Werther watched Luffy from a short distance away but did not attack again. He was running low on oxygen.
In the deep sea, his body burned through oxygen at an alarming rate. Less than five minutes had passed, yet he already felt close to his limit.
He took out a small Iron Canister filled with compressed air.
After taking a deep breath from it, the strain on his lungs eased.
Fighting someone in such harsh conditions was difficult.
Werther was hampered at every turn, while Luffy remained in top form inside his protective bubble.
Werther covered his mouth to keep the seawater out, and his muffled voice carried through the depths.
"Thirty seconds. Last thirty seconds against my swords, and I'll let you reach the New World."
Werther had no intention of dragging this out. He was going to use Crimson Regalia.
Luffy's expression turned grave. The pressure Werther put on him was immense.
Werther was the strongest enemy Luffy had ever faced. Not even the Marine Admirals had given him such a sense of danger.
At that moment, Luffy could almost smell blood through the seawater.
Werther had killed so many people that he had lost count. That was how the Pirate World worked: if you did not kill others, they would come to kill you.
There were not even basic laws here. To live freely and live well, you had to be more ruthless than anyone else.
As Werther and Luffy faced off, everyone aboard the Thousand Sunny watched Luffy with worry.
"Nami, make me a bubble. I'm going to help Luffy."
Sanji put out his cigarette and motioned for Nami to prepare a bubble for him.
"No."
Nami's refusal was immediate and firm.
"Why?"
Sanji was visibly taken aback.
"You've lost too much blood. You're weak right