Water Seven.
Night.
The narrow alley had descended into complete chaos.
Dust filled the air.
Cracks spread across both walls.
Rubble littered the ground.
Raifeng and the man in the black suit stood facing one another, their presence colliding so hard it felt like the alley itself was groaning.
Neither retreated.
Behind Raifeng stood the Straw Hat Pirates—
Every one of them still standing.
Luffy was at the front, gaze locked firmly onto the man in black.
Zoro rested his hand near his swords, muscles coiled tight.
Nami supported the unconscious Sanji, anger burning in her eyes.
Chopper stood beside her, fists clenched, forcing his legs not to shake.
Usopp swallowed hard, sweat sliding down his face.
Robin observed quietly—calm, sharp, and guarded.
"This guy…" Usopp whispered. "He's terrifying…"
Zoro narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah. I can feel it."
The man in black smiled faintly.
"So this is everyone. A full lineup."
Luffy stepped forward.
"You hurt my friends."
His voice was calm—
But heavy.
The man shrugged.
"They came to the wrong place."
Luffy clenched his fists.
"I don't care. You hurt them."
"That's enough."
Raifeng raised a hand slightly.
"Captain."
Luffy paused and turned to him.
Raifeng spoke evenly.
"This fight is mine."
Luffy stared at him for a moment—
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Zoro frowned.
"Luffy?"
Luffy didn't turn back.
"He saved Nami. He's not our enemy."
Zoro clicked his tongue.
"…Fine."
The man in black laughed softly.
"How touching. You're protecting each other."
His gaze returned to Raifeng.
"But do you really think you can protect all of them?"
Raifeng's eyes were steady.
"Yes."
The man's smile slowly vanished.
"That confidence…"
"…is annoying."
In the next instant—
He moved.
Bang!
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
His figure vanished.
Raifeng reacted instantly, meeting him head-on—
Another burst-step collision.
BOOM!
A deafening shockwave erupted, forcing the Straw Hats back several steps.
"What the hell?!" Usopp shouted. "This is insane!"
Raifeng blocked a heavy blow and countered immediately.
Dozens of strikes were exchanged in a blink.
The alley continued to crumble.
"This speed…" Zoro gritted his teeth. "I can barely see them!"
"…So fast." Luffy's eyes widened.
Suddenly—
The man in black changed direction.
He bypassed Raifeng—
And appeared directly in front of the Straw Hats.
Too fast.
Raifeng's pupils shrank.
"Stop!"
He chased after him—
But it was too late.
The man raised his hand.
Nami's heart skipped a beat.
"Watch out!"
At that moment—
A massive figure dropped from above.
BOOM!
The ground shook violently.
The man's strike was blocked.
Smoke billowed.
From within the smoke, a broad-shouldered figure stepped forward.
Franky.
"SUUUPER!" He spread his arms wide. "Don't touch my customers!"
The Straw Hats' eyes widened.
"Franky?!" Usopp blurted.
Before anyone could react—
More footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.
Orderly.
Disciplined.
A tall man in a Marine coat stepped forward, calm as a drawn sword.
Bogard.
Behind him, several Marines appeared in formation, weapons ready, eyes sharp.
Bogard's gaze fixed on the man in black.
"Cipher Pol…" he said evenly. "Looks like you've finally shown your hand."
From the rooftop shadows, another figure shifted—
Not with the Marines.
Separate.
Watching.
A long-nosed man in workman's clothes stepped into a sliver of light, expression complicated.
Kaku.
"So it really has come to this," he said quietly.
The alley's temperature seemed to drop.
Not from cold—
From the realization of who was truly present.
The man in black frowned slightly.
"…This is getting troublesome."
Raifeng landed beside the Straw Hats, eyes sharp.
"You're surrounded."
The man glanced around.
Pirates.
Marines.
Franky.
CP9 in the shadows.
Enemies and neutrals alike—pulled in by the same storm.
All eyes were fixed on him.
He smiled faintly.
"…Interesting. Very interesting."
The pressure in the alley reached its peak.
Luffy cracked his knuckles.
Zoro drew his swords a fraction.
Franky grinned.
"Looks like a party."
Raifeng stepped forward.
"This ends now."
The man in black exhaled slowly.
Then—
He smiled.
"This is just the beginning."
The night roared.
Water Seven—
Had completely erupted into chaos.
And the storm—
Had officially arrived.
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