Chapter 167: The Duel Between Dragon and the Navy

Colonel Nezumi looked at the wavering Smoker as if he were looking at trash, sneering, "The man standing before you is the Leader of the Revolutionary Army; do you intend to let him go?"

He was extremely anxious inside.

The combat power of the Loguetown Navy was very strong, unlike the useless good-for-nothings under his own command.

If not for the help of the Loguetown Navy, it would likely be very difficult for the East Blue 16th Branch Navy alone to defeat Dragon and the Revolutionary Army behind him.

Was he to just hand over such a heaven-sent merit to others?

"Of course, I will strike."

Smoker drew his jitte made of Seastone, his entire body transforming into purple smoke as he charged toward Dragon.

Bringing criminals to justice is the sacred duty of the Navy.

The purple smoke of his lower body coiled rapidly like a sea snake, completely enveloping Dragon within the range of the poisonous fumes.

"So strong."

The Navy of the 16th Branch secretly glanced at their own Colonel Nezumi.

Everyone held the same rank, so how could the gap in strength be this vast?

"Smoke?"

Dragon's vision was swallowed by the purple poisonous smoke; just looking at the color made it clear that these fumes were highly toxic.

He clenched his fists and punched fiercely toward the densest part of the poisonous smoke.

Wind Dragon Top Horn.

A jade-green Magic Circle appeared, whipping up a gale in the shape of a dragon's horn, tearing through the poisonous smoke Smoker had constructed with his body.

"Such a strong ability, is it a Purple Skill?"

Smoker's torso was still floating in the air, and he was shocked to find that his lower body, which had been blown apart by Dragon, could not quickly reassemble.

The lingering aura of the Feng Yuansu Moha was blocking the cohesion of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit.

It was like the absolute suppression of a lower-level energy by a higher-level one.

"Dragon, the power of the elemental gale, both in terms of energy purity and rank, is far stronger than an ordinary gale."

"Ivankov."

"Apologies."

Ivankov immediately covered his mouth; such a foolish mistake of revealing one's ability in the heat of battle was no different from announcing one's fruit ability before a fight.

"Everyone, attack!"

Colonel Nezumi, watching as the usually overbearing Smoker was suppressed by Dragon in a single move, immediately shouted.

Countless Navy soldiers raised their guns and fired.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

A dense barrage of bullets shot toward Dragon.

Before Ivankov's Holy Light Defense Magic could even be released, Dragon had already charged into the barrage; the bullets struck his body as if hitting an incredibly hard steel plate, emitting only crisp sounds without causing the slightest injury.

In the Pirate World, named experts do not eat bullets.

This was also an ability derived from the Wind Dragon, not Feng Yuansu Moha, but an ability inherent to Dragon Blood: Wind Dragon Scale Armor, which grants extremely strong defensive capabilities when released.

"Revolutionary Army."

The slaves all stared blankly at this scene.

No one was a fool; to throw one's lot in with the Revolutionary Army based on just two or three words was rare—to a large extent, the strength displayed by the Leader of the Revolutionary Army was also a factor in their considerations.

The scales in their hearts began to tilt toward the Revolutionary Army.

"Stop right there!"

Smoker twisted his body, unable to wait for the smoke to gather, and dove toward Dragon while swinging the jitte in his hand.

Poison Shadow Needle.

The poisonous smoke within his body flowed into his palm, condensing into a thin, purple-black needle, which he flicked toward the back of Dragon's heart along the angle of his jitte's swing.

The fighting style of a Street Fighter is to use any means necessary.

As long as the criminal can be captured, the process of the battle is unimportant.

Rip.

Dragon sensed a dangerous aura behind him and tilted his body slightly, attempting to dodge the incoming Poison Shadow Needle.

The Wind Dragon Scale Armor took effect.

A surge of wind elemental currents rippled out, creating circles that blocked the Poison Shadow Needle.

The inconspicuous, tiny poisonous needle, however, erupted with rare penetrating power, tearing a fine, small hole directly through the Wind Dragon Scale Armor and grazing past Dragon's lower back.

"As expected, one cannot underestimate any player's skill."

Dragon touched his lower back, where slightly purple blood was flowing from the wound.

It was clearly in a poisoned state.

"Dragon, although I don't know what level your wind elemental skill is, you are too arrogant!"

Smoker's expression was cold.

His own Poison Shadow Needle was already at Lv. 10, and every five levels, the Entry enhanced its penetrating power.

Even though the Wind Dragon Scale Armor had also been raised to Lv. 10 by Dragon and possessed extremely strong defense, its attached Entry was for wind-attribute Resistance, which could not fully resist the piercing of the Poison Shadow Needle.

"Very good, just like that, finish off the most dangerous criminal in one go!"

Colonel Nezumi, who had already run a long distance away when he saw Dragon chasing, turned his head back and started shouting again.

As long as Dragon was killed, he would be in a weakened state after his resurrection period ended.

His attributes in all aspects would drop severely, and he would be nothing but meat on the chopping block.

"Holy Light Healing!"

Ivankov shook his Purple curly hair and quickly ran forward, his hands erupting with a brilliant golden halo; a healing aura enveloped Dragon's wound, not only dispelling the Poison but leaving not even a scar behind.

"Not good."

Smoker's expression changed slightly.

His Poison Shadow Needle relied on sneak attacks to succeed; if facing an enemy head-on, Dragon, protected by the Wind Dragon Scale Armor, could never be pierced.

Dragon also knew that the strongest player present was Smoker; he turned his head, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, and his fists smashed toward Smoker in the air.

His hair danced wildly in the wind.

Smoker could barely keep his eyes open, feeling only the wind elemental energy swirling around the opponent's fists, which threatened to blow his entire body apart.

Forcing himself to stabilize his body, he whipped out two consecutive Poison Shadow Needles, only for them to be blown away instantly.

Watching Dragon get closer and closer, he gritted his teeth and directly unleashed the strongest skill he had currently obtained from the Trial Tower.

Crouching Tiger Overlord Fist!

Smoker discarded his jitte and relied on his fists to withstand Dragon's wind-fists.

Each swing produced a shockwave of Purple smoke, and the air began to vibrate under the force of his punches.

Bang.

Dragon's fists landed without the slightest hesitation; each collision was able to scatter Smoker's fists into smoke.

Smoker could only disregard the possibility of injury, forcibly re-condensing his fists and continuously trading blows with Dragon.

Fists.

Arms.

Shoulders.

Until finally, Dragon forcefully shattered Smoker's head; the wind elemental aura flowed, completely suppressing the elementalization ability of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit.

"Even Smoker was defeated?"

"That is the most vicious man in the world; it is only natural that Colonel Smoker would fail, but I never expected him to be defeated so miserably!"

The Navy watched as Smoker was enveloped in white light and entered a resurrection state, all of them turning pale with fright.

They were mentally prepared for the fact that Smoker could not beat Dragon.

But being forcefully shattered by several consecutive punches—this overbearing momentum and Smoker's defeat without any ability to resist was something the Navy simply could not accept.

Just at this moment,

Garp, wearing a dog-head hat, arrived in time and collided with a punch against Dragon, who was about to charge into the Navy ranks.

Bang.

Where the two collided, the airflow rippled out in layers of circular shockwaves.

"Dragon!"

Garp let out a low roar.

He had not expected that upon arriving, he would find the other party attempting to slaughter the Navy; this was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

"Is it you, old man."

Retreating with the force of the collision, the expressionless face of Dragon finally revealed a complex emotion of a long-awaited reunion, as well as a trace of a sigh.

Sorry brothers, starting work now... will continue to mass-release next time I'm off.

(End of this chapter)