Chapter 29 – Luffy vs. Bran

Luffy raced at Bran flinging his arms behind him, he then flung his head forwards.

A stunned Bran took a head butt to the face before luffy closed in and snapped his arms forwards "GOMU GOMU NO BAZOOKA!"

Luffy's fists drove into Bran's stomach and sent him slamming into the ground a few feet away.

The water demon howled his laughter at Bran's beating "Monkey D. Luffy, You are entertaining, I'm looking forward to your arrival in Port Town."

"He won't reach port town." Snarled Bran wiping a trail of blood from his lip

The water demon simply grinned.

Bran slammed his fists into the ground, tore up the earth and tossed a large chunk at Luffy whose legs twisted in a spring like fashion and propelled him upwards to avoid.

Bran's eyes followed him and he launched another large chunk of earth upwards at Luffy who took the blow full on.

The earth fell and crashed back into the ground crushing Luffy beneath.

"It's over." Grinned Bran

The earth clod shook and Luffy's fist came bursting through, he then came rocketing outwards towards Bran and slammed head first into his opponents torso.

Bran gasped for air as he sailed backwards and slammed into a tree.

Luffy landed on his feet and grinned "I don't die that easy."

Bran stared at Luffy and grinned, he got to his feet and grabbed the tree behind him, he then pulled it from its roots and swung it about like a staff.

"Wow." Grinned Luffy as he jumped above a swing tree, Bran slashed wildly at Luffy who continued to dodge, he then landed on the tree and sped towards Bran.

"Gomu Gomu No WHIP!!" cried Luffy as he swung his leg in a whip like fashion and slammed it into Bran's chest, Bran coughed a little nad grabbed Luffy's leg thus dropping the tree, he proceed to swing Luffy above his head before slamming him down into the ground.

Bran grabbed Luffy by his hair and raised him up to his face and head butted him.

Luffy groaned as Bran then slammed his fist into the rubber man's face, he tried again but this time Luffy caught his fist and used all his strength to crush it.

Bran roared his rage and pulled back, he and Luffy split apart and stood facing one another, hatred flaring up in Bran's eyes while a smirk appeared on Luffy's face.

Luffy and Bran clashed once more, there powerful fists slamming into each other's cheeks, they swung again with their free fists and landed a double uppercut sending both off their feet, through the air and landing hard on the ground.

"Damn brat." Snarled Bran as he wiped a trail of blood from his mouth.

"You're really strong." Grinned Luffy

Bran grabbed a chunk of earth and began to break it apart and formed it into a large sword of earth.

"COOL!!" cried Luffy in amazement "That's awesome!"

Bran held a long slender brown sword, he swung it at a nearby tree which halved in two and crashed into the ground.

"That's so scary!" cried Usopp

"Will Luffy be ok against someone wielding a sword?" asked a worried Skadi

"Of course." sighed Zoro

Pucho looked at Luffy then at Bran "Don't lose Luffy."

"Gomu Gomu No!" cried Luffy a she charged at Bran

"Idiot!" cried Bran "I'm going to split you in two!"

Bran swung the sword at Luffy who jumped into the air and drove both his legs down at Bran.

"SPEAR!" cried the rubber man as his feet came crashing down into Bran's left shoulder and crushed his collarbone.

Bran yelled in pain and swung the sword at Luffy slashing him across the stomach and splitting his clothes.

"ARRRGGGH!" cried Luffy as he clutched his stomach as blood flowed from the wound "Damn it."

"This is when you die brat." Smiled Bran evil as he held his injured shoulder

Luffy stood up and raised his arm, with his other hand he gripped his elbow and began to swing his arm from the elbow around.

"What are you doing?" asked Bran a she watched Luffy's arm swing around over their heads in a circle.

"This is when our fight ends." Answered Luffy "Gomu Gomu No!"

Bran gripped his sword and rushed at Luffy who let lose his arm and called "FLAIL!!!"

Luffy's fists snapped forwards and slammed straight into Bran's face and crushed his nose pushing the bone back into his head.

Bran cried in pain as his nose bone drove its way into his brain, he gasped a little before stumbling forwards, he dropped the sword which stuck into the ground and broke apart.

Bran looked at Luffy who had fallen to hi knees "This can't be." He said as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell face first into the ground.

"You did it!" cried Skadi with Joy

"Told you Luffy would win." Said Zoro

"What about him?" asked Pucho as he pointed at the floating mass of water

"I forgot about him!" cried Usopp "Go away demon!"

"Relax." Laughed the demon "I have no intention of doing battle with you here."

"Why not." Asked Zoro suspiciously

"You have all just had very hard fight, to kill you now while you're all exhausted would have no meaning and would ruin my pride as a warrior, we shall fight once you reach Port City, just head east."

With that the water demon fell into the spring and vanished.

"Ok." Said Luffy "We'll rest the night here and head out in the morning."

"Good idea." Said Pucho "We can use that house of Cormoran's to rest in."

"Let's go guys." smiled Luffy "We're going to need all our strength tomorrow."

"For once he's right." Laughed Zoro

"We've gotta find Sanji and Nami too." said Usopp

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us." smiled Skadi

END OF ARC 3