Sanji lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, his eyes sharp as an eagle's: "A bunch of annoying guys, don't disturb our banquet."
The battle was about to begin!
The air solidified in an instant, and Lucci's figure suddenly vanished, leaving only an afterimage that dissipated on the spot!
The next second, he appeared in front of Luffy, his muscles bulging, hair growing wildly, instantly transforming into a ferocious leopard-man form—Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit, Leopard Form!
"Six Powers Ultimate Secret: Maximum Wheel: Finger Pistol!" Lucci's voice was bone-chillingly cold, Armament Haki covered his entire arm like black steel, and his fingertip condensed a terrifying power capable of piercing steel, aiming directly for Luffy's glabella!
This strike was enough to instantly shatter anyone's head!
However—
"Hoo—" Luffy's mouth curved into a battle-ready grin, and scorching crimson steam suddenly billowed around him, Second Gear: Steam Mode, activated!
His pupils suddenly constricted, Observation Haki fully unleashed, Lucci's fatal move was clearly visible to him, like a slow-motion replay.
"Too slow," Luffy murmured.
Just as Lucci's fingertip was mere millimeters from his forehead, Luffy's fist exploded outward! Golden Haoshoku Haki coiled around it like thunder, and the air twisted and roared under the force of the punch!
"Haoshoku Infusion!"
"Bang—!!!"
Lucci's pupils suddenly constricted; he didn't even have time to react before an overwhelming pain tore through his chest!
The terrifying impact instantly pierced his body, his Armament Haki defense was torn like thin paper, and his body flew backward like a cannonball, crashing through several buildings before finally slamming into the distant ruins!
The entire scene was dead silent!
Kaku's sneer froze on his face, Kalifa's glasses slipped down her nose, and Blueno's mouth hung open, almost dislocated.
All of CP9 were dumbfounded, utterly unable to believe what they were seeing—their strongest member, the'Slaughter Weapon' Lucci, was instantly defeated with a single punch!
"Wh-What a joke?!" Kaku's voice trembled with shock.
Luffy slowly retracted his fist, his Haki still swirling around him, his gaze as sharp as a knife: "Is this all you CP9 are capable of?"
Zoro grinned: "Hey, Luffy, don't hog all the fun, save some for me."
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, sneering: "Looks like I won't have to make a move?"
Franky struck his signature pose: "Super—!! As expected of our Captain!"
And in the distance, from within the ruins, Lucci struggled to his feet, blood spilling from his mouth, and finally, a hint of... terror appeared in his eyes. The rumors were true, that boy was indeed unblocked by Kaido!
The shock of Lucci being sent flying by a single punch had not yet dissipated when Zoro's mouth already curved into a wild grin. He slowly drew his three famous swords, their gleaming blades radiating a chilling light.
"Hey, Moss Head, don't steal my prey." Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, his dress shoe lightly grinding on the ground, sparks flying.
"Hmph, may the best man win." Before Zoro's words finished, his figure vanished like a ghost.
"Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
Kaku didn't even have time to activate his Giraffe Fruit ability before three sharp sword slashes crisscrossed towards him. He frantically used 'Iron Body' for defense, but Zoro's slashes directly broke through his Armament Haki!
Amidst splashing blood, Kaku's eyes widened, and he heavily fell to the ground.
On the other side,
Sanji's Diable Jambe was already burning with scorching flames.
"Collier!"
Jabra's foot had just lifted when Sanji's kick powerfully struck his abdomen. His proud'Six Powers' technique was useless against this kick infused with Armament Haki, and he flew backward like a broken kite.
"Moonwalk!" Blueno tried to escape using his Door-Door Fruit ability, but a dark shadow suddenly enveloped him.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Franky's mechanical arm clanked, and a'Strong Right' punch directly slammed him into the ground, "Super ~ Goodbye!"
Usopp's 'Green Star: Devil' seed exploded at Kumadori's feet, and vines instantly bound him tightly.
Nami spun her Clima-Tact, and dark clouds gathered over CP9, "Thunderbolt Tempo!" As a bolt of lightning struck down, the last remaining resistor fell, emitting black smoke.
The entire battle lasted only a few short minutes; CP9, who once put the Straw Hat into a tough fight, was now so easily defeated in front of them.
Zoro sheathed his swords, scoffing disdainfully: "Even weaker than I imagined."
Luffy adjusted his Straw Hat, revealing a bright smile: "Let's go, companions! It's time for a banquet!"
Behind them, the CP9 members lying scattered on the ground had eyes full of disbelief; they finally understood that they were no longer facing the rookies they once knew!
Usopp's live stream broadcast this overwhelming battle to the entire world without reservation!
In bars on Sabaody Archipelago, in meeting rooms at Marineford, on a certain pirate ship in the New World... countless eyes stared at the screens, everyone holding their breath, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Wh-What a joke?!" In a certain tavern, a pirate's wine glass clattered to the ground, spilling wine everywhere, "Is this really the same Straw Hat boy and his crew from before?!"
A scholar wearing glasses next to him pushed up his frames, his voice trembling: "That Lucci... he's the strongest CP9 member in eight hundred years! It's said his Doriki value exceeds 4,000, even an Admiral looks at him differently..."
On the live broadcast screen, Luffy was cheerfully slinging his arm around his companions' shoulders, and behind him, all of CP9, once a terrifying force, lay defeated.
Usopp triumphantly gave a victory sign to the camera: "How's that? You've seen how strong our Straw Hat Pirates are, haven't you!"
The comments section instantly exploded:
[Holy crap! This is going against the heavens!]
[As expected of a graduate who was beaten into shape by Teacher Kaido!]
[I'm going to ask Teacher Kaido for lessons!]
[What's the deal with that cyborg? He's too exaggerated!]
[...]
Rob Lucci painstakingly pulled himself up from the ruins, the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth strikingly vivid on his pale face.
He stared intently in the direction Luffy and the others had left, his fingernails digging deep into his palm, yet he felt no pain. Compared to the physical wounds, the humiliation of being completely crushed tore at his heart even more.
"What a joke..." His voice was terribly hoarse, the hairs on his still not fully receded leopard-man form stood on end, "I clearly made all the preparations..."
...
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