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In the heart of Orange Town, Nami's heart hammered against her ribs as a dozen fierce pirates, brandishing rusted blades and roaring like wild beasts, charged directly at her.
While her training with the staff over the last half-month had made her more capable, she wasn't ready to face a swarm of bloodthirsty men alone. Her instincts screamed at her to flee. Use the alleys, she thought frantically. Lure them into the narrow corridors and pick them off one by one. She spun on her heel and bolted, but she hadn't made it ten paces before a familiar, cheerful voice echoed through the square.
"You're not allowed to hurt Nami! Your opponent is me!"
Swish!!
Nami skidded to a stop and looked back. Goku had appeared in front of the pirate horde like a flickering orange ghost. He swung his Power Pole with rhythmic precision, hitting heads like a high-speed game of whack-a-mole. Clang! Thud! Crack! Pirates crumpled to the ground, their eyes rolling back in their heads as they descended into instant unconsciousness.
"Goku..." Nami whispered, rooted to the spot.
After clearing the path, Goku turned to her with a wide grin. "Nami, these guys seem a little stronger than the ones before. You might get hurt, so let me handle them all this time!"
He turned back to the remaining enemies, propping his staff with one hand and pointing a finger at the colorful Captain. "Hey! Your opponent is me! Come at me, all of you!"
Buggy's eye twitched. Where did this brat come from? To defeat my subordinates so easily... He decided to stick to his usual strategy: let the officers do the dirty work. "Cabaji! Go deal with him!"
"Understood, Captain Buggy."
Cabaji, the Chief of Staff, pedaled into the center of the square on a unicycle. He drew a long, gleaming sword and licked the corner of his mouth. "Brat, surrender now, or I'll make sure you suffer."
Goku wasn't intimidated. He gripped the Power Pole with both hands. "I won't lose to you!"
Cabaji suddenly pedaled forward with explosive speed, his sword dancing in a deadly arc. Clang! Goku raised his staff, parrying the strike with ease. Cabaji didn't stop; he circled Goku on his unicycle, launching a flurry of slashes from every angle. Goku remained calm, his movements a blur of perfect defense.
Frustrated, Cabaji puffed out his cheeks. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and sprayed a torrent of fire directly at Goku's face!
"Waaah!"
Goku jumped back, his hands frantically patting his hair to extinguish the flames. With a slightly soot-covered face, he glared at Cabaji. "You scoundrel! That was a dirty trick!"
"Hmph," Cabaji sneered. "In a real battle, the winner is the only one who matters. This is my acrobatic swordsmanship!"
"You despicable fellow," Goku gnashed his teeth. "You've had your turn. Now it's mine!"
Goku leaped high into the air, raising the Power Pole above his head with both hands. He brought it down in a thunderous vertical chop. Cabaji raised his sword to block, confident in his steel.
CRACK!!
The sword, a fine blade Cabaji had carried for years, snapped like a dry twig. The Power Pole didn't slow down. It slammed into Cabaji's head with a sickening thud. The Chief of Staff's eyes rolled back, and he fell stiffly from his unicycle, unconscious before he hit the ground.
"What the heck," Goku pouted as he landed. "So weak. He couldn't even take one hit."
Behind him, Nami pumped her fist in the air. He did it! He really might take down the whole crew!
Buggy's mood was the polar opposite. Useless! Absolutely useless! he screamed internally. He knew he had to regain face immediately. "Brat! Don't get ahead of yourself! Now you face the Great Buggy!"
"Is it your turn? I've been waiting!" Goku's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Chop-Chop Cracker!" Buggy shouted. His lower body suddenly detached, spinning toward Goku like a deadly projectile. Two bayonets popped out from his shoes—a hidden killing move! Goku leaped into the air to dodge, but Buggy was already grinning.
"Chop-Chop Cannon!"
Buggy's forearm shot out like a rocket, three knives clutched between his fingers like claws. Goku was mid-air, a sitting duck. Nami let out a horrified scream. But then, Goku did something impossible. He performed a mid-air "double jump," stomping the air itself to ascend a few inches higher. He twisted his body and brought the Power Pole down on Buggy's flying arm.
"OWWW—!!!"
Buggy let out a pained howl, his detached arm instantly swelling with a massive red lump.
"Nyah! That move doesn't work on me!" Goku landed and playfully stuck out his tongue.
Buggy gritted his teeth in agony, but then he froze. His left hand trembled as he pointed at the boy's back. "You... you... what is that?!"
"Huh?"
"What's with the tail behind you?!"
Goku blinked and looked behind him. A furry, brown tail was wagging back and forth with a mind of its own.
"Yay! My tail grew back!" Goku cheered, his face lighting up with pure, childish joy.