Clashing Again

Midair, Zero pushed his Observation Haki to its limit, searching for clues within its limited range. As he moved swiftly with Moonwalk, he held Nami tightly in his arms, shielding her from the wind and snow as much as possible.

Although his Observation Haki had yet to reach its maximum level, it had already acquired some properties similar to Mantra, allowing him to vaguely sense his surroundings.

As its level increased, its range would continue to expand. At level six, he could already spread his Observation Haki across a small town.

That was why he could determine in such a short time whether the towns he passed through had doctors.

Most likely, once his Observation Haki reached its maximum level, it would gain functions similar to Mantra.

As for abilities as overpowered as seeing the future or communicating with all things, Zero did not think they were very likely. Besides, both abilities clearly required high levels to fully display their effects. By then, he probably would not need them anymore.

"Nami, hold on a little longer. We'll be there soon!"

Zero spoke softly to Nami in his arms, his tone gentle yet filled with determination.

Not long after, Zero passed through a place called Kesta Town. He happened to see a gray-haired woman preparing to leave on a sled, with a blue-nosed reindeer wearing a hat standing in front of it.

Zero recognized them at once. One was Kureha, one of the few doctors on the island. The other was Chopper, who had eaten the Human-Human Fruit. The reindeer was one of his seven transformations.

"Wait, Doctor!"

He descended from the sky and landed before Kureha and Chopper, panting heavily. Such a long-distance Moonwalk was clearly no small burden for him.

"Who is that guy? How can he fly?"

"Is he from the next village over?"

"..."

The villagers of Kesta Town were astonished by Zero's sudden appearance. They had never expected someone to descend from the sky.

At first, Kureha did not notice Nami, who was wrapped so tightly in Zero's arms that not a trace of her could be seen. Her first reaction to being stopped by Zero was to ask, "Are you after my secret to eternal youth?"

Zero shook his head, knelt on one knee, and laid Nami across his thigh. Only then did Kureha understand why Zero had appeared here.

However.

"Do you want me to save her?"

"Yes. Doctor, please see whether my companion can be treated."

"I can save her, but I save people depending on my mood. I already treated one patient earlier, so I don't really feel like seeing another today."

Zero seemed not to have expected Kureha to say that. After staring blankly for a moment, he immediately replied, "Doctor, if you can save her, I'm willing to pay any price!"

Kureha examined Zero. His gaze was extremely serious, as though some unseen force made people instinctively believe his words.

Although she had actually intended to save Nami all along, she still waved a hand and pretended to be reluctant. "In that case, I'll agree to your condition!"

"Thank you so much!"

"However, I don't have any special medicine here for this condition. We'll have to go up the mountain. Put her beside me. Whether you can keep up is up to you."

Zero nodded and gently placed the unconscious Nami onto the sled's seat. After Chopper set off carrying the two of them, Zero followed behind the sled and headed up the snow mountain with them.

Only then did one of the villagers belatedly say, "Was that guy a pirate?"

The other villagers said nothing.

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates had just landed on the island. After sincerely communicating with the islanders, they were allowed to enter, leaving Roronoa Zoro and Karoo behind to guard the Going Merry.

After speaking with Dalton, the former captain of the kingdom's guard, they learned that the country had just been invaded by the Blackbeard Pirates, who numbered only five.

After witnessing the pirates' strength, their king, Wapol, had directly abandoned all the civilians in the kingdom and fled out to sea to become a pirate himself.

That Wapol was the Gulp-Gulp Fruit user Luffy and the others had encountered outside the island earlier.

As a result, Luffy and the others all came to despise him!

Dalton also received troubling news. Wapol was wandering the nearby waters and could land on Drum Island at any time, so he arranged for people to keep a close watch on the harbor and report back as soon as Wapol and his men came ashore.

Before long, Dalton received intelligence that Wapol and his group had landed at Big Horn. He immediately prepared his weapons and headed there.

Thinking that Zero might be there, Luffy simply followed Dalton toward Big Horn.

When they arrived at the village at Big Horn, it had already been thoroughly ravaged by Wapol. Only the ruins scattered across the ground faintly suggested what the village had once looked like, and Wapol's forces had yet to leave. They happened to run into Dalton and Luffy's group as they arrived.

The moment Wapol saw Luffy and the others, his eyes went wide. It was as though he recalled the terror of being dominated by Zero. When he saw that Zero was not among them, he immediately straightened his back.

"You're those hateful pirates from before! And Dalton? Since when did you start hanging around with pirates?"

"Wapol, you've already abandoned this country. Don't come back here. You are not welcome here!"

With that, he transformed into his man-beast form and attacked Wapol's subordinates. Only then did Luffy and the others learn that he was also a Devil Fruit user, capable of three transformations. After their surprise faded, they joined the battle as well.

"Gum-Gum Pistol!"

"Sure-Kill: Gunpowder Star!"

"Neck Meat!"

"Peacock Slasher!"

Watching Luffy and the others fight, Dalton had not expected their combat strength to be so formidable. They made short work of Wapol's forces. Wapol also looked stunned. He had thought that aside from that guy, the others were weak. He had not expected them to knock all his men down in such a short time!

Before long, only Wapol and his two subordinates remained on the field, while Dalton and Luffy's group had suffered no casualties!

Just as Luffy was about to charge forward and defeat Wapol, civilians from the village suddenly surged out from behind them. Judging by their shouts, they seemed to have come to help.

However, this played right into Wapol's hands. They aimed their bows at the civilians, and Dalton charged forward without hesitation. He was struck by a flaming arrow and instantly collapsed to the ground.

"Old man, are you okay?"

Everyone hurried over to check on him. Wapol and his two companions took the chance to flee. By the time Luffy and the others realized what had happened, the three had already vanished without a trace...