Chapter 335: Straw Hat Exposed

Inside the Corrida Colosseum.

Amidst the deafening cheers, Luffy and the bull ran joyfully across the water stage like a pair of perfectly synchronized partners, one riding the other.

Luffy let out bursts of laughter, turning this bloody and murderous deathmatch into a "bull-riding show."

However, in this Shura field where countless outlaws of the New World gathered, this lighthearted joy did not last long.

"The colosseum isn't a place for playing around, shorty!"

Accompanied by a violent, deafening roar that sounded like muffled thunder.

A suffocatingly massive shadow suddenly descended, completely blotting out the sunlight above Luffy's head.

It was the giant warrior from the legendary giant kingdom of Elbaf, Hajrudin!

His massive body, towering like a mountain, stood before the charging bull like an immovable demon god.

Hajrudin gripped his incredibly heavy weapon with both hands, veins bulging on his thick arms as he smashed it down toward the man and bull below!

"Moocy!"

With a shrill and painful cry, the bull—which was already quite large—seemed like a mere toy before a true giant.

Hajrudin's terrifying, monstrous strength poured down without reservation, smashing the bull along with the hard stone stage beneath its feet into pieces.

The poor bull coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell heavily amidst the flying debris and dust.

"Moocy!" Luffy let out a cry of surprise in mid-air.

Relying on his excellent combat instincts, he had leaped from the bull's back a second before the impact.

Like a light feather, he landed nimbly on a broken, upturned stone slab.

As the breeze blew, Luffy kept his head down.

Seeing Luffy alone, the surrounding gladiators, whose eyes were already bloodshot, thought they saw an opportunity.

They immediately brandished their swords and swarmed from all directions, attempting to take advantage of the situation.

In front of him, the giant Hajrudin let out a contemptuous snort, roaring as he raised his heavy fist—capable of crushing city walls—once again, prepared to thoroughly squash this jumping "bug."

In the next second, the surface of Luffy's body instantly turned bright red.

The blood inside him flowed at high speed like boiling water, and wisps of scorching white steam rose from his pores.

"You guy..."

Luffy slowly raised his head, his clear eyes now filled with cold fury.

"How dare you... beat up my new friend like this!"

He suddenly clenched his teeth and stretched his right fist back to its limit.

Immediately after, high-density Armament Haki flowed like water, instantly covering his rapidly expanding right fist.

"Gomu Gomu no—"

Luffy's gaze locked onto the arrogant giant ahead, and he let out a roar that shook the heavens:

"Grizzly Magnum!!!"

BOOM—!!!

A pitch-black giant fist filled with rage, like a heavy meteorite fired from a cannon, slammed directly into the giant Hajrudin's broad chin!

Under the horrified gazes of the tens of thousands of spectators—as if they were seeing a ghost—the massive giant warrior, who had been so majestic just a moment ago, was struck until his eyes rolled back.

He didn't even have time to let out a scream before his mountain-like body lost all consciousness and collapsed backward with a roar.

Hajrudin's falling body created a terrifying shockwave, which swept away the gladiators trying to sneak attack and the remaining powerhouses in Block C like falling leaves, violently knocking them all out of bounds!

Water splashed everywhere amidst continuous screams.

The Block C battle, which had been a stalemate, was decided in an instant by this single punch!

Sitting on the high platform, the announcer Gatz excitedly grabbed his microphone:

"The winner has been decided!"

"The final Tatsuya of Block C!"

"The Bull-Man Slayer who one-shotted a giant! He is the gladiator Lu..."

However, before Gatz could finish his sentence.

Following Luffy's world-shaking heavy blow.

The conspicuous bull-head mask he was wearing, which already had some cracks, finally reached its limit under the tearing force of that terrifying shockwave and let out a crisp "crack."

Luffy's iconic Straw Hat and his expressive true face were revealed without any concealment to the entire audience.

"Gladiator... Straw Hat Luffy?!"

The announcer Gatz's high-pitched voice instantly stammered.

He rubbed his eyes vigorously, staring in disbelief at the close-up shot on the large screen.

Then, after a brief, dead silence, the entire Corrida Colosseum erupted in a chorus of gasps and screams!

Everyone recognized that face!

It was the Supernova who had shone brilliantly two years ago in the Marineford War and turned the entire world upside down!

The Straw Hat boy, Luffy, who had defeated one powerful enemy after another and was now famous in the New World, causing countless headaches for the Marines!

"Oh my god! Am I seeing this right? That's Straw Hat Luffy!"

"The great pirate with a bounty of one billion! Why would he be here?"

"Run! This guy is a complete madman!"

The previously orderly stands instantly fell into total ferment and uncontrollable chaos.

Some spectators screamed and tried to flee, while others frantically waved their fists and shouted wildly.

Hearing the overwhelming shouts around him, Luffy quickly reached out to press down the Straw Hat on his head, shouting back in a cold sweat in an attempt to hide his identity:

"Hey! You've got the wrong person! I'm Lucy! Not some Straw Hat!"

But such a weak, unconvincing defense was useless at this point.

The Marine undercover agents in the stands had already begun taking out Den Den Mushis to call for backup.

Just as Luffy saw the situation spiraling out of control and prepared to slip away amidst the chaos.

A man with a green mohawk, a face full of ferocity, and a nose ring suddenly pounced directly to Luffy's feet like a vicious dog catching the scent of meat!

This person was the rookie known for his cruelty and madness, "The Cannibal" Bartolomeo!

However, under the gazes of everyone in the arena whose jaws dropped in shock.

This Underworld boss, who struck fear into the hearts of those outside, did not look the least bit fierce right now.

He lay on the ground, crying so hard that snot and tears covered his entire face.

With trembling hands, Bartolomeo reverently pulled out a bounty poster with Luffy's bright, smiling face on it from his coat.

Then he clung tightly to Luffy's leg, letting out an excited, pig-like wail:

"Lu... Luffy-senpai!"

"Waaaaah! I finally got to see the real thing in person!"

"I'm your super fan! Please give me an autograph! Sign it on my chest!!!"

Looking at this strange fellow who was twitching madly with excitement and even blowing huge snot bubbles from his nose, Luffy felt a massive headache.

His mind was currently full of the fact that his identity had been exposed; he didn't want to get tangled up with a weird fan here at all.

"Agh! I don't have time right now! Let me go!"

Luffy shouted, his legs suddenly exerting force, and with a "whoosh," he launched himself high into the air.

He traced an arc in mid-air and, with a "bang," forcibly smashed through the solid stone wall at the edge of the colosseum.

Leaving a trail of dust, he fled desperately toward the complex corridors inside the colosseum, leaving Bartolomeo behind, crying and holding the bounty poster.

...

In the dim Underworld.

Luffy sprinted through the labyrinthine underground corridors of the colosseum.

"Honestly, that green mohawk guy is so persistent!"

Luffy complained while quickening his pace.

Just as he ran past a dimly lit corner.

A slender arm holding a Steel Water Pipe suddenly reached out from the shadow of a stone door without any warning.

That hand grabbed Luffy's back collar with pinpoint accuracy.

Even Luffy, who possessed extremely strong Observation Haki, was completely caught off guard by this force that lacked any hostility while he was distracted by running and being chased.

He felt his body go light as he was pulled into a secret room by this familiar and powerful strength.

With a "thud," the stone door closed tightly behind him.

Luffy quickly stabilized himself in the darkness, his sharp combat instincts causing him to instantly clench his fists as Haki faintly flowed, preparing to strike first.

However, before he could throw a punch, a voice with a hint of doting laughter quietly rang out in the silent secret room:

"In such a hurry, rushing around like that—where are you going, Luffy?"

The moment he heard that voice, Luffy's Haki-wrapped fist stopped dead in mid-air.

His clear eyes instantly widened, and his pupils trembled violently.

Luffy snapped his head up and finally saw the appearance of the person before him.

It was a young man with a tall, upright posture.

He wore a black top hat with a pair of goggles tied to it, and his short golden hair was still conspicuous even in the dim light.

Looking at that face which had appeared in his dreams countless times, the tears in Luffy's eyes instantly burst through the floodgates.

He opened his mouth wide and let out a cheer filled with heavy sobbing:

"Sabo!!!"

Luffy lunged forward, giving the golden-haired youth a big hug.

Feeling the reality of Luffy's body heat in his arms, Sabo reached out to press down his top hat, his smile gentle and brilliant as he lightly patted Luffy's back.

After the brief excitement, Luffy released his arms and grinned widely with a laugh:

"Sabo! It's been about two years since we last met, hasn't it?"

"The last time we met was at... oh, whatever!"

"Why did you suddenly come to this country, Dressrosa?"

Seeing Luffy's usual simple-minded behavior, Sabo explained with a smile.

He stated that he was here on a secret mission specifically to investigate the dark trade of weapons being smuggled from this country to the rest of the world.

He truly hadn't expected to run into the Straw Hat Pirates here by such a coincidence.

The two brothers, reunited after a long time, shared a brief catch-up in the darkness.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed Luffy's mind.

He remembered the earth-shaking, terrifying commotion he had felt while fighting on the stage earlier.

With a face full of curiosity, he asked Sabo what major event was happening outside.

Hearing this question, Sabo was slightly stunned.

Then, a mysterious smile curled at the corners of his mouth:

"That world-shaking commotion just now wasn't caused by anyone else; it was your Vice Captain."

"He just had a head-on clash in the plaza of Dressrosa with a top powerhouse sent by the Four Emperors' 'BIG MOM' Pirates."

Hearing the words "Four Emperors," Luffy was stunned for a moment.

Then, he instantly stood up in a panic:

"What?! Someone from the Four Emperors! Tatsuya is in danger!"

"No, I have to leave here right now. I'm going to help him blow those guys away!"

As he spoke, Luffy turned to push open the heavy stone door.

However, Sabo laughed and reached out, firmly pressing down on Luffy's shoulder.

Under Luffy's puzzled gaze, Sabo shook his head slightly, the smile on his face deepening.

"No need to go, Luffy."

Sabo's gaze seemed to pierce through the thick stone walls as he murmured softly:

"The battle over there... is already over."

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