NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: 31
Tony wasn't surprised by Smoker's stubbornness; he'd expected it. But his goal wasn't to negotiate—he was simply gauging the reactions of the hundred or so Marines surrounding him. It was clear at a glance: these men were nothing but paper tigers, filled with fear of death. Their courage was a far cry from that of the Marines at Headquarters.
Tony gave Smoker a cold, unwavering stare. "Well, that's unfortunate. Let's see how many brave souls in the East Blue Marines are ready to make that sacrifice!"
With that, Tony leapt into the air, his body transforming into flames as he locked onto a Marine ship to his left. Fire erupted from his hand, the heat spiking as he launched his attack.
"Fire Fist!"
Boom!
A massive burst of fire struck the ship, shattering it instantly. Thick smoke filled the air as burning wooden fragments rained down from above. Some Marines on board, caught in the flames, screamed in agony as they leapt overboard to escape the searing pain. Their cries echoed around them, sending shivers through the soldiers on the other ships as they watched, terrified.
"So… this is the power of a Logia Devil Fruit—said to be the strongest of them all?"
"It's terrifying…"
They could only be thankful it wasn't their ship that had been targeted.
Smoker's eyes narrowed, bloodshot with rage. This guy didn't hesitate—he attacked before Smoker could even react. Tony's preemptive strike had dealt him a harsh blow, forcing Smoker to confront his power.
Tony knew that if Smoker and his men attacked all at once, he might struggle to protect Nami while also fighting off the Marine captain. But by striking swiftly, he'd unnerved the Marines, forcing Smoker into a one-on-one confrontation—exactly what Tony wanted.
Smoker took a deep breath, biting down hard on his cigar. Holding his seastone-tipped weapon, the Jutte, he transformed into smoke, charging straight at Tony. As a Marine captain, Smoker couldn't ignore the criminal standing before him.
The seastone tip of his Jutte would nullify any Devil Fruit abilities on contact, and Smoker was confident that one slip from Tony would mean his victory.
Boom!
Smoke and flames collided, swirling in a fierce dance of power. Smoker watched for an opening, while Tony played along, pretending to be evenly matched. He needed to keep his flames under control so as not to damage the small ship he was on—after all, his master Rayleigh's prized sailing vessel was at risk.
Tony battled Smoker while mapping an escape route in his mind. Meanwhile, the other Marines could only watch, helpless to intervene.
"Go, Captain Smoker! Don't let that filthy pirate escape!"
"Throw them both in jail!"
Their shouts grated on Tony's ears. Ignoring the jeering, he began to chant an incantation under his breath, lifting his hand and spreading his fingers toward the Marine ship on his right.
"Seat of dominion, veil of flesh and bone, wings that whisper in the wind, vessel of mortal names, truth's binding essence, rend the veil of innocence with unwavering claw!"
"Bakudo #33: Sokatsui (Blue Fire)!"
With the destructive power of his Devil Fruit bolstered by the spell, Tony unleashed a fireball at the Marine ship on his right.
Boom!
The fireball exploded on impact, shattering the ship into fragments as thick black smoke billowed upward. Several Marines, unconscious, floated on the water's surface, victims of the blast. Even Tony was surprised by the devastating effect his incantation had achieved.
"Wow! This spell truly is incredible—a divine technique! And it can even merge with my Flame-Flame Fruit abilities," he muttered, a sly grin spreading across his face. He'd discovered a new way to amplify his power.
Smoker clenched his teeth in rage as he watched so many of his men fall before his eyes. Seizing a small opening, he surged forward, his speed peaking, and rammed Tony with his Jutte, pinning him against the ship's mast.
"Got you, damn pirate!" Smoker barked, his tone triumphant. "This Jutte is tipped with seastone. Even for a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, there's no escaping now."
Smoker gripped his Jutte with both hands, refusing to let Tony move. He knew all too well that Devil Fruit users became powerless under the seastone's influence, eventually losing their strength and becoming easy prey.
Nami, who'd been watching anxiously, grabbed a wooden stick, ready to rush forward and help. But Smoker couldn't possibly anticipate that Tony was immune to such constraints. Being from a different world, equipped with a unique "System," he wasn't bound by the limitations of this world's Devil Fruit powers.
Tony raised his hand to signal Nami to stay back, his gaze unwavering as he stared down Smoker with a smirk of defiance. "Captain, other Devil Fruit users might be helpless in this situation—but I'm different. My powers go beyond the limits of any Devil Fruit user!"
Before Smoker could respond, Tony activated his Armament Haki, covering his arms in a jet-black armor that shimmered with an unbreakable aura.
!!!
"You… You can use Haki!!???" Smoker stammered, unable to mask his shock. This teenager—eighteen, maybe nineteen years old—possessed skills he'd only heard about in legends. Sengoku's hundred-million-berry bounty now seemed shockingly low for someone of this strength.
"Correct!" Tony shouted as he drove an elbow into Smoker's Jutte, snapping it in two. With a swift counterpunch, he struck Smoker's abdomen, forcing the Marine captain back several steps as he doubled over in pain.
"What… What kind of monster are you?" Smoker gasped, clutching his stomach as he glared at Tony. Haki users were typically rare even in the New World, let alone the East Blue—and here was someone who not only wielded Haki but could break free of seastone's effects.
Smoker's mind raced. A Devil Fruit user immune to seastone… This revelation would be monumental—and terrifying—for the Marines.
On the remaining two ships, the Marines stood paralyzed, despair etched on their faces. Smoker, the strongest in the East Blue, was failing. This young man had shattered the image of their invincible captain. Facing Tony, their collective fear grew, a silent acknowledgment that they might not survive this encounter.
Amused by their terrified expressions, Tony shook his head slightly. Was he really that terrifying?
He stepped forward, patting Smoker's shoulder with a cocky grin. "If that's your assessment of me, I'll take it as a compliment, Captain. Now, shall we have a little chat?"
Tony's gaze hardened. "I don't regret killing those corrupt officers—they were nothing but scum, extorting the people and colluding with pirates. Hunt me down if you must. I'm just passing through here, and I'd advise you not to stand in my way."
As Tony finished, he flashed Smoker a sinister smile, leaving little doubt that he could unleash far worse if provoked.
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T/N:
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