Chopper Joins the Crew!

"That reindeer..."

At that moment, Dalton looked at Chopper standing at the castle entrance and felt he looked familiar. Only then did he recall how Chopper had once sought revenge for Dr. Hiriluk. He was filled with emotion. He had never expected Chopper to have been fighting all along, even until now.

After being rescued by his two subordinates, Wapol also crawled out of the snow in a miserable state.

Seeing that they were at a disadvantage, one of the subordinates, who had an afro, suddenly flung black furballs that stuck to everyone. The other subordinate, dressed like a clown, then fired flaming arrows, igniting the black furballs on everyone and throwing them into a fluster.

Wapol suddenly noticed the pirate flag fluttering above the castle. Furious, he declared that he would burn it down. Chopper charged forward in his human form, only to be swallowed whole by Wapol, who opened his mouth wide!

At the critical moment, Luffy and Sanji rushed in together and struck Wapol's stomach at the same time, finally rescuing Chopper.

Wapol flew into a rage. Before everyone's eyes, his body grew enormous. This was a move called Wapol House. He even swallowed his two subordinates, and when they emerged, they had actually fused into one form!

Luffy and Usopp's eyes immediately turned into stars as they shouted that it was incredible!

Zero: Wasn't that just stacking yourselves together?

After transforming successfully, Wapol fired a cannonball directly at the Cherry Blossom Pirate Flag. Before it could hit its target, however, Zero blocked it with a slash, creating a brilliant burst of sparks in midair.

"Zero, thank you!"

After thanking Zero, Chopper shouted Wapol's name and charged at him, swinging his fist. At the same time, Dalton rushed up from behind, wrapped his arms around Wapol's back, and restrained him.

Just as Chopper was about to bring down his fist, he remembered what Dr. Hiriluk had told him before his death. He stopped his attack at once, only for Wapol to seize the chance to blast him away with a cannonball. Dalton behind him was also knocked flying by a punch and lay motionless!

Usopp and Vivi hurried over to check on him. Dalton had merely fainted from his severe injuries and was not in mortal danger, which finally put them at ease.

As for Chopper, who had been blasted away, he got back on his feet and fought the fused man, while Luffy blocked Wapol's path and faced him head-on!

"Rumble Ball!"

Chopper took out a yellow ball and bit it apart. He was actually able to perform seven transformations, unlike the usual three transformations of Zoan-type users. Luffy stared wide-eyed and repeatedly exclaimed how amazing it was.

But Luffy failed to notice Wapol quietly circling behind him, seemingly intending to enter the castle. Zero kicked him back like a ball, sending him headfirst into the snow once again.

"Luffy, pay attention. Your opponent almost got away just now..."

Zero complained to Luffy, then suddenly spotted a key on the ground. It seemed to have been dropped by Wapol earlier. He vaguely remembered that this key could open the door to a room inside the castle, so he picked it up and tucked it away in case it came in handy.

While Luffy tangled with Wapol again, Chopper had already defeated the fused man with Cherry Blossom Hoof, ending the battle simply and decisively!

"Baku Baku Factory!"

In the end, Wapol used his strongest move, eating his own body and turning into a thinner version of himself. He wanted to improve his mobility this way, or perhaps make it easier to escape. But against a Luffy who had become stronger than in the original story, all of his attacks were blocked by Luffy's Armament Haki Hardening, unable to harm him at all.

Finally, Luffy used Gum-Gum Rocket and sent Wapol flying into the sky. With Wapol's final defeat, the incident finally came to an end!

Afterward, the awakened Dalton knelt before everyone and thanked Luffy and the others for saving the country. But when he raised his head, Luffy was already chasing Chopper all over the mountains, hoping Chopper would become his companion.

Luffy: "Don't run! Join our crew!"

Chopper: "Stop chasing me—"

Dalton: "..."

Zero: "You'll get used to it. You'll get used to it..."

Before long, the villagers from the foot of the mountain also arrived. They carried Dalton into the castle, where Kureha began treating him.

When Kureha asked Dalton whether he had the key to the armory, Dalton shook his head and said no. But when he turned around, he saw Zero take out a key and ask whether it was this one. Dalton nodded in surprise, confirming that the key in Zero's hand was indeed the armory key.

When Kureha wanted to take the key from Zero, Nami, lying in bed, took the opportunity to set terms. She demanded that Kureha waive the fee for her treatment this time and let her leave.

At first, Kureha only agreed to waive the treatment fee and did not agree to the second condition. Yet before leaving, she mentioned that there were clothes in the cabinet and that no one would be watching if Nami escaped. Zero could not help sighing. Dr. Kureha was actually a kind and adorable person!

Outside the castle, Luffy kept shouting Chopper's name, hoping to invite him to become the pirate crew's ship doctor. In the end, Chopper could not resist coming out. He told Luffy that he was a monster, that he had a blue nose, and that he could not be with humans.

Luffy simply raised both hands and shouted, "You talk too much! Let's go!"

Chopper immediately burst into tears. Remembering how Dr. Hiriluk had told him to venture out to sea, he finally accepted Luffy's invitation and became a member of the Straw Hat Pirates!

At that moment, Roronoa Zoro suddenly walked up from a small path nearby. When he saw Luffy and the others, he looked surprised and, amid everyone's speechless expressions, said, "I only went for a swim. How did I end up here? By the way, why are you all here?"

Usopp: "Hey, hey, hey! You idiot, being lost to this extent is beyond saving!"

Roronoa Zoro: "What did you say?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Only Roronoa Zoro looked at them in confusion, having no idea what they were laughing about.

As they gathered outside the castle and waited for Chopper to say goodbye to Kureha, he suddenly appeared pulling a sled and urged everyone to climb aboard. He then carried them down the mountain at high speed.

But midway down the mountain, they saw a giant pink cherry blossom blooming atop Drum Mountain. They could not help stopping to admire the rare and breathtaking sight.

Chopper returned to his usual form and wept bitterly at the giant pink cherry blossom. He thought of Dr. Hiriluk and could not bear to part with Kureha, but he still had to say goodbye to them and head for the sea he had always dreamed of.

Everyone fell silent.

Unbeknownst to them, Nami at the back noticed that no one seemed to be paying attention to her, so she quietly rested her head on Zero's shoulder. Zero understood at once and wrapped an arm around Nami's waist, enjoying the brief warmth.