Ch. 6- Luffy vs. Z: Round 2


One Piece © Oda

Blizzard and Blight © Me


Meanwhile, in town, Usopp, Nami, Chopper, and Robin are still running away from the Marines, who are still hot on their heels. While Usopp ran with Nami, holding her hand, Chopper got a free ride on Robin's head.

"I don't believe this crap!" Usopp exclaimed. "Even with these clever disguises, we still got busted in the end, THANKS TO A CERTAIN LITTLE LOUDMOUTH NAVIGATOR!"

"Oh, cry me a river!" Nami spat. "Besides, we got the information we needed! We know now that Z is on the island, even though we don't know what he's planning!"

Chopper looked back and gasps.

"Ah! The Marines are still on our tail!" he cried.

"Don't let them get away!" shouted one of the Marines as they chased after the four Straw Hats.

"Quick!" Usopp ordered. "Keep running!"

"Okay!" Nami said.

Usopp turned to face the Marines, armed with his Black Kabuto.

"Certain Death Green Star…DEVIL!"

TWANG! BOOSH! Usopp fired a Pop Green at the Marines, and out came the giant man-eating flytraps, trapping the Marines in their jaws.

"Alright!" Usopp exclaimed before Nami, Chopper, and Robin. "Okay! Let's go find Luffy and the others!"

"Got it!" Nami said, and with that, the four ran off in hopes of regrouping with the rest of the crew.

XXX

Sunset.

Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Blizzard, and Brook sat on the street near the waterfront, waiting for Usopp, Chopper, and the girls to arrive.

"So, chaps," said Brook, "what do you think about the clothes I bought for us, hmm? Don't they just look great? On me, that is."

"You mean you really bought them for yourself?!" asked Zoro.

"Don't I have good taste?" Brook asked.

"Brook, shut up," Sanji said.

Meanwhile, Luffy and Blizzard are still thinking about their upcoming fight with Z and Blight, and as they did, they could hear the last words Z yelled to them before he attacked the Sunny.

"Try and survive while you still can, PIRATE SCUM!"

Luffy heaved a sigh, while Blizzard gently nudged his hand. The only response he got was a light pat on the head.

"Luffy!" Sanji called. "Hey! Luffy!"

"Huh?" Luffy muttered.

"Looks like Usopp, Nami, Robin, and Chopper are here," said Sanji.

Luffy looked around the corner and saw Usopp, Nami, Chopper, and Robin approaching, but they aren't alone. The Marine troop is still on their tail. Usopp's Pop Greens only stalled some of them, but most of them still continued with the chase.

"Looks like they brought friends," said Zoro, cracking his knuckles.

Sanji sighed.

"In the end, they just caused a big ruckus," he said. "Maybe we should've…" He trailed off when Luffy and Blizzard walked passed him and Zoro.

"Hey, Luffy, Blizzard," said Zoro. "We should ask them where Z is, so don't go knocking them all out, okay?"

"What do you think, buddy?" asked Luffy. "You wanna knock 'em out or should I do it?"

"I think you'd better do it," said Blizzard. "My Eye of the Hellhound is a bit too powerful. I could end up knocking them all out, and they won't wake up for three days."

"Okay," said Luffy. "I'll do it, then."

"Luffy!" Usopp called as he ran by, carrying Nami piggyback style. "Take care of these guys!"

"If you please!" Robin added as she ran by with Chopper on her head.

Luffy stopped just a few feet short from the Marines, but that was all the distance he needed. VEEN! Luffy expanded his pupil, unleashing a huge burst of Haki at the Marines, who froze in their track before falling on the ground, one-by-one, with a thud…except one: the Captain, who fell to one knee, but even then, he was clearly overwhelmed by this extreme spiritual force.

"That was…Conqueror's Haki," said the Captain.

Luffy approached the Captain, forcing him to look up at him.

"Hey," said Luffy. "Tell me where Z and his goons are."

The Captain seemed reluctant to answer him, but then he sighed and looked away.

"Z is…on the other side of the island," he answered. "My squad should be in the middle of capturing him, right now."

Luffy looked to the other side of the island.

"Z…" he whispered.

"And where there's Z," Blizzard began, "there's Blight."

GRRRRRRRRR~! Blizzard growled viciously.

Luffy hopped up on his canine friend's back and held on tightly the collar of his suit, but then, he felt a hand gently touch his ankle. He looked down and saw Nami look up at him with a concerned expression.

"I know it's probably useless to say this," said the young navigator, "but…please be careful, Luffy."

Luffy nodded.

"You be careful, too, Zoro," said Robin, putting a hand on her lover's shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah," Zoro muttered.

"Good luck, Blizzard!" Chopper piped up.

"Luck's got nothing to do with it, little buddy," said Blizzard.

"Let's ride!" Luffy ordered.

AWWOOOOOOOOOOO~! Blizzard howled out to the sky before he galloped off in the direction the Marine Captain had pointed.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Sanji called. "What about us?!"

"Sorry, guys!" Luffy called back to the others. "You know Blizzard will only let me, Nami, or Chopper ride him!"

"Of course," grumbled Usopp.

"Nami, Robin, Chopper, Brook," said Zoro. "Get to the train station. If things get too rowdy, we'll meet up with you guys there."

"Got it," said Nami with a nod.

XXX

On the other side of the island, it is revealed that Z and Blight are fighting off an army of Marine soldiers. WHAM! BAM! POW! He threw around the Battle Smasher and struck down any Marines in his way.

WHAM! POW! CHOMP! Blight lunged at some other soldiers, tackling them, biting them, and throwing them away.

Just then, WHUP! A Marine Vice-Admiral appeared, armed with a jutte, and charged at Z. KLANG! KLANG! KLANG! Their weapons clashed in rapid succession, but the jutte didn't even leave one dent on the Battle Smasher. SMASH! The jutte ended up shattering against the giant cyborg arm when it struck one too many times. Realizing his only means of defense was now destroyed, the Vice-Admiral could only think of one thing to do.

"TEKKAI!" he shouted.

SHEEN! The skin on Z's human arm turned into a deep obsidian, and when it did, POW! He delivered a powerful blow to the Vice-Admiral's stomach. A slight pause came…but then, the Vice-Admiral coughed up blood…and fell to his knees.

It appeared that even the Six Super Powers were no match for Z's might.

XXX

At the mouth of the island's volcano…BEEP! BEEP! A device on one of the Dyna Stones' canisters is beeping, a little light blinking on an off.

XXX

"Your justice…is weak," said Z.

XXX

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The beeping on the canister grew faster.

XXX

"Justice, freedom," Z continued. "Looks like you'll have start everything all over, again!"

XXX

KREK! KABOOM-BOOM! The Dyna Stone canisters cracked open, and once the stones were exposed to the oxygen in the air, a huge explosion started to go off, and not long after, KABOOOOOOM! The volcano erupted, sending huge flaming rocks and lava down toward the city, causing the citizens to go into a huge panic!

Even as night began to fall, the explosions continued, and geysers of magma spewed into the air.

"It looks like the Dyna Stones' work here is done," Z spoke to his men. "Therefore, the destruction of the second End Point is a complete success!"

A pause.

"The Grand Imbuto," Z muttered. "That is the goal that we shall achieve when the third and final End Point has been destroyed! The pirates will vanish from the sea, forever, and the world shall once more see a beautiful new dawn! A world without evil!"

TMP! TMP! TMP! TMP! TMP! The sound of paws pounding the earth is heard in the distance, followed by a loud battle cry.

"GUM GUUUUUUUUUUM…RIFLE!"

Z turned just in time to see Luffy, who is perched on Blizzard's back, as well as Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp standing in the distance. POW! Z managed to block Luffy's spinning punch with the Battle Smasher. When Luffy realized his attack wouldn't work, he retracted his arm and caressed his knuckles, which started to ache when he punched the Battle Smasher.

"And just what are you doing here, pirate brats?" asked Z with a smug grin.

"Who're you calling a brat, you old coot?!" Sanji questioned. "You say another word, and I'll gut you!"

"Old man!" Luffy shouted as he hopped off Blizzard's back. "Turn my girlfriend and my friends back to normal!"

"Ain! Binz! Blight!" Z called to his three top fighters.

"Yes, sir!" Ain before she dashed off.

"Understood!" said Binz as he suddenly disappeared.

ARF! Blight barked before he ran off, as well. For an old dog with only three good legs, he was certainly fast.

"I'll take the swordsman," said Zoro before he dashed off, too.

"Wait!" Sanji called before he sighed. "Stupid moss-head, always charging off first like that…"

He then ran off, himself.

"Luffy, I'm going after Blight," said Blizzard before he galloped away.

"Right then!" Usopp declared. "Since I don't even need to fight, I'll leave this battle to you! Go get 'em, guys!"

XXX

"Moss, moss, moss!" Binz chanted as he literally ran circles around Sanji. "MOSS, MOSS, MOSS, MOSS, MOSS!"

Sanji looked around, but Binz was moving so fast, he couldn't tell which one was the real one! He just kicked in a random spot, but only ended up missing!

XXX

KLANG! KLANG-KLANG! Ain jumped at Zoro, armed with her sword, and attempted to cut him down, but the green-haired swordsman managed to block her blade with his own.

XXX

Blizzard finally managed to track down Blight, who is sitting under the shade of a palm tree. However, instead of charging at Blizzard, he just sat there, still as a statue.

"Hey!" Blizzard barked. "Why are you just sitting there, old man?! Get up and fight me!"

Blight let out a big lazy yawn.

"…no," he said.

"What do you mean, 'no'?!" Blizzard asked. "Why won't you fight me?!"

"Why?" Blight asked before he turned to Blizzard. If he had eyes, he'd be giving Blizzard a really intense glare.

"It's simply not time for us to face each other," said Blight. "Not yet, at least."

"What…?!" Blizzard questioned, eyes wide in disbelief.

XXX

"When a pirate wants something," Z began, "then they take it by force, am I wrong? If you want me to return your little friends back to normal, then you'll have to beat me, first!"

"Damn!" Usopp cursed before he held up the Black Kabuto, preparing to fire a Pop Green. "Looks like we've got no choice."

"Usopp," said Luffy, getting the sniper's attention. "I wanna fight Z, mano e mano!"

With that, the captain charged Z, leaving Usopp in the dust.

"Hey, Luffy, wait!" Usopp called, but it was too late.

Luffy had already engaged Z the moment he laid eyes on him.

Z cackled as Luffy charged at him with a battle cry.

"Z~!" he shouted.

BAM! Luffy's fist collided with Z's Battle Smasher, once again.

Sanji and Binz stood face-to-face, locked in single combat.

KLANG! Zoro blocked the blade of Ain's knife, once again.

Blizzard and Blight were stuck in a stand-off.

XXX

At the sea train station, the island's citizens were being evacuated, stampeding through the streets.

The only ones who aren't in a panic are Nami, Robin, Chopper, and Brook, the very first of whom watching the volcano with clear worry.

Luffy… she thought.

Even in the midst of all the chaos, Kuzan stood in the middle of the city without fear.

XXX

Back on the battlefield, Zoro and Sanji are still fighting with Ain and Binz, Blizzard was still in a stand-off with Blight, and Luffy was still locked in combat with Z.

POW! Luffy's fist collided with the Battle Smasher, once again.

At the mouth of the volcano, KROOSH! KABOOOM! Another huge eruption started, creating a massive geyser of lava. A cloud of ashes began to form in the red sky. KRASH! KABLAM! BOOM! Fiery rocks began to fall towards the city, crashing into buildings and into the streets. Some of them even fell into the sea.

The citizens still rushed to the sea train station, trying to escape the destruction that had befallen their town. Some just ran on ahead. Others stayed behind to help friends or loved ones escape.

Two girls, one in her teens and another at 7 years old tried to escape with their grandmother, who is sitting in a wheelchair, but when they saw a boulder flying straight for them, they braced themselves, preparing to go out, together but then…KRREEEEK! A wall of ice seemed to appear out of nowhere, and froze the rock solid.

The two granddaughters looked up and saw their savior: Kuzan.

"There," said the former Marine Admiral. "Now then, ladies, I suggest you hurry to the sea train station before it gets even worse out here. You two, watch out for your granny, understand?"

"Yes, sir!" said the two girls. "Thank you for saving us!"

With that, the girls ran, taking their grandmother with them. Kuzan looked back up at the volcano, and heaved a sigh.

Is he so blind by his ambition, he thought, that he is willing to take even the lives of the innocent? What's become of you, Master Zephyr?

XXX

"This time," Luffy said as he jumped away from Z, "you won't be able to touch me with that arm of yours!"

PLUMP! Luffy pumped his blood through his legs, causing his skin to turn a hot pink and his body to start steaming.

"I see you've accelerated your blood flow," said Z. "You do that to try and increase your power beyond its limit, right?"

"Gear…SECOND!" Luffy exclaimed.

With a battle cry of his own, Z raised the Battle Smasher and opened its palm. KABANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG! He fired a barrage of bullets at Luffy, who swiftly evaded, thanks to his Observation Haki. When he saw his chance, the Straw Hat captain rushed Z, and attempted to punch him in the chest, only to be blocked by Z.

"Boy," said Z. "You said that you wanted to be King of the Pirates, am I right?"

"That's right," Luffy replied. "I'll find the One Piece and become King of the Pirates!"

A closer looked revealed that Z had blocked Luffy's punch with his left arm…which is completely black.

"I see," said Z. "But tell me…do you have determination?"

"Huh?" Luffy muttered.

"Are you so determined to accomplish your ambition," Z started, "that you're willing to risk life and limb to do so?"

"Hell yeah, I am!" Luffy answered.

"Well," Z began, "what about the lives of your friends, as well as your lover?"

BAM! He pushed Luffy with his arm, and then opened up the Battle Smasher's palm, again. KABANG-BANG-BANG! He fired more bullets at Luffy, who ran ahead of the gunshots before he jumped at Z for another attack. The resulting impact created a huge cloud of dust.

"Are you so willing to achieve your goal," said Z, "that you'd walk all over their corpses to get it?!"

"Never!" Luffy answered. "I would never do that to my crew!"

"…that's what they all say," said Z before he aim the Battle Smasher at Luffy, again. VRRRRRRMMM…ZAP! The Battle Smasher whirred for a moment before it fired a laser beam at Luffy, who barely managed to dodge that as well before charging back in for the attack.

Usopp stared in shock and fright at the explosions going off.

"Why did I even agree to stay here?!" he asked himself. "Am I insane?!"

XXX

Back at the sea train station…

"Hey! Come on!" shouted the conductor to the remaining Straw Hats. "Where are your friends?! If they don't get here soon, we'll also get caught by the volcano!"

Chopper looked up at Nami, who continued to stare up at the volcano.

"Nami?" the little reindeer called. "I'm worried about Blizzard."

"And I'm worried about Zoro," said Robin.

"…we're not going anywhere until Luffy and the others get here," said Nami, "so we're staying put."

XXX

At Dock Island, Franky, Mobston, Marie, Gari, and a couple other workers saw the clouds of ash forming in the sky, as well as the volcanic eruptions on Secon Island.

"Oh, man," Franky muttered. "I hope those guys are okay."

XXX

Back on Secon Island, KLANK! KLANG! Zoro and Ain's blades continued to clash with one another. So far, not one of them had taken a hit from each other's attacks.

"Return-Return!" Ain shouted as she threw a ball of pink light at Zoro, who managed to dodge it before it could hit him.

"That's enough!" said Ain. "If we ever meet again, I will be forced to kill you!"

Zoro just glared at Ain as he ran alongside her.

Back with Blizzard and Blight, the two still have not made one move.

"You haven't even twitched an ear since I got here!" Blizzard barked. "Dammit, Blight, why won't you fight me?!"

"I already told you," Blight answered. "It's not time for us to fight yet…and I'm afraid we won't ever be fighting."

GRRRRRR~! Blizzard growled viciously.

"You're really starting to piss me off!" he cursed.

"I'll tell you what, boy," said Blight. "If you and your little entourage do manage to survive the island's eruptions, and if you really are so determined to run right into your death…come find me…on the final End Point."

"The final End Point…?" Blizzard repeated, confused.

BAM! Sanji attempted to kick Binz in the chest, but the ninja raised his arm to block his attack. He then drew his long sword.

"MOSS!" he cried before he attempted to cut Sanji down.

KLANG! KLANG! Sanji managed to block the sword with his kicks before, POW! He kicked Binz right in the jaw.

Binz was sent sliding back for a moment, but he managed to hold his ground before he pulled out a pocket watch.

"Looks like time's up!" said Binz.

"What?" Sanji asked. "What do you mean, 'Time's up'?!"

"Get a load of this!" said Binz as he held a small ball with his face painted on it…and it had a fuse in it!

KABOOM! Binz threw the little bomb down, and once it exploded, a huge cloud of smirk emerged. By the time smoke cleared, Binz had gone, and Ain and Blight had disappeared, as well.

"So she ran away, huh?" Zoro muttered.

FWOOO~! Sanji took a drag of his cigarette and blew out a puff of smoke.

"What a crazy ninja," he muttered.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR! Blizzard growled out of frustration.

That COWARD! he yelled in thought.

GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRR! He threw his head up and roared into the heavens.

XXX

Back with Luffy, he and Z are still locked in their duel, the former trying to throw punches at the latter, but found them ineffective due to Z's constant use of the Battle Smasher blocking his attacks.

"As long as you continue to avoid the Battle Smasher," Z said, "then you won't lay even one hand on me, boy! What's wrong?! Are you scared?!"

Luffy clenched his bruised, bleeding fist.

"Who the hell said that I was scared?!" he questioned before he attempted to rush Z, again.

"Fear and pain weaken your determination," said Z.

KA-CHAK! He cocked the Battle Smasher like it was a giant machine gun, which it is.

"Smash…TORNADO!"

WHIRRRR! BLAM! The Battle Smasher's fist spun around before Z punched it into the ground, creating a huge explosion that sent Usopp flying away. Luffy tried to hold his ground, but in doing so, he had accidentally let his precious treasure fly of his head.

"Oh, no!" Luffy cried. "My hat!"

As Luffy jumped after it, KABANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG! He set another barrage of bullets at him. It did shock him for a moment, but Luffy still managed to hang in there.

"I'm a rubber man," said Luffy, "so bullets won't work on me!"

ZING! He sent the bullets bouncing off of him, but Z merely smirked.

"Is that so?" he asked.

CHAK! He pulled out a small handgun, and then…BANG! He fired it, and when it hit Luffy in the shoulder…it didn't bounce back.

Luffy let out a short but audible cry as he suddenly found himself in overwhelming pain, a look of shock and agony on his face. He fell to his knees, clutching his wounded shoulder.

"I…I feel dizzy…" he said before he completely collapsed, and his hat lightly fell in front of him not long after.

"Looks like your body won't do what you tell it to, anymore," said Z as he approached Luffy. "The bullet that just hit you is made of Sea Prism Stone. I bet you weren't expecting this, now were you? After all, it's not easy to get your hands on Sea Prism Stone."

Luffy lifted his head and glared at Z.

"This little pistol couldn't hurt even the most powerful people who dwell here in the New World," said Z, "but it works wonders on those who are too confident in their Devil Fruit abilities and let their guard down. You…you're a very sinful young man…just like all the pirates in the world."

He reached down and picked up Luffy's hat with the Battle Smasher.

"H-hey!" Luffy cried as he tried to stand up.

"This straw hat of yours has also grown rather old," said Z. "I shall bury it with my own hands, as well as this damned Great Pirate Era!"

With that, Z turned and began to walk away, leaving Luffy struggling to get up on his own two feet.

"You…give that back!" Luffy shouted. "Shanks gave me that hat so I could hold onto it for him!" He began to rush Z once again, clutching his injured shoulder. "I promised him I'd give it back when I found him! Now give it back!"

"Shanks?" Z repeated before he turned to face Luffy, once more. "You mean the man who dragged you into this pirate nonsense was Red-Haired Shanks?! No wonder this hat looked familiar. He, too, has very deep sins."

"Give me my hat back!" Luffy shouted as he tried to punch Z.

WHAP! Z grabbed him with the Battle Smasher as he raised his wounded arm.

"Don't worry, boy," said Z. "As soon as my plan, the Grand Imbuto, is complete…he, too, shall share your fate. Those fools who call themselves the Four Emperors…they will all die without even lifting a finger…without even knowing of my plan."

"Don't you dare…BADMOUTH SHANKS!" Luffy roared.

KLANK! KABOOOM! Z detonated the Battle Smasher…and Luffy was trapped in it.

TO BE CONTINUED…


Sorry I took so long with the update! School runs me ragged.

Review, please!