"Marine Rokushiki? If there's Rokushiki, then what about the other techniques?" Sanji's eyes suddenly lit up, and he shouted the question.
Zoro had already figured out what his crewmate was thinking. Keeping his guard up, he stared fixedly at the figure in front of them.
"The others?" Kojin smiled. "That depends on whether you're qualified enough to make me use them."
He saw right through their little trick. They were just trying to stall for time while looking for an opening or a chance to escape.
Not far away, Luffy suddenly lifted his head and looked over. He had clearly been checking on his crewmates. After confirming they were only unconscious, he let out a sigh of relief. Even so, the threat posed by the man before them was very real.
"Still... I can show you one move first." A grin spread across Kojin's face.
The next second, Zoro saw him lightly tap the ground with his foot. Ripples spread outward, and then his figure vanished.
"So fast!!" Zoro's pupils shrank.
At the same time, Sanji suddenly turned around. Then he saw that Kojin's tall figure had already appeared right in front of Luffy.
"Monkey D. Luffy! I hear you ate the Gum-Gum Fruit?" Grinning, Kojin spread the fingers of his right hand and reached toward Luffy's head. "My natural enemy, huh?"
The moment the words left his mouth, lightning crackled between his fingers and instantly gathered into a massive pillar of thunder.
'Boom!'
The dazzling column of light illuminated the entire island and engulfed Luffy in an instant.
"LUFFY!!!" Zoro and Sanji's expressions changed dramatically.
Within the lightning, a faint smile appeared on Kojin's face. He looked down at the figure wrapped in thunder and muttered, "Interesting. Very interesting."
Soon, the lightning faded. Arcs of electricity still danced across the ground, revealing Luffy standing there blankly.
"He's okay?!" Zoro and Sanji exchanged glances and let out a breath of relief.
"I'm made of rubber! Your attacks don't work on me!" Luffy shouted.
Kojin simply smiled. Then he clenched his right fist and punched Luffy square in the face.
'Bang!'
Luffy's face caved in from the impact, and his body was sent flying backward.
"Who said it doesn't work?" Kojin stepped forward, preparing to pursue him.
But by then, Zoro and Sanji had already launched their attack.
"Oh right. I almost forgot about you two." Kojin turned and smiled.
"You still haven't told us what that move was!" Sanji shouted.
"Soru. One of the Rokushiki techniques that allows high-speed movement. By rapidly kicking off the ground with both feet, you generate explosive recoil and move at incredible speed. Like teleportation," Kojin kindly explained, even going so far as to lay out the principle behind it.
"This guy is actually explaining everything? What is he thinking?" Both Zoro and Sanji were stunned.
The next second, however, a tall shadow loomed over them. Before either of them could react, a sharp pain shot through their shoulders.
"Gah!"
Kojin withdrew his fingers, blood dripping from them. "This is Shigan."
The two of them slowly lowered their heads, still not fully understanding what had happened. Two bloody holes were clearly visible in their shoulders.
"It's about time this ended. Your reactions are far too slow." Kojin shook his head. He slowly spread his hands apart. Arcs of electricity burst forth and instantly crawled over both of their bodies.
'Rumble!'
Thunder roared. Brilliant lightning erupted from their bodies, followed by clouds of black smoke.
'Thud! Thud!'
The two collapsed to the ground. Even now, confusion remained on their faces as their eyes rolled back and consciousness faded away.
"Zoro!!"
"Sanji!!"
Chopper screamed in terror. Summoning his courage, he transformed into his Human Point and charged forward with a shout.
Kojin casually kicked him away, sending Chopper tumbling across the ground more than fifty times.
Luffy shook his dizzy head, groaning from the pain. When he looked up and saw Zoro and Sanji lying defeated, his eyes narrowed. He froze. Then his face darkened, rage blazing in his eyes as he charged at Kojin.
But what greeted him was the same thing as before, a punch straight to the face. Luffy was sent flying once again.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!" Throwing his head back, he roared. After shaking off the dizziness, he rushed forward again.
'Bang!'
And once more he was blasted away, rolling across the ground.
"You've got plenty of spirit, Straw Hat Luffy." Kojin smiled faintly. He could tell that Luffy had already lost himself to anger. There was probably only one thought left in his mind now, defeat Kojin.
But that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
'Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!'
Dull impacts echoed across the battlefield. Luffy was sent flying again and again, yet he kept charging back.
Kuzan raised his head and watched the scene. His gaze swept across the other crew members lying motionless on the ground before he slowly exhaled. "You really are bored, aren't you?" As he spoke, the breath leaving his mouth carried a pale white chill.
The air ahead instantly froze. Just as Luffy reached Kojin and threw a punch, his body suddenly stopped. Ice spread across him, covering him completely and turning him into a frozen statue.
"Bored, huh?" Kojin turned to look at his old friend, then he looked back at the frozen Luffy in front of him. "Maybe a little." He shrugged.
"Hey, raccoon. Come over here. We're not going to pick on an animal," Kuzan called lazily.
Chopper stood there, full of anger and caution, staring at the two men as if he might charge at them at any moment.
"I'm not a raccoon!" he roared.
Kojin chuckled. He truly had no intention of attacking Chopper.
"You know... if people never experience true despair, how can they understand how precious and beautiful life really is? And how can they crush their arrogance and pride, then move forward one step at a time with both feet on the ground? Young people need hardship to grow."
After listening to that little speech, Kuzan curled his lips and rolled his eyes. He had already figured it out. Kojin never really intended to throw the Straw Hat crew into Impel Down.
Suddenly,
'Buru Buru Buru!' The Den Den Mushi in Kojin's coat started ringing.
He was slightly surprised. This was his personal Den Den Mushi, one that only close acquaintances like Sengoku and a few others would contact. He took it out and answered the call.
"Hey, Kojin! Where the hell are you?" a loud, familiar voice came from the other side.
"Garp-sensei?" Kojin raised an eyebrow, then he glanced at the frozen Luffy standing nearby.
"Where are you? I heard you left Impel Down and never went back to Headquarters," Garp shouted.
"That's right. As for where I am now... probably on an uninhabited island not far from Long Ring Long Land and Water 7," Kojin smiled.
"Good! Then stay there and wait for me! I'm going to Headquarters with you!" Garp said.
"Uh..." Kojin hesitated.
"What? Got a problem with that?" Garp immediately barked back.
"Not exactly. It's just that I'm currently dealing with a group of small-time pirates," Kojin muttered.
"Small-time pirates? That should be easy for someone like you," Garp replied.
"What if those pirates happen to include your grandson, Straw Hat Luffy?" Kojin said with a sigh.
"What?! That brat Luffy ended up in your hands?! Beat the hell out of him for me! Don't hold back at all!!" Garp immediately roared.
But Kuzan could clearly hear a trace of concern hidden beneath the anger. No matter how much faith Garp had in the student he personally trained, Kojin's strength and unpredictable nature still made him uneasy.
"Well, that won't be a problem. I think he's already learned a few things." A smile appeared on Kojin's face.
"Hmph!" Garp snorted and hung up.
Still smiling, Kojin looked at Kuzan. "So what exactly was the old man's intention? Did he want me to arrest Luffy, or let him go?"
"Interpret it however you want." Kuzan rolled his eyes again.
Kojin shook his head and turned around. "I'll leave this place to you. I still need to wait for Garp-sensei." As soon as the words left his mouth, his body transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished into the distance.
Kuzan stood there, looking at the mess left behind, and let out a sigh. "Should I say you're lucky... or unlucky?"
---
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the New World, on an unnamed island, cold green flames flickered quietly in the darkness.
A man carrying the world's strongest black blade, Yoru, sat with one leg crossed over the other, his sharp eyes fixed on the island ahead. Bandages wrapped around his chest, the wounds left by a Haoshoku-infused attack still aching faintly even after more than ten days.
His coffin-shaped boat reached the shore. Dracule Mihawk leaped onto land and walked deeper into the island. Before long, he heard loud laughter. Smoke drifted into the air as a group of pirates sat around a bonfire, drinking heavily.
Suddenly, the crowd fell silent. Dozens of eyes turned toward him.
At the center of the gathering sat a red-haired, one-armed man. His gaze was cold as he spoke calmly. "I don't have time to deal with you right now, Mihawk."
Mihawk's expression didn't change. "Likewise. I have no interest in crossing blades with a man who's lost an arm."
Shanks blinked in surprise, then he burst out laughing. "So you're not here to fight? Then come on over! We're having a party!"
The next thing Mihawk knew, he had been dragged over and seated beside Shanks. The brief silence vanished, and the feast became lively once again.
"I didn't come here for your boring party either." Mihawk accepted a drink and spoke in a deep voice, his eyes unusually serious.
"Then what did you come for?" Shanks asked, puzzled. Then his pupils suddenly contracted.
His gaze landed on the white bandages wrapped around Mihawk's chest. "You're injured? In this world, who could possibly wound you badly enough to leave injuries like that?"
Mihawk didn't deny it. He simply nodded.
"That's right. I was injured. And even now, the wound still hurts. That's exactly why I've come here."
As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Shanks.
"I think you'll be very interested in the man responsible."
'(End of Chapter)'
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