Watching Smoker and Haunter being carried away on stretchers, and then glancing at Nami and Pikachu, who were completely unharmed, the audience blinked in disbelief. The thunderstorm that had just filled the entire arena felt like something out of a dream.
A respected Navy Headquarters colonel, a powerful Logia user, had been defeated so easily?! It was clear now that they had seriously underestimated this girl from the beginning. For the first time, Nami's name was etched into the minds of powerful figures around the world.
"Hmph..."
Dragon, hidden among the spectators, smirked. Even he hadn't expected Nami or Pikachu to wield such power, easily defeating Smoker without bond evolution. But who wouldn't be pleased to see their subordinates grow stronger?
——
The battle was over.
The audience, still reeling from the intense match, settled back during the brief intermission. Little Eevee, looking as reluctant as ever, came onto the stage to clean the vast arena. Meanwhile, the Team Rockets trio announced the next match:
Ace vs. Gur Dede.
Truth be told, there was little suspense about the outcome; everyone knew who the victor would be. Gur Dede, though formidable and possessing a mighty Rhyperior with a level over 60 after bond evolution, was simply no match for Ace.
——
"I never imagined my opponent would be you, Ace-san," said Gur Dede, his golden hair fluttering in the gentle breeze, though a wry smile crossed his face. As a regular in the battle circuit, Gur Dede had watched Ace's battles countless times; Ace was a legend.
Ace grinned, his expression playful yet merciless. "Honestly, there aren't many players here you could beat."
"Uh..." Gur Dede was momentarily stunned but then laughed. "Straightforward as ever, Ace-san."
"It's fine," Gur Dede continued, his tone turning resolute. "For someone like me, just making it this far and standing before so many people is already worth it!"
As Meowth's voice announced the start of the match, Gur Dede donned a determined look, ready to face his fate.
"Come on out! Rhyperior!"
"Go! Charizard!"
With a flash of light, two fierce Pokémon took the stage, and Ace and Gur Dede simultaneously shouted, "Bond Evolution!" Charizard transformed into a sleek fighter-like form, while Rhyperior emerged more fortified than ever.
The battle commenced, and the arena was soon engulfed in flames. From within the fiery inferno came the thud of heavy blows and the occasional agonized roars of the bull-like Rhyperior. The outcome was never in doubt; Ace and Charizard dominated from start to finish, relentlessly driving Gur Dede and Rhyperior back.
In less than ten minutes, Gur Dede glanced at his battered Rhyperior and sighed, a wry smile on his face as he slowly raised his hands. "I surrender!"
Ding ding ding!
The familiar sound of the final bell rang out. Two Blisseys, with their short legs and cheerful expressions, quickly approached and effortlessly lifted the fainted Rhyperior onto a stretcher, carrying it swiftly to the medical room. Ace, Charizard, and Gur Dede, all unharmed, were left ignored.
After all, it was the defeated Rhyperior that required their attention.
Returning to the lounge, Gur Dede felt an unexpected sense of relief. At the very least, Ace had gone all out, showcasing his peak bond evolution during their battle. Compared to Smoker's embarrassing defeat earlier, Gur Dede's loss felt far more dignified.
——
Two fast-paced battles left the audience feeling as if they were watching preliminary matches; the combatants seemed worlds apart in strength. Yet, even the losers of these matches were powerful figures in the pirate world.
After another brief intermission, Meowth stepped up to the podium. "Alright, break time is over! I think everyone's excited to see the next competitors!"
"So let's give a warm welcome to the fourth match of the top 16 knockout round!"
"They are... Usopp and Kuro!!!"
With Meowth's announcement, cheers and applause erupted once more. Despite the rapid succession of intense battles, the audience was anything but bored. If anything, witnessing Pikachu's god-like power and Ace's physical prowess in battle had only heightened their excitement for the matches ahead.
Usopp and Kuro soon entered the arena. Kuro, dressed in his usual sharp black suit, held ten razor-sharp blades that moved with the agility of cat claws. Usopp, taking the occasion seriously, had swapped his usual suspenders for a bright red cloak that covered his upper body, adding a touch of mystery. In his hand was a massive slingshot shaped like the tentacles of a mythical beast, masking his true intentions.
As the two men locked eyes, their determination was palpable. This was a fateful clash that spanned time.
Unknown to most, had it not been for Leo's intervention, Kuro might have continued down the dark path of a villain, only to have his pride crushed by the seemingly foolish Luffy and Usopp. Now, with a twist of fate and the acquisition of Pokémon, Kuro found himself aligned with the revolutionary army.
As Meowth's voice rang out, "The battle begins," Usopp and Kuro wasted no time, releasing their Pokémon.
"Go, Decidueye!"
"Come forth, Liepard!"
Seeing each other's Pokémon, both Usopp and Kuro couldn't help but smile slightly. After a month of intense training, they weren't exactly strangers—they had a good understanding of each other's strengths and strategies.
In this arena, personal connections mean nothing.
Here, only strength speaks!
Without any hesitation, Usopp and Kuro shouted in unison:
"Bond Evolution! Decidueye (Liepard)!!!"
"Oh wow! Bond evolution again! This is incredible!"
The audience erupted in excitement as they watched Decidueye spread its wings and hover in mid-air like a ranger, while Liepard's limbs grew more slender, and its body became sleek and arrow-like with black colour like darkness. No matter how many times they had seen bond evolution, the crowd was always eager for the next display of power.
——
"Decidueye, use Feather Dance!"
Usopp quickly ordered Decidueye to disrupt the enemy. Feather Dance, a special Flying-type move, sent shimmering energy feathers toward Kuro's Pokémon, reducing their attack power.
Meanwhile, Usopp pulled three dark green rounds from his pocket and loaded them into his modified slingshot, dubbed the One-Horned Fairy.
"Special Move: Energy Star Combo!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three glowing green projectiles shot forward at lightning speed, exploding mid-air into a flurry of razor-sharp blades that rained down on Kuro and Liepard like flying knives.
However...
Seeing the barrage of leaves, Kuro smirked. His sly expression, combined with his refined demeanor, painted him as the quintessential schemer.
"There's no need for such boring tests, Mr. Usopp. Let's cut straight to the chase," Kuro sneered.
Those familiar with Usopp knew his magic ammunition Energen—was just a bullet that has been eliminated by Usopp, and is now being sold in the market of the Alabasta Kingdom. To Kuro, such basic ammo was hardly a threat.
"Paper Art: Cat Style!"
Kuro crouched low, mimicking a poised cat. Alongside Liepard, he weaved effortlessly between the flying leaves, dodging every single blade from Usopp's attack with graceful precision.
"What!? How is this possible!? Who could master Paper Art to this level?!"
Among the spectators, some Marines who were familiar with the Navy's Six Powers were stunned, struggling to understand how non-Marines had mastered their combat techniques.
But just as the audience marveled, Usopp grinned.
"Heh!"
He raised his head, his long nose pointing confidently skyward.
"Do you know what I'm best at, Mr. Kuro?"
Kuro, sensing something was off, hesitated, but before he could respond, Usopp's answer echoed through the arena:
"What I'm best at... is lying!!!"
Usopp laughed, shouting with pride:
"Usopp's Secret Technique – Spear Bamboo Forest!"
Swish, swish, swish!!!
Suddenly, a forest of bamboos shot up from the ground beneath Kuro's feet, each stalk tipped with spear-like points. In an instant, the section of the arena where Kuro stood transformed into a towering bamboo thicket.
"Hehehe!"
Usopp chuckled. "Didn't you notice? One of those three projectiles wasn't made of leaves; it was the seed of Spear Bamboo!"
Spear Bamboo, a unique plant Usopp had discovered in the primal forests of the Celestial Island, was known for its incredible hardness and rapid growth. With just a small infusion of Grass-type energy, the seed could sprout at bullet speed, its sharp tips ready to pierce any foe. Usopp had aptly named it Spear Bamboo.
But even after successfully landing his attack, Usopp remained cautious. Having studied Kuro extensively, he knew this battle wouldn't end so easily.
As expected.
A chilling voice suddenly broke the silence, echoing from within the bamboo forest. Kuro emerged, bloodied and with tattered clothes, but still standing.
Despite using Armament Haki to defend himself, the fast-growing bamboo had managed to scratch his skin. Thankfully, the injuries were superficial, not deep enough to hinder the rest of the battle. Behind him, Liepard remained completely unharmed, its bond evolution having pushed its power to level 52—far beyond the reach of an attack of this level.
Kuro adjusted his glasses, his expression sharpening.
"I truly underestimated you, Mr. Usopp," Kuro admitted, his voice calm but laced with a grudging respect. "But none of us here are pushovers."
With a sudden surge of energy, Kuro tensed his muscles and locked eyes with Usopp. "Let's give it our all!"
"Bring it on!" Usopp shot back, immediately retreating while positioning Decidueye in front as a shield.
Decidueye blinked, questioning its master's tactic, but remained steadfast. Just then, Kuro and Liepard shot forward like bolts of lightning, one to the left and the other to the right, closing in with terrifying speed.
Their blades and claws gleamed menacingly, promising a devastating strike.
But Decidueye, unfazed, let out a defiant cry, and its eyes lit up with emerald brilliance. With its bond evolution boosting its power to level 62, fear was no longer an option.
"Caw!!!"
Decidueye charged forward, shrouded in a radiant white light that enveloped it like a giant bird. This was Brave Bird, a powerful Flying-type move that guaranteed a hit but inflicted recoil damage upon the user—a move so risky that few dared to use it outside of desperate moments.
However, Decidueye had discovered something remarkable since its bond evolution with Usopp: a mysterious regenerative power that activated whenever it was injured, allowing it to heal at an astonishing rate. Usopp had experienced this phenomenon firsthand during their training, recovering quickly from countless bruises and scrapes.
The clever Decidueye had put the pieces together: this hidden ability might be linked to Usopp's unique bloodline, and it was determined to use it to their advantage.
If rapid healing was on their side, why not embrace the high-risk, high-reward strategy?
Thus, Decidueye's bold, relentless approach became their signature battle style—trading blow for blow, injury for injury, with no hesitation!