Chapter 100: The Sparring Sessions (III)
Usopp stiffened as he turned to face Sanji, who stood relaxed with a cigarette between his lips. The cook exhaled a thin stream of smoke, rolling his shoulders before stretching his legs with casual ease.
"Alright, long nose," Sanji said, smirking. "Let's see how well you handle yourself against my kicks."
Usopp swallowed hard. "Can't we just—uh, you know—talk this out?"
Sanji chuckled. "Sure. After I kick your ass across the deck."
Usopp's eye twitched. "Greeeaaat."
Goku clapped his hands. "Okay, same rules. No weapons, only hand-to-hand combat. Usopp, don't try to match Sanji's strength—use your Ki control and agility."
Usopp nodded quickly. "Right! Right. Dodge first, think later."
Sanji flicked his cigarette into the sea. "Tch. You won't have time to think."
Goku raised his hand. "Alright. Fight!"
Sanji exploded forward.
Usopp barely had time to react before a blazing-fast kick shot toward his ribs.
He yelped, barely dodging as the gust of wind from the kick whipped through his hair.
"Whoa—too fast!"
Sanji twisted mid-air, bringing his other leg around for a follow-up kick.
Usopp threw himself backward, barely avoiding the strike.
The moment his feet hit the deck, he used his Ki to spring off the ground, somersaulting away.
Sanji landed smoothly, smirking. "You've gotten better. But you're still too slow."
Usopp, instead of running, took a deep breath.
"Okay, let's try something crazy."
He sprinted forward, Ki subtly enhancing his speed.
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Usopp suddenly ducked and slid under Sanji's legs, using his Ki to reduce friction.
Sanji reacted fast, pivoting on one foot to launch a backward kick—
But Usopp stopped sliding mid-motion, suddenly reversing direction.
Sanji's kick hit air.
Usopp popped up behind him.
"Hah! Gotcha!"
Usopp threw a Ki-infused punch, aiming for Sanji's back—
But Sanji leaned sideways without looking, effortlessly dodging.
"What?"
Before Usopp could react, Sanji's heel shot back, aiming for his stomach.
Usopp crossed his arms in front of him just in time—
The impact sent him skidding across the deck.
"Guhhh!"
Usopp barely had time to recover before Sanji was already closing the distance.
Sanji leaped into the air, twisting his body mid-spin.
Usopp threw himself to the side, avoiding the devastating spinning kick—
But Sanji readjusted in mid-air and threw another kick down toward Usopp's shoulder.
Usopp threw up his arm, Ki reinforcing it.
The kick connected, but Usopp managed to absorb most of the force—though his entire arm felt like it was on fire.
Usopp rolled back and quickly jumped up, panting.
Sanji landed gracefully, smirking. "Not bad."
Usopp exhaled, shaking his arm. "I think you just kicked my soul out of my body."
The crew chuckled.
Sanji smirked. "Better keep it inside, then. I'm not done yet."
Usopp darted forward, feinting a punch before jumping into the air.
Sanji's eyes narrowed as Usopp suddenly fired a small burst of Ki downward, propelling himself higher—
Then twisted mid-air, aiming his knee toward Sanji's head.
Sanji reacted fast, raising his forearm, blocking the strike effortlessly.
Usopp winced as his knee collided with steel-like bone.
"Ow ow ow!"
Sanji, seeing an opening, grabbed Usopp's collar mid-air and yanked him down.
Usopp's eyes widened. "Oh no—"
Sanji drove a rising knee into Usopp's stomach.
Usopp tensed his abs at the last second, channeling Ki to reduce the impact.
The knee still hurt like hell, but he managed to twist with the strike, redirecting some of the force.
Using the momentum, he flipped backward and landed clumsily.
"Okay… okay… still alive."
Sanji smirked. "Barely."
Usopp suddenly threw a wild right hook.
Sanji dodged effortlessly.
But Usopp had faked the strike, instead stepping in close to slam his palm against Sanji's chest.
A small burst of Ki shot out.
Sanji's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
He was pushed back slightly—not enough to deal damage, but enough to surprise him.
Usopp grinned. "Told ya! Brains over brawn!"
Sanji sighed. "Alright. I'm done playing around."
Usopp paled. "Wait—what?"
Before he could react, Sanji vanished—
And then reappeared right in front of him.
"Too slow."
Sanji's foot slammed into Usopp's side, sending him rolling across the deck.
Usopp groaned, lying on his back. "Okay… yeah… I lost."
Sanji walked over, offering a hand. "You did better than I expected."
Usopp accepted the help, wincing as he stood. "I'll take that as a win… somehow."
Goku nodded approvingly. "You held your own, Usopp. You made up for your lack of power with creativity and Ki control. Keep at it."
Usopp gave a thumbs-up. "Heh. Of course!"
Goku turned toward Gin. "Alright. Next match—Gin vs. Usopp."
Usopp immediately collapsed. "I forfeit."
The crew burst into laughter.
Usopp still lay flat on his back, staring at the sky. "Nope. Nope. Nope. I'm out. Not happening."
The crew laughed, while Gin simply cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders. His usual grin was in place, but his sharp eyes showed no sign of holding back.
"Come on, Usopp," Goku called out. "You lasted against Sanji. You learned a lot, didn't you?"
Usopp groaned, sitting up. "I learned that Sanji kicks harder than cannon fire."
Gin smirked. "I don't kick."
Usopp paused. "Oh? Well, that's gre—"
Gin lifted his fists into a loose Muay Thai stance, his arms raised, elbows tucked in, his entire body perfectly balanced.
Usopp's eyes widened.
"Wait. Wait, wait, wait—Goku, I think I misheard! He doesn't kick? So he just punches?! That's worse!"
Gin cracked his neck, taking a small step forward. The wooden deck creaked beneath his weight.
"Don't worry," Gin said calmly. "I'll let you have the first move."
Usopp let out a slow breath. He needed a plan.
Goku raised his hand. "Alright. Fight!"
Usopp sprang back instantly, increasing the distance.
Gin stood still, watching him with deadly calmness.
'Alright, don't panic,' Usopp told himself. 'He's faster than me, stronger than me, more durable than me… I have to be smarter than him.'
With that in mind, he charged forward, faking hesitation.
Gin waited.
Usopp suddenly stomped down, channeling Ki into his foot, sending a small burst of force against the deck—
The energy rebounded, launching him sideways at an unnatural angle.
Gin's eyes flickered in mild surprise.
Usopp twisted mid-air and threw a punch toward Gin's ribs—
But Gin sidestepped perfectly, the punch whiffing past his torso.
Before Usopp could recover, Gin snapped out his hand and caught Usopp's wrist.
"Not bad."
Then he twisted.
Usopp's body was yanked off balance as Gin rotated his entire frame, using Usopp's own momentum against him.
Before Usopp knew what happened—
Gin's knee rammed into his gut.
BOOM.
Usopp's breath vanished from his lungs.
He stumbled backward, gasping, holding his stomach.
Gin didn't follow up. He simply tilted his head. "Your movements are tricky, but your reactions are too slow."
Usopp shook his head. "Okay. Okay. Let's not do that again."
He charged in again—
Then suddenly dropped down and swept his leg out in a low kick!
Gin lifted his foot just in time, avoiding the sweep.
But Usopp had already anticipated that.
He planted his hands on the deck, pushing himself up, and threw a backflip kick toward Gin's jaw!
Gin's arm snapped up, blocking it with his forearm.
The impact made Gin's sleeve ripple, but his stance didn't budge an inch.
Usopp, still mid-air, twisted his body and launched a Ki-infused palm strike toward Gin's chest!
Gin leaned back slightly, the strike barely missing his chin.
As Usopp landed, Gin fired a short jab toward his face.
Usopp ducked—
But Gin had already shifted his weight—his other fist snapped forward in a lightning-fast cross punch!
CRACK.
The punch tagged Usopp's shoulder, sending him stumbling sideways.
Usopp exhaled sharply.
He had to keep Gin off rhythm.
He took a deep breath and rushed in again.
Gin lifted his guard.
This time, Usopp suddenly threw his weight to the left, making it look like he was about to throw a wide haymaker.
Gin shifted slightly, preparing to counter—
But at the last second, Usopp planted his back foot down, stopping his momentum instantly—
And whipped his other hand forward!
It was an open-palm strike, but Ki surged through it.
Gin barely managed to block—
BAM!
The impact pushed him back half a step.
The crew's eyes widened.
Sanji let out a low whistle. "Huh. Didn't expect that one."
Usopp grinned. "See?! I have tricks too!"
Gin, unfazed, rubbed his forearm where he blocked.
"Yeah." He suddenly vanished. "But so do I."
Usopp's eyes darted around wildly.
'Where—?!'
Then Gin reappeared to his right.
Usopp barely had time to react before Gin's elbow drove toward his face.
He twisted his body, the strike barely grazing his cheek.
Before he could celebrate, Gin's other hand lashed out, grabbing his wrist again.
Usopp panicked—
Gin suddenly yanked him forward, twisting him around.
Usopp found himself facing the opposite direction, his back exposed.
"Oh, come on—!"
BAM!
Gin's knee drove into his lower back.
Usopp yelped, stumbling forward, barely keeping his balance.
Gin let go, stepping back. "Your control is impressive, but your body is still too slow."
Usopp groaned. "Yeah? Well, your face is ugly!"
Gin smirked. "Nice comeback."
Usopp gritted his teeth.
He raised his hands, channeling Ki into his palms.
'Alright. I can't overpower him. But I can disrupt his balance.'
Usopp suddenly threw both hands forward, sending two bursts of Ki at the deck near Gin's feet.
The wood shook violently, sending splinters flying.
Gin's footing shifted slightly—
Usopp took advantage.
He lunged, spinning, and threw a wild backfist toward Gin's jaw!
Gin reacted fast, tilting his head—
But the edge of Usopp's knuckles still brushed against his chin.
Gin stopped moving.
The entire crew went silent.
Usopp blinked. "Wait. Did I just—"
Gin suddenly smirked.
Then he threw a lightning-fast jab.
Usopp yelped, barely ducking—
But Gin's knee shot up.
Usopp's gut caved inward.
"UURGH!"
He collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach.
Gin exhaled. "You actually hit me. Impressive."
Usopp, still wheezing, groaned. "Yeah…? Then why does it feel like I lost…?"
Goku nodded, smiling. "You did great, Usopp. You're learning how to use your Ki creatively in combat. That's what matters."
Usopp slowly raised a thumbs-up. "Yay… learning…"
The crew laughed.
Goku turned toward Nami.
"Alright. Next match—Nami vs. Me."
Nami froze.
"…Wait. WHAT?!"
[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]