"Cough… cough… I knew it. You'd underestimate me, daring to approach so recklessly!"
Usopp rose from the sand, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He glared at Shirogai, slightly dazed but calm, his own expression shadowed with frustration and exhaustion.
"No… perhaps you've never truly valued anyone!" Usopp spat, voice trembling with fury. "You've eaten an invincible Devil Fruit and never faced an opponent capable of matching you! Even a monster as powerful as Admiral Aokiji… called you a monster…"
---
"Ice Age!"
A wave of chilling frost spread across the ground, freezing everything it touched.
"Oh my, are you all that weak?" Aokiji frowned, surveying the nearly frozen Straw Hats. "Strange… as Shirogai's companions, you are surprisingly frail. Weak pirates, how did this monster choose you?"
Usopp, pale and trembling, huddled behind a rock, eyes wide as he stared at the man whose power seemed untouchable.
"So strong… even two guys this strong couldn't harm Shirogai!"
The air froze around them. Luffy's hands stiffened in the icy grip, Zoro's swords coated in frost despite being hardened with Armament Haki, and Sanji's single leg shivered violently from the cold. Even the strongest among them were visibly weakened.
Aokiji sighed lightly, his gaze landing on Robin. "Shirogai's target… could it be you, Robin? Searching for the poneglyphs scattered across the Grand Line? I've already spared you once… must I do it again?"
Before anyone could react, Robin was encased in solid ice.
"Robin!"
"Robin-chan!"
"Robin!"
---
Later, Usopp stared at Shirogai with lingering fear and grudging admiration.
"Shirogai… sometimes I envy you." He clenched his fists, recalling the sheer power of Admiral Aokiji. "Even the formidable Aokiji admitted that, one-on-one, he'd struggle to match you."
Shirogai glanced at the two pieces of Sea-Prism Stone clinging to him, a faint smile on his lips.
"Did you trade for these from Wyper?" Shirogai asked.
"No! I got them from the Great Chief," Usopp replied, his hand slowly producing another piece of equipment from his bag.
"Impact Dial? You actually acquired one of these as well?" Shirogai frowned slightly. "Usopp… that thing will kill you."
Impact Dials, rare relics from Sky Island, carried immense recoil. A single misstep could shatter bones, even rupture internal organs. The danger was tenfold against someone unprepared. During the Franky Family clash, Usopp had used them defensively, tied to his chest to absorb fatal blows. Now, he intended to unleash its full destructive potential.
"I don't need your concern! Worrying about me only frustrates me!" Usopp shouted, face flushed red. "Life or death means nothing if I can restore the Going Merry's honor!"
He raised the Impact Dial, aiming fiercely at Shirogai.
"Shirogai, did you ever truly consider me or the Going Merry as your companions? Why abandon her? If we meet an even stronger enemy, will you tell Luffy to abandon me as well? In this crew, Zoro and Sanji are irreplaceable warriors, Nami is the navigator, Chopper is the doctor… and I am dispensable!"
"Idiot!" Shirogai muttered, sighing helplessly. "Why would you ask such a foolish question…"
Usopp's eyes hardened, ruthless determination flashing through them. "Sorry, Shirogai, but I have to defeat you. This is for the Going Merry!"
---
On the Going Merry, the crew watched tensely.
"Usopp has an Impact Dial! That thing's power is immense! Can Shirogai really lose to him?" Luffy's eyes widened in disbelief.
Sanji, cigarette unlit, observed silently. "Usopp, no…"
Chopper flailed frantically, creating afterimages in panic. "The internal injuries you've sustained… the recoil will destroy you!"
Nami bit her lip, sweat pouring down her face. "Why did it have to come to this? They're both our friends!"
Zoro closed his eyes, muttering in resignation. "This idiot…"
---
"Impact!"
Usopp unleashed the shockwave stored in the Impact Dial, striking Shirogai's lower abdomen.
Boom!
The force echoed across the beach, overpowering even the crash of waves against the rocks.
Usopp slumped to the sand, arm dangling from the recoil. Pain lanced through his body. Are all the bones in my arm broken?
Yet his eyes stayed fixed on Shirogai, who lay face-up on the sand some distance away.
"But… I won. I actually won against Shirogai."
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I won… I won! I won!" His hoarse voice carried disbelief, relief, and uncertainty all at once.
---
On a distant cliff, CP-0 Hidden Snake observed quietly.
"That strike was powerful… but could it defeat the Fifth Emperor?" His pupils widened in astonishment as he noticed movement behind Usopp. "When did he appear? I didn't sense him!"
---
"Heh heh, well done."
A soft, smiling voice came from behind Usopp.
The sniper turned bitterly to look at Shirogai lying on the sand, slowly blooming like a crimson flower under the sunlight.
"As expected…" he muttered hoarsely.
"There's no way I could defeat you."
Usopp slowly turned to face the unharmed, smiling Shirogai standing before him. Eyes hollow, he murmured self-mockingly, "How could an ordinary person like me ever defeat a monster of your caliber?"
_______
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