Chapter Chapter 202Garp's grandson—that old man who only knows how to fight recklessly with his fists actually has a grandson who is a swordsman? And he's grown into a swordsman capable of severing his specially-made mechanical arm?!The shock brought by this event left even the battle-hardened former Admiral Zephyr unable to fully recover his composure for a moment!Chapter 288: One Monster Like Garp Is EnoughOld man, the times have changed...Luffy gripped his blade with one hand, casually twirling it before resting the supreme grade swordnamed magic intent on his shoulder, flashing a bright smile at Zephyr."I guess I'm half a swordsman! When it comes to methods of attack, the more the better, of course. It's good to be prepared!"From the very beginning of the battle, he had been aiming for Zephyr's mechanical arm.It could fire Sea Stone bullets and energy cannons.That thing was too dangerous; once caught or hit by a Sea Stone bullet, he would instantly lose his strength.Therefore, prioritizing the elimination of this greatest threat was the best course of action.As for Zephyr believing his mechanical arm was indestructible?Just as a top-tier swordsman can easily cut steel once they comprehend the Breath of All Things, it was not surprising for the current Luffy, wielding the supreme grade sword magic intent, to reach this level.After absorbing the experience from a large number of Moriah's shadows, his own level of swordsmanship had long since quietly improved, touching the threshold of cutting steel and even higher.With Zephyr focusing all his attention on Luffy's fists and Haki, completely unguarded against swordsmanship, Luffy's sudden strike had indeed caught Zephyr off guard."That is truly unexpected."Zephyr shook his prosthetic limb, which felt slightly lighter after losing the mechanical arm covering."I haven't even used my full strength yet," Luffysaid with a grin. "Are you about to give out already?""Don't underestimate us veterans too much," Zephyr said, a savage grin appearing on his face.He clenched his left fist, which was coated in Armament Haki. The Haki was like a flowing black liquid, rapidly spreading from his fist to cover his entire forearm, emitting an even more dangerous aura than before."This black blade... if I'm not mistaken, it should be one of the twelve supreme grade swords, the black blade moyi.This sword is said to be extremely difficult to master due to the ferocious aura it contains. I haven't heard news of it for many years; I didn't expect it to end up in your hands." Zephyr's eyes narrowed slightly."You really are well-informed, old man."Luffy was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Zephyr to recognize even this sword."Hmph!"Zephyr snorted coldly, exerting force through both his prosthetic and his left fist simultaneously. "The more you display such astounding talent and potential, the more it proves how dangerous you are. Therefore, I am even less likely to let you leave today!"A truly powerful person can turn any part of their body into a lethal weapon.Losing the convenient mechanical arm was a weakening for Zephyr, but it also freed him from that heavy burden, making his movements even more agile.However, the boost a supreme grade swordprovides to any powerhouse is immense!The world's greatest swordsman Hawkeye Dracule Mihawk's sword, the black blade yoru.The naginata Murakumogiri belonging to the man called the strongest in the world, Whitebeard Edward Newgate.And even Pirate King Gol D. Roger's sword, Ace—all of them were divine weapons of the supreme grade sword class!Zephyr could feel that Luffy's body, which seemed quite drained after the intense battle just now, had actually seen its momentum climb once again after he gripped this sword, becoming even more dangerous."Then let's try it!"Luffy bared his teeth and laughed. "I'm really looking forward to an opponent as durable as you, old man. You can help me consolidate that feeling I just touched upon; maybe you can even help my strength take another step forward!"Although the pressure Zephyr exerted on him was strong, Luffy could clearly feel that Zephyr's Hakiand physique—both in terms of quantity and quality—seemed to have a noticeable gap compared to his grandfather, Garp.Now this is normal!After all, they are both elderly men; it wouldn't make sense if they were all increasingly freakish.Having one monster like his grandfather is already ridiculous enough!Zephyr's burly frame really did seem to have become quite a bit lighter after losing the heavy mechanical arm, and his aura became increasingly refined.He took a standard combat stance, his gaze locking onto Luffy like a hawk."As you wish, Straw Hat Luffy!"Having suffered a setback at Luffy's hands and lost his mechanical arm, Zephyr's offensive only became more ferocious.His figure vanished from his original position. His remaining left fist was tightly clenched, with pitch-black Armament Haki coiling around it like a living thing, emitting heart-palpitating fluctuations. One punch struck Luffy in the abdomen, sending him flying into the air.He stared at Luffy, his mouth splitting into a savage grin filled with both pain and excitement."If you want to learn Haki Infusion,"Zephyr pulled his fist back to his waist, his entire body's muscles tensing as his aura became like a volcano about to erupt, "then you'd better show me what you're made of! You can't touch the essence of this power with just clever tricks and a good sword!""Of course,"Luffy twisted in mid-air, unaffected by the strike. He flipped down and landed on the deck, his body slightly crouched. The black blade moyi in his hand gave a slight hum, pointing directly at Zephyr, his crimson pupils burning with a fierce battle intent. "Just don't die, old man. I still want to learn more from you!""Big talk!" Zephyr growled.Whoosh!Bang!Before his voice could fade, Zephyr moved again. His figure vanished from the spot, his speed reaching the extreme. He was clearly using the Shave and even Moonwalk techniques from the Marine Six Powers for a short-distance explosive dash.His left fist, coated in top-tier Armament Haki, was like a black cannonball fired from a barrel, striking Luffy's abdomen once more with zero fanfare!"Ugh!"But this time, Luffy wasn't sent flying. Having gained experience from the previous hit, Luffy let out a muffled groan. His Rubber abdomen instantly caved in to a staggering depth, and he then coiled himself around Zephyr's arm."A very quick response."Zephyr grinned, showing no panic despite his arm being coiled. His fist seemed to project something forward."This is?!" Luffy's brow furrowed."Hahaha, brat, don't forget that Armament Haki is also very strong."Zephyr bared his pearly white teeth. "Coiling around my arm was a very unwise decision."The fist seemed to burst with energy, a violent impact force penetrating the elasticity of the Rubber to strike his internal organs directly.Luffy almost subconsciously adopted a defensive posture, using the properties of the Gum-Gum Fruit to absorb part of the impact, but the power behind Zephyr's wrathful strike was simply too terrifying.Armament Haki, Internal Destruction!It was also a high-level application of Armament Haki.Luffy didn't know about it and clearly suffered a slight disadvantage."If you want to learn Haki Infusion, you should first learn how to take a beating! It's the same principle as when you learned basic Haki—all power is connected! If you can't withstand an enemy's attack, no matter how high your comprehension is, it's just a castle in the air!"Zephyr roared, the power in his fist exploding once more. "But if you can't handle the beating, then you might very well die here!""Get blown away!"Zephyr gave a muffled shout, and the fist pressed against Luffy's abdomen shoved outward with immense force, sending him flying like a tattered sack!"Pfft!"Taking this punch head-on, Luffy finally couldn't suppress his churning blood, leaving a trail of bright red blood in the air.It wasn't that he was completely unable to dodge, but rather that in that instant, he chose to take it directly, attempting to use his body to feel and understand the higher-level Haki application contained in Zephyr's attack.Just as Zephyr said, taking a beating was for the sake of comprehension.But the price for this punch was not small."Can't fall into the water."Luffy endured the sharp pain, kicking hard in mid-air to use the Moonwalk technique to briefly float. Simultaneously, he swung the black blade moyi in his hand!Slash!A massive flying slash entwined with black-red lightning arcs left the blade's edge, like a black crescent moon tearing through the sky, rapidly pouncing down toward the newly-landed Zephyr.Screech!!The slash grazed the ship's surface, and the sturdy deck was easily sliced open like tofu, leaving a bottomless giant crack through which seawater instantly surged.Zephyr dodged to the side at the critical moment. Glancing at the hideous wound on the ship, a hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes: "This isn't an ordinary swordsman's level. You brat, where did you find so much time to study swordsmanship?"As far as Zephyr knew, that old fellow Garp was no swordsman; his fighting style had always been straightforward Iron Fists.Could it be that Bogard who stays by Garp's side?That guy's swordsmanship level is decent, but he doesn't seem like the type who could teach a swordsman of this caliber.Moreover, would Garp allow his grandson to primarily take the path of a swordsman?The very thought felt absurd."As for time, you can always squeeze some out."Luffy steadied his form and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, practically gritting his teeth as he spoke.The bitterness involved was something only he and that damn [pirate king training plan] knew.His time was truly squeezed out, every single minute and second, from devilish training and studying.However, it was undeniable that Moriah had also played quite a role in this; his shadows really were like experience packs.Just as Zephyr dodged the slash, Luffy's legs kicked out violently in the air again, creating a sonic boom. He descended rapidly like a meteor, coming down upon Zephyr's head, the Haki-coated black blade slashing down once more!Zephyr's eyes narrowed, and he subconsciously extended his Armament-coated left fist to clash head-on with the black blade.But at the moment they were about to touch, Luffy's wrist flicked. The black blade moyi actually shrank at a bizarre angle, turning into a pitch-black dagger, which he then tossed upward!"Hmm?!"Zephyr was stunned.The black blade was changing size at will during combat.Zephyr quickly realized something.He could see it too—Luffy was indeed a swordsman, but he only used it as a means of attack; he still primarily used his fists.Sure enough, Luffy's true killing move was his other hand—his right fist, which was already poised, beginning to rotate at high speed and igniting with blazing flames."Gum-Gum Jet Fire Pistol!""Hah!"Zephyr instantly understood he had been feinted. With his rich combat experience, his reaction was extremely fast. He immediately gave up on the blade and suddenly crouched down, narrowly avoiding the flaming fist's wind. Simultaneously, his Armament-coated right prosthetic aimed for Luffy's ankle, which he hadn't had time to pull back!On the prosthetic, pitch-black Armament Haki was like a flowing black whirlwind, emitting an even more dangerous aura than before.This was the high-level application of Armament Haki, Ryou!Bang!A direct hit.Chapter 289: Did He Really Practice Haki Infusion?Zephyr looked up, baring his white teeth at the off-balance Luffy. Seizing this opportunity, his left hand suddenly erupted with terrifying power, swinging him around like a windmill and slamming him hard toward the broken deck below."No matter how excellent your combat awareness is, you still have to keep your feet on the ground!"Bang—Boom!!"I'll return those words to you!"In the middle of being slammed, Luffy's body used its Rubber properties to suddenly twist. Exerting force from his waist and abdomen, his other foot whipped out like a lash, striking Zephyr heavily in the chest with a breaking-air sound!"You really aren't to be underestimated, brat!"The Haki on Zephyr's chest vibrated. He let out a muffled groan but didn't let go; instead, he exerted force again, slamming Luffy to the ground even more violently!Everything happened in a flash. The exchange between the two was like a rabbit leaping and a falcon diving, move for move, exceptionally dangerous.The combat experience of a veteran powerhouse was indeed terrifyingly rich. In Zephyr, Luffyseemed to see the shadow of his grandfather Garp—steady as a mountain yet sharp as the wind.But the difference was that after several high-intensity bursts, Zephyr's breathing had begun to grow heavy, and one could even faintly hear a slight, uneven rattle. This proved that in terms of stamina and energy, time had ultimately left its mark on this former Admiral.Boom!Luffy's back collided violently with the deck. The massive impact caused the already tattered hull to let out an overburdened groan. The ship's surface caved in entirely, forming a large crater with wood splinters flying everywhere.
203However, Zephyr slammed Luffy down twice in a row, and Luffy, gritting his teeth, naturally kicked Zephyr twice in return. The final kick to Zephyr's chest was particularly hard to bear, sending him stumbling back until he crashed through the crumbling cabin wall behind him with a thud, buried under the debris."Luffy!"On the thousand sunny, far from the battlefield, Nami, who had been watching the fight with bated breath, couldn't help but cry out, her hands tightly covering her mouth.The commotion from the battle over there was too intense; every collision felt like a hammer striking their hearts.Amidst the thick smoke, Zephyr was the first to push himself out of the wooden ruins. He rubbed his chest, his face somewhat pale as his breathing grew increasingly labored.Almost simultaneously, Luffy leaped out from the crater he had made. Though he looked a bit disheveled and his Rubber body showed some bruising, his eyes remained bright and his fighting spirit was high."He's still fine after that?"Seeing Luffy full of vigor, a flicker of admiration and even deeper solemnity flashed in Zephyr's eyes.This kid's durability and recovery rate were simply inhuman!Who trained him?Aside from Kaido, that fellow who ate a special Mythical Zoan fruit, only Big Mom's naturally gifted physique gave off this kind of feeling.Luffy, however, gave him no chance to catch his breath, launching another attack the moment he landed.His arm suddenly stretched backward, fist clenched tight, as invisible ripples condensed in the air."Rubber Conqueror's Punch!"Snap!Zephyr's eyes narrowed. Sensing the compressed Haki and impact in front of that fist, he instinctively held his left fist across his body to block.A powerful force exploded, shockingly knocking his arm aside.Luffy seized the opportunity, quickly flipping to close the distance. Another uppercut coated in Armament Haki struck out like a venomous snake, aiming for Zephyr's jaw!Bang! Bang!Two dull impacts rang out almost at the same time.Luffy's uppercut was blocked by Zephyr's timely raised prosthetic right arm, while Luffy's follow-up punch was barely parried by the left hand he had just pulled back.Both attacks landed solidly, producing muffled thuds."Your fighting style is very disciplined, and your attacks are relentless. Garp taught you well."Zephyr frowned, but still couldn't help but offer a low-voiced compliment.Luffy's attacks weren't just random punches; they carried a clear rhythm and purpose, as if forged through a thousand refinements.And to think, when he had asked Garp to be an instructor at the training camp before, that guy had made all sorts of excuses, picking his nose with a dismissive look and saying he didn't know how to teach people.You call this 'not knowing how'?Zephyr really wanted to slap Garp right in the face."Thanks for the compliment!"As Luffy finished speaking, he had already rushed in front of Zephyr. He suddenly grinned, the two of them now almost face-to-face.Luffy's hands suddenly gripped Zephyr's broad shoulders, then he tilted his head back slightly before slamming it forward like a battering ram!A vicious headbutt, hardened with Haki, crashed solidly into Zephyr's forehead.Thud!The massive impact sent Zephyr's head snapping back. His vision momentarily went black, and his body could no longer maintain its balance, staggering backward.But in that moment of vulnerability, Luffy's poised right fist shot out like a cannonball, accurately striking Zephyr's wide-open chest!Bang!Like a kite with a broken string, Zephyr was sent flying again, crashing deep into the ship's ruins and kicking up a cloud of dust."I'm really starting to feel it, old man."Luffy shook his slightly numb forehead and looked at his fist, his eyes flashing with excitement: "That feeling of condensing power and then letting it explode. I feel like I'm about to grasp something!"Amidst the smoke, Zephyr slowly stood up, swaying slightly. The Haki on his forehead and chest gradually dissipated, leaving behind obvious red marks.He stared intently at the black-and-red Conqueror's Haki lightning that continuously flickered and exploded on Luffy's body—even beginning to resonate with his attacks. Finally, a look of unbelievable gravity appeared in his eyes.Was Conqueror's Haki Infusion really about to be honed by this brat in the middle of a battle?What's more, what truly alarmed Zephyr was that Luffy had been maintaining high-intensity use of all three types of Haki since the start of the fight, yet showed no signs of fatigue or exhaustion. Instead, he was fighting even more fiercely, his Hakiapplication more refined and concentrated than before.Such terrifying physical reserves and growth speed were simply unheard of.Even in his prime, squandering Haki like this would have certainly left him feeling the strain by now."This talent is too frightening."Zephyr clenched his fists until they cracked, a strong sense of crisis rising within him. "I absolutely cannot allow you to continue being active on these seas!"Someone with Luffy's talent...would definitely grow to that level.Roger.Kaido.Rocks.Whitebeard....Those peerless Great Pirates."Hehe, is that a compliment?"Unaware that Zephyr was already placing him alongside those legendary pirates, Luffy grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "But I haven't even used my full strength yet!"With that, Luffy took a deep breath, and his aura suddenly shifted!White, steam-like energy gushed from his body. His hair and eyebrows instantly turned snow-white, and white flame-like clouds swirled around him.Gear 5: Nika Form, activated!The white flame clouds around him drifted like living things, complementing the black-and-red Conqueror's lightning.Chapter 290: Straw Hat and the Supernovas are Not on the Same LevelSeeing Luffy in this form, Zephyr's eyes suddenly widened, filled with shock and confusion."Is this Life Return? No! Is it the awakened form of a Devil Fruit?! How could a paramecia-type devil fruit have a form like this..."Even more surprising to him was that, as Luffy's form changed, the parts of the sinking wreck he touched actually began to wriggle like Rubber, and its sinking speed slowed down visibly!Is he directly affecting the environment?This was indeed the power of an awakened Paramecia Devil Fruit.Zephyr was completely bewildered."Rubber White Meteor!"Luffy didn't care about Zephyr's shock. After entering Gear 5, his attacks became even more uninhibited.He laughed and threw a punch. His arm extended at an incredible angle and speed, his fist crashing toward Zephyr like a meteor.Zephyr instinctively extended his prosthetic arm, coating it with Ryou-level Armament Haki to clash with that white fist.Boom!At the moment of impact, what was triggered was no longer a simple airwave, but a terrifying ring of light—a mix of black-red lightning and white shockwaves—that expanded rapidly, pressing the surrounding sea surface into a crater!Veins instantly bulged on Zephyr's temples and arms as he grit his teeth.Luffy's other fist swung in from the side.With no other choice, Zephyr struck out with both fists, clashing fiercely with Luffy's terrifyingly powerful punches.They were in a deadlock!His feet carved two deep furrows into the now-rubberized deck.The ultimate powers of Haki and the Devil Fruitwere in a mad struggle, with both sides' stamina draining at an alarming rate.But it was clear that Luffy, having entered Gear 5and growing even more courageous as he fought, was gradually gaining the upper hand!"Your strength is fading."Luffy suddenly increased his force, his fists turning into countless afterimages. Zephyr, after all, was old and frail with hidden ailments; his defense was forcibly broken, and he was sent flying once more, smashing through the last intact section of the ship's railing."Rubber White Gatling!!"Luffy pressed his advantage, leaping into the air. His arms transformed into countless massive white fist shadows that poured down like a torrential rain, covering the entire area where Zephyr was!Zephyr could only retreat into a passive defense, pushing his Iron Body and Armament Haki to their absolute limits to withstand the dense barrage.What made it even more frustrating for him was that Luffy's attacks weren't just powerful; using rubbery ricochets and the terrain, his fists would bounce back from all directions at various bizarre angles.It was impossible to defend against everything!Bang bang bang!!The broken hull completely disintegrated under this frantic assault, with countless fragments flying everywhere.Zephyr was like a small boat in a storm, struggling to hold on, the glow of Haki on his body beginning to flicker under the continuous strikes.However, Zephyr was ultimately a veteran of a hundred battles, not someone who would just take a beating.In the moment Luffy's offensive slightly paused as he tried to close in for a decisive blow, a red glint flashed in Zephyr's pupils. Seizing that fleeting opening, he suddenly broke free from the shadow of the pursuing fists!"Don't get too ahead of yourself, kid!"Zephyr roared, suppressing the metallic taste rising in his throat and his increasingly ragged breathing. He condensed his remaining Haki and his life's combat will into his left fist, throwing out a barrage of punches just as fierce!Bang bang bang bang!The two's fists clashed in the air once again. They were so fast that only countless afterimages could be seen, along with the shockwaves and black-red lightning that constantly exploded upon impact.Neither side retreated. On the wreckage of the ship that was about to sink, they engaged in their final and most intense frontal confrontation!Continuous thunderous roars erupted from that stretch of sea, the aftershocks of the battle kicking up massive waves.Meanwhile, near the thousand sunny, the main fleet of the Marine Guerilla Force led by Zephyrfinally arrived, attempting to surround them."Looks like we can't just watch the show anymore," Sanji said, spitting out his cigarette butt."Hmph, no matter how many small fry come, they're still just small fry."Zoro bit down on the wado ichimonji and slowly drew the Sandai Kitetsu and Shusui from his waist, settling into his Three-Sword Style stance.Usopp shouted, "Leave the rest of the battle to us! The Great Captain Usopp is about to show his power!"Chopper also ate a rumble ball, entering his reinforced form."Super! Let's show them the power of General Franky—no, the thousand sunny's firepower!" Franky shouted, operating the ship's weapon systems.Vivi raised her hands as air currents began to surge, and Robin did the same; they were both Devil Fruit Users after all."So... so amazing," Bonney murmured to herself.Watching the Straw Hat Crew instantly enter battle mode, each performing their duties with perfect coordination like a precision-engineered machine, her eyes couldn't help but widen.She had originally thought that only Captain Luffyof the Straw Hat Crew was ridiculously strong, but looking at them now, the strength and coordination of the entire team were terrifyingly high!There were several ability users among them, and particularly that Alabasta Princess—she wasn't a kidnapped hostage, but a powerful Logia user!"Just what is the deal with these guys?"Bonney felt her understanding of the Supernovasbeing completely rewritten.The Marine warships tried to close in, but against the Straw Hat Crew's seamless coordination and immense power, they couldn't effectively board the ship.Sanji and Zoro, known as the King's Wings, cleared out the enemies trying to board like ghosts.Usopp's long-range sniping and Chopper's monstrous strength dealt with mid-range threats, while Franky's firepower kept the opposition pinned down.And then there were the Devil Fruit abilities that appeared from time to time.However, seeing that they couldn't get close, the Marine warships changed their strategy under the command of the adjutant Ain. Their cannons turned in unison, aiming at the thousand sunny!"All units! Fire!!"Ain grit her teeth as she gave the order. She couldn't just stand by and watch her teacher struggle alone.