"Doctor! Where are you?!"
Luffy yelled as he ran through the castle. He barged through rooms, scattering castle staff and knocking aside any soldiers who dared to impede his progress. Pedro and Chopper followed, though they doubted this haphazard search would yield any results.
"If only we knew where to look…"
Asking for directions was problematic. The soldiers were either unconscious, courtesy of Luffy, or cowering in their rooms. Extracting information would be difficult.
Sniffing the air as he ran, s Chopper suddenly stopped. Pedro, following close behind, also halted, watching as Chopper continued to sniff.
"This is Doctorine's scent… This way!"
"You can tell by smell?"
"Yeah, but… there are similar medicinal scents everywhere."
The castle housed the Drum Kingdom's royal physicians, who conducted their research and treatments within its walls. The pervasive aroma of medicines made it difficult for even Chopper to distinguish Kureha's unique scent.
"Can you pinpoint her location?"
"Don't worry! Doctorine's scent is a bit… distinctive. I'll find her!"
"…It's probably best not to mention that to her face."
Telling a woman she "smells" was rather insensitive. While not expecting such social graces from Chopper, navigating human society required a certain degree of tact. Perhaps it wasn't necessary in the isolated world of Drum Kingdom, but Chopper would eventually venture out on his own. Learning these nuances wouldn't hurt.
"This way!"
"Right, Luffy!"
Pedro looked up, but Luffy was gone. He had vanished while they were talking. Pedro sighed, though a part of him wasn't worried. Luffy would be fine. He wouldn't get into any life-threatening situations. Prioritizing the doctor's rescue, they continued their search.
"Chopper, we'll rescue the doctor ourselves. We'll meet up with Luffy later!"
"Okay!"
They changed course, pursuing a different path from Luffy, their focus now solely on finding Kureha.
***
As Luffy continued his frantic search, a figure blocked his path.
"Hold it right there, you Straw Hat brat! Who gave you permission to run around my castle?!"
"Who are you? I'm looking for a doctor. Out of my way!"
"A doctor?! You're after the Drum Kingdom's finest physicians?!"
A short, stout man glared at Luffy. King Wapol himself.
He had dispatched his three closest associates to intercept the pirates at the castle gate, but they had failed. Now, he had personally come to deal with the intruders.
"That hippo… Chess, Kuromarimo, and Dalton! None of them could stop a single pirate?! Useless!"
Wapol was furious and started hurling insults. They were all incompetent. He would have to handle this himself. Wapol opened his mouth and dashed forward, attempting to swallow Luffy whole. Luffy jumped back, narrowly avoiding being devoured.
"Whoa?!"
Wapol crashed into the wall behind Luffy, but undeterred, he bit through the brickwork, chewing and swallowing the debris with a sickening crunch. Luffy, who wouldn't dream of eating a brick wall, stared in disgust.
"He's eating the wall…?!"
"Don't just dodge!"
Wapol swallowed the pulverized brickwork, then lunged at Luffy again. Luffy dodged by backing away, but he was cornered. Wapol bit into the wall, swallowing Luffy along with the debris.
"Ugh… He's… chewy…!"
"Gum-Gum…"
Unaware that only Luffy's arms were outside his mouth, Wapol continued chewing, attempting to crush him. Luffy's arms, which had stretched through the broken wall, snapped back.
"Bazooka!!!"
"Oof?!"
Wapol was sent crashing into the opposite wall.
Readjusting his straw hat, Luffy blinked in surprise. Being eaten by a person was a novel experience. He watched Wapol, wondering if the attack had been enough. Wapol, though injured, stood up.
"He's tough…"
"You… Straw Hat brat… You've made me angry…!"
Wapol had crashed into a large pillar in the center of the room. At its base was a door, leading to a room only Wapol could access. The armory.
"I'll show you the true power of the Baku Baku no Mi!!!"
Wapol unlocked the door and entered the armory. Luffy followed.
Inside, weapons of all kinds lined the walls. Swords, rifles, axes… Wapol, to Luffy's astonishment, began shoving them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing them whole.
"What are you doing?!"
"…Food becomes blood and flesh. After eating is the true power of the Baku Baku no Mi! Baku Baku Shock!!!"
Why had Wapol devoured the weapons? The Baku Baku no Mi allowed him to absorb anything he ate, transforming his body to incorporate its properties. Eating a house made him house-like. Eating a car made him car-like. Having consumed the armory's weapons, he could now manifest them as part of his body.
"Behold… the terrifying… Human Weapon!!!"
Axes sprouted from his hands, swords from his shoulders, gun barrels from various parts of his body. His flesh had hardened, and his previously stout physique had become leaner, more streamlined. He had become the kingdom's ultimate weapon, surpassing even Dalton, their strongest warrior.
"…Whoa…"
Luffy stared, speechless, his jaw agape, then…
"Awesome! He looks like he can shoot lasers!"
His eyes shone with excitement at the sight of Wapol.
***
Outside the castle.
The soldiers were down, leaving only the three officers.
Lami and Sanji struggled against Chess and Kuromarimo. The unfamiliar snowy terrain and their lack of experience fighting together hampered their efforts.
"Fufufu… Is this your first time fighting in the snow?"
Kuromarimo smirked, and Sanji muttered, "Something like that."
They were at the top of Drum Rock, a mountain over five thousand meters high. The temperature was frigid, and the deep snow made it difficult to maintain his footing, his kicks losing their usual power. Sanji, accustomed to the stable environment of the Baratie, was out of his element. His shoes was unsuitable for the snow and it made him slip.
"I can't get a decent kick in with this snow. Lami-chan, are you alright?!"
"I've trained for this, so I'm fine."
She had some experience operating in snowy conditions, though not to the extent of Chess and Kuromarimo, who lived here.
"Static Shock Afro!"
Kuromarimo threw a black, afro-like object at Lami.
Reacting instantly, Sanji extended his leg to intercept it. Annoyed that Kuromarimo had targeted Lami, he charged.
"You… throwing an afro at a lady! What were you– Huh?"
"Got you…!"
The afro wouldn't come off. It was stuck fast by static electricity.
"What is this?! I can't get it off!"
"It's quite sticky, isn't it? I can make as many as I want! Static Shock Afro!"
Kuromarimo launched a barrage of afros at Sanji, who struggled to dodge, his feet slipping in the snow. The afros stuck to him, one after another.
"Whoa?! What are these afros?! Lami-chan, help!"
"Huh?! But… what do I do with an afro…?!"
Lami had never encountered anything like this. She tried to pull one off with her hand, but it stuck to her instead. Grimacing, she stuck it back onto Sanji, then backed away, her hands held up in a defensive gesture. She found it utterly repulsive.
"No way! Deal with it yourself!"
"You're abandoning me?! Hey, Usopp, do something!"
"Do something?! Watch out! The other one's aiming at you with a bow!"
"Such poor teamwork…"
Chess, having nocked a flaming arrow, aimed at Sanji. Or rather, at the afros stuck to Sanji. The arrow struck, igniting the afros.
Sanji dropped to the ground, rolling in the snow to extinguish the flames. His clothes were singed, but thankfully, they hadn't caught fire.
"Hot! Hot!"
"Static Shock Afros burn quite well, don't they? I'll roast you all alive!"
"Not if I can help it!"
Seeing Chess prepare another flaming arrow, Lami charged with her sword.
Chess responded by drawing his axes., which clashed with Lami's sword, making loud noises. He wielded an axe in each hand, underestimating the seemingly frail young woman, but Lami was stronger than she looked.
"Ha!"
"Ugh! You little…!"
She parried his battle axe, blocked it then counterattacked. She had faced stronger opponents in the Revolutionary Army. Even in these unfavorable conditions, she wouldn't lose to Chess.
Her relentless attacks forced Chess to defend, leaving him open.
"Damn–"
"—Amputate."
"Gah…!"
Lami's sword sliced diagonally across Chess's body. She sheathed her blade, wiping the blood from its surface. Chess collapsed, unconscious.
"Chess!"
"Hey, hey, where are you looking, Afro-man?"
Despite his burns, Sanji's fighting spirit remained undimmed. He charged at Kuromarimo, who, momentarily distracted by Chess's defeat, launched another Static Shock Afro. Sanji didn't even bother dodging.
"It burns well, but that's about it. It doesn't actually hurt."
"Gah– Then…!"
Kuromarimo drew his large mallets, swinging them at Sanji. Sanji dodged, then, using the mallet as a springboard, launched a kick at Kuromarimo's face.
"Oof?!"
"I'm not finished! You'll pay for making fun of us…!"
Neck Meat Colier, Shoulder Meat Epaule, Back Meat Cotelette, Saddle Meat Selle, Breast Meat Poitrine, Thigh Meat Gigot.
His kicks targeted specific parts of Kuromarimo's body, weakening him, then, with a final, powerful kick…
"Mouton Shot!!!"
"Gah!!!"
Kuromarimo crashed into the castle wall, collapsing a section of it as he fell. Lami and Sanji looked around. No enemies remained. They sighed in relief.
"Is it over?"
"That was a ridiculous fight…"
The battle at the castle gate. Victors: Lami and Sanji.
***
Zoro was lost.
He had been assigned to the ropeway defense team, but Luffy and Law had dealt with most of the soldiers, so he decided to search for the doctor instead. He had wandered around the castle gate, searching for another entrance, but finding none, had entered through the main gate, slipping past Law and Dalton as they fought. Now, he was opening doors at random. He had no idea where to look.
He wandered through the castle, opening door after door, peering inside, then moving on. He opened another door, revealing a group of frightened castle staff, clutching mops and kitchen knives.
"Look, I'm not going to attack you. Do you know where the doctor is?"
"D-doctor…?"
"Isshi-20 should be upstairs."
"Thanks."
Zoro thanked them and dashed out the door – towards the stairs leading down.
"That's the wrong way! I said upstairs, upstairs!"
One of the staff members yelled after him.
Zoro turned and ran up the stairs. He reached another door and threw it open. Inside, several people in white coats were gathered.
"W-who are you?! Are you one of the pirates attacking the castle?!"
"…Well, I am a doctor, of sorts."
Zoro's cryptic response earned him puzzled stares. They didn't look like captured doctors. This must be the wrong room. He turned to leave, but one of the doctors called out to him.
"Wait! Are you… are you trying to overthrow Wapol?"
"Well, it's a secondary objective. We're here to rescue the captured doctor."
"I see… to rescue her… but I doubt Wapol will allow that. Be careful. He's stronger than you think."
"Oh…?"
It was strange for them to be concerned about pirates, but Wapol must be truly despised. Perhaps they were desperate enough to cling to any hope of change, even if it came in the form of pirates. Either way, Zoro decided, Wapol was someone to be wary of. Luffy and Pedro, who had entered the castle earlier, were likely already fighting. He might have to face Wapol himself.
A series of explosions echoed from below. Zoro went to the door and looked down. Luffy was fighting someone.
"What is that…?"
Swords and guns were protruding from the figure's body. Zoro stared in surprise, then noticed one of the doctors watching the fight with a grim expression.
"He's too late…! That form… Wapol's invincible! Take Dr. Kureha and run!"
"Run? Where is she?"
"In the dungeon. There's an entrance at the back of the castle. You'll find her there."
"Thanks."
Zoro thanked the doctor and ran off – in the opposite direction.
"That's the wrong way!" the doctor yelled after him, but Zoro didn't stop.