One Piece: Get Stronger by Watching Battles

Ace leaped into the air, shouting "Fire Fist!" His arm transformed into a giant ball of flame, and he threw a punch that shot out at Tina with incredible speed.

[Successful Learning of the Jade Ladder]

[Fire Fist training successful]

Tina missed her first attack, and Ace's counterattack was already imminent. She only had time to retreat a few steps before the extremely large fireball struck the ground where Tina had been standing, and the powerful impact instantly sent Tina flying.

Upon receiving the system notification, Zhou Ze reacted quickly, took a few steps, and leaped high into the air, shouting, "Moonwalk!"

He took a few steps in the air, caught Tina, and landed back on the ground.

Tina's robe was riddled with holes, with smoke rising from several places. The veil on her hat had turned to ash, revealing her face, which was also blackened by smoke.

"That's it? It doesn't look very good!" Ace grinned after landing.

Looking at Tina, who had fainted in his arms, Zhou Ze breathed a sigh of relief. She had only fainted; thankfully, she was alright.

Now I can finally have a proper talk with Ace.

He gently put Tina down, stood up, and took a few steps toward Ace.

"Ace, my name is Zhou Ze, and I'd like to talk to you!"

"Talk? Talk about what?" Ace asked, puzzled.

"I know you're hunting someone down. Take my advice, that guy ate the Dark-Dark Fruit, and his abilities are very strange... you..."

"You've seen him?" Flames suddenly erupted from Ace's body.

"Ah, no, I haven't seen him yet!" Zhou Ze shook his head. "But that's not important. Listen to me, that guy is really powerful, and..."

"Are you saying I can't beat him?" Ace roared, interrupting Zhou Ze. "How dare you underestimate me!"

"Yan Shangzhang!"

The flames on Ace's body instantly spread, forming a huge wall of fire that isolated the two of them within the area of ​​flames.

Holy crap, did I say something wrong?

Zhou Ze's pupils contracted sharply. Just as he was pondering how to salvage the situation, he heard Ace roar again:

"fire punch!"

Ace swung his right arm and delivered a fiery punch.

"fire punch!"

Zhou Ze also let out a soft shout, clenched his right fist, and the internal force of the Lesser Formless Skill surged wildly. A ball of flame also rose on his right arm. The difference was that this flame was somewhat blurry and its color was closer to bluish-white, making it look more like some kind of cyclone.

The equally massive cyclone of white fireworks collided with Ace's flames, exploding with a deafening roar.

"Impossible!" Ace exclaimed in shock. "Who are you?!"

“Sigh, I already told you my name is Zhou Ze,” Zhou Ze sighed.

"Why would you..."

“This is my ability, and I can’t say more,” Zhou Ze shook his head at Ace. “Just know that I have no ill intentions towards you. Put the fire wall away!”

"Can we have a proper talk now?"

Ace's expression shifted between light and shadow. He withdrew his power and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

“Let’s talk about Blackbeard, whom you’re hunting,” Zhou Ze said gravely. “I know what he’s been doing, but…”

“However, he has already eaten the Dark-Dark Fruit,” Zhou Ze hesitated for a moment, “and has the ability to devour everything, so I hope you can give up on capturing him…”

"You bastard, no way!" Ace roared, flames erupting from his body again, his anger reaching its peak. "I'll definitely bring him back!"

“Well, sigh,” Zhou Ze sighed again, and gave a self-deprecating laugh, “I knew all along that it was unlikely to persuade you to give up, but I always thought I’d give it a try.”

He stared at Ace for a while longer. "In that case, I hope you won't be careless when you face him."

"Luffy should arrive in the next few days, you can wait and see!"

After saying that, he turned and walked to Tina's side, picked her up, and prepared to leave. He had only taken a few steps when, as if remembering something, Zhou Ze suddenly turned back and called out to Ace in the distance.

"Also, don't light cigarettes for just anyone, especially blond guys!"

Chapter 22 Crocodile (Bonus Chapter for Lantern Festival)

"Ah, you really are a bastard! My beautiful and charming Miss Tina, how did you get such a serious injury!"

"I challenge you to a duel. In just half a day, Miss Tina has returned in such a bad state..."

Fombardy and Zango, along with several marines, arrived at the beach in a small boat to meet her. Upon seeing Tina injured and unconscious, the two were furious.

Zhou Ze kicked the two guys away with one foot each, then ordered the other marines, "Take Colonel Tina back to the ship to rest. I have other things to do, so I'm leaving now."

Several marines saluted respectfully, "Yes, sir!"

……

"Ah, sir, are you here to rent a camel?" The shrewd-looking shopkeeper rubbed his hands together and looked at Zhou Ze respectfully.

"Yes, I need to get to the capital, which requires crossing a vast desert. Having a camel would make things much easier."

The boss's eyes gleamed even brighter. "If you're going to the capital, I suggest you rent F-Crocodile. Its speed is second only to the Runaway Duck!"

"F-Crocodile?" Zhou Ze paused for a moment, seemingly vaguely remembering it. "Okay, then let's rent one."

The shopkeeper was overjoyed. "Alright, sir, but F. the crocodile is a carnivore, so we'll need to prepare some more for it..."

Zhou Ze waved his hand, "Stop talking so much nonsense. Also, prepare my food and water for the journey. It'll be quick."

……

F. The crocodile galloped along, kicking up a cloud of dust. Zhou Ze, who had initially been in the mood to appreciate the magnificent desert scenery, was now lying limply on the crocodile's back. After traveling through the desert for several hours under the scorching heat, even Zhou Ze was starting to feel the strain.

Just as he was about to stop, he saw a cluster of buildings appear in front of him—a mirage?

Zhou Ze's first thought was that he was seeing a mirage. But after moving forward a little further, he suddenly realized that it was indeed a real city, and he could already hear the noise coming from it.

Overjoyed, Zhou Ze urged his mount to speed up, but as they drew closer, he realized something was amiss.

The commotion was mixed with screams, cries, pleas for mercy, and unrestrained laughter.

Pirates are robbing this town!

Zhou Ze jumped off the crocodile's back, tied it to the weathered rubble outside the city, rolled up the veil covering his head, tightened his outer robe, and with a few leaps, quickly rushed into the city.

However, as soon as he entered the city, he heard an even more shrill scream, mixed with the howling of sand and dust. Zhou Ze became even more anxious and was about to speed up when waves of cheers came from above.

"hero!"

"Guardians of Alabasta!"

"Lord Crocodile!"

"Long live!"

Zhou Ze felt his heart skip a beat. Was the sand crocodile in this city?

Just as he was pondering whether to find a place to hide or run away, a person appeared on the street.

Crocodile!

Zhou Ze's eyes twitched violently. Would hiding now make him seem even more suspicious?

Holy crap! What should I do?

The newcomer was Crocodile, carrying a large bundle that appeared to be treasure obtained from defeating pirates.

Standing over 2.5 meters tall, with a suture line running across his entire face, he was smoking a cigar. In this hot and humid desert country, he was still dressed very meticulously in a mink coat, with an orange checkered vest underneath, and a conceited and arrogant expression on his face.

Zhou Ze's mind raced as he considered countermeasures. Crocodile was getting closer and closer, and Zhou Ze knew Crocodile's true strength. If Luffy didn't have the protagonist's halo, Crocodile would never have lost.

This guy can fight almost any strong opponent to a standstill, and Zhou Ze doesn't think he can defeat Crocodile right now.

Sometimes it's not shameful to be a little cowardly!

As Zhou Ze thought this, he forced a smile as he watched Crocodile getting closer and closer.

Crocodile had just made a fool of himself in front of the Alabasta people, gaining a bunch of little fans, and was in a great mood.

But as soon as I stepped out of the town square onto the street, I saw a young man standing in the middle of the street.

The person is not good!

Crocodile thought of it instantly.

However, he was not a coward. As he walked forward, he kept a wary eye on Zhou Ze.

As they drew closer, the young man's expression remained unchanged, his eyes calm, causing Crocodile's heart to sink slightly.

As the two brushed past each other, Crocodile noticed that the young man suddenly smiled.

His calm expression and eyes were accompanied by a sudden hint of a smile.

Sneer!

ridicule!

This is a sign that action is about to be taken!

Crocodile was instantly enraged. He raised his arm, which suddenly turned into sand, transforming into a huge crescent-shaped sand blade.

"Lone Crescent Dune!"

Zhou Ze forced a smile and breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he hadn't gotten into a conflict with the sand crocodile.

No sooner had he relaxed his guard than a hoarse, muffled shout reached his ear. Zhou Ze's heart tightened, and he instinctively flinched.

"shave"

A massive sand blade grazed Zhou Ze's shoulder, tearing off his robe and veil.

Zhou Ze's eyebrows twitched. That was close!

That sand crocodile is really cunning! Luckily I reacted quickly, otherwise I'd be a dried-up corpse by now, damn it!

That said, this guy truly lives up to his reputation as a high-IQ criminal capable of playing the "theft of a country" game. He acted without any warning before making his move, which is truly terrifying!

Zhou Ze looked at the sand crocodile warily, thinking to himself.

Crocodile was also somewhat surprised. He had taken the initiative, yet the other party had dodged his attack. It seemed his judgment was correct; this person was up to no good!