unbelievable.
Smoker stared at the white-cladboy before him, eyes wide with shock, unable to look away. His mind felt as if it had been struck by a hammer, wave after wave of disbelief crashing through his thoughts.
This was absurd.
Something like this—if spoken aloud—would sound like a lie, a delusion.
A boy from the East Blue…
possessing Conqueror's Haki?
That was the kind of talent that appeared once in a million people.
Yet here it was.
In the East Blue.
In Loguetown.
Standing right in front of him.
Before today, Smoker would have sworn such a thing was impossible.
Even during his time at Marineford, even among high-ranking officers, he had rarely seen anyone capable of using Conqueror's Haki—let alone wield it with such frightening mastery.
And yet this boy…
so young, so calm…
had unleashed it effortlessly.
Smoker's thoughts spiraled.
What kind of life did he live?
What kind of battles did he experience?
How could someone this young control such power?
It shattered everything Smoker thought he understood.
"Smoker-san… what do we do?"
The voice of the marine lieutenant snapped him back to reality.
Yes.
What should they do?
This boy had slaughtered hundreds of people alone.
That was no ordinary criminal.
That was a butcher.
And worse—he showed no hesitation, no guilt, no emotional fluctuation at all.
Young.
Powerful.
Cold.
If left unchecked, this kind of existence would become a catastrophe.
But dealing with him…
Smoker's chest tightened.
Can I really take him down?
For the first time in a long while, doubt crept into his heart.
"He's extremely dangerous," Smoker said in a low voice.
"If we let him go, he'll bring disaster sooner or later."
"But if we act… how?"
"This isn't an opponent we can treat lightly."
The silence grew heavy.
Then—
Smoker clenched his jaw.
"But this is Loguetown."
"I can't let him walk away."
He turned sharply and gave an order.
"All of you, fall back. Keep your distance."
"If a fight breaks out, you'll be caught in the aftermath."
"This is mine."
"Yes, sir!"
The marines immediately retreated, positioning themselves behind the shattered walls, eyes locked on the center of the ruined hall.
Despite the tension, many of them felt a surge of confidence.
Because Smoker was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.
In the East Blue, Logia users were practically invincible.
"Without Seastone, you can't even touch him."
"Captain Smoker has this."
"Logia powers are unbeatable."
Their faith was absolute.
Smoker stepped forward, gripping his Seastone jitte tightly.
The air grew heavy.
The pressure was suffocating.
"This kid wields Conqueror's Haki… I can't afford to underestimate him," Smoker thought.
He raised his weapon and spoke firmly.
"You've spilled far too much blood."
"Today, I place you under arrest."
"You'll be imprisoned here in Loguetown, and your crimes will be reported to Marine Headquarters."
"As for your final judgment—that's not for me to decide."
"My duty is simple."
"To take you down."
Ryukawa smiled.
He casually lifted his wooden sword and pointed it at Smoker.
"Take me down?"
"That won't be easy."
Smoker paused.
"…A wooden sword?"
He frowned.
Not Seastone?
Relief flickered across his face.
Then confidence surged like wildfire.
"I don't think you understand," Smoker said calmly.
"I'm a Logia-type Devil Fruit user."
White smoke began to pour from his body, his arms dissolving into swirling mist as his entire form became smoke itself.
The Moku Moku no Mi—the Smoke-Smoke Fruit.
A Logia.
"In this state, physical attacks are meaningless."
"Fists. Blades. Even your sword."
"They can't hurt me."
"As long as you don't have Seastone…"
"You have no way to defeat me."
Smoker straightened, his posture relaxed, confidence overflowing.
"I thought this would be a difficult fight."
"But now I see—"
"Even with Conqueror's Haki, you can't touch me."
"I can simply outlast you."
He smiled.
Ryukawa laughed softly.
"A Logia, huh?"
"I'll admit—it is troublesome."
Then his smile turned sharp.
"But tell me…"
"Have you ever heard of something called—"
"Armament Haki?"
Black spread from Ryukawa's arm.
In an instant, it flowed over his hand and wrapped completely around the wooden sword.
The blade darkened.
Hardened.
Like black steel.
A terrifying, oppressive aura erupted from it.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Armament Haki—fully activated.
The wooden sword now looked indestructible.
Cold.
Sharp.
Lethal.
Smoker's pupils shrank.
His confidence shattered in a single heartbeat.
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