On Moriah's side, chaos reigned.
"Fur Reinforcement!"
Chopper rolled into a tight ball of fur, shielding Nami from the Shadow Warrior's sudden strike.
"Kishishishi~ Raccoon, scram!"
The Shadow Warrior kicked Chopper with brute force, sending him flying through the air before he crashed harshly onto the ground.
"Chopper, are you alright?!"
Nami clutched her Weather Wand, her heart racing as she anxiously watched Moriah, dust clinging to his face from the lightning strikes, and whispered, "Chopper… are you okay?"
"I'm fine…"
Chopper swayed unsteadily, his eyes glazed over as he staggered, blinking at the four blurry duplicates of Moriah.
"Huh? Why did he split into four?" he murmured. "Where did the others go?"
Nami gritted her teeth, trembling as she stared at Moriah, clearly enraged and elusive.
"I can't hold him off… He's dodging my lightning by shifting his shadows. I've done everything I can!"
Determined, Nami swung the Weather Wand and whispered:
"Magic Weather: Mist!"
Cold air bubbles collided with residual heat from the earlier lightning strikes, creating a thick, condensing mist that spread rapidly across the area.
"Great! Now's our chance!"
Seeing the mist successfully separate them from Moriah, Nami grabbed the dazed Chopper and bolted.
Nami had never been like Luffy, who would recklessly fight to the death. She knew well the truth: where there's life, there's hope.
Her past as a thief had trained her to feign weakness, trick enemies, and escape from stronger opponents. Now, she used those same tricks.
"Little girl, you think you can escape?"
A terrifying low growl rumbled behind her.
"What?! He found me already?!"
Nami whirled around in panic. Moriah lunged at her, claws aimed at her neck.
Pfft!
To her surprise, Moriah's grip met with something extremely hard.
"Nyah-nyah, you fell for it!"
She turned her head, a mocking smile on her lips.
"Hmm?"
Moriah stared in surprise at the object in his hands, its golden sheen mocking him. Slowly, it transformed into a golden statue with its tongue sticking out.
"Golden Decoy?"
Moriah frowned, confused. He had sensed warmth—but this decoy had clearly fooled him.
---
In a nearby forest, Nami jogged swiftly, Chopper tucked securely under one arm.
"Idiot! I already detected that he was using temperature to locate my real body! I lowered both mine and Chopper's temperature with cold air, then zapped the gold decoy with lightning, raising its temperature! That trick finally shook off that Shichibukai's shadow!"
Suddenly, she stumbled. Her foot was caught.
"Huh, isn't this Usopp's sticky glue?"
She tugged at her foot, then looked around.
"Oh right… Usopp disappeared during the fight. Could other enemies have intercepted him?"
From the distance, muffled triumphant shouts echoed.
"Ah ha ha ha! You transparent bastard, you finally fell for my sure-kill move! Now pass out!"
Nami wrinkled her nose at the stench.
"Ugh! It smells awful!"
She followed the source and discovered Usopp.
Her eyes widened at the sight. His face was bruised and swollen, nearly three times its normal size. His long nose was broken and bent into three jagged sections. His body was covered in cuts and contusions—a truly pitiable scene.
"U-Usopp… are you alright?"
"Nami! I won!"
He puffed out his chest, wincing as his injuries protested the movement.
"Ow… ow… ow…"
Nami looked ahead and saw the lion-faced monster lying foaming and convulsing.
"That's one of Moriah's subordinates… an invisible powerhouse."
Usopp gasped for air, explaining through labored breaths:
"He's enhanced with immense strength and durability, and his nose is highly sensitive. But I used ten stink bombs to create a trap… and knocked him out!"
"That's incredible, Usopp!"
Nami didn't know the full extent of his struggle, but the severe injuries told the story. His victory had come at a high cost.
"Chopper! Chopper!"
She shook the tiny reindeer awake.
"Ah… Doctor… calling from across the river?"
Chopper, dazed from the Shadow Warrior's strike and the overpowering stench, remained unconscious.
"Don't go, Chopper!"
Nami pinched his cheeks hard, desperately trying to wake him.
He groaned, entirely out of commission.
Nami's frustration mounted. She carried Chopper in one arm and helped Usopp with the other.
"Let's move quickly. That Shichibukai, Moriah, is still searching for us."
Usopp stared blankly:
"Shirogai, Luffy… where are they? Did no one come to help? You've been fighting a Shichibukai by yourselves all this time?"
Admiration and relief radiated from him, bringing Nami comfort.
"Of course!"
She tilted her head back, proud and confident.
"If I weren't worried about your safety, I would have defeated that Shichibukai myself long ago!"
"Wow, Nami! You're so strong!"
Usopp clapped enthusiastically.
"You actually defeated a subordinate of a Seven Warlord on your own!"
Nami blushed slightly at the praise.
"R-Really?"
Usopp scratched his singed, dusty hair, grinning proudly despite the pain.
"Of course! I am Sniper King Usopp! Taking down a small fry is nothing!"
The thrill of victory, the feeling of true strength, surged within both of them.
Chopper: Waaah, I'm just a fifty-Berries reindeer who passed out.