"The Rubber Fruit, huh?"
"I've heard of it. A Paramecia-type. The user's body can stretch like rubber."
"Didn't expect it to end up in your hands."
Higuma looked Luffy up and down like he was inspecting treasure.
"Kid, I'll give you one last chance."
"Come with me. I'll make you vice-captain."
"Otherwise…"
He slowly drew the blade from his waist.
The steel gleamed coldly.
"I'll just take your corpse back instead."
Luffy took a deep breath.
He knew there was no avoiding this fight.
Then—
Fight.
"Gomu Gomu no—!"
Luffy pulled his right fist back, his body compressing like a spring.
Then he released it violently.
"Pistol!"
His fist shot forward like a cannonball toward Higuma!
Higuma's eyes sharpened. He raised his blade horizontally to block.
Bang!
The punch slammed into the sword with a heavy thud.
Higuma slid back a step.
His arm tingled from the impact.
"So much force…"
He was shocked.
That punch carried far more power than any normal seventeen-year-old should have.
What the hell was this kid?
Luffy didn't stop.
One punch flowed straight into another.
"Gomu Gomu no— Gatling!"
Fists rained down like a storm!
Higuma swung his blade frantically to defend.
Clang clang clang clang—!
The sound of metal colliding rang nonstop.
The longer it went on, the more alarmed Higuma became.
Luffy's punches weren't just strong—they were fast.
And each angle was tricky, forcing him to react constantly.
If not for his battle experience, he would've been hit already.
"This won't work."
Higuma gritted his teeth.
He endured one punch head-on—
Then swung downward with all his strength!
The blade tore through the air with a sharp screech!
Luffy's pupils shrank.
Can't dodge!
He raised his arm again to block.
Clang—!
The blade struck.
This time, it bit in.
Not deep—but it broke the skin.
Blood seeped out.
Luffy let out a muffled groan and staggered back several steps.
His arm burned with pain.
"Well?" Higuma panted, grinning viciously.
"The Rubber Fruit isn't invincible."
"With enough force, I can still cut you."
Luffy glanced at the wound.
Shallow. Not much blood.
But still—
It was the first time he'd been injured in three days.
"System. Any suggestions?"
He asked silently.
[Analyzing…]
[Opponent strength: 8,000,000 Beli bounty. Extensive combat experience. Skilled with blades.]
[Host strength: Physical rating D+. Basic mastery of Rubber Fruit. Limited real combat experience.]
[Estimated win rate: 30%.]
[Recommendation: Escape.]
Luffy gave a bitter smile.
He would if he could.
But could he?
They had him surrounded.
"Guess I'll have to bet everything…"
His gaze sharpened.
He stopped holding back.
He pushed his Rubber Fruit ability to its limit.
His arm began to swell—thicker, longer, expanding several times its size.
"Gomu Gomu no—!"
Luffy roared.
"Gigant Pistol!"
The enlarged fist, carrying a terrifying force, blasted toward Higuma!
Higuma's face changed drastically.
That punch was at least three times stronger than before!
He didn't dare block it.
He twisted his body to dodge.
The fist grazed past him—
And slammed into the wall behind.
BOOM—!
The wall exploded with a massive hole.
Stones shattered. Dust filled the air.
Higuma's men stumbled backward in fear.
If that punch had landed on a person—
They would've been crushed completely.
"This kid… what kind of monster is he…"
Cold sweat formed on Higuma's forehead.
For the first time—
He felt fear.
But almost immediately, fear turned into greed.
Such power…
If he could control it—
"Everyone! Attack together!"