Each Had Their Gains

"Was there no mission prompt?"

Zero glanced at the beast and man across from him, and could only sigh at how long and arduous his path to leveling up truly was!

"Kid, your luck is really terrible! Hahahaha! You ran into me! Even if you were lucky enough to survive the Buggy Ball..."

What a chatterbox!

Zero's gaze hardened as Conqueror's Haki erupted instantly, crashing down upon the beast tamer Mohji. Mohji's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious on the spot!

As for the beast beneath him, seeing Mohji defeated so quickly scared it out of its wits. The moment Zero looked its way, it stood upright on two legs, hoisted its master over its shoulders, and fled. Its swift movements left Zero speechless.

Character: Zero

Title: Enemy of Ten Thousand

Level: LV.3 (0/400)

Strength: 40

Stamina: 40

Agility: 40

Skills: Conqueror's Haki LV3 (Max Level), Armament Haki LV2, Observation Haki LV2, Martial Arts LV4, Swordsmanship LV4.

These were Zero's current attributes. Compared to when he had first arrived, his stats had multiplied several times over. His skills had also undergone a substantial increase in power. That was why, despite only being LV.3, he could knock Mohji unconscious. The Zero who had just arrived would have been completely incapable of doing that!

Of course, there was another reason he had defeated him so easily: Mohji's combat strength was mainly concentrated in the beast he had trained. Mohji himself was not particularly strong, barely better than an ordinary pirate grunt.

"Gum-Gum..."

Elsewhere, Luffy's battle with Buggy the Clown had already reached a stalemate.

Fortunately, Zero had given Luffy some advance warning and told him about Buggy the Clown's Devil Fruit ability. Because of that, Luffy had not fallen into a disadvantage in this battle. In fact, he was even beginning to push Buggy back!

Roronoa Zoro's battle with Cabaji the One-Wheel Swordsman was much simpler.

Rather than a battle, it was more like Zoro was digesting the sword techniques Zero had demonstrated earlier. No matter what tricks Cabaji used, he could not harm Zoro in the slightest.

Come to think of it, Zero remembered that Zoro had been injured by Buggy's sneak attack. Although he had ultimately won against Cabaji the One-Wheel Swordsman, it had been an extremely difficult fight. Yet in this battle, Zoro had kept Cabaji completely suppressed!

Zero's gaze shifted again before settling on a beautiful figure with orange hair ahead.

"Die, you traitor!"

"Hehehe, brothers, go easy on her. She's such a young beauty. We should enjoy her properly before letting her die, or it would be such a waste! Hahahaha!"

"That makes sense! Hahaha, I want a taste too!"

"..."

Watching more than a dozen vicious-looking pirates surround her from every direction, Nami's expression grew grave. She tightened her grip on her staff, prepared to fight them to the death!

If Nami were given another chance to choose, she would definitely still step in!

After all, she was not a pirate with a rotten nature.

Moreover, after seeing Zero willingly use his body to block the Buggy Ball in order to save Luffy, something within her had been stirred. Nami did not regret her choice!

Clang!

After dodging several attacks and blocking the swords of several pirates at once, Nami's arms trembled slightly. Still, she swung her long staff and knocked several pirates back.

At the same time, the intense exertion made her breathing grow rapid. Her full chest rose and fell rhythmically with every breath, tightly drawing the gazes of the pirates before her.

"Brothers, she can't hold on much longer! Finish her!"

"Awwooo! Awwooo! Hahahaha!"

"..."

After dodging several more slashes, Nami stumbled and fell to the ground. Finally driven into a corner by the pirates before her, she thought she was about to die there when the vicious pirates suddenly rolled their eyes back one after another and collapsed in a heap.

"Huh?"

Nami froze, unable to understand what was happening before her. It was not until she felt herself being lifted by a powerful arm that she came back to her senses.

"Zero!"

"Are you all right?"

Looking at the face she had found somewhat annoying before, Nami suddenly felt at ease. But the next moment, she noticed Zero staring straight at her chest—

"Zero, what are you looking at?!"

"Sorry..."

"Zero, you really are..."

Though she was somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, Nami ultimately did not do anything to Zero. Whether because he had just saved her or because he had risked himself to save Luffy earlier, she no longer rejected Zero as much as before. She could still tolerate a few unintentional offenses.

At that moment, Nami asked Zero curiously, "By the way, Zero, shouldn't you go help Luffy?"

Zero replied, "Well, Buggy may be strong, but I believe Luffy can defeat him. Otherwise, how would he be qualified to be our captain?"

There was another reason Zero did not mention. If Luffy wanted to become the Pirate King, he would surely have to undergo countless battles and continuously grow stronger through them. Otherwise, this entire adventure would be nothing but empty talk.

So from Zero's perspective, he would not interfere too much in Luffy's battles. Unless the time came when he absolutely had to act, Zero would certainly not stand by and do nothing!

By then, Luffy and Buggy's battle had entered its final stages.

Without Nami's help, Luffy had still come up with a method. He used his rubber ability to turn his fingers into a huge fishing net, wrapped up the parts of Buggy's body that had split apart, and hurled them far away. Finally, he used a Gum-Gum Rocket to send Buggy's remaining body flying!

Zoro and Cabaji's battle also ended just then. Seeing the smile on Zoro's face as he returned, it seemed this battle had brought him considerable gains as well!

Thus, the Straw Hat Pirates VS the Buggy Pirates ended in a complete victory for the Straw Hat crew!

After the battle, Luffy invited Nami to join them. At first, Nami refused to become a pirate's companion, but for some reason, she glanced at Zero. In the end, she joined the Straw Hat Pirates under the pretense of cooperating with them. As for whether Luffy had actually listened to that part about cooperation, that was another matter.

A little later, they discovered that the townspeople had all rushed over, each carrying a weapon and intending to attack them. It turned out the townspeople had mistaken them for Buggy's crew, so the group hurriedly fled.

Once aboard the ship, Nami was about to take out the treasure they had obtained from Buggy's headquarters and count it, only to discover that Luffy had left it behind for the townspeople. Furious, she gave Luffy a thorough beating. The miserable sight made Zoro and Zero burst into laughter.

"How could you do something like that?! Go get it back!"

"Stop! I can't swim! I'll die! Aaaah!"

"Then die once!"

"Hahahahaha..."