"Luffy is saved!"
Zoro and Sanji, who had just witnessed Shirogai Yamikuro descend from the sky, saving Luffy with one hand and then splitting a massive lightning bolt with the other, finally let out a breath of relief.
"Good thing Shirogai was here," Sanji muttered, kicking a pirate away. The cigarette in his hand trembled slightly. "Otherwise, Luffy would've been dead for sure."
The Grand Line was within reach, but their captain had nearly died.
I'm still too weak.
If his leg techniques matched Shirogai's, he wouldn't have been held up by these small-time pirates. The thought gnawed at him.
Poof!
Zoro cut down the last pirate near him, returning his swords to their sheaths. He stared at the execution platform where Luffy and Shirogai stood, sighing.
"I'm still not strong enough," he said. "If I could send flying slashes like Shirogai, I would've cleared the way and cut the execution platform down."
Thump, thump, thump...
Suddenly, the heavy sound of boots echoed across the square as dozens of Marines poured in from every direction.
"Pirates! Surrender now!"
"Damn it, it's the Marines! Brothers, fight them off!"
Chaos erupted as the Marines clashed with Buggy and Alvida's crews. Onlookers screamed and scattered.
The Marines quickly surrounded the execution platform and raised their rifles.
"Pirates! Hands up! Surrender, or we'll open fire!"
"Heh... there's a lot of them, Shirogai," Luffy grinned.
"Ready to cause a little mayhem, Luffy?" Shirogai smirked.
They exchanged glances. Despite the situation, both wore excited smiles.
"Let's show them what we can do!"
In a blur, both of them stretched their arms back.
"Gum-Gum Gatling!"
Fists rained down like a storm, hammering the Marines below and creating a wide path through the crowd.
"Open fire!" the Marine Captain shouted.
But the bullets sunk harmlessly into Luffy and Shirogai's rubber bodies, bouncing off with a twang.
"Ahhh! The bullets are bouncing back!"
"They're immune to gunfire?!"
The Marines dropped like flies, overwhelmed by the rubber assault. It was a one-sided battle.
"Those two are Devil Fruit users!" the Marine Captain barked. "Someone, get the Sea Stone bullets! Quickly!"
Amid the chaos, Shirogai's eyes locked onto a tall woman wielding a spiked club in the crowd.
[Host observed: User of the Slip-Slip Fruit. Ability recorded: Skin becomes frictionless, allowing the user to evade and glide.]
Another Devil Fruit ability documented.
Soon after, Shirogai and Luffy regrouped with Zoro and Sanji.
The four of them moved through the battlefield like ghosts, cutting down any Marine or pirate that stood in their way.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Winds howled, and rain began to pour in sheets.
The sudden storm drenched the battlefield. Wet gunpowder rendered firearms useless, and the tide turned in the pirates' favor.
"The wind's shifting!" Shirogai said, sensing the breeze. "We have to leave. This is the best wind to reach the Grand Line."
"Eh?! It'll be hard to leave later?" Luffy asked in alarm.
"Exactly," Shirogai replied. "Sanji, keep an eye on Zoro. Don't let him get lost."
Without waiting, Shirogai dashed off toward the port, Luffy right behind him.
"I'll keep this moss-head in check!" Sanji shouted, sticking close to Zoro like a guard dog.
"Back off, curly-brow! Don't get so close!" Zoro snapped.
"Straw Hat is escaping! After them!" a Marine yelled. "Why isn't the Colonel here yet?!"
The Straw Hats' escape didn't go unnoticed. Marines poured in to block their path.
Just before reaching the docks, a tall figure stepped into their path—White Hunter Smoker.
In the middle of the rain-soaked street, Smoker stood next to his motorcycle. His silver hair clung to his pale face, and smoke rose from the cigar in his mouth.
But his eyes weren't on Luffy or the others—they were locked on Shirogai.
"It's a Marine! Take him down!" Luffy yelled.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
"Two Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
"Shoulder Kick!"
Their attacks passed right through him. Smoker turned into white smoke and reformed, unharmed.
"You had the chance to kill me, but you didn't," Smoker said, still staring at Shirogai. "Why?"
Shirogai waved at the others, his voice calm.
"Luffy, go ahead. I'll catch up with an old friend."
Luffy blinked. "Old friend? Sorry for attacking you!"
"Let's go, Luffy!" Sanji said sharply. "Shirogai will handle it."
Zoro nodded, giving Smoker a wary glance before disappearing into the rain.
The Marines chasing them arrived—but paused when they saw Smoker.
"Colonel Smoker!"
Relieved to see a commanding officer, they started to form up, surrounding Shirogai.
"This man's mine," Smoker said. "You go after the others. They're headed for the docks."
"But... can you handle him alone, Colonel?" the Marine Lieutenant asked nervously.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Smoker's voice darkened.
Before things could escalate, Shirogai raised a hand casually.
"No need to be so tense," he smiled. "Worried they'll overhear us? Let me help."
"Sleep."
In an instant, a suffocating pressure filled the street. Marines collapsed silently, one after another, as if struck by an unseen force.
Thud!
They hit the ground like dominoes—unconscious.
This presence...!
Smoker's body stiffened. His eyes widened as he felt the overwhelming force.
"Conqueror's Haki…! You... you have the disposition of a king?!"
Shirogai gave a faint smile.
"There. Now we can talk freely."
To call that power 'trivial'—Smoker knew he was dealing with someone on a completely different level.
He took a long breath.
"Is your name Shirogai Yamikuro?" he asked solemnly.
"You're strong. Too strong to be with the likes of them. You had countless chances to kill us, yet you didn't harm a single Marine. I don't think you want to be our enemy."
"Join the Marines," Smoker said boldly. "With your strength, you have the potential to become an Admiral. You belong in our ranks."
Shirogai blinked. "You want me to join the Marines?"
He had expected questions about his Devil Fruit, not recruitment.
Smoker misunderstood his silence. "Is my rank not enough for you?"
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his coat. Its curly antenna twitched.
A familiar lazy voice came through the receiver.
"Yo, is that Shirogai? This is Aokiji. We'd like you to join us. What do you say?"
---
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