13. One Punch, Instant Kill, Huge Gap

The dagger, propelled faster than bullets, soared towards Luffy. Yet, with a slight tilt of his head, Luffy effortlessly evaded it, the blade grazing past his ear. However, to Kid's astonishment, the dagger swiftly looped back from behind Luffy at breakneck speed, aiming for his back.

"What an intriguing ability. Are you also a Devil Fruit user?" Luffy inquired with a wide grin, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

With a series of deft movements, Luffy effortlessly dodged the dagger's relentless assaults, his body moving with fluid grace. The levitating knife, faster than bullets, danced around him like a juggling act, unable to make contact with his body.

Throughout the exchange, Luffy remained composed, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Kid, as if analyzing his opponent's abilities.

In contrast, Kid's complexion grew increasingly grim. "Why can't I land a hit? He wasn't even focused on the dagger," he muttered, his doubts mounting.

Kid's attacks, typically launched from blind spots and manipulated with remarkable speed, were easily dodged by Luffy.

"The Straw Hat kid? Does his ability revolve around evasion? That doesn't match the rumours," Apoo remarked, perplexed by Luffy's seamless dodges.

Observing the skirmish from a nearby barrel outside the bar, a man with a hat rested on his head and a long knife slung over his shoulder spoke in a low, magnetic voice.

"The one wearing the straw hat is indeed a formidable pirate with a bounty of 300 million."

Boom!

A massive explosion rocked the opposite end of the street, sending billows of smoke billowing into the air. Emerging from the haze was a monk wielding a colossal pencil and sporting wings on his back. His imposing figure exuded both impact and pressure as he charged forward, his target being a masked man deftly somersaulting through the air.

"It's the peculiar monk Urouge," the onlookers in Sabaody exclaimed in surprise.

"And his opponent is the Killing Samurai, Kira," another bystander noted.

"A scythe? What an intriguing weapon," Zoro commented with an interested smile as he observed Kira from the sightseeing street nearby.

Swordsmen proficient in sickle techniques were a rarity, and Zoro couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of facing such a unique adversary.

"Seems like some are too weak," Sanji remarked, lighting a cigarette and blowing out a puff of smoke.

"These supernovas are quite the rowdy bunch, causing trouble wherever they go," he added with a shake of his head.

Indeed, despite being in a supposedly peaceful area, the supernovas wasted no time in engaging in combat, stirring up a considerable commotion.

"One troublemaker after another. A bunch of uncouth ruffians," Capone Bege muttered with impatience from inside the dining room, which had been pierced through by the ongoing battle.

"Where's the pizza? Food, come here!" A young woman with long pink hair and heart-shaped lipstick sat at the dining table, pounding her fists on the table in a crude and voracious manner. Oblivious to the battle outside, her sole focus was on the food before her.

Meanwhile, the bloodthirsty glint in Kid's eyes intensified. "Let's see if you can dodge like a monkey," he sneered, a cruel smile curling his lips as he extended his right hand towards the sky.

"Magnetic Force!" he bellowed, unleashing an invisible energy that permeated the surroundings.

Sensing the disturbance, everyone present, particularly those armed, felt a shift in the air.

"Huh?" Zoro, who had been observing the scene with a hint of boredom, glanced at the three renowned swords swaying at his waist due to the magnetic force.

"Manipulating metal, huh? Still far from handling my blades," Zoro muttered, focusing his Armament Haki to steady the shaking swords. In an instant, they stilled.

"Hey, Luffy, wrap this up quickly. If you don't, I will," Zoro called out, a tinge of impatience creeping into his tone. "I've got ingredients to buy, so let's not waste too much time."

Sanji calmly took a drag of his cigarette before speaking, "Resolve the battle quickly? It's been a while since I've heard those words."

Kid laughed scornfully as he gathered over a hundred swords in the air, creating a dense forest of steel. The onlookers, recognizing the imminent danger, scattered in fear of being caught in the impending onslaught.

"Captain Hawkins, take cover! We're within the attack range," a blond man nearby warned, arranging tarot cards in the air before him.

"Fate has issued a warning; the chance of getting hit is only one percent," Hawkins interpreted, visibly surprised by the revelation. "But the Straw Hat Boy's odds are...100%?"

As Kid unleashed his attack, dubbed "Magnetic Force: Pointed Gun," countless metal weapons shot forth like a barrage of lasers, surpassing the speed of bullets. The overwhelming assault resembled a forest of steel descending from the heavens.

"Cover all visible hiding places," Luffy commanded calmly, his playful demeanor replaced by a serious expression in an instant.

With a light touch to his hat, Luffy vanished from sight as if swept away by an invisible tempest. The onslaught of metal weapons disintegrated into pieces as if consumed by the invisible force.

In the blink of an eye, Luffy reappeared behind Kid, delivering a devastating blow with a heavy fist. A heavy thud echoed through the air, sending a shockwave rippling across the faces of onlookers.

Kid's body crashed to the ground with a resounding impact, creating a momentary stillness in time. A deep crater formed beneath him, sending thick clouds of smoke and dust swirling around.

Using Kid's body as a stepping stone, Luffy descended gracefully, wearing a relaxed smile on his face. Behind him, the fallen metal weapons littered the ground like scattered leaves.

"And Captain Kid..." Kid's younger brother froze in shock, disbelief etched across his features. Trembling, he wanted to rush to Kid's side, but fear of Luffy's presence kept him rooted in place.

"Captain Kid...is he...is he dead?" A chorus of exclamations filled the commercial plaza as the realization of Kid's fate sank in.

----------

You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion