The study within the Kaya estate, moments after Klahadore reveals his true intentions. Armed men are pouring in to back him up.
---
Luffy's fists clenched as he stared down Klahadore. The man's sinister smile didn't faze him, but the men surrounding them made his gut twist. Kaya's life was at stake. His Haki might not be fully mastered, but it was strong enough to get him through this fight. He'd trained relentlessly under Garp's harsh tutelage—his Armament was solid enough to defend, and his Observation was sharp enough to avoid the worst of the attacks.
"Luffy," Zoro said, keeping his voice low. "You ready?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah. Let's do this."
---
The First Assault
Klahadore smirked, unsheathing his sword. "You think you can stop me, kid? You're a fool."
Before Luffy could respond, Klahadore's men charged at him. Luffy's instincts kicked in. He immediately activated Observation Haki, the pressure around him intensifying as he felt the movements of the attackers. The Haki was still a little unrefined, but he could sense their intent—every swing, every shift in their stance.
The first man attacked with a wide swipe, and Luffy dodged effortlessly, stepping to the side just as the blade whooshed past him. His Armament Haki flared, coating his fist in a dark sheen as he countered with a powerful punch, sending the man flying across the room.
He turned to face the second attacker, who was already mid-swing. Luffy sidestepped again, using his Observation Haki to predict the movement. This time, he didn't just dodge—he retaliated with a sharp elbow coated in Armament Haki, striking the man in the stomach and sending him crumpling to the floor.
Two down. Luffy's confidence grew, his Haki steady but not overwhelming. He was still a novice, but against these lower-tier enemies, his skills were more than enough.
---
The Real Threat: Klahadore
Klahadore, seeing his men fall so easily, narrowed his eyes. "Impressive, but you're not even close to being on my level."
With a flick of his wrist, Klahadore's blade gleamed in the light as he rushed toward Luffy, who had just finished off another attacker. Luffy barely had time to react. Klahadore was fast, faster than the others, and his swordsmanship was far more polished.
Luffy's Observation Haki flared up again, but he couldn't quite predict Klahadore's next move. The sword came down in a deadly arc, and Luffy raised his arms instinctively, coating them in Armament Haki. The blade struck with a force that sent a shockwave through Luffy's arms, but his Haki held firm, though it still hurt more than it should have. He staggered back, feeling the weight of the blow.
Klahadore took advantage of Luffy's momentary hesitation and slashed again. This time, Luffy saw it coming just in time. His Observation Haki buzzed with warning, and he dodged, stepping aside. The sword sliced the air where he had been, but Luffy's reaction was barely fast enough.
"You're still slow!" Klahadore taunted. "I can predict your every move!"
Luffy gritted his teeth. He knew that Klahadore had the advantage in skill, but Luffy wasn't backing down. He focused his Observation Haki once more, this time sharpening his senses. He could feel the rhythm of Klahadore's attacks. There was a slight pause before every slash—a microsecond where Klahadore would telegraph his next move. It wasn't perfect, but Luffy could use that.
---
The Turning Point
Luffy's Observation began to stabilize. He could see the flow of battle more clearly now, his senses picking up the subtle cues from Klahadore's movements. Klahadore's strikes were precise, but Luffy was starting to evade them with ease. His timing improved, and with every dodge, he felt his confidence grow.
He had to end this fast.
Klahadore lunged at him again, aiming for Luffy's head. This time, Luffy didn't back away. Instead, he met the attack head-on, his fist coated in Armament Haki. He swung it forward with full force, connecting with Klahadore's sword. There was a deafening clash of metal against Haki, but Luffy's blow sent a shock through Klahadore's sword, making him falter for just a second.
Luffy didn't hesitate. He saw the opening and rushed in, his fist glowing with Armament. He landed a heavy punch to Klahadore's side, the force of the blow knocking him off balance. Klahadore gasped for air as he stumbled back.
"You're too slow!" Luffy shouted, his voice fierce.
Klahadore gritted his teeth, anger flashing in his eyes. "You won't win this, brat."
Luffy smiled, his fists crackling with power. "We'll see about that."
---
The Final Blow
Klahadore charged again, this time with even more speed, his sword aimed directly at Luffy's chest. But Luffy's Observation Haki was sharp now. He could feel every subtle shift in Klahadore's stance. He sidestepped with fluidity, his body moving almost as if it had anticipated the attack. The blade missed by inches, and Luffy followed through with a lightning-fast counterattack.
He jumped into the air, his Armament Haki coating his entire arm as he punched down with everything he had. The blow landed with a sickening crack as Klahadore's body was slammed to the floor, the impact shaking the ground beneath them.
Klahadore groaned, struggling to move, but it was clear he was done. Luffy stood over him, panting heavily, but victorious.
"You... you're better than I thought," Klahadore muttered, unable to get up.
Luffy looked down at him, his breathing still heavy. "I told you. You don't mess with my friends."
---
Kaya's Relief
Kaya slowly stepped out of the shadows, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and awe. "Luffy… you did it."
Luffy wiped his forehead, his chest heaving. "Yeah, but it wasn't easy."
Zoro walked up, wiping his sword clean. "Nice job, Luffy. You held up better than I expected."
Luffy grinned, though there was a weariness in his eyes. "I've still got a long way to go."
Zoro chuckled. "That's the spirit. But for now, let's make sure this place is safe."
---
End of Chapter.