The battle of Luffy and Bang continues while the outcome is the same.
Luffy's still unable to connect an attack even though his speed multiplied a couple of times while using second gear. It showed no difference than before.
Bang's hands are glowing in light blue. Everytime his hands move, the air got painted with blue that looked like a flowing stream of water.
He also heightened his Observation Haki since Luffy's speedy attacks gave him challenge. He was clearly surprised by the progression of their battle.
Luffy also noticed that Bang is starting to slow down. He laughed and increased his speed more.
"You are getting ahead of yourself, boy." Bang raised a brow when he noticed Luffy's confident expression.
SWISH!!
He suddenly vanished from his spot and arrived in front of Luffy.
"Watch out, Luffy!" Zoro warned with a serious face. He got more uneasy the longer the fight drags on.
Bang suddenly tapped the middle chest of Luffy.
Luffy's movement paused in an instant and he got defenseless all of a sudden. His expression changed greatly when he noticed he can't move at all after that one tap.
"Water Stream Style : Rock Smashing Fist!"
BOOM!!
Bang clenched his fist and punched Luffy in the gut with force. The impact was so strong that it left a crater upon contact.
"UGH!!"
Luffy got hurled dozens of meters back while smashing some trees in the process until he got buried in the thick snow.
The Strawhats got surprised while the marines cheered for their leader.
"It's no use as long as you can't hit me." Bang slowly walked towards Luffy, intending for a capture. Although the latter has potential, it's far from enough when compared to those dangerous powerhouses out there.
SWISH!
Luffy immediately recovered as he stood up. He could feel that aching sensation of the punch. But this attack can't make him back down.
"Gomu-Gomu No : Jet Gatling!"
He dashed forward and issued dozens of punches at the same time. Due to his second gear effect, the punches are multiple times faster than before.
Bang's eyes flickered as he also dashed at Luffy while facing those hurling fists. His body was like a smoke while casually evading those punches.
"Not bad. But you need efficient punches, not random. Let me show you the difference, boy."
BOP! BADA! BOOM! POW!
Bang was like copying Luffy's Jet Gatling and all of his punches landed on the latter's body with timely precision.
The punches made Luffy looked like a punching bag. Every punches made a part of his body bent. If not for his rubber body, his bones might have split into thousands of pieces.
"No! Luffy!" Vivi exclaimed with concern. She wanted to stop the fight but she got pulled down by Luke.
"Luffy can take it." Luke said calmly. From his observation, Luffy's overall skills and transformations are lacking. It's all half-baked and inexperienced when it comes to one on one serious battle.
Bang was more like sharpening Luffy's combat awareness while giving the latter beatings that serves as lessons.
Luffy fully utilized his Observation Haki. However, it was all for naught. He sensed nothing from those attacks. It was as if these punches have no flaws at all.
"Oh? You actually knows Observation Haki?"
In the midst of pummeling, Bang got truly surprised when he saw Luffy closing his eyelids to concentrate. However, his attacks can bypass that concept, especially on minor stage.
He could tell that the brat was finding the essence of his punches. It wouldn't be that easy though.
If he used Armament Haki, Luffy would be done in a matter of seconds. Right now, he wanted to know the latter's full capability.
'Hm? This kid... is a genius.'
He got surprised once again when one of his punches actually missed. Although it's only one punch, it matters greatly.
Luffy finally figured out the intent of the punches with deep concentration. Although he was full of scratches and bruises, he felt free and fresh.
Soon, he dodged the majority of the punches and he started to counter of his own with same quantity.
'I may be underestimated this kid in the first place. Garp sure has a talented grandson. It took me in my prime just to master this combat awareness and this kid already mastered it in his tender age.'
Bang lamented while exchanging blows with Luffy. Their punches intensified as they appeared to every corner of the place at lightning speed while clashing.
Every clash blasted the snow in every direction making their battlefield blurry in the eyes of the spectators.
Luke nodded in appreciation for Bang. The old man upgraded Luffy's overall power in a short period of time.
Luffy is on a threshold of awakening Future Prediction on Observation Haki. This is a scary progress that very few powerhouses can achieve.
If Luffy continues to grow this fast, he'll be able to defeat Katakuri in the original story by the time they finish their business at Alabasta Kingdom.
SWOOSH!
"Hm? What are you doing old geezer!?" Luffy shouted in annoyance when he saw Bang returned to his group.
"Ayaa.. My old bones can't keep up with you, kid. You are free to go, but I want you all gone by morning the next day and don't do reckless things here or I'll hunt you down with all I got." Bang closed his eyes as he hunched his back like an elderly person.
Bomb squinted his eyes at his little brother but he didn't say anything else.
Luffy also paused. Although he badly wants a real fight with the old man, it is not his main objective on coming to this Kingdom. Albeit unwilling, he finally let it go.
"Come on. Let's head to Nami." He waved his hand to the Strawhats as he left the place towards the location of Nami.
Even Luke was surprised by this sensible action of Luffy.
As the Strawhats passed by, Luke nodded at Bang in silence.
The marines were flabbergasted about the strange action of their Vice Admiral.
"You're letting that kid go away just like that?" Bomb commented as he saw the disappearing silhouette of the Strawhats.
"It's not worth taking the risk. The brat is not simple- his whole team is not simple." Bang wore his marine coat back.
"You noticed it too? That crimson eyes guy is a threat.." Bomb raised a brow. He also had this feeling that the sickly looking man before was far more dangerous than the rest of the Strawhats.
Bang nodded calmly after recalling Luke's face.
In fact, he didn't want to subdue Luffy in the first place. It was also his return gesture since the Strawhats didn't kill any marines when they arrived at the Kingdom.
"Vice Admiral, a news came in! A new pirate group took away those four newly detained individuals. Many of our comrades got severely injured and some are dead from the encounter!" A marine reported in haste.
"A new pirate group?" Bang coldly narrowed his eyes. He didn't care too much about the detained individuals. The most urgent thing right now is to capture those new pirate group that killed and injured his men.
With that, they headed to another marine base where Luffy came from.
...
Nami was helping Dr. Kureha salvaged the valuable things in the collapsed tree house with the help of few soldiers.
Chopper specially looked for the jolly roger of Hiriluk as it is his valuable treasure.
While Nami and other busied themselves, someone tugged at King Wapol before he disappeared at his spot.
Nami also noticed this abnormality as she hurriedly stared to where King Wapol previously placed. However, she was a bit late. Someone just took her moneybag under her radar.
She wanted to blow up but doesn't want the doctor to freak out by her outburst.
Dr. Kureha also noticed Nami's abnormal action and realized King Wapol was gone.
Soon the soldiers discovered that their King was missing as they began to clamor to one another.
Nami was surprised though. She knew Luke can teleport and there's also someone who can use this ability too.
She vigilantly raised her guard as she waited for Luffy and others to reach her place any minute now.
...
On another side of the island...
Blackbeard arrived on a navy ship and tossed down the ever scared King Wapol.
King Wapol saw eight people other than Blackbeard and all of them looked intimidating.
"Wha- Why am I here?! Who are you people?!" He asked in trepidation.
"Zehahaha... You are the king of this kingdom, right? I won't dally anymore. Be a part of my crew or die." Blackbeard's menacing gaze left King Wapol in shivers.
King Wapol didn't know what's going on but the guy was inviting him to be a pirate.
"Why me?! If you take me as your crew, it will only bring you trouble from the unending pursuit of the World Government!" King Wapol tried to reason his way out. Being a pirate never crossed his mind in the slightest.
"So you chose death?" Blackbeard was too lazy to play riddles with this weakling. He just liked this guy for being a tyrant of his Kingdom.
"I- I'll join! Of course I'll join!" King Wapol nodded incessantly like a chicken pecking rice. He doesn't want to die too young. He also have many goals in life.
"WEEHAHAHA! Congratulations, Captain! We found ourselves a shipwright!" Jesus Burgess laughed out loud while flexing his oversized muscles. He has a renewed vigor after he got defeated by Luke. Blackbeard still took him in and gave him a Devil Fruit.
"Shipwright? Me?" King Wapol pointed at himself in disbelief. He, a renowned King got reduced to a mere shipwright that build and repair ships. He wanted to cry but no tears came out from his eyes.
"ZEHAHAHA! That's right. I already know the details of your Devil Fruit. I want you to create a massive ship that has many functions." Blackbeard grinned. Since this man was obedient, he might as well not kill him. It saves him the time for the next Devil Fruit Holder to study it's functions and delay his plans.
"I lack one more crew. However, we are enough for my next plan."
He turned to the rest of the crew.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! What we need to do next is..."
"To slay an old aquaintance!"
"Emperor of the Sea, Edward Newgate!"
"ZEHAHAHAHA!!"
*****
A/N : I'm actually proud of myself reaching this far. Anyway, I've so much idea to share. Stay tuned.
Cheers!