Reborn as Luffy The Pirate King's Return

The battle raged on as Usopp faced off against Mr. 5. Despite his fear, he knew he couldn't back down. He had to prove that he could fight alongside the crew—not just as a sniper, but as a warrior.

Usopp fired a barrage of explosive pellets from his slingshot, aiming to keep Mr. 5 at a distance. However, the Baroque Works agent simply smirked, flicking his fingers to launch booger bombs that detonated upon contact, countering Usopp's attacks with ease.

From the sidelines, Vivi watched in growing panic. "Luffy, please! Usopp is going to get hurt!"

Nami, who had shaken off her earlier thoughts about Luffy's strange knowledge, also turned to him. "Luffy, this isn't funny! He's outmatched! Do something!"

But Luffy merely crossed his arms and watched. "Shh. If I help him now, he won't get the chance to glimpse Observation Haki. Just watch—Usopp is getting stronger, little by little."

Vivi was stunned. "Observation Haki?" she muttered. She had heard rumors of it, but how could Luffy tell that Usopp was close to awakening it?

Meanwhile, Usopp narrowly dodged another explosive attack, panting as sweat dripped down his forehead. His hands trembled, but he steadied his breathing. He remembered Luffy's training—trust your instincts, read your opponent, and never let fear take control.

"I can do this!" Usopp gritted his teeth, loading a Fire Star into his slingshot. "Take this!" He launched the flaming projectile straight at Mr. 5's coat.

Mr. 5 scoffed and swatted it aside. "You think that little trick will—"

BOOM!

The moment his hand touched the fireball, it ignited a hidden oil pouch Usopp had thrown earlier, setting his sleeve ablaze.

"GAH!" Mr. 5 cursed, quickly patting out the flames. He glared at Usopp with newfound irritation. "You little...!"

Usopp smirked despite his exhaustion. "See? A sniper doesn't need strength—we just need strategy!"

Usopp's confidence was short-lived as Mr. 5's expression darkened. The Baroque Works agent wiped soot from his face, his eyes narrowing into slits. "You're going to regret that, you long-nosed freak!"

With a flick of his finger, Mr. 5 launched a barrage of booger bombs, each one exploding with enough force to shake the ground. Usopp yelped, diving behind a crumbling wall for cover. The explosions sent debris flying, and Usopp's heart raced as he realized just how outmatched he was in raw power.

"Okay, okay, think, Usopp!" he muttered to himself, clutching his slingshot tightly. "You've got this. You're the great Captain Usopp! You've faced worse than this... probably!"

From the sidelines, Vivi clenched her fists, her worry growing. "Luffy, please! He's not going to last much longer!"

Nami, too, was on edge. "Luffy, if you don't step in, he's going to get seriously hurt!"

But Luffy remained unmoved, his straw hat casting a shadow over his eyes. "Usopp's not done yet. He's got more in him. Just wait."

Vivi and Nami exchanged uneasy glances, but they trusted Luffy enough to hold back—for now.

Meanwhile, Usopp peeked out from behind the wall, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed a plan, something to turn the tide. As he watched Mr. 5 strut confidently toward him, Usopp's eyes darted around the battlefield, searching for anything he could use.

Then, he noticed it—a loose pipe hanging from the ceiling above Mr. 5. An idea sparked in his mind.

"Alright, Usopp," he whispered to himself. "Time to show them what a sniper can really do."

With a deep breath, Usopp leaped out from behind the wall, his slingshot already loaded. "Hey, Mr. 5! Over here!"

Mr. 5 turned, sneering. "Still standing? You're more annoying than I thought."

Usopp fired a pellet straight at Mr. 5's face, but the agent simply swatted it away. "Pathetic. Is that all you've got?"

But Usopp wasn't aiming for Mr. 5 directly. The pellet struck the pipe above, causing it to swing loose. Mr. 5 looked up just as the pipe came crashing down, striking him on the head and sending him stumbling backward.

"Now's my chance!" Usopp thought, loading another Fire Star into his slingshot. He took aim, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. "Fire Star: Blazing Shot!"

The flaming projectile soared through the air, striking Mr. 5 square in the chest. The impact sent him flying, his coat catching fire as he crashed into a pile of rubble.

Usopp panted, his legs trembling from exhaustion. "Did... did I do it?"

But before he could celebrate, Mr. 5 emerged from the rubble, his coat singed but his expression furious. "You little pest! I'll make you pay for that!"

Usopp's heart sank. "Oh no... he's still standing?!"

Mr. 5 raised his hand, preparing to launch another explosive attack. Usopp braced himself, knowing he couldn't dodge this one. But just as Mr. 5 flicked his finger, something strange happened.

Time seemed to slow down. Usopp's vision sharpened, and he could see the trajectory of the booger bomb before it was even launched. His body moved on its own, sidestepping the attack with ease.

"What... what just happened?" Usopp muttered, staring at his hands in disbelief.

From the sidelines, Luffy grinned. "There it is. Observation Haki."

Vivi's eyes widened. "He... he did it? Usopp awakened Observation Haki?"

Nami smirked, crossing her arms. "Looks like Luffy was right after all."

Usopp, still processing what had just happened, felt a surge of confidence. "So this is what Luffy was talking about... I can see it now. I can see everything!"

Mr. 5 growled, launching another barrage of attacks. But this time, Usopp dodged each one with precision, his movements fluid and calculated. He loaded his slingshot with a new determination, his aim sharper than ever.

"Alright, Mr. 5," Usopp said, a grin spreading across his face. "Let's finish this!"

With a final, well-aimed shot, Usopp launched a concentrated blast of explosive pellets, striking Mr. 5 with pinpoint accuracy. The force of the explosion sent the Baroque Works agent flying, finally knocking him out cold.

Usopp stood victorious, his chest heaving but his spirit unbroken. He turned to his crew, raising his slingshot in triumph. "I did it! I really did it!"

Luffy laughed, clapping his hands. "Told you he had it in him!"

Vivi and Nami smiled, relief washing over them. "Usopp, you were amazing!" Vivi exclaimed.

Nami nodded. "Not bad for a coward."

Usopp's grin faltered. "Hey! I'm not a coward! I'm a brave warrior of the sea!"

As the crew celebrated Usopp's victory, Luffy's gaze shifted toward the ongoing battle between Zoro and Miss Valentine. The swordsman was locked in a fierce clash with the Baroque Works agent, his three blades clashing against her parasol and devastating weight-based attacks. Despite the intensity of the fight, Zoro's expression was calm, his focus unwavering.