One Piece - Secrets of the True Light

[Sogeking Sniper]

Well, I decided to try my hand at a fic. I've had some ideas for story arcs, and I guess I'll just incorporate them here.

It takes place after the Fishman Island arc, in the New World. I'm assuming the following things:

• Brook joins
• Nobody joins in the fishman arc

Ok! Let's get started.

Chapter One: New Beginnings

It was a bright day when the Thousand Sunny appeared on the opposite side of the Red Line. Everybody was standing on the back of the ship, looking at the huge whirlpool that had delivered them here.

Luffy broke out in a huge grin. "This is it! The second half of the Grand Line! We made it!" He began to dance with Usopp and Chopper, chanting something about Pirate Kings.

Nami scowled at the three dancing idiots. "Hey… Do any of you actually realize what's happening? We're in the New World now. Even Gecko Moria was thrashed here. This place is filled with amazingly powerful pirates... We need to be on gaurd at all times if we plan on surviving." She swatted a bug that was on her arm.

Usopp heard this, and began screaming "AHH! We're all going to die!!" over and over again. Chopper was frozen at the thought of someone that could beat Moria so easily. Luffy, however, was still wearing the same grin he had on before.

"Nami, calm down. We kicked Moria's ass, remember? We can handle anyone. We've taken out two Shichibukai, I think we can handle the New World. Now, where's Sanji!? I need victory meat! PARTY!" He smacked two flies, one on his face and one on his arms.

Robin flicked away a mosquito on her arm, then looked dreamily into the sky. It took her a second to comprehend that everyone seemed to be killing bugs. "Wait… Why are all these bugs everywhere?" she asked.

Zoro looked around. "Huh… that's strange. Well, wierd things happen in the Grand Line, I bet even more so in the New World. Don't give it a second thought. I'm taking a nap..."

Brook ran inside. "GAH!!" He screamed. "They're IN ME!!" Bugs were, literally, inside him, entering from any part of his body and crawling all over him. He ran to the bath house.

Sanji rolled his eyes. "Eh… I guess I might as well get dinner. It should take about thirty minutes, everyone get inside... These bugs are getting worse..."

There were now huge swarms of insects all around, ranging from flies to locusts. Franky was firing into the clouds with the weapons in his arms. "Die, bugs! Weapons Left! Weapons Left! SUUUUPAAAAAHHHHH~~~!"

Sanji looked a Franky and mumbled something about idiocy, then walked inside. Nami actually vocalized her opinion. "Franky, you moron! You can't kill them all… In fact, you'll be lucky to get any with those small bullets. Let's go inside."

Franky grumbled, picked up the still unconcious Chopper by a leg, and walked inside. Everyone else followed. At this point, Luffy was singing about the party. He eventually got Usopp to join in. Robin followed them, laughing.

On top of the crow's nest, a man was standing upright, unshaken by the swaying of the ship. The bugs didn't seem to notice him. He looked around the ship, then disappeared in what appeared to be a black cloud that floated down to the deck. When it reached the bottom, it reformed into him.

He was around six feet tall, with dark hair that fell to his waist. He was dressed in a black suit with the symbol of the World Government on it. However, the symbol was yellow. His eyes… His eyes could only be described as ambiguous. They hid his emotions completely, except for when he wanted them revealed.

"Interesting…" He muttered. "So this is the ship of the straw hats..." He looked at some bounty posters, then continued to walk around, inspecting everything. "They all seem rather incompetant... I wonder why the World Government wants them so much? Oh well... They're becoming a problem to us. I'll just finish them off now..."

He walked up to the door of the kitchen where they had walked into, and knocked on it.

Suddenly, all of the straw hats appeared around him, jumping from different windows of the ship. He was surprised by this, and yet pleased. "Ahh… So you knew I was here? Splendid, it appears I have underestimated you. Perhaps this will be a fun battle after all."

Zoro stared at the man with a fierce gaze. "Of course we did. Bugs appearing from nowhere? It couldn't be more obvious. You were also an idiot for standing on top of our mast. Did you actually think we wouldn't see you?"

The man smirked. His eyes showed his anticipation, like those of a cat awaiting it's mouse. "Heh… I was really hoping you would see me, as a matter of fact. I enjoy a dramatic entrance. It is one of my weaknesses. However, most of the people I appear in front of end up dead anyway." His playfully evil stare disappeared and was replaced with a serious gaze, focused on all of the straw hats one at a time.

"I'm here on behalf of the World Government. We've decided that it's simply too dangerous to allow you to live any longer. Therefore, in the name of project True Light, I will kill you all here and now. However, before that happens… Take a look at these."

The man threw the wanted posters on the ground, and everyone looked at them. They were shocked.

"Rubberman" Luffy: 420 Million Beri
"Devil Spawn" Zoro: 230 Million Beri
"Thief Pirate" Nami: 70 Million Beri
"Sniper King" Usopp: 50 Million Beri
"Black Leg" Sanji: 140 Million Beri
"Doctor Pet" Chopper: 80 Million Beri
"World End Woman" Nico Robin: 380 Million Beri
"Super Cyborg" Franky: 90 Million Beri
"Dead Bones" Brook: 100 Million Beri

"Interesting, eh?" Said the man. "Nico Robin, you may notice your rather startling bounty jump. That would be because the World Government is finally letting the True Light project influence the bounties. Tell me, what do you know of True Light?

Robin was indeed startled by her bounty, more so by this question. She had never heard anything of this organization, or 'project' as he called it. "I don't know what you're talking about. Who are you? What is your name?"

The man's eyes became playful again. "Ah, yes. How rude of me. My name is Exoske. I'm on the True Light council. The council consists of myself and five others. We are an influential group for the World Government and I have been dispatched to kill you all. Now, shall we begin?"

To be continued.

Well, there it is. For now, at least. Hopefully it doesn't suck.

[ctarlong910]

This looks great, but I expected Usopp to be worth more then Nami at least. How frequent will you post chapters?

[Sogeking Sniper]

I'll try to get three chapters per weekend, but I'll probably only squeeze in two =(

Nami has a higher bounty than Usopp because of what happened on Merman Island. Don't ask me what happened, I don't really know… Ha.

Chapter Two: Exoske
Exoske stood completely still, eyes focused on Robin with a serious glare. Everyone was awaiting his attack, wondering what would happen.

Robin's heart seemed to be beating three times as loud and fast as usual. What is this man? She thought to herself. We saw him turn into a black cloud… But... What was it? He seems to have a devil fruit power, but we've seen many odd things on the Grand Line... "Luffy!"

Luffy was not the 'thinking things through' kind of man. He only understood one thing: the World Government was messing with his crewmate AGAIN. He wouldn't allow it to go as far as it had last time. "GOMU GOMU NO…"

Exoske looked at Luffy, his eyes becoming serious again. Is this pathetic pirate, worth only 420 Million, actually going to attack me? "If you attack me," he vocalized, "You'll only be putting yourself in pain. Surrender now and you'll die quickly."

"PISTOL!"

Exoske sighed. Luffy's left arm shot out and rocketed toward him. As it hit, his body turned into the black cloud that was seen earlier. This time, it was close enought for the crew to hear a distinct buzzing noice coming from it. The cloud swirled around Luffy's outstretched arm and stayed there.

Luffy screamed in pain and retracted his arm. Everyone was startled, as it was not easy to get a horrified scream out of their captain. When his arm snapped back into place, the cloud seemed to evaporate and the buzzing died down. Luffy was flailing in the ground, clutching his arm.

Sanji and Chopper ran over to Luffy, trying get him to stop. However, Luffy was never incapacitated by pain very long. He eventually stifled his screaming and stood up. "Where are you, dammit! Come out and fight me!" As he said this, everyone stared at his left arm.

The arm was covered in red bumps, ranging in size from beads to marbles. Some of the larger ones were bleeding somewhat. Luffy was in a lot of pain from these wounds, and winced whenever his arm moved.

The cloud merged back together, and Exoske reappeared in front of Luffy. "Painful, isn't it?" He mused. "Better be careful, those wounds could become infected quite easily…" He once again transformed into the buzzing, dark cloud and swirled around before reappearing behind Luffy. He then raised his hand, which became a pair of beetle-like pincers. His claw shot toward Luffy.

To Be Continued.

[LuffysAngel]

Update soon! ^_- Loved the chapter!

[Sogeking Sniper]

New chapter later this week! I've been very busy, but I have some time off this week. Expect at least three chapters.

[Sogeking Sniper]

Chapter 2 was so short… I'm going to continue it.

Chapter Two: Exoske

(Part Two)

The cloud merged back together, and Exoske reappeared in front of Luffy. "Painful, isn't it?" He mused. "Better be careful, those wounds could become infected quite easily…" He once again transformed into the buzzing, dark cloud and swirled around before reappearing behind Luffy. He then raised his hand, which became a pair of beetle-like pincers. His claw shot toward Luffy.

Sanji wouldn't let this happen. He ran out and kicked away Exoske's hand. Exoske looked at Sanji, then disappeared. He reappeared above them, but his bottom half was still a buzzing black cloud. "Hmm… it appears that your friends will put themselves in a situation that will obviously end in their death just to save their captain... Interesting."

Franky began shooting at the floating half-man. Holes appeared in his body, but were then filled in by the black cloud and were restored. Zoro jumped up and slashed him three times, each strike leaving a huge gash in Exoske's body. This, however, was also easily fixed by the cloud.

Exoske's eyes became tired, showcasing his boredom. Ugh… Will they keep attacking me? They should see that I'm invincible... Perhaps I'll play with them some more... But I really wasn't expecting the trip here to take so long, I need to leave now...

"Hey!" He shouted. "I need to leave now."

Luffy stared at him. "What!?" He screamed. "Now!? Are you afraid of us or something?

"Not in the least," retorted Exoske. "I simply have some important things to attend to. I'll fight you again in… thirteen days."

"Thirteen days?" Asked Brook. "Why that long?"

Exoske glanced at Brook. "Well, dead-man, It should take me five days to get to where I need to go, three days to do what I need to do, and another five to get back here. I'm being quite generous here. Now, I'll give you this eternal pose to get to my island."

He reached into his coat pocket (The lower half of his body was still cloud, as he was still floating) and took out an eternal pose. On it said 'Lumen Unus'. His hand detatched from his wrist and, still connected by a thread of that black cloud, shot down and placed the pose on the grass deck of the Thousand Sunny. His hand then retracted to his wrist.

"Well, I'm off," He said. His upper half began turning into a cloud as well.

"WAIT!" Shouted Luffy. "How do you know we're going to this place? Why should we go to this island, for no reason but fighting you?"

Exoske's entire cody was now cloud, but he reformed briefly on the lion's head at the front of the ship. "Because," he said, "My organization knows the danger presented by your crew. That means that we will not rest until we hunt you down and kill you all." He paused. "Understood?"

Luffy gazed at Exoske with fierce anger. "We'll be at the island. And I'll kick your ass."

Exoske smiled, and vanished.

---

I'm off to read some Bleach. Chapter three tomorrow!

[Sogeking Sniper]

I promised three chapters and I lied T_T

I'm sorry, I got 0.5 chapters over my 5-day break. That's a little sad.

[ctarlong910]

sweet, glad you didn't drop this

[Sogeking Sniper]

Chapter Three: Converge

Four people sat in a dimly lit room. Is was quite large, with a giant chandelier, about twenty feet in diameter, hanging from the ceiling. The chandelier probably would have been lit on a different occasion, but there was no light coming from it now. The room had seven sides, and against six walls were large thrones. Above each of the thrones was a pitch-black symbol of the World Government. Five of the thrones were occupied. One was empty. On the wall without a throne was a huge double door.

All of the men were wearing black suits, and it seemed that the only light in the room was coming from their shirts. On their shirts were symbols of the World Government. These symbols were yellow, and glowing to produce light. One of the four people shifted in his seat. He was somewhat short, around 5 feet, but seemed very muscular. Only the bottom half of his face could be seen from the glow, revealing a full beard.

"Ugh…" He grunted in a deep voice. "Where is Exoske? The meeting should have begun fifteen minutes ago..."

"Calm yourself, Derma," said another man. He was around 5'7'', and slim. He sported a large, sinister grin and large eyes. "He's never too late. He should be here quite soon."

Derma looked at the man. "He had better be. If he isn't here in five minutes, I'm leaving. This isn't worth my time, Gil."

"How can you say that?" Said a third man. He was entirely shrouded in darkness, because the dim light projecting from his suit jacket could not reach his face. He was about 9'4''. "The World Government is finally putting True Light in charge of some very serious issues. Exoske is coming back from a very important mission. The death of the straw hats needs to be confirmed in order for…"

His speech was interrupted by a buzzing sound. A black cloud burst through the doors and shot toward the empty throne. It reassembled into Exoske. His eyes were gleeful. "Please forgive me for my late entrance," he said. "It took two and a half days to get here… It looks like I can't spend any time here at all."

The man who was interrupted by Exoske's entrance began speaking again. "What? There is a meeting tomorrow! This is not like you, Exoske. What could possibly be more important that our meeting?"

Exoske grinned and looked at the man. "Well, Ectoth, I'm meeting the Straw Hats on one of our islands."

The five men who were here before Exoske suddenly snapped to attention, sitting upright in their chairs.

"What!?" cried Derma. "Your mission was to kill them! Why are they still alive!?"

Exoske replied, "Well, you see, it would be no fun fighting on a ship. I gave them an eternal pose to a Lumen Island, telling them I'd be there in five days. It has been two-point-five. I can stay here for a few minutes, then I'll be off to fight them."

The man who had been quiet until now began shouting at Exoske. He was of average height, around 5'7'', and the light revealed a sharp chin and large, beak-like nose. "Imbecile! Your mission was to kill them, we don't care about how much fun you want to have! You have failed your mission and you have failed us!"

Exoske's eyes were serious, staring at the man. "Perhaps you would like to punish me for my failure, Aves? I welcome any attempt." His hand swirled into a black cloud and reformed as a pair beetle's pincers. "I'm waiting."

Aves stood up and reached into his suit coat.

"Enough!" Shouted Gil. "Aves, calm youself. Exoske, don't start fights. Get out of here now and take down the Straw Hats on the island. I assume the island is Lumen Unus?"

Exoske stared at Gil. "Might I ask," he began, "who gave you the authority to give orders here? Unless I am mistaken, the only one who can give orders is not among us today. However, for the sake of keeping the peace, I'll take your order as a suggestion and keep it in mind." He stood up and began dissolving into the buzzing cloud. "And yes. Lumen Unus." He finished dissolving and shot back out the door.

Ectoth put his head in his hand. "I suppose that ended the meeting?" He said.

Aves sat back down. "I suppose so. Heh… It was quite short."

Gil was seething from Exoske's comment. "Ugh... Fine. The meeting is over, then."

Derma began walking toward the door, then stopped. "When is the next meeting? We can't hold tomorrow's without Exoske."

Aves thought for a moment. "How about... five days from now?"

They all nodded, then left.

[Sogeking Sniper]

Chapter Four: Arrival

The Thousand Sunny was anchored in the sea, facing an island on the horizon. Luffy was sitting on the deck, getting bandages taken off his left arm by Chopper. The bumps and cuts were gone.

Luffy was staring at the island in the distance. It had been five days since Exoske departed, although it took only three days to reach the island. They had decided to anchor offshore until the thirteenth day. I'm gonna kick this guy's ass, thought Luffy. I'm sick of people messing with my friends.

Nami was in the crow's nest with Zoro (who was sleeping) and Robin. She was looking at the eternal pose, whoch was pointing directly at the island on the distance. "This is wierd…" She said. "That island is obviously the closest island to us... but... why is the regular log pose is pointing in a different direction. Why?"

Robin looked at the poses. "I'm not sure," she said, "but whatever the reason, we need to focus more on the battle ahead. This will probably be the hardest fight we've ever seen. He said that Project True Light had a large influence on the World Government, right?

Nami nodded.

"Well," continued Robin, "He also said that there were only six people involved in it. That would mean that all six people would have to be amazingly powerful."

Nami hadn't thought of it like this. "Y…You're right!" She exclaimed. "I hope Usopp knows what he's doing down there... He starting yelling about how he got an idea to stop him and ran off to his workshop."

Robin kept staring at the island. "Well, Usopp is intelligent. I'm sure whatever he's doing will be of use. He's had five days to do it. When will we be heading toward the island?"

Nami sighed. "I suppose there's no putting it off any longer…" She picked up a den den mushi and spoke into it. "Alright, Franky! Raise anchor! We're going to the island!" She looked down and saw Luffy standing up, a determined grin on his face.

In the kitchen, Sanji was cooking some complicated dish with fish and a strange green plant. Well then, I guess it's getting started, he thought. I better finish up this dish…

Brook was in the bath, his torn suit hung outside. The bath was filled with warm milk instead of water. He heard the announcement and got out of the bath, dried himself, put his suit on, and stepped outside.

Usopp was in his workshop, inserting something into a small balloon. He picked it up and put it in a sack with about thirty others. "This should do," he muttered to himself. He picked up Kabuto and walked outside.

Franky was steering, watching the island get ever closer. He decided to step away from the wheel and head down to the main deck where Luffy and Chopper were standing. Sanji and Usopp were also heading there, with Brook slightly behind. Nami, Zoro, and Robin were descending the crow's nest and joining them as well. All eight Straw Hats were standing in a line, gazing at the island.

"He should be there," said Luffy. "He's going down."

[Sogeking Sniper]

Chapter Five: Begin the Battle

The Thousand Sunny arrived at the shores of the island. Everybody looked around. The island was abnormally flat, and strangely enough, perfectly round. It only had one building, a large mansion on the shore opposite the dock. The island itself was small, having a diameter of only a kilometer or so. Some rocks, about ten kilometers tall and three meters wide, but only about a meter thick, were jutting out of the ground in certain spots. There were about twenty of them all over the island.

Standing in the middle of the island was Exoske. He was grinning, his happy eyes fixed on the huge ship that was docking on his island. I knew they'd be here, he thought. I'll crush them easily… that should teach Aves to doubt my methods.

Luffy was gazing outward at the front of the ship. "Hey, Usopp. Is that him?"

Usopp was standing to Luffy's left, with Chopper on Luffy's right. Usopp brought down his goggles and looked at the small figure about 500 meters away. "Yup, that's him. He looks real happy, too. Be careful…"

Luffy looked at Usopp. "Don't worry. I'll have this wrapped up in no time. Then we can enjoy the New World. This place is famous for its meat, you know."

Chopper stared at Luffy. "Really!?" he asked.

Nami, who was on the other side of Chopper, put her face in her palm. He's so rediculously gullible… she thought.

Franky was steering the ship into the dock, and Sanji put down the anchor.

"Alriiiiiiiiiiight!" shouted Luffy. He jumped down onto the dock. "Let's kick some ass!" He began running to the center. Everyone else hopped down and followed him. Nami was muttering something to herself. Finally, they reached Exoske.

Exoske smiled and said, "Hello! Welcome to my humble island. I would invite you to lunch, it's about 1:00, but we have some business to attend to, don't we?" He chuckled to himself. "So, who will be the first?"

Usopp quickly took a small balloon from one of his pouches and fit it to his Kabuto. He launched it at Exoske. The ball went straight through Exoske's head (which transformed into the black cloud) and slammed into one of the odd rocks about thirty meters away. When it hit, the ball exploded and completely covered the rock in a liquid.

Exoske's head reformed, and he was staring gleefully at Usopp. "Ahh, lovely. You shall be the first." He began walking toward him.

Usopp was shaking. Shit… he thought. I didn't think that would happen if I went fast enough… Ugh... Blan B! He took another two balloons from the pouch and rean toward Exoske, then made a motion to make it look like he was going to slam the balloon into Exoske's head.

Exoske laughed, and stopped short while Usopp was coming at him. However, just as the hand with the two balloons was about to make contact, Usopp stopped short and looked at Exoske. Both of them were grinning.

"Hissatsu…"

Exoske frowned, and stepped back a little.

"PESTICIDE STAR!"

Exoske's eyes grew wide in shock and fury as Usopp squeezed the balloons and they exploded, coveriong both Usopp and him in a foul liquid.

Exoske staggered back, coughing. "Ugh… Grah... Iih..." He glared at Usopp. Usopp glared back. They both stared at each other for a few seconds, not saying anything, not moving.

Chopper was behind Robin's legs. "He… He just... Pesticide!? That's highly toxic! He probably ingested a good deal of it..."

Usopp heard this and looked at Chopper. "It was worth it," he said between coughs, "because now this guy can't use his abilities. Isn't that right?" He looked at Exoske, who had averted his gaze to the ground. Exoske looked up, an expression of joy on his face.

"Hehehehehe… Yes, yes, you've figured it out! I congratulate you!" He turned to face Luffy. "I have eaten the Gaichu Gaichu Fruit, Model: Swarm. It is an extremely rare kind of devil fruit."

Robin had a look of shock in her eyes. "It can't be… a doubletype fruit!?"

Brooke turned his head to Robin. "Doubletype?"

Robin nodded. "Yes. Doubletype fruit are supposedly devil fruit that are more than one type. They could be Paramecia-Zoan, Zoan-Logia, or Paramecia-Logia. However, I though they were just a myth... I heard about them in my travels but have never actually seen one."

Exoske looked at Robin. "Ah, Miss Robin. Quite resourceful." He looked at Usopp, while still speaking to everybody else. "Yes, my fruit is indeed a doublefruit. A Zoan-Logia type. Now, "Snipe King," thank you for allowing me an excuse to fight down on the level of a paramecia user. This should be quite fun. You have, however, expired your usefullness…"

Exoske raised his hand and it transformed into a pair of pincirs. "Beetle Claw!" He shouted. With great speed, he rammed the pincirs into Ussop and both went straight through him.

Usopp's eyes went white and blood shot from his mouth. "H… How... I stopped your abilities..."

Exoske grinned that cynical grin of his. "Exploiting a logia's weakness," he said, "does nothing but stop them from separating." Exoske let him fall face-up onto the ground. Usopp passed out, and Chopper shrieked.

Luffy stepped forward with a look of hatred on his face and roared in anger. Exoske looked at him and his hand became normal again.

Luffy glared at Exoske. "Guys… Go back to the ship. Wait for me."

Zoro protested. "But-"

Luffy whipped his head around. "GO!"

[Sogeking Sniper]

Chapter Six: Revelation

All the Straw Hats, minus Luffy, began running back to the ship. Exoske watched them as the went off.

"Well, Straw Hat, it looks like it's just you and me. Ah well. I suppose I can deal with them after you." Exoske began sprinting toward Luffy, his right hand turning into a pair of pincirs. "BEETLE CLAW!"

Luffy avoided the attack, barely, by bending backward. He shot out his leg and began swinging it toward Exoske. "GOMU GOMU NO WHIP!" The attack almost landed, but Exoske jumped up with rediculous agility. Luffy straightened up and shot back both arms. "GOMU GOMU NO…"

Exoske turned his left hand into a pair of pincirs as well. "DUO BEETLE CLAW!" He lifted both pincirs, each about half a meter long, and charged at Luffy. Luffy himself began retracting his arms.

"BAZOOKA!"

Both of Luffy's arms slammed into Exoske's stomach with full force while he was still about a decameter away, and Exoske grinned. Exoske took both of his pincirs and created four large gashes in Luffy's arms. Luffy retracted his arms, a twisted expression of pain on his face.

"Ugh… How..." muttered Luffy. "You took that at full force..."

Exoske's grin remained on his face. "You truly have no idea what the New World is like, do you? The first half of the Grand Line is the 'Pirates Graveyard.' Those who survive the graveyard, such as yourself, are raised into the 'New World.' Here in the New World, the greatest and most powerful pirates clash for power and wealth. For one pirate, the ultimate prize of One Piece awaits."

Luffy gazed at Exoske. He had a calm, yet angry, expression on his face. He spread his legs and put his hands on his knees. "How do you know what it's like…" He forced his hands down, using his lower legs as pumps. Bulges appeared and shot up into his body, accelerating his blood flow. "...to be a pirate?" Luffy's skin became pale, and steam began coming off of his body. "You're just a government operative... You haven't had to struggle as I have... You just come up to us and demand our deaths. It won't be that easy. I'm going to teach you a lesson." He leaned down and placed his hand on the grass, which sizzled and turned brown. "Gear... SECOND."

Exoske's grin vanished. His eyes became dark. "You have no idea what you're talking about. You have no idea who I am."

Luffy stood up. "I know enough. I know you are an influential member of the World Government that is lecturing me about what the Grand Line is. I know-"

"Enough!" Yelled Exoske. "You claim this, but you have no evidence. I told you that I am influential to the World Government. I told you that I am here on behalf of the World Government. But nowhere did I tell you that I was part of the World Government. I, along with every other member of True Light, am a pirate."

Luffy was shocked. "What?"

Exoske was furious at this point. "Yes! I am a pirate! I am the subordinate of "Peafowl" Lucifer, one of the Shichibukai, and I will not let you insult me any longer!"

Exoske lunged toward Luffy, holding out his hand. An enourmous stinger appeared on his palm, curved outward. "BEE STING!" His stinger got close to Luffy, but never made contact as Luffy jumped backward.

"GOMU GOMU NO JET PISTOL!" Shouted Luffy. His hand clenched into a fist and slammed into Exoske's stomach at amazing speed. The fist couldn't even be seen. Exoske was knocked back. He stood up, holding his stomach and panting.

"Ugh… Ugh... How powerful... Ahh. I suppose I'll have to deal with two handicaps in this fight. So be it. I'll bring out the big guns as well." He tore off his suit coat, shirt, and tie, revealing a black T-Shirt with the same World Government logo on it. He tore off his pants as well, revealing form-fitting shorts that went down to his knees. "BUG BRISTLE!"

Hairs becan sprouting from his body. Short hairs, about two centimeters long and slightly thinker than normal hair, were growning everywhere. They were somewhat stiff.

Luffy stood in front of Exoske, about five meters away. "What is that?"

Exoske began grinning again, a twinkle in his eyes. "These hairs will boost my senses and help me match your speed. I'll be able to fight on fair ground with you now."

Luffy frowned. "Really?" he said. "Let's see it then. GOMU GOMU NO..." Luffy vanished. "JET STAMP!" He reappeared around five meters behind Exoske and his leg shot out at incredible speed. The back of Exoske's T-shirt expanded as he hairs on his back grew stiff. Exoske safely avoided the attack, at the same time charging at Luffy with the bee sting. Luffy quickly jumped to the side, escaping with a small scratch on his arm.

Luffy and Exoske stared at each other, Exoske grinning and Luffy scowling. The battle had begun.

[Sogeking Sniper]

Chapter Seven: Level Playing Field

Exoske stood, proud and tall, covered with his sickening bug-hair. Luffy was standing ten meters away, steaming due to the sencond gear. He gazed directly at his adversary and said, "You know, that T-Shirt has the same symbol on it as your suit coat. How can you call yourself a pirate? You're nothing but a sham, a sellout. I am a real pirate. I could care less about your shichibukai captain. If you wear that symbol, you are not a pirate." Luffy then shot into the air and reappeared to the right side of Exoske, about eight meters away. Exoske's hairs on his left side flattened against his body and the hairs on his right side stood erect. He jumped out of the way just as a punch thrown by Luffy whizzed by him.

Luffy retracted his thrown arm and lashed out his leg toward Exoske, yelling, "Jet whip!" His leg whipped around the area, but Exoske sensed it and jumped up at the right time to avoid it. He then ran toward Luffy, once again turning his hands into beetle claws. He jammed the pincers toward Luffy's neck but Luffy managed to step back, then jump into thte sky and sent a fist down to Earth, nearly shattering Exoske's skull. But, Exoske, using his great agility and hairy senses, ran forward, turned around, and (using the claws that still replaced his hand) attempted to skewer Luffy's arm.

This relentless bout of attacked continued for ten solid minutes, neither side gaining the advantage or inflicting injury on the other, save for Luffy's small scratch made in the first exchange of blows. Both were panting at this point.

Should I…? Thought Luffy. I should only use it when I absolutely need to… At this point neither of us is winning... Maybe... Exoske began laughing and Luffy's eyes fixed upon him, anticipating another attack.

Instead of attacking, Exoske spun around and began running toward the mansion on the other side of the island. There's no way I can win like this… I need to get this pesticide off me... Luffy's eyes widened in confusion, then he chased after Exoske. Even in Gear Second, he was pretty evenly matched in speed with the hairy bug-man. The hairs allowed Exoske to avoid Luffy's repeated Jet Pistols without turning around. When he was about twenty meters from the mansion, enormous wings, the kind you'd find on a fly, sprouted from Exoske's back and he began clumsily flying toward a window on the third floor.

Luffy saw his advantage and took it. Jumping into the air, his arms shot into the air behind him. Luffy, Exoske, and the third floor window were lined up exactly. "JET BAZOOKA!"

Exoske was blasted through the window, into a light red room that was filled with steam. Exoske was slammed into the wall opposite the window by Luffy's open plams. He grunted and stood up, his eyes becoming happy again. He looked around and saw the baths that were spread around the room. He jumped into one.

Outside, Luffy fell back down to the ground and looked up at the building. He put his thumb in his mouth and bit down on it, making a tunnel between his nail and thumb to blow air through. He inhaled deeply and forced the air through his bones, transferred it through his ribs, and into his left arm. He repeated this a couple times, and then his arm was as tall as the three-story mansion. "Gear Third!"

He then lifted up his enormous fist and shot it at the mansion.

"GOMU GOMU NO JET GIGANT PISTOL!"

An enormous chunk of the mansion was blasted away into the sea. Luffy grinned and the air in his left arm was pumped into his ribs, then his neck, then the air was blasted out through his teeth. With this he flew into the air and came back down, laying on his back. He then, panting, got back up slowly. He was still in Gear Second. He saw the enormous hole in the mansion. A third of it was gone.

But then there was a faint buzzing. More buzzing. Higher. A black cloud, two black clouds, so many black clouds, all forming into a haze of insects. Luffy looked up in shock. He couldn't stay in this form for much longer, and here was Exoske, returned to full power. The black cloud subsided, forming Exoske once again, who was soaking wet, but free of pesticides. The hairs that covered his body were no longer there. Luffy wasted no time. "Gomu gomu no jet rifle!" he screamed.

His arm twisted into a spiral and slammed into Exoske's chest. This time he did nothing to stop it. It just went right through him, and Exoske swirled back into a cloud, then traveled up Luffy's arm. His arm, which was once again human, transformed into a bunch of bloodthirsty insects. Exoske cried, "Bug BURST!" Luffy barely managed to escape the small cloud of insects. He launched several more attacks, but they were all avoided. Luffy was slowly being forced back to the center of the island by the advancing Exoske, whose eyes were filled with glee.

Luffy, breathing heavily, looked around. They were at the exact center of the island, where the pesticide explosion took place. Wait… thought Luffy. The explosion… he looked at the nearest rock, the strange ones that were three meters tall and a meter around, and saw what he was looking for. But I can't let this guy know what I'm thinking… He dashed around so that Exoske was between him and the rock. "Gomu gomu no jet twin pistol!!"

His two fists traveled through Exoske and slammed into the rock. He pulled them back and Exoske reformed. Exoske laughed. "Idiot! There's no way you could beat me! I'm stronger than you could ever hope to be!" Luffy grinned and gazed at Exoske, then lifted both of his arms.

"Oh really?"

His arms began blasting at ridiculous speed. His fists zoomed in on Exoske.

"GOMU NOMU NO JET GATLING!!"

Exoske was prepared to make a speech about how Luffy obviously hasn't been paying attention, and that all of his efforts were futile. However, he was interrupted by the thousands of fists, smelling of pesticide, smashing into his body. He was forced back, onto the rock, which was also covered in pesticide, which kept him from transforming. Luffy's repeated attacks smashed through the rock, taking Exoske with it. His fists stopped, and he stood, panting, in front of the shattered rock base.

Luffy swayed on the spot, trying to keep his balance. He had been in Gear Second for around fifteen minutes. He was just happy the battle was over.

Suddenly, a wicked laughter emerged from beyong Luffy's blury line of vision. Luffy heard this and focused. It… can't be... No...

Exoske stood up from the rubble, almost unscathed. He sported a huge grin with so much joy in his eyes. "I told you already, didn't I?" he said. "We're stronger here. Welcome to the New World."