[Chapter Size: 2800 Words.]
Third Person POV
Somewhere in the sea, First Half of Grandline.
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…
In the vastness of the ocean stretching in all directions, the Black Pearl cut through the waters as it could, thanks to Luffy’s abilities that he reserved for training. For days on end, each crew member immersed themselves in their usual training, continuously enhancing their strength. Luffy led the way, dedicating himself to improving his Haki along with some other members, while the rest explored new horizons in their respective disciplines, honing techniques they already mastered.
Robin and Vivi, in particular, remained focused on developing their first technique of the six styles, striving for mastery. Meanwhile, the other crewmates refined their already mastered skills, each diligently working to perfect their abilities. A notable exception was Chopper, whom Luffy assigned to learn the mobility technique that the newly recruited girls had begun developing—a challenging task for the small doctor. Under Luffy’s watchful eye, Chopper struggled to master the technique under the relentless pressure from his captain.
“Come on! If this is all you can do, I’m disappointed!” Luffy interrupted his own Haki training to motivate the new recruits. Vivi growled in response, familiar with Luffy’s peculiar coaching style, while Robin remained silent, furrowing her brow.
However, the situation was different for Chopper, who pleaded for mercy in the face of Luffy’s intensity. “Luffy! Mercy!” whined the little doctor.
“Come on, Chopper. Sea adventures require challenges, and challenges require strength. You can do better than that!” Luffy insisted, despite Chopper’s tears and protests, reminding everyone of the harsh reality of training aboard the Black Pearl.
Everything was normal, though training was always a bit peculiar with Luffy shouting at some of them, until the group’s swordsman entered the room in a hurry, having fetched some things from the stock for training.
“Luffy, we have a problem. The radar detected something in the water!” interrupted Kuina, appearing next to Luffy with a paper in hand.
“Let me take a look at this…” Luffy commented, taking the paper Kuina handed him. The print contained data from the advanced Black Pearl device, a notably superior ship with its own technologies. Among them, a radar designed to anticipate attacks from sea creatures, such as sea kings, at a certain distance, stood out.
“This shape… Is it him?!” Luffy fixed his eyes on the paper; the radar could only provide a black, colorless shape for the detected object underwater, and the outline of the shadow quickly led Luffy to make the connection with the person who had that shape. His gaze turned to Shirahoshi, who was focused on her Haki training following Luffy’s instructions.
“It seems he’s here for you, Shirahoshi…” Luffy couldn’t help but conclude internally.
“Do you know who it is, Luffy?” Kuina asked, seeking clarification.
“Yes, this is Jinbei, one of the Seven Warlords. It seems he’s after our mermaid,” Luffy replied calmly, but his observers, Kuina, Vivi, and Robin, showed shock, while Chopper failed to grasp the gravity of the situation.
Ignoring the surprised expressions around him, Luffy turned to the crew gathered in the training room. “Alright, let’s wrap up the training. Looks like we’ll have a visitor soon, so let’s welcome him on deck,” Luffy announced before leaving. The crew halted their training with Luffy’s words, and although they had questioning looks, everyone followed the captain to the deck.
On the deck, Luffy patiently awaited Jinbei’s arrival after turning off the alarm, as the crew didn’t need to be alerted about an intruder. It didn’t take long for the Shichibukai to approach the ship.
The water next to the ship stirred, and a shadow leaped from it, landing directly on the ship. Jinbei looked around and, upon realizing that everyone seemed to be expecting his arrival, showed a slight glimpse of surprise.
Even though Luffy had anticipated a visitor with his words, seeing a large blue fish-man was quite shocking for the crew members, especially those who already knew the identity of this particular merman.
“Jimbei-sama…” Shirahoshi murmured, clearly stunned to discover that the visitor mentioned by Luffy was Jimbei.
“Hey… Jimbei-san…” Hachi was equally stunned.
“Who is he?” Zoro asked.
“He’s a Shichibukai,” Lami replied.
“What do we have here, a Shichibukai… I’d like to know your intentions for invading our ship,” Luffy was the first to address the newcomer in a loud tone, crossing his arms with a serious expression.
“So, it’s you, the Straw Hats…” Jimbei commented, casting a glance at the entire group before fixing his gaze on Shirahoshi and Megalo. “Princess, I’ve come to rescue you!”
“I don’t need rescuing!” Shirahoshi spoke immediately, and Jimbei showed a surprised look at that.
Luffy observed Jimbei with a serious expression, weighing every word the Shichibukai uttered. Jimbei’s presence stirred a mix of feelings in the crew. The atmosphere was getting increasingly tense.
“Rescue, huh?” Luffy said, keeping his gaze fixed on Jimbei. “Shirahoshi is here of her own free will. I can understand you showing up to protect your princess, but if she wants to stay with us, there’s nothing you can do.”
Shirahoshi, still processing Jimbei’s surprise with her decision, gathered her courage to explain her choice. “It’s true, Jimbei-sama. I’m here because I want to be. Luffy-sama freed me, and I feel I can grow stronger alongside him. I’ve chosen to sail as a member of the Straw Hat crew.”
“Sharky!!!” Megalo expressed his support by her friend’s side.
Jimbei, upon hearing the young princess’s words, fixed his gaze on her with a mix of surprise and disbelief. “What?! Princess, you can’t be serious! What about your father and your brothers? They’re worried about you!”
Shirahoshi, with a determined look, replied, “Jimbei-sama, I miss them too, but I’m not ready to go back home yet. Only when I’m strong enough for it!” She couldn’t deny the twinge of pain when mentioning her father and brothers, but her commitment to Luffy and her dream was evident; she had to become strong enough to save her home from destruction.
“Princess, I can’t believe this…” Jimbei muttered, shifting his gaze to Hachi, who was standing beside him.
“Hachi, long time no see. Let me ask you something, why are you on the ship of the pirates who killed Arlong and most of his crew?” Jimbei asked in a serious tone, showing concern and curiosity.
“Hey… It’s hard to explain, but now I’m a pirate of the Straw Hats!” Hachi announced, expressing his belonging to the group, even though his initial recruitment had been forced. Over time, Hachi began to appreciate the company and fun he found during the journey with the Straw Hats.
“Even you, Hachi…” Jimbei seemed stunned, turning his gaze to Luffy, who was at the forefront of the crew.
“I don’t know what you did to them, but you better set them free. Just because you’re Ace’s brother doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you if you deny that,” Jimbei warned, serious and firm.
“Hm?! Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? And I haven’t done anything to them; they are my companions and members of this ship. You’ll never forcefully take any of them,” Luffy replied in a serious tone, flames beginning to dance all over his body, indicating an imposing and threatening aura with Luffy’s growing anger.
“If that’s how it is… Then so be it!” Jimbei prepared to attack Luffy at that moment, but what he wouldn’t imagine was that Luffy was already in front of him, using his speed 40 times faster with Soru.
“?!” Before Jimbei realized it, he was forcefully hit in the stomach, causing him to soar into the sky. The pain from the blow was so swift that he only felt it when his body was already hundreds of meters in the air. The impact launched Jimbei far away, demonstrating Luffy’s astonishing speed and skill.
“How can he be so fast?!” Jimbei spoke in pain before starting to spit blood into the air.
“We’re just getting started…” A voice was heard behind Jimbei, and when the Shichibukai turned to attack, Luffy had already disappeared again to Jimbei’s rear and punched him once more, sending him even higher into the sky.
“Damn… I’ll have to take this seriously!” Jimbei spoke, preparing for the fight more earnestly.
Thus, Jimbei saw Luffy approaching, and both began exchanging blows in the air. The sky above the Straw Hat ship became a stage for the intense battle between Luffy and Jimbei. Luffy chose to fight without using the moa moa at this moment; on the other hand, even suspended in the air and without any mobility technique, Jimbei did not let himself be taken by the disadvantage. They began exchanging blows as they approached each other in free fall, their fists colliding, creating explosive sounds in the air.
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
Seeing the deadlock with the battle evenly matched and without Jimbei using Haki yet, with a serious look, Luffy initiated the transformation to the phase 2 of his Mythical Zoan, assuming his impressive form.
Jimbei’s eyes narrowed, assessing Luffy’s transformation. The purple scales, curved horns, and vibrant flames revealed the imposing figure as a small Ifrit drake. The atmosphere around Luffy trembled with the intensity of the flames he controlled.
The fight began with Luffy advancing, and Jimbei waiting for him with a powerful water punch, which was skillfully dodged by Luffy using his newly enhanced agility. The ship swayed slightly with the force of the exchanged attacks. Luffy, now in Ifrit form, retaliated with punches propelled by amethyst flames.
Jimbei’s aquatic prowess proved to be an advantage, evading the fiery attacks while counterattacking with fluid movements, creating water from the molecules in the air. Luffy and Jimbei seemed to dance in the air, each showcasing their mastery in their respective fighting styles.
However, Luffy couldn’t afford to let Jimbei fall into the water. The Shichibukai’s ability in the ocean would be quite problematic, and a fall would mean a critical disadvantage for Luffy. With Jimbei getting closer and closer to the water while in free fall, Luffy used his moa moa no mi and swiftly kicked the fish-man back into the sky at that moment.
After Jimbei rose again, powerless against it, the battle continued with increasing intensity. Luffy and Jimbei exchanged blows, blocks, and dodges in a fast-paced choreography. Flames and water clashed, creating a unique visual spectacle.
Noticing an opening, Luffy concentrated the flames in his right hand and unleashed a powerful punch against Jimbei. The Shichibukai blocked the attack, but the force of the collision created a shockwave that shook the sky, guiding steam with the meeting of flames and water, sending Jimbei airborne once again.
Seeing that he was at a tremendous disadvantage and how he had underestimated this 200-million bounty pirate, his fist began to turn black, and Luffy began using his moa moa no mi at 5 times its strength to counter the opponent’s haki as soon as he saw it.
Luffy advanced towards Jimbei in the air the next moment before both fists collided. The pulsating energy around Luffy gained intensity as his strength multiplied several times, contrasting with the darkness manifesting in Jimbei’s hand. The clash of powers created an electric atmosphere with steam permeating the sky, while the two fighters faced each other with determination.
“You’re stronger than I expected, Straw Hat!” Jimbei exclaimed, his voice firm despite the challenging situation.
Luffy, still in Ifrit form, stared at Jimbei with determined eyes. “I said we were just getting started, Jimbei. Now, let’s see what you’re capable of!”
The battle in the sky continued, with Luffy and Jimbei exchanging increasingly intense blows. Ifrit’s flames and Jimbei’s haki-coated aquatic fists collided, creating shockwaves that echoed through the ship’s deck.
Luffy, realizing the growing threat of Jimbei’s haki, focused even more on his multiplication fruit. Increasing his strength from 5 times to 10 times, his blows seemed to surprise his opponent at this moment. The Straw Hats watched with admiration and concern.
“Should we help the captain??!!” Chopper exclaimed.
“No, Luffy doesn’t like us getting involved in a fight others are having without the threat of death,” Reiju spoke.
“And as you can see, my husband seems to be winning against the Shichibukai.” Alvida commented.
“Winning? It looks more like he’s playing…” Lami spoke, her eyes fixed on the fight.
“Incredible, this is Luffy’s strength; he can even play with a Shichibukai?” Vivi was still trying to process it all.
“He’s falling into the sea!” Usopp exclaimed.
“Look, the captain is approaching… He kicked him again into the sky!” Hugo applauded for his captain at that moment.
“Jimbei-Sama…” Shirahoshi looked with mixed feelings at this.
“Hey… Jimbei-San…” Hachi also seemed quite shocked by this.
The battle reached its climax when the two warriors collided in an unparalleled force clash. The clash between Jimbei’s haki and Luffy’s flames created an explosion of energy, enveloping them in a temporary sphere of even more chaos.
When the created field dissipated, Luffy, still in Ifrit form, hovered in the air, while Jimbei was visibly exhausted and began to fall towards the water again. He began to realize that he couldn’t fight this pirate; unlike the fight with Ace, it wouldn’t be three days of battle but only a few minutes before he lost completely. His only advantage was to reach the sea, but this pirate seemed to know that.
Luffy, agile as always, dove to reach him, and using his enhanced speed, he reached Jimbei in his openings, preventing him from touching the water surface.
Jimbei, though tired and injured, didn’t want to give up, even though his body already had many bruises and burns. He looked at Luffy approaching, preparing for the next clash. The evaporated water still hung in the air, creating a surreal backdrop for the aerial battle as the fight resumed.
Luffy, anticipating Jimbei’s movements, surged forward with extraordinary speed. His punches, enveloped in flames, sliced through the air toward the Shichibukai. Jimbei defended himself skillfully, using martial arts techniques and agile dodges to avoid the burning blows.
The sound of the clash of attacks echoed through the skies, creating a combat symphony. Luffy, with his enhanced agility, managed to dodge Jimbei’s attacks and counterattack with ruthless ferocity. The Shichibukai, in turn, unleashed powerful water movements, sending jets of water toward Luffy.
At a crucial moment, Jimbei channeled his energy and launched a powerful water attack. The impact created a curtain of water that temporarily obscured the view. However, Luffy was not deterred. He emerged from the waves, Ifrit’s flames shimmering with renewed intensity.
With Luffy and Jimbei continuing to exchange accelerated blows in the sky, the air was impregnated with the sound of punches, kicks, and the crackling of flames. With a swift movement, Luffy evaded a punch from Jimbei and counterattacked with a powerful upward kick. The blow connected with the Shichibukai’s jaw, and a shockwave ran through Jimbei’s body.
The fish-man was momentarily suspended in the air, unable to act, his eyes showing surprise and resistance to imminent defeat. Luffy, seizing the opportunity, concentrated a significant amount of amethyst flames in his right fist. In a fluid motion, he unleashed a punch charged with energy and fire directly into Jimbei’s belly.
The impact was overwhelming. Flames exploded around Jimbei, enveloping his body in a momentary amethyst glow. The combined force of the punch and the flames propelled him downward, toward the ship’s deck.
The Shichibukai collided forcefully, creating a crack in the wooden deck. Silence followed the crash as everyone watched, surprised, the outcome of the battle.
Luffy, still floating in the air, maintained his fighting stance, looking down with intensity. The face of the Straw Hats’ captain showed a bit of fatigue but also unwavering determination. The victory was his at that moment.
The deck fell silent for a moment before the crew began to move. Some ran towards Jimbei to check his condition, while others approached Luffy to express their relief and happiness for the victory.
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Raccoon here:
“Stone Stone!”
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