Having changed locations, Sanji re-engaged Mr. 5 on a different street.
He had heard about Mr. 5's abilities: the Bomb-Bomb Fruit user, a bomb-human. Apparently, he was a formidable individual who could turn his own body, or even his boogers and breath, into bombs. Due to the nature of his ability, he inevitably drew attention, making him more adept at demolition than assassination. Mr. 5 himself was calm and ruthless, never letting his guard down or misjudging an enemy's strength. The fact that he held the rank of "5" was a testament to his considerable power.
While his ability was certainly troublesome, Sanji held the advantage in terms of pure fighting skill. At least, that was the correct assessment based on the information Kiri had provided. However, Sanji himself had already prepared for the fact that winning without injury would likely be impossible.
Sanji put a fresh cigarette in his mouth and lit it. Mr. 5, his hands still in his pockets, watched him without making a move.
"You seem to know about me. To come at me head-on despite that, do you have a plan, or are you just a complete idiot?"
"Wanna know which one? I could tell you."
"No need. You're not the only ones with intel on the enemy."
Sanji exhaled smoke with a sigh. Mr. 5, still wary, took his hands out of his pockets.
"You never know who's listening in this world. You should be more careful from now on. Especially those who transform into giant eagles."
"An eagle…?"
"It just means the members he knows aren't the only ones here."
Even after hearing that, Sanji didn't elaborate. Things might be going wrong in many places. But he had no intention of going to help. Kiri would somehow manage on her own. In that case, he just needed to focus on defeating his own enemy.
"You don't have time to worry about your comrades. You'll be dead soon too."
"Heh, I wasn't worried from the start. Idiots don't die that easily."
"Words are cheap, though."
With that, Mr. 5 deliberately stuck a finger up his nose and began to pick it.
"Just as I heard, what a crude bastard. If you're going to fight like that, you're an idiot too."
"Then I guess I don't have to worry about dying."
"Ah, yes, that's true. But dying and losing are two different things, aren't they?"
"Whether you can truly win… you'll have to try and see."
Having picked his nose, he rolled the booger into a ball with his fingertip. Sanji, visibly grimacing, made no move to stop him. Annoyed but unmoving, he watched Mr. 5 prepare, showing no sign of haste. Eventually, Mr. 5 finished his preparation, extended his right arm, and prepared to flick the booger.
"It'll be over in an instant. I'll shatter you. Nose Fancy Cannon!"
He flicked it with his finger, sending the booger flying. Sanji watched it come straight at him, then calmly ducked and dashed forward. He dodged the incoming booger by sliding underneath it. Immediately after it passed him, it exploded without making contact with anything, but it didn't reach Sanji. Only the blast propelled him forward, increasing his speed as he closed in on Mr. 5.
"What—?!"
"I told you, I've heard about you!"
"Tch…!"
Mr. 5 instinctively braced himself. Sanji, rapidly approaching, was thinking furiously. Mr. 5 was a full-body bomb-human. Just touching his body would cause an explosion, making it an excellent ability for both offense and defense. Moreover, he could handle both close-quarters combat and long-range fighting. If Sanji's kick connected, Mr. 5 would explode, damaging Sanji in return. Or so one would normally think.
Sanji, possessing intel on his enemy, thought calmly. He watched Mr. 5 quickly adopt a defensive stance, and his waiting posture confirmed Sanji's suspicions.
(An ability to explode anywhere on his body. But it needs a trigger. An external impact, and his own will…!)
He raised his right leg, moving to kick Mr. 5's head. In response to this movement, Mr. 5 took a defensive posture. Just as Sanji expected. He apparently intended to explode the part of his body that received impact—his arms or legs, even in a defensive stance—to damage Sanji's connecting foot.
The raised leg stopped abruptly before fully extending, and Mr. 5's expression changed. A feint. Immediately followed by a sharp kick. Sanji rotated on his left leg and delivered a powerful Mutton Shot to Mr. 5's stomach.
"Mutton—"
"O-oohh…!?"
"Shot!!"
Several kicks in an instant. Mr. 5, struck heavily in the abdomen, was sent flying and tumbled across the ground. He was so surprised that he couldn't even break his fall, looking utterly clumsy. No explosion. Sanji's right leg was fine. Sanji was certain at this point.
Seeing Mr. 5 quickly get up, Sanji continued to approach. Having just regained his posture, Mr. 5 had no time to pick his nose. He probably thought he should break through with hand-to-hand combat. Mr. 5 also considered responding with a kick.
If he made contact, he could explode. His pure attack power should be superior. Mr. 5 raised his right leg and attacked first.
"Kicky Bomb!"
He instinctively aimed for the head, but Sanji quickly ducked and dodged. Sanji rushed into his guard, a clear opening. Feigning a strike to the exposed stomach, he delivered a kick to Mr. 5's pivot leg after a small feint.
"Jigoro!"
"Gyaah!?"
His supporting pivot leg swept away, Mr. 5 fell clumsily. Moreover, Sanji was preparing his next attack at close range, giving Mr. 5 no time to regain composure. Kicking off the ground lightly, Sanji jumped. His right leg was raised towards the sky, while his left remained pointed at the ground. Spinning in that posture, he descended, aiming to stomp on Mr. 5's head.
"Brochette!!"
"Woooah!?"
There was no longer any thought of blocking and detonating; Mr. 5 frantically rolled to evade. He put some distance between them, stood up, and confronted Sanji anew. Sanji wore a confident smirk, clearly having the upper hand.
"I see. I pretty much understand your ability now."
"Tch, damn it…!"
"You can explode anywhere on your body if the conditions are met. But that's only if you make the judgment. If I kick fast enough for you not to react, you can't explode, and the damage goes through."
Devil Fruit abilities came in many varieties. Paramecia-type abilities, which constantly altered one's body, were often strange, and thus difficult to master.
While it might be different if the body changed to the properties of rubber or paper, Mr. 5's body was a bomb. To detonate, a trigger was always necessary. One was an impact, primarily a strike, and the other was the user's own will to detonate. Precisely because he sought to use his ability skillfully, these conditions existed to suppress unnecessary explosions. If he didn't intend to explode, and then exploded anyway, it would cause unnecessary harm to himself and his surroundings. Becoming a professional assassin would be a distant dream.
His ability had conditions. It was excellent in both offense and defense, but by no means omnipotent. So, if he could unleash attacks with speed that surpassed even Mr. 5's judgment… To defend himself, he shouldn't retreat, but continue to attack. Sanji found a winning chance and smiled. In contrast, Mr. 5 showed a hint of impatience.
"Devil Fruit users aren't invincible, it seems. If you were just constantly exploding, I'd be in trouble, but it looks like beating you won't be that hard."
"Hmph… Don't get ahead of yourself. This isn't all my power."
"Then hurry up and show it. It'll be over soon."
"Such insolence…"
Mr. 5, a deep furrow in his brow, reached into his jacket. He pulled out a suspiciously gleaming silver revolver. This was his ultimate technique, his specialty, an ability that had always ensured his targets were eliminated.
Naturally, Sanji had obtained this information from Kiri and judged that even greater caution was required. He stopped his taunts, his expression tightening slightly as he stared at Mr. 5.
"This is a new model from the South Blue, a flintlock .44 caliber six-shot revolver. You must already know, right? This is my specialty."
"Who's the insolent one now? Just come at me, already."
"I'll make you regret it. Don't think you'll die easily."
Mr. 5 opened the cylinder and blew into the empty chambers. A bomb-human's exhaled breath could even turn into a bomb. Closing the cylinder, Mr. 5 aimed his gun. By this time, Sanji had approached a crumbling house and was looking down at pieces of fallen wall on the ground.
"Breeze Breath Bomb!"
"Ora!"
He pulled the trigger, releasing an invisible bullet: the "exploding breath." While Sanji couldn't visually track when it would make contact, he didn't hesitate to kick a pebble on the ground. The two collided instantly, exploding between them. The pebble was shattered, but the invisible attack didn't reach Sanji.
Just as he thought, Mr. 5 revealed his irritation. This enemy knew him. He was here with knowledge of his fighting style, his weaknesses, and much more. Kiri had undoubtedly told him.
The "Breeze Breath Bomb," an attack whose trajectory no one could see, would be impossible for a first-time opponent to avoid, and difficult to avoid even after seeing it several times. If it connected, it would cause a massive explosion, with enough destructive power to knock someone unconscious with a single hit. Normally, it would be difficult to counter. But for someone who knew the mechanism, it was actually not hard to stop.
Mr. 5's attack detonated the moment it made contact with something. The countermeasure was simply to hit it with something else before it struck the target. Besides Mr. 5's pair, only one person knew this—Kiri, who knew his ability.
"Even if I can't see it, I can tell the trajectory of the attack from the direction of the barrel. If I hit something against it, it'll explode before it reaches me. Right?"
"You understand well enough… But don't think you've figured me out with just that."
"Whatever you do now, it won't change much."
"We'll see."
Mr. 5 began to pick his nose again. Gun in his right hand, booger in his left. Having quickly prepared his attack, he deliberately took a step back to create distance.
"Originally, due to the nature of my ability, I'm better at demolition than assassination. Meaning, the flashier I make it, the stronger I become."
"Ohh…"
"Being 'invisible' is more troublesome than you think. Nose Fancy Cannon!"
The flicked booger landed exactly as intended, between them. It caused a large explosion on the ground, kicking up earth and scattering dust, creating a makeshift smoke screen between the two. In such a situation, their actions would naturally be decided. Mr. 5 quickly aimed his gun and pulled the trigger, and Sanji again kicked a piece of rubble forward.
Both collided. A massive explosion erupted. The power was incomparable to a mere booger. If it hit, it wouldn't be just a serious injury.
A revolver could hold six rounds. He squeezed the trigger repeatedly, this time firing two shots in succession. Piercing through the rising dust, the invisible blasts flew straight forward. Indeed, in a dusty area, the trajectory might be easier to predict. But even so, the advantage of the bullets themselves being invisible should remain.
The swirling dust made it difficult to see, but two explosions sounded. Something had definitely been struck. The crucial question was whether it was Sanji or not, and Mr. 5 remained vigilant. To move forward now would be foolish. If the enemy was unharmed, they would undoubtedly want to close the distance. Therefore, without being afraid, Mr. 5 deliberately stepped back. He seemed to want to thwart the enemy's aim while maintaining his most advantageous fighting position.
He stared intently at the obscured path ahead, stopping his feet to wait for a moment. Once the afterglow of the explosion faded, he would be able to gauge the situation somewhat. Mr. 5 held his gun steady, his feet planted. A waiting stance was unlike him, but he had no choice.
(If he's alive, he should be coming this way. Now, what will he do?)
As he waited, vigilant of his surroundings, he sensed the enemy's movement before the smoke cleared. A sound came from his left, from inside a ruined house. Mr. 5 reacted quickly, pointing his gun in that direction and instinctively jumping backward while firing.
"Breeze Breath Bomb!"
It reached its target immediately after being fired. The massive explosion blew off the upper half of the house, shattering it and scattering rubble. The inside of the house was now visible, but Sanji was nowhere to be seen. That sound was a decoy. Was he hiding here, or somewhere else? Mr. 5 hesitated, realizing that the enemy's assault had begun and that he wouldn't have time to reload. He kept his vision wide, ready for an attack from anywhere, a slight impatience churning within him.
The tension of defeat with one misread move. Having taken a kick earlier, he knew he couldn't afford to take many more. If it was an explosion-based ability, one hit. One hit would make it easy to win.
(One shot left. Is he coming for the kill here…?)
As Mr. 5 looked at the destroyed house, Sanji burst through the thinning dust. Surprised by the sudden appearance, Mr. 5 reflexively pointed his gun at Sanji without much thought. Sanji, however, did not stop; instead, he increased his speed, charging forward. His unwavering determination was enough to instill fear.
Barely able to react, Mr. 5 pulled the trigger, aiming at Sanji. Victory if it hit. Just as he released the bullet with that thought, Sanji spit out the cigarette he had been holding in his mouth.
The invisible bullet and the cigarette collided, causing a massive explosion. Mr. 5, who wouldn't take damage from the explosion, nearly lost his footing from the blast and desperately held his ground. Sanji, on the other hand, crossed his arms in front of his face and deliberately dashed forward, prepared to take damage. As a result, the distance between the two closed rapidly. Sanji, emerging through the flames of the explosion, lunged at Mr. 5 and brought his leg down on the startled opponent.
"Got you, you bastard!"
"Bugh!?"
The right leg, brought down simultaneously with his descent, kicked Mr. 5's jaw. Unable to endure it, he slid across the ground, tumbling with damage so severe he almost dropped his gun. But Sanji didn't stop his attack; he charged further. He pursued Mr. 5, who was desperately trying to get his upper body up.
"Troisième Haché!!"
"Woooah!?"
Leaping like a dropkick, he delivered a rapid succession of kicks with both feet. Stabbing into his face, torso, and anywhere he could, Mr. 5's body couldn't withstand it and he tumbled to the ground again.
If a decisive blow was to be struck, it had to be now. If he allowed Mr. 5 to create distance again, he would be at a disadvantage. Thinking this, Sanji tried to rush Mr. 5 to deliver the finishing blow. But at that moment, he had a bad feeling. Mr. 5, who had fallen on his back, seemed to tense his entire body.
"Gah, ghaff… Damn it. I'll shatter everything…!"
"Tch, so that's it—!"
"With Full Body Detonation, let everything vanish!"
Sanji, having anticipated his move, wasted no time and began to run, trying to put distance between them. Immediately after, Mr. 5's entire body glowed intensely, causing an unprecedentedly massive explosion. The blast, reaching several tens of meters in scale, obliterated the surrounding building debris, and a tremendous shockwave blew away everything. Sanji too, couldn't withstand it.
Blown back, Sanji tumbled violently across the ground, desperately trying to brace himself with his feet. Exposed to the fierce winds, his eyes still tried to peer towards Mr. 5, who was at the epicenter of the explosion. As the flames subsided, a figure swayed and stood up. It was indeed Mr. 5.
His offensive power was truly vicious. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the ultimate technique of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit. But it was also a fact that it had limitations.
("Full Body Detonation" is a powerful technique, but it comes with risks—)
Sanji dashed forward. If he had to face it a second time, he didn't know if he could avoid it. If he was going to finish this, it had to be now.
(Immediately after exploding, he can't use any abilities for five seconds…!)
Kicking off the ground with powerful legs, he leaped forward, advancing rapidly. Mr. 5's figure grew closer and closer; he stood there, looking distressed.
"Hah, are you betting on these five seconds…?"
"If you don't have your abilities, you're not scary!"
Just five seconds. But Sanji's movements were fast. He quickly closed in and attacked Mr. 5. Already damaged, Mr. 5 couldn't react, and even trying to defend was too late; he took the hits. The physical ability gap seemed too large.
"Collier!"
"Guhah!?"
Kicking him in the side of the head, Mr. 5 collapsed violently. Next, Sanji brought his right leg down.
"Epaule!"
"Guoooh!?"
With the descending kick, Mr. 5's body was slammed into the ground, bouncing and springing up.
"Côtelette! Selle! Poitrine! Gigot!"
"Guh, oh, ooohh…!?"
In just a few seconds, he delivered kick after kick. As Mr. 5 visibly lost his composure, Sanji, who was attacking, also began to lose his. There was no more time. Mr. 5 didn't fall, and despite spitting blood, tried to continue fighting. Knowing he had no chance in a brawling match, he focused solely on defense. He realized he had already survived the five seconds.
Thinking there was finally a risk of a counterattack, Sanji still continued his assault. If he retreated now, it would play right into his opponent's hands. No, a decisive conclusion was needed now.
"Ghaff… Now, five seconds have passed…"
"Ooooh! Mutton Shot!"
"Kicky Bomb!"
Both their kicks clashed head-on, causing a small but intense explosion. Sanji's right leg was exposed to the blast and damaged; his pant leg tore at the shin, and blood spurted out. But in terms of the impact of the kick alone, Mr. 5 took a greater hit, collapsing with pain in his leg. Both had taken damage. But the difference was significant.
"Damn it, what a stubborn bastard!"
"Hah, same to you…!"
Leaping at the fallen Mr. 5, Sanji delivered a heel drop. But Mr. 5 rolled on the ground to avoid it, and Sanji's leg slammed hard against the earth. Rolling to escape, Mr. 5 reloaded his revolver with his breath before he could get up.
Sanji saw that action. But now it was only a matter of who was faster. He kicked off the ground and swung his leg up. As he approached, Mr. 5 aimed his gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation. Sanji was already right in front of him, but Mr. 5 didn't care if he got caught in the blast; the invisible bullet hit Sanji. Both were caught in the explosion, but only Sanji took damage from it.
Sanji fell backward, while Mr. 5 rolled somewhat unfazed and immediately got up. The tables had turned. The tide was definitely shifting.
"Finally hit you! I'll finish you off with the next one!"
Mr. 5, having found his opportunity, approached Sanji. The finishing blow wouldn't be with the gun, but with the more reliable "Full Body Detonation." Damage must have accumulated from the "Kicky Bomb" and "Breeze Breath Bomb." Sanji no longer had room to escape. Rushing towards the fallen Sanji, Mr. 5 was intoxicated with the joy of victory.
"Die—!"
At that moment, Sanji's leg sprang up, along with his entire body, kicking Mr. 5 in the jaw. As if doing a handstand, he stood up calmly at the same time he kicked. Mr. 5, on the other hand, felt his vision waver from the kick to his jaw, and for some reason, the strength drained from his body.
"Gah, hah…!?"
"In short, I just have to prevent you from using your ability, right?"
"W-wait…!"
"I can't wait any longer—Trois Decoupage!!"
Three kicks delivered almost simultaneously to the neck, chest, and abdomen. Ignoring the pain in his right leg, Sanji's powerful attacks instantly robbed Mr. 5 of his consciousness, sending him headfirst into a pile of rubble. He remained motionless, and the battle finally came to a conclusion. Sanji exhaled deeply and put a cigarette he pulled from his pocket into his mouth.
Indeed, victory without a scratch hadn't been possible.
Battles against Devil Fruit users often meant that simple skill differences weren't enough to secure a victory.
Even if an opponent was weaker, their Devil Fruit ability could potentially overturn that gap. He had a burn on his right leg.
His entire body had been enveloped in an explosion once, and though his injuries weren't severe, his suit was in a terrible state.
His skin was grimy, and his hair was messy from tumbling. Sanji ran a hand through his hair, annoyed.
"Hah, I guess I should consider myself lucky to get off with just this much against a Bomb-Bomb user. It's chilling to think what would have happened without Kiri's information."
Saying that, he lit his cigarette and tried to confirm whether Mr. 5 was unconscious, just in case. He probably wasn't awake.
But if he got up and attacked other comrades, it would be disastrous. Just as Sanji was about to approach Mr. 5, who was half-buried in the rubble, he suddenly turned in an unexpected direction.
"Hah!? This feeling, could it be…!"
At that moment, Mr. 5 was already out of his mind. He ran off, apparently heading for a different location.
"A lady is calling me!"
With a sense of urgency, Sanji ran away. He hadn't heard anything or seen anything. It was, so to speak, an intuition.
Somewhere, a lady needed help. If he didn't go, who else could help her?
Whether the defeated Mr. 5 could move was apparently no longer a concern.
What if a lady got hurt while he was busy confirming such things, he thought desperately.
"Wooooahhh! Wait for me, I'm coming right now!"
Without a moment's rest, Sanji headed for his next battle.
It wasn't easy to know the state of the battle or how his other comrades were doing.
But even so, the fact that he was a knight protecting women seemed unchanged.
-------------------------------
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