Chapter 123: Dalton vs. Kuromarimo
The air was crisp and biting at the base of the massive tree that stood as a sentinel to the mountain. Its trunk was enormous, wider than any ship Luffy had ever seen, and its bark was thick and gnarled, etched with age and resilience. Snow clung to its towering form, cascading down in a light drizzle whenever the icy wind swept through the forest.
At the base of the tree, a layer of snow blanketed the ground, its pristine white surface untouched. Thick ropes were tied securely around the trunk, straining against the weight of a lift as it descended. Generators hummed softly in the distance, their rhythmic pulses breaking the quiet serenity of the snowy wilderness.
From the skies, Luffy descended, his figure silhouetted against the pale morning light. His boots crunched softly into the snow as he landed and it erupted like water, his straw hat firmly secured on his head despite the swirling winds. The thick winter coat Dalton had given him provided welcome relief from the freezing environment, its fur-lined edges offering a barrier against the biting cold.
For a moment, Luffy stood still, his breath visible as faint clouds in the air. He glanced upward, watching the lift as it slowly made its way down the ropes. The hum of its mechanisms grew louder, breaking the stillness. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips as the lift came into view, carrying Dalton and the blue-nosed reindeer he had met earlier.
The lift came to a gentle stop, its doors creaking open as Dalton and the reindeer stepped out. Dalton's expression was stern, his eyes scanning the surrounding snow-covered forest with the sharpness of a predator. His fur coat, much like Luffy's, was thick and heavy, but he moved with the grace and power of someone used to the harshness of Drum Island.
Dalton's deep voice broke the silence. "This tree… it is the only way up the mountain. If Wapol plans to retake the palace, he will have to come through here."
Luffy nodded. He already knew that. He had seen this place before, in his memories. But he said nothing. "Makes sense," he said instead. "No other paths, huh?"
Dalton shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "None. This is where we make our stand."
Before Luffy could reply, a loud voice boomed across the clearing, echoing off the trees like a thunderclap.
"Dalton, you filthy traitor!"
The three of them turned sharply toward the sound, their eyes narrowing as they spotted the source of the voice. Emerging from the shadows of the forest was a bizarre sight. A massive crocodile-like creature with elongated legs that made it look like some kind of grotesque horse. Its body was draped in a makeshift saddle, atop which sat three figures: Wapol, Chess, and Kuromarimo.
Wapol, with his wide mouth and bulbous form, disembarked from the creature first. His oversized winter coat flapped awkwardly as he stumbled onto the snow, his metal jaw gleaming in the pale light. Behind him, Chess, with his mismatched armor and absurdly long bow, hopped off with a flourish. Kuromarimo followed, his wild afro covered in frost, making him look even more ridiculous.
Luffy stared at the trio. He had seen them before. In the anime. In the manga. He knew exactly how this would go. But he let himself laugh anyway. "Bwahaha! What is this?! You guys look like you just stepped out of a comedy act!"
Wapol's face turned beet red, his metal jaw clenching audibly. "W-What?!"
Chess glared, his cheeks flushing as he fumbled to adjust his armor. "How dare you mock the great Chess, you fool!"
Kuromarimo, his frosted afro shaking as he stomped a foot, shouted, "You will regret laughing at us!"
Luffy wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter subsiding into a wide grin. "Sorry, sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "It is just… you guys look ridiculous. I mean, come on! A crocodile horse? Really?"
Wapol's embarrassment turned to anger, his voice rising in a furious shout. "Enough! You dare to mock the might of King Wapol? I will make you regret this!"
Dalton stepped forward, his face like stone as he locked eyes with Wapol. "You are no king anymore, Wapol. You abandoned this island when it needed you most. You are nothing but a coward."
The insult hit its mark, and Wapol snarled, his body trembling with rage. "You will pay for those words, Dalton! Chess! Kuromarimo! Teach these fools a lesson!"
Chess and Kuromarimo stepped forward, their weapons at the ready. Chess nocked an arrow in his long bow, while Kuromarimo flexed his arms, the frosted spikes in his afro glittering dangerously.
Luffy stepped beside Dalton, his grin turning into a determined smirk. "Looks like the fun is about to start."
Dalton nodded, his fists clenching. Beside him, the blue-nosed reindeer tensed, its eyes sharp and focused despite its small stature.
As the tension mounted, Luffy's tail flicked once more, brushing against the snow. "Alright, guys," he said, his voice steady but filled with anticipation. "Let us show them what we are made of."
---
The clearing erupted into chaos as the first blows of battle were struck. The serene white snow at the base of the great tree quickly became a battleground. Dalton squared off against Kuromarimo, the frosted-afro warrior whose wild grin betrayed his bloodlust. The other combatants faded into the periphery as Dalton and Kuromarimo faced each other, the tension between them palpable.
"You never belonged with Wapol," Kuromarimo snarled, flexing his arms. His spiked afro bristled with icicles, each one sharp enough to pierce flesh. "You were just a dog, Dalton, one too proud to grovel properly!"
Dalton's calm eyes betrayed none of the rage brewing within him. "I served Wapol to protect this kingdom, not to enable his tyranny. You would not understand loyalty."
"Loyalty?" Kuromarimo sneered, stepping closer, his breath visible in the freezing air. "Do not make me laugh. You betrayed your king. You betrayed us."
Dalton clenched his fists, his breath steady despite the tension. "I betrayed a coward. And I will fight to protect this land from his poison again."
Without another word, Kuromarimo lunged, his massive arms swinging like wrecking balls. Dalton dodged the first blow, stepping to the side with practiced precision, but the second swing caught him on the shoulder, sending him skidding back in the snow.
Kuromarimo laughed as he charged forward, pressing his advantage. Dalton regained his footing just in time to block a vicious punch aimed at his ribs. The impact reverberated through his arm, but he held firm, countering with a powerful elbow to Kuromarimo's jaw.
The crack of bone echoed through the clearing, and Kuromarimo spat blood into the snow. He staggered back but did not fall, his grin growing wider. "That is it, Dalton! Show me what you have got!"
Dalton did not respond. Instead, he stepped forward, delivering a series of brutal punches to Kuromarimo's midsection. Each blow landed with the force of a hammer, driving the air from Kuromarimo's lungs. But the afro-clad warrior was relentless, absorbing the hits before grabbing Dalton by the arm and pulling him into a vicious headbutt.
Blood splattered onto the snow as Dalton's nose broke, staining the pristine white ground. He stumbled back, his vision momentarily blurred, but he steadied himself, wiping the blood away with his sleeve.
"You are stronger than I remember," Kuromarimo admitted, circling Dalton like a predator sizing up its prey. "But strength will not save you. You are still the same weak fool who followed orders like a dog."
Dalton's eyes narrowed. "Say what you will, but I will never bow to Wapol again."
The two clashed once more, their blows growing more savage with each exchange. Kuromarimo's spiked afro became a weapon, the frosted tips slashing through Dalton's coat and drawing blood. Dalton retaliated with a brutal uppercut that lifted Kuromarimo off the ground, sending him crashing into the snow.
Kuromarimo groaned, spitting out a tooth as he climbed to his feet. The snow around him was stained red, a testament to the ferocity of their battle. "You have got fire, Dalton," he admitted, wiping the blood from his mouth. "But fire burns out."
He lunged forward, his arms swinging wildly. Dalton met him head-on, their fists colliding with bone-crushing force. Blood sprayed into the air as their strikes landed, each one carrying the weight of their convictions.
As the fight raged, Kuromarimo's taunts grew sharper. "Do you think these people will ever forgive you?" he spat, his voice venomous. "You were one of us, Dalton. No matter how hard you fight, you will always be a traitor to them."
Dalton did not flinch. "If fighting for this kingdom makes me a traitor, then so be it."
With a roar, Kuromarimo tackled Dalton, driving him into the snow. The two rolled across the blood-streaked ground, their fists flying. Dalton landed a brutal punch to Kuromarimo's temple, momentarily dazing him. Seizing the opportunity, Dalton pushed him off and climbed to his feet, breathing heavily.
Kuromarimo rose as well, his body battered but his grin unbroken. "You are impressive, Dalton. But you are holding back. Why?"
Dalton did not answer. Instead, he took a deep breath, his hands clenching into fists. Blood dripped from his nose and lips, staining his coat, but his resolve remained unshaken.
Kuromarimo sneered. "Holding back will not save you. If you are too weak to finish this, then I will!"
He charged again, his fists raised, but this time Dalton did not dodge. He stood his ground, his expression unreadable as Kuromarimo closed the distance. At the last moment, Dalton sidestepped, delivering a devastating punch to Kuromarimo's ribs. The sound of cracking bone echoed through the clearing, and Kuromarimo let out a pained scream as he crumpled to the ground.
Dalton stood over him, his chest heaving. "This ends now," he said, his voice cold.
Kuromarimo laughed weakly, blood bubbling from his lips. "You think… this will change anything? You cannot… erase your past."
Dalton's expression softened for a moment, but his resolve did not waver. "Maybe not. But I can fight for a better future."
With a final, brutal punch, Dalton knocked Kuromarimo unconscious, his body falling limp in the blood-soaked snow. The clearing grew quiet, save for the sound of Dalton's heavy breathing.
The battle had been won, but the war was far from over. Dalton glanced toward the tree, where Wapol and the others were still fighting. Blood dripped from his knuckles as he turned, ready to rejoin the fray.
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