Summer Island
"Finally! Treasure Battle finals~!"
Town-shaking cheers. Post-Ace-Sabo spectacle, doubts on thrill, but crowds eager. Players assembled.
"Luffy & Vivi, flawless teamwork leaders!"
Luffy stared ahead, deadly serious—Vivi uneasy.
"Or Ace & Kiri, led by fan-favorite!"
Kiri unsmiling, eyes locked on Luffy. Bandaged Ace arms-crossed, still.
"Spotlight final! Ready~…GO!!"
Straw Hats calm at port monitor—win assured, comrades either side. Sabo mystery later. Usopp, Nami, Silk, Chopper relieved; Zoro, Sanji stern.
"Eternal Pose secured. Alabasta next…" "No wasting energy—save for ahead. End quick for Vivi." "Yeah, Vivi worried." "They won't fight?" "Some, but not serious—" "Doubt it."
Zoro cut Nami: "Think they'll half-ass?" "For Kiri too—conserve." "Agree with mosshead. Kiri there? No easy end."
Rare unity silenced others. Serious? Crew eyed monitor intently.
Match started. Only Luffy, Kiri walked to central pedestal—crowd puzzled.
Casual pace, no rush—like no fight.
Hopped pedestal, faced over chest, serious but smiling faintly. First true face-off. No holds barred.
"Let's go." "Yeah, no mercy." "Sure."
Readied. Others unmoved. Hattari, crowd noticed—disappointment; wanted Ace, not underdog Kiri. Boos erupted.
"Luffy vs. Kiri one-on-one, like semis!? Others idle! Captain-vice-captain settle!" "Bullshit! Paper guy useless!" "Bring Ace!" "Kids out!"
Ignored. Kiri closed eyes, relaxed, shifted mindset. Aura changed palpably. Luffy serious.
(Limited paper… not much. But enough.)
Eyes opened; paper flakes emerged, dancing.
Holstered under clothes, body-attached. Scattered, under control.
Flapped into double-edged swords, hardened—rubber-effective. Eyes sharp; no fix. Full effort. Luffy fist ready.
Jumped lightly—unnatural float. Repeated, preparing.
"Kiri dancing jumps!? What's coming!?"
Landed silent, dashed straight, vaulted chest to Luffy. Arms wide, spun tornado-like, swords slashing. Luffy leaped back off pedestal.
Kiri pursued from height.
Strength: overwhelming lightness. Paper body light; ability manipulates. Skin/muscle/organs paper—lighter, but harmful long-term. Double-edged.
For Luffy win, maximized speed/lightness. One kick—blinding distance.
Luffy ducked spinning swords; jumped second. Kiri followed higher, slashing mid-air—forcing twists.
"Gum-Gum…!"
Experienced; read attacks. Barely dodged, sought counter. Falling, Luffy back-first, Kiri above—stretched arms.
"Gatling!"
Rapid punches. Familiarity dodged both ways.
Face punch—Kiri's face flattened paper-thin, fist passed. Body paper, slipped through. Hard to hit willful paper.
Landed untouched. Luffy backflipped; Kiri landed, reformed. Luffy charged—mutual understanding prolonged.
"Gum-Gum…!"
Luffy acts instinct; Kiri observed more, predicted.
"Whip!"
Arcing kick. Kiri forward, ducked low—ankle-waist paper. Missed; Kiri launched spinning bullet-like.
Luffy retracted leg, barely jumped. Rolled shoulder; Kiri handspring landed. Faced.
Breaths heavy. Luffy charged; instinct evaded Kiri's speed. Kiri predicted from watching.
Opposites: instinct vs. calculation. Equal skill—unpredictable.
Luffy ceased stretching—vulnerable extended. Close-quarters. Risky but sure.
Kiri wanted too—but jumped back, disrupt rhythm.
Luffy pursued instinctively—no hesitation, terrifying.
Kiri prepped; slashed head. Luffy ducked, stepped, fist ready. Kiri cross-slash shoulder. Luffy sidestepped.
Shirt/skin sliced—first blood. Kiri pressed.
Breaths; Luffy frustrated guard. Kiri dual slashes, maintained one-way range. Luffy evaded desperately.
"Gum-Gum…!"
Forced change: stretched skyward.
"Axe!"
Kiri backjumped; sand blast missed. Luffy charged again.
Kiri feinted left sword point. Released—spinning bullet. Luffy wide-eyed, twisted.
Gap—Kiri started, stopped. Luffy charged.
"Whew… tough." "Ooo! Gum-Gum—!" "Conduct Paper."
Rear sword disassembled, covered mouth/nose. Suffocation; Luffy halted shocked.
Kiri's turn: raised right sword.
Rubber no block blade. Luffy kicked sideways, clawed face futile—hardened seamless.
Kiri eased ability, reverted body—relief. Attacked.
Luffy noticed, leaped desperately—headfirst shallows. Water peeled paper; gasped.
"Pwah!? Close—thought dying!"
Sat waveside, deep breaths. Pause; Kiri chuckled.
"Intense!? No Ace-Sabo flash, but superhuman! True finals—dead even!"
Town erupted cheers—no boos; captivated quiet fury.
Kiri smiling, still: "Knew weakness. Not new pals." "Shishi. Paper hates water—bath alone, ruined plenty." "Yeah. Fix it, stronger." "Can't?" "Tried—no fruit." "Saved me."
Luffy stood, soaked—anti-paper. Shift incoming.
"Now wet, trouble. Here on." "Yeah. Change style." "Hm?" "Stay back."
Backjumped pedestal, recalled papers—formed attacks.
"Conduct Paper 'Three Beasts Symphony'"
Three puppets: wolf right, serpent left, bird above. Lifelike obedient. Spare papers floated.
Luffy eyes wide, excited.
"Awesome~ Convenient." "Trained. Weaknesses too." "Yeah."
Luffy crouched.
"Go!" "Anytime."
Luffy dashed; Kiri conducted. Wolf/serpent closed, bird watched.
Kicked wolf apart; spun-kicked serpent.
Bird dove, disassembled—paper rain. Luffy blank.
Planned: surrounded papers.
"Paper Sandstorm."
Spiral tornado engulfed Luffy—hardened slices. No escape.
Looked up: eye calm. Kiri dove through, spear ready.
Blades everywhere. Luffy instinct: counter, jumped.
"Gum-Gum… Rifle!"
Twist punch. Kiri spear-to-shield, hid. Fist pierced wet shield—but Kiri paper-slipped, reformed front, kicked.
Blown through storm—sliced all over, blood spray. Bounced ground. Vivi screamed.
"Gah, hurts…!?" "Luffy-san!" "Blood everywhere! Merciless—underestimated Kiri!"
Storm stopped; papers snow. Kiri stood floating sheet.
"Ate Pela-Pela Fruit: body paper. Now harden, float, control."
Body odd: one foot sheet, limbs flat, finger conduct. Serious/cold gaze.
"Trained by Crocodile—artificial 'awakening' experiment."
Former Velvet Pirates lacked this.
"Full serious."
Eyes iced.
(Note: Kiri near-awakening per old feedback—led here.)
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