Eat this! Flying Side Kick!

Chapter 8: Eat this! Flying Side Kick!

Smoker's face darkened, and Rodney's words struck a nerve. He hadn't encountered any powerful pirates on the Grand Line, and now his body was also damaged, not as capable as before.

"I've been really slacking in training lately," he admitted.

"I'll exercise after I finish with this guy," he determined.

Ace caught Rodney off guard and suddenly punched him, sending him flying into the air and rolling into the sea.

"Tsk," Smoker took a puff on his cigar and launched another attack.

With a grim expression and a knife in his hand, Rodney emerged wet from the sea. He hadn't expected Ace, a guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, to sneak up on him. It was beyond his expectations.

"Water Release: Water Body, come forth," Rodney said. The Water Body ability could only be used when water was available. Initially, he didn't want to use it, but now he had no choice but to employ it.

The seawater rose, and multiple "Rodneys" appeared beside him, swarming towards Ace.

"Why are there so many? Is he his brother?" Ace wondered.

"Is he also a Devil Fruit user?" he questioned.

Ace realized the trouble he was in. This was Rodney's domain. Although each water body was not as powerful as the original, they still caused Ace some trouble due to their superior physical skills. After Ace smashed the first water body, the chakra-infused sea water slowed down his movements.

Seizing the opportunity, Smoker unleashed ten hands on Ace, raining blows upon him. It was reminiscent of street gangsters bullying students. Ace got up and ran. His crew wasn't far, and they would arrive soon. Knowing that staying there for a long wasn't an option, he immediately fled.

"You think you can run after offending me?" Rodney sneered, already devising a plan.

Rodney infused chakra into the seawater beneath his feet, creating multiple water bodies that charged toward Ace. As Ace ran, he looked up and saw a large amount of water descending upon him.

"Not good! Fire Fist!" Ace exclaimed.

His flaming attack clashed with the water bodies, resulting in... steam!

A significant amount of water mist adhered to Ace's skin under the high temperature, causing steam burns that made him cry out in pain.

"Hot, hot, hot! Ouch!" Ace jumped and writhed in agony, desperately running forward.

Even Rodney hadn't expected that water vapor could harm Ace. Was it because the water was seawater? It was something to consider.

"Come to me!" Ace decided to rely on his fists rather than flames this time, as there were still a few water bodies remaining.

He smashed one water body with a punch, but another one grabbed his arm. If he used his elemental ability at that moment, the previous situation would repeat itself. So, he swung his other fist, aiming to strike.

"Don't even think about it!" Rodney warned.

Another water body grabbed Ace's other fist. The remaining water bodies gathered together, transforming back into seawater and drenching Ace's body.

A sudden sense of weakness overcame him. His Devil Fruit ability was suddenly nullified, leaving only his physical strength. He shifted from an elemental state to a purely physical one.

"Eat this! Flying Side Kick!!" Rodney shouted.

Justice descended from heaven as Rodney kicked Ace in the chest.

Boom! 

Ace was sent flying, and Rodney flicked his hand, launching a steel wire that wrapped around Smoker's Seastone. Smoker didn't stop him; he allowed Rodney to use it.

Rodney swiftly rushed towards Ace, and before Ace could recover, he placed his hands on Ace's throat, rendering him unable to resist.

"Damn it! You really got me this time," Ace yelled. "I won't give up! Why don't I have any strength?"

"This is Seastone, specially designed to restrain Devil Fruit users," Rodney explained. Then he turned around and asked, "Captain Smoker, do you have any Seastone Cuffs?"

Smoker replied loudly, "The handcuffs are here!" His subordinates immediately brought over the Seastone Cuffs. There were only two pairs, specifically for restraining Devil Fruit users.

After all, Seastone was a rare material produced only in Wano Country, and its processing was extremely troublesome. Smoker had them at his disposal because he brought them from headquarters. Otherwise, how could they handle Devil Fruit individuals?

Rodney said, "I don't need the handcuffs, just hand him over to me."

Smoker's face darkened, and he said, "I don't care if he sees Garp or not. Right now, he must go to prison. Vice Admiral Garp can visit him later."

"Huh? I'm sorry, the old man wants to see his lovely grandson, and I have to fulfill his wish," Rodney said solemnly.

Smoker showed disdain and replied, "Give me a break. You're nothing more than an opportunistic pirate hunter. You must have gained something from Vice Admiral Garp. Hand this guy over to me."

As he spoke, smoke started rising from Smoker's body, indicating that he was ready to take action. If Rodney wouldn't hand Ace over willingly, Smoker would forcefully reclaim him.

Smoker would never show mercy to pirates. Whose grandson Ace was didn't matter to him, even if he were Admiral Sengoku's grandson. Vice Admiral? Did Vice Admiral have special privileges? Not even if they were Marine Heroes.

"I won't let you catch him!" The Spade Pirates' crew members, worried about their captain, rushed forward. They never expected that their once-powerful captain would end up in such a situation. The crew quickly pulled the trigger and fired their guns.

Smoker stood there, allowing the bullets to penetrate his body. Although he was considered the most useless Logia-type user, he was still a Logia-type user after all. Rodney's reaction speed was also exceptional. He dodged the bullets aimed at him with a few quick movements.

"Everyone, run away! You're no match for them!" Ace, touched by his crew's attempt to save him, realized that facing these two individuals with strange abilities, his crew didn't stand a chance. They had to escape.

"Do you really think I'm invisible? White Snake!" Smoker's arm transformed into smoke, snaking towards the pirates. The ship's doctor, Deuss, threw a tube of green reagent to the ground, creating a cloud of green smoke. When the smoke cleared, they were all gone, leaving Smoker infuriated.

"You've got a clever crew," Rodney remarked.

Masked Deuce understood the importance of running first and didn't have the foolishness to offer himself as bait for Smoker. Devil Fruit users were formidable opponents in the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Seas.

Ace let out a sigh of relief and fell silent. He knew that today he would either go to jail or face the old man. But going to jail was much better than facing Garp. In prison, there was a chance of escape. If it were the old man...

Although he could escape, he didn't want to.  Before long, Tashigi returned with the Seastone Cuffs and placed them on Ace. Rodney tossed the seastone to Smoker and carried Ace on his shoulders.

"Hey, Rodney, what's your plan?" Ace asked.

"Of course, I'm taking him to see Vice Admiral Garp, just as I said," Rodney replied.

Smoker's face darkened, and he said, "I don't care if he sees Garp or not. He needs to go to prison now."

Rodney glanced back and cursed as he runs, "Damn it!"

"The ship is here!" his subordinates reported. They pushed an amphibious motorcycle toward him. Smoker infused the motorcycle with smoke, twisted the accelerator, and gave chase.

Rodney took a quick look and exclaimed, "Eight Gates, Activate!"

The mental constraints were lifted, allowing him to utilize 100% of his physical abilities. Rodney's speed surged, creating large waves as he raced across the sea, far surpassing Smoker and leaving only his back in Smoker's view.

"That bastard! I must capture him!" Smoker shouted in frustration, determined not to let Rodney get away.