Several days after the World Conference concluded, in the New World—on Egghead Island, the so-called "Island of the Future"—
The gears of fate continued to turn.
Guided by the currents of destiny itself, the Straw Hat Pirates arrived at this bizarre, futuristic island under the control of the world's greatest scientist, Vegapunk.
Upon learning that the visitors were led by Monkey D. Luffy—the young man who had just defeated Kaido, claimed the title of "Fifth Emperor," and awakened the power of Nika—Vegapunk showed no overt hostility.
He merely activated the island's outer defense systems, releasing several artificially created sea beasts as a symbolic test… and perhaps a warning.
To the current Straw Hat crew, however, such obstacles were little more than a formality.
After landing, Luffy and his crew quickly uncovered one of the island's hidden secrets—
The remains of a colossal ancient robot, one that had once participated in an attack on Mary Geoise two hundred years ago.
Not long after, they made contact with Vegapunk himself—or one of his many bodies.
For reasons unclear, Vegapunk seemed to harbor a particular interest in Luffy. Their interaction unfolded within a subtle, tense atmosphere, as though both sides were probing something deeper beneath the surface.
But peace never lasts long in this sea.
While the Straw Hats were still engaged in conversation, agents of CP0 infiltrated Egghead in silence, led by Rob Lucci.
Their objective was clear.
After the complete failure of the "Mother Flame" operation, the highest authority of the World Government—the Five Elders—had issued a new order:
Retrieve Vegapunk and his vast database—his "brain"—at all costs.
It must not fall into the hands of the Marines… or anyone else.
Conflict was inevitable.
Within the steel forests of Egghead, Luffy and Lucci met once again.
Lucci looked at the boy before him—the same one who had once defeated him at Enies Lobby, now bearing the title of "Emperor of the Sea"—and let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"Straw Hat… I don't acknowledge this so-called 'Emperor' of yours."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And that thing on your wanted poster… what exactly is it?"
Before the final word even finished echoing—
Lucci moved.
Without hesitation, he activated his awakened form.
Compared to his standard hybrid state, his awakened body grew taller, leaner, more refined. The lower half of his face retained human features, while dark flame-like clouds coiled around his shoulders.
The feral power of a fully awakened Zoan surged and fused within him—
Awakened Zoan — Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard (Hybrid Form).
His body nearly doubled in size, muscles bulging like forged steel. His fingers became black, razor-sharp claws, gleaming with lethal intent.
From his spine extended a thick, powerful leopard tail—its casual sweep carving deep gouges into the alloy walls beside him.
A savage aura radiated outward.
Luffy watched him, tilting his head slightly at the mixture of curiosity and provocation in Lucci's gaze.
Then he grinned.
He said nothing.
Instead, he casually pulled off the futuristic protective suit that had been getting in his way, revealing his lean, battle-hardened frame.
"Curious?" Luffy asked lightly, head tilted.
His smile remained bright—but his eyes sharpened in an instant.
"If you're that curious…"
He raised his right hand and tapped his chest—twice.
"Thump. Thump."
The sound of drums echoed.
No—
It exploded.
"Here it comes… it's coming… here it is!!!"
"BUZZ—!!!"
In an instant, dark red lightning—Conqueror's Haki—erupted violently from Luffy's body, crackling through the air like serpents of energy!
Lucci's pupils shrank.
"That Haki… Straw Hat, you—"
Before he could finish—
Luffy transformed.
His hair and eyebrows turned pure white, flowing like drifting clouds. White steam surged around him in rhythmic pulses, his body gaining a glossy, rubber-like sheen.
He stood there like a living embodiment of possibility itself—
An absurd, liberating presence that defied logic.
Gear Fifth — Nika Form.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
"Then take a good look!!"
Luffy burst into laughter, his voice brimming with exhilaration.
By now, he had completely mastered this power—fully adapted, fully in control.
This was no borrowed strength.
This was a true Emperor.
Luffy vanished.
Not with speed like Soru—
But something far stranger.
As if a frame had been cut from reality itself.
Lucci's instincts screamed. His Observation Haki flared as every muscle in his body tensed.
Armament Haki coated his arms as he crossed them defensively over his chest—
Just in time.
"BOOM!!!"
A white fist, crackling with dark red lightning, slammed into his guard!
"CRACK!!"
The sound of breaking bones echoed brutally.
Pain shot through Lucci's arms as the force punched through his defense, slamming into his chest.
Blood surged into his throat.
He was blasted backward like a cannonball, his feet carving burning trails across the ground as he skidded over a dozen meters before barely stopping.
"Ghk—!" Lucci coughed, spitting blood, veins bulging at his temples.
Impossible…!
His awakened form, combined with top-tier Armament Haki—and he could barely withstand a single punch?!
"Not done yet!" Luffy's cheerful voice rang out again.
Lucci's vision blurred—
Luffy's body twisted midair at a right angle, defying physics.
His leg whipped out like rubber—but expanded instantly mid-swing!
"Gomu Gomu no… Giant Whip!"
A massive white leg, thick as a tree trunk, tore through the air with a thunderous roar!
Lucci's pupils shrank. He kicked off the ground, trying to leap over it—
But the air itself… had turned sticky.
Rubber-like.
It dragged at him, slowing his movement by a fraction—
"BAM!"
The edge of the strike grazed his side.
Even that glancing blow cracked ribs instantly.
Twisting midair, Lucci slammed his claws into a pillar, sparks flying as he forced himself to stabilize, dropping to one knee, breathing heavily.
"Your movements…" Luffy said, swaying like liquid, his body bending unnaturally, "they're too stiff!"
He grinned.
"Awakening isn't about getting harder… it's about being more free!"
"Don't spout nonsense, Straw Hat!!" Lucci roared.
His pride ignited into pure killing intent.
In the next instant, he launched forward—black lightning cutting through the air!
"Six Powers Secret Art—Maximum Wheel: Leopard King's Piercing Strike!"
Both claws thrust forward, Armament Haki condensed into piercing black points, tearing through the air with a shriek.
Luffy didn't dodge.
Didn't block.
He simply… opened his arms.
At the moment the claws reached him—
His chest caved inward.
A ridiculous, hollow arc opened in his torso.
Lucci's strike passed straight through empty space.
"What?!"
"Gomu Gomu…"
Luffy's chest snapped back into place.
Elastic force exploded forward—
His upper body slingshotting ahead as his forehead slammed into Lucci's face!
"Nika Headbutt!"
"DONK!!!"
Lucci's nose shattered. Blood sprayed as his vision exploded into stars, his body flipping uncontrollably through the air.
Before he could recover—
Luffy was already above him.
Both hands had expanded into gigantic white palms, fingers closing like a cage.
"Gomu Gomu no… Giant Cage Hands!"
They clamped shut.
Crushing him.
Bones groaned under the pressure as Lucci roared, Haki flaring wildly, claws tearing at the rubber—
But it was like sinking into a swamp.
Every strike absorbed.
Every effort nullified.
"You know what's the best part about Gear Fifth?" Luffy's voice rang out, gleeful.
"You can do this!"
The massive hands began spinning.
Faster.
Faster.
Until they became a white cyclone.
Lucci's world spun violently—his organs threatening to burst from his throat.
Then—
Luffy slammed the "cyclone" downward.
"BOOOOM!!!"
Lucci crashed into a scrapyard below like a meteor, metal debris and dust exploding skyward.
The ground shattered, a crater forming as cracks spread outward like a spiderweb.
At the bottom—
Lucci lay broken, bloodied, barely moving.
His awakened vitality kept him conscious—
But his body screamed the truth.
The gap was too vast.
This wasn't a battle.
It was domination.
The rubber boy he once faced at Enies Lobby had risen to a height he could no longer comprehend.
"Damn it… I still don't acknowledge your 'Emperor'…" Lucci growled weakly, blood seeping from his lips.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
Just as Luffy was about to continue—
A sharp voice cut through the air from afar, mixed with explosions and Usopp's panicked shouting.
"Luffy!! We need help over here!!"
"Oh! Coming!"
Luffy's playful expression vanished instantly.
He glanced down at Lucci.
"Tch. No time to play with you."
He landed lightly.
Then—
He drew back his right arm.
Not a simple stretch—
But a spiraling compression, layer upon layer of coiled force winding around his shoulder.
Dark red lightning crackled violently around his glowing white fist.
"Gomu Gomu…"
Lucci's pupils shrank.
Death closed in.
He forced every last ounce of strength into a final defense—
"Iron Body!!!"
"Nika—Jet Pistol!!!"
The white fist crossed space in an instant.
Air compressed into visible shockwaves.
Before it even landed, the sheer pressure pinned Lucci into the crater—
"BOOOOM!!!"
Impact.
Time froze.
Then—
"CRACK! SPLAT!"
Bones shattered. Organs ruptured.
Lucci's arms bent unnaturally, his chest caving inward.
He couldn't even scream.
Blood—mixed with fragments—erupted from his mouth as he was launched backward like a cannon shell.
"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG—!"
One wall.
Two.
Three…
Seven massive alloy walls were smashed through in succession, each impact leaving a human-shaped hole, molten edges glowing as sparks and debris rained down.
Finally—
He embedded deep within a pile of massive scrap machinery, cables snapping and metal collapsing around him.
Silence fell.
Dust drifted slowly.
Lucci hung there—limp, shattered, barely breathing.
Only the faint rise and fall of his chest proved he still clung to life.
Luffy retracted his arm. The white steam around him softened.
He scratched his head, glancing at the wreckage.
"…He's probably still alive, right? Eh, whatever—Nami's calling!"
From transformation to complete domination—
The entire fight had lasted mere moments.
It wasn't a battle.
It was overwhelming.
A one-sided annihilation.
..
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