The Covering Battle: Luffy vs. Lucci

High above in the sky, the video on the screen shifted to the final battle at Enies Lobby, to Luffy versus Lucci.

Luffy spoke briefly with Franky, who had just arrived, and they decided that Luffy would deal with Lucci while Franky went to save Robin.

Franky readily agreed, and Luffy immediately charged at Lucci, creating an opportunity for Franky to get past him and go through the door behind him to reach Robin.

Lucci, however, easily stopped all of his attacks. Not only that, he kicked Luffy flying, then followed up with several Rankyaku at Franky as he tried to get past.

Franky dodged them with some tricky footwork, then sent a cannonball at Lucci. Lucci easily dodged it with Soru and charged at Franky, clenching his fist to strike him, only to be stopped by Luffy's fist.

Luffy immediately held Lucci down firmly with his hands, locking him in a stalemate.

Seeing this, Franky prepared to help, but Luffy stopped him, telling him not to do anything unnecessary and to just go.

Franky wanted to say something more, but Luffy told him that if he didn't go to Robin now and she was taken away, it would be too late for everything.

Franky froze, and the scene of his master being taken away in the past involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

But while he was distracted, Lucci drove a foot into Luffy's chin, breaking free of their stalemate, and walked toward Franky. Luffy immediately latched onto him again, locking both arms tightly around him from behind and stopping him from taking another step.

Luffy told Franky to go again, and this time Franky didn't hesitate at all. He immediately turned and left.

But Lucci had no intention of letting him go. Using Geppo, he fell heavily backward, slamming Luffy into the ground.

Luffy immediately released his grip. Lucci then used Soru to appear in front of Franky and prepared to strike him with Shigan, but Luffy, half-kneeling on the ground, stretched out his arm and grabbed him tightly, stopping him in midair.

"Didn't I tell you? Your opponent is me," Luffy said seriously, gripping Lucci's hand.

At that moment, scattered comments discussing the fight appeared on the screen. {Amazing, absolutely amazing! A fight where every punch lands is so satisfying to watch!}

{Straw Hat Luffy really has a talent for leadership! It's remarkable that he can stay so calm and keep his side's objective in mind under these circumstances!}

{This Lucci is so strong! Even when facing two members of Straw Hat Luffy's crew, he can stay so composed. He really is the strongest in all of CP9.}

{I have a feeling this fight will be even more exciting and intense than the previous ones.}

{...}

{...}

In the video, although Luffy had briefly stopped Lucci, he soon found himself in a hard fight again.

Lucci struck him repeatedly with Shigan: Ouren, sending him flying into a large wooden crate beside the wall. Dust immediately billowed up.

Franky immediately called out to him in concern, but quickly came to his senses. His task now was to pass through the door in the room and reach Robin.

He immediately ran toward the door, but Lucci caught up with him using Soru and blocked his path.

Without another word, Franky raised the iron fist on his right hand and punched at Lucci, only for Lucci to block it easily with Tekkai.

Franky froze. He hadn't expected the iron fist that had sent Fukurou of CP9 flying so far earlier to be completely useless against Lucci.

Lucci told him that his doriki was five times Fukurou's, so it was only natural that Franky's iron fist was useless against him. He then immediately struck Franky's abdomen with Shigan.

Franky's eyes rolled back, and he nearly lost consciousness, but he still crouched down and looked at Lucci with some apprehension. Lucci really was much stronger than the others.

Lucci paid no heed to that. Looking down at Franky arrogantly, he informed him that he was going to die.

However, just as he was about to act, Luffy's voice rang out, accompanied by his fist. A Gum-Gum Jet Pistol landed on Lucci's face, punching him into a large wooden crate nearby and sending dust billowing up.

Franky watched the scene in shock, then turned to look at Luffy.

Luffy's skin had turned bright red all over, and streams of steam were constantly rising from his body.

He had activated Gear Second!

Franky immediately asked Luffy what had happened to him.

Luffy told him he couldn't maintain this state for long. For the time being, he would keep Lucci pinned down, so Franky needed to hurry and go.

Although Franky didn't know what exactly had happened to Luffy's body, he did as he was told and set off toward the door.

But he had only taken a few steps when a towering figure blocked his path. It was Lucci, who had activated his Devil Fruit.

Franky was startled. Only now did he realize that Lucci was a Devil Fruit user too!

But Lucci clearly didn't want to explain any further. He used Soru and charged straight at Franky, intending to deal with him first.

Luffy stopped him, then kicked him flying.

Lucci stood up and reminded Luffy not to forget that he had pierced right through him with a single strike in this form before.

Luffy, however, said that a wound like that would heal once he ate some meat!

Lucci immediately felt slighted. He used Soru to appear in front of Luffy and thrust a Shigan at him.

Luffy dodged with a flash, appeared behind him, and blasted him with Gum-Gum Jet Bazooka.

Lucci hurriedly blocked it with Tekkai, but was still sent flying into the wall.

Franky immediately seized the opportunity to run to the door and push it open.

Luffy's voice rang out behind him. "Franky, I'm counting on you to take care of Robin!"

As Franky ran out, he assured him, "Leave her to me without a single worry!"

Once Franky was gone, only Luffy and Lucci remained in the room, staring each other down, their eyes full of fighting spirit. A great battle was about to erupt.