Chapter 45: The Storm of Battle
The tension in Logue Town's town square was palpable. The air grew thick as the situation reached a boiling point. Civilians had long since fled the scene, leaving only pirates, Marines, and the weight of impending battle. Goku stood at the center of it all, surrounded by Smoker, Buggy, Alvida, and his own crew, but something else stirred in the air. The weather shifted suddenly and violently—strong winds began to whip through the streets, carrying the smell of the sea and electricity. Dark storm clouds rolled in from nowhere, casting the town in an ominous shadow. It was as though the very heavens sensed the coming conflict.
A distant rumble of thunder echoed through the town, and a single streak of lightning danced across the sky, illuminating the square for just a brief moment. On the rooftops, the shadowy figure who had been watching the events unfold stood silently, his presence unnoticed by those below. He was no mere bystander, but a force in the shadows, waiting. His dark cloak fluttered in the wind, and as he watched the confrontation below, his face was solemn. The gathering storm seemed to respond to him, as though he carried its power in his very being.
The figure pulled back his hood, revealing a weathered face marked by strength and resolve. His features were sharp, and his eyes were intense, almost otherworldly. A tattoo snaked along the side of his face, its design reminiscent of a dragon. Though no one knew it yet, this man—an enigma standing apart from the chaos—would soon have a role to play in the events unfolding below. But which side would he choose?
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Back on the ground, Goku stood silently, staring across the square at Captain Smoker. The winds whipped around them, tousling his hair and kicking up dust, but Goku's eyes never wavered. He had heard so much about this man in the past few weeks—how he was relentless, a Marine captain with the power of a Devil Fruit that allowed him to turn into smoke. The concept reminded Goku of his fight with Aokiji. Just like the ice user, Smoker's abilities would likely make him untouchable by normal means. Goku's fists clenched as memories of the fight flooded back—the feeling of helplessness as his attacks were frozen before they could even land.
But something inside him whispered that this fight would be different. He had faced opponents beyond his level before, and each time, he grew stronger. This world, with its strange powers and devil fruits, was still new to him, but Goku was nothing if not adaptable. If I fight them, maybe I'll unlock a way to defeat them, he thought. It had worked before in his past life, during his time as Eto Shapan, the world-class assassin on Earth. Facing stronger opponents had always been the key to unlocking new heights of his abilities. This would be no different.
He turned to Sanji and Usopp, who were both standing nearby, eyes wide with anticipation. "I'm going to create a distraction," Goku said, his tone serious. "Take the carriage and get it back to the Going Merry. Zoro, you'll follow behind and guard them from any attacks on the way."
Sanji and Usopp both stared at him, stunned. "Wait, what?" Usopp exclaimed. "You're going to stay here and fight Smoker and Buggy's crew by yourself?"
Goku's usual carefree grin was gone, replaced by a look of intense focus. "I'll hold them off. You need to get back to the ship, and I'll join you once you're clear."
Sanji frowned, lighting a cigarette as he took in Goku's expression. "This sounds like a terrible idea, but…" He exhaled a cloud of smoke. "You're the captain."
Usopp, ever the cautious one, looked like he was about to protest further, but Zoro cut him off. "We don't have time to argue. You heard him—let's move." Zoro's hand rested on the hilt of one of his swords, his expression unreadable as he prepared for what was to come.
Goku nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now go."
Before they could move, Captain Smoker spoke, his deep voice cutting through the air. "Whatever you're planning doesn't matter," Smoker said coldly, smoke curling from his mouth as he stepped forward. "None of you are getting away from me."
Goku's eyes locked onto Smoker's as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "My crew will get away," Goku said calmly. "And there's nothing you can do about it."
Smoker's eyes narrowed, and the tension in the air grew even heavier.
Goku then turned to Tashigi, who stood a few feet behind Smoker, her hand on the hilt of her sword, ready for battle. "You should back off," Goku said, his tone softer but firm. "Zoro likes you, and I don't want to hurt you unnecessarily."
Tashigi's face flushed with indignation as she stepped forward. "I don't care what Zoro thinks," she snapped. "I'm a Marine officer, and I'm going to arrest both of you. And I'll be taking those swords from Zoro."
Goku simply gave her a long, measured look, as though studying her. For a brief moment, he considered her resolve. Then he turned back to Buggy and Alvida, who stood not far away, both of them watching with wicked smirks plastered on their faces. They looked like predators who had cornered their prey.
Lightning flickered across the sky, and the wind howled as the storm intensified. But Goku wasn't fazed. He nodded toward his crew, signaling for them to move.
"Now!" Goku shouted, his voice commanding.
Sanji, Usopp, and Zoro began to move, but before they could take more than a few steps, a blinding flash of lightning struck the ground between them and Goku, sending a wave of dust and debris into the air. The blast was deafening, and for a moment, everything was chaos.
Through the smoke and dust, Goku's voice rang out. "Go!"
Zoro was about to follow Sanji and Usopp when Tashigi suddenly appeared in front of him, her sword drawn. "You lied to me," she said, her voice filled with anger. "You're the Pirate Hunter, Zoro!"
Zoro blinked in confusion. "I never lied to you. I told you my name when we met, and I said I used three swords. If you couldn't figure it out, that's on you."
Tashigi's face turned red with frustration, and she raised her sword, ready to strike. "That doesn't matter! You're a pirate, and I'm taking you in!"
Everyone in the square, including the pirates and Marines, paused to look at her in confusion. Goku glanced over and smirked, while even Buggy let out a small snort of amusement. Zoro sighed, clearly exasperated. "You're not the sharpest sword in the armory, are you?"
Tashigi's face flushed even deeper, and she tightened her grip on her blade. But before she could attack, a voice boomed across the square.
"Well, well, well! Looks like it's time for the real show!"
From the dust and smoke, a pair of large nets suddenly flew through the air, landing squarely on both Goku and Smoker, entangling them in heavy, metallic cords. Goku staggered, momentarily caught off guard, while Smoker's eyes widened in surprise as he struggled against the net.
"What the hell is this?" Smoker growled, trying to turn into smoke to slip out of the trap, but something was wrong. His powers weren't working. He looked down at the net and immediately realized what it was made of. "Sea Prism Stone…"
Buggy and Alvida stepped out of the smoke, each holding a large gun and grinning like a pair of jackals. "Gotcha!" Buggy cackled, waving his gun toward the trapped Smoker. "No Devil Fruit user can get out of these nets."
Smoker gritted his teeth, furious at himself for not anticipating the trap. He had been too focused on Goku, considering him the bigger threat. "You idiots…!"
Alvida, swinging her massive iron club onto her shoulder, sneered at Goku. "Looks like even you, with your fancy bounty, can't do anything now."
Buggy smirked and aimed his gun at Goku, his voice dripping with mockery. "What's the matter, Straw Hat? You've been awfully quiet."
But Goku wasn't scared. In fact, he was entirely calm. As he watched Smoker struggle beneath the net, he noticed the Marine captain's sluggish movements. Smoker was still able to move, but he wasn't able to use his powers. This net must neutralize Devil Fruit abilities, Goku realized. The smoke man couldn't turn into smoke and slip out, but he wasn't completely helpless. Sea Prism Stone… The name stuck in Goku's mind. He made sure to memorize it for future reference.
Curious for more information, Goku turned to Buggy and Alvida. "So, what exactly is this net made of?"
Smoker growled, cutting off Buggy before he could answer. "Sea Prism Stone," Smoker explained, his voice tense. "It's a solid form of the sea itself. To Devil Fruit users, it's as debilitating as falling into the ocean."
Goku's eyes flickered with interest as he listened to Smoker's explanation. "I see," Goku said, his voice calm. He took a moment to glance at his bound limbs, then at Smoker's sluggish movements under the net. "So, this stone takes away your Devil Fruit powers… Interesting."
Buggy and Alvida, who had been gloating just moments before, now stared at Goku in disbelief. Buggy's eyes widened comically, his smirk fading as confusion clouded his face. "Wait… What do you mean your powers? You're a Devil Fruit user, right?"
Alvida stepped forward, her grip on her iron club tightening. "You've got to be one. How else could you be this strong with a bounty like that?"
Goku smiled—an easy, confident smile that left Buggy and Alvida blinking in shock. "Nope," Goku said casually. "I never ate a Devil Fruit."
There was a beat of stunned silence. Buggy's jaw dropped, and his eyes bulged in disbelief. "What? You're kidding, right?! You're telling me you're this strong without a Devil Fruit?"
Alvida's expression was just as incredulous, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Impossible. No one gets a bounty that high in the East Blue without a Devil Fruit."
Goku's smile only grew as he focused his energy. His muscles tightened, and a faint, invisible force began to radiate from him. The net that had once seemed to trap him now trembled, as if it could sense the sheer power building underneath it. Goku's body began to glow faintly, his Ki rising like a storm about to break. The air around him crackled with raw energy, causing the very ground to tremble.
Smoker, who had been watching Goku out of the corner of his eye, suddenly realized that something was very wrong. His eyes widened as he felt the power radiating from Goku, a power unlike anything he had felt from any pirate—or Marine—before.
Goku's grin vanished as he threw his head back and let out a roar of pure energy, his voice shaking the very foundations of Logue Town. "HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The net that had trapped him shot upward, shredded to pieces by the force of his energy, flying away like leaves in a hurricane. The storm that had been gathering above the square seemed to answer Goku's call, the winds howling and the sky crackling with lightning. Goku stood at the center of it all, his aura flaring with an intense, blinding light. His Ki burned hot and wild, sending shockwaves of power rippling through the square, forcing everyone to step back.
Smoker, still caught under the sea prism stone net, could only watch in stunned silence as Goku's power surged. The net that had rendered him powerless now seemed meaningless to the man standing before him. Smoker had never faced anything like this before.
Goku glared at Buggy and Alvida, his once easygoing demeanor replaced by a fierce, unrelenting intensity. "You think I need Devil Fruit powers to take you down?" he asked, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "This world may have its secrets and strange powers, but none of them matter. I'll show you the might of a proud Saiyan warrior."
Buggy stumbled backward, his usual bravado shattered by the sheer force of Goku's presence. "W-What the hell is this guy?"
Alvida took a step back as well, gripping her iron club defensively. "This… this isn't normal. What are you?"
Goku didn't answer. Instead, he locked eyes with Smoker, his Ki flaring even brighter as his power reached its peak. "Let's settle this, Captain Smoker."
The storm above raged on, the winds swirling around the town square as the battle was about to begin. Goku, the might of a Saiyan warrior unleashed, stood ready to take on anyone who dared challenge him.
[A/N: Read 15-20 chapters available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]