....
The air was thick with tension as Kuro adjusted his glasses, his voice dripping with venom.
"You little brat… you've ruined everything. Not that it matters, the plan will proceed regardless. But now? Now you've pissed me off. And for that, you'll die here."
His fingers twitched near his blades, his stance shifting imperceptibly. Then, with a smirk, he asked:
"Tell me… do you even know what ONE PIECE truly is?"
His voice trembled with barely restrained fury.
Then—
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Kuro vanished.
Slash!
Luffy barely had time to react before searing pain erupted across his chest. Blood sprayed as deep gashes split his skin. He stumbled back, eyes wide.
"Gah...! What the...?!"
He hadn't even seen Kuro move.
Kuro reappeared a few feet away, flicking blood off his claws. "Too slow. Pathetic."
Luffy gritted his teeth, ignoring the stinging wounds. 'This guy's fast… really fast. But I won't back down.'
"Gum-Gum… MACHINE GUN!"
His fists became a storm, stretching and pummeling toward Kuro in a relentless barrage.
Kuro smirked.
"Nuki Ashi (Stealth Walk)."
CLANG!
Luffy's fists met steel, Kuro's hidden blades deflected every strike. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Kuro slashed again.
Slash!
"AGH!" Luffy recoiled, fresh cuts lining his arms. Even his rubber body couldn't fully negate the damage.
Merry, still nearby, yelped as Kuro's attack grazed him too.
"Damn it!" Luffy spat, glaring at Kuro.
The pirate captain chuckled darkly, adjusting his glasses. "Hahahaha… So what if you figured out the plan? I'll just take what's mine now."
"Klahadore, STOP!"
Kaya's voice rang out weakly from the second floor, followed by ragged coughing.
Kuro didn't even glance her way. "Don't fret, Miss Kaya. Once I'm done with him, you're next."
His tone was chillingly calm.
To Kaya, the man she once trusted now looked like a monster.
Meanwhile, Lucas, Zoro, and Usopp sprinted toward the shore, the sound of waves growing louder.
"Hey, Lucas!" Usopp panted. "You sure there are pirates here? I mean...I've been lying about invasions for years, but actual pirates?!"
As if on cue, a bizarre figure staggered into view, a lanky man with a hypnotist's pendulum swaying from his fingers.
"Hold up!" Lucas skidded to a stop.
"Wha...? Why?!" Usopp yelped, nearly crashing into Zoro.
Lucas pointed. "See that weirdo? He's definitely not from here."
The stranger froze, then grinned. "Weirdo? Me? Nah. I'm Jango...Hypnotist Extraordinaire!"
Zoro's hand drifted toward his swords. "Pirate?"
Lucas nodded. "Black Cat Pirates. Kuro's lackey. Also, bounty on his head."
Jango's smirk faltered. "Tch. So you do know me."
Usopp gulped. "O-Oh no…"
Lucas, however, grinned and stepped behind Zoro. "See this guy? Roronoa Zoro. East Blue's most notorious pirate hunter. Try anything funny, and he'll carve you like a roast."
Jango's confidence wavered. 'Zoro?!' The name alone sent a chill down his spine.
"B-But… Captain Kuro's really been beaten?"
"Yep," Lucas lied smoothly. "Now scram before Zoro gets bored."
Usopp, sweating bullets, nodded too enthusiastically. "Y-Yeah! We totally wrecked them!"
Jango's eyes narrowed, then he laughed. "Nice try. But you're terrible liars."
Lucas sighed. 'Usopp… you're sabotaging us.'
Zoro cracked his neck. "Enough talk. Lucas, want me to handle this?"
Lucas waved a hand. "Be my guest."
Jango paled but quickly raised his pendulum. "W-Wait! I'll help you! I know where the pirates are! Let me lead you to them!"
Lucas and Zoro exchanged glances. 'Trap. But also… opportunity.'
"Deal," Lucas said. "But try anything, and Zoro skewers you."
Jango nodded frantically.
Usopp whimpered. "Guys… this feels bad. Like, walking-into-a-den-of-lions is bad."
Lucas smirked. "Or like lions walking into a den of sheep."
With that, they followed Jango toward the shore.
Back at the Mansion, Nami had dragged Kaya upstairs to safety, far from the battle. Below, Luffy and Kuro clashed violently.
Kuro wiped blood from his lip, panting. "You're annoyingly durable."
Luffy grinned, despite his wounds. "Heh. You're annoyingly fast."
"Nuki Ashi!"
Kuro vanished again.
THUD!
Luffy's fist slammed into Kuro's face mid-movement, sending him crashing into a wall.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Kuro roared.
"I told you," Luffy said, cracking his knuckles. "I figured out your trick."
Kuro's glasses cracked. This brat… adapted mid-fight?!
Nami watched, stunned. 'Who is this guy?!'
The Shoreline.
The Black Cat Pirate's ship loomed ahead, its dark hull cutting through the waves.
Lucas whistled. "Bigger than I expected."
Usopp's legs trembled. "T-They're really attacking…"
Jango suddenly bolted toward the pirates, yelling, "AMBUSH! IT'S A TRAP!"
The crew erupted into chaos, drawing swords and guns.
Zoro sighed. "And here we go."
Lucas cracked his knuckles. "Well… time to clean up."
Usopp squeaked. "WE'RE GONNA DIE!"
Zoro drew his blades. "Stop whining. Fight or run. Choose."
Usopp hesitated, then grabbed a slingshot. "Fine! But if I die, I'm haunting both of you!"
Lucas laughed. "Deal."
The battle began.
....