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[White Bind!]
Somewhere in the port city of Alabasta—
A whip of smoke shot forward like a lasso.
The one using this move was none other than the Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, Smoker.
His target?
[Flame Mirror!!!]
Ace's eyes narrowed as he threw a fiery punch.
In an instant, his arm turned into a blazing inferno, completely blocking the incoming smoke.
But then—something unexpected happened.
[Black Spear!!!]
Just as Ace's flames clashed with Smoker's smoke—
A jet-black spear suddenly came flying from the side, whistling through the air toward Ace.
Seeing this, Ace immediately dropped his Flame Mirror, tapped his toes on the ground, and quickly retreated.
BAM!
The black spear hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Ace steadied himself and looked up at the two Marines standing before him:
Smoker—And the Cage-Cage Fruit user, Tashigi.
Smoker, chewing on his cigar, still had that rebellious look on his face.
"Whitebeard's Second Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace."
"What are you doing in Alabasta?"
Smoker's eyes were full of caution.
"And where do you think you're going now?"
Ace's face had already lost its usual grin.
It was now completely cold.
"You've got no right to ask."
Ace was in a hurry.
After getting a quick update from Vivi, he had rushed ahead alone to find Luffy.
But he hadn't expected to run into the Navy on the way.
Normally, he wouldn't mind tangling with them for a bit.
But today? He wasn't in the mood.
Just the thought that Luffy might be hurt had him burning with worry.
"I'm leaving. Now."
He looked up at the two of them.
His voice was calm, but it carried a heavy weight that couldn't be ignored.
"Let's see who's got the guts to stop me!!!"
Before he even finished speaking, a wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body—shaking the entire area!!!
Marineford – Fleet Admiral's Office
"Zzz… zzz… zzz…"
With each snore echoing through the room, Sengoku's temple veins grew more and more visible.
Until finally—
BANG!!!
"KAPU!!! Stop sleeping in my office, you idiot!!!"
"Eh?"
Karp opened his eyes, now with a giant lump on his forehead, looking dazed.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Bwahaha! What, you want a senbei-eating contest, Sengoku?"
Sengoku's forehead twitched with fury.
"You think I'm competing with you?! Those senbei are MINE!!"
"Hahaha!" Karp just kept laughing.
"What, scared of losing to me, are ya?"
Sengoku: "???"
He took a deep breath, forcing down his rage.
If he let this go on, his office was definitely getting trashed again.
"Forget the damn senbei. Karp—your grandson's stirred up a huge mess."
Sengoku's tone was heavy with exasperation.
"Hahaha! That's my grandson we're talking about!"
Garp's voice rang out proudly as he responded to Sengoku.
He even started picking his nose nonchalantly.
Sengoku's face darkened. He looked at the shameless old man and could barely contain his anger.
"Your son, Dragon, is the world government's number one enemy right now."
"And now your grandson's gone and become a pirate, pulling together a crew like that."
BAM!
The more Sengoku spoke, the angrier he got. Without hesitation, he punched Garp square in the face.
"Reflect on your life, you damn bastard!!"
"And don't think I don't know you went to see Kaji earlier."
Garp didn't even look the slightest bit guilty—just kept grinning.
"Hahaha, I just asked that brat to give Luffy a good beating when they met, that's all."
BOOM!!!
Another thunderous blast echoed!
Kaji swung his right hand, sending out a powerful slash that sent Zoro flying.
His left fist, coated in solid Armament Haki, smashed right into Luffy's face.
Then he raised his right leg high and unleashed a slicing Rankyaku wave that struck Bai Ye, glowing with his Golden Light Spell, blasting him into the air.
Oh, and he casually dodged Usopp's sniper shot using Kami-e.
"Still not giving up, Straw Hat crew?"
Kaji's voice cut through the dust and smoke, loud and clear.
It had been ten minutes since the fight between the Straw Hats and Kaji began.
Kaji's outfit hadn't changed a bit, and he wasn't even breathing hard.
The Straw Hats, though?
Captain Luffy was already beaten black and blue.
For some reason, every single one of Kaji's hits seemed aimed right at Luffy's face.
Bai Ye had even started wondering if there was some personal grudge between them.
Of course, Vice-Captain Bai Ye wasn't doing much better.
Even after throwing every Qimen Dunjia technique he had, the usual moves that once worked wonders…
…barely made a dent against someone like Kaji.
But honestly, Bai Ye had expected this.
In early parts of the story, Logia users were practically invincible (well, except Smoker).
But in the later arcs, just having a Logia power isn't enough to be top-tier anymore.
Haki is what really counts now.
Still, Bai Ye had a feeling it wasn't that his Qimen techniques weren't strong enough—it was that he hadn't trained hard enough.
If he ever reached the true mastery stage, unleashing reality-warping techniques…
Even Kaido might have to bow down.
But right now, that didn't matter.
So Bai Ye activated his Golden Light Spell and used Wudang martial arts to engage Kaji up close.
The attacks were more effective, but he also took heavier damage in return.
And that was with the protection of the Golden Light.
He didn't look quite as bad as Luffy, who had his whole face caved in, but his clothes were ripped to shreds, his long hair was messy, and he was bleeding from over a dozen cuts.
He looked absolutely wrecked.
Zoro and Sanji, being the Straw Hats' main combat force, were also dishing out some solid damage.
But just like Luffy and Bai Ye…
…it felt like their normal attacks were automatically weakened, and their ultimate moves barely scratched the surface—if they even landed at all.
As for Nami and Usopp? Don't even mention it.
Even after taking the body-strengthening pill and receiving powerful gifts from Bai Ye, against someone like Kaji, they were stuck playing support—just throwing off his rhythm here and there.
At least they were far enough back to avoid serious injury.
Chopper hadn't been called in to fight yet, either.
But he was already holding three Rumble Balls, ready to transform at any moment.
Kaji—a guy who barely even showed up in the original story, and whose abilities were never revealed—
Now had the entire Straw Hat crew cornered all by himself in Alabasta.
This time, it wasn't just the Straw Hats with grim faces.
Even Bai Ye, who was usually full of confidence, looked deadly serious.
Kaji, though, was still smiling like nothing happened.
"Whatever reason you had for coming to Alabasta… it doesn't matter anymore."
"Next stop—Impel Down."
He still hadn't drawn his sword, but the way he gripped it made it clear—he was ready to cut them all down.
"Or… do you still want to try again?"
"....."