Smoker and Tashigi, fresh off their loss, boarded a disguised Navy ship to leave Blue Square. Defeated, they had no reason to stay. An elderly organizer approached.
"Well fought. Tough opponents, huh?" he said.
"No need for pity. Do what you want," Smoker snapped.
"Heh, appreciated," the elder replied.
The Navy had struck a deal with Blueberry Times: allow the Treasure Battle, and if the Navy team won, they could arrest all pirates on the island. Smoker's victory would've triggered warships to converge. Defeated, they'd honor the agreement to leave the pirates alone. Smoker, unfazed, set sail for the next island.
"Safe travels," the elder called.
"Shut it. I don't care for luck," Smoker retorted, boarding with Tashigi trailing, concerned about the outcome.
"Smoker-san, about the tournament…" Tashigi ventured.
"I'm tired. Let others handle it," Smoker said.
"Understood…" Tashigi nodded.
"But our target's clear," Smoker added, his gaze unwavering.
Tashigi felt his resolve, nodding silently.
"Round two—head to Alabasta! Set sail!" Smoker ordered.
Vivi, paired with Luffy, was his target. Smoker was ready to defy orders to pursue Luffy, his interest in the tournament gone. He sensed something about Princess Vivi, driving him to the next stage.
As the Navy ship departed, Round 4 began on Winter Island, Blue Square's western isle. Like Summer Island, it was elliptical, but covered in deep snow with a seawater moat around the central ground. The air was frigid.
Silk and Chopper faced crushing pressure, confronting two masked figures in black robes—Mr. S and Ms. K, D Block victors rivaling Ace in popularity.
"Round 4! Who advances to the semifinals? Straw Hat's crew or the mysterious masked duo?" Hatterly hyped.
The match began. Silk and Chopper tensed.
"Ready… GO!"
Silk drew her sword, but both opponents stood still, unmoving from their starting positions. Were they mocking them or scheming? The brief pause was a rare chance. Silk, gripped by fear, struggled to strategize against superior foes.
Chopper, sensing her hesitation, shouted, "Silk, let's go!"
"Chopper…?" Silk replied.
"Planning won't beat them! Let's stop thinking!" Chopper urged.
It was reckless, not strategic, but it snapped Silk out of despair. It felt pirate-like.
She grinned. "Yeah, let's charge!"
"Oooh!" Chopper roared.
Mr. S gripped a steel pipe, Ms. K adjusted her gloves.
"Go," Mr. S said.
"Yeah," Ms. K replied.
Silk swung her sword, unleashing a kamaitachi that stirred snow, meant as a distraction. Chopper, in beast form, charged through the flurry, aiming for the chest. The rules were simple: seize and secure it.
Reaching the chest, Chopper reverted to human form. As he grabbed it, Mr. S burst through the snow, unfazed, swinging his pipe. Chopper, anticipating, shifted to human-beast form, dodging narrowly.
He hadn't expected to land a hit, but pride drove him. He swung his fist with all his might.
"Heavy Gong!" Chopper shouted.
Mr. S caught the punch effortlessly, his hand in a claw-like grip, fingers paired oddly. With a squeeze, Chopper's bones creaked.
"Uwaaah!" Chopper cried.
"Chopper!" Silk yelled.
The pipe struck Chopper's torso, sending him flying. Pain clouded his judgment, preventing counterattacks. The speed was unavoidable. Silk raised her sword, but Chopper was gone.
"Fishman Jujutsu: Mizugokoro," Ms. K crouched, touching the moat's seawater.
She grabbed and threw it. "Ocean Current Shoulder Throw!"
Silk countered with "Kama Itachi," her wind blades scattering the water into droplets. But defending cost her focus on Ms. K, who closed to five meters, striking an empty-handed karate pose.
"Shark Tile True Punch!" Ms. K's fist stirred the air's moisture, sending an invisible shockwave.
Silk, caught off-guard, took no visible wounds but was blasted back, crashing into the fence.
"Too strong! Silk and Chopper are blown away!" Hatterly shouted.
Mr. S grabbed the chest, rushing to their base, Ms. K guarding his back. No weaknesses showed.
Silk and Chopper rose, knowing direct combat was futile. They targeted the chest. Mr. S placed it in Red Team's base and turned to defend, forcing teamwork to breach.
Silk readied her sword, Chopper swallowed a Rumble Ball, his expression fiercer.
"Rumble!" Chopper growled.
"The ship's moving! Hurry!" Hatterly urged.
They charged. Their synergy, honed in qualifiers, needed no words. Ms. K blocked their path, but Chopper transformed, leaping high.
"Jumping Point!" Chopper soared over Ms. K, who looked up.
Silk swung vertically, her kamaitachi slicing through snow. Ms. K dodged sideways. Silk, shocked, realized the snow betrayed her attack's path.
She swung horizontally, aiming to trap Ms. K. But Ms. K leapt, reading Silk's sword movements.
Silk's insight was sharp, but the lapse was fatal. Ms. K grabbed water again, hurling a torrent. Silk, too slow, was swept away, crashing into the sea. A Sea Cat rescued her.
Chopper, hearing Silk's defeat, pressed on, transforming into Arm Point for maximum power. Mr. S stood ready.
"Koku…" Chopper began.
Mr. S was suddenly before him, pipe swinging, striking Chopper's gut. The pain was immense, lifting him skyward toward the sea. Helpless in midair, Chopper fell.
"Silk's back, but Chopper's in the water! No time to grab the chest!" Hatterly cried.
Silk, drenched and shivering, gripped her sword as the ship arrived.
"Match over! Winners: Mr. S & Ms. K!" Hatterly declared.
Chopper, battered by the Sea Cat, landed beside Silk, head in snow. She helped him up, sighing. They'd achieved nothing against overwhelming odds.
Defeated, they returned to the ship. Only Luffy, Vivi, Kiri, Ace, and Mr. 2 remained on the players' vessel.
Kiri asked Ace, "Thoughts?"
"I'm sure now. He's like someone I know," Ace said, analyzing Mr. S's moves—unique, but with familiar habits in dodging, attacking, and spinning his pipe. Memories from childhood.
Luffy, puzzled, tilted his head. "Feels familiar…"
"Hungry, Luffy-san?" Vivi asked.
"Nah, I've seen that vibe before…" Luffy mused, unable to place it.
Ace was resolute. He'd confront Mr. S in the semifinals.
"Four rounds done non-stop! Time for a break! Rest up for the semifinals!" Hatterly announced.
The tournament paused, each team harboring their own ambitions.
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