One Piece: The Arm of Fate

Disappointment.

Deep disappointment.

That was the only emotion in Shano's heart at the moment.

He had clearly been looking forward to this battle at first.

Even though Lucci hadn't mastered Haki yet, it didn't matter. At worst, Shano wouldn't use it either. Wasn't it the same back when he fought Garp in Goa Kingdom?

Restraining Haki and relying solely on physical strength—a pure brawl could still deliver a satisfying duel.

Unfortunately...

Lucci was too weak.

Even if he just stood there and let Lucci attack, the man couldn't break through his defense.

This person, who once exuded oppressive force just by showing up and had a status even higher than some of the Seven Warlords...

Now, in front of Shano, he was no different from someone like Nami.

"Next, it's my turn."

Shano spoke flatly:

"I let you hit me so many times, and I've only hit you once. Isn't that unfair?"

"Take this punch—and live."

"If you can't, then die."

"After all…" Shano looked down at Lucci, mockery gleaming in his eyes. "The weak have no reason to live. Isn't that what you believe in?"

Before infiltrating Water 7, Lucci had already stained his hands with innocent blood—far more than most villains.

At just thirteen, when a small allied nation was invaded by pirates and had no choice but to call for World Government reinforcements, all 500 of their soldiers were defeated.

Lucci arrived as the government's support—but instead of dealing with the pirates, he first slaughtered all 500 soldiers, not sparing a single life.

The reason?

Simple: he believed that weaklings didn't deserve to exist or serve their country.

For people like that...

Shano might overlook the rest of CP9, so long as they didn't provoke him.

But for Lucci—he had no reason to show mercy.

In the next instant—

Shano directly released his "Paper Painting Warrior" form.

Ka!

His body suddenly expanded at a speed hard to follow with the naked eye. His loose clothes ripped open with a tearing sound.

The handsome young man vanished.

In his place stood a complete monster.

Towering at four and a half meters, his muscle-packed frame was like cast iron. Pulsating veins ran under his skin like writhing serpents.

The moonlight was blocked, and the iron curtain-like shadow fell, suffocating all who saw it.

Lucci stared up blankly at the towering figure, lips trembling, face deathly pale.

Is this... his true form?!

Why didn't he reveal it earlier?! Why pretend to be a teenager?!

If I had known this from the start, how could I have underestimated the physique of this monster?!

"Oh? Did I grow a little taller?"

Shano lowered his head to inspect himself and grinned.

"Seems I weigh over a ton now."

He slowly clenched his fist. Crack! The sound of joints snapping echoed like thunder. The surrounding air visibly distorted from the pressure.

"Good. I've gotten used to it. Time for you to take this punch, Lucci."

Without hesitation, Shano grabbed Lucci's head like it was a ping pong ball and hurled him into the air.

Before Lucci could react, his body had soared a hundred meters high—and began falling rapidly.

On the ground, Shano stood waiting, fist clenched, grin wide.

Boom—!!!

Shano's fist blasted upward.

He didn't bother with any of the Six Styles, or even the devastating Spear of Elbaf.

Lucci wasn't worth it.

No special technique. No Haki. Just raw, terrifying power.

Even so—

The fist's shockwave tore through the air like an explosion, shattering the ground for dozens of meters. The sonic boom alone shattered every window in Dock No. 1.

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

"Iron Body!"

Feeling the crushing force coming his way, Lucci panicked and roared in despair.

He completed his beast transformation into a full leopard, gambling everything on his defense!

Just as the force was about to crush him, a dark green door opened beneath him.

"Air Door—Open!!!"

Bruno stepped through, arms crossed in front of Lucci, his own body hardened with Iron Body.

"Bruno…" Lucci's eyes widened in shock.

Boom—!!!

The explosion thundered. Bruno's Iron Body was torn apart in less than a second, his chest caved in, bones shattering audibly. Blood gushed from every orifice as he flew like a ragdoll.

The dark green door fared no better—it shattered like glass, dissipating into specks of green light.

The remaining shockwave slammed into Lucci.

Boom!

Though Bruno had blocked most of it, what remained still shattered Lucci's beast form defenses.

He fell to the ground like a lifeless puppet, spider-web cracks forming beneath him.

Smoke and dust billowed.

"Bruno…"

Lucci struggled to turn his head, blood dripping from his mouth.

Despite Bruno shielding him, Lucci's human form was now broken—bones shattered, organs displaced.

He soon spotted Bruno.

His comrade was a bloody mess a few meters away. His breathing was faint—he wouldn't survive.

"Lu... Lucci…"

Bruno raised a trembling hand and scratched a door on the ground.

"While I still have breath… crawl in and escape. When I die, my ability will vanish…"

Escape...?

"Cough…" Lucci coughed up blood, eyes dazed as he stared at the door.

Escape...?

Then he turned to the sky and laughed softly—his voice hoarse.

"People can escape… but where does my heart… my will go?"

Bruno froze.

Lucci's eyes, always cold and full of conviction, now brimmed with self-loathing.

"I've already lost… completely lost…"

Lucci looked at his trembling right hand. The index finger Shano had torn off bled again as his strength faded.

"CP9's so-called genius of 800 years… top-tier martial arts… it's all a joke…"

His voice rose into a mad, broken laugh:

"What a joke!!"

He'd gone all out—and couldn't even scratch the enemy.

And the opponent's ordinary punch left him helpless.

He was nearly 30. Shano was only 18. The gap was a chasm.

Boom!

A fist slammed into his face. Lucci's crazed laugh was cut off.

Bruno had dragged himself to Lucci's side, gasping, hand clutching his collar.

"Lucci! You bastard… I risked my life to save you. You don't get to decide if you live or die!"

"You think you can beat a monster like that?! Get over it! Don't act like it's some irredeemable shame!"

"If you're alive… there's still hope!"

Lucci stared blankly at him.

"Hope…?"

He gave a bitter laugh. "That kind of monster… how—"

"Then get stronger!!"

Bruno coughed up blood but still glared at him. "Didn't you always say the weak have no right to live? Then what the hell do you call giving up like this?!"

Lucci trembled.

Yes…

Weakness isn't shameful.

But surrendering your will is.

If he gave up now, how was he any different from those he'd condemned?

He gritted his teeth, steadied himself, and looked Bruno in the eyes.

"Bruno…"

"Cut the crap… GO!"

Step. Step. Step.

Shano's footsteps approached.

Calm. Slow. Yet each step fell between heartbeats—like a death knell.

That monster…

He was coming!

Bruno's body trembled. But he still pushed the green door in front of Lucci.

"If you don't leave now, it'll be too late! Go!"

"I saved you… because only you can save Kaku and Kalifa from those girls…"

Finally moved, Lucci gave Bruno one last look and crawled toward the door—

Wu La La La~! Such a powerful aura—it must be here! I finally found you, kid Shano!!!

A wild, crazed laugh echoed from the sky.

Boom!!!

A massive black shadow plummeted like a meteorite, slamming down between them!

The ground exploded. Shockwaves swept out violently.

Lucci and Bruno were obliterated in an instant—no time to scream.

The green door disappeared as Bruno died.

Whoosh…

As the dust cleared…

A hulking figure stood up.

He had wild black hair, massive horns, a scarred bare chest, and a giant mace on his back. In his hand—an oversized wine gourd.

He drank deeply.

"Huh?"

Shano, yawning, had been about to finish Lucci off—but paused.

A surprise?

Looking at the man chugging wine…

"Wait… isn't that…"

Shano's sleepy eyes lit up with fiery excitement. A grin crept across his face—and turned into a full-blown wild laugh.

"So you did find me! Looks like luck's on both sides!!!"

Outside Dock No. 1

Citizens had arrived just in time to witness the demon-like figure fall from the sky.

Everyone froze.

"Am I seeing things?!"

"That guy… is it… Kaido?!"

From the crowd came a terrified shout.

"Kaido, captain of the Beast Pirates—the Emperor of the Sea?!"

"The Four Emperors… why is one of them here?!"

Panic exploded. People screamed, ran, crashed into each other on the waterways.

"It's Kaido!! It's really Kaido!!"

"Shouldn't someone like him be in the New World?! Why is he in Water 7?!"

"It's over! Where's the Navy?! Where's the World Government?! Who'll save us?!"

Desperate cries echoed.

Kaido didn't care. He was used to it.

He burped after finishing his drink and looked across at the boy.

In the moonlight, he squinted and frowned.

"Did I get the wrong guy again?"

He'd sensed a powerful aura and dropped in…

But this didn't match!

Still—someone this strong in Paradise?

Maybe worth recruiting!

"What do you mean 'wrong person,' Kaido?!"

Shano cracked his knuckles, laughing. "I'm standing right in front of you and you don't recognize me? Weren't you just shouting my name?!"

"You're Shano?"

Kaido pulled out a wrinkled bounty and held it up.

He frowned.

"Is this you?"

The photo showed a slim young man with a sword on his back.

But this guy? A hulking beast. Nothing like the image.

"That's me."

"You kiddin' me? This ain't human!!"

Kaido crushed the poster in fury.

"Think I'm that easy to fool?!"

"Tch, what a hassle…"

Shano sighed—and his body suddenly shrank.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the giant became the black-haired youth from the poster.

"Now?"

Hands in pockets, Shano raised his head and asked with a grin.

"..."

Kaido's eyes widened. He stared for a long time.

Then he slowly picked the crumpled bounty off the ground, spread it out, and studied it again.

Finally—his face lit up in wild excitement.

It really was this kid!

After all that searching—he'd finally found him!

"Uuhuhuhuhu, kid…"

Kaido grinned wide, about to speak—

ROAR—!!!

A deafening elephant cry shook Dock No. 1.

Kaido turned.

A massive mammoth charged from the distance—each step quaking the earth, tusks shining under the moonlight.