One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

At that moment, the six illusory arms behind him suddenly merged into one, forming a dark red slash that pierced through the void.

Upon seeing this, Sanji's eyes flashed, and he immediately unleashed the full power of his Haki and flames, using "Diable Jambe: Hell Memories" to meet the attack head-on. The moment the flames and sword energy collided, the entire sand valley seemed to tremble!

However, in the instant of the stalemate, Zoro's eyes suddenly surged with demonic energy, and a second spiraling blade shadow suddenly extended from the blood-red dagger on his left arm.

As the fusion with his cybernetic body became increasingly tighter, Zoro successfully developed another way to use the Quick-Cut Fruit in battle.

"Break!" With a low shout, the double slashes burst forth like venomous dragons, instantly tearing through Sanji's flame defenses!

Sanji grunted and was sent flying backward by the force of the sword energy, dragging a furrow dozens of meters long in the sand before finally coming to a stop.

He propped himself up; the flames on his right leg had been completely extinguished, leaving a shallow bloodstain on his skin.

If it weren't for the exoskeleton protecting him from most of the damage, this blow would have been enough to seriously injure him.

"enough."

V's voice rang out clearly through the loudspeaker in the sand valley.

Zoro and Sanji paused for a moment, then simultaneously turned to look at the viewing platform.

V leaped from the height and landed gracefully between the two.

"If we continue, it will really come to bloodshed. This sparring session ends here."

"The victor is Zoro."

"whispering sound!"

Sanji looked up, a hint of resentment on his face, but he did not object to the result announced by V.

He knew that even if he could quickly recover his strength by using the power in his bloodline, he might eventually be able to wear Zoro down through a prolonged battle.

But the facts are clear—Zoro's attacks were able to break through his defenses, while his kicks failed to cause any real damage to Zoro.

From this moment on, the outcome is decided.

As for using the power of the Vinsmoke family to forcibly reverse the situation?

He never thought about it, nor did he care about it at all.

"Cough... You win, Moss Head." Sanji panted, but grinned. "But next time... I won't lose again!"

Zoro dispelled his demonic aura, and his three swords slowly returned to their sheaths.

He walked up to Sanji, reached out and helped him up: "I'm always ready."

Under the moonlight, the Straw Hat crew exchanged smiles.

There are no losers in this battle, only partners who become stronger.

Chapter 96 Burning! A Battle of Brothers (Seeking monthly votes~)

After Zoro and Sanji's earth-shattering duel, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates also began an internal sparring session as arranged by V.

However, the battle that followed was far less intense and exciting than the one between Zoro and Sanji.

Nami and Usopp were assigned to a group to conduct "long-range firepower and tactical simulation combat".

Nami controlled several drones, weaving a complex electromagnetic interference network and miniature weather barrage over the sand valley;

Usopp then used his prosthetic body, "Explode, Reality!", to synthesize various non-lethal projectiles, such as Sticky Star and Flash Star, to retaliate.

The two were less engaged in combat and more rehearsing tactical coordination.

Nami's drone swarm can always predict Usopp's trajectory in advance, while Usopp's cannonballs can always create interference in the gaps in Nami's calculations.

The entire confrontation lacked the tension of close combat and was more like an orderly military exercise. Although the onlookers found it novel, they lacked the excitement and passion that usually gets people excited.

In the end, Nami defeated Usopp by using her wide-range lightning strikes, leaving him nowhere to hide.

But everyone knew that since it was just a battle between comrades, Usopp had many more vicious bullets that he hadn't even used.

If this were a life-or-death battle, Nami might have been killed by Usopp with special bullets before she could even set up her drone formation.

The battle between Chopper and Robin was less of a friendly sparring match and more of a test of their abilities.

At this point, Chopper had fully accepted V's body modifications.

Not only were various combat prosthetics installed in his body, but his heart was also replaced with a Tier 6 prosthetic heart.

Although he lost his physical body, what he gained in return was... a complete upgrade in Chopper's strength!

Leaving aside the combat prosthetics specially made for V and Chopper, the heart prosthetic alone is enough to allow Chopper to equip an extra Devil Badge.

Due to limited funds and insufficient brain-computer interface technology, V ultimately chose Miss Valentine's Light-Weight Fruit ability as the Devil Badge for Chopper.

In this way, each of Chopper's transformation forms gained unprecedented tactical depth and destructive power.

The only pity is that... Little Chopper was focused on studying medicine and never seriously trained, so his foundation was very weak.

Even with the help of a brain-computer interface, its strongest monster form can only last for half a minute.

It doesn't matter.

With continued upgrades, modifications, and training, Chopper's "monster form" will soon break through the time limit of the Rumble Ball and transform into a stable, regular combat form.

As for Robin...

Robin also underwent V's cybernetic modifications and gained Mr. 2's Imitation Fruit ability.

Unfortunately, even with the addition of a Devil Fruit ability, Robin's combat strength did not increase significantly.

What's more, she's facing Chopper, who has seven transformations, is a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, and possesses the Light-Weight Fruit.

Unsurprisingly, she lost again.

Finally, it's time for the battle between Luffy and Ace.

That's right.

Although it was an internal ranking battle within the Straw Hat Pirates, V did not participate in this operation.

Firstly, he was very familiar with his partners' combat abilities and fighting styles, and was able to accurately identify and exploit the weaknesses of his opponents in battle to secure victory.

Such a battle is meaningless.

Secondly, what kind of power does a prosthetic doctor need?

As long as no enemy can defeat him, isn't that enough?

……

……

The moonlight poured down like mercury, turning the desert night into a tranquil silvery white.

The sand dunes undulated like frozen waves under the moonlight, the fine sand grains gleaming with a cold light.

Luffy and Ace walked side by side through the desolate sand valley, their footsteps almost silent on the soft sand.

The moonlight cast long shadows of the two men. Luffy was still wearing his signature straw hat, grinning, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

Ace pulled down the brim of his hat, the flame-patterned tattoo faintly visible in the moonlight, a gentle yet firm smile playing on his lips.

One was eager to fight; the other didn't want to lose to his younger brother.

Ace flashed his signature freckled smile, but his eyes were unusually serious.

"To be honest, Luffy, seeing Zoro and Sanji's fight just now... I was a little scared."

Luffy tilted his head: "Huh? Why?"

"Because the speed at which they get stronger..." Ace gripped his hat, his fingers tightening slightly, "is absolutely terrifying."

"I have been a member of the Whitebeard Pirates for two years now. In these two years, I have seen too many strong people, and even members of other Yonko pirate crews."

“But I’ve never felt such urgency with those people.”

There was no jealousy in his tone, only deep emotion.

“I didn’t know that one day you would completely surpass me, so…” Ace stopped in his tracks, his smile growing even brighter: “I’m going to beat you up a few more times while I can still beat you!”

"What a jerk of a brother!"

Upon hearing this, Luffy was stunned for a moment, then a bright smile also bloomed on his face.

Snapped!

He punched his palm with his fist, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Then let's have a good, good fight, Ace!"

Luffy's voice was particularly loud under the moonlight, and his rubber arms suddenly stretched out to the sides with a crisp "snap".

He lowered his body slightly, planted his feet firmly in the sand, and grinned, "Although I've become a lot stronger, Ace, you won't stand still, will you? Let me see—just how powerful you are now!"

Ace chuckled, reached out and gently pushed his orange cowboy hat back, revealing his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"I can't ask for it!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly clenched his fists, and crimson flames roared up from his arms, instantly engulfing his entire body.

The high temperature caused the surrounding air to distort violently, and the sand underfoot began to hiss and turn a dark red like lava.

"fire punch!"

Ace showed no intention of testing the waters and immediately launched his signature fierce attack.

His right fist, wreathed in raging flames, slammed forward, and a giant pillar of fire, over five meters in diameter, tore through the night like a roaring fire dragon, rushing toward Luffy.

Wherever the flames passed, the sand instantly turned black and crystallized, and a wave of heat swept over them, causing even the spectators in the distance to feel a burning sensation on their skin.

"Good timing!"

Luffy showed no fear whatsoever; instead, he let out an excited shout.

He did not dodge; his leg muscles suddenly swelled, and his ankles even sank slightly into the sand due to excessive force.

"Third Gear - Bone Balloon!"

He took a deep breath, and his right arm expanded rapidly as if inflated, instantly transforming into a giant fist comparable to that of a giant.

The jet-black Armament Haki surged upwards like a tide, turning the entire giant fist a metallic black.

"Rubber, rubber—"