"So it's him," Setsuna said, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. In a way, Scopper Gaban was an even more legendary figure than Roger.
"Captain, you know who he is?" Ace asked curiously.
"His name is Scopper Gaban, known as the [Pirate King's Left Arm]," Setsuna introduced.
"The Pirate King's Left Arm?" Battle intent blazed in Ace's eyes. Having witnessed Golden Lion's power, he was eager to know just how strong those who once followed Roger were.
"Captain, let me handle him," Ace volunteered.
"Alright. Try to last a few more seconds," Setsuna encouraged.
Ace wasn't offended. He had been instantly defeated by Golden Lion going all out last time. After this period of training, he should be able to hold out a bit longer, right?
On the other side, Gaban was still pondering how to deal with the monster before him. If he forced a fight, he worried the monster might injure Laboon in a rage.
Just then, a ball of fire landed on Laboon's head. "Let me be your opponent."
"A Logia user?" A hint of surprise flashed in Gaban's eyes. In the first half of the Grand Line, Logia was almost synonymous with invincibility.
"Young man, you should step aside."
"You can't save this whale without defeating me."
"Blaze Net!" Dozens of fire bullets instantly shot from Ace's fingertips. Blazing white lines of fire wove a net, completely enveloping Gaban.
"Looks like I'll have to finish this quickly," Gaban's expression turned serious. Although the opponent seemed to be consciously controlling the flames, given time, Laboon would still get burned.
Gaban's figure suddenly blurred. All the fire bullets missed.
Ace's pupils contracted sharply. He hadn't seen how the other moved at all.
"He's behind me," Ace's instincts warned. He crossed his arms to block.
Gaban's fist came crashing down, instantly sending Ace flying.
Ace spat a mouthful of blood mid-air. His arms felt like they weren't his own anymore… the Armament Haki coating them was shattered by that single punch.
"He's truly monstrously strong," Ace wiped the blood from his mouth, but his heart was actually racing with excitement.
At least this time, he hadn't been instantly defeated.
'Without Observation Haki, yet he can have this near-instinctive premonition?' Gaban was very surprised. He'd only seen this kind of combat talent in his Captain.
"Old man, try this! Flame Commandment: Fire Pillar!"
Ace jumped into the air, avoiding burning Laboon.
A massive ring of fire expanded with him as the center. Heat waves distorted the air, descending like divine punishment.
In response, Gaban merely raised his right hand. Pitch-black Armament Haki covered his entire arm like armor.
With just one punch, astonishing Haki formed a shockwave that surged up the pillar of fire, instantly engulfing Ace.
'It's over…' Gaban judged inwardly, but the next moment, his eyes widened sharply.
An incredible surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from the young man's body, actually blocking his Haki shockwave.
"Truly a man with the protagonist's template," Setsuna couldn't help but sigh. Ace's growth speed was indeed astonishing.
In less than two weeks, he could barely exchange blows with a powerhouse like Gaban, even if only for a few seconds.
"Divine Fire: Unknown Fire!"
Ace dove from the sky. Two flaming spears formed in his hands, piercing towards Gaban at an incredible speed.
Gaban jumped up and punched. The flames were forcibly dispersed.
Ace was sent flying like a broken kite, landing heavily on Laboon's head, but he quickly struggled to get up again.
Seeing Ace stubbornly trying to rise once more, even Gaban was moved. "Young man, take it easy. Your journey is still long. At least in the first half of the Grand Line, no one will be stronger than you."
Ace laughed, coughing blood. "If Captain hadn't knocked some sense into me, I might have truly held such arrogant thoughts."
"You're not the Captain?" Gaban couldn't help but look towards the pirate ship. A boy around Ace's age stood there, giving off the aura of a superior.
'Haki is leaking from him!' Gaban was inwardly shocked. If Ace gave him a sense of awe, this boy gave him a sense of dread.
Setsuna jumped onto Laboon's head. "Ace, go rest."
"Alright," Ace didn't refuse. He didn't want his identity to be recognized mid-fight.
Gaban sighed. "I think… we may have misunderstood. Should we stop?"
He realized now. That young man named Ace had been careful not to hurt Laboon. The giant serpent also hadn't truly harmed Laboon.
Thinking back, what the other party said, 'stop playing', might have been meant literally.
Setsuna smiled. "Encountering the Pirate King's Left Arm is a rare opportunity. How could I let you go easily?"
Gaban laughed heartily. "It seems I'm still too famous. Got a fan, huh?"
"I should remind you," Setsuna said lightly, "I recently collected Golden Lion's head. If you don't get serious, I wouldn't mind taking yours for the bounty as well."
"What?! Shiki?!" Gaban's expression changed drastically. Golden Lion's fame far surpassed his.
Although this was hard to believe, Gaban didn't think the other was boasting. Just from his eyes, one could tell this was an extremely proud and confident man.
"It seems I really have to go all out!" Gaban sighed. He had only left Elbaf to 'rest and recuperate', to take a vacation. How did he run into such trouble?
Gaban pushed off with his feet, his body shooting towards Setsuna like a cannonball.
His speed was extreme, reaching Setsuna almost instantly. His right fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, smashed down directly.
Setsuna met it with his own right fist, also wrapped in Armament Haki.
He hadn't practiced Armament Haki for long. The quality of his Haki wasn't enough. It was instantly shattered by Gaban's punch.
But before Gaban could feel pleased, the immense force transmitted from the other party's fist sent him flying backwards heavily.
Gaban performed a backflip mid-air to steady himself, looking at his trembling right hand in disbelief.
Clearly, his Armament Haki was stronger. Yet the result of the clash was his loss.
'Monstrous strength like Whitebeard's?' Gaban's expression turned grave. This world always had some unreasonable monsters born with talents far surpassing ordinary people.
Like Whitebeard's monstrous strength, Big Mom's [Steel Balloon]. Today, he seemed to have encountered another one.
"Crocus, throw me my weapon!"
Hearing Gaban's shout, Crocus was equally incredulous.
'Dealing with a kid who looked sixteen or seventeen, Gaban was actually forced to use his weapon?'
Knowing the situation was urgent, Crocus didn't dare delay. He hurried back inside Laboon, brought out a massive splitting axe, and threw it to Gaban.
Gaban's aura changed the moment he grasped the giant axe. "From now on, I'm getting serious."