14. Zoro Makes A Move, Another Instant Kill
The bustling square suddenly turned eerily quiet.
Everyone there, except the Straw Hat Crew, went completely silent.
Shock and disbelief painted across every face.
Was Eustass Kid taken out in mere moments?
No one doubted Kid's strength.
Even though the other supernovas believed bounties didn't always reflect true fighting ability.
Kid was the first to target fellow supernovas with bounties, proving his strength. He was among the top few supernovas.
Facing off against the Straw Hat boy with the second-highest bounty, everyone anticipated a close fight or a quick test.
But the outcome was swift and unexpected.
Kid couldn't even land a hit on the Straw Hat Kid, who, with just one punch, swiftly defeated Kid, who had the highest bounty.
"Seriously, is the Straw Hat captain that powerful?"
Luo's calm demeanour vanished, replaced by sheer astonishment.
"Has another monster like this emerged among the pirates?"
On a nearby rooftop, X Drake's eyes clouded with fear as he watched Luffy.
"Wait, are you serious? That speed and strength, is this truly a pirate from the first part of the Grand Line?"
In the distance, the peculiar monk Urouge was busy with a giant pencil, completely forgetting about his clash with Kira.
The incredible speed made it impossible for anyone to track such a devastating punch. Even with his toughness, he didn't dare to face another blow.
"Straw Hat taking out Supernova Kid with just one punch? That's major news."
In a shadowy alley, a photographer snapped shots of Luffy.
In one photo, Luffy casually pressed his straw hat down, while behind him, Kid lay unconscious in a deep pit, eyes rolled back.
Meanwhile, Hawkins, Law, and Capone Bege watched from afar, shocked but amused.
News headlines and reporters were already spinning the story.
A new emperor among pirates emerges, widening the gap among supernovas.
Though a bit exaggerated, sensationalizing news wasn't new to grab attention.
"All done, let's go," Luffy said, lifting his hat and strolling towards Zoro and the others, a grin on his face.
He didn't spare a glance at the unconscious Kid behind him.
Supernovas seemed too weak for him now.
If Kid's ability wasn't so intriguing, the fight would've ended with Kid's first attack.
"Are you kidding, Kid? Get up!"
A furious shout echoed in the distance.
Kira, who had faced off against Urouge earlier, seemed to have just regained his senses.
Glancing at Kid sprawled behind Luffy, his voice dripped with anger.
He couldn't fathom that the man he followed was only at this level.
It was too humiliating to be taken out by the Straw Hat Boy, also a supernova with a lower bounty.
Whoosh.
Kira kicked off fiercely.
Like a swift arrow, in an instant, he covered a distance of 100 meters and stood beside Luffy.
In the sunlight, his sickle gleamed with a chilling light as it aimed for Luffy's neck.
But Luffy seemed unfazed.
Clang.
A faint sound of a blade being drawn echoed.
Suddenly, everyone felt a thick, terrifying aura, like the abyss's Shura.
"One Sword Style: Draw the Sword, Sleepless Night."
A deep voice resonated.
A sword flash, too fast for the naked eye to catch, erupted from the ground at an angle.
All eyes caught just a brief glimmer of light.
Then, in a sudden blur, Zoro materialized behind Kira, smoothly sheathing the Third Generation Ghost into its scabbard at his waist.
In an instant, Kira's sickle shattered, and a gaping wound tore across his chest, from shoulder to waist.
Blood sprayed, his mask cracked, and Kira spat out a mouthful of blood before crashing to the ground.
"At this level, attacking our captain so recklessly is disgraceful," Zoro said calmly, his hand resting on the trio of famous swords at his waist.
"So cool," Usopp and Chopper exclaimed, stars practically twinkling in their eyes.
Seeing Kid's earlier appearance had unsettled Chopper and Usopp. After all, he was a pirate whose bounty exceeded Luffy's.
But now, witnessing Luffy and Zoro's strength firsthand, they realized how formidable their crewmates had become.
It was truly terrifying, a far cry from before.
"With just one punch and one slash, he took down two supernovas with higher bounties," Nami said, stunned, covering her mouth.
"Truly dependable," Robin replied with a soft smile.
Under normal circumstances, Luffy and Zoro were formidable, but it was unheard of for them to instantly defeat two supernovas.
Pirates with similar bounties typically possessed comparable strength, especially among supernovas.
The only explanation was the remarkable enhancement of Luffy's mysterious ability, which had completely transformed them.
Pirates of the same calibre now couldn't even last a moment against them.
"Could they really reach Admiral-level combat prowess?" Robin wondered aloud, feeling hopeful.
Despite understanding her reasons for joining the Straw Hats after Enies Lobby, she remained concerned because of what she represented.
In a full-scale conflict with the World Government, the current Straw Hat Pirates stood no chance.
But if they could attain Admiral-level combat strength, everything would change.
"The Admiral is the pinnacle of combat power recognized by the World Government. Even the government itself cannot underestimate Admiral-level strength.
Now, the entire commercial square was paralyzed with shock.
"Instakill, another instakill," someone muttered.
After Straw Hat swiftly defeated Kid, Roronoa took down Kira, who had a higher bounty.
"Is he truly the second-in-command? Such terror and dominance," Urouge exclaimed, sweat beading on his brow.
Though Zoro's attack was swift, the murderous aura and overwhelming force lingered in everyone's hearts.
Now, Zoro had fully evolved with Conqueror's Haki and refined swordsmanship.
His path was that of a Shura, radiating a terrifying aura of death.
And yet, he hadn't even used his full strength. If he did...
Everyone present would be directly overwhelmed by his aura of death.
----------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion