The Ball Dragon twisted in the air, spinning back toward them — faster this time.
Luffy's eyes widened. "Uh-oh… it's coming back!"
Before anyone could react, the dragon exploded mid-air.
BOOM.
Sending Luffy and Usopp flying.
"Waaahhh!" Usopp screamed, tumbling across the ground. "I'm too young to die! Somebody save me!"
Luffy groaned, sitting up through the dust. "Heh… that's one strong cloud…"
Usopp coughed. "Cloud? That was a flying death machine!"
Sanji stood his ground, wiping some dust off his cheek. "Alright… someone's gotta stop this guy," he muttered.
Satori floated toward Sanji, twirling his cane, cloud‑balls circling him like snakes.
"Let's dance, lover boy" Satori said, grinning. "I hope you like my toys!"
Sanji smirked. "You're about to taste… the ordeal of love!"
He leapt into the air, spinning like a whirlwind.
"Spin Kick!"
WHAM! His foot slammed into a cloud-ball. It shattered, sending shards everywhere.
Satori laughed. "Not bad… but don't think it's over!"
He flicked his cane, and three more cloud-balls shot at Sanji, each spinning faster than the last.
Sanji jumped, flipping over one, kicking another, and sweeping the last with a low spin kick. "Ha! You'll have to do better than that!"
"Predictable…" Satori said, smirking, "but I like your style."
He spin in the air, dodging Sanji's next series of kicks, then kicked a cloud-ball back toward him, forcing Sanji to duck and roll.
Usopp yelled from the side, "Sanji! Don't You Dare Lose!"
Sanji grinned mid-roll. "Shut Up Usopp!" He shot up into a high kick, smashing a cloud-ball into Satori's floating cane. Sparks flew, and Satori staggered a little.
"You think that hurts me?" Satori shouted, twirling faster. "I'm just getting warmed up!"
Sanji crouched, feinting to the right, then launched a double kick combo — first to the chest, second to the shoulder. "Take this!"
Satori spin backward with Mantra, predicting every move, but Sanji grinned. "Heh… let's see if you can read this!"
He leapt high, performing a rapid spin kick barrage, each hit breaking cloud-balls and forcing Satori to dodge frantically.
"Too slow…!" Satori shouted, dropping one cloud-ball after another.
Sanji landed lightly. "You're fast, I'll give you that. But you're about to learn the power of love!"
He charged, dodging a spinning cloud-ball, then twirled in the air, delivering a massive roundhouse kick. "Ordeal… of… Love!"
WHAM! His foot slammed directly into Satori's head, breaking his teeth.
CRUNCH!
Satori fell to the ground,defeated.
Sanji landed gracefully, hands in his pockets. "This… was my ordeal. The Ordeal of Love!"
Suddenly —
"Ugh… more?" Sanji muttered, brushing dust off his suit.
A dozen Shandorian warriors charged, weapons raised.
Sanji smirked. "You came to play?"
He dodged a spear, kicked another warrior into the air, and slid under a slash. "Come on, that's it? My legs are bored!"
One warrior swung from above. Sanji grabbed his foot, spin him like a whirlpool, and tossed him into three others.
Usopp yelped. "Sanji! Don't overdo it!"
Sanji just laughed, performing another series of acrobatic kicks, knocking warriors in all directions. "I'm having fun!"
Wyper appeared from the trees, a massive cannon in hand.
"Hey! Let's see how you handle this!"
BOOM!
The cannon fired, blasting Sanji backward into the dirt.
Luffy jumped up. "No way you're hurting my friends!"
He launched himself at Wyper. "Gum-Gum… Rocket!"
The blast from Wyper met Luffy's head mid-air. Clouds of smoke, shards, and energy exploded in all directions.
Luffy grinned, spinning and dodging. Wyper fired again, trying to blast him away, but Luffy twisted, stretched, and knocked the cannon ball away with Gum Gum Balloon.
"You're tough… but I'm tougher!" Luffy shouted, landing a massive punch that sent Wyper flying into the trees.
[Meanwhile — Usopp running]
Usopp scrambled across the forest floor, dodging rocks, branches, and fallen warriors.
"This is insane! I'm running for my life!"
He skidded around a tree… then stopped. He heard a voice.
"Usopp…"
He froze. "Wha-what?!"
The bushes rustled. A shadow stepped forward.
"AAAAGH!" Usopp screamed like a girl, tumbling backward.
Noah and Emma stepped out, calm and serious.
"Relax, Usopp," Noah said. "It's just us."
Emma smirked. "Took you long enough to find us."
Usopp blinked, panting. "I… I thought… I was alone!"
Noah chuckled. "Not while we're here."
Luffy and Sanji regrouped, dusting off.
Luffy grinned. "Heh… finally! Where were you guys!"
Sanji adjusted his tie, smirking at Emma. "Looks like the fun's just starting."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Just keep up, love-bird."
Noah looked around. "Everyone ready? Upper Yard isn't done with us yet."
Usopp sighed, gripping his slingshot. "Here we go again…"