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[+200 power stones = +1 extra chapter]
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Lucas stared at the towering woman before him, gripping her massive iron mace.
Alvida, though noticeably slimmer than before, still loomed over him. But with the Calm Card's effects in place, Lucas felt no fear only focus.
'That mace would be terrifying even in the New World, let alone the East Blue.' He tightened his grip on the Kusanagi Sword.
Quickening his pace, he advanced toward the execution platform where Buggy was climbing. He needed to deal with Alvida fast.
"You...you ugly wretch! How dare you challenge the most beautiful woman on the seas? Know your place!" Alvida bellowed, swinging her mace toward him.
"Most beautiful? Did you give yourself that title?" Lucas scoffed, slashing with the Kusanagi Sword. Now wasn't the time to argue about gender.
CLANG!
The impact sent both fighters stumbling back.
'Damn, she's strong.' Lucas flexed his numb arm. Without chakra reinforcement, that strike would've shattered his bones.
'Can't fight her head-on. Her raw strength surpasses mine, but that's all she has.'
Just then, Buggy's lackey, Cabaji leaped down from the platform, joining Alvida alongside Mohji and his lion Richie.
"Let's take her down together," Cabaji declared.
Lucas smirked, unfazed. Reaching into his system space, he pulled out a white-handled kitchen knife.
Mohji burst into laughter. "Hah! Is this idiot serious? A kitchen knife?"
But his amusement died as Lucas hurled the blade into the air.
"Blade Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
One knife became two, then four...then a storm of steel rained down.
Mohji paled. "W-what the...?!"
Even Smoker and Tashigi, observing from a distance, stiffened in shock.
"Who is this guy? A Devil Fruit user?" Smoker muttered.
On the execution platform, Luffy's jaw dropped. "Whoaaa! So cool!"
Then he flinched, the knives were heading his way too!
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
The blades peppered the ground, forcing the Buggy Pirates to scramble. Luffy squeezed his eyes shut… but no knives struck him.
Lucas had accounted for that.
As the blades vanished into smoke, Mohji and Richie slumped, bleeding. Alvida and Cabaji panted, glaring at Lucas.
'Huh. Wonder if I could monetize this jutsu. Instant billionaire.' Lucas mused.
Alvida snarled, launching herself at him, mace swinging. "You dare scar the world's most beautiful woman?! I'll crush you!"
But her weapon smashed only rubble, Lucas had substituted behind her.
"Too slow," he taunted, licking his lips. "Die."
"Look out!" Cabaji intercepted, blades clashing.
Alvida whirled, mace descending.
CRACK!
This time, it connected, hurling Lucas into the dirt. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
'Tch. Got careless.'
He wiped his lips. Orochimaru's flexible body had absorbed most of the impact, but it still hurt.
"No way…" Alvida gaped. "My mace should've killed you!"
"Try harder," Lucas spat, Kusanagi humming in his grip.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A perfect copy appeared beside him.
Alvida recoiled. "Two of them?!"
Cabaji's eyes widened. "N-Ninjutsu?! Like the legends?!"
"Wind Style..."
"STOP!" Buggy's shrill voice cut through the chaos.
On the platform, he pressed a knife to Luffy's throat. "Hahaha! Straw Hat's vice-captain! Your captain's mine now!"
Zoro and Sanji arrived, taking in the scene.
"Pirate Hunter Zoro too? Perfect!" Buggy crowed. "Watch your captain die on the same scaffold as Roger!"
He raised the blade.
Smoker signaled Tashigi. "Once Straw Hat's dead, we move in."
Luffy grinned.
"Lucas… Zoro… Sanji… Nami… Usopp… Sorry. I'm gonna die."
...
T/N: Thanks for the support from: Lam Sha, Black Widow, Hamza Masfar, Lord Of the Mysteries, Andrew, Jiri Stehule, trey hill, Agustin Monti, Tightless, Impulsionimulsion.