Silence.
A heavy silence enveloped the alley.
The Straw Hat Pirates lay scattered across broken stone and rubble.
Some sprawled on the ground.
Some leaned against shattered walls.
Some struggled just to breathe.
Luffy was still down.
Zoro was barely standing.
Sanji was half-conscious.
Chopper looked like he might cry again.
Nami's knuckles were white around her staff.
Usopp couldn't stop shaking.
Robin's eyes stayed sharp, even while her body refused to rise.
And in the center—
Raifeng stood alone.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Not triumphant.
Not mocking.
Just… in control.
Usopp's voice trembled.
"…This isn't even a fight."
Nami's lips had gone pale.
"How can anyone be this strong…"
Chopper swallowed hard.
"I can't move…"
"I really can't move at all…"
Sanji gritted his teeth, forcing himself against the wall.
"…Damn it…"
"I can't even touch—"
Raifeng's eyes flicked toward him.
Sanji froze.
His body refused to respond.
Robin exhaled quietly.
"This level of suppression…"
"It's absolute."
Raifeng slowly turned his gaze across them—one by one.
Then he spoke.
"Is this all?"
The words were simple.
Yet unbearably heavy.
Luffy forced his head up, breathing hard.
"…You're…"
"…really strong…"
Raifeng looked at him.
"Of course."
Luffy grinned weakly through the pain.
"…That's awesome…"
Everyone froze.
Even Raifeng paused.
"…Awesome?"
Luffy nodded with difficulty.
"Yeah…"
"If I beat you…"
"…I'll get way stronger."
Raifeng stared at him for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly—almost amused.
"You're interesting."
But his tone turned cold again instantly.
"You're still too weak."
Boom!
A terrifying pressure descended—sharp and controlled.
The air seemed to solidify.
Breathing became difficult for everyone present.
Crack—!
The ground fractured further.
Nami cried out.
"Ah—!"
Chopper whimpered.
"I can't breathe…"
Zoro clenched his teeth, trembling.
"…So this…"
"…is the difference…"
Raifeng took a step forward.
Each step felt like a mountain pressing down.
"This is suppression," he said calmly.
"Strength. Technique. Control."
He looked down at them.
"You don't lose because you're careless."
"You lose…"
"…because you're weaker than me in every way."
Sanji slammed his fist into the ground.
"Shut up…"
Raifeng glanced at him.
"If you still have strength to talk…"
"Then stand up."
Sanji froze.
His legs didn't move.
Raifeng withdrew his gaze, disinterested.
Then he turned slightly, looking at Zoro.
"You."
Zoro lifted his head with difficulty.
"…What."
Raifeng spoke evenly.
"You're the only one here…"
"…still trying to stand."
Zoro's pupils tightened.
Raifeng continued.
"But even so—"
"You're still far from being my opponent."
Zoro's fingers dug into the ground.
"…Damn it…"
Raifeng raised his hand.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Everyone gasped for air.
Raifeng turned away.
"This is the end."
Luffy's eyes widened.
"Hey—!"
"You're leaving?"
Raifeng paused.
He didn't turn back.
"Yes."
Luffy gritted his teeth.
"…Next time…"
"…I'll win."
Raifeng chuckled softly.
"I'll be waiting."
He stepped forward.
His figure blurred—
And vanished into the night.
Silence returned.
Broken stones.
Low groans.
The Straw Hats scattered across the ground.
Nami slowly pushed herself up.
"…He left."
Usopp swallowed hard.
"…We lost."
Zoro stared up at the night sky, fists clenched so tightly his hands shook.
"…That bastard…"
"…He's terrifying."
Robin closed her eyes gently.
"But…"
"This encounter…"
"…won't end here."
Luffy laughed softly despite the pain.
"…Yeah…"
"…Next time…"
"…we'll beat him."
They had been completely suppressed.
But their will—
Had not been broken.
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