Chapter 20: Rival
"Divine One-Sword Style..."
Luffy and Smoker could be seen in the air far above 'Loguetown' with Luffy looking a bit sweaty with a few bruises and Smoker out of breath with open wounds bleeding slowly. It was obvious who was winning the fight so far. Luffy had his cutlass sheathed and had both his hands on it.
"Divine Fire Dragon!!!"
Luffy sent a massive compressed air slash in the shape of a dragon powered by 'Advanced Armament Haki' and his flames, which he's now able to manipulate to a small degree to cover his cutlass or fists, at the wounded Marine. Smoker had been compressing as much smoke as possible into a ball coated in 'Advanced Armament Haki', using his version of Admiral Aokiji's 'Ice Ball'.
"SMOKE BALL!!!"
*BOOOOOOM!!!!*
Smoker countered the attack by throwing the small ball of smoke at the massive dragon. Upon making contact, the small ball rapidly expanded to the same size as the dragon. The two attacks destroyed each other, causing an enormous explosion and kicking up a massive cloud of smoke, wind, and fire.
Before Smoker could even think about his next move, Luffy shot through the cloud at high speeds.
"Gomu-Gomu no…"
Luffy could be seen with both his arms in 'Gear 3rd' reared back with flames covering them and a massive smile on his face. He shot through the air fast enough to create sonic booms and clear the cloud they had created.
Smoker instinctually made his fists massive to counter the attack, something he had never done before, and charged at the pirate in the opposite direction. He threw his massive fists in front of him while using one of his strongest moves
"GIANT SMOKING FISTS: SMOKING SIX-KONG GUN!!!"
"ROC BAZOOKA!!!"
*BOOOOOM!!!!*
Their collision shook the entirety of 'Loguetown'. Smoker was launched back 50 meters in the air before stabilizing himself. Luffy was similarly launched back but only 20 meters. He grinned at the Marine.
'Smokey is pretty strong!! Why the hell isn't he on the 'Grand Line'? He could be beating up 'New World' pirates with how strong he is!! Whatever. He isn't strong enough for me to need my 'Gear 4th', but I think I'll still use it at the end to show him how much stronger he needs to get to fight me.' Luffy thought to himself.
He thought that Smokey was a good guy who just happened to be on the other side, kinda like Koby. But he was still trying to stop him from entering the 'Grand Line', so he's gotta kick his ass. The Marine was similarly stuck in his thoughts.
'This kid hasn't slowed down since we started. The others are already down, but if I get the Captain, I can maybe make something happen. Or so I could say, but I get the feeling this kid isn't even using all his strength yet.' Smoker thought to himself but his thoughts were cut off when the pirate suddenly charged again, fists still massive, producing flames, and coated in 'Advanced Armament Haki', but this time they were twisted up.
"Shishishi!!! I hope you don't get knocked out by this, Smokey!! If you don't, I'll show you something interesting!! Gomu-Gomu no…" Luffy laughed as he threw his hands forward as countless hands made of smoke and covered in 'Advanced Armament Haki' sprouted out of Smoker's back.
"THOUSAND SMOKE HANDS"
Luffy grinned when he saw that, as even though his enemy had a lot more hands than him, it didn't matter if they couldn't hit him.
Smoker was completely shocked when he saw the straw-hatted pirate weaving through his smoke hands easily like they weren't even there. Luffy appeared ten meters in front of Smoker with a massive smile and his equally massive fists being thrown forward faster than the Marine could react.
"TWIN ROC RIFLE!!!"
*BOOOOOM!!*
Luffy's fists untwisted into Smoker, who was unable to mount any defense except for the 'Armament Haki' on his body.
*BOOOOM!!*
Smoker crashed into the ground right in front of the execution platform. Luffy landed softly about five meters in front of the downed Marine.
*COUGH* *COUGH*
Luffy watched as the Marine spit out blood as he forced himself to his feet, making him grin. He likes people like this guy. He laughed as he realized he, a pirate, wanted to be friends with a Marine.
"Shishishishi!!! I like guys like you, Smokey! I wish you weren't a Marine so I could ask you to join my crew!!" Smoker snorted at that before he spit out some more blood.
*SPIT*
"Join your crew? I'm a Marine, it's my job to hunt pirates." He said simply, as that's how it's always been. Luffy grinned at that.
"Well, if you change your mind, let me know. Shishishishi!!! Anyway, I know a guy like you won't stop till I knock you out, so I'll say this now." Luffy said as he put his right arm up to his mouth and covered it in 'Armament Haki'.
"I'm looking forward to our next fight on the 'Grand Line'!!!" Luffy shouted out as he bit into his forearm and blew air into it, getting enveloped in steam, confusing the wounded Smoker. The Marine heard Luffy's voice from the steam.
"Gear 4th: Bounce-Man"
Luffy's proportions become warped, and his body becomes much larger, with his arms, upper torso, and legs coated in 'Armament Haki'.
Smoker raised an eyebrow at the odd transformation, but his confusion and borderline amusement quickly turned to alarm when Luffy's right arm started compressing in on itself, ending up looking like the barrel of a cannon.
"Gomu-Gomu no…"
Alarm quickly turned to pain as Luffy appeared right in front of the wounded Vice-Admiral with his compressed fist covered in flames and 'Advanced Armament Haki'.
"ROC KONG GUN!!!"
*BOOOOOM!!!* *CRACK*
*BOOOOM!!!*
The spring unwound and Smoker was launched back like a bullet. He heard some of his ribs break as the punch hit him straight into the execution platform.
*BOOM*
After his momentum was killed by the platform, Smoker dropped down to the ground and ended up falling on his back, looking up at the sky.
Smoker looked to his right when he heard footsteps, seeing the pirate that just beat him.
'Hmm, dying at the same place the Pirate King did? Not too bad.' He thought to himself as he prepared to die, only to hear the kid start laughing.
"Shishishishi!!! I'm not gonna kill you, Smokey!! I just told you I wanna fight you again!!" Luffy laughed as he sensed Smokey's emotions. Why the hell would he kill a guy who seemed cool and was so fun to fight? Plus, his Grandpa would beat him up if he killed one of his students.
Luffy felt a shiver go down his spine before he perked up and slammed the bottom of his fist into his open palm before a mischievous smile grew on his face.
"If I just leave you here, you'll probably follow me to the 'Grand Line', right?" Luffy asked getting a raised eyebrow from Smoker before the Marine nodded, he probably would chase him. It's been getting a bit boring here anyway.
Luffy grinned wide when he could sense Smokey wanted to fight again too.
"Then there's no way I'd kill you! I won't give up on you joining my crew either!!" Luffy shouted out getting a snort in return. The straw-hatted pirate smiled one more time before turning around.
"See you on the 'Grand Line', Smokey!!! Shishishishi!!!"
Laughter was the last thing Smoker heard as his entire world went dark. He smirked when he realized he wasn't upset about his first failed mission.
'I'll kick that kid's ass next time.'
.
.
"Shishishishi!! That was fun!!"
*WHACK* *WHACK*
"NO IT WASN'T" "NO IT WASN'T"
Nami and Usopp smacked their Captain as they ran towards the 'Going Merry'. Luffy had found his crew near the town center where his fight ended. He had asked about their fights, but Zoro avoided the question for some reason, Sanji said it was just some dog, and Nami and Usopp just gave him a harsh glare. He shrugged, he had a lot of fun fighting Smokey.
They all stopped when everyone but Nami sensed a massive presence, as big if not bigger than Hawkeye's presence, and another one as strong as Luffy's presence appeared next to them out of nowhere. They all turned to an alleyway where two people in dark green cloaks stepped out.
Zoro had his hands ready on his katanas and Sanji was about to take the initiative when they heard their Captain let out a laugh filled with joy.
"Shishishishishi!!! I never thought I'd see you guys here of all places!!! I missed you!!" Luffy shouted as he crashed into the smaller cloaked figure, knocking both Luffy and the cloaked figure to the ground, completely astounding his crew. The cloaked man laughed and hugged him back.
"Hahaha!! I wanted to try and surprise you, but who knew you were already too strong for me to sneak up on." Everyone heard the masked man before he released the hug and put his hood down, letting them see a blond-haired man who was only a few older than Luffy. They all looked at Luffy with questioning gazes which he laughed at.
"Shishishi!! Sorry, guys!! Let me introduce you!!" He said as he stood up and dusted himself off. He pointed at the blond who was smiling at them.
"This is my older brother, Sabo! He joined the 'Revolutionary Army' a while back and this is the first time I've seen him since!!" Luffy explained with a beaming smile, making his crew nod in understanding. They were a bit curious about the 'Revolutionary Army' stuff, but that was for another time. They all looked at the large man who was just silently observing them. Luffy smiled at the man before looking back at them.
"And this is my dad! You guys probably know him as 'The Revolutionary: Dragon' though, Grandpa said everyone knows that name." Luffy casually introduced the most wanted man in the world as his father, making his dad laugh and his crew stunned. That stunned stillness lasted for about three seconds.
"YOUR DAD IS THE MOST WANTED MAN IN THE WORLD!!!!!"
Luffy looked horrified when all his friends screamed at him at once, making his dad and brother laugh as his dad took his hood off to reveal the black hair and red tribal tattoo on the side of his face.
"Hahahaha!! You've found a good crew, Luffy. They're strong and seem like you'll get along well with them" Dragon said with a smile. He saw that the Marines sent reinforcements to 'Loguetown' while he and Sabo were in the area, so he decided to check it out.
Who would've thought he'd stumble on a plan that is to catch his son? He was quite mad, even considered just clearing the way for his son to the 'Grand Line', but he wouldn't like that. Dragon knew he wouldn't because that's not how he wanted to do things either. The Monkey Ds do what they want themselves.
He and Sabo watched as Luffy and his crew took out three Marines with Vice-Admiral-level strength in Dalmatian, Tashigi, and Hina as well as Smoker who can be placed firmly above every Vice-Adrmial without the Monkey D. surname and only below either Admirals or Admiral-Candidates. All of this with relative ease.
He debated on just letting his son and his crew go without talking to him, but before he could say that to Sabo, his second-in-command was already on his way over there.
When Usopp and Nami heard Dragon, they relaxed. Zoro and Sanji did not however and this made Dragon smirk at them.
"Good. I'm glad my son has friends like you to rely on. He can't accomplish his dreams alone." Dragon said making the two nod but still didn't lower their guard, to which Luffy pouted. They ignored him.
Dragon smirked at them again before looking back at his son who had come a very long way since the last time he saw him. The thought put a proud smile on his face, which made Luffy stand a little straighter.
"Go forth and be free, my son!! The D's will soon cause another storm with you at its center!! You must be prepared for the tough sailing ahead." Dragon said cryptically, making Luffy tilt his head in confusion before shrugging his shoulders. He could sense some Marines coming over so it was time to go.
"I don't get it, but it was good to see you, Dad!!! You too, Sabo!!! Let's meet again on the 'Grand Line' and have a banquet!!!" Luffy smiled at them before motioning his crew to follow him.
They all ran away as Dragon and Sabo watched them go. Sabo looked at his boss.
"The Marines are going to be all over them once they enter the 'Grand Line'," Sabo said to which Dragon smirked.
"Not just them. Knowing Luffy, he'll do something to piss off the 'World Government' sooner rather than later. Maybe even one of the Warlords or one of the Emperors." Dragon responded to which Sabo laughed.
"Hahahaha!! That's for sure!! I can't wait to read about him in the newspaper!! For now, I think we can handle these guys." Sabo laughed as he turned to the incoming crowd of Marines. Dragon did the same with a smile on his face.
'I'm looking forward to the storm you stir up, my son.' Dragon thought to himself as the winds picked up around him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ntc15
ntc15 Yo! 20th chapter done! This chapter was a lot of fun with making Smoker into a 'Garp' to Luffy's 'Roger' like the story seemed to intend to have happen, but Smoker was just so weak. I'm making him strong so that doesn't happen.
I originally had this chapter and the last one as one chapter, but I split them up as they ended up being more than double my average chapter length. This will also make it easier to stack up some chapters in advance so I don't mess up this upload schedule.
Anyway, the next chapter is the start of the 'Grand Line' so stay tuned!! I'm excited about how I'm going to make the enemies stronger to keep things interesting. I've had fun making Arlong and Smoker stronger, especially Smoker because of the creative freedom that's brought with devil fruits. It'll be fun to make someone like Enel stronger even though they were already damn strong.
Thanks for reading and hopefully see you next time!!
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