One Piece: The Arm of Fate

Shave!

Lucci vanished from the spot like lightning, instantly arriving in front of Shano!

He bent his index finger, the bone making a sharp whistling sound as it pierced the air, striking straight toward Shano's face—

"Finger Gun: Huanglian!"

In an instant, he launched hundreds—no, thousands—of consecutive attacks, each one trailing countless afterimages like a high-speed machine gun firing at point-blank range, flame-like energy spewing wildly.

The crisscrossing strikes formed a lotus-like bloom from a distance.

This was an enhanced move Lucci developed himself—refining the basic Finger Gun to its peak potential when combined with his half-beast form.

Ordinary imitators could only copy blindly.

Only a true genius—like Lucci—could carve out his own path!

Bang bang bang bang bang!

The barrage erupted like thunder, tearing through the silent night.

The impact, stronger than any bullet, struck Shano's upper body—head, chest, everything.

Yet Shano remained standing, completely motionless.

Couldn't dodge?

Even a bit of Paper Art technique could've evaded some of that.

Was this "famous swordsman" really just slow?

Lucci could already envision the ending—his opponent riddled with holes, blood spraying out like a sieve.

The corners of his mouth just started to curl—his cruel smile hadn't fully formed yet—

Click!

A sharp crack of bone stopped everything.

Lucci's prized index finger—sharp enough to pierce steel—was suddenly caught between two of Shano's fingers.

Lucci's pupils shrank, the smile on his face frozen.

"When…?!"

He hadn't even seen Shano move!

Just a second ago, Lucci had been raining down Finger Guns.

Now—Shano had read every strike like a book and grabbed the precise finger mid-attack.

And then—

He twisted.

"AH—!"

Lucci screamed in agony, trying instinctively to pull back his finger.

But Shano's two fingers clamped down like iron vices, unmoving even as Lucci struggled with all his might.

The next moment, Shano's thumb pressed down—

Snap!

Lucci's prized index finger, the weapon that had claimed countless lives, was broken like a brittle twig.

And Shano didn't stop.

He yanked hard.

Swish!

Blood spattered. Tendons tore.

He pulled the entire index finger—bone, skin, and muscle—clean off from Lucci's hand!

"AAHHHHHH—!"

Lucci howled in pain, stumbling backward.

Clutching his ruined right wrist with his left hand, blood gushed from the wound and dripped onto the ground with sharp pat-pat sounds.

But his gaze remained fixed on Shano in disbelief.

Despite all those attacks… not even a scratch?

"Don't embarrass yourself with childish tricks."

Shano seemed to read his thoughts. He tossed the finger aside with a flick, shook his head, and said:

"If you're really CP9's strongest man in 800 years, then show me your real skills."

Childish?

Lucci's eyes flared.

This was a technique he'd poured his soul into...

And it was dismissed so casually?

"You... bastard…!"

He stepped forward, veins popping in fury, his eyes bloodshot.

"Just one finger lost... Don't think it makes me weak!"

Even before finishing the sentence, his body began to transform again.

His muscles swelled with force, cheetah-like markings covering his skin. Claws extended from his fingers.

Then—unexpectedly—his body began to shrink.

In the blink of an eye, he returned to human size.

Shano raised an eyebrow.

Now, Lucci's figure was lean and defined—every muscle refined, not grotesque. His breathing slowed, his movements measured, as if great power slumbered just beneath his skin.

"This is the ultimate state I achieved after perfecting Life Return!"

"I call it... Paper Drawing Martial Body!"

Confidence returned to Lucci's eyes.

"You've never seen this technique before. Let's see if you can stay calm now."

"Really?"

Shano chuckled.

Never seen it?

He was very familiar with this state.

"Looks like it might finally get interesting."

Shano turned toward Iceberg, lying nearby.

"Uncle, please evacuate the others. Looks like this guy's ready to go all out. The aftermath might be dangerous."

"...I'd love to, but—"

Iceberg pointed at his swollen knees, nearly in tears.

"I really can't move!"

Oh?

Shano scratched his head, then looked back at Lucci.

"Guess we'll have to take this fight elsewhere."

"Are you negotiating with me?"

Lucci sneered.

"A pirate caring about civilians? How noble. But why should I—"

Before the sentence could finish—

Shano grabbed Lucci by the chest and launched through the broken window to the manor rooftop.

He scanned the distance and saw the wide open Dock No. 1—no ships, no workers, plenty of room.

Perfect.

He threw Lucci like a javelin toward it.

Swoosh!

Lucci crashed into the dock.

Shano followed immediately and landed, foot planted squarely on Lucci's chest, hands behind his back, hair blowing in the wind.

The entire sequence happened in mere seconds.

"...You—!"

Lucci stared up in rage and shock.

Had he just been used as a transport board?

"You're dead!"

He vanished.

Faster than before—no afterimage, just gone. He reappeared in the air above Shano.

"Storm Leg: Giant Bird Fang!"

Lucci flipped upside down, his legs splitting wide like wings—

Swish—!!!

Two blue vacuum blades shot down, shaped like a giant bird in flight, aimed straight at Shano's skull!

This was his most devastating ranged technique—enough to split a warship in two.

Still, Shano didn't move.

Didn't even blink.

Lucci's eyes widened with hope.

Ding!

The slashes landed—

And bounced off.

Not even a scratch. Not a hair moved.

Lucci's throat tightened. Finally, fear appeared in his eyes.

Elsewhere...

On top of the city's central fountain, Bruno lay low, watching the dock from afar.

Lucci! Come on!

He clenched his fists, cheering silently.

This ambush had taken everything.

Only if Lucci won could they save Kaku and Kalifa.

But...

Bruno's heart sank.

Watching from above, he saw the entire one-sided beatdown.

Lucci—usually cold, ruthless, unshakable—was now like a child flailing helplessly in a storm.

Bruno looked down at the sword in his hand.

Only now did he realize a terrifying truth:

They were wrong. Completely wrong.

This man—Shano—wasn't a swordsman who lost strength without his blade.

Even without his sword, he was a walking monster.

This wasn't a battle.

It was abuse.

A cat playing with a mouse.

Back at Dock No. 1...

Lucci was still attacking wildly—storm kicks, finger guns, tail strikes.

Nothing worked.

Shano watched patiently at first—curious, intrigued.

But none of Lucci's moves impressed him.

Eventually, he got bored.

"Enough."

He waved his hand.

BOOM!

A shockwave exploded, sending Lucci flying across the dock, carving a trench into the ground.

"I told you—I'm not interested in tricks."

Looking at the exhausted Lucci, Shano frowned:

"Last chance. Show your trump card, or this ends now."

Lucci's expression twisted.

He was being taunted again...

But Shano had earned the right to be arrogant.

Only one option left.

Lucci's muscles tensed.

He pulled back both fists to his waist, charged every fiber of strength, and roared:

"Rokuougan—Six Kings Spear!!!"

BOOM!

A tremendous shockwave shot forward.

This attack could shatter bones, rupture organs.

It was his ultimate move.

There was no way Shano could take it unharmed.

BOOM—!!!

The explosion rocked the city.

Residents looked toward Dock No. 1 in alarm.

Boats started heading that way from all directions.

In the aftermath—

Lucci panted heavily, drenched in sweat.

He stared at the smoke.

Slowly—it cleared.

And revealed...

Shano.

Still standing.

He'd been forced to take a half-step back.

That was it.

No wounds.

No labored breathing.

"..."

Lucci stared blankly.

His strongest technique… had pushed the man half a step.

That's all.

He dropped to his knees, trembling.

His strongest moves... were nothing to this man.

"You don't even have the strength to hit someone?"

Shano sighed, grabbed Lucci by the hair, leaned down, and said in quiet disappointment:

"So... this is all you've got?"