One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 77: The Eternal Pose (I)

Goku's laughter faded as he surveyed the battlefield. Around him, the remnants of the Baroque Works agents' schemes were evident—hardened wax constructs lay scattered like grotesque statues. His gaze shifted to his crew: Nami, Gin, and Usopp, encased in wax up to their necks, their struggles futile against its hardened grip.

The sight sparked a quiet rage within Goku, his brows furrowing. "Hang tight, guys," he said, his voice calm but laced with determination. He approached the nearest tree, gripping one of its lower branches. With a sharp pull, the wood snapped free in his hand. The branch was hefty, but in Goku's grip, it was no more cumbersome than a toothpick.

He extended his index finger toward the branch, a faint spark of energy dancing at its tip. With a flick of his wrist, the spark ignited into a flame, crawling up the length of the branch until it became a makeshift torch. The controlled firelight reflected in Goku's eyes, his calm demeanor unwavering.

"Let's get to work," he muttered.

Goku started with Nami, crouching beside her. Her hands and feet were encased in thick wax, rendering her immobile. She looked up at him, her face a mixture of relief and residual frustration. "Took you long enough," she said, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

"Sorry about that." Goku grinned, his tone light. He held the torch near her wrists, the heat radiating just close enough to soften the wax but not harm her. The wax began to bubble and drip, its once-impenetrable surface yielding to the flames. Goku's movements were deliberate, his eyes narrowing in concentration.

"Almost there," he murmured. As the last remnants of wax melted away, Nami flexed her fingers, rubbing at the raw skin beneath.

"Thanks," she said, her tone softer now. Goku gave her a small nod before moving on to Gin.

The former Krieg Pirates member watched Goku approach, his expression unreadable. His hands and feet were similarly encased, but he made no complaint. Goku wordlessly crouched down, repeating the process. The firelight cast flickering shadows across Gin's face, highlighting his stoic resolve.

"You're good at this," Gin commented as the wax around his wrists began to give way.

"Comes with practice," Goku replied, his focus unwavering. The wax melted away, and Gin stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders to ease the stiffness.

"Appreciate it," he said gruffly.

"Anytime," Goku replied, already moving to Usopp.

The sniper was less composed, thrashing against his bindings as Goku approached. "Hurry up, Goku! I can't feel my legs! What if I lose them? What if I—"

"You're fine," Goku interrupted, suppressing a chuckle. He worked quickly, the heat from the torch making Usopp squirm.

"Ow! Watch it!" Usopp yelped.

"Hold still," Goku admonished. A few moments later, the wax melted away, and Usopp stumbled free, flailing his arms for balance.

"Phew! That was close. You're a lifesaver, Goku!" Usopp exclaimed, though his dramatics were met with a raised eyebrow from the Saiyan.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's keep moving," Goku said, his voice tinged with amusement.

The two giants loomed in the clearing, their massive forms immobilized by thick layers of wax. Despite their predicament, their expressions remained resolute. Goku approached Dorry first, the giant watching him with curious eyes.

"This might take a while," Goku said, holding the torch up to the wax encasing Dorry's massive wrists. The heat began to soften the wax, but the sheer scale of the task made it clear that patience would be required.

"You've got a strong spirit, little one," Dorry rumbled as Goku worked.

"I've got a strong crew to protect," Goku replied, his tone serious. The wax dripped away in large chunks, revealing Dorry's freed hands. The giant flexed his fingers, a deep laugh rumbling from his chest.

"Well done, lad!"

Goku moved on to Broggy, who greeted him with a booming laugh. "You're a fierce one, aren't ya? Let's see if that fire of yours can do the trick!"

"It'll work," Goku assured him. The process was slow but effective, the wax melting away under the steady heat of the torch. Broggy's hands and feet were soon freed, and the giant let out a triumphant roar.

"With allies like you, no enemy stands a chance!" Broggy declared, clapping Goku on the back. The force of the gesture nearly sent the Saiyan sprawling, but he caught himself, laughing.

Finally, Goku turned his attention to Vivi and her loyal companion, Karoo. The princess was visibly relieved to see him, though her composure remained intact. Karoo, on the other hand, quacked furiously, flapping his wings against the wax encasing him.

"Hold still, Karoo," Goku said, kneeling beside the duck. He worked quickly, melting the wax around Karoo's legs. The bird waddled free, nuzzling Goku in thanks before rushing to Vivi's side.

Goku crouched beside Vivi, his expression softening. "You okay?" he asked.

"I am now," she replied, her voice steady. Goku began melting the wax around her wrists, the process swift and precise. As the last of the wax dripped away, Vivi flexed her fingers, offering him a grateful smile.

"Thank you, Goku."

He nodded, extinguishing the torch with a swift motion. "That's everyone."

The Straw Hats and their allies gathered in the clearing, the tension of the battle giving way to a moment of quiet relief. Goku surveyed the group, his gaze lingering on each of them.

"We've still got work to do," he said, his tone firm but encouraging. "Let's get moving."

With the crew freed and the giants stretching their massive limbs, the Straw Hats turned their attention to the defeated Baroque Works agents. Miss Goldenweek remained bound, her small frame resting against the roots of a tree. Her face was calm, almost serene, as if the chaos around her was of no concern. Beside her, Miss Valentine lay unconscious, her parasol sprawled on the ground.

Gin knelt beside the two women, securing Miss Valentine's wrists with a length of rope he had taken from the Going Merry. "That's two down," he muttered, tightening the knot with a sharp pull. He glanced over at Usopp, who was struggling to tie up Mr. 5.

"Hey, make sure it's tight," Gin barked. "This guy's got some tricks up his sleeve."

Usopp grunted, his hands trembling as he worked. "I know, I know! Do you think I want a guy who can explode snot to escape?"

"Then quit shaking and tie the damn knot!" Gin retorted, his patience wearing thin.

"Stop yelling! You're making it worse!" Usopp shot back, fumbling with the rope. After a few tense moments, he managed to bind Mr. 5's arms and legs securely. The explosive agent groaned but remained incapacitated.

"Finally," Gin muttered, standing up and dusting off his hands. He turned to Goku, who was observing the scene with his arms crossed. "That's three accounted for. What about the wax guy?"

The question made Goku's expression shift. He turned toward the jungle, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the trees. The flickering firelight from the torches illuminated the clearing, but there was no sign of Mr. 3. His elaborate wax constructs were all that remained of his presence.

"He's gone," Goku said simply.

"What?!" Gin exclaimed, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of his weapon. "Should we go after him? He can't have gotten far."

Goku shook his head. "No need. He's not our problem anymore."

"But—"

"Relax," Goku interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "We've got bigger priorities. Let him run. He'll think twice before coming after us again."

Gin hesitated, his eyes lingering on the darkened jungle, but he eventually relented. "If you say so, Captain."

The group gathered around the subdued agents, their figures illuminated by the dim light of the sun filtering through the canopy. Nami, standing with her arms crossed, eyed the prisoners with a mixture of disdain and calculation.

"So what do we do with them?" she asked. "We could leave them here, but they'd eventually free themselves."

"Or we could use them," Gin suggested, his voice low. "Take them back with us and leverage their positions in Baroque Works. They could be useful if we need to infiltrate."

Nami considered this, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "It's risky. If they don't cooperate, it could backfire."

"Cooperation isn't an issue," Goku said, stepping forward. His gaze swept over the bound agents, his presence commanding. "We can leave them here. By the time they figure out a way to escape, we'll be long gone. But if we need to use them later, we know where to find them."

Nami nodded, though her expression remained skeptical. "I hope you're right."

"We'll be fine," Goku reassured her. He turned toward Usopp and Gin. "Make sure their bindings are secure. They won't give us any trouble."

As the two worked to double-check the ropes, Goku reached for his wrist. Fastened to it was a small, compact transponder snail, distinct from the standard models. Its shell was matte black with intricate engravings that shimmered faintly in the low light. A secure dial on the side emitted a soft blue glow, a testament to its advanced modifications. This was no ordinary snail—it was a covert model, designed to bypass Marine interception and remain untraceable.

Goku turned the dial on the transponder snail, his fingers deftly adjusting the settings. The snail stirred to life, its tiny face emerging from the shell with a yawn. Its eyes blinked once before settling into a blank stare, awaiting the call to connect.

A faint click echoed from the snail as the line opened. A familiar voice answered, smooth and casual. "Yeah?"

"Sanji," Goku said, his tone steady. "Any sign of the Unluckies yet?"

"Not yet," Sanji replied, his voice carrying the faint hum of background noise—likely the sounds of the jungle near the agents' hideout. "I've been keeping an eye out, but so far, nothing."

"Good. Stay sharp," Goku said. He glanced toward the jungle, his expression darkening. "One of their agents got away—Mr. 3. He's got a Devil Fruit power that lets him create wax harder than steel. If he doubles back to the hideout, he could cause trouble."

Sanji's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Got it. I'll make sure he doesn't get the jump on me."

"Don't underestimate him," Goku warned. "He's crafty. If you see anything out of the ordinary, don't engage alone."

"Understood," Sanji said, his confidence tempered by caution. "Thanks for the heads-up."

Goku nodded, though the gesture was lost over the line. "Keep me updated. We'll rendezvous once the Unluckies show up."

"Will do," Sanji replied before the line went silent.

Goku tapped the transponder snail, ending the call. The device retracted into its dormant state, its faint blue glow fading. He turned back to the crew, his expression unreadable.

"We've done enough here," Goku said, addressing the group. "Let's regroup at the ship and get ready to move. The sooner we leave this island, the better."

The crew nodded In agreement, their determination renewed. As they began gathering their supplies and preparing to depart, Goku took one last glance at the jungle. The faint rustle of leaves carried on the wind, a reminder that their journey was far from over.

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