Chapter 28: Explosion Is Art.

"The Bomb-Bomb Fruit and the Kilo-Kilo Fruit—what a fascinating combination," Shirogai mused.

Floating in midair with his eyes shut, Shirogai immersed himself in a [God-Level Comprehension System], mentally sparring with projections to explore the full potential of his Devil Fruits.

Minutes passed.

He opened his eyes.

The Smoke Fruit's effects dissipated from his body as he reformed into his human shape, still levitating effortlessly in the sky. The Kilo-Kilo Fruit was the source of his weightlessness.

At his lightest, Shirogai weighed a mere 1,000 grams—lighter than a pair of water bottles.

Technically, he was falling.

But each descent was met with a Moonwalk step, letting him skim the air like a feather, while the wind gently lifted him back up.

"Zoro looks like he's enjoying himself. I shouldn't let these two ruin his fun," Shirogai muttered casually, eyes glinting with amusement. "Might as well join the party."

He glanced toward Zoro, still tearing through more than a hundred bounty hunters, then shifted his attention toward Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.

With hands in his pockets, Shirogai strolled through the air until he was directly above the two unsuspecting Baroque Works agents.

He smirked.

"Ten tons," he whispered.

Ton Drop.

Shirogai's body plummeted toward the ground, his weight suddenly multiplied.

Just before impact, he unleashed the Bomb-Bomb Fruit's explosive power, generating a shockwave to counterbalance the fall. A cascade of crimson fire burst from his body, flecked with hints of eerie green light.

Hellfire.

BOOM!

The shock rattled all of Whiskey Peak.

"Huh?" Zoro's brows twitched mid-battle as he glanced toward the source of the explosion.

"A chance!"

One of the bounty hunters seized the moment to strike Zoro.

Pfft.

Too slow.

Zoro appeared behind him using Soru, cutting him down without hesitation.

Zoro didn't believe the lies that Shirogai had been killed. Not for a second. He said flatly, "There's a saying where I come from—only fools think they can conquer the sea."

Even if Shirogai just lay down and let these amateurs wail on him, Zoro figured they still couldn't pierce his defenses.

"W-What was that sound!?"

Elsewhere, Nami jolted at the thunderous boom. She huffed as she sifted through a pile of useless trinkets.

"Ugh. What kind of hideout is this? These bounty hunters are broke!"

Luffy was curled into a ball, dreaming of meat.

Usopp mumbled nonsense in his sleep about kicking whales.

Sanji, also unconscious, grinned and whispered, "My beautiful lady, will you marry me…"

---

"Miss Valentine, stay alert!"

Mr. 5 stared at the massive crater ahead, its rim scorched by fire, smoke swirling high into the air.

"That… looks like your ability," Valentine muttered, holding her striped parasol and stepping cautiously beside him.

Mr. 5 frowned.

"My Booger Bomb can't do this much damage… yet. I could get there—eventually."

As the smoke cleared, they saw him.

A man stood calmly at the center of the blast zone, dressed in white, smiling serenely.

Shirogai.

He looked down at them like a tourist admiring the scenery.

"Well, what a coincidence. You two out for a late-night stroll too?"

"You dropped out of the sky and caused that explosion," Miss Valentine scoffed, giving him a once-over. "And now you're trying to flirt?"

Mr. 5 narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Shirogai ignored him and looked straight at Miss Valentine.

"Can't sleep either? I figured I was the only one. Maybe we walk and enjoy the moonlight together?"

Valentine's cheeks flushed under the flicker of embers.

"You're rude! What kind of guy invites a lady like that right after meeting her!?"

"Bastard!" Mr. 5 shouted, furious at being ignored. "You've seen too much. You're not leaving here alive!"

He flicked a glistening booger at Shirogai.

Booger Bomb!

Boom!

A fireball roared upward.

Mr. 5 smirked. "Tch. Weakling. That must've been a landmine you set earlier. I'm immune to explosions."

Miss Valentine frowned, but added, "A shame… he was cute."

But from the smoke emerged Shirogai—unharmed.

"What…?!" Mr. 5 gasped, glasses askew.

"My attack had no effect?!"

"Oh, it worked. It disgusted me," Shirogai said dryly. A fireball spun in his hand before he casually tossed it upward, letting it detonate in the air with a whoosh.

Mr. 5, flustered, flicked another booger.

"Damn it—where did he go?!"

Suddenly, Miss Valentine's voice rang out:

"Let go of my hand!"

Mr. 5 looked up. Shirogai and Valentine were floating above him, hand in hand, like they were on a romantic date in the sky.

"Release her, you bastard!"

"Hehe… forgive the sudden gesture." Shirogai looked into Miss Valentine's angry, embarrassed face. "Your beauty caught me off guard."

Miss Valentine clenched her teeth. Her initial fluster evaporated into pure rage.

"You like holding hands that much? Try this—Ten Thousand Kilogram Press!"

She yanked Shirogai down and slammed him into the ground with immense force.

Crash!

The earth split beneath him.

She floated gently down with her parasol and glared.

"That's what you get, bastard. Crushed into pulp!"

But her eyes widened in disbelief.

He stood up.

Completely fine.

Dusting off his white jacket, he smiled. "We've just met and already, you're diving into my arms?"

"You… how are you still alive?!"

"No one's ever survived that before…" she muttered.

"You're a Devil Fruit user too!" she suddenly realized.

Shirogai said nothing, only smiled.

"That explains it!" Mr. 5 shouted, nodding. "No wonder you're so weird."

Both agents finally took him seriously.

Mr. 5 leaned close to Valentine. "Next time, crush his skull. I'll blast his body again. We don't know what fruit he's using—stay sharp."

"Got it," she nodded.

Shirogai frowned at the boogers in Mr. 5's hands. "You're really sticking to that tactic?"

"Booger Bomb!"

Boom!

Shirogai was gone.

Now in the air again, he dropped pebbles like darts toward Mr. 5.

"You know," he said, "sweat and skin flakes work too. Why limit yourself to boogers?"

Mr. 5 dodged—but the pebbles exploded on contact.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Hah… not bad," Mr. 5 emerged from the dust, untouched. "I'm an explosion human. You can't beat me with your own tricks!"

"Reminds me of someone," Shirogai mused, dodging Miss Valentine's flying kick. "He used to say, 'Explosion is art.'"

Then he added, "By the way, Mr. 5, blood is much more explosive than mucus."

Mr. 5 froze.

"Valentine, MOVE!" he shouted. "Maximum power—Booger Bomb!"

Shirogai held up his hand, revealing dried blood etched into a glowing pattern.

"I drew an explosion array with my own blood," he said.

Lifting Valentine into his arms, he soared skyward using Moonwalk.

"Come, Mr. 5," he called from above, grinning wickedly, "let me show you what real explosions look like."

Boom.

Explosion is art.

_

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