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"Lieutenant Bell!"
"Princess Vivi!!!"
The Deputy Commander of Alabasta's Royal Guard—Bell, the kingdom's strongest warrior—suddenly froze in shock.
Because their missing princess… had finally come home.
Bell wore a white robe with a purple scarf and held a long sword in his right hand.
His eyes were full of excitement—and deep worry—as he looked at Vivi.
About ten days ago, Igaram had returned to the kingdom, alone, after disappearing with the princess. He'd explained everything he could.
But until he actually saw her with his own eyes, Bell couldn't stop worrying.
"It's okay now, Princess Vivi. We'll get you back to the palace immediately."
Seeing Vivi panting anxiously, and Psyduck (barely staying conscious), Bell quickly tried to calm her down.
But Vivi immediately shook her head and shouted:
"Uncle Bell, we have to go back now—if we're too late, Luffy and the others will be in danger!"
As she spoke, she grabbed Bell's arm and tried to pull him along.
Psyduck, ever loyal, spun around and readied to dash off.
Bell, still trying to process what was happening, suddenly heard a young man's voice nearby:
"Excuse me… did you just say the name Luffy?"
"Protect Princess Vivi!!!"
Bell shouted instantly, instincts kicking in.
Whoever could sneak up here—right in the middle of a heavily guarded area—was clearly no ordinary person.
He and Vivi turned toward the voice.
A young man stood there, smiling at them—freckles on his cheeks, shirtless, wearing only shorts and a cowboy hat.
"Sorry to scare you. I couldn't help myself—someone mentioned Luffy."
The boy's smile was warm, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
For a second… Vivi could almost swear Luffy himself was standing there.
Tipping his hat, the boy asked softly:
"Also… did you just say Luffy's in danger?"
[Armament — Hardening!]
[Gomu Gomu no… Whip!!!]
Luffy shouted as his right leg stretched, coated in Armament Haki.
Like a whip, it came swinging at Kaji with incredible speed and force.
"Don't you dare hurt my crew!!!"
[Kami-e!] (Paper Art)
Even with his hands still in his pockets, Kaji's body became weightless—like a piece of paper.
With a slight tap of his toe—
He dodged Luffy's attack effortlessly.
BOOM!!!
Dust exploded as Luffy's leg smashed into a building.
Kaji reappeared beside him in a flash.
Luffy's leg was still retracting after the hit…
But Kaji's foot was already raised high above him.
"It's over, Straw Hat."
Gritting his teeth, Luffy braced himself to block with both fists.
But then—
[Xun Hexagram — Wind Blade!!!]
From the rooftop, Bai Ye unleashed a Qimen technique.
Several razor-sharp wind blades materialized from thin air—
Slashing toward Kaji's neck in a blink!
"Nice move."
Even now, Kaji had the nerve to talk:
"Too bad... it's too slow."
[Tekkai!] (Iron Body)
The moment the wind blades appeared, Kaji sensed them.
Switching techniques again, his once-soft body turned solid as steel.
His neck, especially, was reinforced with Armament Haki.
CLANG!!!
The instant the wind blades struck his body, a crisp metallic sound rang out.
Bai Ye's eyes twitched at the sight.
So this is what a real powerhouse looks like?
Mocking you to your face, but fully armored behind the scenes?
Bai Ye's attack failed to land—but Luffy used that opening to leap out of Kaji's attack range.
And—
The fight wasn't over yet!!!
[Armament — Hardening!]
[Diable Jambe!!!]
Sanji suddenly charged in from the side!
His right leg, engulfed in flames and covered in Armament Haki, swept upward—
Heading straight for Kaji's creepy little face!
Gaji's face darkened.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, you bastard?!"
[Soru!]
Gaji easily dodged Sanji's attack.
He was just about to teach this punk a lesson for daring to kick his handsome face…
When he suddenly looked up!
[Armament — Covering]
Zoro channeled all his Haki into his Wado Ichimonji.
Leaping down from the nearby rooftop—
He chanted:"Mountains and seas, none can block me…Three… Thousand… Worlds!!"
His two swords spun like whirlwinds as he shot toward Gaji from above.
[Slash!!!]
BOOM!!!
The ground split open, a massive crater forming in the blink of an eye.
Zoro dropped to one knee in the pit, eyes narrowing.
He missed?!
He's above me!
[Geppo!] (Moonwalk)
Gaji launched himself into the air, stepping on nothing but thin air. He even had the leisure to light up a cigarette.
The sleazy vibe was coming off him strong.
"Nice try. That almost hit me."
[Storm Thunder Chant!!!]
Nami whispered, twirling her Clima-Tact.
Above Gaji, the wind howled, and thunder boomed.
CRACK!!!
A bolt of lightning came crashing down like divine retribution!
[Fire Tornado!!!]
Standing beside Nami, Usopp pulled the trigger.
Bullets infused with fire and wind elements exploded from his weapon—
—And smashed into each other midair.
ROAR!!!
A swirling inferno surged up from below, engulfing Gaji's feet in a fiery tornado!
Faced with deadly threats from both above and below, Gaji's expression finally shifted for the first time.
"Elemental attacks? Devil Fruits? No way."
In less than a second, he dismissed that theory.
No Devil Fruit user can use two elements like that.
Then he noticed the weapons in Nami and Usopp's hands. Recalling the Straw Hat crew's profiles, he shifted his gaze to Bai Ye.
"'Taoist Master' Bai Ye, huh? More of that so-called Daoist trickery?"
Gaji was genuinely surprised. Not only could Bai Ye use multiple elements himself—
He could apparently pass those abilities on to others.
Ridiculous.
Thinking this over, Gaji finally pulled his hands from his pockets—something he usually only did to light a smoke.
His right hand slid to his waist, drawing a gleaming sword.
[Slash!]
His creepy grin faded slightly as he unleashed two powerful shockwaves—without even fully unsheathing the blade.
BOOM!!! x2
Nami and Usopp's combo attack, which they had taken time to prepare…
In the eyes of a Vice Admiral candidate like Gaji, it was just mildly entertaining.
"You Straw Hats really helped me warm up a bit."
He landed on the ground, glancing at the now regrouped crew. His tone was relaxed.
"Newbies on the Grand Line… and yet you've already learned Haki, not to mention pulling off attacks like that?"
His gaze scanned over the Straw Hats, then locked onto Luffy and Bai Ye.
"Well now… that's a real surprise."
Everyone from the crew looked grim after hearing that.
Even Luffy's expression grew more serious than ever before.
Straw Hat Crew (minus Chopper) vs. Navy Vice Admiral Candidate Gaji!
Result: Total Defeat!!!
"....."