One Piece: Get Stronger by Watching Battles

Then, he once again used the Falcon Form, carefully separating a strand of bluish-white internal energy to wrap around the cannonball, and flapped his wings to fly into the sky.

Nami, Vivi, and the others below stared in astonishment.

Zhou Ze struggled to fly higher into the sky, passing through the clouds. He mentally estimated the time, then suddenly flipped over, placing the bomb above himself, before deactivating his human form.

"Lamb shot"

With all his might, he kicked the bottom of the bomb, which suddenly accelerated and flew higher into the air, while Zhou Ze used the force to fall to the ground.

Just as he was about to transform back into human form, a loud "boom" resounded, and the violent impact of the explosion struck his body.

Finished!

Zhou Ze was so shocked by the powerful impact that he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Without the robust physique of the pirate natives, he felt he was doomed! The intense flash of the explosion blinded him instantly, and Zhou Ze's head lolled to the side as he passed out in mid-air.

Icaram traveled a long way, and the capital city of Albana finally came into view, which excited him.

Just then, a bright light suddenly flashed across the sky. The light was so bright that it was still dazzling even after penetrating the clouds. Icarum unconsciously squinted. Then there was a loud bang. When the light faded, Icarum looked up again and his eyes widened.

In his line of sight, a black dot was falling from the sky, leaving a white line as it passed through the clouds.

Icarim stared wide-eyed at the rapidly approaching black dot, about to dodge, when "boom!" the thing slammed into his body, burying him in the sand. The immense force created a sand pit tens of meters in diameter in the desert.

"Ugh!" Icarus spat out a mouthful of blood, enduring the pain as he pushed away the dark thing pressing down on him.

That's when I realized it was actually a person!

Its entire body was pitch black and emitting smoke; large patches of its beard and hair were singed, and almost no healthy flesh was visible on its exposed skin.

Icarus was stunned. He checked the man's breath and found he was still alive!

He actually survived that explosion!

……

The crowd in the square was stunned by the earth-shattering explosion. The Straw Hat Pirates had been shocked ever since Zhou Ze appeared on the clock tower. It wasn't until the explosion above the clouds that they exchanged a complicated look and sighed.

Tashigi, with tears streaming down her face, looked up to the sky and wailed, "Lieutenant Zhou Ze!"

The evacuating navy, upon seeing this unusual situation, turned back.

At this moment, Crocodile was also defeated by Luffy, flying high into the air before crashing heavily onto the plaza.

A drop of water falls from the sky, and gradually more and more drops of water fall.

It's raining!

A deafening roar of cheers erupted outside the city!

"Sergeant Tashigi..." A marine ran over and looked at Tashigi, whose face was soaked with tears or rain, and spoke worriedly.

"Report the situation here to Colonel Smoker, and in the name of the World Government and the Navy, strip Crocodile of his status as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and arrest all Baroque Works members, including Crocodile."

"Finally, reporting to Colonel Smoker, Lieutenant Zhou Ze... has been killed in action!"

"Ah?! Yes!" the marine exclaimed in surprise, then immediately saluted and turned to deliver the message.

……

“Okay, I understand,” Smoker said, a cigar dangling from his lips as he listened to the marines’ report aboard the naval artificial rainmaking ship. “Tashigi did a great job!”

"Colonel Smoker, there's one more thing!" The marine hesitated.

"Hmm?" Smoker made a nasal sound. "Speak!"

"It's Lieutenant Zhou Ze," the marine said, somewhat fearfully and tremblingly, "Lieutenant Zhou Ze, he... he was killed in action!"

Smoker jumped to his feet in shock, but before he could speak, Tina beside him roared angrily, "What did you say? Say it again!"

"Colonel Tina, Lieutenant Zhou Ze... has been killed in action!"

"This is impossible!" Tina shouted, her face showing both panic and heartache.

"What happened?" After his initial shock, Smoker tried to calm himself down and began to understand what had happened.

……

On the outskirts of the royal capital Albana, Icarum carried Zhou Ze toward the city, rain falling on them amidst distant cheers.

"Cough, cough," Zhou Ze coughed twice, slowly waking up. His vision gradually cleared, and the excruciating pain in his body also brought him back to his senses. "Holy crap, I'm actually not dead!"

Hearing the noise on his back, Icarum turned his head. "I'm also surprised that you survived such an explosion!"

Zhou Ze then noticed that he was being carried on someone's back. "Uh? Curly hair? You're that guy from the royal guard... You have a wife who looks a lot like you... What's her name? Uh, I can't remember."

Zhou Ze muttered to himself, but Icarus didn't seem to care. He chuckled, "Looks like you're in pretty good shape. You can say so much in one go and think so much..."

“My name is Icarum, captain of the Royal Guard.”

"Ah, right, Icarus, I remember now." Zhou Ze suddenly realized, then realized, "Yeah, something's not right with me. My injury is much less severe than I thought."

Although his whole body was in pain, Zhou Ze could feel a burning pain from high temperature. His bones were not broken, and his internal organs should be fine.

What's going on? Is it some kind of divine protection?

Zhou Ze could only think of this, because the Lesser Formless Skill internal energy granted by this [Peerless Martial Arts Master] system did not even require the host to deliberately cultivate it; it circulated automatically in the body's meridians at all times.

“Icarim, put me down, I can manage on my own.” Zhou Ze patted Icarim’s shoulder, signaling him to put him down.

"Although we don't know what happened, the consequences would be unimaginable if such an explosion occurred in the capital."

Icarum bowed to Zhou Ze, "Thank you for your generous assistance. Please be sure to tell me your name!"

Zhou Ze jumped aside and waved his hand, "Don't do this, don't do this, my name is Zhou Ze."

“Mr. Zhou Ze, please come with me to the capital. His Majesty the King will be very grateful to you and will be very happy to see you.”

"And your injury still needs treatment."

Zhou Ze thought to himself, "If I see him again, it will only be to collect debts. I don't think he'll be happy about it."

Shaking his head, Zhou Ze slowly said, "I have other things to do and must leave. There's no need for thanks; it's my duty."

"As for King Cobra, I will visit him at the appropriate time. I won't disturb him this time."

Icarum tried to persuade him again, but Zhou Ze waved his hand and walked eastward. He had promised to do something else.

Chapter 40 Let's build a grave for Zhou Ze (Give me a silver note!)

"Ouch!" After walking quite a distance, Zhou Ze clutched the wound on his chest, wincing in pain. "Damn, that really hurts! Other people can have fun showing off, but for me, it's just torture!"

Despite saying that, Zhou Ze did have something to do; he had promised to teach Robin Chinese and hadn't forgotten.

Luffy should have rescued Robin by now. As for where Robin is now, Zhou Ze doesn't know. Anyway, Robin eventually boarded the ship, so he can only wait for her at East Port Tamarisk.

Meanwhile, the waters off Alabasta were in complete chaos, with dozens of naval warships blockading the surrounding area and sinking any suspicious vessels.

"Colonel Smoker, Colonel Tina's orders..." a marine asked Smoker hesitantly.

“Execute orders. This area is under Colonel Tina’s jurisdiction.” Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke. “Besides, a large number of Baroque Works pirates are trying to escape. As the Navy, what’s wrong with arresting them?”

No, no, it is.

As the marines ran off to relay the order, Smoker glanced at Captain Tina, who stood at the bow of the ship with an icy expression, and muttered, "That woman..."

"Colonel Smoker, I'm back." Tashigi's dejected voice came from beside her ear.

“Yes, Tashigi. Thanks for your hard work!” Smoker replied.

"I'm very sorry, not only did I fail to help, but I also let the Straw Hat crew, who were on the verge of death, go. As a Marine, this is a shameful act," Tashigi said, her head bowed.

"I know about the Straw Hat crew. No apology is needed for this!"

"But, Colonel..."

Tashigi was about to say something when a message came from Naval Headquarters: "Reporting to Captain Smoker, a message from Naval Headquarters." At that moment, a marine ran out of the cabin and handed her a Den Den Mushi (snail phone).

"Is this Captain Smoker? This is Marine Headquarters. Regarding the recent operation against Crocodile, the government has decided to award you and Sergeant Tashigi medals and promote you by one rank..."

“Hey, wait a minute, it wasn’t Crocodile who defeated him…” Smoker interrupted.

However, Smoker ignored the Den Den Mushi on the other end. "Furthermore..."

Smoker's veins bulged on his forehead. "We've lost Lieutenant Zhou Ze. Did you even read my report?"

"Please prepare to attend the medal awarding ceremony!" the other side continued.

Smoker finally snapped, "Hey, you, tell those old men in the government for me, tell them to go to hell!"

Colonel Tina, standing at the bow of the ship, suddenly turned around and said in a cold tone, "I want to build a tomb for Zhou Ze."

Smoker exhaled another puff of smoke without speaking. Tashigi straightened up and nodded. "That's right. Lieutenant Zhou Ze is a great naval officer!"

Soon, a grave, or rather a cenotaph, was erected on the sandy hill beside the port of Oil Flower. The grave contained Zhou Ze's naval uniform, with a lieutenant's sword stuck in the grave mound and Zhou Ze's naval cap hanging on the hilt of the sword.

The scene was somber and sorrowful. At a command, all the marines present raised their guns and fired a shot into the sky.

Many marines could no longer hold back their tears. Colonel Tina silently stroked Zhou Ze's naval cap, then turned around and said sternly, "What are you crying for? Now, immediately strengthen the coastal blockade and do not allow any pirates to escape!"

"Yes"

The marines responded in unison!

At the same time, Zhou Ze, on his way to Donggang, also felt he couldn't hold on any longer and found an abandoned house in a small town to rest. He was completely unaware that he had been killed in action.

……

Naval Headquarters, the office of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

"This is the government's decision regarding this incident," Lieutenant General Tsuru said softly, putting down the documents in his hand.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat in a chair with a furrowed brow, Admiral Akainu stood by the window looking out at the sea, Vice Admiral Garp was lying on his side on the sofa fast asleep, and there were two other people in the room.

A man with short, curly black hair, wearing a yellow and white striped suit and sunglasses, said, "Well, well, how terrible. A fallen naval lieutenant, not even mentioned."

He speaks very slowly, and his already distinctive mouth shape looks somewhat comical when he speaks.

“The government doesn’t think the dead have much value.” Another person, wearing a white suit vest and a dark blue shirt, with a green eye patch over his eyes, was sleeping against the wall.

"Hey, Garp!" Sengoku knocked on the table, and when Garp didn't react, he slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Garp!"

This time, Garp finally reacted. He rolled over and muttered, "That kid won't die. On that point, Smoker's report is unreliable."

After saying that, he fell asleep again.

Akainu moved slightly and crossed his arms.