The air in Little Garden tasted of ancient dust and fresh blood. Vivi's hands trembled as she stared at the distant figures of the two giants, their century-long duel reaching its crescendo.
"They're here," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the thunderous clashes of Brogy's axe against Dorry's sword. "Baroque Works. They wouldn't just let us escape."
Luffy's eyes narrowed, his usual carefree expression replaced by something darker. "Someone messed with the rum."
"What?" Usopp's voice cracked. "The giants' sacred drink? Who would—"
A deafening roar cut him off. Dorry stumbled, his massive frame swaying unnaturally. Usopp's telescope nearly slipped from his hands as he focused on the giant's chest—a fresh, weeping wound where none should have been.
"He's hurt!" Usopp cried. "Before the fight even really started! That's not honorable!"
"Honor doesn't matter to cowards," Luffy growled, his fists clenching.
---
On the battlefield, Dorry fought valiantly despite the searing pain in his chest. Each swing of his sword was slightly slower, each step slightly heavier. Brogy noticed, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Your movements are sluggish, old friend!" Brogy roared, parrying another strike. "Are you holding back?"
"I would never!" Dorry bellowed back, sweat pouring down his face. "Something is—agh!"
His foot slipped on a patch of ground that shouldn't have been slippery. A strange, white substance gleamed beneath his sandal—wax, freshly formed and treacherous.
Dorry's balance vanished. For a single, eternal second, he was exposed.
Brogy's axe came down.
The impact echoed across the island like a mountain cracking. Dorry crashed to the earth, his sword slipping from his grasp, his eyes wide with shock more than pain.
"NO!" Luffy's scream tore through the jungle.
Brogy stared at his fallen rival, then at his own hands. "This… this isn't right. You were weakened." His voice trembled. "This victory is hollow."
"But a victory nonetheless," a smooth voice interjected.
Mr. 3 stepped from the shadows, adjusting his glasses with a slender finger. Miss Goldenweek followed, sipping tea as if watching a garden party.
"Who are you?" Brogy demanded, his grief turning to rage.
"A humble artist," Mr. 3 said, bowing slightly. "And your new master."
He snapped his fingers. "Candle Lock!"
Wax erupted from the ground, crawling up Brogy's legs with terrifying speed. The giant roared, trying to pull free, but the substance hardened instantly, trapping him in a gleaming prison.
"What is this trickery?" Brogy thundered, straining against the bonds.
"The trickery of the Doru Doru no Mi," Mr. 3 said smugly. "Now, hold still. I have a magnificent sculpture in mind—'The Defeated Giant.' It will make a fine centerpiece for Crocodile's collection."
---
"We have to help them!" Usopp yelled, already loading his slingshot.
Vivi grabbed his arm. "Wait! We need a plan. If Baroque Works is here, they'll have—"
"HELP! QUACK! HELP!"
Carue's desperate cries sliced through the jungle. Vivi's blood ran cold.
"Carue!" She broke into a sprint, Usopp close behind.
They burst into a clearing to find a nightmare. Mr. 5 stood over Carue's battered form, the duck's feathers matted with blood. Miss Valentine floated gently downward, landing beside him with a cruel smile.
"Princess Vivi," Mr. 5 said, nudging Carue with his boot. "Your pet is remarkably stubborn. Refused to call for you, even when we explained the alternative."
"You monsters!" Vivi's voice shook with rage.
Usopp aimed his slingshot, hands steady despite the terror in his eyes. "Was it you? Did you put the bomb in Dorry's rum?"
"Guilty as charged," Mr. 5 said, popping a booger into his mouth. "Though I must say, I don't recognize you. New recruit?"
"I'm the man who's going to stop you!" Usopp yelled. "Fire Star!"
The explosive pellet flew true—and detonated harmlessly against Mr. 5's chest.
"A valiant effort," Mr. 5 said, flicking a ball of mucus from his finger. "My turn."
"Usopp, dodge!" Vivi screamed.
Too late. The explosive mucus struck Usopp's shoulder, throwing him backward into a tree. Before he could rise, Miss Valentine leaped skyward.
"10,000 Kilo Press!"
She became a meteor of flesh and bone, slamming into Usopp with earth-shattering force. The sniper didn't even cry out—just went terrifyingly still.
"USOPP!" Vivi drew her peacock slashers, charging Mr. 5 with tears in her eyes. "I'll make you pay!"
Mr. 5 sighed, as if bored. He snapped his fingers.
The world became fire and noise.
Vivi flew backward, her weapons torn from her hands, her body screaming in protest. Before she could rise, a hand closed around her throat, lifting her off the ground.
"Don't struggle," Mr. 5 murmured, his breath smelling of gunpowder. "Mr. 3 wants you alive. Something about sending a message to your father."
Vivi choked, clawing at his hand. Her vision swam. In the distance, she could see Brogy trapped in wax, Dorry motionless on the ground, Usopp lying broken beneath Miss Valentine's heel.
And Luffy…
Where was Luffy?
"Let. Her. Go."
The voice was low. Deadly. It didn't sound like Luffy at all.
Mr. 5 turned, his grip tightening on Vivi's throat. "Ah, the captain. I was wondering when you'd—"
He never finished.
Luffy moved faster than any of them had ever seen. His fist, stretched back impossibly far, was already a blur of motion. But it wasn't aimed at Mr. 5.
It shot past him, past Miss Valentine, past the trapped giants—toward the distant figure of Mr. 3, who was calmly preparing another wax trap.
"Gomu Gomu no…"
The air itself seemed to hold its breath.
"PISTOL!"
The punch connected. Mr. 3's glasses shattered. He flew backward, crashing through three trees before skidding to a stop.
For a heartbeat, everything was still.
Then Mr. 3 stood up. Brushed off his suit. And smiled, his face already swelling from the blow.
"Interesting," he said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "But you've made a fatal mistake, Straw Hat."
He raised both hands. All around them, the jungle began to gleam with freshly formed wax—walls, spikes, cages sprouting from the earth like a nightmare garden.
"You see," Mr. 3 continued, "while you were focused on me, my partner completed her masterpiece."
Miss Goldenweek held up a canvas. On it, in vibrant, hypnotic colors, was a perfect painting of Luffy—frozen mid-charge, his expression one of pure rage.
And as Vivi watched in horror, Luffy's body began to stiffen, his movements slowing, his rage turning to confusion as the same colors from the painting seeped into his skin…
...paralyzing him completely.
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