After forcing Tashigi back, the Nyaban Brothers did not pursue her—or rather, they couldn't.
Two trails of white smoke slithered across the floor like pythons, coiling up their legs and wrapping around their bodies in the blink of an eye, completely binding the duo.
"What is this stuff?!"
"Damn it!"
Panicking, the Nyaban Brothers stabbed their Ten-Blade Cat Claws into the smoke serpents. However, the blades simply passed right through, failing to affect the white smoke at all.
Smoker gripped his pinned jitte with one hand, while his other hand transformed into the white smoke that held the two brothers in a vice-like grip.
*It flows like a liquid and phases through any attack, yet it can physically bind the Nyaban Brothers. The mechanics of this Smoke-Smoke Fruit are truly bizarre,* Allen muttered inwardly.
Subsequently, he lifted his foot off the jitte and delivered a swift, powerful upward kick, launching a blast of wind directly at the smoke extending from Smoker's arm.
The trail of white smoke was instantly blown apart.
As if severed by an invisible blade, the great smoke serpent snapped in two. The smoke binding the Nyaban Brothers lost its form and quickly dissipated into nothingness.
"Just as I thought. Wind can blow away the white smoke." Allen's lips curled into a slight smile; he had his answer.
Just like how Crocodile's sand would clump together and lose its intangibility when exposed to water, Logia-type Devil Fruit abilities could be countered by other elements of nature.
And the natural counter to the Smoke-Smoke Fruit was obviously wind.
*In that case...*
Allen leaped backward. Upon landing, he reached out and grabbed a nearby table, forcefully ripping the wooden tabletop clean off with a loud splintering crack.
Having lost his grip on the Nyaban Brothers, Smoker finally yanked his jitte free. His legs transformed into smoke, propelling him backward.
"White Launcher!!"
Smoker's eyes turned ruthless. Clamping down hard on his two cigars, he shot forward like a rocket.
Facing the rapidly approaching Smoker, Allen suddenly flashed a wide, toothy grin. He raised the wooden board high with both hands and swung it down with tremendous force!
Whoosh—!
The turbulent air currents transformed into a fierce gale that blasted outward.
Smoker raised an arm to shield his face, glaring furiously at Allen through gritted teeth. The smoke beneath his feet scattered in the raging wind, forcibly halting his forward momentum and sending him crashing toward the floor.
Just before hitting the ground, Smoker planted a large hand on the floor and pushed off, executing a forward flip to land firmly on his feet.
"As expected, relying on this kind of trick to fight a Logia user is pushing it. I really need Seastone or seawater," Allen remarked, rubbing his chin before casually tossing the wooden tabletop aside.
Smoker fixed his gaze on Allen once more, his expression growing increasingly solemn. "You seem to know a lot about me, and even my abilities. I've been in the East Blue for a long time, but I've never heard of a guy like you..."
"Speaking of which, my name is Allen. I'm a pirate for fun. Though, of course, my skills are pretty decent," Allen replied with a relaxed smile. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he quickly asked Smoker, "By the way, are you going to report my information to Marine Headquarters? If you do, could you set my starting bounty at a hundred million Berries?"
"Also, could you give me a cool epithet? Ah, damn it, I haven't even figured out what I want my title to be yet."
"Black Tiger? Demon Lion? Wait, hold on, I haven't decided yet, hmmm..."
"Never mind, maybe you should hold off on reporting me for now," Allen said, raising a hand as he changed his mind.
Smoker's eyes were icy, and a visible anger began to surface on his face. "You bastard, are you kidding me...!"
Any pirate who dared to act this arrogantly in front of him usually had grass growing over their graves taller than his jitte by now.
"White Launcher!!"
With a loud roar, white smoke blasted from Smoker's lower body. He charged right up to Allen, gripping his jitte, and lashed out viciously.
The wind howled as the long weapon cut through the air in a sweeping strike!
Bang!!
Allen raised both arms to block the blow. The resulting wind pressure sent his black cape fluttering wildly behind him.
*This damn iron rod actually hurts against the bone,* he thought.
He pushed off the ground with his toes, using the momentum of the strike to glide backward through the air. He landed lightly on his feet right in front of a giant fish tank.
Allen looked up, the corners of his mouth turning upward.
Just as he expected, Smoker pressed the attack, his arm transforming into a jet of smoke!
"White Snake!!"
The smoke condensed into a massive python that lunged forward to bite him. Allen remained completely unfazed. He simply crossed his right arm over his chest and allowed the white smoke to bind his body.
The moment Smoker's main body rushed up to him, dragging his seven-foot jitte, Allen narrowed his eyes. A sharp glint flashed in his gaze as he violently smashed his right arm backward!
Crash!!
His fist shattered the giant fish tank, sending a torrential flood of seawater and glass shards exploding outward!
Smoker's pupils shrank in sudden shock. "Oh no...!!"
Splash—!!
Tons of seawater poured down, crashing heavily over both Allen and Smoker!
Drenched by the seawater, Smoker was instantly forced out of his elemental state. A wave of profound weakness spread through his limbs, and he quickly lost all his strength, collapsing to the floor.
Allen dropped into a half-crouch, steadily enduring the rush of water from behind.
Once the water had spread out across the room, he stepped toward Smoker, who was lying on the ground with half his body submerged in the puddles.
Allen wore a contemptuous expression as he looked down at his opponent from above. "Logia types aren't invincible. You rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability, Smoker."
"You bas... tard...!" Smoker gritted his teeth, glaring up at him. His eyes were filled with fury, yet he was completely powerless.
He had never imagined he would fall to a pirate in such a manner.
However, the only response he received was Allen's fist, which was as large as a sandbag.
Bam!!
Allen raised his right arm and delivered a brutal hook directly to Smoker's face.
"Pfft-gah!"
Smoker spat out a mouthful of blood. His face turned a sickly pale, and he looked to be in extreme agony.
Allen showed no mercy, throwing lefts and rights, ruthlessly pummeling Smoker's face punch after punch!
Bam!! Bam!! Bam!!
"Captain Smoker!!" Tashigi cried out in panic and anger, preparing to rush forward.
However, the Nyaban Brothers intercepted her once again. Unable to break through, she could only watch helplessly as Smoker was brutally beaten.
Right at that moment, a large group of chefs wearing aprons and tall toques suddenly charged out from the back kitchen.
"Enough! Stop it right now!"
"How are we supposed to do business with you tearing the place apart?!"
"Which bastard dares to cause trouble in here?!"
Armed with various weapons, the chefs menacingly surrounded them.
Seeing this formation, even Tashigi panicked for a second. *Why does this restaurant look more like a bandit hideout?* she wondered.
The Nyaban Brothers furrowed their brows and brandished their gleaming cat claws, shooting Allen an inquiring look.
However, Allen simply waved his hand, signaling the two to fall back.
Standing in opposition to the chefs would be detrimental to his plans. Beating up Smoker was a forced counterattack, but fighting the cooks would completely defeat the purpose of coming here.
Allen knew exactly where to draw the line.
At that moment, an old man stepped out from the crowd of chefs. His mustache was braided into two long strands, and a wooden peg replaced his severed leg.
Zeff crossed his arms over his chest and spoke in a deep voice, "This restaurant isn't a place for you to brawl. If you're here to eat, stay. If you want to cause trouble, get the hell out! Otherwise, don't blame us for getting rough!"
"And the compensation!" A bald man stepped out from the crowd. He had a burly physique and bizarrely thick wrists.
Patty pointed at Allen and the battered Smoker in his grip, shouting angrily, "You smashed so many of our dishes! And the floor! And this fish tank!"
"Do you have any idea how much damage you've caused?! Pay up, you bastards! I want every last Berry!"
"Pay up?" Facing Patty's denunciation, Allen merely let out a disdainful chuckle.
"Heh, I'm afraid the truth might scare you."
Sweeping a cold gaze over all the chefs present, Allen's expression suddenly shifted. He threw his hands up in a completely deadpan manner and said, "I have no money."
"How is that scary at all?!" The entire staff of chefs rolled their eyes and glared at him viciously.
Only the bald chef, Patty, clutched his head with both hands and screamed in sheer terror, "What?! This guy actually has no money! Doesn't that mean we have to cover all these damages ourselves?!"
"Is that really the important part right now?!" The rest of the chefs bared their sharp teeth, turning to yell angrily at Patty.
Just then, a figure walked in through the restaurant entrance. Sanji, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, cast a mild glance at Smoker and said, "I went and checked. Your subordinates are just unconscious. It's nothing serious."
"And as for you." Stepping up beside Zeff, Sanji turned his gaze to Allen.
Pinching the cigarette between two fingers, he blew out a ring of smoke and said flatly, "You heard the old man. If you're here to eat, you can stay. But if you still want to cause trouble..."
"Then we'll be your opponents from here on out." As his words fell, Sanji's eyes grew noticeably colder.
The chefs behind him tightened their grips on their weapons, staring daggers at Allen.
Allen couldn't help but take a second look at Sanji, half-afraid the cook was about to follow up with, "Please give me some face."
"I can stop, but I have one question."
Allen's gaze swept across the room. He lifted the battered Smoker in his hand, pointed at him, and blinked innocently. "Can the Marines pay for the damages? He threw the first punch. You all saw that, right?"
"Are you still hung up on that?!" Sanji and the crowd of chefs couldn't help but roll their eyes and glare at him once again.
Only Patty rubbed his large hands together with a look of pure joy. He nodded and laughed in satisfaction, "Hahaha, of course, of course! I saw it too! The Marine definitely threw the first punch."
"You just want the money, don't you?!" The other chefs whipped their heads around, baring their teeth and screaming at him.
Want more chapters? 50+ extra chapters are available on my Patreon :
<< patreon.com/Aragai_Sama >>