The heavy steel fence groaned and collapsed under the sheer, devastating power of Captain Morgan's Axe-Hand. Dust plumed into the air.
"I am absolute!" Morgan roared, swinging the massive iron blade toward Luffy in a sweeping, deadly arc.
Luffy didn't even flinch. He dropped to the dirt, sliding under the heavy swing, and planted his hands firmly on the ground. "GOMU GOMU NO..."
Luffy's leg stretched straight up into the air, reaching dozens of feet high, before snapping down like a massive rubber whip.
"...WHIP!"
CRACK!
Luffy's leg slammed into Morgan's chest, sending the giant tyrant stumbling backward. But Morgan was a monster of endurance. He dug his boots into the dirt, ignoring the bruising blow, and raised his axe to cleave the rubber boy in two.
"Don't move!" a shrill, panicked voice echoed across the courtyard.
Morgan froze. Luffy paused.
Standing near the edge of the battlefield was Helmeppo. The spoiled brat was trembling violently, his face covered in bandages, but in his hands, he held a flintlock pistol pressed directly against Koby's temple.
"I-If you take one more step, I'll blow his brains out!" Helmeppo shrieked, tears of sheer terror streaming down his face. "I mean it! Drop your weapons!"
Luffy stopped walking. He looked at Helmeppo, and then he looked at Koby.
Koby was shaking. The cold steel of the gun barrel was pressed painfully against his head. He was terrified. But as he looked at Luffy, the fear in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by that same unyielding fire he had found on Alvida's beach.
"Luffy!" Koby yelled, his voice cracking but resolute. "Don't stop! Even if I die, I don't want to surrender to scum like them!"
Helmeppo panicked, pressing the gun harder. "S-Shut up! I'll shoot you! I swear I'll do it!"
Luffy stared at Koby for a long, quiet second. And then, a massive, proud grin stretched across his face.
"Hear that, stupid?" Luffy laughed. He completely turned his back on Captain Morgan and began walking straight toward Helmeppo. "Koby's got more guts than you ever will!"
"F-FOOL!" Morgan bellowed. "You dare turn your back on me?!"
Seeing the perfect opening, the towering Marine Captain charged, raising his Axe-Hand high above his head to split Luffy down the middle.
"Luffy, behind you!" Koby screamed.
Luffy didn't look back. He just pulled his fist back. "GOMU GOMU NO..."
In a blur of motion, Luffy's fist stretched forward, slamming directly into Helmeppo's face for the second time that day. The spoiled son was knocked instantly unconscious, dropping the gun and collapsing to the dirt.
But Morgan's axe was already falling. It was inches from Luffy's unprotected back.
SHING!
A flash of silver cut through the sunlight.
The sound of clashing steel echoed like thunder. Zoro was suddenly there, standing directly behind Luffy. His muscles bulged, sweat pouring down his face, as he crossed his two hand-held swords, perfectly catching and locking Morgan's massive iron axe before it could touch his new captain.
Zoro glared up at the giant Marine, the white-hilted Wado Ichimonji clamped firmly in his teeth.
"Nice try," Zoro growled around the blade.
With a terrifying roar, Zoro twisted his wrists. Demon Slash!
Three separate, blinding cuts tore across Captain Morgan's chest simultaneously. The tyrant's eyes rolled back into his head. His Axe-Hand hit the dirt, and a second later, the massive Captain collapsed to the ground, completely defeated.
The execution yard fell utterly, terrifyingly silent. The dozen remaining Marines stared at their fallen, invincible Captain.
Luffy grabbed his straw hat, grinning. "If any of you still want to fight, step right up!"
The Marines looked at Luffy. They looked at Zoro. And then, to the pirates' absolute shock... the Marines threw their weapons into the air and began cheering wildly.
"HE'S DEAD! THE TYRANT IS DEFEATED!" "WE'RE FREE! CAPTAIN MORGAN IS GONE!"
Tears of joy streamed down the soldiers' faces as they celebrated their liberation.
Zoro let out a long, exhausted sigh. He sheathed his two swords, took the third from his mouth, and then his eyes rolled back. "Hey, Luffy..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm starving..."
With a heavy thud, the Pirate Hunter finally collapsed face-first into the dirt. Nine days without food had finally caught up to him.
A few hours later, inside the warm, cozy kitchen of Rika's home.
"MORE MEAT!" Luffy cheered, swallowing an entire turkey leg whole.
"Bring it on!" Zoro grunted, furiously shoveling plates of rice, fish, and pork into his mouth with terrifying speed.
Rika and her mother laughed, continuously bringing out more and more food for the two ravenous pirates. Sitting at the table beside them, Koby just smiled, a bandage wrapped neatly around his shoulder.
"So, Luffy," Zoro asked, pausing to swallow a massive gulp of ale. "Now that we're a crew, what's our plan? Where are we heading?"
"The Grand Line!" Luffy declared through a mouthful of food. "We're going to find the One Piece!"
Zoro smirked, shaking his head. "Of course. Right into the most dangerous ocean in the world. Makes sense for the Pirate King."
"What about you, Koby?" Luffy asked, swallowing his food. "You're not coming with us, right?"
Koby looked down at his lap, nervously wringing his hands. "No... my dream is to join the Marines. But... I don't know if they'll let me. I spent two years on Alvida's pirate ship. If they find out I was affiliated with pirates, they'll arrest me, not recruit me."
Zoro grunted, setting down his cup. "He's right. The Marines are strict about that stuff. If they start asking questions—"
BAM!
The front door of the house was violently kicked open.
Standing in the doorway was a tall Marine Lieutenant, flanked by a squad of heavily armed soldiers. The festive atmosphere in the kitchen instantly vanished.
"Excuse the intrusion," the Lieutenant said sternly, stepping into the room. He looked at Luffy and Zoro. "We are here to confirm your identities. Are you two really pirates?"
Luffy didn't hesitate. "Yep! We're pirates!"
The Lieutenant nodded slowly. "Understood. As Marines, we are deeply grateful to you for saving this town from Captain Morgan's tyranny. We will not be reporting this incident to Marine Headquarters."
The soldiers behind him bowed their heads in genuine respect.
"However," the Lieutenant continued, his voice hardening. "You are still pirates. We cannot allow criminals to stay in our town. We must ask you to leave Shells Town immediately."
"Fair enough," Zoro said, grabbing his three swords and standing up.
Luffy grabbed the last piece of meat, thanked Rika and her mother for the food, and began walking toward the door.
"Wait," the Lieutenant ordered, pointing a sharp finger at Koby, who was still sitting frozen at the table. "Who is the boy? Is he part of your pirate crew?"
Koby's heart stopped. He began to tremble, his eyes darting frantically between the Marines and the door. If they think I'm a pirate... my dream is over.
Luffy paused. He looked back at Koby, his eyes entirely shadowed by his straw hat.
"Oh, him?" Luffy said loudly, a cruel, mocking tone suddenly entering his voice. "Yeah, I know him. He's a real piece of work. He spent the last two years working as a cabin boy for a fat, ugly pirate named Alvida!"
Koby gasped. Luffy! What are you doing?!
The Marines glared at Koby, their hands resting on their sword hilts. "Affiliated with the pirate Alvida, you say?"
"Yep!" Luffy laughed aggressively, taking a step toward Koby. "He's a total coward! He just scrubs decks and cries all day! Right, Koby?!"
Koby's hands curled into tight fists. He's doing it on purpose. He's provoking me... so the Marines will see we aren't friends! Tears pricked Koby's eyes. Without thinking, the small, trembling boy leaped out of his chair and violently punched Luffy directly in the face.
SMACK!
Luffy stumbled backward, feigning surprise. "Oh, you wanna go?!"
"SHUT UP!" Koby screamed, throwing another desperate, flailing punch.
Luffy grinned fiercely, grabbed Koby by the collar, and slammed a fist into the boy's cheek, sending him tumbling to the floor. "Take that, you wimp!"
Before they could continue the brawl, the Marines rushed forward, grabbing Luffy and dragging him away from the bleeding boy.
"That's enough!" the Lieutenant barked. He looked down at Koby, who was glaring at Luffy with pure, unadulterated anger. The officer nodded in understanding. "It is clear that you two are not comrades. Pirates, leave this town. Now."
Luffy wiped a fake drop of blood from his lip, turned around, and walked out the door with Zoro trailing behind him.
Koby stayed on the floor, breathing heavily. He wiped his tears, forced himself to stand up, and looked the Lieutenant dead in the eye.
"Sir!" Koby shouted, snapping into a perfect, rigid salute. "I want to join the Marines! I'll scrub the floors! I'll do chores! I'll do whatever it takes! Please, let me join!"
The Lieutenant stared at the boy. He had seen Koby's fierce punch. He had seen his determination.
"A past with pirates is a heavy burden, boy," the Lieutenant said softly. "But I see your spirit. You may join."
Koby burst into tears of sheer joy. Thank you, Luffy... Thank you.
At the edge of the town, a small, two-man sailing boat was packed and ready to go.
Luffy and Zoro untied the ropes, pushing the boat out into the sparkling blue waters of the ocean. The afternoon sun was warm, and the wind was blowing perfectly toward the horizon.
"You're a pretty bad actor, you know that?" Zoro chuckled, resting against the mast. "But you got the kid his dream."
Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat.
"LUFFY! ZORO!"
They looked back toward the docks. Standing at the very edge of the pier was Koby, wearing a crisp, white Marine uniform.
Koby raised his hand to his brow, delivering a sharp, flawless, and deeply emotional salute to the two pirates sailing away.
"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!" Koby screamed over the crashing waves.
Behind him, the Lieutenant and the entire squad of Marines marched onto the docks. They stopped, lined up perfectly behind Koby, and as one, the entire platoon raised their hands and delivered a synchronized, resounding salute to the departing pirate ship.
"Look at that," Luffy laughed, waving wildly back at them. "We've got Marine fans!"
On the docks, the Lieutenant watched the small boat disappear into the horizon. He lowered his hand and turned to his men.
"Saluting pirates is a direct violation of the Marine Code of Conduct!" the Lieutenant barked firmly. "As punishment, this entire platoon, myself included, will go one week without food! Do you understand?!"
"SIR, YES, SIR!" the Marines roared proudly.
The Lieutenant turned back to the ocean, glancing down at Koby, who was still saluting the horizon with tears in his eyes.
"You have a very good friend, Seaman Recruit Koby," the Lieutenant murmured softly.
"Yes, Sir," Koby whispered, a proud smile finally breaking across his face. "The best."