Alabasta is a desert country. After leaving the port city, it didn't take long to enter the vast desert.
Even in the morning, the sun in the sky still made people sweat a lot, with temperatures reaching forty to fifty degrees.
The sunlight shining off the sand dunes created a mirage-like distortion in the atmosphere.
Luffy had to take off his coat, leaving him with only a relatively cool outfit.
"Luffy, let me carry it for you."
Vivi took the clothes that Luffy had taken off.
Luffy, of course, didn't hesitate to hand the coat to Vivi.
Seeing Vivi's worried face, he said, "Don't worry, your father will be fine."
"Yes, thank you for your kind words."
"Crocodile has two goals, one is this country, and the other is the Ancient Weapon called Pluton buried in this country. He will not kill your father to reveal its whereabouts."
Luffy added a sentence.
He had brought up the subject of Pluton when he met Robin at Whiskey Peak.
Vivi certainly knew, but she only knew a little.
Now, hearing him say this, she immediately felt much better. At least for a short while, her father wouldn't be in danger.
At this moment, Ace couldn't help but say, "Is it still far?"
"According to our speed, we should arrive at the capital tomorrow morning..."
Vivi held Luffy's coat and whispered, "If we find some camels or horses, we can get there around three or four in the afternoon."
In the vast desert, there were obviously no camels, let alone horses.
There was only sand in the desert, as far as the eye could see.
Ace looked at Luffy and smiled, "Luffy, let's have a race, like when we were kids. Let's see who gets to the capital first!"
"Just one race isn't interesting enough. The loser has to promise a condition to the winner," Luffy also laughed.
Do you think you can beat me, Ace?
"Deal! 3...2...1!" Ace laughed heartily, and when the countdown ended, he ran out first.
You fool, you have to take a girl with you. I already won! Ace thought.
Ace, who took the first step, had already started thinking about the reward after victory.
"Luffy..." Vivi said, dumbfounded.
Luffy had already assumed a half-crouched position and turned around to signal, "What are you waiting for? Come quickly."
"Huh?"
Does he want to compete with his brother with her on his back?
Vivi looked at Ace, who had already run a distance, and immediately leaned on Luffy's back, her face slightly flushed:
"I'm sorry, if we lose, let me take the punishment instead~"
"I won't lose!" Luffy exerted strength under his feet and immediately ran forward.
Ace, who was initially in the lead, turned his head and saw that Luffy had already caught up with his sister-in-law on his back.
"Luffy! When did you get so fast!?" Ace's eyes widened.
"Hahaha, you are a Logia and you want to compete with me, a Zoan, in terms of physical strength?"
In the time it took him to say one sentence, he had already surpassed Ace.
"Didn't you eat the Gomu Gomu no Mi?" Ace was stunned.
"It's the Zoan Hito Hito no Mi: Mythical Model Nika. Rubber Fruit is just another name for it."
Luffy's voice arrived, but his figure was moving away.
(Damn, this is so unfair! Not only a Zoan, but also a Mythic Paragon!)
Ace was stunned. After three years of not seeing each other, would he lose to that Luffy, the one who had never defeated him before?
This was unacceptable!
In an instant, his body burst into flames, like a burning car accelerating and speeding away.
In the blink of an eye, he not only caught up with Luffy but also surpassed him.
"Hahaha, don't accuse me of cheating, Luffy. Zoan inherently strengthens the physique. It's like if you use your ability, me using it once is not considered cheating. In the end, I'm still the winner!"
Very well, you forced me.
Luffy immediately entered Gear Fifth and quickly caught up to Ace.
"Sorry, Ace. You can't beat me."
He wasn't that far ahead, just a little faster than Ace.
Just like in Loguetown, where Garp's Haki was only slightly stronger than his.
Awaken!?
Ace's eyes widened.
"That form you used in the restaurant just now was your awakened state!"
He was shocked.
In just three years, Luffy had awakened his Devil Fruit!
No, I can't lose!
Ace gritted his teeth and sped up again, holding onto Luffy tightly, refusing to be shaken off.
Occasionally, he would overtake Luffy, but would quickly be overtaken again.
The two chased each other, rushing towards the capital.
They could compete in a race while talking.
Clearly, neither of them had actually exerted their full power.
Vivi, who was lying on Luffy's back, was also infected by the relaxed atmosphere between the two, and her anxiety gradually disappeared, replaced by a smile on her face.
"Go, Luffy!"
Several hours later, at noon.
Alubarna, the capital of the kingdom.
As the capital of the kingdom, this city was built on high ground.
The surrounding walls were imposing, with only four long staircases in the southeast and northwest directions leading to the elevated city.
As an ancient city with a long history, the capital of Alabasta naturally had a history of thousands of years.
Due to the attempted assassination of the king yesterday, the capital was currently under martial law, with heavy guards stationed at the entrance to the southern gate.
Suddenly, a thick sandstorm arose in the distance in the desert, and two figures quickly approached.
The royal army captain responsible for guarding the south gate became nervous immediately.
"All units, attention!"
He loudly gave an order, and all the soldiers assumed a vigilant stance.
"Stop right there! The capital has been under martial law for a few days now. No one is allowed to enter...?"
Before the squad leader could finish speaking, the two figures had already passed through the formation of soldiers like a gust of wind.
"Wait!" The squad leader exclaimed in shock, immediately shouting, "Chase them!"
Lying on Luffy's back, Vivi turned around and shouted, "I'm sorry, please continue to hold your positions!"
"P-Princess Vivi!?"
Only then did the soldiers recognize Vivi and look at each other in disbelief.
The princess who had been missing for two years... had returned?
Not to mention the guards' reactions.
Carrying Vivi on his back, Luffy was the first to step onto the capital's floor.
"I won, Ace."
He hadn't cheated either. He used the power of the Sun Fruit to restore his strength, so he was really out of breath at the moment.
Ace was also tired, leaning his hands on his knees, and smiled, "I'm really impressed. Mythical Zoan users are truly monsters in terms of stamina."
Vivi got off Luffy's back and became anxious: "Luffy, Ace, let's go to the palace and see my father first."
The three quickly arrived in front of the palace.
After Vivi revealed her identity, she was immediately invited into the palace.
And this scene was seen by the sailors who were nearby.
"Captain Hina, this is Princess Vivi, Straw Hat Luffy, and Fire Fist Ace!" A sailor exclaimed in surprise.
What kind of lineup is this?
The princess and the pirates together?
And not just the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, but also the captain of the Second Division of Whitebeard's crew?
Hina, with a cigarette in her mouth, watched the three enter the palace.
"Princess Vivi is the informant. Admiral Sengoku asked me to contact her. She has evidence of Crocodile's crimes."
"But what about the pirates?"
Hina was very confused.
Hina furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what exactly was happening in that country.
"You all stay here!" she said, leaving the others behind and following them.
(End of chapter)
Give me some power stones there you go~😉