Luffy and his two brothers stopped in an open space. After a tense silence, Sabo spoke in a low, steady voice.
"Luffy, do we really have to go this far? We're brothers."
Luffy didn't respond. The white smoke surrounding his body thickened, gradually concealing his expression.
Unable to hold back his frustration, Ace clenched his fists. "Then there's no choice. If it's a fight you want, let's see just how strong you've become!"
He charged forward, his fist wrapped in Armament Haki.
"Fire Fist Style: Star Shatter!"
Instead of dodging, Luffy calmly raised his hand and caught Ace's punch head-on. His rubber arm stretched like a snake, coiling tightly around Ace's fist before flinging him aside with ease.
Sabo frowned at the display. He no longer hesitated—his figure blurred as he closed the distance, his hand forming a claw.
"Dragon Claw!"
Luffy's eyes narrowed. His right arm swelled before he launched it forward.
"Gum-Gum Giant Pistol!"
Bang!
The impact sent Sabo flying, just as it had Ace moments earlier. Both brothers staggered to their feet, exchanged a glance, and then charged together, attacking Luffy from opposite sides.
But Luffy suddenly slammed his fists into the ground. Strangely, instead of shattering, the earth rippled like water, softening beneath his blows. From the shifting ground, multiple rubber fists erupted upward, striking at Ace and Sabo.
The brothers were forced back, barely breaking free after being pummeled.
Sabo studied the strange terrain with narrowed eyes. "The ground itself has turned to rubber… His Devil Fruit has awakened!"
Ace's face darkened. "Luffy's awakening… at his age? No wonder he's so confident."
Still, Sabo frowned. "But what about that smoke? This doesn't resemble a normal Paramecia awakening."
"Paramecia Fruits are unpredictable," Ace said grimly. "Perhaps the manifestation changes with each user."
Luffy looked at them, his expression torn. "Ace… Sabo… I don't want to fight you. Please, just go back."
Ace snapped in anger. "You think we want this fight? Just listen to reason and stop being a pirate!"
But Luffy shook his head firmly. His determination was absolute. His fist tightened, and a wave of Haki burst from his body.
"This world never belonged to them. I'll take it back!"
Ace's eyes narrowed as he released his own Haki, the two forces colliding in a deafening clash. The ground cracked under the pressure, and the air seemed to vibrate.
Sabo, unaffected by Conqueror's Haki, stood his ground, though his expression was grim.
The clash ended in a draw. Both brothers lowered their Haki at the same time.
Luffy exhaled slowly. His voice carried disappointment. "Ace, I remember when you wanted to be a pirate too. But you gave up. You let yourself be swayed by Uchiha Chiga and joined the Navy."
Ace stiffened. His glare hardened. "That was my choice! And it was the right one. Pirates bring nothing but suffering to this world. You've chosen the wrong path, Luffy!"
Sabo placed a hand on Ace's shoulder, his voice calm yet firm. "Luffy, stop being so stubborn."
But Luffy's frustration boiled over. "Why are you both like this? What spell has Uchiha Chiga put you under?!"
The smoke around his body thickened, no longer drifting aimlessly but forming a ribbon that coiled behind him. His hair lifted, its color slowly shifting toward white.
Ace's eyes widened. "What… what is happening? Is this still the Gum-Gum Fruit?"
Sabo said nothing. His gaze was locked on Luffy, equally stunned.
A flash of gold flickered in Luffy's pupils. The next instant, his figure vanished.
Sabo barely had time to shove Ace aside before Luffy appeared between them. His leg swept across, striking Sabo's abdomen. The blow bent Sabo's body unnaturally, slamming him to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Agh—!" Sabo gasped, clutching his stomach.
Ace rushed in, striking Luffy's back with a Haki-coated fist. But the rubber body absorbed the blow and rebounded the force.
"Urghh!" Ace coughed blood as his own strength was turned back against him. His body weakened. Luffy grabbed his arm, lifted him effortlessly, and spun him around before hurling him into a stone wall.
"Ace!"
Staggering to his feet, Sabo's voice trembled with disbelief. "You hit him that hard… Luffy, are you even yourself anymore?"
A flicker of struggle appeared in Luffy's eyes. He gripped his forehead with one hand, his voice strained.
"I don't want this either! But you're forcing me!"
Sabo's anger flared. "We're doing this for your own good! Don't you understand? Your very existence is dangerous! What about Vice Admiral Garp? What about Dragon? If you provoke the King, you won't survive!"
"My life has nothing to do with them!" Luffy roared. "And stop bringing up Uchiha Chiga! I'm not afraid of him!"
The words had barely left his lips when a mocking voice drifted through the air, chillingly familiar.
"Oh? Is that so? Seems I didn't leave a strong enough impression last time."
"W-What?!"
Luffy's eyes widened. His body jolted, but before he could react, a crushing repulsive force struck from behind.
"Shinra Tensei."
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