Papers flutter down, float up—all obey Kiri's will. He rides them, standing mid-air. A breathtaking, fantastical sight.
Luffy grins suddenly. Kiri, surprised, pouts.
"Why laugh? Ruined my serious moment."
"Heh, happy. My crew's reliable."
"Glad, but that was pose time."
"Sorry."
Luffy slaps cheeks, serious again; Kiri chuckles.
"You laughed too."
"You're dutiful."
"You said stop."
"Sorry, won't again."
"You're selfish."
"Can't say that to me."
Atmosphere relaxed. Luffy bleeds everywhere, unbothered, no anger at Kiri. Grinning happily.
Kiri drops serious face, back to lax. Still fighting for real.
Vivi watches own side, incredulous. Luffy's soaked red, wounds shallow but whole body. Why hurt comrades so? Laugh mid-battle, no hate. Incomprehensible.
Ace arms crossed, silent, serious eyes on them. Understands the need?
"Alright, continue?"
"Yeah, vibe changed."
"Hm?"
"No tension?"
"Guess... fine."
"Add conditions?"
"Fun. Like?"
"If I lose, no meat awhile."
"What!?"
"Your food bill hurts most. Less quantity helps."
"No way, Kiri! Meat powers me!"
"Win, eat till sick. Motivated?"
"Yeah! Won't lose!"
"Good. But worry for you."
Kiri smiles happily at simpleton. Luffy carefree: "Fine. Leave hard stuff to you. I protect crew, you handle rest."
"Sigh... worth the trouble."
Kiri descends. Limbs thicken from flat. Papers gather, form halberd (axe-spear), giant scythe. Puppets: birds, wolves appear.
Tactics shift; smiling Kiri, belligerent Luffy grins.
"Ready?"
"Go!"
Luffy charges straight. Weapons swing; battle resumes.
Not flashy as Ace-Sabo. No terrain change; Devil Fruit limits. Empty field: pure combat showdown.
Close comrades. Attacks, defenses, dodges show confidence, ease, slight surprise. Back-and-forth, even strength.
Dead serious. Discard friendship temp; kill intent.
Port viewers: Straw Hats shocked variously. Why so far? First met best friends hurting bad. Not one-sided; Luffy adapts, lands hits. Kiri accepts without anger/sadness, counters.
What drives them? Unimaginable to outsiders.
Usopp frantic: "Serious... unnecessary. Finals, prize either way. Why now?"
"That's why."
"Eh?"
Sanji exhales smoke, cold eyes, suppressed emotion. Serious.
"Prize sets next destination: settle Baroque Works."
"So no injuries now!"
"Not for him."
"Kiri, yeah."
Usopp glances monitor. Luffy seawater-soaked, dodges weapons/puppets, takes damage but reaches Kiri. Short arm to chest. Kiri coughs blood, counters.
"Baroque terrifying to Kiri. Fought giants, threatened Arlong—all for power against them. Huge in his mind."
"Shichibukai..."
"Crocodile saved him."
"Left org, ties linger..."
Usopp, Silk, Nami darken. Chopper, curious despite briefing, asks Igaram: "Crocodile strong?"
"Yes... Shichibukai. Govt-recognized strength/fame. Saw him crush pirates... unimaginable beating him."
"Luffy fighting that..."
Chopper senses: formidable foe, facing head-on. Still can't grasp their seriousness.
Kiri's weapon slashes Luffy's shoulder, blood sprays. Wet papers peel, useless. Luffy kicks side, weird crack, sends flying.
Luffy pursues; Kiri recovers, clash again.
Brutal. Breathes taken. Acquaintances unsettled: Silk/Nami pained, Usopp/Chopper shaken. Even Hatchan, Camie, Arlong moved.
Sanji calm: "Reasons theirs alone. We watch only."
"Yeah... but normal?"
"Not playing pirates. Can't be normal."
Usopp nods, arms crossed. Luffy always serious. No whimsy. Decided duel.
Watches calmly.
Luffy forehead nicked, kicks Kiri gut. Luffy speeding. Unpredictable winner.
Zoro mutters: "Won't last long."
"Hm?"
"Match. Why think he slacks?"
"Kiri, personality."
"Can't deny."
Serious Zoro puzzles others.
"Weakness."
"Water—can't walk wet."
"Yeah. But humans need water. Unavoidable. Why rarely moves?"
"Mean?"
Zoro eyes monitor: "Sweat. Even drunk water affects. Self-sweat = wet."
"True..."
"More sweat, weaker?"
"Likely right."
Silk nods. Kiri lazy, brain role excuse, crew used to it. If reason, Luffy edge.
Tension rises.
"Now close-range, quick end. Luffy's range."
"Prolong bad."
"Won't last. Can't tell winner."
Sanji agrees; Usopp frowns.
Silk murmurs sadly: "But... win or lose, back to normal?"
No answer. Assumed yes, no guarantee. Watch only.
Constant motion, bodies heat, sweat inevitable.
Zoro right. Sweat wets skin, external effect strong. Internal water/blood adapted—no weakness. Always external: drink, wet skin, sweat.
Alabasta heat-tolerant, but sweat essential.
Desperate fight, sweat profuse, Luffy adapts, gap widens.
Luffy instinctual, learns mid-fight. Kiri plans, info-based, ultra-short decisives.
Opposites, equal strength create stalemate. Zoro missed Kiri ditching thought, going berserk like Luffy.
Crowd/crew breathless. Finals exceed hour.
Bored spectators pale at ability. 10 min hype. 20 peak. 30 murmurs length. 40 silent. 50 awe. Hour: cheers, praise—Treasure Battle peaks beyond purpose.
"Amazing! This is it! Cheers pour!"
Kiri sweats torrents, droplets scatter. Luffy seawater-doused, drips.
No strategy: pure victory drive.
"Either wins fine! Tears blur—wrong as announcer, but go both!"
Deaf to Hattari, end nears. Luffy initiates: arms back, step forward, fierce strike.
"Rubber Rubber...!"
Kiri pants, legs shake weak. No mercy—arms thrust.
"...Bazooka!"
Kiri flattens to paper, crawls ground, dodges. Arms overhead, retract.
Gap: Kiri reforms, right arm white layered hardened papers, fingers spread at Luffy face.
"Paper Thrust...!"
All-out final. But gritted Luffy kicks up from below, misaims, exposes Kiri brief.
Unpredicted; stunned seconds.
Luffy retracts arms—momentum too much, no hands—head back.
Gritted, fearless, yanks full force at Kiri.
"Rubber Rubber——!"
Kiri sees, body unresponsive, undefendable. Limit?
Head rockets, light Kiri blasts away.
"...Bell!!"
Massive crack—foreheads collide. Shock surges; Kiri bounces ground, past Luffy, over 10m instant, headfirst shallow sea.
Water envelops, power gone. Sweat already over limit. Limp, still.
Eyes shut, mouth clamped—death thought. Breath chaos, eternity feel.
Shoulder grabbed, yanked up—breathes again.
Blurred eyes: Luffy's usual grin.
Body limp on him, Kiri bitter smile.
"Strong, huh?"
"Haa... yeah. Troublesome guy."
Luffy kneels, Kiri half-sits leaned, cool seawater soothing hot body. Deep exhale.
Loves sea anew. Terror for fruits, but not hate.
Waves to chest, horizon gaze. Sea vast, unchanging—heart's anchor.
"Hey, Luffy."
"Hm?"
Lips hesitate. Hattari yells grateful, unheard. Exhausted, relaxed. Eyes close, satisfied smile sure.
"Lost... Luffy's amazing."
"Heh."
Luffy bleeds everywhere, seawater stings, but supports, unmoving. Refreshing peace.
When last this serious? Observe, plan, deceive, short wins—survival.
Luffy-pulled, mindless frenzy. Explains odd feel—gets him.
Overthought. Pirates love freedom. Effort yes, fun too.
Breath steady. Leans more on Luffy. Worried too much lately.
"Phew... wiped. No strength."
"You strong. No sea, I'd lose."
"Sorry, bleeding bad."
"Fine. You spat blood."
"Mouth cut."
"Whole body."
"Sting?"
"Yeah, bad."
"Out then."
"You looked comfy."
"Feels good."
"Hate baths?"
"Hot."
"Dunno. Love sea."
Luffy stands, lifts under arms to beach. Kiri can't stand—piggyback. Limp, head down.
"Tired~"
"Hey, me too. Unfair."
"Weakness—can't move."
"Hm, my weakness?"
"Blades?"
"True, slashed lots."
"But walking."
"Yeah."
Post-battle banter. Vivi giggles. No worry—they're them. Same as ship antics.
Ace at pedestal: "We lost. Take treasure, end."
"Ah, sure?"
"My business done. Their call."
"Yeah. Carue, go."
"Quack."
Luffy/Kiri chatter irrelevant; smiling Vivi with Carue to chest.
Climbs pedestal, about to carry:
"Long Treasure Battle ends! Vivi takes chest, recovery ship—Luffy & Vivi champs——!"
"Hattari-saaan! Emergency~!"
Interrupt yell echoes from Bluesquare.
Hattari turns townward—invisible, likely Blueberry Times staff. Familiar panicked voice.
"Navy fleet approaching offshore~! Heading town~!"
"Huh!?"
"Comm refused~! Disaster~!"
Heard island-wide. Pirates, underworld, royalty, nobles panic at Navy. Town chaos—no care for results.
-------------------------------
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