Hatterly's commentary captured the frenetic battlefield: Luffy clashing with Buggy, Vivi battling Alvida, and Karoo racing with the chest. His eyes and voice worked overtime, lagging only slightly.
"Now! Blue Team grabs the chest again! Karoo's hauling it while Vivi and Alvida—WHAT!?" Hatterly screamed.
Stunned, he explained: "Alcohol! Vivi used house liquor to set Alvida ablaze! She's escaping to the sea!"
"What!? Alvida's struggling?" Buggy, hearing this, glanced skyward, relying on Hatterly's words.
"Upset! Vivi turned the tables, dunking Alvida! Our Sea Cat saved her, but that girl's ruthless!" Hatterly shouted.
"Damn it, what's happening!? Where's the chest? Should we move!?" Buggy yelled.
"Gomu Gomu no…!" Luffy began.
Buggy wanted to chase the chest, but Luffy stood in the central combat zone, pummeling Lapahns and Sea Lapahns with brute force. It worked—wild animals feared him, their movements faltering.
Luffy broke through, grinning at Buggy's shocked face, certain of victory.
"Pistol!" Luffy shouted.
"Buheh! Damn Straw Hat!" Buggy rolled across the ground.
Luffy looked up at Hatterly's bird, its wings spread. That moment sealed Vivi's success.
Alvida fell from the sky, clothes scorched but mostly unharmed, sliding to a landing.
"Ugh…! That little girl's got guts…!" Alvida groaned.
"What!? Alvida!? Why're you falling!?" Buggy yelped.
"Shishishi, Vivi won? Nothing to fear now," Luffy said, spotting Blue Team's flag and sprinting toward their base.
"That way, huh?" Luffy muttered.
"Wait, Straw Hat! You won't get your way! Lapahns!" Buggy shouted, but the animals, cowed by Luffy's attacks, wouldn't move. Clicking his tongue, Buggy chased alone.
"Damn it! I paid them, and they quit!? Fine, I'll go all out!" Buggy roared.
Time was short. Blue Team's chest placement twice brought the ship closer. This was the final stretch—both teams knew it.
Luffy vaulted houses, reaching the port. Vivi stood before their base, Karoo in the ring. She waved, injured but spirited. Karoo flapped his wings, thrilled. Luffy sped up, Buggy close behind.
"Luffy-san!" Vivi called.
"Vivi! You nailed it!" Luffy replied.
"Stop, Straw Hat!" Buggy shouted.
Luffy halted, facing Buggy head-on, both readying for battle.
"Come on!" Luffy challenged.
"I'll lose to anyone but you!" Buggy roared.
They attacked simultaneously.
"Bara Bara Festival!" Buggy's body split, lunging.
"Gatling!" Luffy's rapid fists caught every piece, dealing massive damage.
"Gubegagaga!?" Buggy wailed.
"ORYAAA!" Luffy's final punch to Buggy's face sent him crashing through a house wall, vanishing in a roar.
The retrieval ship neared. Alvida, grabbing her mace, slid toward them rapidly. Vivi noticed first, moving to intercept, but Luffy stopped her.
"Luffy-san, I'll—" Vivi began.
"Stay back, Vivi. I've got this," Luffy said calmly, his resolve stopping her cold.
Alvida charged, mace raised. Luffy braced.
"Come, Luffy! Stop me!" Alvida taunted.
"Alright! Gomu Gomu no…" Luffy stretched his arm, advancing.
"Become a star!" Alvida swung.
"Bullet!" Luffy's fist met her mace.
Alvida's eyes widened, realizing her mistake. Vivi's attack exposed her weakness: her slippery skin nullified strikes, but not objects she held. The chest and mace took the impact. Luffy's punch sent the mace flying, crashing through the house roof where Bug_(gy landed, hitting him.
She had to admit it—she'd lost to Luffy.
Sighing, Alvida lowered her arms, eyes downcast. Luffy relaxed, grinning childishly. She smiled softly.
"I'm beat… Can't win against you," Alvida said.
"Shishishi," Luffy laughed.
Fireworks exploded, signaling Blue Team's ship arrival.
"Match over! Thrilling first round! The winners: Luffy and Vivi!" Hatterly's scream ignited the crowd's roars, as if they'd won the tournament.
The unpredictable Treasure Battle's first round delivered. Buggy schemed from the start, Luffy fought with raw power, Alvida provoked as a seasoned pirate, and Vivi rose to the challenge. The stage was set for more.
Luffy raised his fists, grinning. Vivi leapt, hugging Karoo in joy.
"We won!" Luffy shouted.
"We did it, Karoo!" Vivi cheered.
"Quack!" Karoo replied.
At Blue Square's port, the Straw Hats, Keimi, Pappag, and even some of Arlong's crew danced in celebration. Mashira and Shoujou joined in. Despite tense moments, victory was theirs. Igaram wept with pride.
"Vivi-sama… so strong… so splendid!" Igaram sobbed.
"Stop crying, old man! Vivi-chan won!" Sanji said.
"Nice job, Luffy! Vivi!" Usopp cheered.
"Of course. He's our captain," Zoro smirked.
"Good job, Vivi," Nami sighed in relief.
Sanji and Usopp danced, Zoro grinned, and Nami relaxed. It was just one win, but in the pivotal first round, Luffy and Vivi became the tournament's flagbearers.
On the players' ship, Chopper stood on the railing, arms raised in excitement. Ace, arms crossed, smiled at his brother's growth.
"Luffy and Vivi won!" Chopper yelled.
"He's stronger. That Pistol's no joke now," Ace said.
Kiri and Silk watched, smiling calmly.
"Was Karoo your secret plan?" Silk asked.
"Yup. I knew Buggy was scheming at the banquet. Figured he'd pull something, so I called Karoo," Kiri said.
"Good call. Glad it ended safely," Silk replied.
"Didn't expect Miss Wednesday, though," Kiri chuckled.
"That's what snapped Vivi out of it," Silk giggled.
Luffy, Vivi, and Karoo boarded the ship. Chopper tackled Luffy, who caught him.
"We won!" Luffy grinned.
"Luffy, Vivi, you okay!? I'll patch you up!" Chopper said.
"Thanks," Luffy said.
"Thank you, Tony-kun, Kiri, Silk," Vivi said softly, then turned to Luffy. "Thank you, Luffy-san."
"No big deal. Easy does it," Luffy replied.
"We didn't do anything," Kiri said.
"No, you protected me. But now I'm ready to fight with everyone," Vivi said, her smile radiant, unburdened.
Kiri and Silk exchanged glances, then smiled back.
"We'll take you up on that," Kiri said.
"You're not alone, Vivi. We fight together," Silk added.
"Right," Vivi nodded.
Chopper treated their injuries, ensuring they were ready for the next round.
Ace, silent, watched a figure—Mr. S—on the deck's edge. Masked and eerie, he occasionally clutched his head, perhaps in pain. He vanished below deck.
Ace wasn't focused on winning anymore. Seeing Luffy's growth was enough, but something else mattered.
"This pairing's pure luck for me," Ace told Kiri quietly.
"Mr. S bothers you, huh?" Kiri replied.
"Yeah… I can't lose now," Ace said.
Initially, he'd joined to help Luffy. Now, he had to confirm something for himself and his brother. Closing his eyes, he murmured, "They'll reach the semifinals."
"Yup," Kiri agreed.
Silk and Chopper didn't hear. Kiri nodded, understanding.
"It's better that way. We need to win our first match, but in the semifinals, I want a one-on-one with him," Ace said.
Kiri met his unwavering gaze. No joke—this was a line Ace wouldn't cross.
"Got it," Kiri said firmly.
"Thanks," Ace replied.
"Onward to Round 2! To Summer Island!" Hatterly announced.
The players' ship moved to the smaller, elliptical Summer Island, its central dirt mound surrounded by a sandy beach, the battlefield extending to the water's edge, fenced off. Unlike Spring Island, no houses or items allowed tricks—pure skill ruled here. The crowd's excitement doubled.
"Next up: Fishman duo Arlong and Hachi! And the mysterious but skilled Mr. 2 Bon Clay!" Hatterly declared.
"Let's get wild!" Mr. 2 shouted.
The ship arrived quickly. Arlong, Hachi, and Mr. 2 disembarked, facing the chest on a central pedestal. As the match loomed, Hatterly noticed something odd.
"Mr. 2, where's your partner?" he asked.
"What're you on about? I told registration—I'm both man and woman, two in one. No partner needed!" Mr. 2 replied.
"What!? You can't compete alone!" Hatterly protested.
"I've been solo this whole time!" Mr. 2 argued.
"Rules demand pairs! We'll overlook it for now, but find a partner fast!" Hatterly said.
"So rigid! Now you tell me…?" Mr. 2 grumbled.
"You're the rulebreaker!" Hatterly shot back.
"Rules for pirates? Nonsense! Though I'm no pirate!" Mr. 2 laughed, then froze, staring at Hatterly.
"What?" Hatterly asked.
"You're kinda hot… Shall we dance?" Mr. 2 teased.
"What!? Me!? I'm the host and commentator!" Hatterly stammered.
"No dawdling! Get down here!" Mr. 2 yanked Hatterly off the bird, forcing him to the stage.
Four players now stood. Mr. 2 grinned, satisfied.
"The stage is set! Let's start!" Mr. 2 cheered.
"Why me…?" Hatterly groaned.
"No choice—Buggy takes over commentary!" a new voice boomed.
Everyone turned. Buggy, ignoring his injuries, had grabbed a spare microphone.
"Buggy's back," Luffy noted.
"Tough guy," Zoro said.
"Shut it, Straw Hat! I didn't lose—just got careless!" Buggy yelled.
"So childish," Nami sighed.
"No team-up with you now!" Buggy declared.
"Shame. Navarone's treasure was on the table," Kiri said.
"As if you'd share! And my nose isn't detachable—it's real!" Buggy snapped.
"Didn't say it was," Luffy replied.
"Next match, let's go! Keep up or get left behind!" Buggy roared.
Despite the crowd's shock and Hatterly's dismay, the match began with Buggy's wild signal and fireworks.
"Round 2: Fishmen vs. Okama and commentator! Fight!" Buggy bellowed.
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