Coby cracked his neck, eyeing the still-standing Fishmen with a smirk. "You lot wanted a war? Well, you found the wrong crew."
Zoro was already on his feet, swords drawn and eyes narrowed. "Finally. Time to cut down some deadweight."
Sanji lit a cigarette, blowing a smoke ring as he kicked his leg to the side. "Let's wrap this up quick. We've got a feast waiting."
The Fishmen pirates rallied, those left standing gritting their teeth as they charged, determined to take down their enemies in one final push. Zoro moved first, his swords gleaming as he dashed through the line, his strikes cutting through armor and scales alike as he mowed down anyone who came close.
Sanji was already lighting a cigarette, smirking as he lifted his leg. "If you're that eager, Marimo, then let's get started."
The remaining soldiers, wide-eyed and trembling, scrambled to regain their footing. But they barely had time to react before Zoro lunged in, his swords flashing in a rapid series of strikes, cutting down anyone unlucky enough to be in his path. Sanji spun through the crowd like a whirlwind, flames trailing from his kicks as he sent enemies flying into the walls and each other.
Coby stood near Robin and Nami, ready to jump in if needed, but it quickly became clear that the crew had the battlefield handled. The two years apart had made every one of them stronger, and the scene was almost laughably one-sided. Luffy casually split through the ranks of Hody's men, moving forward without even glancing at the bodies falling around him. When two of Hody's lieutenants tried to block his path, Zoro and Sanji intercepted with precise, brutal strikes. No one was getting anywhere near the captain while they were around.
A group of Fishman pirates charged toward them, but Usopp's slingshot unleashed a barrage of Pop Greens that erupted into thick vines, tangling the attackers and yanking them back. Chopper leapt forward, launching himself into Heavy Point and slamming into another, knocking the Fishman into a wall with a heavy crunch. Brook's Soru brought him into range of two more, where his Shigan made quick work of them. As each Fishman fell, he chuckled, "Yohohoho! Fishbones are all that's left!"
Meanwhile, Luffy kept advancing toward Hody, unfazed by the chaos around him. Another of Hody's commanders lunged at Luffy, swinging a massive iron club, but Robin intercepted him. She sprouted an arm on enemy's body then a quick Shigan through the attacker's chest sent him reeling backward.
Hody watched his men fall in waves, eyes wide with fury as he screamed, "You're all worthless! Take them down! Kill them!"
Nami grinned from her position at the edge of the battlefield, sending bolts of lightning crackling down from her Clima-Tact. Hody's forces shrieked as they stumbled back, stunned by the shockwaves and dazed from the impacts.
Franky, meanwhile, had switched to his heavy artillery. "Super Punch!" he shouted, the attack sending another Fishman pirate skidding across the square and into a heap with several others. Not far from him, Chopper reared back and slammed his hoof down, using Tekkai to block an incoming blow before knocking his opponent aside.
The Straw Hats cut through the New Fishman Pirates like a storm. Hody's forces had nowhere to hide as Zoro carved a path through them, moving like a blade through water. With his swords blazing in Armament Haki, he slashed down two of Hody's lieutenants who had dared to face him, the sheer force of his attack crushing the ground beneath their feet. Sanji's flaming kicks launched another group backward, the scent of scorched air following each blow.
Finally reaching Hody, Luffy stopped, his expression shifting from amused to deadly serious. Hody growled, baring his teeth. "Straw Hat, you really think you can beat me? I'm going to tear this place apart! Humans, Fishmen—everyone will bow down to me!"
Luffy simply grinned, his fists crackling with Haki. "I don't care about your plans or your speeches. You messed with my friends—that's all I need to beat you."
Hody roared, charging with wild fury. He swung his trident, but Luffy vanished, using Soru to dodge and reappearing above him. Luffy's fist came down in a rapid Shigan, striking Hody's shoulder and knocking him off balance. In a seamless move, Luffy twisted in the air and kicked down with Rankyaku, the compressed air slicing toward Hody with a sharp, deadly edge. Hody barely dodged, the force slashing past him and leaving a gash in the ground.
Staggering back, Hody gritted his teeth, red eyes blazing. "You... you're just a human!"
"Yeah," Luffy replied, shrugging, "a human who's about to kick your ass."
The battlefield roared with the clash of blades and fists, but Luffy had his sights set on Hody, who was stumbling back with each of Luffy's blows. It was a wonder to Coby why Luffy hadn't finished him off yet, but Coby let it slide. Besides, the longer Hody fought, the higher the chance he'd get a good knock or two in. Coby was counting on it. If Luffy lost enough blood, Jinbe would need to give him a transfusion, and that would forge the kind of bond that couldn't be broken.
At some point during the chaos, Franky rolled up on Kurosai FR-U IV, his custom motorcycle, weaving between Fishman Pirates as he blasted them with his heavy artillery. Not far off, Chopper and Usopp were on his Brachio Tank V, gleefully firing off rounds at any approaching enemies. When the Fishman lieutenants pushed forward, Franky's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Yahaha! Who's ready for some real firepower?" Usopp crowed, firing a blast that tore through a cluster of Fishmen, blowing them backward in a cloud of dust and debris.
Chopper slammed his fist on the controls, steering the tank and cackling as it crushed any enemies in its path. "Yeah! This is awesome!"
"Alright, boys! Time to merge these bad boys and show them what General Franky can do!"
When Hody's lieutenants began to emerge from the crowd, Franky shifted tactics. He signaled to Usopp and Chopper, who halted the tank. Without missing a beat, Franky clambered up, ready to merge the two machines. "Time to show these fish what true power looks like!"
With a final clang, the Kurosai and Brachio Tank connected and shifted, docking together.
"Behold the miracle of Ybocmetal!" Franky roared, his voice amplified as General Franky fully activated. He ejected Usopp and Chopper to the ground, both of whom gazed up at the giant mecha with wide-eyed amazement.
"Whoa! It's even cooler than I imagined!" Usopp shouted, awestruck.
Luffy, watching from further away, laughed. "Franky, you're awesome! Let's go smash these guys!"
Franky grinned, raising one massive metal fist. "Oh, it's smashin' time, alright!"
As the battle raged around him, Coby leaned back, watching the crew tear through Hody's army. The scene was already perfectly set. He knew the longer the fight dragged on, the more Hody's power would look like a threat to Fishman Island, and the more Luffy would be seen as the hero. Vander Decken probably had already sent Noah towards the island.
In the center of the battlefield, Hody was trying to rally his men, screaming orders and popping pills like candy to boost his power. Luffy dodged his attacks effortlessly, using Soru to blink in and out of Hody's range. At one point, Hody swung his trident with all his might, but Luffy caught it mid-swing, smashing the pole in two with his bare hands before delivering a punch that sent Hody skidding across the square.
Off to the side, Sanji and Zoro were practically racing each other to take down as many of Hody's top men as possible. Sanji blasted forward with Geppo, landing a fiery kick that sent a Fishman lieutenant crashing into the wall, smoke curling from his clothes. Zoro, grinning, swung his swords with precise force, his Armament Haki-coated blades cutting through steel and scales alike.
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