Without warning, Musshuru strode forward.
Unfazed by the two figures before him, he left Wapol behind, advancing alone with a predator's confidence.
Luffy reacted first, matching Musshuru's pace, his own steps deliberate as he closed the distance.
"You scared my little brother," Musshuru said, voice dripping with menace. "That's gonna cost you."
"Don't care," Luffy shot back. "He's just a coward."
The gap between them shrank, their steps slow but steady, like duelists sizing each other up.
"Hey, you insulting my brother in front of me?" Musshuru growled. "That's not gonna fly."
"He insulted pirates first," Luffy countered.
"Did he now? Well, I'm not apologizing," Musshuru said with a shrug.
Mid-stride, Musshuru suddenly bent his knees. Luffy's brow twitched, and as Musshuru lunged, Luffy reacted in sync, both raising their legs in a flash. Their kicks collided with a thunderous crack, the shockwave rippling through the air.
Their feet locked together, eyes burning into each other.
The impact sent a jolt through Luffy's leg, electric and sharp.
Both pressed harder, neither yielding, until they broke apart, retreating in unison.
They landed, sliding across the snow.
Luffy charged without pause, Musshuru matching his advance. They clashed again, bare-handed. Luffy's fists and kicks flew with fluid precision, while Musshuru used his long limbs to dance in and out, landing calculated strikes before retreating. Both moved with the ease of seasoned fighters, their skill evenly matched.
"Hrah!" Luffy roared.
"Ngh!" Musshuru grunted.
Luffy dodged a spinning kick, twisting his hips, then threw an uppercut that grazed Musshuru's jaw. A roundhouse kick followed, slamming into his gut, then a spinning punch to the cheek. Three rapid strikes left Musshuru staggering, his footing unsteady.
Luffy flipped backward, gaining distance, twisting his right arm like a coiled spring.
"Gomu Gomu no—!" Luffy shouted.
Musshuru's eyes widened as Luffy charged. Instinctively, he raised his right arm, palm open, as if to catch the incoming blow.
Luffy didn't hesitate, unleashing his attack—only for Musshuru's hand to transform.
"Rifle!" Luffy yelled.
The punch connected, but not as expected. Instead of flesh, Luffy's fist sank into something soft with a muffled puff. A massive mushroom had sprouted from Musshuru's arm, its cap absorbing the blow.
Its vivid, poisonous hue froze Luffy in place.
He yanked his arm back, but Musshuru didn't pursue, smirking with smug confidence.
"What the—? A mushroom? Your arm's a mushroom?" Luffy gaped.
"I ate the Noko Noko Fruit. I'm a full-body Mushroom Man," Musshuru said coolly. "This kind of transformation's child's play."
Musshuru pushed back against Luffy's fist, the mushroom cushioning the impact. Luffy, stunned by the bizarre sight, lost focus, his attention fixed on the fungal arm.
In that moment, Musshuru's arm shifted again. The mushroom cap changed color, then began spinning at blinding speed, its shape now resembling a drill, hardened to iron-like density.
The whirring drill screeched, kicking up snow and obscuring the battlefield. Musshuru stepped forward, thrusting the drill toward Luffy, who snapped back to focus, dodging with a backward lean.
"Die!" Musshuru snarled.
"Not today!" Luffy shot back.
Musshuru charged, but Luffy sidestepped, weaving through the flurry of drill strikes with uncanny speed. Each attempt missed, and Luffy leaped back, widening the gap.
Musshuru gritted his teeth. Luffy was faster than he'd expected.
He was no stranger to combat, his long limbs a natural weapon, and the mushroom drill gave him an edge. Yet Luffy evaded with minimal effort, slipping away like a shadow.
This was a first—real resistance. And Musshuru loved it.
After years of confinement, facing someone stronger was a thrill. Grinning, he relished the fight like a game.
Seeing Luffy retreat, Musshuru pulled back, content to let him go for now. His drill kept spinning, his lips curling in anticipation as he eyed the snow-covered ground, ready to shift tactics.
"Not bad," Musshuru said. "But the real show starts now!"
He slammed his drill into the ground, sending a blizzard of snow into the air, blanketing the battlefield in white.
Luffy tensed, fists raised, squinting through the haze. Musshuru's form vanished, and Luffy scanned the snow, wary of an ambush.
No attack came.
As the snow settled, Musshuru was gone. The battlefield was silent, save for Chopper's shocked expression in the distance. Luffy spun around, but no one was there.
"He's gone," Luffy muttered. "Another mushroom trick?"
Knees bent, fists clenched, Luffy scanned the snowfield. The castle was the only cover, but it was too far for Musshuru to have reached. He hadn't fled—he was planning something.
Then Chopper's voice cut through the silence. "Behind you!"
Luffy ducked instinctively, and Musshuru's kick sailed over his head, missing by inches. Spinning around, Luffy caught sight of him, close enough to strike. He countered, kicking Musshuru's supporting leg, sending him crashing to the snow.
Musshuru was wide open. Luffy leaped, extending his right leg skyward, aiming to crush him from above.
"Gomu Gomu no—!" Luffy shouted.
"Spin Drill!" Musshuru countered.
Musshuru's right arm morphed back into a mushroom, its cap spinning into a drill. Snow flew as he carved the ground, vanishing into the flurry.
Luffy's foot slammed down, but hit only snow—no body, no impact. Musshuru was gone again.
"Damn it, what's going on?" Luffy growled, scanning frantically.
"He's hiding in the snow!" Chopper called. "Watch out, he's coming again!"
Luffy's head snapped left, catching a faint presence. Musshuru's kick was already incoming, too fast to dodge fully. Luffy crossed his arms, blocking the blow, but the force sent him tumbling through the snow, rolling to a stop in a heap.
Musshuru stood tall, grinning triumphantly. "Snow country special: Snow Veil! You'll never know where I'll strike!"
"Doesn't matter," Luffy said, brushing off snow. "I'm rubber. It won't work."
"We'll see about that!" Musshuru taunted.
He kicked up another cloud of snow, moving with practiced ease. The cold didn't faze him; this frozen land was his element. The Snow Veil—hiding in the snow for ambushes—was second nature to him. He could vanish without a sound, the snow muffling his movements, slipping into his opponent's blind spots with ease.
Musshuru disappeared again. Luffy's face hardened. This hide-and-seek game would drag on unless he forced Musshuru out.
Focusing, Luffy strained his ears. The castle's front was deathly quiet—any noise would stand out. Sight was useless; hearing was his only ally.
Then, Wapol's voice shattered the silence. "Ha ha ha! You hags! Now's my chance!"
"Wait!" Chopper shouted.
"He's heading for the castle!" Luffy called.
"Gotcha!" Musshuru's voice rang out.
As Wapol's heavy footsteps echoed, Chopper moved to intercept, but Musshuru seized the moment. Bursting from the snow behind Luffy, he aimed his drill at Luffy's head—a strike meant to shatter skull and brain.
It was a perfect blind spot. No way to dodge.
But Luffy sidestepped without looking, the drill grazing past his face.
"What?!" Musshuru gasped.
"Whoa!" Luffy exclaimed.
Without turning, Luffy whipped his leg backward, landing a solid kick to Musshuru's gut. The impact sent him rolling across the snow, groaning as Luffy kept his eyes on Wapol and Chopper.
Chopper, now in his beastly reindeer form, sprinted after Wapol, unfazed by the snow's grip.
Luffy called out, "Chopper!"
"Huh?" Chopper glanced back, still running.
"Nami's in the castle! Don't let that guy cause trouble—keep an eye on him!"
"Me…?" Chopper faltered.
"I'm counting on you!" Luffy said.
Chopper nearly stopped, his breath catching. I'm counting on you. Those simple words sparked a surge of pride. Clenching his jaw, he pushed harder, eyes blazing as he chased Wapol.
Luffy turned back to Musshuru, who was rubbing his stomach, glaring daggers.
"Ow… How'd you know where I was?" Musshuru muttered, his voice thick with malice.
Luffy didn't answer, silently raising his fists.
Musshuru's face twisted with irritation, his playful demeanor giving way to anger. "Damn it, pain's the worst. Heat's bad too. And being caged? I hate that most."
"Shut up," Luffy said. "I just hate you guys."
"I'm going back to being a prince," Musshuru declared. "Wapol will be king, and Drum Kingdom will rise again. Not some sweltering, miserable fire country—this is our land!"
He flung his arms wide, eyes gleaming with ambition. "I'll be free. Free from our father's curse, finally living the life I choose!"
"That's not freedom," Luffy said coldly.
"It is freedom. We decided it, so it's free!"
Musshuru's gaze dropped from the stormy sky, locking onto Luffy as the wind howled, the blizzard intensifying.
"So, how about it? Back off now, and you can walk away."
"No way," Luffy said. "I'm taking you down."
"Mussisshi! Fine, then!" Musshuru's aura shifted, his playful grin replaced by a beastly intensity.
Kureha, silent until now, spoke up, arms crossed. "Watch yourself, Luffy. His strength isn't just in brawling."
"Know something?" Luffy asked.
"He uses mushroom spores as weapons. That alone's bad enough, but he's got poison mushrooms too. Don't breathe them in unless you want to die."
"Poison, huh? Never fought a guy like that," Luffy said, undeterred.
Musshuru straightened, staring Luffy down with a predator's focus. No longer the carefree child, he was a beast sizing up his prey.
Most would hesitate, weighing their options. Not Luffy. He charged headlong, aiming to strike before Musshuru could react.
Kureha clicked her tongue, but Luffy didn't notice. Musshuru's grin widened, welcoming the challenge.
"Let's see how you handle this… Snow Spore!" Musshuru roared, thrusting both palms forward.
Purple spores erupted, a toxic wall surging toward Luffy like a blizzard.
"Whoa!" Luffy yelped.
"You're done!" Musshuru snarled.
Instinct screamed to dodge. Before Luffy could think, his body rolled across the snow, evading the poisonous cloud. The spores hit empty ground, scattered by the wind.
The blizzard was a blessing, disrupting the spores' path. Luffy stood, a chill lingering from the near miss. His instincts had saved him.
"Phew, what was that? Poison?" Luffy muttered.
"Tch, you dodged," Musshuru spat. "You move too damn well."
"No way I'm eating that crap. Nami's still out cold—I'm not going down!" Luffy declared.
He charged again, undaunted by the poison's threat. To win, he had to attack, fear be damned.
Musshuru hadn't counted on this. His spores weren't infinite; each use drained his reserves, and continuous attacks weren't sustainable. The earlier spore cloud was a scare tactic, a reset. A hit would've ended it; a miss would cow his opponent.
But Luffy wasn't the thinking type. He turned the tables, charging without hesitation, catching Musshuru off guard. The smug grin faltered, surprise flickering beneath it.
Like Luffy, Musshuru fought on instinct, not strategy. They were two beasts clashing in the snow.
Luffy's arms blurred, winding up for a barrage. Musshuru transformed his right hand into a mushroom cap, ready to absorb the impact.
"Gomu Gomu no—!" Luffy shouted.
"Pointless. My arm can absorb shocks—" Musshuru began.
"Gatling!" Luffy yelled.
Musshuru's eyes widened. The attack wasn't one punch but a storm of fists, pummeling his body. Some hit the mushroom cap, but it couldn't cover everything. Pain seared from head to toe.
He lost count of the hits, just as Luffy lost track of his own punches.
Musshuru staggered, blood trickling from his nose. Seizing the moment, Luffy stretched his arm back, charging forward.
"Bullet!" Luffy roared, aiming for Musshuru's face.
"Guh!" Musshuru gasped.
The punch landed square, sending him flying. His body skidded across the snow, stopping just shy of Drum Rock's edge.
Luffy exhaled heavily, watching him. "Did I get him?"
Musshuru rose, wincing but unfazed, wiping blood from his nose. "Damn, that hurt. Never even got hit by my old man, not even when I killed folks here."
His eyes narrowed, rage boiling over. "You'll pay for that, you bastard!"
He hunched forward, arms wide. From his back, something erupted.
"Cross Shade!" Musshuru bellowed.
Seven spear-like streams of toxic spores shot out, arcing toward Luffy. Even without knowing their poison, their danger was clear.
Luffy dodged, weaving through each one, retreating until all were evaded.
Musshuru, still furious, didn't hide this time. He charged, both hands now drills, forsaking defense for raw aggression. Kicking up snow, he barreled toward Luffy, who stood ready.
"Your devil fruit can't stop my drills!" Musshuru roared. "Both my hands are drills!"
"Gomu Gomu no…" Luffy began.
"Mussisshi! Try it, and your arm's—" Musshuru taunted.
"Pistol!" Luffy shouted.
Luffy's arm shot forward, a single, lightning-fast punch. Musshuru's grin froze, his drills useless as the fist smashed his left cheek. He tumbled across the snow, opportunity lost.
"Drills are cool," Luffy said coldly, retracting his arm. "But you gotta use 'em right."
Musshuru lay kneeling, hands on the ground, back to Luffy. His movements were sluggish, vulnerable.
Now was the chance to end it. Luffy charged, ready to finish him.
"This ends now! Gomu Gomu no—!" Luffy shouted.
"Guh… You're fast. Too fast," Musshuru muttered, still facing away. Then, a sly grin. "So I'll just trap you. Should've done this from the start."
"Bazoo—huh?" Luffy faltered.
"Run Hyphae!" Musshuru roared.
White mycelium threads snaked through the snow, invisible against the white landscape. They reached Luffy's feet, surging upward, encasing his limbs in a grip like stone.
Luffy was trapped, the mycelium unyielding despite his struggles.
Musshuru laughed, victory in his grasp. "Snow Veil's got more tricks. You're not going anywhere!"
"What the hell? More mushrooms? Can I eat these?" Luffy grunted, straining.
"You're done," Musshuru sneered, raising both hands. "Snow Spore!"
Purple spores burst from his palms, engulfing Luffy. Trapped, he couldn't dodge. The toxic cloud swallowed him, inescapable.
Kureha grimaced. Musshuru's smile was triumphant.
"It's over," Musshuru declared.
"Idiot," Kureha muttered. "I warned him…"
As the spores dispersed, Luffy's form emerged. His skin was darkened, his body slumped, eyes unfocused. The poison was potent.
Musshuru, certain of victory, didn't bother with a finishing blow. The spores were enough—no one could survive them, and escape was impossible.
Hands on hips, he stared at Luffy, eager to show Wapol his triumph.
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