One Piece: I'm Invincible

"Are you... willing to help me? Why?" Usopp looked up at Clover Benson and the others in disbelief.

"Because there are quite a lot of them, right?" Luffy replied casually.

"Isn't there fear written all over your face?" Zoro added.

"I… I'm not afraid! No matter how many of them there are, I don't care! Because I'm a brave warrior of the sea, Captain Usopp!" Usopp declared boldly, but his trembling legs betrayed him.

"Your legs are saying otherwise," Clover pointed out, glancing at Usopp's shaking knees.

"Damn it… Damn it… This isn't fear! It's just... the Black Cat Pirates we're up against. Of course, it's okay to be scared! But I don't need your pity. Let's go! Let's go!" Usopp shouted, his voice trembling as he tried to rally them.

"We're not laughing at you. We're helping because you're admirable," Zoro said.

"We don't risk our lives out of pity," Luffy said seriously.

Although they might not have to risk their lives, Captain Kuro was a relatively infamous pirate in the East Blue, a strong foe for the newly-formed Straw Hat crew.

Hearing Luffy and Zoro's words, and seeing Luffy's serious expression, Usopp felt reassured, and his legs finally stopped shaking.

"Listen carefully, they'll attack from this coast at daybreak. But the only way into the village is through this slope. The other paths are cliffs, impossible to traverse easily. In other words, as long as we hold this slope, the village won't be attacked," Usopp explained, leading everyone up the incline.

"Really? Sounds easy enough," Luffy commented.

"Talking about it is simple, but executing it depends on our strength. Do you know what you're up against?"

"Cut."

"Stretch."

"Steal."

"Hammer." Clover extended his fist, saying.

"My word is hide," Usopp said nervously.

"You'll be fighting alongside us too!" Luffy and the others shouted, grabbing Usopp by the neck.

"You've… got to be kidding me! You guys are ruthless," Usopp said, on the verge of tears.

"But are you sure this is the only road?" Clover asked, looking at Usopp.

"Well... Now that you mention it, there's a similar slope to the north..." Usopp remembered after thinking for a moment.

"You should've said that earlier!" Zoro yelled, exasperated.

"Since they discussed attacking from here, I thought it would be this side..." Usopp tried to explain.

"In that case, we'll split up. I'll go guard the other slope," Clover volunteered. After all, he knew the attack would come from that direction.

"You can't go alone," Nami said, concerned.

"Nami, go with Clover. If anything happens, come and alert us quickly!" Luffy said decisively.

"Eh?!" Nami was shocked. "Why should I be the one to go?! I just said that he couldn't handle it alone!" Nami was nearly in tears. Among the three men here, of course, she felt safer staying with the group.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you. Did you forget I beat Buggy the Clown?" Clover said, smiling.

"That's the plan for now," Zoro agreed. "If you really don't want to go, I can take over."

As expected of Zoro, he was fearless, even though they didn't know how many enemies awaited them.

"Fine, I'll leave it to you," Clover said, heading toward the north coast with Nami quickly following behind.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't go? Why so eager now?" Clover asked, looking back at her.

"In case you die, I'll take your treasure and run," Nami said, eyeing the two large bags in Clover's hands. If not for those bags, she wouldn't have gone with him.

"I knew you weren't that kind-hearted," Clover sighed.

Meanwhile, Usopp and the others spent the night preparing traps like oil, nails, and rolling logs on the southern slope. If Kuro's pirates attacked from there, it would take considerable effort to climb up.

On Clover's side, he waited calmly, while Nami, growing drowsy, eventually fell asleep on Clover's shoulder. To make her more comfortable, Clover gently moved her from his shoulder to his lap.

Unexpectedly, this decision made Clover uncomfortable all night. Nami wasn't still in her sleep, constantly shifting, and as she did, her breath came dangerously close to Clover's vital areas, leaving him in an awkward and painful situation.

By morning, as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, a ship docked on the coast opposite Clover. As the gangplank was lowered, a group of about fifty pirates disembarked.

"Oooh!!" The Black Cat Pirates shouted, brandishing their weapons and charging up the slope.

Nami was jolted awake by the noise. Seeing her position, her face immediately turned bright red, and she quickly sat up.

"They're here. I'll leave these to you," Clover said, standing up and pointing to the two large bags beside him.

"Leave them to me?" Nami looked at Clover in disbelief. Is this guy really not afraid of me running off with them?

"I trust you," Clover said with a nod, walking forward slowly until he reached the middle of the slope.

The Black Cat Pirates stopped in their tracks when they saw him.

"What? It's that guy from yesterday," Jango said from the back. He remembered Clover being there when he hypnotized the children.

"You don't think you can stop us, do you?" Jango yelled at Clover.

The Black Cat Pirates sneered, licking their lips and grinning wickedly, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent as they gazed at Clover, treating him as though he were already dead.

"Yes, I can handle this alone," Clover said calmly.

"Get lost, you vagrant. If you leave now while I'm feeling generous, I might spare your life," Jango taunted.

"Being mistaken for a homeless guy again..." Clover muttered to himself. He really needed to prioritize getting new clothes!

"Enough talk. If you want to fight, let's fight," Clover said, his face darkening.

"In that case… go ahead! Kill him!" Jango's face twisted into a snarl. Since Clover wasn't backing down, he would send him to his grave.

"Oooh!!"