One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 62: Whiskey Peak - Oozaru

The full moon bathed Whiskey Peak in its pale, cold light. The chaotic battle had left the town in ruins, but the fight was far from over. Goku, standing in the town square, raised his head toward the glowing orb in the night sky. A primal surge coursed through his veins, awakening something deep and ancient within him.

His tail, unfurled and swaying, became rigid as a low growl escaped his throat. The energy around him pulsed wildly, a terrifying aura of raw, uncontained power.

"Goku?" Nami's voice wavered as she stepped closer, clutching the straw hat he had placed on her head.

Zoro's hand rested on his sword hilt. He didn't need to be a genius to sense the danger in the air. "Something's not right," he muttered.

Goku dropped to his knees, clutching his chest as his muscles began to bulge. His breathing became ragged, each exhale accompanied by a guttural snarl. His frame swelled, ripping his shirt apart. A thick coat of dark brown fur sprouted across his skin, his body growing exponentially larger. His pants tore at the seams, barely clinging to his massive legs before disintegrating entirely.

A horrifying crack echoed as his jaw elongated into a snout, sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight. His hands and feet transformed into monstrous claws, each finger tipped with a dagger-like nail. With a bone-rattling roar, Goku rose to his full height, his head now towering above the tallest buildings.

The Oozaru stood fully transformed, a beast of destruction illuminated by the moonlight. Its red eyes burned with an uncontrollable rage, and its howl echoed across the island, freezing everyone in place.

"W-What is that?!" Vivi screamed, clinging to Karoo, her eyes wide with horror.

"Captain Goku…" Gin whispered, a mixture of awe and dread in his voice.

The town descended into chaos as the Oozaru began its rampage. Entire buildings crumbled under the weight of its stomps. With a single swing of its massive arm, a cluster of houses was reduced to rubble. The beast's tail lashed out, striking the mast of the Straw Hat Pirates' ship, narrowly missing its core.

"Goku!" Nami screamed, shielding herself as debris flew past.

"He's lost all sense of himself!" Zoro shouted, unsheathing his swords.

Miss Valentine and Mr. 5, who had been recovering nearby, stared in shock. "What in the world is he?!" Miss Valentine gasped, her confident demeanor shattered.

"It doesn't matter what he is," Mr. 5 growled, though his trembling hands betrayed his fear. "We need to stay out of his way!"

Amid the destruction, Zoro turned to Nami. "He's not in control. If we don't stop him, he'll destroy everything—including us."

Nami clenched her fists, her voice trembling. "But why? Why would he do this if he knew he'd lose control?"

Gin stepped forward, his gaze steady. "Because he trusted you."

"Me?"

"He knew only you could get through to him," Gin explained. "That's why he gave you his hat. You have to be the one to reach him."

Nami hesitated, fear and uncertainty clouding her mind.

Zoro placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll back you up, but this is something only you can do. You're… special to him."

Her cheeks flushed, but she nodded. "Alright. Let's do this."

The trio devised a plan, with Zoro and Gin providing a distraction while Nami attempted to approach the beast. Gin hurled debris at the Oozaru, drawing its attention, while Zoro sliced through falling rubble to clear a path.

"Goku! It's me!" Nami called out, her voice shaking as she dodged the Oozaru's massive hand. "You're the captain! You're in control!"

For a brief moment, the beast paused, its glowing red eyes locking onto her. But the primal rage soon overtook it, and it roared, swiping at her with terrifying speed.

Nami screamed as she dove out of the way, landing hard on the ground. Gin pulled her to safety.

"We need to try again!" she insisted, her voice filled with desperation.

Their second attempt fared no better, the Oozaru's fury unrelenting.

Finally, Zoro stepped in, cutting a path for Nami. "It's not about words," he said. "He needs to feel it. Your bond with him. Make him remember who he is."

Tears streaming down her face, Nami stood before the Oozaru, her legs trembling. "Goku! Please, come back to us!" she cried. "Come back to me! You're my captain… my friend… more than that!"

The Oozaru froze, its pupils shrinking and then returning to their human shape. Slowly, the beast's massive form began to shrink.

The Oozaru staggered as the transformation reversed. Fur receded, claws retracted, and muscles shrank back to their normal proportions. Goku's monstrous roar softened into a deep, guttural growl, then a low chuckle.

Finally, as the moonlight dimmed slightly, Goku knelt on the ground in his human form, fully exposed, his clothes reduced to ash. His tail swayed lazily behind him as he looked up at Nami, his familiar mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"You did it," he said hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper. "I knew you would."

Nami stumbled toward him, her legs giving out as she fell to her knees beside him. Tears streamed down her face as she pounded weakly on his chest. "You idiot! I thought I lost you!"

Goku laughed, wrapping his arms around her despite her protests. "I trusted you, Nami. Only you could've pulled me back."

Zoro approached, tossing a pair of tattered pants at Goku. "Put these on before you traumatize the rest of us."

With a sheepish grin, Goku stood, slipping on the shorts. The group shared a brief moment of quiet relief before Gin walked up, shaking his head. "You better not pull something like that again, Captain."

"Relax," Goku replied, rolling his shoulders. "It's only like that the first time. Next time, I'll be in control from the start."

"Next time?" Zoro said, crossing his arms.

Nami glared at him, her fists clenching. "You better not even think about it, or I'll make you regret it."

Goku grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright, alright. No promises, though."

Before the conversation could continue, Igaram and Vivi approached. Vivi's face was pale, her expression tense as she stepped forward, Karoo following close behind.

"Captain Goku," Vivi began, her voice quivering. "I… I need your help. My kingdom—Alabasta—is on the brink of war. I'll do anything to get there… even give you my body if that's what it takes."

The group fell silent. Goku raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Your body, huh? Then we have a deal Princess!"

Vivi blinked, stunned by his response.

"I'll get you to Alabasta," Goku said firmly, "but not just because of some bargain. Because I am quite curios about this Mr 0 character."

Igaram stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Please, protect her. I'll act as a decoy to throw Baroque Works off her trail. We've prepared an Eternal Pose that points directly to Alabasta. Princess Vivi will take the longer route with you, following the regular Log Pose to avoid detection."

"What's an Eternal Pose?" Goku asked, tilting his head.

"It's a specialized compass that permanently points to one specific island," Igaram explained, holding up a small, intricate device.

"Convenient," Goku remarked.

Igaram nodded. "Indeed. I'll use it to head straight to Alabasta, dressed as the princess to mislead our pursuers. Meanwhile, you can escort her safely through the remaining islands on the Log Pose route."

The group watched as Igaram donned a comically convincing replica of Vivi's attire, complete with a wig and makeup. His serious expression made the absurd disguise even funnier.

"I'll draw their attention," he said solemnly. "Princess Vivi, please stay safe."

"Be careful," Vivi whispered, tears brimming in her eyes as she hugged him.

As Igaram's small boat set sail, the group waved him off. However, their relief was short-lived.

A thunderous explosion shattered the night, and the boat erupted in flames, debris scattering across the water.

"Igaram!" Vivi screamed, collapsing into Nami's arms as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Nami held her tightly, her own tears streaming down her face as she tried to comfort the princess.

Goku's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Just who is this guy that he could pull something like this? To have reach even this far in the grandline!"

"Mr. 0," Vivi choked out. "The leader of Baroque Works. His real name is… Sir Crocodile. He's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

Before anyone could respond, two small figures descended from the sky. The Unluckies—a pair of strange, grinning animals—hovered above the group. The otter and vulture carried a folder containing detailed sketches of the crew, which they presented with an unsettling calmness.

"They're bounty hunters," Vivi said, her voice trembling. "They work directly under Crocodile."

The Unluckies stared for a moment longer before flying off, leaving an ominous silence in their wake.

Goku turned to Gin. "Go get Sanji and Usopp. We're leaving."

Gin nodded, running toward the inn. Moments later, he returned, carrying the two still-drowsy crewmates over his shoulders.

Sanji grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "What's the rush? We could've stayed the night."

"Yeah," Usopp added, yawning. "What's the big deal?"

Before anyone could answer, a soft, feminine voice broke the tension. "You were doomed from the start."

The crew spun around to see a tall, elegant woman standing on the dock. Her dark hair framed her face, and her piercing eyes glinted with amusement. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and a revealing black outfit that accentuated her sharp, confident demeanor.

Vivi gasped, her face pale. "Miss All Sunday!"

[A/N: Read 20-40 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]