The cold wind howled, snowflakes danced in the air, and the banks of the icy river were lined with the indigenous people of Drum Island.
Each of them wore thick fur coats, tightly gripped old but still deadly muskets, and their eyes were cold and hostile.
They were the last guardians of this island, once ravaged by pirates, and now harbored strong vigilance against any outsiders.
The man standing at the very front was Dalton, the former guard captain of the Drum Kingdom.
Dalton stood ramrod straight, like an ice-bound statue.
His face was sharply chiseled, his eyebrows thick, and his eyes deep and sharp, revealing the resilience and calmness of a warrior.
His physique was tall, his chest broad, and his muscles were as solid as rock.
Dalton's clothing was a typical fur coat of a Drum Island native, heavy but allowing for free movement.
His hands were large and calloused, marks left by years of wielding swords and guns in training.
Although he appeared imposing and stern, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness and sense of responsibility hidden in his eyes.
Dalton's gaze was fixed intently on the group on the going merry, his eyes filled with undisguised hostility.
"Filthy pirates!" Dalton's voice was deep and powerful, echoing like thunder through the river, "You must leave this place quickly, get out now!"
Kai and the others on the ship frowned slightly, clearly realizing that the situation was not good.
Vivi stepped forward, looking at Dalton with a determined gaze.
She understood that this man was the leader of these militiamen, and only by convincing him could they smoothly get onto the island.
"We have a sick person on board!" Vivi's voice was clear and urgent, her eyes showing no fear, but rather a hint of plea.
The many militiamen on the shore did not waver in the slightest; instead, they shouted angrily, "Don't try to trick us! You pirates use these tactics to deceive good people!"
A militiaman standing at the very front glared, gripping his rifle tightly, his finger already on the trigger, and roared sharply,
"This kind of trick will never work, you treacherous, stinking pirates!"
On the deck of the going merry, Kai stood silently, his gaze terrifyingly calm.
He glanced at the weak Nami, then at the ferocious faces of these islanders, and made a decision in his heart.
Time should not be wasted on futile arguments.
The air seemed to freeze at this moment.
The next second, Kai's figure instantly vanished from the deck of the going merry.
No one present could track his movement, and even the flow of air showed no change.
He was like a shadow, disappearing from the ship and appearing in front of Dalton.
Dalton's pupils suddenly contracted, and the hairs on his body bristled; his combat experience told him – extreme danger!
Unfortunately, it was too late.
A strong, powerful hand directly gripped his neck, muscles instantly tensing, locking him completely like an iron clamp!
"Wh...!" Dalton's face changed drastically; he immediately grabbed Kai's wrist with both hands, his entire body's muscles bulging.
He used all his strength to try and break free, but that hand was as steady as a rock, completely unmoved!
His feet left the ground.
The dignified guard captain of the Drum Kingdom, over two meters tall, was directly lifted by Kai with one hand, like a helpless child!
All around, the expressions of all the militiamen instantly turned to extreme horror!
"Let go of Captain Dalton!!"
All the militiamen roared, raising their muskets, their dark muzzles pointing at Kai, killing intent concentrated, triggers ready to be pulled at any moment.
Just as an enraged militiaman couldn't help but pull the trigger—
"Stop!!!"
Dalton, whose neck was being choked by Kai, roared with all his might, his voice hoarse yet firm!
"No one is allowed to shoot!!!"
The militiaman who was about to shoot froze his finger on the trigger, looking at his captain with shocked eyes.
"But... Captain Dalton! They... !"
"Shut up!" Dalton's face was flushed, struggling to maintain his composure, even though he could no longer breathe.
But he knew better than anyone that this man was not someone they could provoke.
If they started a fight, only they would die.
Kai's grip tightened slightly, and he looked down at Dalton indifferently: "I don't like wasting time."
His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable power.
"We are not here to oppose you, but we need a doctor." Kai's gaze swept over everyone, his voice deep and powerful.
His gaze was like a blade, sharp and firm, making everyone's hearts pound.
Dalton's face grew redder and redder; he knew that if this continued, he would eventually be choked unconscious.
He wasn't afraid of death, but he knew that once he was knocked out, these militiamen would inevitably fight desperately for him, ultimately only dying in vain.
The militiamen on both sides of the river stared intently at Kai, but not a single one dared to make a move.
They had seen that even their strongest Captain Dalton was subdued by this man with one hand; what could they do?
Silence permeated the air, with only the howling of the cold wind echoing in their ears.
The cold wind howled, snowflakes swirled, and icy air permeated both banks of the Drum Island river.
Everyone on the ship watched the scene before them, dumbfounded, the atmosphere so frozen it felt like even the air was solid.
Kai held Dalton with one hand, making the leader of the Drum Island militia struggle suspended like a toy, while the surrounding militiamen's faces showed both shock and anger.
Their leader, the strongest warrior in their hearts, was now being held up by one hand, with no room to resist.
To them, it was simply unbelievable.
Luffy's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but shout, "Kai, don't hurt them!"
Kai did not turn back, only coldly stared at Dalton in his hand, his gaze as deep as an abyss, a red light flashing and disappearing.
Through his special Observation Haki, he had clearly seen fragments of this man's past—he was not an evil person.
Instead, he was kind, loyal, and willing to fight to the end for his people.
Kai had no intention of killing him; he merely wanted to quickly resolve the current farce and get Nami treated.
The militiamen surrounding them still had fierce gazes, their gun muzzles firmly locked on Kai.
Unfortunately, their hostility was like insignificant ripples in Kai's eyes, posing no threat whatsoever.
Just then—
Dalton's body suddenly expanded, his muscles bulged, his size instantly surged, and thick body hair appeared on his skin.
His facial features also began to change, his pupils becoming as sharp as a beast's!
"Filthy pirate, don't underestimate me!"
Dalton roared, his voice shaking the mountains, the sound waves causing the accumulated snow on the ground to slide off.
His body had completely transformed, entering a half-human, half-bull form, his muscles even more terrifying than before, and his height almost exceeding three meters!
"Kai, be careful! He is a Zoan-type Devil Fruit User!" Vivi exclaimed.
The militiamen standing on both sides of the river erupted in excited cheers, hope rekindled in their eyes.
"Captain Dalton is a Devil Fruit User of the Ox-Ox Fruit, Bison Form! Captain, start your counterattack!"