Chapter 109: Usopp Is Actually...

Robbie was one of the few who knew about Mode’s true identity. This information came to him through Gion’s network. Initially, Mode was just a wealthy merchant’s son—a detail that Robbie barely paid attention to and would have forgotten within days. But what made Robbie take Mode seriously was Gion’s warning that Mode was a dangerous individual.

At first, Robbie didn’t understand why. However, when he witnessed Mode cleave through a storm kick with a single slash, he suddenly began to grasp why Gion considered Mode so perilous. Yet, that was all he understood at the time.

It wasn’t until after being caught off guard by a flurry of Mode’s combos that Robbie truly comprehended the extent of Mode’s terror—not because of sheer strength, but because of his rapid growth. In just a few months, Mode had dramatically enhanced his physical fitness, speed, and reflexes—his combat experience was astonishingly rich as well.

Knowing this deeply, a surge of jealousy welled up inside Robbie. He had always been proud—proud of his innate talent, proud of his achievements, proud of being unmatched among his peers. Yet, even with all that, it had taken him many years to reach his current level of skill. Meanwhile, this young man before him had done so in mere months.

Could this truly be what raw talent looked like?

Because he understood so well, comparing himself to Mode left Robbie feeling like a frog trapped at the bottom of a well, filled with bitter discontent. The earlier compliments Mode had given him now felt like ironic slaps, striking his once proud and arrogant face.

Moreover, if Mode’s growth continued unchecked…

Robbie’s eyes ignited with murderous intent. Suddenly, he felt that Gion’s label of “dangerous” was too mild. If it were up to him now, he would add the word “extremely” before it.

Mode, seeing Robbie’s sudden and intense hostility, assumed that his previous teasing had angered him. He had intended to take advantage of the distance Robbie was putting between them to reload Usopp and his two pistols, but upon noticing Robbie’s murderous charge, he abandoned that plan.

Shouldering Usopp’s rifle once more, Mode fixed his gaze on the furious Robbie advancing with relentless hostility.

Perhaps it was thanks to his observation haki that, during their earlier clash, Mode hadn’t felt any pressure from Robbie. Instead, he experienced a liberating sense of ease, as if fighting on his own terms. No wonder, in every world, there were always those monsters obsessed with growing stronger through battle.

“Observation haki really is something remarkable,” Mode smiled faintly.

Seeing the smile on Mode’s face only intensified Robbie’s killing intent.

*Slash!*

Robbie darted behind Mode and just as he raised his hand to fire a finger gun, a blade of light streaked toward him.

“Was I seen through...?” Robbie was startled but couldn’t lower his hand. Instead, he executed another slash and instantly retreated over ten meters.

Mode’s slash missed its mark.

Robbie halted, beads of sweat unexpectedly appearing on his forehead. That slash had come almost the moment he appeared. Had he been even a fraction slower, the consequences would have been disastrous.

While Robbie was still wary, Mode pressed the attack. Robbie responded by unleashing several storm kicks, trying to break Mode’s momentum.

A flash of red glimmered in Mode’s eyes. He deftly dodged the incoming storm kicks, then stepped into striking range, delivering five quick slashes toward Robbie.

*Paper Drawing.*

Robbie’s body swayed like drifting paper in the wind, dodging each slash with fluid grace.

Mode’s eyes gleamed sharply; he didn’t stop there. His blades wove a vast array of slashes, enveloping Robbie’s suddenly nimble form.

His intent was clear: to bind Robbie with a fast, relentless blade assault, preventing him from using slash maneuvers to create distance and waste precious time.

Seeing Robbie rely on *Paper Drawing* to parry was exactly what Mode had hoped for.

Caught in a storm of blades, Robbie felt uneasy despite his technique. After dodging over a hundred slashes, he finally discerned Mode’s plan.

“Looking for a quick finish… You really underestimate me,” Robbie thought, indignant.

Knowing Mode’s intent, he refused to surrender quietly.

Yet, after several attempts, Robbie was shocked to find himself sinking into a quagmire, trapped beneath the ceaseless onslaught of blades.

He realized that recklessly dropping *Paper Drawing* could leave him vulnerable to a fatal strike. But if he kept it, he’d be forced to keep dodging with no chance to counterattack effectively.

“How could this be…” Robbie’s face darkened as he assessed the grim situation.

He didn’t give up easily and tried again and again, but failed each time.

*Slash!*

Robbie’s paper-like body suffered its first wound.

It wasn’t deep—barely a scratch—but to Robbie, it was a warning bell.

Then, over a dozen fleeting slashes followed, leaving a second shallow wound.

This signaled *Paper Drawing* was beginning to falter.

If this continued, it was only a matter of time before Mode would carve him down alive.

Unless Robbie gambled on Mode’s stamina running out.

But Robbie wasn’t the type to gamble.

Desperate to change his fate, when the third wound appeared, Robbie steeled himself and released *Paper Drawing*.

This choice plunged him straight into the abyss.

With the aid of observation haki, Mode’s blade arrived first.

Robbie barely managed to activate *Slash*, but still took a hit to the chest.

After vanishing, a large puddle of blood stained the ground.

The next moment, Robbie appeared several meters away, clutching his bleeding chest, his face pale.

Hardly had he regained his footing than Mode closed in again.

With no other option, Robbie resorted to *Slash* once more to break free from Mode’s pursuit.

But his injuries hampered him; this *Slash* was far from satisfactory—neither in speed nor distance matching his previous attempts.

This allowed Mode to close in even faster.

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