The gale howled, and rain poured down in sheets.
Riding the sudden, eerie green gale, the Straw Hat crew shot toward Loguetown's harbor like arrows loosed from a bow.
"Quick! The Going Merry is right ahead!!"
Luffy took the lead, excitedly pointing at the familiar sheep-headed sailing ship in the curtain of rain.
But just as they were about to reach the shore,
a sleazy figure was crouching furtively beside the Going Merry, holding a burning torch and trying to set the sails ablaze.
It was Cabaji, a surviving member of the Buggy Pirates—the acrobat.
"Hehehe... Since Captain got sent flying, we'll burn this ship and leave those Straw Hat brats with nowhere to run!"
Cabaji raised his torch with a sinister grin. "Burn! Burn it to ashes!"
"Stop!! The Going Merry!!" Usopp nearly fainted in terror at the sight.
Before Luffy and the others could make a move,
"Caw caw!! What piece of trash dares touch my nest!!"
A streak of black lightning shot from Nami's shoulder.
Clay the crow, who had been "trained" by Nami all this way and had been holding in a bellyful of rage, had finally found an outlet.
Spreading its wings, it dove down like a miniature bomber.
"Take this! Crow Beak Pecking Frenzy!!"
"Ow! That hurts! Where did this bird come from?!" Before Cabaji could react, Clay's sharp beak had pecked his head until it looked like a briquette.
"Special Attack: Gunpowder Star!!"
Not to be outdone, Usopp drew his slingshot and precisely struck the torch in Cabaji's hand with a flaming shot, blasting his face black with soot.
"Damn it... Why are this bird and that long-nosed guy so strong..."
The two unlucky fools who had planned an ambush never even saw their real targets.
They were taken down by a bird