[U.T] Ch 26: Ballad of Courage

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"Hehehe, this is so good!"

Luffy shouted with a huge grin as he chomped down on a big chunk of meat, clearly enjoying the meal at Usopp's place.

Right next to him, Luen was also scarfing food down like there was no tomorrow.

Thanks to the same trait, Superhuman Physique (Deep Purple), Luen's appetite was just as wild as Luffy's.

Honestly, after eating nothing but apples for a while, real meat was a welcome change. Plus, with that physique trait, all the nutrients were being rapidly absorbed, making Luen physically stronger with every bite.

"This is great, huh? I still can't believe you actually knew my dad!"

Usopp grinned ear to ear, still riding high after hearing news about his father, Yasopp.

"Yeah, I met him when I was a kid. You look just like him. The moment I saw you, I knew right away," Luffy said while stuffing his face.

Usopp's eyes lit up with admiration.

"Man, your dad's got insane aim with that gun," Luffy added, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

"He used to talk about you all the time. I heard your name so many times, it nearly made my ears fall off. Yasopp's a badass pirate," Luffy laughed.

"Right? A guy who threw everything away just to chase his dream on the sea—my dad's awesome. I'm super proud of him!" Usopp said, puffing up with pride.

"Check Traits."

Now that Luen had cleaned off his plate (before Luffy could hoover up the rest), he finally had a moment to peek at Usopp's Traits.

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[Usopp]

→Traits:

•Slingshot Sniper (Light Purple)

•Inventor (Light Purple)

•Ballad of Courage (Special)

—[Slingshot Sniper (Light Purple)]—

Exceptional talent for long-range attacks using a slingshot, often even deadlier than guns.

—[Inventor (Light Purple)]—

Gifted in creating all kinds of gadgets and tools.

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Combat Traits like Slingshot Sniper are ranked based on current combat ability—not potential.

In the One Piece world, sniping doesn't usually equate to raw power, since guns don't do much against top-tier fighters.

Right now, Usopp's only hitting light purple thanks to his inventions and trick ammo.

But that doesn't mean his talent is average. The fact that he's at light purple without using Haki yet? That already puts him close to his father Yasopp in terms of raw potential.

Long-term, top snipers rely on infusing their shots with Haki—especially powerful Haki. The stronger the Haki, the harder it is to control and aim, so top-tier precision becomes critical.

Even those who develop Observation Haki can't land a shot unless their sniping skills are insane. Seeing your target isn't the same as hitting them.

Insane accuracy is needed to land the perfect shot and do maximum damage.

As for the Inventor Trait—it's not a combat Trait, more like something you'd find alongside Nami's Navigation Trait. As Usopp grows, both will naturally level up.

Still, compared to Luffy or Zoro, Usopp's current Traits aren't all that flashy.

But then there's the last one... the special Trait. That one's different.

Luen narrowed his eyes.

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—[Ballad of Courage (Special)]—

•Fear is natural. But courage—true courage—is the greatest song humanity can sing.

•Though the current user is timid and cowardly by nature, in the moments that truly matter, he can summon extraordinary strength far beyond his limits and turn the tide of battle.

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Reading that, even Luen couldn't help but smile with a bit of respect.

Yeah, Usopp's the scaredy-cat of the crew. Probably the most cowardly among the so-called "coward trio."

Even the Negative Hollow from the Hollow-Hollow Fruit (Horo Horo no Mi) couldn't drag him down emotionally—because he was already drowning in fear.

Compared to Luffy and Zoro, Usopp isn't exactly the picture of heroism. But that's the thing.

It's precisely because he's born that way—naturally timid and fearful—that his ability to choose courage in the face of fear is so impressive.

His dream? To become a brave warrior of the sea. And he's proving that dream bit by bit, every step of the way.

Luen respected that.

"Since you guys know each other, this makes things a little easier," Nami said with a smile, turning to Usopp. "Tell me, think there's anyone in this village who can sail—and maybe even a big ship we can use?"

"This village is tiny... might be a long shot," Usopp said, avoiding eye contact.

"But there's that huge mansion up on the hill, right?" Zoro chimed in.

"...!!!"

Usopp's face changed instantly.

Nami noticed it right away.

"Oh? Is that a friend of yours? Maybe you could ask them to, I dunno, chip in for a ship?" she said, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"No way! That place is off-limits!" Usopp blurted, almost like a reflex.

"Hm?"

Luffy and the others all looked at him, confused.

"Anyway! I just remembered I've got something to do! I'm super tight with the guy who owns this place, so you guys just keep eating. I'll be back—bye!!"

Usopp bolted out of there like the wind.

"...What was that about?" Nami raised an eyebrow, watching him disappear down the path.

"Chomp!" Luffy was too busy eating apples to care.

"Well," Luen smirked, "why don't we go check it out and find out for ourselves, huh, Luffy?"

That mansion belonged to Usopp's friend Kaya.

But it was also where a pirate was hiding—Captain Kuro, aka "Klahadore," with a bounty of 16 million Berries.

For Luen, that meant one thing: a battle-class Trait worth stealing and upgrading.

Even scraps are worth something—especially with the Grand Line just ahead.

No way Luen was gonna pass up a chance to power up.

"You're right, hehehe."

Luffy grinned.

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