Chapter 246: Cold sweats
"YOU BASTARD!"
Even though Luffy couldn't talk properly due to his crooked mouth, he shouted in anger as he saw his precious hat was ripped like trash.
Everyone saw Masa's cruel action, especially Luffy's group, who had never expected that someone could act in such a way.
Luffy's straw hat was something that he treasured the most, and somehow, it also had a magic that would remain intact despite how fierce his fight was and how fragile its material was.
Still, in Masa's hands, it was so weak that it was ripped with just a slight movement.
"Are you angry?"
Even so, Masa maintained his gentle expression even if many looked at him with a variety of emotions. "That's how my emotions are when you try to get your hands on my woman."
"...."
This time, no one could say anything since no one could respond when Luffy suddenly made his move and even invited Nami openly like that.
Did Luffy not see that Nami was Masa's woman and that she even hugged Masa?
Yet, Luffy ignored Masa and even tried to beat Masa, so did he think that he would be okay?
Unexpectedly, Masa was so strong that he beat Luffy, who had become the rubber man, so easily.
Meanwhile, Masa didn't care much about Luffy since, in his mind, with his current power, if he wished, he could destroy this world.
Whether it was to change the location of Earth's revolution or magnetic field within the solar system or erase the atmosphere, Masa could do many things.
Nika Nika no Mi might be powerful as it could turn everything into a cartoon, but Masa also had a Yami Yami no Mi, which made all the power in this world meaningless.
So, with such a power, why should Masa care about Luffy?
However, if Luffy caused him trouble, then even if Luffy was the child of destiny, chosen to liberate this world, Masa didn't care!
Nika?
Didn't Nika end in failure 800 years ago?
In Masa's mind, Nika was nothing but a loser!
Still, even if everyone understood why Masa decided to tear Luffy's straw hat, the man himself didn't care, nor did he understand. In Luffy's mind, Masa was already his enemy, and he would beat him up!
"I will kill you!"
"...can you hear what people say?"
"Masa-sama, let us handle this."
The group of former members of the Arlong Pirates decided to show their loyalty to Masa.
Yes, Masa might be able to defeat Luffy and everyone with ease, or rather, no one thought that Masa would lose, especially when he had beaten Luffy like an adult facing a baby before.
Still, it was also because they didn't think that Masa should make his move, as it was a waste of his time to make a move on those weaklings.
Yet, Masa ignored them and looked at the cloudy sky that had a rumbling thunder, which made his expression weird.
"No, let me handle this."
"Eh?"
Everyone was surprised when they heard it since Masa decided to make a move by himself.
"By the way, Nami, did you owe them something?"
"Ah, um... I owe them slightly in the past."
Nami showed an awkward expression since she had a good impression of Luffy after their previous exchange, and she said, "But if you want to kill them, then do it."
In the end, Luffy is a pirate, no matter how different he is from others.
More importantly, Luffy's position in Nami's heart wasn't that important anymore, especially when she had Masa inside her heart.
Lastly, with how insolent, rude, and brainless this guy was, it was Luffy's fault for making Masa angry.
Nami knew well that, unlike the naive Luffy, Masa was sober and pragmatic; he was simply the description of evil, so how dare this guy provoke Masa?!
"...did you think something rude about me?" Masa frowned at Nami, to which she stuck her tongue cutely and said, "No, I am not~!"
Only Usopp, who was in Luffy's group, quickly said, "Luffy, stop it! Nami didn't want to become a pirate, right? Her wish is clear! Don't fight anymore! Or, rather, you are not his opponents!"
It would have been fine if Usopp hadn't said those last words; as he had said it, Luffy's intention to fight became even bigger!
Still, it was too late; when Luffy wanted to fight, no one could stop him, but fortunately, whether it was his luck, destiny, or a plot, it was impossible for him to be killed, at least for now.
At the same time, probably, it was the stupid pride of a man, facing an impossible fight in front of them; it was impossible for them to run away, so unlike Usopp, Sanji and Zoro stood by Luffy's side, ready to fight Masa, who was a scumbag!
"...you are all more stupid than I thought.
"Shut up! I won't let you go for having a harem life, Boy!"
"You are strong, but we won't lose!"
With the three of them, they would defeat the impossible!
Masa only stretched his hand, and boundless darkness emerged, moving like a tsunami that was about to swallow all of them!
The fight is a fight.
There is no need for nonsense, and it was better to end it as soon as possible!
Even if the method was dirty, as Masa attacked them when they weren't ready, they were also dirty since they had the help of destiny.
As expected, as the darkness was about to swallow all of them, Luffy and his group were under a great despair, thinking that everything was over, but—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!
All of a sudden, thunder struck Masa, and a powerful wind somehow blew Luffy and his group away toward the Going Merry.
However, as they were blown away, Zoro lost his swords!
"MY SWORDS!"
Masa took Zoro's swords happily, as the darkness kept chasing toward Luffy and his group. As for the thunder, it did nothing to him.
However, as he planned to do so, a figure stood before him, a man with a tattoo and long hair that swayed wildly due to the intense wind.
"Can you let them go? This is the beginning of their adventure."
"...."
Masa was speechless as he raised his brows. "Dragon?"
"As expected, you know me." Monkey D. Dragon didn't feel surprised that Masa knew him. "You are a king. You wouldn't bully a group of a few children, right?"
"I am younger than them, though."
"....." Dragon.
"But you are right. I will let them go."
"Really?"
"Yes, but as you have appeared, you don't think that you can run away, right, Dragon?"
Watching Masa's gentle smile as usual, Dragon started to sweat furiously.
Meanwhile, Luffy and his group, who were blown away by the wind, had escaped so far away, but even so, no one had their previous spirit, yet it didn't mean they had given up!
They would become stronger and avenge this humiliation!
As for Dragon, Luffy didn't even know his father, so who cares?
Regardless, after defeating Dragon, Masa didn't intend to stay any longer in East Blue. Instead, he quickly returned to his kingdom since he was afraid that if he continued to stay, he would meet Garp and many others, which would make the situation more complicated.
Masa still wanted to become the admiral, and he didn't want a small thing to mess his plan up.
So, he returned directly by using the power of Doa Doa no Mi.
"So, this is the Grand Line..."
"Everything in this place is yours...?"
While Nami and Nojiko were surprised by Masa's wealth and kingdom, Masa thought of answering them, but his cats came to him and said, "Masa-sama, we got gifts for you, nyaa~!"
"Hmm?"
Gifts?
Tilting his head, Masa was curious.