Chapter 174: The Illness Is Cured! But the Brain Is Broken!
The fused monster moved.
Combined into Chessmarimo, it possessed both melee and ranged attack modes, capable of using bows and arrows as well as punches.
Not only was it immensely powerful, but it could also casually produce various weapons, including but not limited to large hammers or battle axes.
But Chopper moved too.
Quietly swallowing a yellow pill, he activated the transformation ability of the Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
"Useless!"
Chess's head sneered,
"We've worked with Dalton for years and have long figured out the combat patterns of Zoan users! It's nothing more than borrowing the wild power of beasts to enhance physical abilities—"
Before he could finish, Chopper interrupted, "I can disrupt the Devil Fruit's transformation wavelength with drugs. After five years of research, I've discovered four transformation states!"
Chessmarimo laughed loudly, "Trying to get attention? Stop bragging! You're just an unloved blue-nosed monster!"
As he spoke, two flaming arrows shot toward Chopper.
But Chopper easily dodged them with a kick of his hind legs.
"Leg Point!"
Chessmarimo was stunned, then pulled out four giant wooden hammers from nowhere, swinging them wildly at Chopper.
But Chopper's fur suddenly grew wildly, turning into a ball of fur that blocked the attacks.
"Guard Point!"
Seeing this, the two-headed monster angrily took out even more powerful battle axes.
Four giant axes swung chaotically, forcing Chopper to retreat and temporarily avoid the onslaught.
"Brain Point!"
Chopper's brain raced as he analyzed his opponent, quickly locking onto Chessmarimo's weakness!
"You've already lost!"
"Stop boasting! What good are multiple transformations? You're just a useless coward who only knows how to dodge!"
Chopper didn't argue but answered directly with action.
He slipped through the gaps in the attacks like an eel, leaping beneath the monster—
"Arm Point!"
Bam!
From below, he struck both chins with precision.
Chess's head and Kuromarimo's head snapped back simultaneously, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Chopper landed, panting heavily.
The three-minute time limit of the Rumble Ball had ended, and he felt dizzy.
But the joy of victory kept him standing tall.
Lufia jumped down from the roof, stars practically overflowing from her eyes:
"So amazing! A reindeer with seven transformations! Incredible! I must have you join my Pirate crew!"
Sanji also smiled:
"Well done, little guy."
Chopper blushed, fidgeting awkwardly:
"W-what... What are you talking about! You bastards..."
Just then, the three of them noticed simultaneously—
Wapol was gone.
Inside the castle.
While Chessmarimo was at a disadvantage, Wapol had secretly slipped away.
He called it "the king's foresight"—if you can't win, run, preserve your strength, and wait for an opportunity to turn the tables.
The castle gates were inexplicably left open year-round, causing thick snow to accumulate inside, but this also gave Wapol an opportunity.
Entering the castle, he sneered contemptuously,
"Foolish enemies, not even locking the doors."
But when he saw the interior of the castle, his anger flared up again.
The corridors, halls, and even the stairs were covered in white snow.
Why had the castle, a symbol of royal authority, ended up like this!
"Once I reach the armory..."
He headed deeper into the castle, "I'll devour all the weapons inside, merging them with my body... I'll become the most terrifying human weapon! Then, I'll kill every last one of you!"
In the original plot, the sick Nami encountered Wapol in the castle, stole the armory key during the fight, and prevented the birth of the Human Weapon.
But in this world, it was Ralph who fell ill.
No one stopped Wapol.
He found the armory.
Retrieved the key he had kept close to his body all along!
Opened that terrifying door.
Spears, swords, flintlocks, cannons, armor, even a few old-fashioned naval guns... centuries of Drum Kingdom's military stockpiles were all here.
Wapol's eyes lit up.
"All of this... is mine!"
He opened his mouth and began to devour.
Swords, spears, flintlocks... flowed like water into his stomach.
His body began to swell, a metallic sheen shining through his skin. His arms turned into cannon barrels, blades sprouted from his back, and his legs transformed into wheels.
Ten minutes later.
The armory was emptied, but in its place stood a terrifying monster.
Over fifteen meters tall, its entire body pieced together from various weapons.
Its left arm was a triple-barreled cannon, its right arm a spinning blade wheel, its chest lined with dozens of gun muzzles, its back extending wing-like structures made of six long spears, and its legs were
thick tank treads.
Baku Baku no Mi Ultimate Form—Human Weapon Wapol!
Boom!
He punched through the wall, bursting directly out of the armory.
Outside, Lufia, Sanji, and Chopper had just entered the castle when they were drawn by the explosion.
Looking up, they saw the enormous metal monster and froze simultaneously.
"..."
Lufia and Chopper spoke in unison, their eyes turning into stars, "So cool!"
Sanji: "...Is now really the time for that?!"
"Die!"
Wapol's voice, resonating through metal, became deep and terrifying.
Boom boom boom boom boom—!!
Cannons roared in unison.
Cannonballs, bullets, blades... poured down like a torrential storm.
"Run!!"
Sanji grabbed the still starry-eyed Lufia and Chopper, turned, and sprinted away.
The three fled in disarray, cannonballs exploding behind them, rubble flying everywhere.
They led Wapol toward the castle gate, trying to lure him outside.
But Wapol suddenly stopped.
"Wait..."
He turned to look deep into the castle,
"That old witch Kureha... is she still in the castle? I'll kill her first!"
He turned, wheels grinding against the ground, and headed toward the castle's interior.
Chopper's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Don't you dare hurt Doctorine!!"
He broke free from Sanji's grip, turned, and charged at Wapol.
"Chopper! Come back!"
Lufia shouted.
But it was too late.
Wapol raised his cannon-arm, aiming at the charging little reindeer.
Boom!
A cannonball fired.
Lufia flashed in front of Chopper.
The cannonball exploded, sending her flying back, crashing into the wall.
Charred all over, but otherwise unharmed.
Chopper's tears fell in large drops, "Idiot! Why did you save me?!"
Lufia grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth on her soot-blackened face, "Because I've decided, you're my nakama!"
"Overestimating yourself."
Wapol continued forward, beginning to search room by room.
The three exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.
"Let's go all out!"
Lufia clenched her fists.
"We'll risk our lives to stop him!"
Sanji lit his last cigarette.
"That's right!"
Chopper adjusted the top hat on his head.
The three prepared to launch a suicidal charge.
But just then————
Whoosh!
A dark shadow flew through the castle gate, striking Wapol's exposed head with precision.
Boom!
Gunpowder exploded.
It was Usopp's special ammunition—Fire Star!
Wapol remained unscathed—his face was thicker than reason allowed—but the attack successfully enraged him.
He turned his head, looking outside the castle.
On the hillside, Usopp stood panting, slingshot raised.
Behind him were Dalton, the militiamen, the Doctor 20 team, and...
Zoro, along with the two women behind him.
Dalton stepped forward, shouting with all his might:
"Wapol! We won't let you do as you please anymore! Ruling a country isn't about violence and fear! It's about heart! You... are utterly unfit to be king!"
Wapol sneered:
"Spouting nonsense again! Ruling a country requires a complete system of governance and powerful military force! There's no need to care about the thoughts of those lowly commoners!"
Vivi leaned forward, angrily retorting:
"You—"
Before she could finish.
A voice came from deep within the castle.
It wasn't loud, but it strangely overpowered all the noise, echoing through the vast castle hall:
"The Kingly Way and the Tyrannical Way? Interesting."
Everyone turned simultaneously toward the direction of the voice.
Deep in the corridor, a door opened.
A person walked out.
Bare-chested, wearing only black trousers.
Long black hair cascaded over broad shoulders.
The Straw Hat crew froze slightly.
This person... looked like Ralph.
But for a moment, they couldn't be sure!
Not just because of the suddenly long hair, but also because of those blood-red eyes.
Ralph only occasionally acted cool, but those crimson pupils revealed a genuine, frost-like coldness.
Dr. Kureha, who had witnessed Ralph's entire transformation in the ward, wore an extremely complicated expression.
"The Jurassic Flu is indeed cured..."
"But his brain..."
"...seems to be broken."