Dalton charged, stepping through the snow. He wielded a unique, oar-like weapon, deftly parrying Law's attacks as he closed the distance.
Bang! Bang!
"Tch!"
Dalton was a Zoan Devil Fruit user who held the advantage in strength and speed.
Law, however, was a Logia user. His liquid metal body flowed and shifted, occasionally sprouting spikes from the pool at his feet, keeping Dalton at bay. The liquid also spread across the snow, distributing his weight and preventing him from slipping. It was a necessary tactic against Dalton, who was accustomed to fighting in the snow, while Law was not. Yet, despite being a Logia user, Law continued to block Dalton's attacks with his sword.
Dalton, finding this peculiar, paused his assault.
"Your ability… it's a Logia type, isn't it? I've heard Logia users can simply phase through normal attacks…"
"Why should I tell you?"
"…Fair enough. But even without that, you're strong."
Dalton was the captain of the Drum Kingdom's guard. He was one of the kingdom's strongest fighters. While Chess and Kuromarimo, his fellow officers, were close in terms of overall strength, neither surpassed him in individual combat. Exchanging blows with him was enough for Dalton to gauge Law's abilities.
"Metal Coat."
Liquid metal flowed from Law's body, coating his sword. Instead of spreading the liquid across the ground, he formed spikes beneath his boots, providing traction in the snow. He lunged at Dalton.
Weapons were clashing with a resounding clang. The impact was heavier than before, making Dalton stumble.
"What?!"
Law had eaten the Meta Meta no Mi, the Metal-Metal Fruit. He was a liquid metal human. He could coat his sword, adding weight and transforming slashing attacks into bludgeoning ones. He could reshape his metal into various forms, adapting his fighting style as needed. It was a versatile ability.
However, even Logia Devil Fruit users, often touted as invincible, had their weaknesses.
Sand solidified in water.
Lightning was harmless against rubber.
And liquid metal, in Drum's extreme cold of -50 degrees Celsius, solidified, losing its ability to phase through attacks. He had been able to deflect the soldiers' bullets earlier because he hadn't been exposed to the cold for long.
"This is troublesome…!"
His ability wasn't nullified, however. While solidifying was a novel experience, he was accustomed to having his fluid body restrained. It simply meant normal attacks could now harm him, even without Haki. Law, calming himself, exhaled a cloud of white breath and raised his sword.
"A troublesome ability. My attacks connect, but you're well-trained."
"Of course. I fight to overthrow tyrants like your king."
"Wapol…? Why are you so fixated on this kingdom…?"
Rescuing the captured doctor didn't require confronting Wapol. Yet, Law had clearly planned to challenge the king from the start. This was a foreign country, with no connection to him. Why was he so determined? Dalton couldn't understand.
Law's answer was simple.
"Because he… disgusts… me."
He recalled a certain kingdom whose ruling class, driven by greed, had mined a toxic substance. The citizens, unknowingly exposed, had fallen ill. By the time the symptoms manifested, it was too late.
Amidst the despair, it wasn't the king or the government who helped them, but a pirate. She had guided them, and Law, having joined the Revolutionary Army under her influence, had grown strong, following her example. To eradicate kingdoms where citizens suffered due to tyrannical rulers, like he had as a child.
"Are kings so important? Are they allowed to casually disregard human life? Of course not."
But imposing his will required strength. Weakness meant he couldn't even choose his own path. That's why he had grown strong, earning a name for himself as a pirate, travelling the world.
"The weak can't choose how they live, or even how they die! I refuse to be used and die a miserable death!"
"…!!"
Dalton stared, stunned by Law's words. No matter how eloquently he argued, as a member of the ruling class, his words lacked conviction. He had no counter-argument. He had never been able to stop Wapol's tyranny, the Doctor Hunt, or any of his other oppressive policies.
The citizens, with no other recourse, had to obey Wapol if they fell ill. Defiance meant certain death, as Wapol would simply invent a law to justify their execution. Drum might be renowned for its medical expertise, its ability to produce powerful medicines, but… it was meaningless.
There was no cure for stupidity.
"…Am I… the same…?"
He sank to the ground, dropping his weapon. Law frowned, but Dalton, having deactivated his Devil Fruit ability, had lost the will to fight.
"I've lost. Whether I win or lose makes no difference… I'm… that insignificant."
Having surrendered, Dalton asked, "But… can you change this kingdom?"
"I'll change it, by force if necessary. Whether it improves afterward is up to you."
"That's… harsh, but… you're right."
Expecting a kingdom to magically improve after being liberated from tyranny was wishful thinking. Improving a kingdom was the responsibility of its citizens, not outsiders.
Law sheathed his nodachi, turning his back on Dalton and heading into the castle.
Dalton called out to him.
"Wapol is strong. Stronger than me… Be careful."
"I know."
Unfazed by the warning, Law disappeared into the castle.
***
Chopper and Pedro entered the castle dungeon, defeating the guards and proceeding deeper inside.
"She's this way!"
Chopper, his nose twitching, led the way. At the end of the corridor, they found an old woman standing calmly in a cell. She showed no signs of injury or distress. She blinked in surprise as Chopper called out to her.
"Doctorine!"
"Hmm? Chopper! You came all this way?!"
"It's my fault you were captured! I had to rescue you…"
"You foolish child…"
She sighed, relieved to see Chopper safe, despite his minor injuries.
"I heard you were a hundred and forty, but you seem quite spry."
"I'm still a youthful hundred and thirty-nine!"
"My apologies. You seem unharmed. Can you walk?"
"I'm fine. My legs are still strong. Want to know the secret to my longevity?"
"Perhaps another time."
Kureha looked at Pedro, frowning.
"I don't recognize you. Are you a Devil Fruit user?"
"No, I'm… this species."
"A mink? A rare visitor."
"You know about us?"
"I knew someone who sailed with an acquaintance long ago. A centaur-like fellow, with the lower body of a horse."
Pedro, listening to Kureha's reminiscence, thought of someone he knew. A former comrade, now retired and living in seclusion on Zou.
"I know someone like that as well. But let's save that story for later. We need to escape."
Pedro stepped forward, slicing through the iron bars of Kureha's cell with a single stroke. Chopper, who had been trying to bend the bars with brute force, stared in awe. Kureha, however, watched with interest.
"A Haki user? A rare sight in these waters."
"I'm from the New World. You need that much to survive."
Countless pirates entered the New World every year, most ending up as fodder for the Four Emperors or the Seven Warlords. Joining one of these factions was the only way to survive. Navigating those waters independently was incredibly difficult, bordering on impossible.
While Pedro hadn't ventured into the New World recently, he kept his information up-to-date. The situation hadn't changed, and likely wouldn't.
"Come on, let's hurry. While I doubt it, the fighting might still be going on. Watch your step."
"Don't rush me…"
Boom!
A cannon fired inside the castle, shaking the walls. Someone was causing quite a commotion. Firing a cannon indoors was reckless, but not unheard of in these situations.
Sword in hand, Pedro led the way back to the castle gate. As they exited the dungeon, Luffy came flying towards them, landing at Pedro's feet.
"Oof!"
"Luffy! Are you alright?!"
"Oh, Pedro. Is that old lady the doctor?"
"Yes. But… you seem to be having some trouble."
Luffy was slightly bruised, but otherwise unharmed. Looking in the direction he had come from, they saw a figure slowly approaching. Wapol.
"He's gotten really tough. I punched him a few times, but he's like iron."
"His Devil Fruit ability…? Need some help?"
"No, I'm fine."
Luffy adjusted his hat, pulled back his right arm, and charged at Wapol.
"Hippo…! Just give up already! You're annoying!"
Wapol swung his axe-like arms, attempting to slice Luffy, but his ability merely granted him the properties of weapons. He lacked the skill to wield them effectively. Luffy dodged easily, then punched Wapol in the gut.
"Gum-Gum… Bullet!"
"Ugh–!"
Perhaps due to the numerous steel weapons he had consumed, Wapol was remarkably resilient, withstanding Luffy's attacks and getting back up each time. But he wasn't a fighter. He was tiring.
"Huff… Puff…! Stretching and shrinking like a… like a rubber band…! I'm getting bored!"
"Me too! He looks cool, but he doesn't shoot lasers! Just bullets!"
"He can't shoot lasers."
"What's that brat talking about?"
Pedro and Kureha exchanged exasperated glances. Luffy, ignoring them, leaped onto Wapol, wrapping his arms around him and spinning rapidly. While Wapol's body had been reinforced by the weapons he had eaten, his mobility had decreased. He couldn't dislodge Luffy.
"W-what are you doing?! Get off–"
"Gum-Gum… Bowgun!!!"
Using the centrifugal force, Luffy launched Wapol upwards. He crashed through the ceiling, his body halfway through the roof.
"Gah… Oof…!"
No matter how tough he was, the impact caused damage. Blood trickled down Wapol's face as he struggled to free himself. Luffy climbed onto the roof, looking down at him.
"Hippo…!"
"I don't have a grudge against you. But you're in the way of our adventure."
"Do you even know who I am?! I'm the king of the Drum Kingdom, a World Government affiliated nation! I'm important! I'm much more important than you!"
"Doesn't matter."
Luffy stretched his arm back.
"Doesn't matter?! Of course it matters! This is a major international incident! Do you think you can get away with attacking the king of a World Government affiliated nation?!"
"I said… it doesn't matter… This is… between you and me."
Luffy ignored Wapol's protests, stretching his arm further than before.
"Gum… Gum…"
"W-wait! Alright, alright! You want doctors? Take as many as you want! Drum's doctors are the best in the world!"
"Gum… Gum… Gum…"
"Or… or do you want a position? A medal?!"
Wapol's desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. Despite the frigid Drum air, sweat beaded on Wapol's forehead.
Luffy stared at him, then…
"—Bazooka!!!"
He sent Wapol flying across the sea.
***
"…Is it over…?"
Dalton muttered this quietly while watching Wapol disappear over the horizon. He had been tending to the injured soldiers, concerned for their well-being, but… the commotion had been impossible to ignore. Drum would change. Whether for better or worse remained to be seen.
But the opportunity for change had arrived.