Water Seven.
Night.
The narrow alley fell into complete silence.
The air was heavy.
Sanji lay unconscious on the ground.
Nami stood frozen, pupils trembling. Chopper shook from head to toe, barely able to remain standing.
Raifeng stood at the front.
Opposite him—
The man in the black suit stood calmly, posture relaxed, as if everything before him was nothing more than a casual encounter.
"You knocked him out with one move…" Nami clenched her teeth. "That's Sanji…"
The man smiled faintly.
"He rushed in recklessly. That's the price."
Raifeng's gaze turned cold.
"You won't touch them again."
The man laughed softly.
"You're very confident."
Raifeng didn't respond.
Instead—
Footsteps echoed from the entrance of the alley.
Heavy.
Steady.
A figure emerged.
Green hair.
Three swords.
Roronoa Zoro.
He stopped the moment he saw Sanji lying on the ground.
His expression darkened instantly.
"…Who did this?"
Nami swallowed hard.
"That man…"
Zoro's gaze shifted to the man in black.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
More footsteps followed.
Lighter.
Quicker.
A long nose peeked out from behind Zoro.
Usopp.
"H-hey… what's going on…?"
Then he saw Sanji.
"S-Sanji?!"
His face went pale.
Another figure stepped out from the shadows.
Robin.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scene.
And finally—
Slow, casual footsteps echoed.
Luffy appeared at the edge of the alley.
He stopped.
His gaze fell on Sanji.
Then he raised his head.
His eyes met the man in black.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The Straw Hats had arrived—one by one—until the alley felt too small to hold them.
The man in black looked around, then chuckled softly.
"So this is the entire crew."
Luffy stepped forward.
"…You did this?"
The man smiled.
"Yes."
Luffy clenched his fists.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"You hurt my crew."
The man shrugged.
"They came at the wrong time."
Raifeng stepped between them.
"You're not fighting them."
The man tilted his head.
"Oh?"
"You want to stop me?"
"Yes," Raifeng answered.
The man laughed.
"Then you'll have to face all of them."
Raifeng replied evenly.
"I already am."
The Straw Hats looked at him.
Confusion.
Surprise.
Zoro frowned.
"Marine. Step aside."
Raifeng didn't move.
"This is between me and him."
Zoro's eyes narrowed.
"You think you can handle him alone?"
"Yes."
The man in black laughed again.
"Interesting."
Luffy looked at Raifeng.
"…You saved Nami?"
Raifeng nodded.
"Yes."
Luffy stared at him for several seconds.
Then he said quietly, as if making a decision.
"Then…"
His eyes hardened.
"Don't lose."
Raifeng's gaze flickered for a heartbeat.
The man in black's smile faded.
"This is getting troublesome."
The pressure in the alley surged.
He stepped forward.
Raifeng moved at the same time.
Bang!
The ground cracked.
Both figures vanished in a blur—
A Soru-like burst of speed that turned the alley into a streak of afterimages.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted.
The walls on both sides shattered. Debris flew everywhere, forcing the Straw Hats to retreat.
"What the hell?!" Usopp screamed.
Two figures clashed at the center.
Fists collided.
Kicks met.
Every strike detonated with a dull explosion.
"This speed…" Zoro's pupils shrank. "I can barely follow it."
"So fast…" Luffy's eyes widened.
Raifeng's attacks were clean—precise and relentless.
The man in black dodged smoothly, blocking and countering as if he were playing.
"Not bad," he laughed. "But still lacking. Against an unrefined body, this would be enough."
He vanished—
And reappeared behind Raifeng.
Bang!
Raifeng blocked just in time.
The impact sent him sliding backward, his feet carving deep grooves into the ground.
"Raifeng!" Nami gasped.
Raifeng steadied himself.
His breathing remained calm.
"Is that all?"
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
He smiled again.
"Then I'll get serious."
The pressure skyrocketed.
The Straw Hats felt it instantly—an oppressive intent that made the air feel thick.
"This…" Chopper trembled. "I can't breathe…"
Raifeng's eyes sharpened.
He stepped forward.
"Come."
The man's smile widened.
"This is going to be fun."
The alley had become a battlefield.
One boy—
Standing alone—
Facing an enemy powerful enough to make the entire Straw Hat crew watch.
And this battle—
Would decide everything.
The night wind howled.
The clash—
Had only just begun.
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