Capítulo 98: Climbing The Cliff, Zoro Never Gives Up
The big rabbit, Labang, as strong as a white bear, was stunned by Arias's Conqueror's Haki, causing them all to faint and collapse to the ground.
Hiyori asked, "Brother Ye, aren't these the monsters you mentioned?"
Arias shook his head. "What are these? I'm looking for a reindeer that can transform into a human!"
"Can it really become human?" Everyone was excited for a moment and then thought of Salome.
Carina was the first to ask, "Master Arias, did you eat a Devil Fruit like Sister Salome?"
Even Salome strained her ears to hear the answer.
Arias looked sideways at her, impressed by her sharpness. "Yes, and after I catch it, I'll make it your pet."
The group successfully arrived at the foot of a towering cliff, staring up at its 5,000-meter height.
"If you want to reach Cigu City, this isn't the only way," Arias said, but his trip wasn't just about finding Chopper.
He turned to Zoro and Sanji, saying, "This cliff is your training ground. If you can successfully climb to the top, I'll reward you!"
"A cliff this high? No way!" Little Sanji was astonished, feeling a wave of hesitation.
But Zoro, never one to back down from a challenge, immediately agreed. "No problem! It's just a cliff!"
Seeing Zoro's determination, Sanji couldn't admit defeat and shouted, "I can do it too!"
Arias didn't make them climb with bare hands; he handed each of them a mountaineering pick.
"Brother Ye, where are we?" Hiyori asked.
Arias glanced at her, realizing he'd almost forgotten about her. He handed her a pickaxe as well. "You, Kuina, and these two will climb together."
But Hiyori, who had been trained by Arias longer and was older, wasn't about to admit defeat. She exchanged a determined look with Kuina, and together they struck the cliff with their climbing picks, beginning the ascent.
Then, eight flying knives flew out of Arias's bag, landing at his, Hancock's, Yamato's, and Salome's feet.
"Let's go up on the flying knives," Arias said.
The young climbers looked up with a mix of envy and determination, while Yamato exclaimed excitedly, "I'm climbing with them! And I don't need a pickaxe!"
Arias shrugged, letting her do as she pleased. Besides, Yamato could ensure the safety of the younger ones.
Lifting Usopp with one hand and holding Nami with the other, he stepped onto two of the flying knives. Salome picked up Carina and Nokigao, and they too stepped onto the flying knives.
Hancock, unburdened, followed closely behind.
In no time, the three reached the top of the cliff, placing the young ones on the ground. They then flew back down to follow the climbers.
Yamato led the way, jumping up the cliff like a big monkey. Her mastery of ice and her formidable strength made the climb a breeze.
Kuina, empowered by the Devil Fruit, followed closely behind, surpassing Hiyori, who had trained in Qi.
Hiyori, Zoro, and Sanji trailed behind. Hiyori used Qi to shield herself from the cold as she climbed, a faint scar visible beneath her collar—a reminder of her battles with pirates. The once-pampered princess was steadily becoming a formidable warrior.
Zoro, stubborn as ever, refused to give up, even as exhaustion and cold threatened to overwhelm him. Gritting his teeth, he kept his eyes on the distant summit, pressing on relentlessly.
At the back was Sanji. He had never been fond of fighting, and his physique lagged behind Zoro's. But Arias knew that a latent power, the genetically modified bloodline factor, lay dormant within him. Once activated, it would transform him completely. Although in the original series, this power was unlocked with the battle suit, Arias believed it could be awakened without it.
Yamato was the first to reach the summit. A day later, Kuina and Hiyori arrived, collapsing onto the ground, gasping for air. Their bodies ached, and they were chilled to the bone, but the sense of accomplishment warmed them.
Zoro and Sanji were almost delirious but refused to surrender. Late into the night, Sanji, utterly exhausted, lost his grip and plummeted from the cliff.
Arias swiftly caught him mid-air. "I'm sorry, Brother Arias... I can't go on," Sanji murmured, feeling ashamed. He had tried his best, but it wasn't enough.
"It doesn't matter. You've done well," Arias reassured him, placing him gently at the summit before returning to Zoro.
Zoro, barely conscious, still refused to quit. "No, I can still do it!"
Arias stayed by his side as Zoro struggled up the cliff, nearly falling several times but catching himself just in time. His hands were bruised, and the blood froze as it seeped from his wounds, yet he persisted, his spirit unbroken.
"Focus on your breathing," a vague voice echoed in Zoro's mind, guiding him as his Qi circulated through his body, slowly mending his exhaustion.
Arias watched in amazement. Truly, Zoro was deserving of being the second lead—a man of incredible will.
Another day passed, and a delirious Zoro finally reached the summit. He collapsed the moment he touched solid ground.
Sanji, having eaten and recovered, watched with a mixture of admiration and frustration. He had to admit, this green-haired swordsman had far greater perseverance than he did.
"Let's rest here for a day and wait for Zoro to wake up," Arias declared.
They set up tents: Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp in one; Kalika, Nokigao, and Nami in another; Yamato, Hiyori, and Salome in a third; and Arias and Hancock shared the last.
That night, as Arias slept, his ears suddenly twitched. He woke up, gently removed Hancock's arm from around him, and stepped out of the tent.
Not far away, the snow-covered forest glistened under the moonlight.
Among the trees, a pair of black eyes watched him. The eyes belonged to a hairy, savage-like creature. Seeing Arias emerge from the tent, the creature quickly pulled its head back, leaving only its body visible.
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