Previously,
"Will Luffy be okay?"
"He will. Don't worry about it, Chopper. We should focus on finding the Merry."
"You're a swordsman, are you not?"
"And? Leave. You'll be cut down like your friends."
"I'll kick your-"
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Now,
"-ass, Pinky!"
Luffy ignored the occurrence for now, focusing on the man before him.
Every hit he aimed for never seemed to land; instead, now that he thought about it, it did land on something, just not him.
"Going for another punch?"
A taunt that would have worked in a different universe.
Looking at the nearest pillar, he hit it with as much force as he could, causing chunks of cement and dust to break off.
The Commander, catching on, made his way towards him. Unfortunately for the Commander, Luffy just so happened to position the outflow of debris in his direction.
"Getting smart, are we?"
The pebbles and dust that made their way over to him stopped. However, Luffy noticed that it was only partially the case. Only the debris that would have hit his face stopped. The rest continued as normal. -A detail he only noticed thanks to the weird effect from earlier, not that he knew that.- A visible look of confusion appeared on Luffy's face before it was decked by the Commander. Without the properties of rubber, Luffy felt the full punch.
Gathering his wits, in a show of retaliation, he aimed his fist, but this time, his other hand simultaneously went to grab the Lt's outstretched arm. Curiously, he noticed that while his punch missed, he felt like he hit something. As for his other hand, it found its destination. Grasping the opportunity, Luffy aimed a kick to the Commander's leading leg, a kick that, as expected, missed.
But Luffy was waiting for that.
With his balance now offset, he used the hand still holding the Commander to drag him into his path. This time, however, he wasn't able to completely pull him in, the familiar repulsion taking place, yet it was enough. With his earlier footing off due to the missed kick and his commitment to following through with the fall, re-placing his missed foot to guide his head even further, he landed a vicious headbutt to the Commander's chest.
The walls of the kitchen shook as the Commander flew towards it in a back-breaking impact.
"I got your trick, Pinky!"
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"Since you've drawn your sword, I'll only be treating you with the same courtesy." Zoro, still seated, positioned his knee, readying himself to spring up while slowly drawing out his katana, the -Wado Ichimonji-.
"Let that courtesy be your final act!" The marine lunged towards Zoro. His sword led his attack. In a movement spiralling the air around him, Zoro blocked with the dull side of his blade. His arms bulged with strength.
"Get off the ship," Zoro said, throwing him with a pushback of his sword. His entire body moved with centrifugal force, unbalancing the marine along with the push. Following up quickly, Zoro used his free arm to grab hold of the marine's collar. Intending to follow through with his sword, the pull accentuated the stab. However, before he could, the ship shook. Both of them offset.
Zoro's focus shifted to the cause of the distraction, his eyes roaming to find the cause. Eventually, he did. With a slight shift of his posture and a glance upward, he spotted orange hair.
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"Ah! We need to get out of here, guys!" Chopper yelled as he and Sanji were busy fighting off the incoming Marines.
Robin was helping them passively, but her attention was on Nami as she fidgeted with the controls. "Well, whatever you pressed retracted the tether they had to the Merry."
"Oh! You're right! Wait a minute... is that... Zoro?!" Her eyes bulged as she was finally able to view the ship clearly; the obstruction of the pillar in front of the observation deck was no longer an issue.
"How the hell did he get there?!" She screamed in frustration before she groaned. "Well, whatever, I guess... we need to get on the Merry now!" Nami's yell caught Sanji's attention.
"Nami~ Let me carry you there!~ You too, Ro-" He kicked a marine with a horizontal kick, and the man was sent tumbling back like a bowling ball, knocking the men behind him like pins. "-bin~!"
"Eh!? What about us!?" Ussop and Chopper, next to him, yelled.
"You'll figure it out." Sanji took a puff of his cigarette, still in his mouth. The knocked-down marines stood up, and another wave added to their numbers.
"Alright, Sanji. We need to get out of here now!" Nami's voice carried urgency. Their temporary stand at the observation deck would no longer be viable. And so with a dash, Sanji was off. Grabbing Nami and Robin by their waist, she kicked and broke the glass, jumping off towards the ship.
Chopper transformed back to his regular brain point form and managed to catch hold of Sanji's collar. Flying with him to the ship.
Ussop was quick on his feet. Using a dial he had stored, he propelled himself off the now windowless frame. Following Sanji close behind.
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During that time, Zoro's glance let his opponent believe he had an opportunity. With a wide swing of his sword, he aimed towards Zoro's feet. Zoro, sensing the rush of air and the exertion of effort, was able to dodge with a jump, However, the marine was already back on him. Throwing a follow-up overhand punch. Zoro was suspended in the air and couldn't move. Not without an external point to use force on. And it just so happened that the fist headed his way would prove to be that force indeed.
With his right hand firmly on the Wado Ichimonji, he twisted his body to face the punch. Grabbing the incoming punch with his offhand, he followed the rotation and swung his blade down.
"Ahh!" The marine yelled in pain, blood gushing out of his now missing arm. Stumbling back, his pain clouding his senses as he almost fell. Zoro was quick to capitalise, intending to finish what he started. His feet touched the floor, and his sword primed for a stab through the chest.
In a last attempt to save himself, his opponent waved his wounded arm. Hoping that the blood would cloud Zoro's vision and land on his eyes.
Zoro simply used his off-hand once more to shield his sight. His form now closing in on the marine. Sword mere inches from the chest.
The marine tried throwing out a punch, but it was far too late. Zoro's raised offhand caught the attempt and pushed it to the side, his blade firmly piercing its intended target. The blade goes through all the way to the hilt, Zoro's head positioned next to his enemy.
"You were warned."
And with that, Zoro pulled out his sword. The act caused blood to fly, all the while he stepped back and kicked the soon-to-be corpse overboard.
With a flick of his blade to throw the blood off it, it was back in his sheath. Just in time for Sanji to land carrying the crew, setting down the girls as Chopper released his grip, his eyes clearly conveying he was angry.
Before Chopper could voice his frustration, Ussop's voice cut through. "Someone catch me!" His arms flailing as if he were trying to emulate a bird. Unfortunately, Zoro recognised his trajectory. Having been acquainted with flying people thanks to a certain someone with a hat. His eyes widened slowly, almost comically. "Wai-"
He tried to say before Ussop crashed into him. Zoro took the brunt of the impact of the fall, Ussop landing on him. "Huh, thanks, Zoro! You might go to heaven after all!"
Zoro's eye twitched as Ussop was on him. "Get off!"
While they were having their moment, the ship was steadily sailing away from the enclosure it was kept in. Lamentably, it was just the building, not the enemies. With spotlights being shined on them and the entrance/exit gate being shut.
"Nami! Where should we go?" Sanji asked, trusting the navigator to make a decision as to where they should steer the ship. Nami bit her lip as she regarded the situation, her eyes roaming the gate. "There's only one way out of here. And it's through the main gate. We'll figure out how to open it on the way... until then, we need to protect the ship and set the sails!" She commanded as the crew moved to man the ship.
Zoro and Sanji doing their best to protect the ship. Yet the stray pistol and musket bullets pierced the ship every now and then. Chopper and Robin helped out when possible but focused on manning the ship.
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"I got your trick, Pinky!"
The Commander slowly uncovered himself from the rebel. His clothing was a bit roughed up with dust and debris here and there. "Did you now." It wasn't a question, more of a statement. His face no longer teasing, his eyes narrowed as he regarded Luffy.
"Why don't we test it then?" With a burst of speed, the Commander flew ahead, intent on landing a haymaker. His fist aimed for Luffy's face.
Luffy, on the other hand, wasn't off guard. With a sway of his head to the right, much like a boxer. He let the fist fly by, His left hand trying to grab the fist before letting out a gut punch of his own.
"Not this time!" The Commander yelled, and Luffy felt that familiar repulsion of the arm he tried to grab. Making him unable to hold it, the gut punch he tried throwing was caught. The surprise of his plan failing allowed the man to throw a front kick. Sending Luffy back a few feet.
Luffy's sandals skid across the floor as he remains upright before finally stopping.
"You can't do that trick of yours on two things," Luffy said aloud, the Commander's lack of response only cementing it. Luffy got on all fours as he prepared himself to dash toward him.
With a kick off the ground, he was off. The Commander's arms were raised and ready. However, much to the surprise of the Commander, he saw a rock flying towards his face. It turned out that during the crouch, Luffy grabbed hold of a stone.
In a split-second decision, the marine decided to let the rock hit his face. Expecting Luffy to land a blow on his body. This time, he didn't have an opportunity to be shocked.
The blow of the rock hit between his brows, a sharp pain, but manageable, yet his eyes closed due to his bodily reaction. Opening them, he tried gathering his vision before seeing a black mop.
With a loud thud, Luffy's head smashed into his face. His nose was broken on impact. Luffy's force being completely transferred to the commander as he was sent flying back once again. Luffy landed with a grin. "Gotcha!"
The battered marine was lying among the rocks, the pain of a broken nose dulling as blood flowed, "Enough games then." He said as he pulled out the pistol that was on him. "I didn't see you use any of your devil fruit powers, even when you were losing." He raised his pistol. "I'm willing to bet you're not able to use your powers. Let's see if these affect you." With that, he aimed and shot, yet before he could properly pull the trigger, a wince of pain changed the trajectory.
Luffy, seeing him pull out the gun, immediately felt the need to dodge. Thankfully, both his instinct and the faulty aim, he was able to get away with only a graze on his left arm. The wound was bleeding a bit.
"Damn, I missed. But it looks like you can be hurt with these." The Commander raised his pistol once again. Luffy, unused to having to consciously deal with bullets, felt himself sweat a bit.
He prepared his body to dodge once more as the marine aimed again; this time, the pistol was steady throughout. Luffy, however, noticed something amiss. The trigger was moving slowly, so slowly in fact, that he could see the light from the gun as the gunpowder was lit.
Luffy saw the bullet exit the gun, its speed as well as its surroundings being slow. Being able to tell the trajectory, he was able to tilt his body completely. Almost like a certain ability he'd acquire later through will.
And just as he positioned himself to avoid it, the speed of the world came back.
The sound of the shot echoed through the ruined kitchen as Luffy's body twisted just enough to let the bullet pass.
His eyes widened slightly at the strange sensation—that brief moment where everything had crawled to a near-standstill.
The Commander didn't give him time to dwell. He fired again, this time aiming lower. Luffy barely managed to jump to his side, landing on a leg, his eyes widening as he tried to keep balance when he got a nagging feeling in his head, trusting it. He let himself fall back, and a third shot whizzed by where his leg once was, flying right by his hair near his thigh, but he wasn't able to get away scot-free; the third shot grazed his thigh. A hiss escaped his teeth as he rushed to get up.
"You're fast," the man admitted, thumbing back the hammer again. "But not fast enough."
Luffy didn't answer.
Instead, he got on his feet and lunged—not at the Commander, but at the cracked wall beside him. His fist slammed into the weakened stone, sending another spray of debris between them. The Commander instinctively raised his arm to shield his face, his free hand flicking out to repel the largest chunks.
That was the opening Luffy needed.
He barreled through the dust cloud, ducking low as the Commander's pistol barked once more. The stray bullet fired elsewhere as he drove his shoulder into the man's midsection. The impact sent them both crashing through the already damaged wall—and out into the open air.
For a heartbeat, they were weightless as they fell. Then the archway of the sea gate rushed up beneath them. The Commander tried getting his bearings in the sky, but Luffy grabbed a bit of rubble from the broken wall, falling with him. Throwing it towards the marine, distracting him. Making his back hit the stone hard enough to knock the pistol from his grip. It clattered off the edge, vanishing into the churning water below.
Luffy landed in a crouch, shaking his head to clear the spots dancing in his vision, his head stinging in a dull pain. Looking up, the world flickered—just for an instant—into that eerie slow motion again. He saw the Commander try to jump him, seeing his knee coming before it even moved, the telltale shift of muscle beneath the uniform.
He barely dodged in time, leaning back.
The Commander's kick flew by where Luffy's head had been. "You're full of surprises," he spat, wiping blood from his broken nose as he jumped back.
Luffy grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Want more?"
The Commander charged.
The man's fist shot forward, then suddenly jerked unnaturally, his knuckles seeming to stretch toward Luffy's face without his arm actually extending. The invisible force of his power activated just before impact, the repelling field around his fist adding brutal momentum to the punch.
Luffy barely twisted away in time, but the displaced air still clipped his cheek, snapping his head to the side. He staggered, blinking away stars as the Commander pressed the advantage—another punch, this time aimed at his ribs. The forcefield flared again, the invisible extension making the strike land harder than it should have.
Thud.
Luffy coughed, skidding back a step. He gritted his teeth, backing up—only for his heel to meet empty air. The edge of the archway. Below, the sea churned, waves crashing against the gate's massive supports.
The Commander smirked, wiping blood from his split lip. "No more room to run, pirate."
Luffy's face broke into a wide grin. "Who said I was running?"
The marine lunged again, this time feinting high before sweeping low—a brutal leg swipe meant to knock Luffy off balance. But Luffy's instincts flared, his perception flickering once more. The attack unfolded in slow motion, giving him just enough time to leap, not back, but forward, over the sweeping leg.
His sandal came down hard on the Commander's shoulder, using him as a springboard to flip back onto safer ground. The marine snarled, whirling to face him, only for Luffy to already be moving, leaning by a wild haymaker and driving a fist into his gut.
The Commander coughed, stumbling. But he wasn't done. With a sudden burst of speed, he grabbed Luffy by the collar and yanked, trying to hurl him over the edge.
Luffy's fingers clamped onto the man's wrist. Planting his feet and pulling back. The Commander snarled, feeling the opposing force, deciding to cancel his throw, he instead leaned into Luffy—his elbow suddenly lurching forward to strike his temple, his hand on the collar assuring the hit. Luffy reeled as his head snapped back, and both of them crashed onto the floor.
This sent them both crashing into the middle of the archway in a tangle of limbs.
The Commander's repulsion power flared, shoving Luffy off stomach first—but not before Luffy's knee found his. The man wheezed, and both of them rolled to opposite sides. Panting, they both scrambled to their feet. The marine's uniform was torn, his face a mess of blood and bruises. Luffy had his arms and legs stung with fresh cuts, his breath coming in short bursts.
But he was still grinning.
The Commander spat to the side. "You're tougher than you look."
Luffy cracked his neck. "You're not as tough as you look."
The marine smirked, flexing his fingers. "I was wrong, you are as much of a trouble as they say you are. You even figured out my fruit." He rolled his shoulders. "But that also must mean you know you can't get past where I choose to repel you."
Luffy wiped his mouth, cleaning some blood, grinning. "Then I'll just have to hit harder."
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On the deck of the Going Merry, Nami's eyes snapped upward as a chunk of shattered stone clattered against the mast.
"What the—?"
Zoro followed her gaze, spotting two figures locked in combat atop the massive sea gate's archway. One unmistakable straw hat, the other a battered Marine officer, the Commander.
"Tch. Of course, he's up there..." Zoro muttered, hand already on Wado Ichimonji's hilt.
Sanji exhaled a stream of smoke, squinting. "That idiot still isn't using his powers. Did he really lose them?"
Chopper's hooves clattered against the deck as he pointed frantically. "We have to help him! He doesn't have his powers! Who knows what could happen!"
Zoro's voice came next, "No, it's his fight, he hasn't asked for help, have faith in him." Chopper quieted a bit at that.
Robin's calm voice cut through the panic. "More pressing—that gate won't open itself." She nodded toward the control mechanism built into the base of the archway, where Luffy was fighting, in front of the gate, a squad of Marines was already scrambling to reinforce, their boats lined up at the entrance.
Nami's mind raced. "We'll need to get him to open that somehow... we can't afford the idiot breaking the controls and the gate not opening... "
Usopp gulped, loading a dial into his slingshot. "R-right! So one of us needs to tell him to open that first!"
Zoro smirked, "All that leaves are those marines, right?"
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette before putting it out and stamping it. "Watch me! My beautiful Robin and Nami~"
Nami rolled her eyes but nodded. "Just hurry. The longer Luffy's up there, the more likely he is to do something stupid."
As if on cue, another explosion of debris rained down from the archway above.
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The Commander lunged again, his fist crackling with that unnatural repelling force. Luffy barely twisted aside, the shockwave of the punch grazing his ribs as he skidded across the archway. His back hit the control panel—the one Usopp had just hit with his slingshot, the dial ringing the message he had implanted in it.
Luffy barely had time to hear the hastily yelled message—"OPEN THE GATE, IDIOT!"—before the Commander was on him again.
"Distracted?" The marine smirked, driving a knee toward Luffy's gut.
Luffy blocked, but the repelling force sent him sliding up and back—right into the control panel's lever. His elbow jammed against it, and with a groan of hydraulics, the massive sea gate shuddered.
The Commander's eyes flicked to the mechanism. "What luck. But you won't—"
Luffy's fist met his jaw mid-sentence.
The man staggered, but his power was active, his face untouched as Luffy's fist was mere inches from it. The Commander's next punch came lurching forward with unnatural speed. Luffy barely ducked, the forcefield-enhanced strike shattering part of the control panel's casing. Sparks erupted.
"Oops," the Commander taunted.
Luffy's eyes widened before he frowned a bit. "You talk too much." He grabbed hold of the outstretched arm, aiming a punch at the Commander.
"Again? It won't wor-" The Commander was cut off as the fist that was prepared for him instead went back as Luffy's body twisted, the elbow hitting the lever the rest of the way. The gate's gears screamed to life, chains rattling as the massive doors began to part.
The Commander was livid, his arm repelling itself from Luffy's grip as he aimed a punch to his chest. But Luffy was ready. This time, when the repelling force surged, Luffy leaned back with it, letting the push carry him back into the control panel as he kicked up, right to the marine's chin. His sandal connected with the Commander's jaw, sending him flying back.
The man wheezed as he landed, dazed. Luffy didn't give him time to recover, running up to him with a liver punch. No tricks, no powers—just raw force.
The Commander's eyes rolled back as he slumped, unconscious.
Below, the Going Merry's sails caught the wind, already gliding toward the widening gap in the gate. Luffy wiped his brow, looking below as he rubbed some blood off himself, looking back at the fallen marine.
"..."
His eyes were dark as he stood there.
"Cool."
He smirked before he leapt, soaring toward the deck, laughing a bit as he fell.
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The sea gate groaned open, but the Marine boats blocking the entrance weren't about to let the Going Merry slip through so easily. Cannons loaded, muskets raised—they were ready to sink the Straw Hats where they floated.
Zoro and Sanji exchanged a glance.
"I'll take care of those three. I know it'd be too much for you." Zoro muttered, already drawing two of his swords.
Sanji exhaled a stream of smoke before flicking his cigarette into the water. "Try not to drown, moss-head. Those three won't be there after I'm done with all five."
Both of them flinched with irritation.
Then they moved.
Zoro leapt first, landing on the nearest Marine vessel with a slash that cleaved through the nearest soldiers, taking them down before they could even shout. His pace was quick and efficient as he knocked them down.
Sanji was already on another ship as he spun through the air, landing and rushing to each marine, his leg a blur as he kicked off the head of one, using him as a springboard to land on the next ship. His heel came down like an axe, causing the ship's hull to crack as the vessel groaned.
"Oi, cook!" Zoro barked, cutting down another Marine who tried to flank him. "Don't sink them before we get off!"
Sanji scoffed, kicking a cannonball mid-air, sending it back into the ship that fired it. "Worry about yourself!"
The remaining Marines hesitated, realising too late that they weren't hunting pirates—they were prey.
It didn't take long before the ships fell.
Zoro sheathed his swords with a click. "Done. Thank me later."
Sanji landed beside him on the last intact boat, glancing back at the Merry, already slipping through the gate. "Do-What? I'm the one who took them out."
Zoro's head crashed onto his, "Eh? You did jack-shit!"
Sanji pushed back with equal force, "Oh yeah? Well, must be yo-"
"Oi! Get back on, now!"
Nami's yell carried through the empty space as they both let out a "tch."
Zoro smirked. "Race you."
And with that, they kicked off the sinking wreckage, soaring back toward their ship.
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The Going Merry cut through the waves as the last of the Marine ships disappeared behind them, the sea gate shrinking in the distance. Luffy landed on the deck with a heavy thud, rolling once before popping back up with a grin.
"Shishishi—that was fun!" he laughed, dusting himself off.
Zoro and Sanji landed right after, the cook stumbling slightly as his feet hit the wood.
"Tch. You call that a landing?" Sanji sneered, straightening his tie.
Zoro ignored him, sheathing his swords. "Took you long enough to open the gate, Captain."
Luffy just grinned wider. "I won, didn't I?"
Nami stormed over, her face red. "You idiots! Do you have any idea how close we were to getting blown to pieces?!"
"Ah, but we didn't!" Usopp chimed in, though his legs were still shaking from his nerves. "Thanks to my brilliant dial shot!"
Chopper, still in Brain Point, clutched at Luffy's leg. "Luffy! You're bleeding!"
Luffy blinked, looking down at the cuts and bruises. "Huh, I am."
Robin chuckled softly from the railing. "A bit late to notice, Captain."
Sanji immediately spun toward her, heart in his eyes. "Robin~! Are you hurt? Do you need—"
"Shut up, love-cook," Zoro grumbled.
Nami pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just… someone get Luffy patched up before he bleeds on the deck."
Luffy plopped down, stretching his arms behind his head. "Man, I'm starving."
Sanji's eye twitched. "Now he remembers he's hungry."
As Chopper fussed over Luffy's injuries and the others quieted as they looked their injured captain over, an underlying question on all of their minds as the Merry sailed on…
Did their captain really lose his powers?
-To Be Continued-