Chapter 617

His entire chest felt as if it was about to burst open.

A series of stabbing pains passed through him, gradually disrupting his breathing rhythm.

Huh!

He let out a heavy breath and forcibly corrected the chaos within his body.

"Punch Demon, what a terrifying monster!"

"If I hadn't activated my Devil Fruit ability just in time to manipulate the scattered sand into a shield, that punch would've inflicted even more devastating damage."

"Over ninety percent of that punch's force was already neutralized by the shield."

"However."

"The remaining ten percent still caused noticeable damage to my body."

"Terrifying! Too terrifying!"

Crocodile's face was full of gravity, his mood sinking.

The more he thought,

the clearer it became.

How incredibly powerful the five-year-old brat before him truly was!

Strong enough to make his scalp tingle!

"Just with one glance…"

"He nearly crushed me in a single strike."

"This brat is indeed as strong as a monster."

Crocodile took a deep breath and forcibly steadied his trembling emotions.

He lifted his head,

his eyes filled with wariness as he stared at Lu En.

In his view…

Five-year-old Lu En was more dangerous than over ninety-nine percent of the monsters in the Grand Line!

And more terrifying!

"I already said it."

"Don't casually use your elementization in front of me."

"Because…"

"It's meaningless!"

"I seriously suspect you've stayed in Alabasta too long—your brain has rotted?"

"You've sailed the New World, yet you don't even know about Armament Haki?"

Lu En spoke.

Crocodile's face darkened.

He had no rebuttal,

no words to answer.

He certainly knew Armament Haki was an extremely terrifying power.

But he had never witnessed it.

Not like the ultra-powerful Armament Haki that Lu En controlled!

"You, who chase external power…"

"Have lost your former fierce spirit."

"Now, you're nothing but a failure—a pathetic clown!"

"You truly disappoint me."

"After staying too long in the tranquil seas of the first half of the Grand Line, you've probably grown accustomed to this peace and lost your former drive."

"You've faced too many weak opponents, making you falsely believe that just possessing a Logia Devil Fruit lets you dominate the seas."

Lu En's smile was sly.

The opponents he'd encountered were too weak…

and as a result,

Crocodile had developed the delusion that he was invincible.

If so,

then today, he would strike him hard awake!

Let him truly understand.

The Logia Devil Fruit…

isn't that impressive!

It's just an extra elementization.

So what?

"Before my iron fists, so-called Logia users."

"Are fragile and utterly defenseless!"

"And you, of course, won't be an exception."

Lu En said.

"Arrogant!"

Crocodile's heart flared with anger.

But being struck by Lu En's iron fist had already planted fear and Gu Ji in his heart.

He dared not act lightly again.

Lu En is strong!

Extremely strong!

It also brought him immense pressure.

Facing such a monstrous powerhouse, he naturally needed to wait for an opportunity, not rush forward blindly to fight.

"Do you know?"

"That punch…"

"Was merely a casual strike of mine."

"Yet you nearly couldn't even block my casual punch."

"Do you know what that means?"

Lu En laughed.

"Huh?!"

"A casual punch?!"

Crocodile's pupils shrank, his face turning pale.

Sss—

He involuntarily drew in a sharp breath, his spirit trembling violently.

A casual punch from this little demon…

Nearly dealt him a crippling blow?!

Is this real?

Are you insane?!

How could this little demon's strength reach such a level?!

Was that truly just a casual punch?!

A casual punch that made him feel a lethal threat?!

Unbelievable!

How could a five-year-old demon be this strong?!

For a moment, Crocodile struggled to accept this astonishing result.

After a long pause,

He forced down the fear trembling within him.

"Bluffing!"