At that moment, Number Three looked tall and imposing, his entire body radiating an almost invincible pressure.
He stood inside the Candle Mecha's chest, looking down at Luffy and Naruto, the smile on his face growing increasingly sinister.
"Well? This is a mecha made from wax." Number Three spread his arms as though displaying a masterpiece he was proud of. "With this, my strength hasn't just increased a little-it's skyrocketed!"
The mecha's joints slowly turned with dull rumbles, its thick wax armor gleaming cold and hard in the firelight. Every movement felt like a small mountain rolling across the ground.
"On my turf, your abilities are average at best," Number Three continued. "Everything here can help me, while you don't even know how to destroy it. So how do you expect to win?"
He deliberately paused, sweeping his gaze over them both, as though he could already see his victory.
"More importantly, this mecha has no weaknesses."
As his words fell, Number Three suddenly swung a fist. The gust from his punch swept out with a roar, carrying wax shavings and making the surrounding ground tremble with a faint sound.
"As long as I stay like this, you can forget about beating me!"
He looked so smug that he might as well have carved the words "I've already won" across his face.
Yet Luffy showed no fear at all. Instead, he stared at the mecha with shining eyes.
"That's amazing!"
Naruto turned to look at him.
Completely oblivious to Naruto's expression, Luffy excitedly continued, "Not only can he turn into a huge mecha, he even says he has no weaknesses? I've never seen anyone this cool before!"
A vein twitched slightly at Naruto's temple.
"Are you touring an exhibition right now?"
"Of course not!" Luffy answered without a hint of