Chapter 28: Loguetown Showdown – Smoker vs. Straw Hats & Dragon's Shadow
Buggy pushed himself up, body charred black, hair standing on end. He ground his teeth and roared:
"Damn straw-hat jinx! I'm gonna kill you today! Men—get them! After we wipe them out, we're leaving this island for the Grand Line!"
"Captain Buggy! Y-You're alive?!" Cabaji's eyes bulged—he had clearly seen the lightning char Buggy to a crisp.
"You bastard!" Buggy jumped in fury. "You were hoping I'd die, weren't you?!"
Nearby, Alvida—who had eaten the Smooth-Smooth Fruit—impatiently flicked her hair:
"Enough talk—hurry up and chase them!"
The two had barely taken a few steps when their bodies stiffened—white smoke coiled around them like venomous snakes, instantly binding them completely.
Smoker exhaled a smoke ring without turning. His right arm transformed into billowing white smoke:
"Small fry—stay put. White Smoke Bomb!"
Bang!
In an instant, Buggy's entire crew collapsed like netted fish and shrimp, twisted and tangled on the ground. Buggy and Alvida were especially trussed up like dumplings in specially made Seastone nets, struggling helplessly in impotent rage.
"Watch them." Smoker left the cold order, mounted his motorcycle—the exhaust blasted thick smoke. With a roar of the engine, he shot forward like an arrow toward Luffy's escape route.
Luffy sprinted with a wide grin, straw hat flapping wildly behind him:
"Zoro! Sanji! Where'd Sol and Nami go?!"
Sanji sent a pursuing Marine flying with a beautiful spinning kick, cigarette sparks scattering:
"Nami-san and Usopp already went ahead to the Going Merry. As for Sol…" He frowned and blew a smoke ring, "I saw him earlier cozying up with the Marines—god knows where he ran off to now."
"Who cares about him!" Zoro's three swords flashed. Marines fell wherever the cold light passed. He glanced back at the closing pursuers and sneered:
"That monster doesn't need us worrying about him. Let's take care of ourselves first!"
Bang!
Usopp's slingshot nailed Mohji square in the back of the head. The unlucky man—who had been about to set the Going Merry on fire—dropped instantly.
"Taste my special 'Sleep Lead Bullet'!" Usopp proudly blew on his slingshot, quickly reloading. "Next up—Fresh Egg Special Attack!"
Several eggs arced perfectly and burst in front of Richie the lion. The irresistible egg scent immediately drew the beast's attention. Richie trotted over and began licking up the delicious spilled yolk.
"Run!" Usopp grabbed Nami's hand. The two dashed up the Going Merry's gangplank in three big steps.
"Now we just wait for those idiots to get back…" Nami panted, eyes fixed on the town.
Usopp already had his slingshot ready, prepared to cover their crewmates' boarding:
"Don't worry—with me here, no one's getting near the Going Merry!"
Wind howled across the rooftop. Sol stood with arms crossed, watching Luffy and the others being chased by Marines in the distance, a playful smile on his lips.
"That lightning strike earlier…" He tilted his head slightly, glancing at the tall hooded figure beside him. "That was you, wasn't it, Dragon?"
A low, quiet chuckle came from under the hood:
"First words after so many years, and you're already accusing me?"
"Not you?" Sol raised an eyebrow. "I thought maybe the dad was secretly helping out."
"Though I did think about stepping in at the time…" Dragon lifted his head. The hood fell back slightly, revealing a tattooed face. A gentle smile flashed in his eyes. "This time it really was just coincidence."
Sol shrugged:
"You've got some serious composure. Your son's being chased through the streets, and you're just watching the show from up here."
"And you—his vice-captain—aren't helping either?" Dragon countered.
"Hey, I ran into an old acquaintance. Gotta catch up." Sol grinned, gaze lingering for a moment on the tattoo on Dragon's face. "Years apart, and your style's getting cooler."
Dragon gave a noncommittal smile.
"By the way," Sol suddenly remembered. "Did you find that guy I mentioned before—'Issho'?"
Dragon's smile deepened at the name:
"He's quite the character. He's currently a Revolutionary Army instructor, though…" He paused. "…it's a bit of a waste of his talent to have him training new recruits."
"Roronoa Zoro."
Tashigi stood in front of Zoro, ready to intercept him:
"I never thought you were actually Zoro—and a pirate at that. You dared to toy with me!"
"Give me back Wado Ichimonji!" Tashigi lunged forward, Shigure drawing a sharp arc. "That's not a blade a pirate should wield!"
Clang—!
Two famous swords clashed fiercely, sparks flying.
"Heh…" Zoro blocked the strike, sparks scattering between them. "If you can take it—try."
"Luffy, you two go ahead. I'll catch up soon."
"Got it! Leave it to you!" Luffy grabbed the furious Sanji.
"Let go! That idiot swordsman dared draw a blade on a lady!"
The asphalt road screeched under motorcycle tires. Smoker's figure gradually emerged through the spreading gun smoke.
"Who's this guy now?" Luffy asked while running and turning his head, straw hat pressed tight against his back by the headwind.
Sanji narrowed his eyes, cigarette glowing faintly in the wind:
"Tch… looks like a tough one."
"Straw Hat kid…" Smoker removed the cigar from his mouth, white smoke leaking from between his teeth. "Remember the man who's arresting you—Marine Headquarters Captain, White Hunter Smoker!"
Before the words finished, his arms instantly turned into rolling thick smoke—like two giant pythons strangling toward Luffy.
"Wah! What is this?! It's sticky!" Luffy struggled to tear off the wrapping smoke. For the first time, his rubber body felt powerless against a Logia ability.
"You bastard!" Sanji leaped into the air, suit tails flapping. "Diable Jambe: Leg Shot!" But the rock-splitting kick passed straight through Smoker's head.
"Annoying." Smoker's eyes flashed coldly. His right arm instantly turned into a white hurricane:
"White…"
"Enough."
A sudden voice made the battlefield fall silent. Sol appeared in front of Sanji at some point, catching the impending smoke blast with one hand. His lips curved dangerously:
"Bullying my crew right in front of me… Smokey, you've got some guts, huh?"
Smoker's pupils shrank sharply:
"Sol?!"
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
Sol took a deep breath. A violent tornado erupted from his mouth—the cyan wind pressure tore Smoker's smoke binding Luffy to shreds.
Luffy flipped in the air and landed steadily, grinning wide:
"Saved! Thanks, Sol!"
Luffy's fist cut through the air, whistling toward Smoker's face. However—
"Too naive, kid."
Smoker sneered. A smoke-condensed hand precisely grabbed the rubber fist and yanked hard!
Bang!
Luffy was slammed violently into the ground. His face collided with the stone road with a muffled thud and embedded there. Smoker stood atop white smoke, looking down with contempt:
"With this level—you're worth 30 million Berries?"
"L-Let… let go, you smoky guy…" Luffy's muffled voice came from below.
Smoker released the grip. His body instantly vaporized and retreated, reforming ten meters away. Cigar ash fluttered down. His gaze shifted between Sol and Luffy:
"Heh… don't tell me—this kid is your captain?"
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