The Sea Panda's second assault froze time itself. Usopp's jaw dropped, eyes bulging as he let out a piercing scream. Even Bogard, battered and bleeding from his chest wound, struggled to maintain composure. His labored breathing and silenced voice betrayed his precarious state. Facing a creature of such enormity, he had no confidence in victory.
Instinctively, both abandoned their standoff, turning to face the Sea Panda.
"It's back!" Usopp wailed.
The creature's round eyes locked onto the ship's deck: Usopp screaming, Bogard gripping his sword, and Kiri, bloodied and collapsed. Its gaze shifted, catching the faint glint of Kiri's dulled golden hair beneath the crimson stains.
In that moment, their eyes seemed to meet.
Usopp flinched as the Sea Panda's expression twisted into unmistakable fury.
"I'm gonna die!" Usopp shrieked, throwing his hands up in surrender.
The beast's glare snapped to Bogard. Perhaps sensing something primal, its right arm surged from the water, unleashing a punch. Bogard vanished with blinding speed, but the blow obliterated part of the warship's railing, the sturdy vessel crumbling with a deafening roar.
One strike reduced the ship to splinters. Usopp, unable to regain his composure, screamed louder. "Nooo!"
Bogard reappeared atop the mast, but the Sea Panda tracked him instantly. Raising its left arm, it unleashed another merciless punch. Bogard leapt, and the mast shattered into debris.
As wreckage rained down, Usopp realized the danger. Kiri, immobile, was a sitting target. Without hesitation, he scooped Kiri up and bolted. "This is bad! Sorry, Kiri, gotta move you!"
His quick thinking spared them from being crushed. They darted into the ship's cabin just as the debris fell.
Inside, Kiri mumbled, his blood-deprived mind drifting. "Could it be…"
His thoughts conjured a woman's face, a massive polar bear from his past, words about family, and now this Sea Panda—enraged at his bloodied state, attacking Bogard. The connection was unclear, but it lingered as he slipped into the cabin.
Outside, the beast and human clashed on. The Sea Panda's movements were too precise for a wild creature, almost trained, like a martial artist. A Grand Line native in the East Blue, its size impossible, its strikes deliberate, as if cornering prey. Bogard, dodging with Geppo, felt his stamina waning, gritting his teeth.
Why is it like this? It's as if it's protecting them.
Doubt mingled with anger, but he refused to yield, raising his sword midair. He wouldn't let them escape.
Then, the Sea Panda made an odd move. It seized the warship with both paws, hoisting it overhead as if to wield it as a weapon against the very people it seemed to protect.
Caught off guard, Bogard hesitated. The Sea Panda hurled the ship with terrifying force, spinning through the air toward him. He dodged, kicking the air, as the warship sailed into the ocean, vanishing from sight.
Bogard thought he'd evaded, but it was a feint. The Sea Panda, anticipating his move, delivered an overhead kick. Unable to react, Bogard was struck, hurtling back to the town, crashing through a house beyond the port. His fate was unclear as the Sea Panda plunged back into the sea.
Resurfacing, it scanned the horizon, realizing too late—the warship, with three aboard, was gone, flung beyond sight. Scratching its head, it tilted slightly, as if reflecting on its overzealous act.
Having defeated Bogard and tossed the warship, the Sea Panda submerged slowly, leaving no clue to its motives. Watched by Coby, Helmeppo, and countless Marines, it vanished into the depths.
Deep in the mountains, Luffy and Garp clashed fists again. The impact reverberated, jarring Luffy's bones. Despite his rubber body's resistance to blunt force, the accumulated damage was undeniable—inflicted by Garp's bare hands, no blades.
Something was off, but Luffy couldn't pinpoint why. Retreating, he shook his stinging right hand. The fight was clearly against him. Garp dodged every attack effortlessly, landing precise, punishing blows. Luffy's survival owed to childhood training under Garp's fists and his honed instincts to mitigate their force.
Thanks to Garp's brutal upbringing, Luffy could endure minutes against him.
After fleeing toward the mountains, they'd fought briefly. Luffy's body held up, the damage not yet crippling, but he sensed danger. Gauging the moment to escape, he put distance between them, meeting Garp's gaze with resolve.
"Man, you're strong, Gramps. I can't win yet," Luffy admitted.
"Give up, Luffy. Come with me," Garp urged.
"No way!" Luffy shot back.
"Stubborn brat! Who'd you take after?" Garp grumbled, arms crossed, exuding confidence despite his age, unfazed by Luffy's attacks.
Feeling the pressure, Luffy steeled himself. The plan was to buy time, as Kiri had drilled into him. Fighting wasn't the goal—just stalling to escape. He'd done enough. Hidden by trees, he couldn't see the town, but he trusted his crew was handling things.
Nodding, Luffy spun his arms, advancing. Garp raised an eyebrow. "Still got fight in you?"
"Of course! I won't give up till I'm Pirate King!" Luffy declared.
"Hmph. You'd die in the Grand Line. It's not the East Blue—it's beyond your imagination," Garp warned.
"That's why I'm going!" Luffy grinned.
Garp frowned but listened.
"Not knowing what's out there makes adventure fun. That's why I'm a pirate," Luffy said.
"You could sail the Grand Line as a Marine. Why a pirate?" Garp pressed.
"Because I made a promise to Shanks," Luffy said, touching his hat, eyes unwavering. "I won't give up till I return this hat. Not even against you, Gramps."
"That damn Red Hair!" Garp roared, as Luffy crouched low.
His expression shifted, and he sprinted, stretching his right arm back. "Gomu Gomu no!"
"Same old tricks. No defense against my loving fists!" Garp taunted.
"Bullet!" Luffy shouted, snapping his arm forward for a superhuman punch.
Garp's fist was faster, striking Luffy's stomach first, sending him flying through the trees. Luffy stretched both arms, grabbing branches to halt himself. Garp laughed, as if playing with his grandson. "Still green, Luffy! Time for serious training—"
Luffy, stretched like a slingshot, smirked. Garp's grin faded. "No way…"
"Rocket!" Luffy launched himself skyward, untouchable. Garp stared, unable to follow.
Spinning, Luffy grinned broadly, splayed out midair. "That's it for today! See ya, Gramps!"
"Luffy!" Garp bellowed, left behind as Luffy soared toward the port.
From the air, he spotted the Sea Panda lifting a warship, hurling it into the distance. "Whoa! What's that?! It's huge!" he marveled, eyes sparkling.
As his momentum faded, he fell toward the town, captivated by the creature's overhead kick. "So cool! I want that guy on our crew!"
Scanning below, he spotted Zoro and Yosaku heading for the port, Yosaku leading—Zoro predictably lost. Grinning, Luffy stretched his arm, grabbing Zoro's shoulder and yanking himself down.
The move was almost an attack, Luffy beaming, while Zoro, startled, braced himself. "Zoro!"
"Luffy, wait—!" Zoro growled.
"Aniki, that's dangerous!" Yosaku warned, to no avail.
Luffy crashed into Zoro, the impact sending them into a fruit stall, scattering produce down the slope. Yosaku gaped, fearing they were dead.
But both rose, kicking debris aside. Zoro, furious, grabbed Luffy's collar, shaking him. "What's your problem, huh? Grabbing people midair's dangerous, you idiot!"
"My bad," Luffy mumbled, chewing an apple.
"Look at me! Now I've got extra damage—" Zoro snapped.
"Calm down, Aniki! We gotta escape quick!" Yosaku interjected.
Zoro relented, releasing Luffy. The crash might've reopened his wounds from Bogard. New cuts bled on his side and leg, staining his clothes.
Finishing the apple, Luffy noticed, his smile fading. He knew Zoro's strength, so injuries were surprising. "You hurt?"
"Yeah, ran into a tough bastard. Got interrupted, though," Zoro said.
"Got lost, huh?" Luffy teased.
"No! He backed off! I'm not lost, you moron!" Zoro barked.
"Well, Aniki, till I found you…" Yosaku muttered.
"Shut it. Port's this way, right? Let's move," Zoro said, storming off.
"Aniki, that's the wrong way!" Yosaku called.
"Hah! Told ya, lost!" Luffy laughed.
"Shut up! You're no better!" Zoro retorted.
Yosaku took the lead, running for the port. The tension eased briefly, but the situation remained dire. No time for banter or hesitation.
As they ran, Luffy nudged Zoro. "Hey, saw the sea? There's a huge panda!"
"Panda? What're you on about?" Zoro scoffed.
"It's real! Think we could make it our nakama?" Luffy mused.
"Stop trying to recruit everything, idiot. What's a panda gonna do?" Zoro said.
"It'd be fun! A pirate crew with a panda!" Luffy insisted.
"Sounds like a joke," Zoro muttered.
"Love the enthusiasm, but we're almost at the port. Enemies might be waiting," Yosaku warned, his expression hardening.
Luffy and Zoro shrugged. "No big deal. We'll take 'em all," Luffy said.
"Just cut 'em down. No prep needed," Zoro added.
"That's the spirit! I'm sticking with you guys, to the ends of the earth!" Yosaku declared.
"Do what you want," Zoro said.
"He's a weird one," Luffy chuckled.
They reached the port, stepping into the open. Luffy took the lead, flanked by Zoro and Yosaku, scanning for threats.
Each noticed something different, unaware of the full situation. Luffy and Zoro were shocked the Merry was gone; Yosaku, that the warship they planned to steal had vanished.
"Where's the Merry?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.
"It's complicated… We need to find the others, but the warship's gone too—" Yosaku began.
"Oh, the panda chucked it," Luffy said casually.
"What?!" Yosaku yelped.
"Threw it clear across the sea. Man, that was wild!" Luffy laughed.
Yosaku paled, panicking. "That's bad! Kiri-aniki, Usopp-aniki, and Johnny were on that ship! They were gonna steal it!"
"What?!" Luffy roared.
"The Merry got thrown too, with Nami-neesan and Silk-neesan! So Kiri-aniki decided to take the warship, but…" Yosaku stammered.
"So that panda tossed my crew?!" Luffy growled, glaring at the sea, but it was calm, no sign of the creature.
Zoro, calm, scanned the port. Marines tended to a fallen figure—Bogard, it seemed—focused on saving him, ignoring the trio. A chance. "Yosaku, your boat?"
"Over there," Yosaku pointed.
"We'll use it to get outta here. Staying does nothing," Zoro said.
"What about Kiri, the Merry—?" Luffy began.
"We'll find 'em later. They're not dying that easy. If we get caught here, it's over. Pull it together, Captain. If you waver, who follows you?" Zoro said sharply.
Luffy fell silent, then nodded firmly. He trusted his crew was alive, ready to reunite. "Alright. We leave and find them."
"Luffy-san!" Yosaku cheered.
A sharp voice cut through. Turning, they saw Coby and Helmeppo, swords drawn, their expressions hardened, no trace of friendship.
Something had changed. Their intent was clear—enemies, not allies.
Luffy faced them, waving Zoro and Yosaku to the boat. "Go prep. We sail after this."
They nodded, rushing off. Luffy turned back. "What's up, Coby? We're in a hurry."
"Our… our nakama was hurt, taken down," Coby said, voice trembling.
Luffy glanced past them. Marines frantically treated someone, the air tense. Coby and Helmeppo's bloodshot eyes radiated hostility.
They meant business, their faces new, resolute.
"I see," Luffy said.
"We're friends, but we're enemies now. We're not so weak we'll let our nakama's injuries slide," Coby declared.
Luffy felt no pity. This was their world—fighting with lives on the line. Win, sail on; lose, perish. They'd chosen this as Marines. Pity would insult them.
He stared, unapologetic, unmoving. Running was easy, but it wouldn't help them grow.
"Come on, Coby, Helmeppo. I'm ready," Luffy said.
"Argh!" Coby charged.
"Damn it!" Helmeppo roared, rushing forward.
Luffy leapt, meeting their fierce gazes. "Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
His right fist stretched, smashing Helmeppo's face. He crumpled, dropping his sword, motionless. Coby still came, screaming. Luffy stretched his left arm back. "Bullet!"
The punch struck Coby's face, cracking his glasses, sending him sprawling, his sword clattering.
Picking up his hat, Luffy put it on, turning away. "I'm going ahead. Come at me anytime," he said coldly, walking to the boat.
Coby and Helmeppo, conscious, wept with frustration. Spared, not killed, they were far from Luffy's level, their friend impossibly distant.
His words offered a chance to catch up, but they felt cruel, not kind.
"I'm a pirate. Stop me if you can," Luffy said, boarding the boat.
Zoro and Yosaku, watching silently, said nothing. Enough had been said.
Gazing at the vast sea where his crew had vanished, Luffy pressed his hat down. "Let's go. Set sail."
The boat moved, gliding into the endless ocean.
Their escape was a retreat from an unbeatable foe. Yet it was a draw—both sides suffered. The Marines had more casualties, but the Straw Hats were scattered, split into three groups, both sides shipless.
The Sea Panda's interference, while costly, saved Luffy's crew from likely defeat. The unwanted reunion with Garp ended without a clear victor, their paths diverging.
Luffy wasn't captured, and their journey could continue.
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