"Wow! Is that the giant dragon, Shirogai?"
Luffy, lying battered on the ground, gasped weakly, his eyes widening as they fixed on the colossal dragon circling beyond the ice wall, admiration and excitement shining through his exhaustion.
"So cool! Cough cough, wahahaha! I really want to ride it!"
"Hmph, still have the energy to gawk?"
Across from him, Lucci in his human-leopard hybrid form leaned against the cracked ice wall, a sneer twisting his sharp features as he looked at the bruised Straw Hat.
"Brat, I'll end you soon."
Lucci's eyes flicked toward the dragon above, teeth grinding.
Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form…
Shirogai, don't get too cocky. I'll catch up to you sooner or later.
First your captain, then you…
"You've been beaten to the point you can barely move, right?"
Luffy's face, bruised and swollen, suddenly curved into a mischievous, triumphant grin.
"Hehe…"
Lucci's unease spiked. A premonition of disaster settled over him.
"Straw Hat, what are you laughing at? You know you're about to die, yet you dare grin like that?"
"Good thing I saved a little trick," Luffy muttered.
He fumbled into his pocket and pulled out a soft, milky-white mushroom. He blinked at its slightly squashed shape, hoping it still worked.
"What… is that?"
Lucci's tension skyrocketed.
I can't let him eat it!
"This is Shirogai's Healing Mushroom," Luffy said, barely audible, "it heals injuries and restores stamina."
He tossed it into his mouth.
"Damn it… Life Return: Paper Arts Body!"
Lucci clenched his teeth and leapt, vanishing from his spot and reappearing above Luffy.
"Six Styles Secret Art: Six King Gun!"
Power condensed into his fists as he struck downward. He was drawing on all his future potential, burning lifespan to fight this small pirate. Normally, he would never waste it. Now, all caution was gone.
Bang!
The impact shattered the ground beneath, leaving a crater, but Luffy nimbly dodged.
"Rankyaku: Kai Bird!"
Without turning, Lucci sensed a deadly attack from behind. He unleashed a Rankyaku kick to intercept it.
"Gomu Gomu no Jet Whip!"
Luffy stretched his red rubber leg and delivered a punishing blow to Lucci's waist, catching him off guard.
Bang!
Lucci slammed into the ice barrier, hanging upside down like a bat, claws digging into the crystal. His eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Shirogai inside the stone pillar.
"Damn it! How could I lose to you! I'll kill you and then go after the Fifth Emperor!"
He pushed off the ice with all his strength, plummeting like an arrow.
"Foolish pirate! Evil cannot triumph over justice! Pirates cannot defeat the World Government!"
"Straw Hat, think! Someone as powerful as that dragon joining your tiny crew? Ridiculous. You are merely bait, visible to the world while he has other objectives hidden!"
Lucci roared, coating his claws with Armament Haki, and slammed down at Luffy.
"Strongest Secret Art: Maximum Wheel: Six King Gun!"
"Whether we are evil or just, it's not your decision! And my comrades are not yours to judge!"
Luffy's teeth gritted, fists flying in a furious blur. Armament Haki slowly coated his swinging fists.
He is my…
Scenes flashed through Luffy's mind: meeting Shanks as a child, adventuring with Ace and Sabo, gathering his crew, facing countless pirates…
Shirogai is amazing…
For a moment, he worried about being overshadowed by a stronger comrade. Yet that thought vanished. His focus narrowed.
"Meat's here!"
A bowl appeared, Shirogai placing it before him with a calm smile. Only thought left: delicious, so delicious.
In a daze, Luffy recalled Shirogai's words about going together to the Final Grand Treasure and perhaps, one day, exploring beyond the sky itself, venturing into space to become the Space King.
"...a deeply trusted comrade!"
Without hesitation, Luffy unleashed a barrage.
"Gomu Gomu no Jet Gatling!"
Fist met fist. Armament Haki clashed against Armament Haki. Pain radiated through each blow. Neither would yield.
But battles have winners and losers.
The victor takes all, the defeated loses honor and sometimes life.
"I…"
Lucci's disbelief grew. His Six King Gun, his ultimate attack, was being pushed back by the smaller pirate.
Am I… going to lose?
Fists collided continuously, the chaotic flurry dismantling his strongest strikes.
"Tekkai!"
Lucci concentrated all remaining strength into his chest, bracing against the relentless assault.
Bang!
He tumbled and crashed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Coo coo… coo coo…"
A pigeon landed, tilting its head to observe, pecking gently at the defeated Lucci.
"All units, retreat! CP Lucci has been defeated by Straw Hat! Admiral Aokiji has ordered evacuation of Enies Lobby."
The dragon's presence, dark clouds, and lightning forced Marine warships to keep their distance.
On a distant warship, Akainu touched the burn scar on his face, expression grim and silent.
Far from the chaos, a small, inconspicuous boat swayed gently toward Enies Lobby.
Don't worry, everyone, I will bring you all back… safely.