At Entrance C,
"You are..."
"Uncle Austin!!!"
"Hey!!!"
Chopper and Nami's faces froze in terror. They had never expected to be this unlucky, encountering this legendary man first.
The one slowly approaching with his fists clenched
was the true master of the Sabaody Archipelago, the Supernovas' nightmare—
Mr. Austin.
"You really dared to come. I thought you'd try to run away~"
"Chopper, Nami, run! Go tell Zoro and the others that Uncle Austin is here with me!!!"
"But... Luffy, you!!!"
Chopper could not bear to leave Luffy here alone. Having heard Rayleigh's words, he knew just how terrifying the man before them was.
Nami, however, picked Chopper up and immediately ran.
Austin watched Nami circle around him and head toward the central area of Grove 23, his gaze distant.
"Such a beautiful girl, and an expert orange grower too. It's hard to dislike her~"
"Hey!!! Uncle Austin!!!"
Seeing Austin look toward Nami and the others, King Luffy immediately shouted, trying to draw his attention.
"Your opponent is me now!!!"
Second Gear--!!!
"Hiss..."
King Luffy braced one hand on his knee and planted one fist on the ground. Steam rose from all over his body as he formally entered Second Gear.
Austin had never intended to chase after them, so he merely put on a pair of black gloves.
"If I'm using fists against rubber, then pure hand-to-hand combat won't be enough~"
"What?!!!"
In the instant King Luffy froze,
Austin had already appeared before him. Looking at the fist right in front of him,
"It's useless. I'm rubber, so fists can't... Pwah!!!"
Bang, bang, bang--!!!
The instant the fist connected, a deeply familiar agony spread through King Luffy's entire body.
What was this?!!!
"Fists might be useless against rubber, but the Iron Fist of Love is different~"
"Damn it!!!"
Facing Austin's