Alex was in terrible shape—cuts, burns, lacerations, and every bone in his body ached with pain. His bandages, once wrapped tightly around his wounds, were now soaked red with blood. After being slammed through multiple solid walls, a nearly healed wound on his back had split open again, and the agony nearly made him black out.

He glanced at the white dog that had saved his life moments ago. It was filthy, bleeding, and its injuries looked like they came from a vicious animal's claws. But what caught Alex's eye most were the tears glistening in the dog's large round eyes, trailing down its grimy cheeks. That dog—Chouchou—had lost something dear.

The pet shop, once filled with memories of its deceased owner, was likely burned to the ground by members of the Buggy Pirates. Chouchou had probably sustained those injuries while bravely fighting off a massive lion to protect the store. The fact that a dog was willing to risk its life against a beast so many times its size—all in the name of loyalty—shook Alex to his core.

He looked at the buildings burning in the distance. Beside him, Chouchou howled and barked mournfully toward the flames.

What the hell is wrong with the Buggy Pirates? Did they come out just to cause chaos? Maybe the fight between me and Luffy stirred up too much noise, and that clown Buggy sent his men to check things out...

In the distance, he heard loud noises. Breathing heavily, Alex crouched beside Chouchou and gently patted his head. "Don't be sad. Let's go punish the bad guys, alright?"

"Woof! Woof!" Chouchou barked, staring at the gruesome wound between Alex's fingers—so deep the bone was visible.

"Hah! You're smarter than you look. Don't worry, this little scratch won't stop me from throwing punches."

He meant it. Buggy had tried to blow him to pieces twice already. That alone was enough reason for Alex to want to beat him into the ground. And if not for Chouchou's warning bark earlier, he might've been obliterated. Chouchou had saved his life, and in return, Buggy's crew had destroyed everything the dog cherished. Whether for justice or personal vengeance, Alex had made up his mind—he was going after Buggy.

He only hoped that Luffy had calmed down by now. If not, things were going to get even messier.

Dragging his battered body forward, Alex walked with Chouchou at his side. Every few steps he left a bloody footprint, a grim testament to just how bad his injuries were.

Soon, Chouchou barked happily and trotted ahead, coming back with an empty pet food bag clenched in his teeth. He wagged his tail excitedly and rubbed up against Alex's leg.

Alex immediately recognized it. That bag was the last one Luffy had retrieved from Mohji—the beast tamer from Buggy's crew—for Chouchou. The dog must've found Alex because he carried Luffy's scent. That simple act of kindness from Luffy had left a deep impression on Chouchou, and now the dog had returned the favor.

So in a strange way… Luffy had ended up saving Alex too.

Funny how things work out, Alex thought. Life was full of these weird twists.

But chasing down Buggy wasn't just about revenge. Alex needed to know if Luffy, Nami, and the others were safe. After what happened with Zoro—when hesitation nearly cost him his life—Alex couldn't just sit back and rest.

If he'd trusted that nothing bad would happen and decided to quietly recover in a corner, he'd never forgive himself if things turned ugly. Like back at Shells Town, when Zoro was nearly executed, if Alex hadn't made a split-second decision to hurl that stone at Captain Morgan's head, Zoro would be dead.

He couldn't afford to gamble—not when his friends' lives were on the line. Even if he had to crawl, he needed to see them with his own eyes.

After a few more streets, Alex spotted Mohji, bruised and battered, slumped in defeat atop his giant lion, Richie.

"Woof! Woof!" Chouchou's eyes lit up with fury. He charged forward, barking and growling, every hair on his body standing on end, ready to strike.

"You again, you filthy mutt! Get lost!" Mohji snapped.

Even after the beating he'd taken from Luffy, Mohji wasn't about to be scared off by a dog. He prepared to sic his lion on Chouchou.

"Looks like you didn't learn your lesson," Alex said coldly, his voice raspy as he winced through the pain.

Mohji looked ridiculous with his puffy, mop-like hair, but it wasn't a wig—that was just how his hair looked. He sat atop Richie, holding a whip and glaring down at Alex. Seeing how pale and bloodied Alex looked, Mohji smirked.

"You even know who I am? I'm the vice-captain of the Buggy Pirates, and you think you can talk to me like that?"

"Woof!" Chouchou leapt at Richie—only to be swatted away with a powerful paw.

"You're seriously mad over one burned-down pet store?" Mohji sneered. "That straw hat brat came after me just for that. And you—you're siding with this damn mutt? Richie, kill it!"

He was still bitter over the thrashing Luffy gave him, and he blamed Chouchou for it all. Now, seeing the dog again, his fury boiled over. He ordered his lion to tear Chouchou apart.

"Not on my watch."

Alex stepped forward, shielding Chouchou behind him. His gaze sharpened like steel.

"You? You're barely standing! You're gonna defend a dog in your condition? Have you lost your mind?" Mohji laughed in disbelief. Alex's body was swaying, barely keeping upright.

"I feel sorry for you," Alex said, glancing down at Chouchou, who still lay motionless after the lion's strike.

"But you and your overgrown cat here? You just got beaten down, and now I'm about to do it again. Are you ready?"

Mohji's eyes narrowed in mockery. "You? With that busted body and broken hand? You look like you can barely walk."

Both Mohji and Richie burst into laughter. Richie even snorted contemptuously through his nostrils. From their view, Alex was a wreck—his aura weak, his right arm limp, the bone sticking out clearly visible.

"You think injuries like mine mean I can't beat you?" Alex's voice rose with intensity. "So what if I'm broken? That's not gonna stop me from punching your face in!"

His voice roared like thunder, cutting through the laughter. Mohji and Richie froze.

Before Mohji could react, Alex leapt forward and kicked him straight off the lion.

BANG!

Mohji hit the ground hard, screaming in agony, rolling across the dirt as his whip went flying.

"ROAR!" Richie howled in rage, jaw wide open as he lunged at Alex to defend his master.

"Your breath stinks. Shut it."

With a powerful upward kick, Alex slammed Richie's jaws shut mid-charge.

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