While Marco was still lost in self-doubt, Lucian Thorn—after demonstrating the divine might of his Conqueror's Haki—
Quietly withdrew it.
That world-shaking aura faded as swiftly as it had come, like the tide receding back into the sea.
The invisible mountain that had pressed down upon all of Amazon Lily vanished without a trace.
The trembling jungle calmed, and the birds and beasts that had fainted began to stir again, slowly waking from their stupor.
Everything… felt as if it had returned to normal.
But for Boa Hancock and Marco, it was as though they had just been pulled from the bottom of the ocean, gasping for air, their backs drenched in cold sweat.
Too terrifying.
That brief instant of Conqueror's Haki had shown them what it truly meant for a king to descend upon the world.
And yet—
At the eye of the storm, Luffy hadn't retreated an inch.
In fact, the opposite happened.
Now that the pressure had lifted, those pure eyes of his weren't filled with fear—but with a blazing battle spirit, fiercer than ever before.
"A-Amazing…!"
Luffy grinned from ear to ear, exhilarated beyond belief. He even licked his dry lips.
"You're really strong, huh!"
His blood boiled like never before.
A true powerhouse!
This was the kind of opponent he had always dreamed of—a mountain he had to climb.
Only by defeating such enemies could he become stronger. Only then could he beat the Navy Admirals, and protect the comrades he cherished.
"Hey! One more round!"
Luffy let out a wild, beast-like roar, his legs surging with power as he prepared to launch himself forward again.
Seeing this, both Marco and Hancock were left speechless.
That Straw Hat kid...
Was he insane?!
He'd just been overwhelmed by a monster's Conqueror's Haki, and now he was more excited?
That kind of courage… or madness…
It was exactly like Ace!
Marco couldn't help but recall the smiling, goofy boy who always wore his hat askew.
Lucian looked at the boy before him, burning with fighting spirit, and a playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"No wonder the world chose you."
"That drive to grow stronger when challenged… is the most terrifying gift of all."
He concealed his presence completely, becoming still and unreadable—like a calm, ancient well.
He didn't even bother raising a guard. Instead, he simply beckoned with one finger.
A gesture full of disdain and provocation.
"Come, boy."
"Show me how far your resolve can take you."
"RAHHH!!!"
That arrogant gesture sent Luffy's rage into overdrive.
The boy let out a deafening roar and transformed once more into a streak of red lightning, blasting toward Lucian!
"JET Gatling!!!"
This time, he held nothing back!
His arms blurred into a flurry of shadows in the air. Steam-wreathed fists poured down like bullets, forming a seamless web of attacks crashing down over Lucian.
Each punch tore through the air with an ear-splitting shriek.
Each punch could turn steel into scrap.
Hancock watched, heart hammering in her chest. The sheer ferocity of the barrage made her breath catch in her throat.
But in the eye of the storm, Lucian moved with the casual grace of a traveler walking through rain.
He even wore a faint, amused smile on his face.
Just before the punches landed—
He moved.
No dazzling speed. No flashy footwork.
Just one simple step to the left.
And just like that—
He slipped past hundreds of hyper-fast punches, letting them sail past his shirt hem and crash into the ground behind him!
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
The earth trembled violently. Dust exploded skyward as a massive crater, riddled with fist marks, took shape in an instant.
Despite missing, Luffy didn't falter for a second. Twisting midair, he spun with explosive power, sending a steam-wreathed leg sweeping across like a battle axe.
"JET Whip!"
Lucian didn't even look back.
It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He leaned back ever so slightly—
And the sweeping leg howled past his nose, missing by a hair's breadth.
"JET Bazooka!"
Luffy launched both fists and propelled himself forward like a human cannonball!
Lucian didn't retreat—he advanced. Tilting his body just slightly, he slipped cleanly through the narrow space between the incoming fists.
Effortless.
Fluid.
Luffy's attacks were fast, precise, and fierce.
But in front of Lucian, they seemed childish. Clumsy.
It was like a kid throwing all his strength into wild punches—
While the opponent was a seasoned adult who could read every move in advance.
No matter how fast or furious Luffy attacked, he couldn't even touch the hem of Lucian's clothes.
"Why… Why is this happening?!"
Luffy's heart began to sink.
He could feel it—Lucian wasn't dodging through speed.
He was predicting every move before it even happened!
That thought alone made Luffy want to cough up blood.
From afar, Marco was completely stunned.
His mouth hung open, unable to even get out his signature "Yoi."
This kid...
"That's the ability to see into the future—a power that comes from training Observation Haki to its absolute limit!"
"This monster..."
A tidal wave of shock crashed through Marco's chest.
Meanwhile, Lucian dodged with ease, and in a voice so calm it was almost cold, he began his one-sided "lesson."
"Too slow."
He sidestepped a heavy punch.
"Your strength is scattered. All that anger is just wasting energy."
He ducked a sweeping kick.
"Your attack lines are full of openings."
He weaved through the rain of fists like he was out for a stroll.
"Right now, you're too weak."
"Your punches… can't even touch me."
Every word hit Luffy's pride like a hammer.
Ding!
Rubber Fruit: Gear Second trait detected… analyzing…
Combat situation detected—analysis efficiency greatly increased!
SSSR-Class Entry [Sun God Nika Luffy] Analysis +10%… Current Progress: 50%!
In Lucian's mind, the system notifications kept flashing.
"RAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Pushed to his limit by both words and overwhelming reality, Luffy snapped!
His eyes bloodshot, he squeezed out the very last reserves of Gear Second!
"JET… BAZOOKA!!!"
He poured every ounce of frustration, rage, and resolve into this final punch!
This was the strongest blow he could muster!
And this time—
Lucian didn't dodge.
He stood still, watching the steaming, supersonic fist rocket toward him.
He slowly raised his right hand.
And extended two fingers.
Vmmm.
A pitch-black gloss spread over his fingertips.
Armament Haki: Hardening.
The most basic, most fundamental use.
The next second—
Luffy's all-in punch collided with Lucian's two fingers!
No thunderous crash.
No shockwave.
Time itself seemed to freeze.
Luffy's body stopped cold.
His expression twisted from rage—into complete disbelief.
That punch, which could shatter boulders—
Was effortlessly stopped by just two fingers.
Without budging.
The power radiating from those fingers was like slamming into an immovable continent. Luffy's bones groaned in agony.
The gap between them—
Was like heaven and earth. An uncrossable chasm.
Despair.
Ding!
Detected major fluctuation in target's will… analysis speed increased again!
SSSR-Class Entry [Sun God Nika Luffy] Analysis +20%… Current Progress: 70%!
Analysis +20%… Current Progress: 90%!
The system prompts flooded Lucian's mind.
"Are you starting to understand, kid?"
Lucian looked at the stunned boy before him, his voice still calm and cold.
"This is the difference between us—an unbridgeable gap between the current you and me."