It had to be said that Monkey D. Luffy, even when compared to Vice Admiral Momonga's rich life experiences, was truly one of a kind.
He didn't seek revenge for his older brother; he simply wanted to prove that he was better than him. And his goal was merely to set sail ahead of schedule...
This line of thinking was truly baffling!
Vice Admiral Momonga couldn't help but burst into laughter for a moment. However, in the face of Rowen's peculiar gaze, he quickly composed himself and sighed.
"This kid... truly fearless in his ignorance!"
Yet, the hint of a smile still lingered in his eyes.
Challenging Rowen? Even the renowned pirates of the New World wouldn't dare utter such words lightly. The reputation of the Red Dragon was built on the defeats of numerous well-known Great Characters. It wasn't earned through military merit and accumulated service.
Though the young lad before him was Garp's grandson and physically robust and agile, his steps were erratic, and his intent to attack was obvious. It was clear at a glance that he hadn't undergone systematic training. In fact, it was quite likely that his fighting style was directly learned from wild beasts.
Relying solely on this, he thought he could defeat Rowen. There wasn't the slightest chance.
Even if Rowen were bound with Seastone, it would still be impossible!
"A duel..."
It had been a long time since someone had been so audacious in front of him, and Rowen had almost forgotten when the last time someone challenged him was.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, forming an ambiguous smile. "Why?"
"Ah?!"
"I mean, why do you want to fight me?"
Rowen smiled faintly.
"If you beat me, it proves that you're better than Ace. But if I win, I gain nothing. Isn't that unfair?"
"This... You have a point!"
Luffy looked astonished at being reminded and burst into laughter.
"Well, mister... what do you want if you win?"
"It's simple, I want..."
"Their lives!"
Suddenly, a chill enveloped the small Windmill Village. Luffy turned around abruptly and saw that Mayor Slap, Makino, and others had somehow arrived, standing at a distance with bewildered expressions.
"Hey, mister, are you joking?"
Luffy's tone was solemn, and he keenly sensed that killing intent, a raw and naked intent that he had only felt from the wild beasts in the forest behind the mountain.
"I don't have time to joke with you... Ace was your Onii San. I can understand if you come to me for revenge after learning about what happened to him."
"But he was a pirate, and I am a Marine."
"I can't ignore a potential threat that wants to avenge pirates."
Rowen's voice turned cold, his tone cutting through Luffy's mind. Innocent people lived innocent lives, which could resonate with others, but it didn't mean that others were obligated to accept that innocence.
"Both you and your elder brother treated being a pirate like a game."
"If you're determined to become the Pirate King, have you prepared to bear all the consequences? Your family and your comrades could lose their lives because of your decision. They might even be innocent, but because of you, they became pirates."
"And between pirates and Marines, there's no joking..."
"There's only life or death!"
"So, are you still going to fight me?"
Vice Admiral Momonga knew Rowen wouldn't resort to killing Luffy, but Rowen's resolute tone still sent shivers down his spine.
He cruelly revealed the bloodshed behind the word "Pirate" and presented it to the young and naive Luffy. Perhaps this innocent lad was facing such uncompromising hostility, unrelated to right or wrong, for the first time. He seemed somewhat silent.
After a long while, Luffy spoke up.
"So, this is why that old man wants me to be a Marine? If I become a pirate, then in the future, Ace and I will be his enemies, right?"
Luffy's foolishness was evident in the details of his daily life. However, when faced with matters of great significance, he was even more astute than most.
"That's right!" Rowen nodded, calmly gazing at this familiar yet unfamiliar young figure before him.
"But this is a duel between us. Why involve everyone else?!" Luffy raised his head in anger, his straw hat shading his eyes, blocking his gaze.
"I'm challenging you, not them!!"
"Then if you want to kill someone, kill me instead! I won't allow you to harm the village chief, Makino, or Uncle Henry..."
Luffy firmly spoke these innocent and absurd words, but Rowen couldn't help but feel a sense of seriousness.
This was the Luffy he knew!
The one who had shown him the freedom and joy of the sea, bringing hope and light into his darkest times.
Monkey D. Luffy!
"Very well, let me do something for you..."
Rowen sighed inwardly.
He was still too immature!
The Luffy of today was still just a child, unable to bear the expectations and destinies of others. He simply acted on his impulses, without delving into the possible consequences.
"A pirate who disregards rules as freedom... and you're talking to me about rules?"
"If you find me annoying, then you're absolutely right because you will undoubtedly grow up to be the person you currently despise."
Rowen taunted him, a slight smirk on his lips.
Vice Admiral Momonga seemed to sense something and glanced at him but remained silent.
This time, Luffy's silence lasted longer than usual, to the point where it didn't fit his usual persona.
After a long while, he raised his head, his eyes filled with anger.
"Indeed, I still despise you!"
"Then, let's go!"
Rowen sneered, raising his hand.
Boom!
As soon as he spoke, Luffy pushed his legs hard against the ground, propelling himself forward like a spring, launching himself at Rowen like a cannonball.
"Gum-Gum Fruit does have its merits."
Vice Admiral Momonga's eyes flashed with understanding. He was quite sure of Luffy's current Doriki level. However, with the elasticity provided by the Gum-Gum Fruit, Luffy's speed rivaled that of an ordinary Rokushiki practitioner.
Luffy was almost upon him, but his right hand remained in place. Using the rubbery stretchiness of his arm, Luffy extended it and then, with a sudden snapback, released a bursting punch akin to a Sound Explosion.
Gomu-Gomu No... Pistol!
Swoosh!
The expected impact did not occur. Rowen merely tilted his head slightly, and Luffy's punch, with the speed of a bullet, whizzed past him.
Luffy was taken aback and tried to kick upwards, but at this moment, Rowen advanced instead of retreating. He moved forward to evade the attack, and with his outstretched palm and robust frame blocking the moonlight, he ruthlessly pressed down on Luffy.
Gomu-Gomu no Fusen (Ballon)!
In this critical moment, Luffy's innate sixth sense prompted him to make the right decision. He took a deep breath, and his belly comically inflated to a diameter of over a meter. As Rowen's palm pressed down, his arm sunk into the rubbery muscles and fat.
Thud!
Just like popping a balloon, under the tremendous force, Luffy was slammed into the street and then bounced back in the opposite direction.
"Ugh... Whoa!"
His mouth wide open, he sprayed out a mixture of air and blood.
Rowen hadn't used Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki); he simply concentrated the force into a single point as he pressed down, piercing through Luffy's abdominal area. If it weren't for the Gum-Gum Fruit transforming all of his internal organs and blood vessels into rubber, this single strike would have reduced him to a pulp.
"Too slow!"
In a flash, Rowen appeared above the rebounding Luffy, and his steel-pillar-like right leg whirled around in mid-air. It landed heavily on Luffy's inflated belly.
Thud...!
A series of deflating balloon sounds echoed as Luffy, suspended in mid-air, uncontrollably twitched. His eyeballs rolled back as he crashed onto the street.
"Rowen, that's enough!" Vice Admiral Momonga spoke sternly. After all, Luffy was Garp's grandson, and if things went too far, it would be hard to explain.
"Don't worry, I haven't even used one-tenth of my strength."
Rowen knew what Vice Admiral Momonga was concerned about; otherwise, he would have used Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) from the start.
As expected, as the words fell, a figure suddenly shot out of the spider-web-like crater. His eyes were filled with surprise, anger, and frustration.
"Rowen? Are you the Rowen that old fart keeps mentioning?!"
"Now I dislike you even more, you asshole!"
Faced with Luffy's sudden surge of determination, Rowen looked bewildered.
(End of this chapter)