The Straw Hat Pirates Get Wrecked Again

The group walked through the forest, with Ryan, Demiurge, and Albedo in front, talking quietly.

Behind them came Nami, Camie, and a talking starfish. They were pulling a rope attached to an enormous bubble containing the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates, making for a strange sight among the trees.

"Demiurge, teach me some close-combat techniques when you have time," Ryan said, turning his head.

The fight earlier had been downright embarrassing. He had outclassed the Straw Hat Crew in every respect, yet their coordinated attacks had thrown him into a panic. He hadn't known whom to hit first.

In the end, his sheer strength had let him flatten them, but he had taken more hits than anyone. That was a little humiliating.

"It would be my honor," Demiurge replied respectfully, his tail swaying.

Ryan nodded, then looked at Albedo's unhappy face. "Still angry that I stopped you from stepping in?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Her voice was icy, as though she felt nothing at all.

Ryan chuckled and rubbed her head until her cheeks turned bright red. "You wouldn't dare, rather than you're not angry. So you are still upset."

"I know it hurt to watch me take those hits, but you saw how it ended. I won, and I left every one of them bruised and battered. I wasn't hurt at all."

"Besides, that fight taught me something: beating up weaklings is a pretty fun game. Haha!"

Ryan laughed. Behind him, Luffy had woken inside the bubble. "Hey, pale-skinned old man! Are you saying we're weak?"

"Oh, you're all awake." Ryan glanced back at the others sitting in the bubble. "I am saying you're weak. You couldn't even beat someone who doesn't know how to fight. Were your bounties all hype?"

"That bastard!"

The Straw Hat Crew's faces darkened,