45 Chapter 45 – Baratie 08.
[Chapter Size: 3352 Words.]
Third Person POV
Baratie, East Blue.
...
...
Mihawk remained serene on his raft, as if the violence around him had not affected even the calmness of his improvised transportation. Yamato emerged in the midst of the frozen sea, her hair somewhat disheveled, but, aside from that detail, she appeared perfectly intact.
"You are truly formidable, but there is much to learn," Mihawk proclaimed after a brief silence. Without showing hesitation, he turned his gaze to Yamato, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from the location. Not even Yamato's speed and keen instincts, combined with her Observation Haki, were enough to react when Mihawk appeared in front of her, raising his sword.
The strike delivered by Mihawk was swift and precise, cutting through the air with deadly grace. An instant later, blood painted the surroundings, a cruel display of the lethal efficiency of the master swordsman.
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"Impressive," uttered Mihawk calmly, observing the blood spurt before him.
At the epicenter of the battle, Luffy maintained a firm stance. When Mihawk unleashed his attack, Luffy tried to confront Yoru. The black sword cut across his purple chest in a straight line, but Luffy did not waver. He faced his opponent without taking a step back, initially using his sword as a shield. However, the blade yielded like butter, accumulating damage on its already cracked metal throughout the fight.
Mihawk did not hold back, still delivering a second blow towards Luffy and Yamato, the latter still unable to react. Faced with the imminent attack, Luffy, with no other option to avoid it, strengthened himself with the Moa Moa no Mi a fraction of a second before the impact. Compensating for the lack of Haki, he transformed his body into a shield between Yamato and the adversary's sharp blade.
Yamato, surprised, exclaimed, "Luffy!"
"I won't move as long as you're in danger," Luffy asserted determinedly.
The sound of a cut slicing through the air echoed.
*Spurting Blood*
Luffy gritted his teeth, feeling the pain of the attack but remained steadfast.
"That's nothing!" exclaimed Luffy, quickly raising his arm and closing his fist. He struck the ice, generating an explosion of chaotic flames that shattered the layer of ice where his opponent stood.
*BOOM!*
Mihawk reappeared on his raft before he could be hit, casting a small smile in their direction.
"Luffy, are you okay?!" Yamato ran to Luffy's side, concerned.
"I am, as I said, it's nothing..." he replied, closing his eyes to concentrate, about to test his powers.
The cut on his chest began to emit an ethereal glow, as if a healing light were born directly from the wound. In the blink of an eye, the healing unfolded, a magical dance of regeneration that left everyone marveling. Every trace of the cut vanished rapidly, and the skin restored itself to its original perfection. It was as if the very tissue of the wound was responding to a healing melody, with luminous healing notes intertwining and transforming the injury into a fleeting memory.
"It seems this is the regenerative power of the Eikons. Even without using the Moa Moa no Mi's power to accelerate the healing speed, it's incredibly fast," thought Luffy, watching his chest heal, even though the cut was not fatal.
However, this remarkable regeneration, which seemed like a work of magic, was not granted without costs. The energy pulsating within Luffy, once focused and stable, now flowed intensely, as if every cell in his body contributed to the spectacle of healing. The intense light shining during the process was a testimony to the price his body paid to achieve such accelerated recovery. While the wound disappeared, it was as if Luffy's very essence was being interwoven into the regenerated tissue, signaling that each act of healing demanded a significant tribute of his energy. The glow dimmed, revealing a momentarily weakened Luffy, but still standing and determined to face any challenge.
'I can't use this too much in a fight...' Luffy thought after seeing the cost.
"Instant regeneration? It's amazing, I've never encountered a Mythical Zoan with so many impressive characteristics..." Mihawk murmured, observing the scene with a hint of admiration. Internally, he reflected on Marco from the Whitebeard Pirates, who also possessed instant regeneration, even faster. However, the unique abilities of this strange purple fire, combined with the enhancement of the young man's physical conditions, gave the young man's Devil Fruit a notable superiority.
"But this is intriguing. I sensed, through my Haki, that he managed to exchange his speed for exceptional hardness in his body a moment before my sword hit him, turning him into something as resistant as if he were enveloped in powerful Armament Haki. It's peculiar, to say the least. Could it be a unique feature of his body, a singular ability of his mysterious Devil Fruit, or perhaps this brat even possesses another Devil Fruit?" Mihawk thought, but quickly dismissed these questions from his mind, keeping his focus on the children before him.
'Anyway, his secrets don't interest me. I just want to witness the boy for whom Shanks sacrificed one of his arms to save.' He concluded his thoughts, assuming a combat stance once again.
"Are you really okay? You shouldn't have shielded me with your body!" Yamato couldn't help but ask again and exclaim, but she was looking with a hint of admiration where Mihawk had cut Luffy, and he healed without leaving a scar a moment later.
"Don't worry, let's focus on our opponent now." Luffy said; he no longer had a weapon, he could only unleash his firepower at this moment.
"Yes..." As Luffy launched back into the fight, Yamato couldn't help but feel a special warmth in her chest, a feeling that surpassed mere admiration after he took the enemy's blow in her place. Every graceful movement of Luffy, every flame he emanated, seemed to ignite something deeper within her.
Watching him with eyes filled with affection, Yamato felt a wave of emotions, among which a true love began to blossom. Luffy's sacrifice, his protective instinct, and the way he faced challenges with unwavering determination stirred her heart in unexpected ways.
But now, seeing that Luffy was well and ready to fight, she took her stance with determined eyes and turned to Mihawk, standing on his raft.
From a distance, their crew in the restaurant calmed down and returned to the deck to assess the situation. Despite moving quite far from the area of the earlier powerful attacks, they could still catch a glimpse of the battle at this distance.
A moment later, both sides soared back towards their enemies, ready to resume the fight. A battle of slashes and explosions ignited once again.
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
*BOOM*
Luffy clenched his fists, preparing to face Mihawk. He increased the hardness of his body by 30 times, a necessary choice now that he was unarmed against the formidable Yoru. Although speed continued to be his advantage in the sword fight, the captain of the Straw Hats knew that a misstep could result in serious injuries.
The fight continued amid chaos, Mihawk's agile attacks cutting through the air, while Luffy, with his increased strength and fiery flames, tried to withstand the precision of the supreme swordsman. The location transformed into a chaotic battlefield once again. Debris from Krieg's old ship floated around, silent witnesses to the intensity of the confrontation.
Luffy's punches, fueled by the power of the Akuma no Mi, created waves of heat, and flame explosions erupted at the point of impact. Mihawk, skilled and nimble, managed to dodge the attacks and retaliate moments later. With Luffy's reduced speed, he became more vulnerable, while Mihawk's sword strikes cut through the space with millimeter precision. Despite her own injuries, Yamato continued to intervene strategically, attempting to balance the fight.
The next five minutes unfolded in this manner. Luffy, marked by cuts that regenerated in real-time, displayed the unique resilience that characterized him. Yamato, who had previously remained unscathed, now bore some visible wounds on her body. Mihawk's formidable ability continued to manifest in that intense sword dance.
Each movement was a risky dance between the three combatants, with the glow of flames and ice creating a unique visual spectacle. Spectators, still at a safe distance, watched in awe the battle unfolding between beings whose powers transcended common understanding. The scene, now marked by debris and mystical elements, was the visible reflection of the clash between extraordinary forces.
"He's no joke; it's almost like fighting with the old bastard..." Yamato grumbled in the midst of the fight, referring to the devastating strength as fighting her own father.
"That was quite intriguing, but I believe it's time to end this fight..." Mihawk calmly uttered his words, and in the next instant, Luffy and Yamato tightened their guards, preparing for what would come next.
With almost supernatural speed, Mihawk disappeared and suddenly stood before Luffy, covering his legs with Armament Haki. Luffy's straw hat flew to the ground, breaking the ice formed by Yamato on the water's surface. Surprisingly, instead of cutting as any blade would, Mihawk used his sword to launch the opponent into the air.
*CRAAAACK*
"LUFFY!?" Yamato's anguished cry echoed as she witnessed the scene. However, before she could fully process what had just happened, Mihawk directed another attack in her direction. Wielding her Kanabo, Yamato faced the imminent collision, feeling the pressure between the weapons as they clashed and being propelled upward, disadvantaged by the opposing forces in the confrontation.
Mihawk didn't grant Yamato even a moment to catch her breath. As she began to regain her senses, still floating in the air, the swordsman appeared before her, ready to deliver another slashing blow.
However, Luffy, once again, intervened to prevent his companion from taking the hit. He emerged from the icy wreckage and positioned himself between the two, allowing the strike to hit him, without the protection of the hardness he had used before because he utilized his fruit for speed to reach Yamato. This time, he didn't have the chance to switch to the last-minute application of speed for hardness and had to take the blow relying solely on his enhanced physical body. The impact was overwhelming, sending him hurtling toward the ground. The strike destroyed the remaining ice covering the surface and caused Luffy to sink directly into the sea.
Yamato was taken aback by this, but without time to react, Yoru descended upon her shortly afterward, and she could only collide with the weapon, flying to the opposite side where Luffy had fallen.
*BOOOM!*
The water's roar raised an explosion of foam and splashes around Yamato's body, sinking into the depths of the sea along with her captain. The water churned, devouring the shattered ice debris.
Meanwhile, the effects of Luffy's Devil Fruit began to fade in the restaurant. Shirahoshi and Megalo, once reduced in size, started to grow rapidly. The environment witnessed the surprising transformation as the duo regained their original stature.
"Hm?!"
"Sharky!?"
"A GIANT MERMAID!"
"A GIANT SHARK!"
A collective cry echoed among the staff as they witnessed the true form of the mermaid princess and her companion. Zeff, Reiju, and even Mihawk were shocked by the magnitude of this revelation.
"What's happening?!" exclaimed Usopp, alarmed, as he was unaware of the true size of the ship's mermaid.
"It's because Luffy is in the sea!" explained Kuina, connecting the dots and realizing it was an effect resulting from the captain's defeat.
Mihawk, even able to sense presence through his Haki upon arrival at the scene, was also surprised by the giant mermaid, as he was unaware of her true size. The scenario now was one of bewilderment in the face of this immense transformation.
In the vast ocean, Luffy, who had returned to his human form, suddenly felt something expanding in his pocket. Quickly, he retrieved two tiny ship models, one of the Marine ship and the other of the Going Merry, now named Black Pearl. Watching them grow at a surprising speed before his eyes, the ships emerged majestically but, due to the amount of water accumulated in Luffy's pocket, sank instantly.
"Damn, this can't get worse..." Luffy muttered to himself. While remaining submerged, the situation didn't pose an imminent threat, not only because he could breathe underwater but also because he had used his power to enlarge the oxygen molecules in his body, thanks to the Moa Moa no Mi. This adaptation would ensure his survival for a safe amount of time as he descended into the depths.
Upon noticing a new disturbance in the water, he turned his face upward and saw Yamato plummeting like an uncontrolled rocket. Luffy knew she couldn't breathe underwater like him, and concern overcame him. Even under the pressure of the sea, he decided to use his fruit power on a 10% scale, which was his limit in the sea's effect, seeking a way to help Yamato.
[Moa Moa no Mi: Weight, apply 0.1 times!]
Becoming 10 times lighter, Luffy slowed down his speed, allowing Yamato to catch up as both sank like stones in the sea. However, Yamato was facing a desperate struggle to breathe; her imposing transformed form was unraveling, and the lack of oxygen became an imminent challenge.
"HM??!!!"
In a moment of despair beneath the sea, Yamato struggled to breathe, suddenly, she felt an unexpected sensation, her lips being pressed. With surprise, her eyes opened in the aquatic darkness.
"!"
She finally noticed that Luffy was kissing her at that tense moment. The realization that Luffy was kissing her in that moment slowly hit her. Under the depths of the ocean, their lips met in an unusual gesture of seeking oxygen, an instinctive and surprising act that broke the barriers of despair. The kiss unfolded amid the struggle for survival, an intense and unexpected moment in the depths of the sea.
"Hmmmm.....Hmmmm!"
She blushed intensely like a pepper when she realized what was happening, but quickly noticed that seawater in her throat was being sucked by Luffy. He withdrew his lips from hers and spat the water to the other side in a swift motion.
Without wasting time, Luffy kissed her again, leaving Yamato extremely flustered.
"Hmmm... Hm!"
Impatiently, Luffy looked at her as she grew increasingly red and tried to resist him, even with their lips still connected.
'Really? I'm trying to get the water out so you don't drown, and all that goes through your head is how embarrassing it is for me to do mouth-to-mouth respiration?' Irritated, Luffy contemplated Yamato's reaction while their lips remained intertwined.
Regardless of Yamato's thoughts, Luffy pressed his lips to remove the remaining water from her. Once he completed this task, he pressed his lips again, but this time to provide oxygen.
He began transferring enhanced oxygen molecules to Yamato's lips. The human respiratory system shouldn't receive this type of molecule, but Yamato possessed an enhanced body, much like her father. As Luffy passed oxygen to Yamato through his mouth, she finally began to calm down a bit.
Despite the extreme embarrassment Yamato felt, given the context, she calmed down upon realizing oxygen flowing from Luffy's lips to hers, providing a welcome relief to her lungs.
Thus, a man and a woman, the latter slightly taller, sank in the sea, appearing to be kissing while exchanging oxygen amid the aquatic depths.
Mihawk, who was on the surface, observed carefully not only with his Haki but also with his exceptional eyes that captured details. "This brat has a slew of tricks... Shanks, how did you discover this monster?" Mihawk couldn't help but comment internally.
"Hey, you guys! Your friends are sinking in the sea; you'd better rescue them," he exclaimed loudly, addressing the boat approaching the restaurant. The crew members were eager to retrieve Luffy and Yamato but exercised caution, uncertain if Mihawk would attack as they approached.
"I'm leaving now. Tell these kids that I'll be waiting for them in the New World. I expect a more interesting challenge next time," he prepared to depart after these words.
"WAIT!" Mihawk stopped upon hearing a voice shouting from the restaurant. It was Zoro, now conscious.
"Hm?"
"LISTEN WELL, DRACULA MIHAWK! I WILL DEFEAT YOU NEXT TIME WE FIGHT. WAIT! ONE DAY, I WILL COME TO YOU TO CLAIM YOUR TITLE!" Zoro shouted with determination.
"Who said it will be you, idiot? I will be the greatest swordsman in the world..." Kuina muttered beside him, keeping her voice only to herself.
"Then I'll be waiting, Roronoa Zoro. You're too young to die now. Discover yourself, discover this world, become strong. No matter how long it takes, I'll be waiting for you. I'll hold onto this title in the best way until you come to me. Surpass this sword, surpass me, Roronoa Zoro!" Mihawk spoke eloquently and departed again.
"YOU BET I WILL!" Zoro shouted in response.
Everyone was surprised by these words, and a moment of silence took over the atmosphere as they watched Mihawk distance himself from the ship and return to the Grand Line.
"That was inspiring..." Yisaku murmured.
"Hey, Luffy and Yamato are still in the water!" Nami suddenly exclaimed, remembering their friends.
"They're fruit users, so they can die," Zeff said.
Shirahoshi quickly prepared to dive into the water, but a shadow appeared in front of her.
"Leave it to me!" Reiju spat out her cigarette and jumped directly into the sea.
It didn't take her long to find the two; her legs swam quickly as she approached.
'They seem to be fine... but why are they... kissing?!' Shirahoshi exclaimed, surprised.
'Damn it, Luffy, you're the kind of man who takes advantage of women!' she growled as she approached them.
In anger, she interrupted the kiss, grabbing both and swimming quickly to the surface. It didn't take long for them to reach the ship's deck.
"HAHAHAHA! That was amazing!" Luffy said, referring to the fight.
"I enjoyed it too... it was good..." Yamato said, quite embarrassed, unable to face Luffy, not realizing he was referring to something else.
"Huh?! You horny couple, you were dying and wanted to kiss at the bottom of the sea!" Reiju shouted, hearing these comments.
Soon, everyone surrounded the two.
"ARE YOU GUYS OKAY?" Usopp asked quickly.
"We are; my injuries will heal quickly, but Yamato will take some time..." Luffy said and turned his gaze to the place where they had fought before falling into the water.
"Hm? Where's Mihawk?" Luffy asked, seeing only some ice debris in the water, with no sign of the swordsman.
"He left. He said he would wait for a better challenge next time..." Kuina said, crossing her arms and wondering why Yamato seemed so embarrassed beside her.
"Anyway, it was a great fight. Let's check on Zoro and the others," Luffy said, eager to assess the condition of his swordsman.
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Author's note:
* Luffy's Devil Fruit, the Moa Moa no Mi, will lose its effects once he suffers a defeat in the water, not just by touching the water or a SeaStone but when he is defeated.
* Even so, Luffy will still have a special condition with his body, which is to use only 10% of his abilities in the face of the disadvantages of having a Devil Fruit.
* I was debating whether Shirahoshi should rescue them, as it is the most logical option, but I chose to have Reiju do it to give her more contact with Luffy. Another thing I was also debating was whether the ship in Luffy's pocket would surface or sink, but I ended up having it sink since it was filled with water in Luffy's pocket. If it had surfaced, logically Luffy could have used it to return, in case the ship grew beneath him, but that would have made the contact he had with Yamato and Reiju unfeasible.
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