Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

Zephyr looked up, baring his white teeth at the unsteady Luffy. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he unleashed a terrifying burst of power with his left hand, lifting Luffy up like a windmill and slamming him down onto the broken deck below.

"No matter how outstanding your combat awareness is, you still have to be down-to-earth!"

Bang—Boom!

"I'll return that favor!"

During this rapid recovery, Luffy's body suddenly twisted using the properties of rubber, his waist and abdomen exerted force, and his other leg lashed out like a whip, kicking Zeff heavily in the chest with a whooshing sound!

"You're definitely not to be underestimated, kid!"

Zephyr's chest trembled with power, and he let out a muffled groan, but he did not let go. Instead, he exerted his strength again, slamming Luffy to the ground even more violently!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye; the exchange between the two sides was swift and deadly, with each side reacting to the other's moves with equal skill and utmost danger.

The veteran fighters' combat experience is indeed terrifyingly rich. Luffy seems to see the shadow of his grandfather Garp, who was as steady as a mountain and as sharp as the wind, in Zephyr.

However, unlike before, after several high-intensity bursts, Zephyr's breathing began to become heavy, and even a faint, irregular sound could be heard, proving that in terms of physical strength and energy, the years had finally left their mark on this former general.

boom!

Luffy's back collided violently with the deck. The enormous impact caused the already damaged hull to groan under the strain, and a large crater was formed in the deck, with wood chips flying everywhere.

However, Zeff threw Luffy twice, and Luffy naturally gritted his teeth and kicked Zeff twice in return. The last kick that hit Zeff in the chest also hurt him badly, and he staggered backward until he crashed into the crumbling cabin wall behind him with a thud and was buried inside.

"Luffy!"

On the Thousand Sunny, far from the battlefield, Nami, who had been watching the battle with bated breath, couldn't help but scream and covered her mouth tightly with both hands.

The battle over there was so intense that every clash felt like a blow to their hearts.

Amidst the billowing smoke, Zefa was the first to emerge from the wooden rubble. He rubbed his chest, his face pale, and his breathing becoming increasingly rapid.

Almost simultaneously, Luffy leaped out of the dent he had created. Although he looked slightly disheveled and his rubber body had some bruises, his eyes remained bright and his fighting spirit was high.

"Nothing's wrong here?"

Seeing Luffy's energetic appearance, a hint of emotion and a deeper sense of solemnity flashed in Zephyr's eyes.

This kid's resilience and recovery are simply superhuman!

Who trained him to achieve this?

Aside from Kaido, who ate a special Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, only Big Mom, with her exceptionally gifted physique, could have this feeling.

However, Luffy gave him no chance to catch his breath and launched another attack as soon as he landed.

He suddenly stretched his arm back, clenched his fist, and an invisible wave condensed in the air.

"Rubber King Fist!"

Snapped!

Zefa's eyes narrowed as he sensed the compressed domineering aura and impact of the fist. He instinctively raised his left fist to block.

A powerful force erupted, jolting his arm away.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Luffy quickly flipped over and closed in on him, then unleashed another hook punch covered in Armament Haki like a venomous snake striking Zephyr's jaw!

boom!boom!

Two dull thuds sounded almost simultaneously.

Luffy's hook punch was blocked by Zephyr's right prosthetic arm, which he raised in time, while Luffy's next punch was barely deflected by his left hand, which he had just deflected.

Both attacks landed solidly, producing dull thuds.

"Your fighting style is very disciplined, with continuous attacks. Garp has taught you very well."

Zefa frowned, but still couldn't help praising him in a deep voice.

Luffy's attacks were not random punches, but rather carried a clear rhythm and purpose, as if they had been honed through countless trials.

Even so, when we asked Garp to be an instructor at the training camp before, that guy made all sorts of excuses, picking his nose and giving a perfunctory reply, saying that he didn't know how to teach.

You call that not knowing how?

Zephyr really wanted to slap Garp across the face.

"Thank you for the compliment!"

As soon as Luffy finished speaking, he rushed in front of Zephyr, suddenly grinned, and the two were now almost face to face.

Luffy slammed his hands onto Zephyr's broad shoulders, tilted his head back slightly, and then rammed forward like a battering ram!

A vicious headbutt, hardened with domineering force, slammed solidly into Zephyr's forehead.

Boom!

The immense force caused Zephyr's head to snap back, his vision went black for a moment, and he lost his balance, staggering backward.

But in that very moment of retreat and defeat, Luffy's right fist, poised to strike, was like a cannonball, hitting Zephyr's wide-open chest with pinpoint accuracy!

boom!

Zephyr, like a kite with a broken string, flew backward again, crashing heavily into the deeper ruins of the ship's hold, stirring up clouds of dust.

"That's really something, uncle."

Luffy shook his slightly numb forehead, looked at his fist, and his eyes gleamed with excitement: "That feeling of gathering power and then unleashing it. I feel like I'm about to grab onto something!"

Amidst the smoke, Zephyr slowly stood up, his domineering aura fading from his forehead and chest, leaving behind distinct red marks.

He stared intently at the black and red Conqueror's Haki lightning that was constantly flashing and erupting on Luffy's body, and even began to resonate faintly with the attack. An incredulous and solemn look finally appeared in his eyes.

Is the Conqueror's Haki that's been swirling around him really going to be honed by this brat in battle?

What alarmed Zephyr even more was that Luffy had maintained a high level of Haki usage from the start of the battle, yet he showed no signs of fatigue. On the contrary, he became more and more ferocious as the battle progressed, and his Haki usage became even more refined and sophisticated than before.

Such terrifying physical reserves and growth rate are simply unheard of.

Even at his peak, with such extravagant and domineering style, he must be feeling strained right now.

"This kind of qualification is terrifying."

Zefa clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, a strong sense of crisis gripping him. "I absolutely cannot let you continue to operate on this sea!"

Someone with Luffy's talent.

They can definitely grow to that level.

Roger.

Kaido.

Rocks.

White beard.

......

These are some of the most notorious pirates.

"Hehe, is that a compliment?"

Luffy, unaware that Zephyr had already placed him alongside those legendary pirates, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, "But I haven't used my full strength yet!"

After saying that, Luffy took a deep breath, and his aura suddenly changed!

White, steam-like energy surged from his body, instantly turning his hair and eyebrows snow-white, surrounded by white flame clouds.

Fifth Gear - Nika Mode, activated!

The white flames swirling around his body moved like living things, their colors contrasting beautifully with the black and red lightning.

Chapter 290 Straw Hats and Supernovas Are Not in the Same Class

When Zephyr saw Luffy in this form, his eyes widened in surprise and bewilderment.

"This is Life Return? No! It's the awakened form of a Devil Fruit?! How could a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit have such a form?"

What surprised him even more was that as Luffy's form changed, the part of the sinking ship beneath his feet that was in contact with him began to twist like rubber, and the sinking speed visibly slowed down a lot!

Does this directly impact the environment?

It is indeed the power of a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit awakening.

Zefa was completely confused.

"Rubber White - Meteor!"

Ignoring Zephyr's shock, Luffy's attacks became even more unrestrained after entering Gear 5.

He laughed and threw a punch, his arm extending at an incredible angle and speed, his fist smashing towards Zephyr like a meteor.

Zephyr instinctively extended his prosthetic arm, wrapping it with Armament Haki of the Ryuo level, and clashed with the white fist.

boom!

At the moment of collision, what was generated was no longer a simple shockwave, but a terrifying halo mixed with black and red lightning and white impact, which spread rapidly in all directions, causing the surrounding sea surface to dent!

Zefa's temples and arms bulged with veins, and he clenched his teeth.

Luffy threw another punch from the side.

Having no other choice, Zephyr unleashed both fists, colliding fiercely with Luffy's fist, which contained terrifying power.

It's at a stalemate!

Footsteps left two deep furrows on the rubberized deck.

The Haki and the ultimate power of the Devil Fruit were locked in a fierce battle, with both sides losing stamina at an alarming rate.

But it's clear that Luffy, who has entered Gear 5 and is getting stronger with each battle, is gradually gaining the upper hand!

"Your strength has decreased."

Luffy suddenly increased his strength, his fists turning into countless afterimages. Zephyr, after all, was old and frail, and had a hidden ailment. His defense was forcibly broken, and he was once again violently sent flying, crashing into the last section of the still intact ship's side.

"Rubber White Machine Gun!!"