The setting sun cast its glow upon the deck, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air.
Usopp bit off a large chunk of roasted meat, grease dripping down the corners of his mouth. He wiped it away casually, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Speaking of that adventure at the Marine branch..."
His voice suddenly dropped, and he looked around mysteriously. Chopper and Vivi unconsciously leaned closer.
"Nami actually dug a hole straight through to somewhere with a single shovel!"
Usopp slapped his thigh, startling Chopper so much he nearly jumped out of his chair.
"In an instant, the entire sky turned blood-red, and countless ghosts surged from underground, emitting mournful wails!" He gesticulated wildly, "That evil Colonel Nezumi was torn to shreds by the ghosts on the spot!"
Chopper's blue nose twitched, and his tiny hooves clutched Vivi's sleeve tightly.
"R-really? That's terrifying!" His large eyes were filled with horror, yet also flickered with curiosity.
Vivi couldn't help but swallow, her fingers unconsciously intertwining.
"That's nothing yet!" Usopp mysteriously lowered his voice, "You know Loguetown, right? The place where Pirate King Roger was born and died. On his Execution Platform, Nami directly dug up Roger's ghost..."
He deliberately drew out his words, "And guess what! Everyone present was shocked!"
"What?!" Chopper and Vivi exclaimed in unison, drawing the curious gaze of Luffy, who was busy devouring his food.
Usopp vividly described: "Roger's phantom said, 'This Eternal Pose can take you directly to Laugh Tale...'" He deliberately paused, watching his two listeners hold their breath in tension, "But that idiot Luffy snatched it and crushed it!"
"Ah?!" Chopper's jaw nearly dropped to the ground, and Vivi gasped, covering her mouth, "That's the great treasure countless people seek!"
"That guy even stood up and shouted some idiotic nonsense like 'Dreams shouldn't be defined.'" Usopp spread his hands helplessly, "Though it was pretty cool... but that was the great treasure!"
He shook his head in distress, as if he could still hear the sound of gold coins slipping through his fingers.
Just then, Luffy suddenly interjected, "Meat! Eat meat! You guys hurry up and eat, it's so delicious!" He held up a bone, his mouth greasy, making everyone burst into laughter.
Then he spoke of Twin Capes, and of the whale Laboon.
Usopp's voice softened gradually: "That big oaf is still waiting for us to return..." His gaze drifted into the distance, "We made a promise that after we circle the world once, we'll definitely go back to see him."
Chopper's eyes were already welling up, and Vivi's eyes were also red. "He's waited fifty years..." Usopp said softly, "But now he won't crash into the Red Line anymore; a new promise awaits him."
"Waaah..." Chopper finally burst into tears, burying his furry little face in Vivi's arms. Vivi also quietly wiped away her tears, her voice a little choked: "Your stories... they're truly so touching..."
Just as Usopp was excitedly preparing to recount their thrilling experience of digging up an Admiral, Ron suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him: "Stop, stop, stop! If you keep going, I'm afraid our little reindeer doctor will flee back to Drum Kingdom tonight!"
Chopper had by then curled into a ball, his hooves tightly covering his ears, his large eyes filled with terror: "D-dig up an Admiral?! What's an Admiral? Do they have a lot of fur?"
Seeing this, everyone burst into laughter. Luffy slapped his straw hat, laughing so hard he doubled over, Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, a smirk on his lips, and even the usually elegant Sanji couldn't help but laugh with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Ron wiped away tears of laughter and clapped his hands: "Alright, the farce ends here—Chopper, the rookie welcome ceremony officially begins!"
Usopp, Nami, and the others immediately gathered around excitedly, their eyes sparkling: "Chopper, congratulations! You're about to become a 'Special Ability Person'!"
"S-Special Ability Person?" Chopper tilted his head, his blue nose twitching, completely bewildered.
Ron explained with a smile: "Simply put, each of us has a unique 'special ability' bound within us, which helps us quickly grow stronger in our respective fields!"
"For example, Nami's 'Treasure Digging Ability,' which you've already witnessed." Ron pointed to the navigator, "Though sometimes it digs up strange things..."
Nami proudly lifted her chin: "A top-tier ability that can dig up anything!"
Chopper's eyes lit up, and his little hooves waved excitedly: "So amazing, I want one too!"
Sanji, however, blew a smoke ring first and lazily said, "My ability is 'Get Stronger by Getting Hit.' Every time I get hit, I get stronger." He glanced at Zoro, "Much stronger than a certain Green Algae Head who only sleeps."
Zoro snorted coldly, crossing his arms: "Hmph, my 'Sleep Ability' allows me to automatically practice swordsmanship in my sleep; I can get stronger just by lying down." He provocatively looked at Sanji, "Better than a certain curly-brow who gets beaten up all day."
"What did you say?!" Sanji's eyebrows instantly twisted into an angry spiral.
Usopp quickly interjected, proudly patting his chest: "And I, Usopp the Grand Manager, possess the 'Strongest Boasting Ability'! As long as I successfully bluff someone, I gain corresponding ability boosts!" He struck an exaggerated pose, "How about that, impressive, right?"
Chopper listened, dumbfounded, his small mouth wide open: "S-so amazing! So you all get stronger because of your abilities?"
Ron smiled and ruffled Chopper's hat: "And now, it's time to reveal your ability..."
Chopper nervously swallowed, his entire body tensing up.
[Get Stronger by Sunbathing Ability · Bound]
[Host: Chopper]
[Ability Trait: Sunbathing = Getting Stronger]
[Current Sunbathing Duration: 0 / 12]
[Each total sunbathing duration will increase with the number of completed tasks, and the reward level will increase synchronously!]
"Chopper, your ability is 'Get Stronger by Sunbathing.'"
"Sun... sunbathing?!" Chopper's little hooves instinctively touched his blue nose, his big round eyes filled with disbelief. "I can get stronger just by sunbathing? This... this is too good!"
His companions around him all showed envious expressions.
"This is too much like cheating!" Usopp was the first to exclaim, dramatically clutching his head, "I can gain such incredible power just by sunbathing?!"
Sanji's dangling cigarette nearly fell to the ground: "Chopper, your ability is too enviable!"
Thinking of his own ability, 'Get Stronger by Getting Hit'... Wait!
He hasn't been hit by Miss Nami or Miss Vivi yet, has he?
Maybe... he should find an opportunity to try?
....
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