Chapter 47: Alabasta – Desert Journey, Kung-Fu Dugongs & Rock Oasis Rest
"Nami, what's with that box you've been wearing on your waist the whole time?" Usopp had noticed the delicate treasure box at Nami's waist for a while and finally found the chance to ask.
When Nami heard this, a mysterious smile appeared on her face. She reached down, unhooked the box from her waist, and opened it with the excitement of unboxing a mystery prize.
Inside the box lay a completely golden fruit covered in irregular yellow feather-like patterns, exuding a strange, tempting aura.
"This is something we picked up by chance on Drum Island. Does anyone want it?" Nami held the Devil Fruit in her palm and showed it to everyone.
To Ace's surprise, the Straw Hat crew showed not a hint of greed toward this fruit worth hundreds of millions of Berries.
They simply gathered around curiously, treating it like some novel local specialty.
"I'm a swordsman—my sword is enough for me," Zoro said, arms crossed and leaning against the railing, his tone making the refusal sound completely natural.
"I'll pass too. If the whole ship becomes Devil Fruit users, it'll be a disaster if anyone falls into the water," Sanji said seriously, analyzing the team composition. (He had somehow already run back from the sand dunes, a clear shoe print still visible on his face.)
Vivi shook her head gently as well. "This is something you found, Nami. You should eat it."
Sol stepped forward, his large hand ruffling Nami's hair in a natural, intimate gesture. "It's up to you what to do with this fruit—eat it yourself or whatever."
Usopp rubbed his chin and squinted closely at the golden fruit. "This thing looks kind of like a pineapple."
"If Teach had been like you guys, he wouldn't have killed Thatch," Ace suddenly sighed.
Splash—
With the sound of the anchor dropping into the water, Zoro suddenly narrowed his eyes: "Something's coming up from the seabed."
"What the heck is that? A turtle? Or a seal?" Usopp was the first to jump off the ship, pointing at a group of creatures surfacing on the water.
They had seal-like bodies with turtle-shell-like armor on their backs and bright, clever little eyes.
The leading Kung-Fu Dugong suddenly struck a perfect starting stance. Chopper immediately translated: "They say—if you want to pass through this water, you have to defeat them first!"
"Usopp, come back!" Vivi shouted urgently, but it was too late.
"Hah! Let me show you the might of the great Captain Usopp!" Usopp struck a pose—only to be immediately grabbed and thrown over the shoulder by one dugong, beaten up in seconds until he was covered in lumps.
"They're… really strong…" Vivi's warning finally arrived, far too late.
"It hurts! Why didn't you say earlier how strong they are?!" Usopp wailed, lying face-down on the ground.
Zoro crossed his arms and deadpanned: "Usopp—you actually got beaten by a bunch of animals. Unbelievable."
Nami suddenly pointed to the other side: "Vivi—Luffy already beat the leader."
"Oh no!" Vivi stomped her foot in panic. "Kung-Fu Dugongs have a rule: once defeated, they become disciples of the winner! They're famous martial-obsessed creatures!"
Before she finished speaking, they saw Luffy already leading more than twenty Kung-Fu Dugongs lined up neatly on the beach, seriously teaching them horse stance and punches.
"Hei! Ha!" Luffy demonstrated with perfect form alongside his new "students."
Vivi bared her shark-like teeth in frustration: "Luffy! How did you end up with a bunch of disciples in the blink of an eye?!"
Ace leaned against the railing, laughing so hard he couldn't stand straight: "As expected of Luffy—he makes friends wherever he goes." In the end, Chopper went to negotiate with the dugongs. After offering a massive amount of food, he convinced them not to follow.
…
The sun-scorched desert stretched endlessly. Scorching heat waves distorted the air, as if invisible flames were burning everyone's lungs.
"It's so hot… I can't even sweat anymore… I'm done for…" Luffy leaned on a crooked stick like a dog with his tongue out, complaining.
"Stop whining, Luffy—you're just wasting more energy like that!" Nami said lazily from Sol's back, comfortably enjoying the breeze.
"You say that so easily—you've been carried the whole way…" Luffy glanced enviously at Nami and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"This guy completely ignored everything," Nami thought. She had long since become too hot to walk and let Sol carry her. She discovered Sol's body was strangely magical—warm in winter, cool in summer. "Good thing you're here, Sol."
Chopper was already half-unconscious from the heat, sprawled on the wooden plank Zoro was dragging. "No more… I hate heat the most… even though I'm not afraid of cold in winter…"
Usopp stuck out his tongue and teased: "Who told you to be so fluffy? Just shed your fur and you'd be fine."
Chopper instantly exploded into human form: "What did you say?! Are you looking down on reindeer, you jerk?!"
"Uwaaah! Monster!" Usopp's voice cracked in fright.
"Hey, Chopper—don't suddenly get big. If you keep this up I'm not dragging you anymore." Zoro glanced back, walked over, and firmly pressed the puffed-up reindeer back onto the plank.
Sanji looked at the energetic Vivi beside him and tried again: "Vivi-chan~ Do you need me to carry you for a while?"
"No need, Sanji," Vivi smiled and politely refused. "I grew up in this country—I'm used to it."
Usopp stared at the endless rolling sand dunes and asked: "Why are there so many dunes in the desert? Shouldn't it be flat? It's like climbing mountains."
"Because this is an ancient desert with a long history," Vivi explained. "Some dunes are over three hundred meters tall!"
"Three hundred meters?! No wonder they're like mountains…" Usopp exclaimed, then turned to Sol. "By the way, Sol—can't you make some cool wind? You can create strong gusts, right?"
"No can do, Usopp," Sol shook his head. "The temperature here is too high—any wind would turn into a heat wave. And if the wind is too strong, it could trigger a sandstorm."
"Everyone—let's eat pirate bentos! You'll have energy once you're full!" Luffy suddenly suggested energetically.
"But we've only covered a quarter of the way to Yuba," Vivi told him.
"Vivi, haven't you heard the famous saying from a great man? When you're hungry, you gotta eat!" Luffy declared seriously with complete nonsense.
Usopp deadpanned: "I think you're just making that up."
Vivi looked helplessly at Luffy: "Fine… let's rest when we reach the rock formation ahead."
"Alright—find rocks!" Luffy turned to everyone. "Let's play rock-paper-scissors! The loser has to carry everyone's luggage."
Scene shift—Luffy trailed far behind the group, panting heavily while dragging everyone's bags. "Ahh! So hot… and so heavy!"
Sanji shouted from ahead: "Hurry up, Luffy—don't fall behind!"
Usopp spotted the rock formation ahead and called out loudly. Hearing this, Luffy shot forward like an arrow and collapsed into the shade to rest.
"So fast!" Usopp's eyes widened in shock.
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