Life or Death

Hancock looked up to him while struggling to get up. 

(Superior physical prowess, full mastery of the six powers, top-notch martial arts skills....This guy, Caria said he was able to fight an admiral or could've been an admiral candidate. What a joke! This guy is already an Admiral level threat!) 

She looked to her side and saw Luffy struggling to his feet. He gritted his teeth and wore a demon-like face. 

(This is bad, this is really bad!) 

Hancock looked at Felix again. 

(I can tell this guy wasn't going all-out and yet we're like this.) 

She glanced at El Nino and La Parca. 

(He didn't even use his clones to fight us either. If he ambushes us with his clones, it's over!) 

"But why haven't he done that?" 

Hancock mumbled. 

"So, what do we do now?" 

El Nino asked. 

"Hancock's crew should be coming here soon. You can go play with them." 

"?!" 

Hancock's eyes widened and instantly became bloodshot. Felix glanced at her and nodded. 

"That's how it should be." 

His words only fuelled Hancock's rage. 

"Change of plans, I'll handle the crew when they get here. You two go into town and ensure everything is going as planned." 

"Can I play with the people?" 

"Feel free." 

"Alright!" 

El Nino jumped for joy before disappearing. La Parca quietly nodded before vanishing as well. 

"Now then, are you guys ready for round 2?" 

Jessie and Astrid got to their feet. 

"I'm ashamed I was out for so long." 

"Me too, Astrid." 

Luffy, Hancock, and Caria slowly got up. 

"I see you're all still raring to go. I hope this time you'll give your all without holding anything back." 

Felix pointed at them one by one. 

"I know you all have techniques you haven't used because of different reasons. Use them here and now, or this place will be your graveyard." 

He looked over at Frantz who was lying on the ground gasping for air and trying to stop his bleeding. 

"You too. Dragon wouldn't be happy if he knew you backed down against someone like me because you're scared of death." 

"Leave Frantz out of this!" 

"I'm afraid that's impossible, Jessie Lockhart. This fight involves everyone on the island. Either he dies fighting or dies cowering as his friends perish. That's the only two options he has." 

"No, there's a third!" 

Jessie shouted. 

"He believes in us and watch as we beat your ass!" 

Felix chuckled a bit. 

"That's an option that is impossible to materialize." 

"Just watch us!" 

"I see." 

He stood up. 

"Then, let me formally introduce myself." 

Haki rushed out of his body like a tidal wave. The air itself shook before his haki. It was as if he was dyeing the world in his color. 

"Ugh! What a monstrous haki!" 

Caria and Astrid groaned. Hancock, Luffy, and Jessie stood their ground. They released their haki in response. Their haki clashed with Felix's and caused the world to tremble before dispersing. Felix's devious smile grew while everyone else wore strained expressions. 

"I am El Verdugo, the Executioner." 

Felix took a fighting stance. 

"I will execute all who threaten to disrupt this world's balance. No matter the cost." 

"To hell with your balance!" 

Luffy's arm blackened as he placed it at his mouth. 

"Gear Fourth!" 

Luffy's body underwent changes as he entered Gear Fourth. Felix watched this with a grin. 

"Come, Son of Dragon!" 

Luffy flew out of the smoke with his fist retracting into his arm. Felix stepped forward clenching his fist. 

"Gum Gum..." 

"Judicial Arts..." 

The two locked eyes. 

"Kong Gun!" 

"Judgement Fist!" 

The two's fists clashed and explosive noise erupted between them. Shockwaves spread out and shook the area. Luffy's arm was blown back. 

"Not enough!" 

Felix took another step in and slammed his fists over Luffy's heart. 

"Six King Gun!" 

A force hit Luffy and forced him back. He flipped in the air before flying back at Felix. 

"Hm?" 

Someone jumped on Luffy's back. It was Hancock who had her hands over her mouth. 

"Awakening: Love Mania~!" 

Her face immediately became flushed. Luffy flew at Felix with his fist retracting and twisting in his arm. Hancock leaped off his back. 

"Kong Rifle!" 

Felix lifted his arms in front of him and blocked the attack. Hancock spun in the air and swung her leg down. 

"Love Axe!" 

Felix leaped back. His shirt and jacket were cut open. 

(Her kick was as sharp as an axe.) 

Before his feet touched the ground, Luffy's feet were beside his head. 

"Rhino Schneider!" 

Felix was kicked in the face and sent flying. He opened his eyes and saw Hancock running beside him. She held her right arm and pointed her fist at him. A heart appeared at the tip of the fist. 

"Love Bazooka!" 

He was hit by a blast and thrown into the air. 

"Hahaha!" 

Felix laughed and kicked the air. He flew at Hancock. 

"Kong Gun!" 

Luffy popped up beside him and hit him with a punch. Felix slammed into the earth. Hancock leaped and stomped him into the ground. Felix caught her feet and slammed her into the earth. He sprung to his feet and threw a punch. His fist clashed with Luffy's and forced it back. His body flickered. He popped up kneeing Luffy in the face. Luffy grabbed him and slammed him into the ground. An invisible force hit Luffy in the chest and forced him back. Felix stood up with his fist emitting conqueror's haki. Hancock attacked him from behind. He leaped over the attack and punched down. An invisible force hit her and slammed her into the earth. He turned to his side and pointed his fist at Luffy who was pointing his palms at him 

"Leo Bazooka!" 

"Six King Gun: Maximum!" 

A deafening noise rang out as their attacks clashed. 

"Huh?" 

Felix felt legs wrapping around his neck. Hancock rode his shoulders before swinging her body back. She threw him in the air where a flying Luffy hit him with another powerful punch. Felix spun in the air before flying back at Luffy. The two clashed in an aerial battle. They threw punches and kicks while flying through the air. Felix blocked a punch from Luffy and kicked him away. He turned his head and was kicked in the jaw by Hancock. He grabbed at her but her body moved like a serpent and avoided it. She fell towards the ground and he chased her. Luffy flew in and she landed on his back. She fired heart bullets from her fingers as Luffy flew through the air. Felix maneuvered through the sky to avoid them before bursting out in laughter. 

"What chemistry!" 

Conqueror's haki started flowing out of his body. 

"What a great couple you two are!" 

He clapped his hands together. Waves of invisible force rushed forth and hit them. Luffy and Hancock's body started trembling. He kicked off the air and flew at them like a bullet. 

"?!" 

A chill suddenly traveled down his spine. He blinked and a sole butterfly appeared before his eyes. This butterfly looked him in the eye before turning around to leave. That's when he saw it, a skull on the butterfly wings. 

"Hell's Butterfly." 

A voice crept into his ears and a light flashed. Felix flew back, but the moment he did, he saw his right arm and leg, severed and floating in front of him. He blinked and they were turned into minced meat. 

"This is...." 

A huge grin appeared on his face. He looked down and saw Caria standing on the ground. Her body was trembling and filled with black veins, the edges of her hair had turned white. 

"You're finally putting everything on the line, Caria Aponi?!" 

A few minutes earlier. Caria and the boys were watching as Luffy and Hancock fought Felix. 

"They're really going all out. Their strength is on another level." 

Caria mumbled as she watched. 

"I'm joining in." 

Jessie and Astrid looked ready to fight. 

"I want to join in too, but this level is above us." 

"I know, Caria. However, this is our home and the enemy is someone we're connected to. We can't just sit back and let outsiders fight our battles." 

Astrid said as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. 

"I'm going into a Blood Frenzy." 

"What?! That will destroy you! I mean, you'll get stronger but you'll feel no pain and won't stop until either your target or you is dead!" 

"Yeah, I'm fine with that. As long as we win, nothing else matters." 

"I agree with him, Caria." 

"Jessie!" 

Jessie looked at her and smiled. 

"I'm going to try and forcefully awaken my fruit." 

"But...Jessie, Zoan awakenings can devour the user's mind. I know you're close to awakening it, but if you force it..." 

Jessie said nothing and only smiled at Caria. She looked at the two of them and sighed. 

"Fine, but you're not going down alone." 

She dug into her clothes and took out a pink ball with a black butterfly on it. 

"Caria..." 

"We're all in this together, right?" 

Present time. Caria gripped her swords tightly as blood tears flowed from her eyes. 

"I'm not the only one who's betting everything." 

Jessie popped up in front of Felix. He punched out and Felix stretched out his remaining hand to stop it. He was hit what seemed like hundreds of times before his hand could stretch out. 

"The hyper-speed of a Hummingbird's wings?" 

He was hit from below and grabbed before being thrown towards the ground. He crashed into the earth and looked up. Astrid was diving headfirst towards him. He rolled out of the way, but Astrid flew at him without pause. Astrid grabbed him and Felix chopped him with his hand. Astrid's arm bent unnaturally but it didn't let go. He lifted Felix and slammed him on his knee. 

"He doesn't feel pain?" 

Felix pulled out a gun but he didn't point it as Astrid. He pointed it at his own head. He fired and blew his brains out. 

"Wha?!" 

This action surprised only Luffy and Caria. 

"As I thought." 

They turned their head and saw Felix standing without a scratch on him. 

"Boa Hancock and Jessie Lockhart gave into the nature of their fruits in order to get stronger. Astrid Magnolia gave in to his instincts as a Fighting Fish to achieve the same thing. This is why only Monkey D Luffy and Caria Aponi reacted to my self-deletion." 

He applauded. 

"It seems that everyone is finally putting it all on the line. So it's time I do the same." 

He formed a hand sign with his finger. 

"All Lives: Return!"