Chapter 59 Zoro Takes on a Kung Fu Dugong Apprentice"I don't know about heaven or hell, but don't you feel hot?"
Luffy, squatting beside Sanji, nudged him gleefully. "The surface temperature is at least 50 degrees Celsius right now. If you lie there any longer, you'll really become 'Teppanyaki Sanji'."
Hearing this, Sanji instantly realized what was happening, letting out a "whoop!" and leaping three feet high like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on.
Just as everyone was organizing their gear, dark shadows suddenly emerged from the calm river.
Zoro, who was in charge of anchoring, looked at the water strangely: "What are those things?"
Splash! Splash!
One after another, cute-looking creatures with turtle shells on their backs jumped out of the water with cries, lining up neatly on the bank.
Zoro looked bewildered: "These are... turtles standing up?"
"Kung Fu Dugongs!?" Vivi exclaimed suddenly upon recognizing them.
"Try defeating me if you want to get ashore!"
Chopper, watching the howling manatees, acted as a translator. "They're saying: If you don't dare fight, then obediently go back to the other side, you cowards!"
Hearing the word "cowards," Usopp immediately became displeased.
Looking at the seemingly harmless, adorable manatees below, he felt this was a golden moment bestowed upon him by heaven.
"Hmph! A few mere sea turtles, watch me take care of you!"
Usopp stepped onto the railing, struck a cool pose, and then leaped towards the riverbank.
"I'll fight!!"
"Wait a minute, Usopp!" Vivi's expression changed drastically as she tried to stop him.
But it was too late.
A series of loud, cracking punches echoed from the shore.
Two seconds later.
Usopp, covered in bumps and foaming at the mouth, lay sprawled on the ground, occasionally twitching.
Vivi finally finished her sentence: "...Kung Fu Manatees are very strong; they're the fighting experts of this area..."
Usopp struggled to raise his hand, giving her the middle finger: "Pfft...Why the hell didn't you say so earlier..."
"Huh? Done."
Just then, a calm voice came from the side.
Everyone turned to look and saw Zoro slowly sheathing his Wado Ichimonji.
At his feet lay a pile of bruised and battered Kung Fu Manatees.
"Zoro! Winning isn't enough!" Vivi clutched her forehead, looking utterly devastated.
"Huh?" Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Then what do we do? Let them kill them?"
The next second, he understood Vivi's meaning.
The group of manatees, who had just been so ferocious, suddenly scrambled to their feet, their eyes sparkling, and surrounded Zoro, performing a synchronized apprenticeship ceremony.
"Awoo! Awoo!" (Master, please accept my bow!)
Vivi explained helplessly, "The Kung Fu Manatees have a rule: if they lose, they have to become the winner's apprentice..."
Zoro, seeing this huge group of manatees clinging to his leg, was utterly exasperated: "What?! Is this even allowed?!"
He abruptly turned to Luffy, who was laughing so hard he was practically falling over: "Luffy! Did you already know this?!"
Just moments ago, it was Luffy who had been fanning the flames, urging him to teach these manatees a lesson.
"Pfft, hahahahaha!"
Luffy laughed until tears streamed down his face, "Congratulations, Zoro! You've gained so many adorable apprentices!"
"Three-Sword Style - Kung Fu Dugong Team! Sounds really cool! Hahahaha!"
"You bastard! I'm going to kill you!" Zoro, enraged, drew his sword and swung it at Luffy.
The Kung Fu Dugongs below, seeing this, thought their master was teaching them some ultimate martial art.
So they copied him, picking up sticks and swinging them in Luffy's direction, making "Hey-ha-hey-ha" sounds.
"Pfft!"
Seeing this, Nami, who had originally intended to break up the fight, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Zoro's forehead veins bulged: 凸(艹皿艹)
"You bastard Luffy! I really will kill you!!"
...
After Chopper's earnest "cross-species diplomacy," and with everyone reluctantly leaving behind half a month's worth of food reserves, they finally managed to persuade these enthusiastic disciples to help watch the ship.
Even after walking quite a distance, the thought of Zoro surrounded by manatees, looking utterly dejected, made everyone burst into laughter.
Zoro, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, silently led the way at the head of the group.
But at the very back of the group, the scene was completely different.
Luffy wasn't walking; instead, he sat cross-legged on a floating cloud of sand, drifting along leisurely.
Above his head was a giant parasol made of sand, shielding him from the scorching sun.
Nami, Vivi, and Miss Goldenweek were all comfortably lounging on the sand cloud beside Luffy, drinking juice and chatting.
They looked more like they were on a Hawaiian vacation than traversing a death desert.
"Ah, so refreshing~ Luffy, your ability is so convenient~" Nami stretched contentedly.
Sanji, who was struggling to walk and sweating profusely nearby, witnessed this scene and, consumed by jealousy, frantically tore at his collar, tears streaming down his face.
"Hey! Luffy! This is so unfair! I want to go up too!"
Usopp wiped his sweat and protested loudly to Luffy.
Luffy, lying on the sand cloud, didn't even lift his eyelids, and righteously refused:
"Don't be silly! I'm training your will and tempering your bodies!"
"Look at you, a dignified Marine Captain, you can't even beat a sea cow? Aren't you ashamed? Aren't you embarrassed? And you still have the nerve to ride in the car?"
Usopp: "..."
Ouch, that hurts.