[RLOP] Chapter : 29 - Ashura Doji vs Lucci

Deep within Mt. Atama, inside the bandit clan’s main camp—

“Yamato-neechan, did something happen between you and Lucci-sama just now?”

The sudden question from Hiyori made Yamato’s face flush unnaturally.

Crossing her arms, she tilted her chin toward the ceiling and forced her voice into a calm tone.
“Nothing happened.”

Liar.

Absolutely a lie.

Looking like that, there’s no way nothing happened. She’s hiding something from me!

Inside, Hiyori was seething with jealousy, the image of a tiny black figure gnashing its teeth flickering in her imagination.
But outwardly, she kept her smile sweet.
“Eh~ really?”

“Mhm. Really.” Yamato nodded stiffly, though her eyes betrayed her as they wandered back toward the young man in the white suit standing at the center of the hall.

—

At that moment, the hall itself seemed caught between tension and chaos.

Food crumbs and spilled wine stained the floor, signs of a feast hastily cleaned. A massive bonfire blazed in the middle, its light chasing away the creeping chill of early winter.

Around it, a dozen rough-looking men loitered, whispering nervously while sneaking glances at the figures standing in the center.

Lucci stood calmly, arms loose at his sides, facing a tall, pink-haired man with a katana at his waist. Neither spoke a word, yet a heavy pressure filled the air, as though the space itself recognized the weight of their presence.

That man was none other than Ashura Doji—the leader of the Mt. Atama bandits, and one of the Red Scabbards.

“Listening to Her Highness—” Ashura Doji began, but then stopped abruptly, his instincts flaring as he felt a trace of killing intent.

That was close. Almost said too much.

His eyes flicked to Hiyori, standing beside a white-haired girl. For just a moment, he thought he saw something sinister—an ominous black aura, crimson eyes glaring at him like a phantom.

No... Impossible. Her Highness Hiyori is just a cute little girl.

Then his gaze shifted. Wait... that white-haired girl’s head... pointy? Could she be Kaido’s blood?

Thinking of Kaido dragged up memories of that monstrous kanabo. Ashura Doji’s body tensed with phantom pain at the thought.

Forcing the discomfort down, he cleared his throat and said, “Rob Lucci, right? Hiyori tells me you intend to bring down Orochi?”

“Mhm.”

That calm reply threw him off. Ashura Doji blinked, at a rare loss for words.

After a pause, he found them. “Hiyori once saved my life. I swore to her that if she ever needed me, I’d lend my strength. Now she asks me to follow you... but I have one condition.”

His voice hardened, his expression fierce, trying to intimidate the youth before him.
“I only follow those stronger than me. If you want my loyalty—defeat me!”

“Alright.”

Lucci’s tone didn’t shift an inch. His face was as unreadable as stone.

Hmph. This brat—acting so unfazed...

Ashura Doji’s mouth twitched. Part of him wanted to slash the boy right now, if only to see that poker face twisted in pain.

But little did he know—pain was the last thing that could break Lucci’s expression.

Suppressing the urge, Ashura Doji stepped back, though his mouth didn’t stop moving.
“Listen, boy. Swords have no eyes. Don’t throw your life away. If you can’t win, yield. I won’t hold back.”

His words were sharp, but his heart was already wavering.

Me? Take orders from this brat? And to subjugate Orochi, no less? What kind of joke is that? Orochi might be a worm, but Kaido’s shadow looms behind him. You can’t beat Kaido, yet you want to topple Orochi? Keep dreaming!

No, I’ll just play along. Pretend to fight, let the kid lose “by accident.” That way, I’ll keep my promise to Hiyori without actually throwing my life away.

Yes, that’s best. And I’ll convince Her Highness to stay here afterward. It’s chaos out there—how she’s survived this long, I’ll never know. Better to keep her safe in Atama.

I’ll only use two-tenths of my strength. Any more, and I might actually kill this boy.

These thoughts circled Ashura Doji’s head as he strode backward, adjusting his stance.

Behind him, Lucci’s lips curved ever so slightly, forming a faint smile.

“Which is better?” he asked. “Sword... or fist?”

“What?”

Lost in thought, Ashura Doji faltered. The boy’s voice, so calm, pulled him back. Slowly, he turned his head—only to meet Lucci’s steady gaze.

The boy repeated, “Aren’t we going to fight? Sword or fist. You choose.”

Because the strong always let the weak pick their weapon first.

For a long moment, Ashura Doji stood frozen, unable to believe what he’d just heard.

Then, as the meaning sank in, his expression darkened like a storm.

He dares… he actually dares to look down on me?

Just a brat…

Fine then. Three-tenths of my strength!

No… four-tenths!

Forgive me, Her Highness Hiyori.

His jaw tightened, lips twitching with suppressed fury, before he growled coldly,
“Kid… to act arrogant, you need the strength to back it up!”

“I agree with that,” Lucci replied, voice calm as ever. He simply stepped back, widening the distance between them.

Ashura Doji’s teeth ground together.

Damn poker-faced brat…
If I don’t make you cry today, I’m no Ashura Doji!

He clenched his fists, murderous intent leaking from every pore.

In the corner of the hall, a bandit elbowed his brother.

“Oi, oi, looks like Big Bro’s pissed.”

“He really is… what the hell did that brat say to tick him off?”

“Tch. To rile up Kuri’s strongest monster? That kid’s either bold… or suicidal.”

Yamato’s brows furrowed at their whispers. She turned to Hiyori.
“Hiyori, is this Ashura Doji really that strong?”

She knew he was one of the Red Scabbards. But compared to Denjiro…?

“How does he measure against him?” she pressed.

“They’re equals,” Hiyori admitted after a pause. Then she glanced sideways.
“Yamato-neechan… do you think Lucci-sama will lose?”

“No.” Yamato shook her head firmly, clenching her fists. “He’ll win.”

Her faith was absolute, almost blind. She couldn’t imagine Lucci losing—though she dreaded the thought of him getting hurt.

“Mhm! Lucci-sama will definitely win!”

Hiyori, unlike Yamato, placed her confidence in both Lucci’s strength and her own careful arrangements.

Ashura Doji had already promised her he’d hold back.
And she hadn’t told him that Lucci was a Devil Fruit user—or that he’d slain Denjiro himself.

All she wanted was for Ashura Doji to underestimate him just a little. With that opening, Lucci’s chances of victory skyrocketed.

Her eyes fixed on the calm figure at the center.
Come on, Lucci-sama…

Facing Lucci, Ashura Doji finally spoke.
“Kid, don’t call your mama when you start bawling.”

Before the words even faded, he stomped down hard—

Boom!

The ground shattered beneath his heel, the recoil propelling his massive frame forward like a cannon shot.

He blurred across the hall, appearing in front of Lucci in an instant.

Seeing the boy seemingly unmoved, his lips curled into a grin.

So four-tenths was still too much, huh? Fine. I’ll rein it in.

His fist shot out like a hammer.

Bang!

A body went flying.

Boom!

Stone shattered, dust billowed, and the bandits gawked, stunned.

“Holy crap! Big Bro really flattened that brat?”

“Eh? Wait… why’s the brat still standing?”

Their eyes widened. The figure still on his feet wasn’t Ashura Doji.

Instead, embedded deep into the wall, bleeding but wide-eyed—was their leader.

Lucci lowered his fist, eyes cold, voice calm as ever.
“It seems you chose wrong. Compared to the sword… my fist is stronger.”