Chapter 52

"So the pirates are finally here. Seriously, where the hell did Zoro run off to?"

"Wasn't he just supposed to prep some equipment? Why isn't he back yet?!"

Nami pulled several magic cards from the pouch on her waist, her gaze alert on the oncoming pirates as she complained about Zoro's absence.

"Shishishi, it's okay! With you, Usopp, and me here, we can hold them off."

Luffy cracked his knuckles eagerly, eyes fixed on the incoming enemies.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't lump me in with you two! You guys are the real fighters here!"

Usopp's legs were trembling, his heartbeat thudding louder and louder in his chest.

That said, when he saw the pirates raising their weapons and charging up the slope with battle cries, he still mustered his courage.

Raising his slingshot, Usopp launched one of the explosive arrows Genrou had given him earlier.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion echoed across the area. The pirate at the front was instantly blown away, and the rest, who had been howling with excitement, fell into stunned silence.

They turned toward the blast, only to see that a massive boulder had come crashing down due to the explosion.

Several pirates nearby were instantly crushed beneath the falling stone—none of them able to rise again.

"Who did that?!"

Jango's eyes narrowed sharply as he scanned the surroundings. It didn't take long for him to spot Usopp hiding behind a nearby rock, just dozens of meters away.

Usopp was still frozen in his shooting posture, completely stunned.

"A-Amazing… This explosive arrow's that strong?"

Usopp muttered in disbelief.

Even he hadn't expected the arrow to be that powerful.

"Genrou told you before, didn't he? These explosive arrows were already pretty strong."

"And after he modified them, their power jumped to a whole new level."

"Unfortunately, due to a lack of materials, he only has a few of them."

Nami explained.

Just then, two boomerangs sliced through the air, flying toward Nami and Usopp.

Sensing the shift in the air, Nami casually drew a basic magic card and deflected the boomerang headed for her.

Usopp, on the other hand, narrowly avoided his own by diving to the ground at the last second.

"It's you, long nose!"

Jango caught his returning boomerangs and looked at the dirt-covered Usopp with a frown.

He recognized Usopp. Back when Usopp had seen him speaking with Kuro, he had advised Kuro to get rid of the boy.

But Kuro, saying Usopp was harmless, had let him go.

Jango didn't expect this boy—deemed unworthy of attention—would now stand in their way… and take out several pirates with a single attack.

"That's right! It's me—the great Captain Usopp!"

Usopp stood with one hand on his hip and the other pointed angrily at Jango.

"You creepy weirdo! How dare you lie to me! I even gave you directions!"

"Listen up—I've got eight thousand men under my command! If you leave now, I'll let you off easy."

"But if not… don't blame me for what comes next!"

At those words, a stir broke out among the Black Cat Pirates.

Some clearly believed him.

"Calm down! That long-nosed guy is just a lying coward. Everything he says is fake."

"Have you already forgotten how terrifying Captain Kuro is?"

"If we're late, he might kill all of us!"

Jango's words quickly sobered the group.

"You damn liar! I'll slice you up!"

A hot-headed pirate charged at Usopp, brandishing a longsword.

Panicking, Usopp reached for another explosive arrow.

But in his panic, it slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the charging pirates grinned wickedly.

Not far off, Nami sighed and prepared to intervene.

At the same time, Luffy had already started stretching out his rubber arm, ready to assist Usopp.

But then—

Dum-dum!

Dum-dum!

"Huh? What's that?"

"What's that sound?"

"Weird… why do I feel suddenly afraid?"

The pirates charging Usopp came to a dead halt, looking around in confusion.

Very quickly, they realized—the sound wasn't coming from somewhere else.

It was coming from Usopp, who now stood before them with his head lowered.

Even Luffy and Nami, already moving into action, stopped and looked on with interest.

Usopp stood there, head bowed, emanating a dark, oppressive aura.

"It's starting,"

Luffy and Nami said with amused smiles.

(End of Chapter)

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