The moon hung high over Loguetown, casting an eerie glow on the desolate streets. The wind had grown still, as if even nature itself held its breath in anticipation of the battle unfolding.
Smoker stood poised, his eyes locked on Rex, the dark aura of Conqueror's Haki still swirling around him. The two had reached a momentary standstill, each waiting for the other to make a move. But the air was thick with tension, a storm about to break.
Rex's smirk remained, but there was a flicker of something darker behind his eyes. He could feel it—Smoker's power was more than just a Logia fruit. It was something beyond that. Something primal.
"You've been holding back, haven't you?" Rex said, his voice low and taunting.
Smoker didn't respond. He didn't need to. The air around him crackled as the black smoke surrounding him grew denser, coiling like a serpent preparing to strike.
Without warning, Smoker moved.
He lashed out with a whip of smoke, aiming directly for Rex's throat. The strike was faster than lightning, but Rex was already gone. In an instant, he was behind Smoker, his blade slicing through the air in a blur.
Clang!
The sword collided with the dense fog, but instead of cutting through, it stayed suspended, caught by an invisible force. Smoker's eyes gleamed as he twisted his hand, his smoke solidifying into an iron grip.
"Gotcha," Smoker muttered, his voice like a growl.
Rex's eyes narrowed as he struggled to free his sword. He had underestimated the depth of Smoker's abilities. The beast was far from simple.
With a burst of power, Rex pushed forward, forcing the sword free from the smoke's hold and slicing through the air once more. This time, Smoker was ready.
"White Hammer!" Smoker roared, his arm swelling into a massive hammer of smoke, crashing down toward Rex with the fury of a storm.
But Rex was too fast. He dodged the strike with ease, his figure blurring as he danced through the air. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered as the hammer collided with the earth.
Smoker's eyes never left him. His body shifted like smoke, moving in and out of form with ease. He was beginning to tap into something deeper, something more dangerous than the usual tricks of his Logia power.
"Impressive." Rex's voice was tinged with approval, but his eyes held an edge of challenge. He wasn't about to let Smoker's display of strength intimidate him.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
Rex raised both arms, and the Haki around him intensified, suffusing the very air with an oppressive weight. He wasn't just using his sword now—he was pouring his will into the battle, summoning a force that could crush even the strongest of opponents.
BOOM!
The ground shook as Rex released a shockwave of Conqueror's Haki, sending a pulse of energy that shattered the surrounding buildings. Smoker was thrown back, his body swirling like a hurricane to absorb the impact, but his feet dug into the ground as he refused to yield.
"Is that all?" Smoker said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Rex's eyes narrowed in surprise. He'd been expecting Smoker to falter. Instead, he saw the Marine captain stand unbroken, smoke swirling violently around him like an unleashed beast.
"Not bad," Rex muttered. "But I think it's time to end this."
In a flash, Rex was upon him, his sword cutting through the air with unmatched precision. The blade was imbued with an immense concentration of Conqueror's Haki, and it seemed to cut through reality itself as it sped toward Smoker.
But Smoker was ready.
"White Fist!"
His hand expanded into a massive fist of smoke, colliding with the sword in a clash that rang through the alley like a bell. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the entire area, but neither combatant moved an inch.
For a brief moment, everything was silent, the two locked in a deadly standoff. Rex's eyes burned with intensity, while Smoker's face was a mask of cold determination.
"You're good," Smoker said, his voice low. "But not good enough."
And then, without warning, Smoker's body exploded into smoke, disappearing from Rex's sight.
Rex's eyes widened as he searched the area, his senses on high alert. He couldn't afford to let his guard down now.
"Where are you?" Rex muttered to himself, his Haki flaring as he sought Smoker's presence.
Suddenly, the ground rippled beneath him.
Before he could react, Smoker reappeared behind him, his arm a massive whip of smoke, crackling with energy.
"White Lash!"
The strike was devastating. Rex barely managed to bring up his sword to block, but the force of the blow sent him crashing into a nearby wall.
"This is the real me," Smoker growled, his eyes burning with the intensity of a predator. "The beast unleashed."
Rex slowly stood, his breath ragged, his eyes filled with respect and rage. This wasn't just a battle anymore. This was the clash of two warriors who had reached the limit of their strength.
"Let's see how much further you can push yourself," Rex said, a dark smile crossing his face.
And so, the battle raged on—each blow, each clash, a test of will and power. The White Beast and the man who sought to challenge him were now locked in a battle that would shake the very foundations of Loguetown.
- End of Chapter -