At the castle's mountaintop gate, Chopper appeared from the shadows, carrying his little backpack.
Seeing him, Luffy immediately jumped up from the snow, smiling as he called out:
"Are you all ready?"
Chopper, whose emotions had been complicated just moments ago, suddenly brightened at Luffy's question and nodded vigorously:
"Yeah!"
"Haha…"
Luffy placed a hand gently on Chopper's hat and called loudly to the resting crew in the distance:
"Then, for the sake of time, Chopper's welcome party will be held aboard the Going Merry!!!"
"Now, get everything ready!"
"We… are leaving!!!"
"Yeah!!!"
Everyone cheered in unison, genuinely happy for Chopper's joining.
Under the banner of the Starry Sky, the family grew richer, stronger, and more vibrant.
"Let's go, everyone!
We're heading down the mountain!"
Luffy bent down and scooped Chopper up in his arms, ignoring the little reindeer's bewildered expression, and strode toward the cliff path below.
"Eh, wait, Luffy… the cable car isn't this way."
Chopper, trapped in Luffy's arms, immediately spoke up to warn him.
But Luffy, seemingly oblivious, continued laughing broadly as he approached the cliff.
Usopp, as if he had foreseen something, broke into a cold sweat on his forehead.
"Glug!"
Startled, Usopp stammered in fear:
"Hey, hey!
Luffy, you're not…."
"Not what?"
With only half a foot planted at the edge, Luffy faced away from the dizzying heights, smiling back at Usopp.
Before Usopp could react further, Luffy's body leaned sharply backward.
"Hahahahaha…"
"Friends, no time to waste, let's go!"
"Aaaaahhhh!!!!"
Chopper, held tightly and unable to move, screamed in sheer terror at the sudden high-altitude bungee jump.
Zoro immediately laughed and remarked:
"Oh~ this does make things faster!"
"Hey, Zoro! Are you seriously following Luffy into this madness?"
Usopp reached to pull Zoro back.
But Zoro ignored him completely, stepping calmly off the cliff and following Luffy's lead.
"Let's go, Brook…"
"All right, Sanji."
"Hey, you guys too… Kobi, let's take the cable car ourselves…"
"Stop hesitating, Usopp!
Come on, Vivi, grab my hand!"
Nami smiled at Usopp, then took Vivi's nervous hand, heading toward the cliff edge.
"I want to hold on too!!!"
Shivering, Usopp lunged at Nami, trying to grab her other hand.
"Get off me!"
Poof…
Playful Nami sidestepped him effortlessly, then kicked him squarely on the butt, sending him tumbling off the cliff.
"Aaaaahhh!"
"Hahaha!"
Nami laughed heartily. She had no worry for Usopp, she knew his strength well.
Even if the mountain were two or three times higher, Usopp's stamina would be more than enough.
At the cliff's edge, Nami turned and waved:
"Robin, Merry, and Kobi.
We… are off!"
"Mm."
"Hehe!"
"Wait for me, Nami!"
…
…
At the base of the mountains of the Drum Kingdom,
Boom!!!
One massive explosion after another rocked the area, shaking the snow layers above.
Luckily, Luffy and the others had already dislodged the loose snow with their reckless antics, preventing a secondary avalanche.
"Damn it, Nami!!!"
Usopp, having just climbed back to solid ground, shook his fist in anger, glaring at her.
But…
"What's the matter!?"
Nami's voice suddenly became magnificent, her eyes shining bright blue like sapphires.
Her raised dragon-like pupils radiated power, and she lunged at Usopp with overwhelming force.
"N-nothing…"
Intimidated by the dragon aura, Usopp forced a nervous smile and stepped back.
"Hahahaha!"
Usopp's antics drew laughter from everyone, except for Chopper, who was still terrified.
…
…
Chopper's eyes were wide, but lifeless, dull.
Tears had left streaks on his fur, clearly visible on either side of his face.
His tongue lolled helplessly out, as if he had fainted.
"Chopper! Chopper!"
Luffy lifted the limp little reindeer high and shook him vigorously, like a toy.
"Uh… uh…"
Chopper's consciousness slowly returned as his eyes regained a faint glow.
His body instantly expanded!
"Awooo!!!"
Still dazed from the high fall, Chopper transformed into his muscular form, letting out a roar to steady himself.
Seeing this, Luffy stepped forward to reassure him:
"Alright, alright, Chopper, we're on flat ground now!"
"Huh?"
Guided by Luffy, Chopper slowly recovered and surveyed the area, then suddenly transformed back into his small, adorable form.
"Wow!!! Amazing!!!"
Usopp, Kobi, and Merry immediately crowded around, eyes sparkling, thrilled at Chopper's abilities.
"What was that just now? A transformation!?"
"You can transform? That's incredible!!"
"Baka!
I'm a reindeer, not a raccoon!!
Even if you praise me like that, I won't feel happy!!!"
Surrounded by their expectant gazes, Chopper twisted his body shyly like a writhing snake.
He completely forgot the earlier terror.
Truly, Chopper was a little bundle of nerves… and charm.
…
…
Back at the mountaintop where Luffy and the others had been,
Dr. Kureha carried a large bottle of rum, walking casually to the cliff edge and sitting down.
She gazed at the enormous full moon rising in the sky, listening to the chaotic sounds from below.
"Monkey D. Luffy, huh?"
Glug, glug…
The rum disappeared quickly from her bottle.
"A person with the 'D' in their name… they never fail their companions…"
"Chopper, you're lucky indeed…"
Dr. Kureha's mysterious past reflected in her bright, wrinkled eyes, a thin haze of tears forming.
Am I… getting old too…
…
…
Night had fully fallen, with a crescent moon high above. Snow still drifted softly, inching toward the ground.
At the coast where the crew had landed in the Drum Kingdom,
"Uh…"
A painful groan came from the ground.
Dalton, captain of the Drum Kingdom guard, slowly got up, still clutching his temple in confusion, glancing at fallen comrades.
"Yo!"
"Perfect timing, you're awake!?"
Before Dalton could clear his blurry vision, a cheerful voice called out.
Dalton looked up and saw Luffy's crew walking casually toward the Going Merry.
Chopper bounced along, pink backpack on his back, eagerly anticipating the ship he had just been told about.
…
…
"What… what did you do!?"
Dalton, still shaken and fearful, staggered forward, as if to confirm whether Luffy had harmed the kingdom.
Luffy didn't react to Dalton's worry, stepping forward and placing a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him:
"Don't worry, we're just here to find someone. We found them, hehe…
We're leaving now.
This country and its people are perfectly fine!"
With that, Luffy ignored the dutiful soldier and led the crew toward the Going Merry.
However…
As Luffy reached the port, his gaze suddenly focused on the distant sea.
Something… was rapidly approaching.
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100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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