One Piece: Killer Method #195

Wyper's anger surged, the emotion palpable in his voice as he defended Mont Blanc Noland's honor with fervor. "Mont Blanc Noland did not lie! He spoke the truth!" His eyes bore into Cedric, a fiery glare that demanded recognition of Noland's integrity. "Even if he did lie, does that justify executing him?"

Cedric, undeterred by Wyper's passionate outburst, merely shrugged his shoulders with a casual air. "It's not like I was the one to have him executed, pal. Just telling it as it is." His chuckle hung in the air, a touch of cynicism coloring his tone. "Nobles and kings from the Blue Sea are tyrannical and unreasonable like that."

Wyper's frustration welled up, and he growled, "Savages! The lot of you!"

Cedric's response was delivered with a hint of detachment. "Well, I'm a pirate and a drifter. It's not my place to defend Blue Sea civility or care for that matter." 

He shifted his focus to the village's chief, his tone becoming more resolute. "We got sidetracked, but I'm not here to debate history. I'm going to take down Enel, and your help will make things considerably easier."

Before the village's chief could formulate a response to Cedric's request, Wyper interjected with a tone of defiance. "The only one to bring down Enel would be me. We don't need your help, outsider, nor do we want it!" 

His hand gravitated toward the bazooka slung across his back, fingers tracing its formidable form. "Get out of here while we're still inclined to let you leave with all your limbs intact..."

Cedric couldn't contain an involuntary snort at Wyper's assertion. "You? I hate to break it to you, but you'd barely last a minute before Enel fries your brain with his lightning." 

He maintained a composed stance, arms crossed in a display of unwavering confidence. "Whether you like it or not, you need me more than I need you people. I'm your only chance to get rid of Enel..."

Cedric's words proved to be incendiary, pushing Wyper's anger to its limits. With a swift and threatening motion, he raised his bazooka, its barrel aimed menacingly at Cedric's face. 

Before he could squeeze the trigger and unleash destruction, the village's chief intervened, placing a steadying hand on the bazooka's barrel and forcibly pushing it downward.

The village's chief shifted his gaze from Wyper to Cedric, his voice carrying a tone of measured skepticism. "You claim to have the power to defeat Enel, and you expect us to take your word for it?" He paused, his brows furrowing as he continued, "Don't you think that's mildly unreasonable? Shouldn't you prove yourself first?"

Cedric responded with an affable smile, his curiosity piqued by the challenge. "I'll bite. What do you have in mind?" he inquired, his voice carrying an air of willingness to engage.

The village's chief proceeded to lay out his proposition, his voice carrying the weight of scrutiny. "Earlier, you claimed that Wyper, our mightiest warrior, would not last more than a minute if he were to face Enel." His eyes locked onto Cedric's, seeking confirmation, and the pirate nodded in response.

Continuing his line of reasoning, the village's chief pressed on. "And you claimed to have the power to defeat Enel, making you Enel's equal or even his better..." He crossed his arms in contemplation, studying Cedric intently as he posed a pointed question. "If your words are to be believed, that makes you capable of defeating Wyper in less than a minute?"

Cedric couldn't help but conceal a chuckle within, his anticipation rising as he discerned the village chief's direction. In this world, it was a cardinal mistake to underestimate the elderly, as they often wielded wisdom and cunning in abundance. 

First, it was Gan Fall, beating around the bush and testing him indirectly by bringing him here, and now this old village head was trying to set Cedric up for failure by issuing what he assumed to be an impossible challenge. 

A confident grin played upon Cedric's lips as he acknowledged the unspoken challenge. "I see where this is going," he said, his eyes alternating between Wyper and the village's chief. He voiced his understanding, "I just have to beat this guy in under a minute, and you'll help me take down Enel?"

The village's chief nodded solemnly, his tone bearing the weight of a vow. "Indeed. If you can achieve such a miraculous feat," he affirmed, "then you have my word—my people will fight and, if need be, die by your side to defeat Enel."

Despite the chief's measured and composed demeanor, a trace of mockery and ridicule lingered in his words. While he might be more reasonable than most of his tribe, Cedric's air of arrogance clearly grated on his sensibilities, leaving an undertone of dissatisfaction.

With an indifferent shrug, Cedric consented, his casual demeanor belying the gravity of the challenge ahead. "Alright, seems fair enough," he replied calmly. 

Raising his hand, he opened his palm, and as if invoking some arcane power, an orange cloud descended from the sky. The cloud hung above his palm for a fleeting moment before dispersing, releasing a golden trident that plummeted directly into Cedric's waiting hand.

The onlookers, the Shandians Gan Fall, and the chief stood in stunned silence. Not only were they taken aback by Cedric's seemingly magical display but by his swift acceptance of the challenge without hesitation as well. 

However, Cedric paid little heed to their astonishment. In the tumultuous world of One Piece, where might and violence held sway, he understood that clever schemes could only carry one so far. More often than not, a show of strength was all one needed to accomplish his goals.

With the trident held firmly to the side, Cedric uttered impatiently, "Come on, let's get this over with..." His tone bore a confidence that didn't escape the notice of the Shandians.

Wyper couldn't help but feel a twitch in his eye at Cedric's apparent disregard for the gravity of their impending clash. Nevertheless, Wyper knew that his opportunity to confront this outsider would come soon.

The village chief, displaying a stoic resolve, nodded and turned to address the gathered Shandians. "Very well. Make way," he instructed, a sense of solemnity in his voice. He then shifted his attention to Cedric and Wyper, firmly raising his cane as he spoke, "Get in positions. The battle will start as soon as my cane hits the ground..."

Wyper acknowledged the command with a curt nod and moved to take his stance, positioning himself at a considerable distance from Cedric. His gaze alternating between the two contestants, the chief inquired, "Are you ready?" Cedric and Wyper nodded in confirmation, prompting the chief to release his grip on the cane.

As the cane struck the ground, he exclaimed, "Then start!"

Wyper was the first to act, his action swift and decisive. Utilizing his unique shooters—ice skates equipped with breath dials that generated powerful propulsion, he closed the distance between himself and Cedric with remarkable speed. With a swift kick aimed at Cedric's midsection, Wyper aimed to launch the confrontation into motion.

Much to Wyper's bewilderment, Cedric appeared to vanish before his eyes. As Wyper frantically scanned the area, seeking any sign of his elusive opponent, a voice chimed in from behind, mocking in its tone. 

"You look lost... you need a map or something?"

 Startled, Wyper instinctively unleashed a searing wave of blue flames from his Burn Bazooka, aiming it at the source of the voice. However, before his fiery assault could make contact, Cedric once again evaded with a taunting chuckle.

 "Enel shouldn't be slower than me. He's probably even quicker..."

This time, the sound of Cedric's voice seemed to come from above. Wyper glanced upward just in time to see Cedric employing Geppo, using the Sky Walk technique to hover effortlessly in the air while casting a condescending gaze upon Wyper below.

Frustration simmered within the Shandian warrior as he clenched his fists, his determination to bring Cedric down only intensifying.

Wyper couldn't contain his anger any longer. He unleashed another volley of scorching flames from his Burn Bazooka, directed squarely at Cedric. But Cedric, with a blinding burst of speed, once again outmaneuvered him, reappearing right before Wyper's eyes.

However, Cedric's response was anything but conventional. He chuckled in the face of danger, catching Wyper's incoming fist with ease. His movements were fluid, almost casual, as if he were engaging in a leisurely dance rather than a heated battle. 

Shaking his head with an air of condescension, Cedric spoke in a tone of unwavering confidence, "Even if I stood still, nothing would change..."

As Wyper's frustration mounted, he lashed out with his other fist, only for Cedric to effortlessly intercept it as well. The Shandian warrior's attempts to strike Cedric were swiftly thwarted, his efforts rendered futile in the face of Cedric's agility and skill. 

With both of Wyper's fists firmly in his grip, Cedric delivered a final verdict with a taunting smirk, "You can't touch me."

With a sudden motion, Cedric cocked his head back and delivered a forceful headbutt, aiming directly at Wyper's forehead.