accompanied by a sudden, explosive burst of flames, Wapol's final soldier let out a miserable shriek before collapsing.
Finally, victory.
"Nice work, Usopp!"
A crisp but exhausted cheer came from not far away.
Nami stood there, leaning her weight on the Clima-Tact planted in the snow to support her body.
Her short orange hair was a mess, with strands sticking to her forehead and cheeks from sweat. Her exposed skin was a mix of sweat and melted snow, marked by a few faint scratches.
She had participated in the battle just now, and she was thoroughly exhausted.
.....
Several hours ago.
After the avalanche, Wapol had taken only two subordinates and headed straight for the castle on the peak via the ropeway. He left the remaining hundred or so soldiers behind with orders to storm Big Horn, completely wipe out the militia guard formed by Dalton, and re-establish his rule.
Nami, who had witnessed the whole thing, and Usopp, who rushed over upon hearing the news, joined the fray without hesitation.
After hours of fierce fighting, they finally managed to take down every single soldier.
"We did it! They're all down!"
"We won! We protected the village!"
The villagers erupted in ecstatic cheers.
They had successfully defended the home they had worked so hard to rebuild.
Almost everyone turned their gaze toward the figure standing in the snow, still holding his firing pose.
This man had defeated dozens of soldiers single-handedly.
Without a doubt, he was the great hero who saved this village—and perhaps the entire country.
Usopp felt the dozens, if not hundreds, of admiring and worshipful gazes burning into his back.
His heart pounded wildly—half from exhaustion, half from the dizzying rush of this unprecedented honor.
Yet, he didn't turn around, leaving them only with his silhouette.
The reason was simple... his body was on the verge of falling apart. If he moved even an inch, he would likely collapse right there on the ground.
"Usopp, are you okay?"
Fortunately, the observant Nami was the first to notice her crewmate's strange behavior.
She jogged over, reached out to support Usopp's trembling arm, and asked with concern in a hushed voice.
Leaning on her support, Usopp finally relaxed his tense body slightly.
He looked up, revealing a weary smile, his voice growing weaker.
"Nami, did you see... just now... I... defeated all of them... by myself..."
"Yeah, you did great. When Luffy and Ganyu find out, they'll definitely think you're amazing."
Seeing his face, which was swollen beyond recognition from close-quarters combat with the soldiers, Nami had to try hard not to laugh.
"Is that so... then I can... rest easy."
Having said his piece, Usopp closed his eyes peacefully.
To an outsider's perspective, this exchange looked exactly like a hero speaking his last words before dying in his comrade's arms.
"No! Hero!!!"
"Long-Nose!"
The villagers plunged from joy into grief, many crying out in anguish.
Some even fell to their knees in the snow, beating their chests and wailing as if they had lost a parent.
"Hey! Calm down! He just fell asleep from exhaustion! He didn't sacrifice himself!"
Nami, stuck between laughter and tears at this sudden "funeral" scene, grumpily smacked Usopp on the head and quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.
Just like that, the atmosphere returned to normal.
Not long after, Usopp opened his eyes again, looked at Nami who was tending to him, and asked, "Nami, why aren't Luffy and the others back yet?"
Nami was also a bit puzzled. "I don't know either. Logically, at least one of them should have come back to tell us the situation."
"Could they have run into trouble?" Usopp frowned, but then decisively shook his head.
"The three of them are so strong, they're definitely fine."
Nami nodded in agreement.
A while later.
"We found him! Mr. Dalton is still alive!"
"We dug him out of the snow!"
A group of villagers carried Dalton over on a makeshift stretcher.
The garrison captain looked in bad shape, covered in dried blood and frozen clumps of snow, his face pale. However, the rise and fall of his chest was steady and powerful.
As expected of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user; to survive heavy injuries followed by burial in the snow was impressive.
Before long, Dalton regained consciousness under the villagers' care.
Upon learning from the villagers that Nami and Usopp had protected the village, moved to tears, he dragged his heavily injured body to thank them immediately.
"I am... truly grateful! Without your help, this country, and these villagers who just saw a glimmer of hope, would have fallen back under Wapol's cruel rule in the blink of an eye. All our efforts would have turned to bubbles..."
Nami waved her hands hurriedly, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Don't say that, Mr. Dalton. Those guys just looked really annoying, we only did what we felt we had to do."
Usopp nodded along. "Yeah! If Luffy and the others were here, they definitely would have helped too!"
Their words moved the crowd to tears once again.
Nami looked toward the Drum Rockies, her expression slightly strange.
"But, it's been so long, why haven't Luffy and the others returned? Even if they're climbing the mountain, there should be some noise by now, right?"
"Could it be because of... that avalanche..." Dalton's gaze darkened, not voicing the worst possibility.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that."
Nami shook her head. Like Usopp, she was brimming with confidence in that trio. "Rather than the avalanche, I think it's more likely they got held up by something."
She thought for a moment and figured out the likely reason for her partners' delay. "Didn't that guy named Wapol take two henchmen up to the castle? Luffy and the others probably ran into them. They haven't come back yet because they're dealing with him."
"What?!"
Dalton was shocked. He jerked his body upright, groaning from the sharp pain in his wounds, but he ignored it, speaking urgently.
"Wapol himself is a Devil Fruit user, and he's not weak! His followers, Chess and Kuromarimo, are the strongest warriors in the kingdom besides myself! If your companions face them head-on, they might be in danger!"
Saying this, he hurriedly grabbed his weapon and addressed the villagers behind him.
"We need to immediately gather everyone who can still move and go to the castle on the peak to support them!"
The villagers naturally nodded in agreement, everyone making preparations.
Seeing this, Nami and Usopp exchanged a glance. After a moment of silent communication, although they felt it was unnecessary, they didn't stop them.
And so, the group set off on the journey up the mountain.
═════ To Be Continued ═════
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