One Piece: I Can Repel Anything

Doc Q broke into a cough. He could hardly believe it. He had never imagined Lafitte was a Devil Fruit user too.

"Looks like this fight will be exciting. Don't hold back now."

Honey Queen's eyes lit up. Envy crossed her pretty face as she murmured, "If only I had wings that beautiful."

Belo Betty exhaled a puff of smoke and nodded. "Now I understand why Chris said that."

"With those wings, Lafitte can move even faster. Burgess might not be a match for him after all."

Baccarat smoothed her hair and asked curiously, "That must be a Zoan, and probably an Ancient Zoan, right?"

"After all, Mythical Zoans are incredibly rare. That doesn't seem very likely."

Burgess paused when he saw Lafitte's wings, then paid them no mind.

Whoosh!

A Laser Cannon blast shot from his mouth. Blue-white light streaked through the air, crackling with lightning.

It carried tremendous force.

Flap, flap...

Lafitte beat his wings, whipping up a gust as he soared into the sky.

Boom!

An explosion tore through the trees and flowers ahead, leaving nothing behind.

Dust billowed up. Flames flared everywhere, and thick smoke rolled across the scene.

It looked like the end of the world!

"Impressive power."

Beating his snow-white wings, Lafitte looked down at Burgess with a faint smile. "Unfortunately, you're still too slow."

"Burgess, if this is all you've got, then I'm afraid the position of First Mate belongs to me."

With a whoosh, he flew above Burgess as fast as lightning and thrust his cane downward, launching his first attack.

"Don't underestimate me, bastard!"

Burgess opened his mouth wide, and blue-white light appeared again.

"You've missed your chance."

Lafitte swept his cane through the air and barked, "Hypnosis!"

A faint mental pulse descended and entered Burgess's mind before he could react.

The blue-white light in his mouth vanished instantly.

Burgess stood motionless, as stiff and blank as a wooden post.

He no longer reacted to anything around him.

"You lost, Burgess."

At the sound of Lafitte's voice, Burgess snapped back to his senses.

He was stunned.

Lafitte's cane pointed at his throat, a hair's breadth from piercing it.

Everything had changed so quickly that not even the onlookers, let alone Burgess, had realized what had happened.

How had he suddenly lost?

"Why did Burgess stop moving? What happened?"

Honey Queen frowned, plainly puzzled.

Belo Betty exhaled a puff of smoke. "Lafitte said 'hypnosis' just now. Looks like he's not only a Devil Fruit user—he knows Hypnosis too."

"Heh. Chris had him pegged. This guy really was hiding his strength."

Baccarat's eyes curved with her smile. "Of course. This is Chris we're talking about. How could he be wrong?"

Doc Q watched Lafitte with a cold glint in his eyes and a mysterious smile.

"He's so strong. We should have him fight the captain and see who comes out on top."

Burgess finally understood what had happened. He scratched his head and burst out laughing.

"Lafitte, you're something else. You even know Hypnosis."

"I admit it. From now on, you're the First Mate. Wahahaha!"

Lafitte put away his cane, gave it a twirl, and spoke politely. "It's an honor to become First Mate of the Chris Pirates."

"I look forward to working with you all."

Thunderous applause erupted across the ship as everyone congratulated him.

"Our First Mate, Lafitte!"

"We finally have a First Mate! Hooray!"

"Our captain's incredibly strong, and so is our First Mate. Who can stand against us now? La la la..."

"Let's throw a party to celebrate our new First Mate! Everybody, let loose!"

(Everyone, Lafitte will become First Mate and play a major role, so I've spent more time on him. I hope you understand. I'm not padding the word count.)

Three days later.

Several people were sunning themselves on the deck.

"I just don't get why the captain took Perona aboard."

Burgess leaned back in his chair, looking miserable. "That woman is so bossy. Her personality is downright awful. I'm scared of her."

The day before, Baccarat had once again felt luck on their side and gone ashore at Wurna Town.

There, they had met Perona. The rest needed no explanation.

"I don't think so, Captain Burgess. Why would you say that?"

Still as keen on fishing as ever, Pato sat by the railing and turned with a grin. "Perona's so easy to talk to. She really likes me."

Burgess glared at Pato and snapped, "What do you know? Just focus on your fishing!"

"Every time I see Perona, I feel strange inside. It's so uncomfortable."

Lafitte twirled his cane and smiled faintly. "That's because you're too loud. That's why she picks on you."

"I speak to her politely, and she never plays tricks on me."

Doc Q looked at Burgess with an eerie smile and began to mock him.

"Thinking about how pathetic Burgess looked still amuses me."

"I'd love to see it again. I don't think I could ever get enough."

Burgess bristled and snapped at Doc Q, "You want to see it that badly? Keep it up, and I'll put you on the floor."

Suddenly, a voice as clear as tinkling bells drifted over.

"Hollow, hollow, hollow..."

Perona floated toward them, a mischievous smile on her little face and her voice crisp and sweet.

"Talking about me behind my back? Unforgivable!"

"Ghosts, ghosts..."

As soon as she spoke, several pale ghosts darted toward Burgess.

The moment Burgess heard Perona's voice, he sprang to his feet and raised a hand to stop her. "No! Not again—"

Before he could finish, the ghosts passed through his body and flew on.

Burgess's face changed instantly, and an air of utter despair settled over him.

Thud...

"Trash like me shouldn't be allowed to live in this world."

Burgess knelt on the deck, his face contorted with anguish and self-reproach.

Lafitte planted his cane before him and smiled at Doc Q. "You wanted to see it again. Satisfied?"

Doc Q nodded, beaming with delight.

"Seeing Burgess like this just makes me want to laugh. Heh heh heh."

Burgess finally came to his senses. He sprang up, furious, and cursed, "That damn Perona, you—"

Once again, a ghost passed through him before he could finish.

"If there's a next life, I want to be a pile of shit."

This time was even worse. He wept bitterly, overwhelmed by misery.

Pato clapped and cheered, "This is fun! Keep going, Perona!"

"I must never get on this young lady's bad side."

Lafitte shook his head with a sigh, then walked to the railing to put some distance between them.

"I certainly don't want to go through that." Doc Q stood and hurried away too.

The nearby crewmen were terrified by the sight. One by one, they hid.

"Tsk. This new young lady is terrifying."

"I heard that's called Negative Hollow. If a ghost passes through you, you become incredibly negative."

"Negative? Look at Captain Burgess. He wants to be a pile of shit!"

"Stop talking about it! Do you have a death wish?"

"I don't know anything. Don't talk to me."

The men whispered among themselves, all looking at Perona with fear.

Burgess tried to stand again and launched into another tirade. "Perona, you little brat, I'll—"

As before, a ghost passed through him, cutting him off.

"How can an ugly man like me stay aboard the same ship as everyone else?"

Suddenly, Perona recalled all her ghosts and let out a clear laugh.

"If you ever dare say bad things about me again, I won't let you off so easily. Hollow, hollow, hollow..."

Still laughing, she flew into the distance and soon vanished from sight.

Burgess finally came to his senses. His eyes widened, and fury filled his face.

"What are you looking at? Keep staring and I'll kill you!"

He roared at the crewmen.

They all jumped. Some lowered their heads, some looked at the sky, and others turned away.

Whatever they did, none dared look at Burgess.

"How was it, Burgess? Felt pretty good, didn't it?"

Doc Q watched him with an eerie grin, teasing him.

Burgess pointed at Doc Q and shouted, "Doc Q, bring this up again and I swear you'll regret it."

"And the rest of you—if I hear anyone talking about it, I'll kill you!"

Lafitte straightened his top hat and said mildly, "Don't worry. Why would we ever discuss something like that?"

"But you should watch yourself too. Don't provoke that little terror again."