Loguetown execution platform square.
"This guy, I can't hit him at all!" Sanji whispered, a hint of seriousness in his eyes.
Smoker, with a cigar in his mouth, said in a deep, cold voice:
"The power of a Logia-type (Natural System) is precisely this overwhelming advantage. Before me, no matter what attack methods you use, they are meaningless."
After he finished speaking, he suddenly waved his hand, and smoke surged out like a tide, instantly coiling around Zoro and Sanji's bodies, locking them firmly.
The two struggled a few times, but found that the more they struggled, the tighter the smoke bound them.
"Zoro, Sanji!" Luffy, who was lying on the ground, saw Zoro and Sanji also entangled by Smoker's annoying smoke ability and shouted anxiously.
"With just this much ability, you dare to dream of challenging a Logia-type (Natural System) Devil Fruit User?" Smoker said with a sneer, "Today, none of you will escape."
Zoro was bound by the smoke, his muscles tensed, and a drop of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
He looked down at the smoke wrapped around him, then suddenly let out a cold laugh: "You think you can trap me like this?"
Before he finished speaking, Zoro's muscles suddenly bulged, veins popped out, and his entire Aura surged.
He roared and forcibly tore open the shackles of smoke with brute force!
"Bang!"
The smoke dispersed, and Zoro's body regained its freedom.
He stretched his neck, holding three swords in his hands, a cold smile on his lips: "The Body Tempering Technique I diligently cultivate every day is not for show."
Smoker's gaze sharpened, a hint of barely concealed surprise in his tone:
"Someone can break free from my smoke shackles... his physical fitness is indeed good. However, that alone is far from enough."
Sanji, seeing Zoro break free, took a puff from his cigarette and said lazily:
"How unwilling I am, to have you steal my thunder." As he spoke, he kicked off the ground, forcibly using a spinning force to disperse some of the smoke wrapped around him.
Although the movement was difficult, he barely managed to break free.
"Hey, old smokestack." Sanji patted the dirt off himself, a look of disdain in his eyes:
"Don't get too cocky. Don't forget, pirates don't give up easily."
Smoker stared coldly at the two, gripping the Jitte in his hand, his voice deep: "Since you're so eager to die, then I'll grant your wish."
The rain poured, the wind raged, and the square in Loguetown appeared particularly oppressive in the storm.
Smoker stood in the center, surrounded by smoke, coldly watching Zoro and Sanji.
Luffy, on the other hand, lay on the ground in a sorry state, his eyes full of unwillingness, but suppressed by the Sea Stone weapon, unable to move.
Zoro gritted his teeth, Sanji clenched his fists. Although the two had broken free from the smoke's restraint.
However, facing Smoker, a Logia-type (Natural System) Devil Fruit User, neither of them had full confidence.
Just then, a steady sound of footsteps came from afar.
"Thump — thump — thump —"
The rain beat against the ground, but the footsteps were incredibly clear, as if each step landed on everyone's heart.
Smoker turned his head, his gaze piercing through the rain curtain, and saw a tall figure slowly approaching.
It was a man holding a halberd (a type of polearm). His body was tall and straight, and the halberd (a type of polearm) in his hand was twice his height.
It was entirely black, and its blade reflected a cold gleam in the rain.
The man's face was stern and resolute, his indifferent gaze sweeping over Smoker, Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy who lay on the ground.
"Luffy, it's time for us to set sail." Kai's tone was calm, carrying an air of composed dominance.
When Zoro heard this voice, he was first stunned, then a smile appeared on his face: "Kai, you're finally here."
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, slightly raised the corner of his lips: "You're a bit late, I almost let this guy get the better of me."
"Kai! You're here!" Luffy, lying on the ground, also shouted with a laugh, clearly relieved despite still being suppressed.
Smoker snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on Kai.
His intuition told him that this man was very dangerous, far more formidable than his one hundred million Berries bounty suggested.
Information flashed quickly through his mind: "Kai, first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, a pirate with a bounty of one hundred million Berries..."
Smoker took a deep breath, suppressing the pressure in his heart, his voice low:
"Just a small-time character with a one hundred million Berries bounty, don't get too cocky. Today, none of you will escape!"
Kai, however, ignored Smoker's threat and walked step by step towards Luffy.
The halberd (a type of polearm) in his hand dragged lightly on the ground, emitting a low metallic sound.
His steps were steady, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression.
Kai's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he lightly stomped his foot.
The next moment, an invisible Aura erupted from him, and the air in the entire square seemed to solidify.
"Boom—!"
Conqueror's Haki instantly swept across the entire square, black and red lightning exploded in the air, directly rushing towards Smoker.
"What?" Smoker's pupils suddenly contracted. He instantly felt a tangible sense of pressure, like a mountain suddenly pressing down on his body.
"Bang!"
The Conqueror's Haki directly struck Smoker. He was sent flying by this powerful Aura, crashing heavily onto the square ground, creating a large crater.
Smoker slowly climbed out of the pit, his face becoming extremely solemn.
He looked at Kai, gritting his teeth and whispering: "To be able to materialize Conqueror's Haki... this level of power, what a joke!"
Kai did not speak, he merely raised his halberd (a type of polearm), black and red lightning dancing on the blade, carrying a sharp oppressive force.
His gaze was indifferent, as if he didn't even see Smoker.
Seeing this, Luffy got up from the ground, patted the mud off himself, and shouted with a laugh: "Kai! Your weapon is so impressive! Where did you get it?"
Kai glanced lightly at Luffy, his tone calm: "Your grandfather gave it to me."
Then, his gaze fell on Smoker again.
Smoker took a deep breath, gripping the Jitte in his hand.
He knew that if he didn't go all out, he would surely lose this battle.
"Since you're so confident, then let me see just how strong you really are!"
Smoker roared, and smoke surged wildly around him.
Gripping his Jitte, he charged at Kai like a fierce beast.
"Come on." Kai said coldly, gripping the halberd (a type of polearm) with both hands, the black and red lightning on the blade becoming even more dazzling.
"Bang!"
The two instantly clashed. Smoker's Jitte slammed fiercely into Kai's halberd (a type of polearm), producing a deafening crash.
A huge impact erupted between the two, the surrounding ground instantly cracking, and debris flying everywhere.
However, in just an instant, Smoker's Jitte was severed by the halberd (a type of polearm), and the broken pieces of Sea Stone fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.
"What?!" Smoker's face changed drastically. Before he could react, Kai's halberd (a type of polearm), carrying the power of Conqueror's Haki Coating, slammed heavily into his chest.
"Bang!"
Smoker was sent flying like a cannonball, once again crashing heavily in the center of the square, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Smoker, unable to elementalize due to the Conqueror's Haki Coating, could only take Kai's blow head-on.
Kai slowly retracted his halberd (a type of polearm), glancing coldly at Smoker lying in the pit, his tone indifferent: "Logia-type (Natural System) ability? Nothing more than that."
Smoker lay unconscious in the pit.
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stood by, watching the scene, dumbfounded.
"Kai... this is too strong!" Luffy shouted, his eyes full of admiration.
Zoro gripped his swords, a smile playing on his lips: "This kind of strength... it really makes one excited."
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, slowly exhaled: "He's truly a monster."
Kai turned his head and looked at the three: "Let's go, we're setting sail. I have something to tell you later!"
"Oh!" Luffy responded excitedly, and along with Zoro and Sanji, followed Kai, running towards the port.
In the square, only the unconscious Smoker remained, along with the broken ground, and a faint green figure in the distance.