Loguetown Central Plaza.
Although the Execution Platform symbolizing "the beginning and the end" had already been reduced to rubble by the water dragon.
And Buggy's crew had been swept away to who knew where, the Straw Hat Pirates' crisis had not been resolved.
"Tap, tap, tap."
Heavy footsteps landed on the waterlogged stone road.
Countless fully armed Marine elites emerged from every direction once more. They were the Loguetown garrison that had been lying in wait.
At the very front of the encirclement, a white-haired man with two cigars in his mouth blocked their path like a towering mountain.
Smoker.
"Though that flood and lightning show was quite impressive..."
Smoker drew the jitte from his back, white smoke beginning to spread around him as his sharp eyes locked onto Luffy and Victor.
"Your little farce ends here."
"Who are you, smoke guy?" Luffy pressed down his Straw Hat, looking annoyed.
"I'm the man who'll send you to prison."
The moment he spoke.
"White Blow!"
Smoker's arm instantly transformed into a jet of smoke, his fist blasting toward Luffy like a cannonball.
"Gum-Gum—Gatling!!"
Luffy refused to back down, throwing out countless afterimages of fists.
But then, something shocking happened.
Luffy's fists passed straight through Smoker's body, as though they had struck nothing but air, causing no harm whatsoever.
Meanwhile, Smoker's smoky fist smashed solidly into Luffy's face.
"Bang!"
Luffy was sent flying backward.
"What's going on?! I can't hit him?!" Luffy climbed to his feet, his face full of shock. "My fist clearly hit him!"
"Let me handle this! Three-Sword Style: Oni Giri!!"
Zoro charged forward, crossing all three swords in a slash.
"Slash—"
The blades cut across Smoker's chest, but they only sliced through a cloud of white smoke. The smoke reformed the next second.
"Diable Jambe!!" Sanji's kick followed