While Zoro and Sanji were dealing with Mr. 3, Nami and Usopp also encountered two people they didn't want to meet.
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine!
The four of them stood face to face, their faces displaying expressions that made it impossible to discern their thoughts.
"How did we run into them? What should we do?" Nami gestured to Usopp with her eyes.
"You're asking me? Who should I ask?" Usopp replied with a look of understanding.
Even though they've been training these past few days, especially Usopp, who is arguably the hardest working of them all.
but...
Effort doesn't necessarily equate to ability.
Even though their strength has improved, their cowardly nature, accumulated over so long, still deeply affects them.
For a moment, the two of them froze on the spot, unsure of what to do.
While the two of them were troubled, little did they know that Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.
They had just witnessed Xia Chen fighting the two giants as well.
As outstanding members of Baroque Works, they made the same decision as Mr. 3.
Run away!
It just goes to show that birds of a feather flock together!
Even as they fled, they were thankful that it wasn't Xia Chen who had fought them at Whiskey Peak last time; otherwise, would they have survived?
But as they continued running, they were forced to receive both good news and bad news.
Bad news: We've run into the Straw Hat Pirates!
Good news: There's no bounty on these two; they look like two weaklings. It's a two-on-two situation, so the advantage lies with them!
"Since that's the case..."
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, then instantly turned around, wanting to take down the two of them.
But what they saw were two small ammunition pouches flying towards them.
Instinctively, they fired at the two munitions.
The ammunition exploded the instant it hit the target. For Mr. 5, this was no problem at all, since he had eaten the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. But for Miss Valentine, it wasn't so kind.
It blew her up completely, leaving her covered in soot and dirt.
"Asshole!"
Mr. 5 cleared the smoke from the explosion, and as soon as his vision returned, he saw a giant hammer looming large in front of him. Meanwhile, on Miss Valentine, Nami was also wielding a stick and lashing it out at her.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Both of them were sent flying backward at the same time, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Damn it!"
"I must kill them!"
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine were both furious, but before they could even get up, two more ammunition packs flew towards them, while Usopp's voice rang out from nearby.
" Hot Sauce Star!"
Upon hearing this, the two immediately sensed that something bad was about to happen and struggled to stand up, but it was already too late.
Two Hot Sauce Star hit them squarely in the face.
Instantly, a searing pain shot through their faces, so intense it felt like their skin was about to fester. They rolled around on the ground in agony.
Usopp and Nami, of course, wouldn't let such a good opportunity pass them by.
Strike while the iron is hot and kill him!
This is the sentence Xia Chen said to them most often during battles.
The two men rushed up to them, wielding hammers and sticks like street thugs, and started hitting them wildly!
At this moment, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, who had been beaten, felt extremely aggrieved. They felt that they hadn't even had a chance to use their skills, and they were in this situation for no reason.
The problem was that they were too weak to resist. Under Usopp and Nami's relentless onslaught, they felt their consciousness slowly fading away.
In the instant I lost consciousness, only one thought occupied my mind.
"I'm not reconciled!!!"
Usopp and Nami's attacks did not stop when they fainted; they continued to attack relentlessly until they were both somewhat exhausted.
"Huff... huff... they shouldn't be able to get up now, right?" Usopp asked, plopping down on the ground, panting heavily.
Nami, who was standing next to her, was equally exhausted and answered intermittently, "Judging from their condition... they probably won't be able to get up!"
At this moment, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine were extremely swollen all over, covered in bruises, especially their faces, which were completely unrecognizable.
The two of them rested on the spot.
After a while~
"Hahaha..."
Usopp's sudden burst of laughter startled Nami, who retorted irritably:
" Usopp, what are you doing?"
"I suddenly realized that these enemies who seemed so strong before weren't actually as strong as we thought!"
"Like this time, we defeated someone we previously thought we could never beat."
After saying that, Usopp clenched his fist, and after a few seconds spoke again, "Through this battle, I can clearly feel my strength has improved!"
"Not only in terms of physical health, but also in terms of mental health."
"I now... have the courage to challenge what seems to be an invincible enemy!"
"I will become braver and braver, and one day I will become a courageous sea warrior!!!"
When he said this, Usopp stood up and shouted.
Nami stared blankly at this scene for a long time before finally saying, "You definitely will!"
They then stood up and continued walking towards their original destination.
"Let's go see what's happening over there. The battle fluctuations haven't stopped yet!"
Let's rewind to the moment when Xia Chen had just sent Dorry and Brogy flying.
Seeing the two of them stand up again, Xia Chen chuckled and said, "How about letting me feel some pressure, you two?"
Dorry and Brogy were both taken aback by these words, then Brogy sneered, "Kid, you're pretty arrogant, aren't you?"
"I'm only 16, uncle! How can I not be arrogant?" Xia Chen grinned, showing off his big white teeth.
"16 years old? That's so young? That's less than a fraction of our age!"
"That's just how it is, so you know, right? If we lose too badly, it won't look good later!"
Dorry raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"You mean we're both destined to lose, it's just a matter of how badly we lose?"
"That's right!" Xia Chen replied calmly.
"Interesting! Since you're so confident, why don't you give it a try!"
After saying that, Dorry and Brogy attacked Xia Chen at the same time. Due to their size advantage, the two arrived in front of Xia Chen in a very short time.
An axe and a sword swung down at Xia Chen simultaneously...