The wind shifted as the camels descended into the basin.
The gold of the desert faded into pale grays and browns. The glint of sunlight lost its shimmer beneath the swirling haze of sand. Yuba didn't welcome them—it withered in silence. Cracked tiles poked through the dunes like bones. The last stretch of road was uneven, sunken beneath countless layers of wind-blown grit.
Vivi gripped her reins tightly, lips parted as she took in the ruin. Her eyes flicked from corner to corner—every building, every shattered window, every lifeless palm tree pulling a memory from her past.
Children chasing each other with water buckets. The splash of the fountain at dusk. Koza laughing, soaked, shaking water off his hair. Market stalls overflowing with fruit. The scent of fried bread and spices.
Now, only sand.
She dismounted, her legs trembling beneath the weight of reality.
Sanji looked around and sighed quietly. "Crocodile didn't just drain this place—he erased it."
Nami clutched the edge of her cloak, her voice barely audible. "There's nothing left."
Zoro didn't say a word. His eyes scanned the rooftops, the alley corners, every creak in the wind. He was listening.
Luffy walked past them all. His face unreadable. His steps even. His shadow flickered faintly on the sand, its edges shifting like a second breeze.
[SHADOW FIELD: PASSIVE]
[HEAT SIGNATURE DETECTED – LOW THREAT – WITHIN RANGE]
He stopped at the far side of the square.
There was a tent.
Its cloth was torn and sun-bleached. A rusted pole held the front flap open just enough for wind to pass through, carrying the smell of canvas, sweat, and dust baked in heat.
Inside, a ragged cough echoed.
Vivi's heart leapt.
She stumbled forward, pushing past Luffy, and yanked the flap aside.
"Toto?!"
Inside, a man hunched over a mound of sand, hands trembling around a rusted shovel. His skin was deep brown, lined like aged leather. Sweat soaked through his patched shirt. He turned slowly, blinking through the glare.
His breath caught.
"P...Princess… Vivi?"
She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.
"I thought—" he coughed, "—I thought it was the wind playing tricks."
She held him tighter. His ribs pressed against her arms. His whole body was thinner, smaller than she remembered. But his spirit hadn't changed.
"I knew you'd come," he whispered.
The others stepped closer. Sanji paused outside, removing his cigarette. Nami covered her mouth with her scarf. Even Usopp's eyes widened with guilt and disbelief.
Toto sat down on the floor of the tent and leaned his back against a crate.
"They all left," he said. "They couldn't take the dryness anymore. No food. No water. Just promises that never came."
"But you stayed," Vivi said softly.
He smiled. "Someone had to keep digging. The water… the real water is still down there. I know it."
She looked at the cuts on his palms. The callouses that had become scars. The empty barrel near the back of the tent.
"The rebels?" Nami asked.
Toto's face dimmed. "They're in Katorea now. They say the king betrayed them. Koza… he leads them."
Vivi's breath hitched.
Koza.
Her childhood friend.
Now an enemy of her father.
"No…" she whispered.
"You must show them who you are," Toto said. "Not as royalty. As someone who still believes in peace."
Luffy didn't speak. He stood just outside the tent, his face still, but his fingers twitching.
His shadow swirled slowly beneath him.
The wind stilled.
Zoro raised his head slightly. "Get ready."
Sand slipped in a strange pattern from behind the closest dune. Then a vibration. A second. Thud. Thud.
Usopp turned, squinting. "Something's coming."
Luffy stepped into the plaza.
The sun had dipped further, casting long orange shadows.
Atop the ridge stood a hulking silhouette—a man dragging a metal bat as thick as a tree trunk. His striped desert cloak hung loosely over wide shoulders. His eyes were vacant. He didn't blink.
Behind him, a much smaller woman twirled a metal-tipped parasol with a singsong giggle, skipping as she descended the dune sideways.
Then a rumble beneath their feet.
The sand cracked open. A massive mole-like creature burst upward, fangs bared, steam hissing from the back of its neck.
Lassoo. Mr. 4. Miss Merry Christmas.
Baroque Works.
They stood together at the edge of the ruin.
The wind picked up again, pulling Vivi's scarf from her shoulder.
Sanji stepped beside her, Zoro drew a blade.
Luffy's hand clenched.
Battle had arrived with the sunset.
[End of Chapter 123]
_________________________________________________________________________
🔥 Hey legends! Quick updates! 🔥
💥 Can't wait for the next chapter? Good news—ALL advance chapters are available on Patreon for just $5! No more waiting, just pure binge-reading goodness! 🚀
👉 patreon.com/cyci07
✨ Power Stone Challenge! ✨
If we hit 100 power stones, I'll drop 2 bonus chapters! Let's see if you guys can make me suffer! 😂
💬 Enjoying the story? Leave a review and let me know your favorite moment so far! It helps the novel grow and reach more readers!
Thanks for all your support—you guys are awesome! ❤️