Chapter 26 - Escape

LogueTown

"What a heavy storm" Zoro commented as he looked at the sky.

"They're still following us, should we stop and fight them?" Luffy asked as he looked behind him.

"That sounds fun" Kaito answered with a smirk.

"No, we can't waste any more time here" Sanji refuted them.

As the four of them kept running away towards their ship, they happen to see a young woman in front of them as she shouted Zoro's name.

Tashigi shouted in anger as she rambles about tricking her and not forgiving him.

"What have you done to that lady?" Sanji shouted at Zoro in anger.

"I will take Wadoichi from you" Tashigi said as she unsheathed her blade.

"Try it if you can" Zoro stated as he smirked and unsheathed his blades.

The both of them dashed as they clashed their swords and slashed several times at each other.

Clang~ Clang~

"You guys go first" Zoro said as he ready up for another round with her.

The three of them ran as Kaito hold back Sanji from beating up Zoro due to him thinking of hurting a lady.

While they were worried for Zoro, they noticed that a man was blocking their path with a bike on his side.

"You have come, Luffy" the muscular man said with two cigarettes from his mouth.

"I am Smoker, the captain of the Loguetown marine main base" Smoker added as he stared at Luffy intently.

"This one's mine" Kaito stated as he dashed and threw several [Sharp Card] at him.

Whish~ Whish~

They gasped in surprise when they saw the cards pass through his body as Smoker's body turned into smoke.

'He's a logia type' Kaito thought with a grave look.

Smoker launched an attack as both of his hands extended into smoke and punched towards us.

The three of them jumped away from the attack as it missed and grasped no one.

'Think... think, what can I do to damage him?' Kaito thought as he tried thinking if he had any cards that could hurt or at least hold him back.

As he was thinking of ideas, Smoker managed to grasp Luffy as Sanji kicked Smoker's face but his leg phases through him.

"Gomu gomu... bullet punch" Luffy stated as he stretched his hand and punched Smoker's face but it still had the same result as Sanji's kick.

Smoker questioned whether he was really strong as the rumors say as he grabbed his head and slammed it on the ground.

Smoker was about to attack him with his jitte when he saw from the corner of his eyes Kaito throwing several cards at him as he scoffed at it.

The cards landed beside Smoker as it exploded making Smoker push away from Luffy, he looked a bit surprised that he was actually hurt even if it was only a tiny wound.

Kaito used that chance to grab Luffy's collar as he carried him and ran away with Sanji as Zoro came in behind them.

"Tch... I let my guard down" Smoker said as he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Smoker was about to hop into his bike to chase the straw hats when he was grabbed by someone from his shoulder.

"You!!" Smoker exclaimed as he looked at the person behind him.

He saw as the one who grabbed him had a tattoo on the left side of his face with a black cloak that hides his entire body.

"The government is looking for you!" Smoker stated with a serious look.

The cloaked man smirked as he launched an attack towards him and the other marines as they flew back away.

HAHAHAHAHA~

"GO... IT IS YOUR DESTINY!!" the cloaked man shouted as he formed a big smile and laughed when he looked at Luffy and his crew.

...

At the harbor

"We are back, Nami-san" Sanji shouted in delight when he saw her.

"Hurry up! we have to go now!" Nami shouted back in agitation.

Luffy nodded as he stretched his hands like a slingshot as he aimed at the ship with Zoro, Sanji and Kaito in front of him.

"W-Wait" Sanji said in alarm.

"I have a bad feeling..." Zoro said as sweats dropped down on his head like bullets.

"H-Hold up... I think there is a better way to do this" Kaito stated in a panicked tone.

"Gomu gomu... rocket" Luffy shouted.

Whoosh~

Luffy smiled as he slingshot towards the three of them as they flew and crashed into the ship's sail.

Thud~

"Everyone... are you all right?" Nami asked worriedly.

"I swear I'll chop him up someday" Zoro stated with an infuriated look as he stood up weakly.

"Ugh... I think I broke my back" Kaito said as he rubbed his back.

"Damn..." Sanji cursed as he glared at Luffy.

"Hahahaha... let's do that again!" Luffy said as he smiled and laughed in amusement.

Bonk~

The three of them punched Luffy's head as he laid down on the floor with a huge bump on his face.

"Look at that light!" Usopp exclaimed as he saw a beam of light.

"That's a guiding light" Nami stated with a knowing look.

"...And at the end of the light, it is the entrance to the grandline" Nami added as she stared at the lighthouse.

"The grandline is over there?" Luffy asked in anticipation as he gaze at the seas.

"What now?" Nami asked as she looked at Luffy.

"But are we really gonna go in a storm like this?" Usopp questioned them as he hugged the ship's mast.

The five of them nodded and smirked as they all gaze at the seas in front of them.

Alright... let's have a ceremony to mark the importance of our voyage!" Sanji suggested as brought down a barrel beside them.

Everyone agreed to his suggestion as they all circled around the barrel.

"To find All blue!" Sanji stated as he put his leg at the top of the barrel.

"To become the Pirate King!" Luffy stated with a smile as he did the same as Sanji did.

"To be the greatest swordsman!" Zoro stated with a leg on top of the barrel.

"To be the most amazing magician!" Kaito stated and smirked as he did the same with his leg.

"To draw a map of the world!" Nami stated as her leg was at the top of the barrel.

"T-To become a great warrior of the sea!" Usopp stated with nervousness as he did the same as everyone.

They stayed silent for a few seconds as they stared at their legs at the top of the barrel with a smile.

"LET"S GO TO THE GRANDLINE!" Luffy shouted as they all raised their legs up high.

"AYE" the Straw Hat crew exclaimed in response as they slammed down their legs at the barrel.