Chapter 28: Battle Against the Elemental

Although his mood was gloomier than ever, Garen dared not slacken for even a moment in the face of his current predicament.

He had already discerned that the thing descending from the colossal warship overhead was not smoke, but a man.

This man’s lower body was a swirling mass of smoke, jetting backward, while his upper half was a muscular human torso wielding a peculiar long weapon, its hilt sporting a crossbar at the side.

The constant emission of smoke from behind gave the man the ability to soar freely through the air.

“A body turning to smoke... a Logia-type Devil Fruit?”

Garen instantly recalled a familiar name: White Hunter Smoker!

He glanced once more at the enormous ship, confirming that the flag fluttering above was indeed that of the Navy.

While Garen pondered, Smoker had already shot toward him at astonishing speed.

“Wait!”

Garen cried out instinctively, “I’m not a pirate!”

But Smoker paid him no heed, charging forward with Ten Hands raised, the weapon ready to strike.

As a hot-tempered champion of justice, Smoker wasn’t about to listen to a pirate’s protestations; any misunderstandings could be sorted out after the opponent was subdued.

“Damn it!”

Garen’s mood sank still further. He no longer spared a thought for Buggy the Clown, who lay nearby, focusing all his attention on Smoker’s attack.

Smoker’s movements were swift, his dash far outstripping Garen’s own speed. As a highly esteemed Navy Headquarters Colonel, his strength was leagues above that of a rookie like Garen, barely at level four.

That half-smoke, half-human form soon closed the distance, and Smoker swung Ten Hands at Garen with overwhelming force.

“Decisive Strike!”

“Courage!”

Words having failed, Garen activated his abilities and met Smoker’s assault with his sword.

Garen’s greatsword, gleaming with dazzling brilliance, collided with Smoker’s plain and sturdy Ten Hands, sending a ringing metallic clang through the air.

In the direct clash, Smoker’s superior physique gave him the advantage, forcing Garen to retreat two steps.

“No silence effect?”

Garen was surprised.

His greatsword was still shimmering with the lingering glow of Decisive Strike, but Smoker’s smoke-transformed body continued to wield its fruit powers.

Must I hit the real body for the skill to take effect?

Garen realized the limitation of his ability, and refocused on Smoker’s upper torso, which remained solid.

He bent slightly, gathering strength, then lunged forward with his sword aimed at Smoker’s body.

Smoker watched Garen’s charge with a disdainful smile.

Trying to wound a Logia-user’s body?

Smoker’s contempt deepened, and he swung Ten Hands at Garen without any attempt at defense.

As their attacks crossed, Garen’s glowing sword was first to reach Smoker’s torso.

But just as the blade was about to strike flesh, Smoker’s body suddenly dissolved into a cloud of white smoke before the blow could land...

Garen’s Decisive Strike sliced through nothing but insubstantial mist.

His supposedly infallible attack missed its mark for the first time.

The Logia’s elemental transformation granted Smoker a state the system recognized as “unable to target.”

Garen’s attack failed, while Smoker seized the opportunity to hammer Ten Hands down on Garen’s shoulder.

The heavy weapon struck Garen’s sturdy shoulder armor, sparks flying, and the force sent Garen staggering several meters backward, crashing into the deck and leaving a deep crater.

He couldn’t win.

Not only was his physical prowess far inferior, but the enemy could all but ignore his regular attacks.

Garen understood the situation with clarity.

At his current strength, he was nowhere near matching Smoker in a straight fight.

But that was only true in a direct confrontation...

Garen’s expression hardened, and he quietly activated his newly learned skill: “Monkey King’s Trickery.”

His form blurred, and where he had just collapsed, a lifeless decoy identical to his real body appeared.

Seizing the moment of invisibility, Garen slipped silently to the side.

Smoker, eager to capitalize on his advantage, flew over to the fallen “Garen.”

“It’s over!”

Smoker leveled Ten Hands at the limp body on the deck, preparing to press his weapon to the throat and complete his capture.

Thud!

A muffled blow rang out.

The knight of justice raised his sword, radiating the light of righteousness, and delivered a just backstab to Smoker.

Shock spread across Smoker’s face as intense pain surged from his back, causing his muscular body to seize up in paralysis.

Ordinarily, a Logia’s body could simply ignore such physical attacks.

But to perform martial arts with Ten Hands, Smoker had deliberately kept his torso solid—a perfect target for Garen.

As the club struck, Smoker’s lower body immediately lost its smoke form; the mist coalesced, revealing his complete human form, and he plummeted heavily from mid-air.

Where was his ability?

The sensation was nothing like the lethargy caused by Sea Prism Stone; it felt as if his very Devil Fruit powers had vanished...

A sudden fear of unknown danger gripped Smoker’s heart and left him momentarily stunned.

“Down you go!”

Garen seized the fleeting opportunity, and, while Smoker was dazed, swung his sword fiercely at him.

But Smoker, worthy of his title as Navy Headquarters Colonel, recovered instantly, hurriedly raising Ten Hands to block Garen’s blow.

Yet Garen’s goal wasn’t simply to inflict harm.

The lifeboat was small, and their fierce battle had driven both men to its edge.

Garen’s mighty swing was aimed at sending this Devil Fruit user into the sea.

Smoker’s body shot into the air like a cannonball, hurtling toward the vast ocean.

As the water rapidly approached, Smoker instinctively tried to use his powers to resume his smoke form and fly—but...

A splash erupted.

The silence effect still lingered.

Smoker had been reduced to a drowned rat by Garen.

As a Devil Fruit user, Smoker’s formidable skills were useless in the water, his hardened muscles turned to limp noodles.

The once imposing Navy Colonel, after merely three exchanges, had become a helpless, floundering weakling.

This battle was lost.

“Ahh!”

Standing on the boat, Garen looked at Smoker, now powerless in the water, and said indignantly,

“I told you, I’m not a pirate!”

“Does someone have to take a dip before they’ll listen?”

“You...”

Buggy, who had been tossed into the sea by Garen and now lay limp and powerless on the lifeboat, had witnessed the entire brief, intense battle.

He stared at Garen in astonishment.

“You actually defeated a Logia user?!”

With his experience, Buggy easily recognized Smoker’s seemingly invincible Logia power from the first half of the Grand Line.

Yet this formidable, unstoppable Devil Fruit user had suffered defeat at the hands of an unknown bounty hunter?

Buggy was dumbfounded.

“Hmph!”

Garen responded to Buggy’s shock with nothing more than a mild snort.

“Logia fruits are nothing special.”

He planted his heavy sword firmly on the deck, standing tall and proud.

“Bah!”

Despite his weakness, Buggy couldn’t help but mock the arrogant youth,

“You ignorant brat!”

“All the Navy’s top Admirals are Logia users!”

Garen ignored him, maintaining an aloof silence and the air of a master in front of Buggy.

“Hahaha...”

Suddenly, hearty laughter rang out behind Garen.

A broad hand descended firmly on his shoulder.

With just that gentle touch, Garen felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness and fear, as if his entire being was under someone else’s control.

“Kid...”

The voice sounded again in Garen’s ear, “Quite the boastful tone...”