Chapter 121: The Desert's Wrath
The sun was a merciless tyrant, its fiery gaze scorching the desert sands and baking the air until it shimmered like a mirage. The Straw Hat crew moved slowly, their footsteps dragging through the soft, shifting sand. The heat was unbearable, a suffocating blanket that clung to their skin and sapped their strength with every step. The cool morning air they had enjoyed earlier was now a distant memory, replaced by the oppressive weight of the desert's midday furnace.
Vivi led the way once again, her steps steady despite the harsh conditions. She had assured the crew that Yuba, their next destination, would still be a green oasis, a place of life and respite amidst the barren wasteland. But as they trudged through the endless sea of sand, her words felt like a distant hope, a mirage on the horizon that seemed to grow further away with every step.
Usopp was the first to break the silence, his voice hoarse and whiny. "I can't take this anymore! My legs are about to fall off, my skin is melting, and I'm pretty sure my brain is cooking inside my skull. Are we sure Yuba even exists? Or is this just some cruel joke the desert is playing on us?"
Zoro, walking a few steps behind Usopp, rolled his eyes. "Quit your whining, Usopp. You're making the rest of us look bad. Besides, it's not like you're carrying anything heavy."
Usopp shot Zoro a glare, his long nose twitching in annoyance. "Oh, sure, because walking through this inferno with nothing but the clothes on my back is a walk in the park. Meanwhile, you've got your swords strapped to your side like some kind of desert samurai. How are you even surviving this heat with all that extra weight?"
Zoro smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of one of his swords. "Maybe if you spent less time complaining and more time training, you wouldn't be struggling so much. Besides, a real man doesn't let a little heat stop him."
"A little heat?!" Usopp exclaimed, throwing his arms up in exasperation. "This isn't 'a little heat,' Zoro! This is the kind of heat that makes you question your life choices! The kind of heat that makes you wonder if you've accidentally wandered into the underworld!"
Sanji, walking beside Zoro, exhaled a plume of smoke from his cigarette, his brow furrowed in annoyance. "Will you two shut up? Your bickering is making this even more unbearable. And Usopp, if you're so tired, maybe you should've thought twice before volunteering to carry Chopper earlier."
Usopp's eyes widened in indignation. "Volunteering?! I didn't volunteer! Goku just dumped him on me and said, 'Here, carry this,' like I'm some kind of pack mule!"
Goku, who had been walking at the back of the group with Chopper perched on his shoulder, finally spoke up, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement. "Chopper's not that heavy, Usopp. You're just out of shape."
"Out of shape?!" Usopp spluttered, his face turning red. "I'll have you know I'm in peak physical condition! It's just... Chopper's heavier than he looks, okay? He's like a tiny bull in reindeer form!"
Chopper, who had been quietly enjoying the ride on Goku's shoulder, puffed out his chest indignantly. "I am not heavy! I'm just... well-proportioned!"
Usopp groaned, slumping forward dramatically. "Well-proportioned? You're like a sack of bricks with antlers! My shoulders are going to be permanently dented after this."
Gin, who had been walking silently beside Goku, couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. "You know, Usopp, if you spent half as much energy walking as you do complaining, we'd probably be at Yuba by now."
Usopp shot Gin a glare, his long nose twitching in annoyance. "Oh, sure, gang up on me, why don't you? It's not like I'm the one suffering here or anything. Meanwhile, Goku's over there carrying Chopper like he's a feather, and no one's saying a word about it!"
Goku shrugged, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "Chopper's light. You're just weak."
Usopp's jaw dropped, and he let out an indignant squawk. "Weak?! I'll have you know I've been training with Ki! I'm stronger than I look!"
Zoro smirked, crossing his arms. "Yeah, sure you are, Usopp. Keep telling yourself that."
Sanji flicked the ash off his cigarette, his expression calm but with a hint of amusement. "Face it, Usopp. You're the weakest link in this crew. Even Chopper could probably bench press you."
Chopper's eyes widened, and he puffed out his chest proudly. "I could! I'm very strong for my size!"
Usopp groaned, slumping forward even further. "I can't believe this. I'm surrounded by monsters. Monsters, I tell you!"
Nami, who had been walking beside Vivi, rolled her eyes at the crew's antics. "Will you all quit it? We're in the middle of a desert, and all you can do is argue about who's carrying who? Focus on the mission, for once!"
Vivi, who had been quiet for most of the journey, finally spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "Nami's right. We need to stay focused. Yuba isn't far now, and we can't afford to waste any more time. The rebels are counting on us."
Usopp let out a dramatic sigh, his shoulders slumping even further. "Easy for you to say, Vivi. You're used to this heat. Meanwhile, the rest of us are slowly turning into human jerky."
Vivi smiled faintly, though her eyes were still filled with concern. "I know it's hard, but we're almost there. Yuba will be worth it, I promise. It's still a green oasis, a place of life and respite. We just have to keep going."
The crew fell silent for a moment, the weight of Vivi's words sinking in. Despite their complaints, they knew she was right. They had a mission to complete, and they couldn't afford to let the heat or their exhaustion stop them.
As they continued their trek through the desert, the sun continued to beat down on them, its relentless heat sapping their energy with every step. The sand shifted beneath their feet, making each step feel like a struggle. The air was dry and heavy, and even breathing felt like a chore.
Usopp, despite his earlier complaints, managed to keep up, though his steps were slow and deliberate. He glanced at Goku, who was still carrying Chopper with ease, and let out a sigh. "You know, Goku, you're awfully quiet today. Normally, you'd be cracking jokes or making some kind of grand declaration about how we're going to beat Crocodile. What's going on?"
Goku didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the horizon. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and serious. "Just thinking."
Usopp raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Thinking? About what?"
Goku shrugged, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "About Crocodile. About what he's done to Alabasta. About what we're going to do to stop him."
Usopp blinked, surprised by Goku's response. "Well... that's... unusually serious of you."
Goku didn't respond, his expression still serious. The crew exchanged glances, sensing that something was off. Goku was rarely this quiet, and his sudden seriousness was unsettling.
Sanji exhaled a plume of smoke, his brow furrowed. "Goku's right. We can't afford to underestimate Crocodile. He's already destroyed Erumalu, and if we're not careful, Yuba could be next."
Zoro nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We'll stop him. No matter what it takes."
The crew fell silent once again, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. The desert stretched out before them, vast and unforgiving, but they knew they couldn't give up. They had a mission to complete, and they would see it through, no matter how difficult the road ahead might be.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the desert, the crew pressed on, their determination unwavering. The road to Yuba was still long, but they knew they were getting closer. And as they walked, their footsteps firm and steady, they knew they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The desert's wrath was relentless, but so were the Straw Hats. And they would not let it break them. Not today. Not ever.
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