Chapter 92: The Reindeer’s Resolve

  The snow-covered field was eerily quiet except for the faint rustle of the wind sweeping through the frost-covered trees. Chess, tall and gaunt, nocked an arrow onto his longbow. His smirk was condescending as he took aim at the young reindeer standing a short distance away, its pink nose and peculiar pink top hat with a white cross standing out against the stark white backdrop.

  The reindeer, a creature that should have been a harmless and ordinary target, gazed back at Chess with wide, innocent eyes. It seemed utterly unaware of the danger it was in.

  “Freakish little thing,” Chess muttered under his breath, his disdain dripping with every word. “What sort of monster dresses a creature like this? You’d make a nice trophy, though. A blue-nosed reindeer? You’ll look good mounted on my wall.”

  His fingers tightened on the bowstring, preparing to let loose the arrow.

  Just as he steadied his aim, a voice, soft yet sharp, cut through the silence. “Aren’t you tired of being someone else’s pawn, Chess?”

  Chess froze, his eyes narrowing. “What?” he barked, lowering his bow slightly.

  “I said,” the reindeer repeated, its voice surprisingly steady, “don’t you ever get tired of being a puppet for a fool like Wapol?”

  The comment nded with a weight Chess hadn’t expected. He blinked, then ughed nervously, though his grip on the bowstring didn’t falter. “A talking reindeer? That’s rich. But it doesn’t matter if you can talk. You’re still going to die.”

  “And you’ll still be a fool,” the reindeer shot back, its voice dripping with contempt. “It must be exhausting, being as dumb as you are. And following someone even dumber? I almost feel sorry for you.”

  Chess’s face turned crimson, his smirk faltering. “You’ve got a sharp tongue for a beast, but it won’t save you.”

  The reindeer tilted its head, a flicker of amusement in its eyes. “Let’s see if you can back up all that talk.”

  With that, the reindeer suddenly transformed. Its limbs shortened, and its body shrank, morphing into a tiny creature that stood upright like a raccoon dog. It still bore the pink top hat and the antlers, but its new form was clearly bipedal.

  “What the…?” Chess muttered, stumbling back a step. “A Zoan-type Devil Fruit? Figures Drum Isnd would attract freaks.”

  Before Chess could react further, Goku’s voice echoed across the battlefield. “Chopper! Be careful!”

  The reindeer—Chopper—gnced briefly in Goku’s direction, his voice steady as he replied, “I don’t need a warning for someone this pathetic.”

  Chess snarled, the insults finally pushing him over the edge. “Enough! Die already!” He released the arrow, the bowstring snapping with a sharp twang.

  Chopper reacted instantly, transforming back into his normal reindeer form and darting through the snow with remarkable agility. Each arrow missed its mark as he leaped, ducked, and twisted out of harm’s way, closing the distance between them. His speed was extraordinary, his movements fluid and unpredictable.

  “Stop running, you coward!” Chess bellowed, firing arrow after arrow.

  Chopper suddenly shifted again, this time morphing into a towering, muscur humanoid form. His bulky frame cast a long shadow in the snow, and the sheer force of his transformation caught Chess off guard. Before the archer could adjust his aim, Chopper delivered a brutal series of punches. The first struck Chess squarely in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. The second connected with the side of his face, sending him reeling. The third came crashing down on the back of his neck, sending him tumbling into the snow.

  Wapol, who had been watching the fight unfold while fending off Goku’s attacks, stared in disbelief. “It’s him!” he shouted. “The creature from the bridge!”

  Chess struggled to his feet, coughing and clutching his chest. “Y-You… You’re that thing! You should have died back then!”

  Chopper’s eyes darkened. “This is for my father,” he growled, his voice low but filled with fury.

  Wapol and Chess exchanged gnces, their expressions hardening. They weren’t just facing a reindeer—they were facing a warrior out for vengeance.

  What followed was a brutal exchange. Chopper shifted seamlessly between his three forms, dodging arrows and sshing bdes as Chess fought to keep up. Blood spattered the snow as they nded blows on each other, the intensity of the battle escating with every passing second.

  Finally, as Chess began to gain the upper hand, Chopper transformed into his smallest form, using his sharp intellect to pinpoint his opponent’s weaknesses. He dodged a close-range shot, leaped back, and retrieved a small, yellow medicinal ball from his satchel.

  “You think that’ll save you?” Chess sneered, his voice dripping with condescension.

  Chopper didn’t answer. Instead, he swallowed the ball. His body convulsed briefly before he let out a roar, transforming through his three initial forms and then beyond. Four additional transformations followed, each more fearsome than the st.

  “Guard Point!” Chopper shouted, his body swelling into a massive, fur-covered sphere that deflected Chess’s next volley of arrows.

  “Jump Point!” His legs extended, propelling him high into the air and out of reach.

  “Arm Point!” His arms bulged with muscle, delivering devastating blows that sent Chess reeling again and again.

  The battle reached its climax when Chopper’s final form, Arm Point, delivered a devastating punch to Chess’s chest. The archer was sent flying into the trees, disappearing among the snowy branches.

  ---

  The scene shifted to Wapol, who was now visibly trembling. Goku cracked his knuckles, his patience wearing thin.

  “This ends now,” Goku said. In a blur of motion, he appeared in front of Wapol and delivered a punch so powerful it sent the king flying into the air. A ki bst followed, its light disappearing into the snow clouds as Wapol was sent hurtling into the unknown.

  Dalton and Chopper approached Goku, bloodied and exhausted. “If it was that easy for you,” Dalton muttered, “we wouldn’t have come.”

  Goku adjusted his straw hat, smirking. “If it wasn’t this easy, I’d have brought my crew.”

  He turned to Chopper, his tone serious. “You’re strong, and very interesting Chopper. Join me and my crew.”

  Chopper hesitated, transforming back into his smallest form. “I… I’m not sure.”

  Goku’s grin widened. “That fg on the castle? It’s not just for decoration, right? There’s a story there. Let’s hear it.”

  Chopper stared at the horizon, his resolve wavering as he considered the adventure that y ahead.

  The air remained still in the aftermath of the battles. The once-pristine snowfield was now marred by streaks of blood and trampled by the footprints of warriors. Goku stood tall, his breath visible in the cold air, as he watched Dalton and Chopper catch their breath. The lift’s creaking echoed in the distance, the only sound interrupting the otherwise eerie silence.

  Goku cpped his hands together, his grin breaking through the tension. “Alright, enough standing around. Let’s head back up the mountain. The vilgers and the old doc need to know that Wapol’s not going to be bothering anyone anymore.”

  Chopper hesitated, gncing back at the battlefield and then at Goku. “Are you sure he’s… gone?” His voice was quieter, his confidence shaken by the memories of Wapol’s cruelty.

  Goku gave him a thumbs up, his tail swishing behind him. “Trust me, Chopper. He’s not coming back. I sent him so far into the sky he might nd in another kingdom!”

  Dalton couldn’t suppress a chuckle, his stern expression softening. “Let’s hope you’re right. The people of this isnd deserve peace after everything they’ve endured.”

  They made their way to the lift, where Dalton inspected the ropes and mechanisms to ensure it was still operational after the skirmish. The lift creaked and groaned as they stepped onto the ptform, Goku’s tail flicking as he leaned on the rail, peering out over the snowy expanse below. Chopper stood close to Dalton, his tiny frame trembling slightly, but not from the cold—it was the lingering adrenaline and exhaustion from his battle with Chess.

  As the lift ascended, the trio remained quiet for a moment, taking in the serene view of Drum Isnd’s vast, snow-covered forests. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a pale golden light over the nd.

  Goku broke the silence, his voice casual but warm. “You fought well, Chopper. You’ve got guts, brains, and strength. That’s a rare combo.”

  Chopper looked up at him, blinking in surprise before muttering, “I-I just did what I had to. For my father… for the people of this isnd.”

  Dalton pced a hand on Chopper’s shoulder. “Your father would be proud of you, Chopper. I know I am.”

  The reindeer’s blue nose twitched as he gnced between the two of them, unsure how to respond. A small, shy smile crept onto his face as he whispered, “Thank you.”

  As the lift reached the mountaintop, the towering castle of Drum Isnd came into view, its fg fpping in the cold breeze. The pirate fg with the pink sakura leaves, pced atop the castle by Dr Kureha, remained untouched, a bold symbol of defiance against tyranny. Vilgers and Dr. Kureha were gathered at the castle gates, their faces a mix of worry and hope.

  The ptform cnked as it came to a halt, and the three stepped off, immediately greeted by the murmurs of the vilgers. Dr. Kureha, standing with her hands on her hips, was the first to speak. “Took you long enough,” she said, her voice sharp but tinged with relief. “What happened?”

  Dalton stepped forward, his deep voice steady. “It’s over. Wapol and his men have been defeated. He won’t threaten this isnd again.”

  The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the cold mountain air. Dr. Kureha’s expression softened, her sharp eyes nding on Chopper. “And you?” she asked, her tone gentler. “Are you alright, chopper?”

  Chopper nodded, his small frame trembling slightly as he stood tall. “I’m fine. And… Wapol’s gone. For good.”

  Goku, leaning against a nearby wall, waved his hand dismissively. “Told you guys I’d handle it. Wapol’s probably halfway across the ocean by now.”

  Dr. Kureha smirked. “For someone who looks like they should be on a tropical beach, you handled yourself well in the snow.”

  Goku ughed, scratching the back of his head. “Hey, I told you, I’m good at handling tough situations.”

  The vilgers began crowding around Dalton and Chopper, offering words of gratitude and admiration. One by one, they stepped forward, thanking the two for their bravery and sacrifice. Chopper, unused to such attention, shrank back slightly, but Dr. Kureha pced a firm hand on his head.

  “Stand tall,” she told him. “You’ve earned their thanks. Don’t shy away from it.”

  Chopper swallowed hard, his nose twitching as he straightened up. “I… I just did what I could,” he stammered, his voice barely audible over the crowd.

  Dalton stepped beside him, addressing the vilgers. “This isnd has endured so much under Wapol’s rule, but today marks the start of a new chapter. Together, we’ll rebuild and ensure that Drum Isnd is a pce of peace and prosperity.”

  The cheers grew louder, the vilgers’ faces alight with hope.

  As the celebration began to die down, Goku stepped forward, his hands in his coat pockets. “Chopper,” he said, his tone serious. “You should come with me.”

  The reindeer blinked, his wide eyes filled with uncertainty. “I… I don’t know. This is my home. And… my pce is here, helping these people.”

  Goku grinned, his tone light but resolute. “That fg up there,” he said, gesturing to the castle. “It’s not just for decoration. That pirate fg stands for freedom, for strength, and for fighting for what you believe in. That’s what my crew is all about.”

  Chopper hesitated, his gaze shifting to the fg and then to the vilgers. Dr. Kureha watched him carefully but said nothing, her expression unreadable.

  “I know it’s not an easy choice,” Goku continued. “But think about it. There’s a whole world out there, Chopper. Adventures, challenges, and people who need your help. And with me, you’d be part of something bigger than just one isnd.”

  Chopper stared up at the pirate fg, his heart torn between his loyalty to Drum Isnd and the pull of the unknown adventures that awaited him. The vilgers’ cheers faded into the background as he contempted his next move, the weight of his decision resting heavily on his small shoulders.

  [A/N: Can’t wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels.]