Chapter 49: Orphan in esteroids beats up guy with an obsession with straw hats
...
"Who are you?"
"...?"
Scratching the back of his head, Farid raised an eyebrow in confusion when he saw the young man tilt his head and look at him weirdly.
Normally, when pirates are being chased by a horde of marines, they tend to act more warily with anyone they meet. Yet, the guy in front of him seemed so clueless and carefree, even when he had called him by his full name, which often used to be a sign that one knows about their bounty.
'Well, it doesn't seem like he cares about such things... Should I make myself clear then?'
Sighing in his mind, Farid shook his head, before he then looked with a calm gaze at Luffy and spoke with a more hostile tone of voice.
"I'm a bounty hunter from here... I guess you should know why I'm here?"
"Geh, Are you from baroque Works?!"
Hearing that he was a bounty hunter, Luffy suddenly retreated a few steps back, as he assumed a more wary stance, and looked at Farid with a suspicious gaze. Making the later sweatdrop seeing his reaction.
'Where did that name come from? Did he owe them money or something?'
Shaking his head to shrug his thoughts aside, Farid then frowned and looked at Luffy with a more serious gaze.
"I'm just a normal bounty hunter that wants to take your bounty"
Then, as if finding his answer more calming, Luffy immediately sighed in relief and answered Farid with a more carefree tone of voice. Seemingly not caring much about the fact that he was a bounty hunter.
"Ah, is that so?"
"..."
Hearing that, Farid went silent for a few seconds.
'It's this playing dumb? Or is he a natural?'
Seeing that Luffy had no reaction, Farid's frown deepened, before soon, he sighed and muttered in a low voice "Whatever".
-Booom!!-
"...!"
Then, not caring anymore about starting a conversation, Farid raised his fist and shot forward. Making Luffy who was looking at him curiously, widen his eyes in surprise when he saw Farid move so quickly toward him.
-Bam!!-
Then, not even allowing him to react, Farid punched heavily Luffy's face and sent him flying away at a great speed. Making him even pierce through some buildings in the process.
After that, Farid let out a short sigh and snorted slightly.
'The easiest 30 million Berry in my entire life...'
Then, taking out a long rope from within his coat, Farid immediately started walking forward through a lot of rubble in order to begin tying Luffy up to hand him over to the marines later.
-Step, step, step-
However, while he approached the place where he had seen Luffy stop, Farid couldn't stop himself from wondering a few things about the young man that he had punched a second ago.
'I wonder why Fire Fist was looking for him?'
For someone of Ace's caliber to be looking for him, it really made Farid wonder if the young man in front of him had anything special about him.
'Well, he got beaten up with just one punch like the others... I don't think there's really much to care...'
Shaking his head while walking forward, Farid began preparing the rope, as he smiled slightly imagining 30 million Berry entering into his pocket just by doing something so simple.
'Well, whatever Fire Fist's reason was for wanting to meet this guy, I arrived first... And as that drunk old man that used to walk outside the orphanage used to say, first come, first served'
Grinning slightly at that, Farid finally arrived at the place where Luffy had crashed, and immediately prepared to look for him under all the rubble.
-Shruuush!-
However, as he was about to start, suddenly a shadow emerged from all the rubble and started speaking with a relieved tone of voice.
"... Ahhh... That scared me"
"...???"
At that moment, the one who had emerged from all the rubble was Luffy, who to Farid's bewilderment, was completely unscathed from the attack he had received directly to the face.
"What in the world?"
Frowning slightly at the sight in front of him, Farid put the ropes back under his coat and muttered in a disbelieving tone of voice.
As he was still confused by what he had just witnessed, Luffy frowned when he saw Farid standing in front of him, and immediately launched his fist backward before yelling angrily.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!!"
In an instant, Luffy's punch turned into a blur and moved incredibly swiftly toward Farid's confused face.
-Swoooosh!-
However, as if he had seen that coming from a kilometer away, Farid tilted his body slightly to the left and easily dodged Luffy's punch. All while still wearing the same confused expression from before.
Then, seeing that Luffy's fist had stretched in a really weird way, Farid raised an eyebrow, before he then muttered with a more clear expression. Finally understanding what was happening.
"A Devil Fruit, huh... Of course it's a Devil fruit again"
Then, imbuing Haki into his fist, Farid glanced at Luffy with an impassive expression on his face and ran towards him.
"You...!"
Seeing that Farid was coming towards him again, Luffy frowned, before soon he readied both of his fists and yelled loudly.
"Gomu Gomu no... Gattling!!"
Saying that, suddenly, Luffy's fists turned into blurs, and immediately after that, several afterimages started appearing one after another because of the speed that Luffy's punches were reaching. Making it seem as if hundreds of punches were moving toward Farid at great speed.
Of course, even in front of this, Farid didn't seem fazed.
Without much difficulty, Farid dodged each of Luffy's fists as if it was a piece of cake for him, before he then arrived in front of him, and caught Luffy's fists with both hands, leaving the latter's arms immobilized.
"You bastard... Take this!!"
Seeing that his fists were now unable to move, Luffy gritted his teeth, before he then stretched his neck several meters backward, and immediately after that launched his head like a cannonball, directly toward Farid. Ready to give him the headbutt of his lifetime.
However, as if amused by Luffy's attack, Farid grinned, before he then imbued some Haki on his forehead and launched a headbutt against Luffy's own. Seemingly not scared at all of Luffy's head's momentum.
-Boooom!!-
After that, both men clashed their foreheads, and an enormous shockwave spread through the vicinity, alerting anyone who still hadn't noticed the chaos that Farid and Luffy were making before.
However, a second after that, Luffy's body went limp for a second, before soon he started screaming in pain while grabbing his forehead with both hands.
"That huuuuuurts!!!"
Seeing the sudden whim of the young man in front of him, Farid let go of his grip, and silently watched as Luffy squatted on the ground while rubbing his forehead with a pained expression.
'What a strange guy...'
Scoffing slightly at that, Farid suddenly moved swiftly in front of the pained Luffy, before he then hit Luffy's chin with his knee, and sent him flying high into the air.
"U-ugh"
Surprised by the sudden hit, Luffy frowned, before suddenly he raised his fist and tried to launch another fast punch in Farid's direction while still in mid-air.
However, before he could do so, Farid suddenly gave a kick to the ground, and in less than a second he arrived just next to Luffy's side. Making the latter flinch slightly as he realized how fast Farid was.
"...?!"
"What's with you Devil Fruit users lately? I've found more of you in less than a month than I have in six years of working as a bounty hunter"
Not letting Luffy react properly, Farid then raised his arm high into the air and coated it completely with Haki. Seemingly prepared to deliver a powerful blow.
-Bam!!!!-
"Ga-hak!!"
Then, Immediately after that, Farid slammed his elbow on Luffy's solar plexus and made the latter be sent back toward the ground at a terrifying speed while letting out a pitiful groan of pain. Similar to a comet descending on earth.
-Swooosh!!-
-Booom!!!-
Without being able to do anything, Luffy's body was soon engraved into the ground, as an enormous dust cloud rose and blocked all the spectators' view of the combat. Making Farid grin slightly as he approached the ground as well.
-Tack!-
"Hoh..."
Then, landing right next to the place where Luffy had crashed, Farid let out a surprised hum, as his eyebrows raised when he saw Luffy from the corner of his eyes, and how he had already gotten up and was now looking at him from afar with a pained expression as he rubbed his solar plexus.
"Ghk... You are strong..."
Managing to talk as he tried recovering some of the air that had escaped from his lungs with the previous attack, Luffy looked at Farid with a serious expression, wondering where a guy like him had come from, while the latter looked back at him with a surprised expression having his own thoughts.
"You are still awake? Talk about being sturdy..."
-Crack, crack-
Then, massaging slightly his fist, Farid cracked his neck, before he then looked at Luffy with a more serious expression and stepped forward. Making Luffy flinch briefly.
-Nishishishi...-
"At this rate, I will get captured before being even able to get something to eat"
Seeing that Farid was prepared to attack again, Luffy then groaned with a small smile on his face as he moved his arms away from his stomach before he then immediately began preparing to launch another attack. All while ignoring the pain spreading through his whole body as he did so.
Seeing this, Farid grinned slightly, before he then prepared to jump at him in order to end the fight for good.
However, as he was about to do so, suddenly he felt something approaching from behind and instinctively defended himself using his Haki-imbued arms.
-Ka-chiiiiiin!!!-
Then, as if two metallic objects clashed with each other, a high-pitched sound echoed all around, before soon two shadows emerged from behind Farid and jumped towards Luffy's side.
'More pirates?'
Frowning at the appearance of two more people, Farid raised an eyebrow, as he observed the new people that had appeared out of nowhere, and frowned when he saw their appearance.
'Hmm, A green haired guy and a blond guy... quite a pair'
Understanding that they were probably Luffy's crew, Farid relaxed his body slightly and decided to see what would they try to do now that they were three. Staying silent as he listened to their conversation.
""Are you okay, Luffy?""
"Oh, Zoro, Sanji! it's you guys! Did you get lost or something? I didn't see you for a while!"
""It's you who got lost!!""
"Ah, Is that so?"
"..."
Seeing them have a calm conversation, despite them being pursued by the marine and having him in front of them, Farid's mouth twitched, before he then examined both of the guys that had appeared and hummed curiously inside his mind.
'They don't look normal... Well, who does nowadays? Anyway, this will probably get a little bit more troublesome now'
Preparing himself, Farid stretched his muscles, as he ignored the wary gaze of the men in front of him. Who were prepared to attack at any moment if he made any suspicious movement.
"And? Who's this guy? Did you do something to annoy him Luffy?"
"I didn't do anything! He said he wants my bounty!"
"A bounty hunter, huh?"
Looking curiously at Farid, Zoro frowned, before he then squinted his eyes in seriousness.
"I don't remember there being any bounty hunter with his appearance... Even less someone operating at Arabasta..."
"He is strong... also, his hits for some reason can damage me"
After Luffy said so, both Sanji and Zoro widened their eyes in surprise and looked at the man in front of them with a much more wary gaze than before.
"He can damage you? But how? Blunt attacks shouldn't be able to damage you..."
"I don't know... But for some reason, his hits remind me of my grandpa..."
""Your Grandpa...?""
As both Zoro and Sanji looked at Luffy with a confused gazes, suddenly a loud groan reached their ears and made them flinch slightly. Making them immediately turn to look back at the man in front of them.
It was then, that Farid's voice reached their ears, and made them frown.
"Extra work has appeared it seems..."
Looking at the bag of vegetables that he still had in his hand, Farid sighed, before he then put it on the ground, and massaged his shoulder.
"Well, whatever"
Saying so, Farid took a step forward, as he then calmly began walking toward the three of them. Making them flinch and immediately prepare to fight.
However, as they did so, Luffy spoke to them with a heavy expression on his face. Seemingly seriously meaning what he was about to say.
"Zoro, Sanji, be careful... He is strong..."
Nodding their heads, both of them readied their attacks. As Luffy also prepared to fight.
However, as the three of them were just about to attack, Farid appeared in front of them, and grabbed both Sanji's and Zoro's heads, before mercilessly smacking them against each other.
-Bam!!-
With that, both of them lost consciousness for a split second as blood spilled from both of their heads.
"Agh..."
"Urgh..."
Then, making use of that split of a second, Farid's figure moved like a blur, and from one moment to another moved in front of Luffy.
"Zoro, Sanj-hmfh!"
With that, Farid grabbed Luffy's head and slammed it brutally to the ground. Making the latter's head get embedded into the ground because of the force behind the attack.
-Crack!-
"You bastard...!"
"I will cut you!"
Then, recovering from the attack just now, Zoro and Sanji turned around and attacked Farid. Who was still with his hand planting Luffy's head into the ground.
However, as they were about to reach him, suddenly Farid turned around and dodged both of their attacks by a hair's breadth. Making both of them widen their eyes in surprise at what they thought was going to be a successful hit.
""What?!""
Not minding their surprised expression, Farid suddenly grabbed one of Zoro's swords by the blunt side, and brusquely pulled him closer. Making use of the fact that the latter didn't want to let go of his sword to then immediately deliver a knee to his stomach once he was near enough.
-Bam!!-
"Guh-!"
"Marimo!"
The knee had been so strong, in fact, that Zoro was unable to hold on any longer, and fell to his knees as he spat all the saliva on his mouth in the process.
Seeing that, Sanji immediately launched a powerful kick toward Farid's side expecting to finally land a blow.
-Swooooosh!!-
-Tack!-
"...-?!"
However, as if he had been expecting it, Farid blocked the attack with his hand as if it was a simple matter, and grabbed Sanji's foot in the process. Not allowing the latter to escape from his grasp.
"Kgh-?!"
-Swoosh!!-
Then, grinning slightly, Farid pulled Sanji by his foot and violently swung him across the air with fierce strength, before slamming him to the ground without any mercy.
-Bam!!!-
"Kgh-Urgh...-!"
As Sanji's body bounced off the ground because of how violently he had been slammed against it, unable to hold the pain, suddenly Sanji let out a helpless groan, as he spilled a little blood from his mouth.
Seeing that, Farid sighed, before suddenly he felt something approaching from behind with his enhanced senses, and jumped away to evade.
-Swooosh!-
-Swiiing...!-
Then, where he had been standing just a few seconds ago, a punch and a sword passed by there and hit the air. Failing to hit Farid in the slightest.
-Tack!-
After that, Farid landed a few meters away and lifted his head. Seeing the grave faces of both Zoro and Luffy, looking at him with wary and hostile eyes.
Noticing that, Farid frowned, as he glanced at the two of them with an incredulous expression on his face before he asked.
"What's with you guys? Don't you guys ever go down?"
Then, as if answering him, suddenly Sanji got up from the floor and cleaned up the blood flowing from his mouth. Looking as ready to fight as he had ever been, despite the slight limpness that could be seen on his legs from the attack just now.
"I guess not"
Scoffing slightly at that, Farid shook his head with a tired expression, before he then looked at the three men in front of him, and decided that he had had enough.
'Whatever, I don't have the patience to continue this any longer...'
-Clack, clack-
Coating with Haki in both of his arms, Farid cracked his neck once again, before he then took a step forward and prepared to go all out.
He wasn't going to pull his punches anymore.
""...!!""
Feeling this, the three readied themselves, as a tense expression appeared on their faces.
For the first time in a while, they were wondering whether they would really win a fight.
Even Luffy, who was known for his recklessness, didn't know whether he could be able to get past the guy in front of him.
Just a few minutes ago, he hadn't taken seriously the situation since he hadn't felt that guy in front of him was strong. However, now he could feel it.
The person in front of them was vastly stronger than them.
However, if he and all of his friends wanted to achieve their dreams, they had to get past him. One way or another.
As such, knowing what the three of them had to do, they readied their attacks and prepared for the final clash.
""Heyyy!!""
It was then, however, that several voices called out to them, and made the three snap out of their daze.
"Luffy!"
"Oi, Luffy!"
"Luffy-San!"
"Luffy...!"
Nami, Usopp, Vivi, and Chopper. The four of them had arrived at the scene and were now running toward the three men in order to know what was happening.
Seeing them, Luffy frowned, before he then gestured to stop and yelled at them in a worried tone of voice.
"Don't come closer! This guy is dangerous!"
Hearing him, the four stopped in their tracks at the scene with confused eyes.
Luffy, Zoro and Sanji. The three strongest people in their crew were incredibly injured, and the look in their eyes was vastly different from the always confident one that they used to wear.
... As if... they were uncertain about something.
Then, glancing at Farid, who was standing in front of Luffy and the others, a confused expression appeared among the straw hats, before then a dubious look appeared in their eyes as they glanced at his normal appearance.
Except for one person...
"..."
Ignoring Luffy's warning, Vivi walked forward to the group and rapidly reached Luffy's side. Making the latter look at her with a confused expression.
"...W- What's wrong Vivi?"
"Vivi-swan?"
"...?"
"What are you doing Vivi?"
"Hey, hey, Vivi, don't get close to the enemy like that!"
Looking confusedly at Vivi, the whole group called out to her in worry, not understanding what she was doing.
However, seemingly not hearing them, Vivi continued walking forward. And before she knew it, she stood right in front of Farid, who was looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
Then, not being able to contain her voice anymore, she called out to him.
"Farid...?"
"..."
...
-To be Continued-
°°°
(A/N: Just watched One Piece Red... What can I say? It was good, though, the ending left me a bit unsatisfied.
But since I have Farid here to change whatever I want, I don't mind)
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