Two sturdy big-horned sheep pulled the sleigh, speeding across the snowy plains of Drum Island towards the coast.
Usopp gripped the vehicle tightly, his body swaying left and right with the bumps. "Hey, hey! Is it really okay to go this fast?! Also, that Wapol… has he really landed?"
Dalton, driving the sheep carriage, didn't look back, his voice low and firm: "There's no mistake. We've always had people keeping watch on the shore, and the message came back quickly. They are already prepared."
He first looked into the distance, then turned back to Usopp and Vivi with a hint of solemnity:
"Actually… you didn't have to come. This is… this country's own battle. You only need to pick up your companion… there's no need to get involved."
Vivi's long blue hair flew in the wind. She gazed at the increasingly clear coastline ahead, her tone firm: "I can't just stand by and watch the people of a country be harmed by such a tyrant again."
Her fingernails dug slightly into her palm. The distant shadow of Crocodile seemed to overlap for a moment with Wapol, whom they were about to see.
Usopp finally managed to steady himself. Hearing Vivi's words, he quickly patted his chest in agreement: "Exactly! It used to be such a powerful medical country! Now that guy has made it hard to even find a decent doctor!"
As he spoke, he subconsciously touched the small backpack slung across his body, which contained his slingshot and various ammunition.
"Don't you worry! With me, Captain Usopp, here! I've even defeated high-ranking agents of Baroque Works who ate Devil Fruit!"
Dalton listened to the unwavering support from the two behind him. His tense expression relaxed a little, and he forced a smile that wasn't exactly lighthearted: "Hmm… thank you. With your help, this country… will definitely be able to completely drive out that pest."
"Hahahahahahaha! No problem! Leave it to me!" Hearing this, Usopp immediately grew smug, as if victory was already in his grasp.
Vivi looked at him like this and sighed helplessly, reminding him: "Calm down, Usopp. Wapol isn't that easy to deal with. You absolutely cannot be careless."
...The sleigh quickly rushed to the shore. The group quickly got out and began to observe the situation before them.
The familiar San Juan Wolf was anchored by the shore. Even more striking, Wapol was slowly descending the gangway of that warship, riding a hippopotamus covered in white fur.
Behind him, fully armed soldiers poured out, quickly forming ranks on the shore. Their muskets were clearly much more sophisticated than those held by the villagers.
"Oh-ho-ho!"
Wapol drew out his words, his gaze sweeping over the former citizens who stood ready, finally settling on Dalton.
"Isn't this the former Captain of our country's Royal Guard, Dalton? What, bringing so many people, are you here to welcome His Majesty back to the country?" He deliberately emphasized the word "welcome," full of mockery for Dalton.
But Dalton, on the other side, was ashen-faced. He didn't respond to the taunt, just stared fixedly at him.
Behind Wapol, two familiar figures also appeared. These were his two most loyal retainers. One was Kuromarimo, with his explosive hair and boxing gloves, and the other was Chess, dressed like a clown and holding a longbow.
Just then, the standoff between the two sides was broken by a gunshot.
A villager closer to Wapol, his eyes burning with anger, could no longer tolerate this so-called king returning here. He aimed directly and pulled the trigger!
The bullet flew towards Wapol!
"Hmph!"
Kuromarimo reacted extremely quickly, taking a step forward. With a swing of his gauntlet, he precisely deflected the incoming bullet.
He then charged forward, and his other hand, like an iron pincer, instantly grabbed the villager's head, lifting him completely off the ground. The grabbed villager struggled madly, his feet kicking weakly in the air.
"Well done, Kuromarimo!"
Wapol laughed triumphantly, looking at the other villagers who were now more hesitant and dared not shoot. "When we return to the castle, I'll definitely promote you and give you a raise!"
Then he turned to Chess beside him and asked, "Is my castle still intact?"
Chess raised his binoculars, looked at the outline of the castle on the distant snowy mountaintop, and replied expressionlessly: "No damage, Lord Wapol."
"Let him go!"
Dalton's roar immediately exploded in the air. Watching the villager being treated like this in front of him, the anger in his heart completely erupted.
"This country! It no longer needs you scum who only harm its citizens to return!!!"
Amidst this roar, Dalton's body rapidly transformed. His physique swelled, his head instantly turning into a black bull's head, and his hands also covered in fur.
Dalton, transformed into a Minotaur, pushed off the ground, creating a shallow crater in the snow. He charged towards Kuromarimo like an out-of-control wild bull, with an unstoppable momentum!
"What?!" Kuromarimo hadn't expected Dalton's speed to be so fast. In a hurry, he threw the villager in his hand like a sandbag towards Dalton, trying to block the attack.
Dalton turned sideways, steadily catching the villager on his back, then gently lowered him. Immediately after, he charged in front of the explosive-haired man, his fist not stopping, smashing fiercely towards Kuromarimo!
"Bang!"
Kuromarimo immediately crossed his arms to block, but he was repeatedly forced back by the wild bull-like immense strength, each step leaving deep footprints in the snow.
"You bastard!!!"
"Wow!!" Usopp was somewhat shocked by Dalton's sudden transformation, and stammered: "Uncle Dalton… is he really that strong?!"
Vivi stared intently at the transformed Dalton, explaining to Usopp: "That's a Zoan type Devil Fruit ability. It grants the user great strength, speed, and recovery power, especially when transforming into a beast or hybrid form, where physical abilities are comprehensively enhanced."
Usopp nodded, half-understanding, then suddenly remembered a certain rubber man who kept fighting non-stop, and muttered: "Luffy's obviously eaten the Gum-Gum Fruit, but when he fights, he feels as tough and strong as a Zoan type…"
"Their natures are completely different. Luffy's body can stretch and expand like rubber, which is clearly the ability of a Paramecia-type Fruit." Vivi shook her head, but her attention remained focused on the battlefield.
After forcing Kuromarimo back with one blow, Dalton immediately locked his target on Wapol.
He let out a low growl, like a true wild bull, then roared at Wapol: "This country! Without you, everyone is rebuilding well! Fighting for a better tomorrow!!!"
"Why don't you just float on the sea and be your pirates?!!!"
Then Dalton took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and also hoping the other party would leave.
"I'll give you one more chance. If you leave now, we can still avoid a battle."
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