Chapitre 126: "Icy Fates and Fiery Resolve"
The Going Merry drifted across the tranquil sea as the Straw Hat Pirates took a moment to catch their breath after the events at Skypiea. Each member immersed themselves in their respective training routines. Luffy and Zoro sparred furiously on the Storage room, while Sanji's kicks cut through the air with precision. Raja watched his crew, quietly impressed with their progress, his mind focused on one goal: ensuring they grew strong enough for the challenges ahead.
Their peace was soon shattered by troubling news reaching Mock Town.
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of Mock Town, the infamous pirate Donquixote Doflamingo lounged in a shadowed corner, a smirk curling his lips. Before him stood Bellamy, battered and trembling, flanked by his subordinate, Sarquiss. Bellamy's previous defeat at Luffy's hands had tarnished Doflamingo's name. He chuckled as he used his strings to manipulate Sarquiss like a puppet, forcing him to raise his sword.
"Bellamy," Doflamingo sneered, his voice cold and condescending. "The era you believed in is dead."
Without a word, Sarquiss slashed Bellamy, the blade grazing him deeply, a brutal reminder of his captain's displeasure. Bellamy's pained cries echoed through the streets of Mock Town as Doflamingo cast him aside, deeming his crew "obsolete." The chilling scene served as a reminder of the power lurking within the shadows of the Grand Line.
As the Straw Hat Pirates continued their journey, a peculiar sight caught their attention: a ship sailing without a captain, drifting aimlessly. The ship was barely afloat, its sails tattered, and seemed abandoned. Nami squinted, noticing it heading toward a massive wave.
"Look! That ship is about to be wrecked," Usopp cried, peering through his telescope. The crew watched as the vessel climbed the enormous wave, only to vanish from sight as the wave collapsed over it, obliterating it instantly.
"That was… weird," Zoro muttered, turning back to his training. Yet, the strange sight left an eerie feeling hanging over the crew, like a silent warning of what awaited them.
After hours at sea, they finally sighted land—an expansive island known as Long Ring Long Land. The landscape stretched wide, with vast grassy plains and a surprising sight: elongated animals grazing peacefully.
"This island is plain," Sanji said, unimpressed as he looked around.
But Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper's eyes sparkled with excitement as they bolted off to explore, their laughter echoing across the field.
The trio's exploration led them to two extraordinarily tall bamboos. Luffy, being Luffy, yanked one of them out of sheer curiosity. To his surprise, an old man, Tonjit, fell from the top, landing in the grass with a groan.
After a brief introduction, Tonjit explained his curious situation. He had spent ten years atop the world's tallest stilts, unable to descend due to fear. His unique outlook, a product of years spent above the island's serene plains, seemed to mirror the gentle, elongated nature of the island itself.
Their peaceful exploration was interrupted as the Going Merry was suddenly seized by another ship—the Foxy Pirates had arrived. Their flamboyant captain, Foxy, strutted forward, his grin full of mischief as he issued a challenge to Luffy: a Davy Back Fight.
"A Davy Back Fight?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion, but his competitive spirit was instantly ignited.
Nami's protests were drowned out as Foxy explained the rules—a best-of-three contest where the winner could claim crew members from the opposing team. With Foxy's trickery, Luffy found himself locked into the game, his pride demanding victory.
The first round, the Donut Race, had the Straw Hats sprinting and maneuvering through obstacles, their teamwork strained as Foxy's crew tried every trick in the book. Despite Foxy's underhanded tactics, the Straw Hats powered through, claiming victory.
The second round, Groggy Ring, was a chaotic melee, with Sanji and Zoro reluctantly pairing up. Their combined attacks overwhelmed the Foxy Pirates' top players, securing another win for the Straw Hats.
Finally, in the Combat round, Luffy faced Foxy himself. Through sheer willpower and resilience, Luffy managed to outwit Foxy's slow-motion Noro Noro Beam, winning the contest. Cheers erupted as they reclaimed their ship and crew, triumphant and united.
In high spirits after their victory, the crew ventured into the jungle of Long Ring Long Land to gather medicinal herbs for Chopper's stock. While foraging, they came across a peculiar bicycle track that wound through the forest.
"It's like someone rode a bike right through here," Chopper said, puzzled.
They followed the track to a clearing where a tall mushroom grew on a rock. Chopper began investigating when something struck him from behind, knocking him over. The crew's eyes widened as a towering figure stepped out from behind the rock.
Admiral Aokiji, one of the Marines' strongest, stood before them, a calm smile on his face. Robin froze, her face turning pale as memories of Aokiji flooded her mind.
Aokiji greeted the crew nonchalantly, commenting on Robin's appearance and teasingly calling Nami a "super-babe." Though he seemed relaxed, his presence radiated danger.
Luffy stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want with Robin?"
Aokiji explained that he wasn't there to arrest them but merely to observe. However, he hinted that Robin's presence with the crew posed a significant threat to the World Government. He shared her history of betrayal and manipulation, a past filled with escape from allies who had abandoned her.
Angered, Robin retaliated, summoning arms to strike him. But as her fists connected, Aokiji's form shattered into shards of ice. He quickly reformed, chuckling as he drew an ice saber and lunged at her.
Sanji and Zoro jumped to Robin's defense, their combined attacks clashing against Aokiji's frozen blade. Luffy, his fists blazing with determination, charged forward, but Aokiji simply raised a hand and began freezing him in place.
Raja stepped in, his eyes serious as he issued a command to Usopp and Chopper, "Take Robin and Nami back to the ship. Now!"
With a reluctant nod, they hoisted the women and rushed to the ship, leaving Raja to face Aokiji with Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.
Raja addressed the crew, "You're facing the Navy's highest combat power. Experience what it takes to fight at this level. Aokiji… Let's dance."
The crew sharpened their focus, closing their eyes for a brief moment before opening them with renewed intensity. Their breathing changed, each inhalation like the calm before a storm. Aokiji's smirk turned to surprise as they attacked in unison.
Sanji struck first, his Inferno Gale Breathing igniting his kicks as he delivered a whirlwind of flames that shattered Aokiji's ice form. Before Aokiji could reform, Zoro stepped in, unleashing a flying slash powered by his Asura Breathing, sending another shockwave through the ice.
Raja followed, casting a powerful Magic-Magic Gravity Pull. Aokiji's body was pinned to the ground, unable to move. Luffy seized the moment, charging with his most powerful sun breathing punch , Gomu Gomu no Sun Cannon, his fist ignited with blazing heat. The punch connected, causing Aokiji to bleed as flames licked across his frozen form.
Aokiji staggered back, a smirk forming on his bloodied lips. "Not bad… but you're out of your league."
Aokiji's expression hardened. In an instant, he unleashed a freezing blast, encasing Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji in ice, immobilizing them. He turned to Raja, ready to do the same. However, before he could act, Aokiji sensed a faint sound—a hissing hum in the distance. His Observation Haki flared, but it was too late.
A powerful incendiary bomb exploded around him, trapping him in an earthen barrier Raja had conjured. Usopp, from the ship a kilometer away, had launched the shot with perfect timing.
Raja swiftly gathered his frozen crewmates, laying them in a circle. He raised a handkerchief, enchanted with a complex spell, into the air. As it expanded, draping over the crew, Aokiji used Soru to break free from the blast and raced toward them. But the cloth fell, and in a flash, Raja and the crew disappeared, leaving Aokiji clutching the cloth, intrigued and impressed.
Back on the Going Merry, Raja used his magic to unfreeze his crewmates. As the ship's sails filled with a gust from his Wind Blast, they sped away, leaving Aokiji to freeze the sea behind them in frustration.
For four days, the crew rested on a nearby island, recovering from the encounter. Luffy laughed off his freezing experience, while Sanji whipped up potato paille to lift their spirits. Robin, though shaken, expressed her gratitude to the crew, her resolve stronger than ever.
With the Straw Hats back on their feet, they set sail once more, determined to face whatever dangers lay ahead, for the journey to achieve their dreams had only just begun.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
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