The slanting sunset painted the sky with burning red clouds.
The red earth caved beneath each step, leaving deep shoe prints, as if a prehistoric beast had passed through.
"Monkey D. Luffy, Black Snake Lina."
Zephyr took off his sunglasses and tossed them aside. He slammed his massive mechanical arm onto the ground and gave a cold, mocking laugh. "You two just won't leave me alone. Why?"
"Because you destroyed our ship, of course!"
Luffy planted his feet and declared righteously, "You ran off without even apologizing! And Chopper saved you, but you still haven't thanked him!"
"What a stupid reason," Zephyr sneered. "That's all?"
"That's all." Luffy nodded firmly.
"Hahaha!" Zephyr suddenly burst out laughing. "You chased after me for a reason like that? You're an interesting kid.
"That raccoon dog doctor—thank him for me. As for your ship..."
The smile vanished from Zephyr's face. Dragging his heavy mechanical arm, he charged forward and snarled, "The Marines don't have to apologize for destroying pirate ships, you idiots!"
His short purple hair fluttered in the wind, and his face looked full of energy, with less of the weariness of age.
Every step sent wind rushing beneath his feet. His imposing momentum swept forward like a force of nature, nothing like his frail, elderly self from earlier that day!
"So there's no talking this out!"
"Just what I wanted."
"Let's go!" Lina and Luffy grinned, eyes blazing, and charged toward Zephyr.
"Gear Second!"
Luffy immediately activated Gear Second. The aura bursting from this man was far stronger than it had been earlier that day.
"Gomu Gomu!"
"Shave!"
Whoosh!
Luffy had only just taken up an attacking stance, white steam rising from his body, when Zephyr appeared right in front of him with a flash!
"Gatling Gun!"
To Luffy's surprise, he had