"Damn it! I used Mantra to foresee your movements, so why can't I dodge them?!"
Satori glared furiously at Sanji. His body was riddled with cuts, his breathing ragged.
Sanji stood on a thick branch a short distance away, calmly lighting a cigarette. He exhaled smoke, unfazed by his injuries. "It's simple," he said coolly. "My legs move faster than your body can react. Seeing the attack isn't enough if you can't keep up."
Satori bared his teeth. "You're beaten and burned, yet you still talk big. Do you really think you can defeat me?"
Sanji's shirt was torn and charred, bruises covering his face. Strands of his blond hair were singed, but his eyes held steady determination.
"Defeat you?" Sanji tilted his head, watching Luffy and Usopp depart on the Going Merry. His voice remained calm. "That's not a question. I just need to finish this before they're too far."
"Then you're running out of time!" Satori sneered. "You could've fought me with your crew, but you are alone. That arrogance will be your downfall."
Sanji's grin sharpened. "Say whatever you like. I'll master Observation Haki here and now."
His body blurred.
"Sky Walk… Flanchet Slice!"
He launched forward like a phantom, leg whipping toward Satori's head.
"Hmph! Foolish!" Satori jerked back, raising a hand that carried an Impact Dial. "Impact Wave!"
Sanji's kick clashed against the strike, but instead of wavering, his mind went still. He shut out distractions, pushing aside unease. He focused only on the subtle flow of intent around him.
Still not calm enough. His thoughts raced. Then… a memory.
Shirogai's voice echoed in his mind from their sparring session.
"Compared to that moss-headed swordsman, you overthink. Focus like you do when cooking—steady, instinctive. Let your actions breathe."
Sanji's lips curled. "View the enemy like an ingredient, huh?"
His eyes narrowed on the round man standing before him. In that instant, he imagined him as a dumpling ready for the pot.
Still your mind. Hear the ingredient's breath…
He felt Satori shift left before it happened.
"Cheek Shot!"
Sanji leapt, his foot already there.
"Bang!"
Satori's face exploded in pain as Sanji's kick crushed his nose. Blood spurted, his glasses shattered, and he tumbled violently into a tree.
"Curly-brow brat!" he screamed, furious. "You dare kick my head?!"
His rage boiled as he slammed his staff into the ground. "Damn it! I'll finish you! Surprise Cloud Ball—Ball Dragon!"
White cloud spheres strung together formed a monstrous dragon-headed chain. Its gaping maw howled as it lunged toward Sanji.
Sanji's eyes flickered. He saw the blades, the gunpowder, every deadly detail hidden within. With a casual sidestep, he avoided it.
"What?! How did you know?" Satori shouted in shock.
"Observation Haki," Sanji said, a smirk curling as he flicked away his cigarette butt. "Thanks, dumpling. You helped me master it."
"Dumpling?!" Satori shrieked, his face twisting. He yanked the dragon chain around, roaring, "Die!"
But Sanji was already above him, hands grasping the nearly invisible rope that controlled the beast. His grin was devilish.
"Once you lose control, your weapon turns against you."
"No—let go! Stop that!" Satori panicked, tugging helplessly.
Sanji snapped the rope. In an instant, the chain dragon veered back, rushing straight at its master.
Satori's Mantra faltered, overwhelmed by fear. "Stay back! If it hits me, you'll die too!"
"Guess I'll take that chance." Sanji's voice cut like a blade.
Boom!
The explosion rocked the forest. Fire and smoke swallowed everything.
Coughing violently, Satori staggered out, his robes burned, his body covered in soot. "I-I almost died… His willpower… terrifying. My Mantra failed me at the worst moment."
A voice drifted down. "That's because Observation Haki requires calm. If your emotions falter, so does your foresight."
Satori's eyes shot upward. "What—?!"
Sanji crouched above him on a branch, completely unscathed. He dropped lightly, landing with a mocking smile.
"You lost focus. I didn't."
"Stop! You can't attack me! I'm Satori, a Priest of God Enel! To strike me is to challenge God Himself!"
Sanji spun midair, his leg igniting with power. His gaze hardened.
"God, huh? Then I'll deal with your god later. For now—Coarse Crush!"
His heel slammed down like an axe.
Satori collapsed.
---
Satori—defeated.
Black Leg Sanji—victorious.
Observation Haki—mastered.
---
"Wooaaah!" Luffy cheered when Sanji returned. His eyes sparkled with excitement. "Sanji! You really learned Observation Haki?!"
"Heh." Sanji tilted his head back, smug as ever. "Of course. No way I'd lose to a dumpling."
He arched a brow with pride. "What, there's still someone here who doesn't know Haki?"
Luffy and Usopp's faces soured. Together, they raised their middle fingers.
"Tch!"
____
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