Chapter 9

4th of February 1522
East Blue, Loguetown

Captain Smoker sat at his desk, a cloud of smoke swirling around him as he contemplated the latest reports. His den den mushi rang, its eyes blinking with urgency.

"Smoker here," he answered gruffly.

"Captain Smoker, this is HQ. We have a situation in East Blue. Captain Morgan and his entire unit have been massacred. No trace of the culprit."

Smoker's eyes narrowed. He didn't care much for Captain Morgan, but a massacre of Marines? That was unacceptable. He slammed his fist on the desk, causing the den den mushi to wobble. "Inadmissible," he growled.

He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the wooden floor. "Tashigi!" he bellowed.

Moments later, Tashigi burst into the room, adjusting her glasses hastily. "Yes, Captain?"

"Prepare the boat. We're going to Shells Town. Now."

Tashigi nodded, her face set with determination. "Right away, Captain."

Smoker watched her go, his mind already racing with thoughts of vengeance and justice. Whoever dared to slaughter Marines would pay dearly. He grabbed his jitte and headed for the port, his coat billowing behind him. The hunt was on.

4th of February
Shells Town 1522

Luffy and Coby stepped off the small boat, their feet hitting the wooden docks of Shells Town. Luffy's stomach growled loudly. "Man, I'm starving! Let's find some food, Coby!" he exclaimed, his eyes scanning the town for any sign of a restaurant.

Coby, on the other hand, was more concerned with the atmosphere. "Luffy, have you noticed something strange? There's a lot of chaos around here. It sounds like a party, but... there's also this weird sense of unease. What's going on?"

As they walked further into town, they saw people bustling about, some setting up decorations while others whispered to each other with worried expressions. Luffy's nose twitched as he caught the scent of food, his hunger driving him forward.

"Look, Coby! Over there! Food!" Luffy pointed to a bustling food stall surrounded by townspeople.

Coby grabbed his arm. "Wait, Luffy! We should find out what's happening first. This place feels... off."

But Luffy was already marching towards the food stall, his mind singularly focused on filling his stomach. Coby followed reluctantly, his eyes darting around, trying to make sense of the mixed signals the town was sending. They reached the food stall, and Luffy immediately started ordering everything in sight. The stall owner, a nervous-looking man, served them quickly, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting trouble.

"Excuse me," Coby asked the vendor, "why is everyone so tense? What's going on in town?"

The vendor hesitated, then leaned in closer. "You haven't heard? The entire Marine base was destroyed, and Captain Morgan and his men were killed. Some say it was the work of a powerful pirate. Everyone's on edge, not knowing if it's safe or if more trouble is coming. But Captain Morgan was an asshole, s'many people are happy he dead!"

Coby's eyes widened. "A pirate did this? That's terrible!"

Luffy, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, continued devouring his food. "This is so good!" he mumbled through a mouthful of meat.

4th of February
Sea, East-Blue

On the small Caravelle Moria had bought a few days ago, manned by three Shadow Sailors, Zoro grunted as he resumed his stance. The ship rocked gently on the waves, a quiet rhythm that had become the backdrop to their unusual journey. Moria, his captain—the word "captain" still felt strange to him, but Moria had indeed become his new boss—was lounging on the deck with a book in hand.

Beside him, Isabella was sunbathing, her pale skin almost luminescent in the sunlight. She was dressed in a stark white two-piece swimsuit that clung to her body, accentuating her voluptuous curves. Nearby, Selena was munching on an enormous piece of meat, her powerful muscles rippling with every movement. She wore minimal clothing—shorts and a sports bra—that showcased her defined abs, broad shoulders, and strong, sinewy arms. Her skin had a healthy tan. If only she had been a sword, maybe Zoro would have looked at her differently...

He had tried to establish a pecking order by challenging her at first, but Selena had effortlessly thrashed him. Isabella had refused to fight, saying he was stronger. Sometimes, Moria forced her to train with Selena, Ryuma, and him. He knew Selena was stronger than him, but not by a very wide margin; apparently, she had been training with them for a month, and it already showed results. According to Moria, he should surpass her in a few weeks. She had not taken this information very well.

But for now… It was strange; he was probably the weakest person on this boat.

Despite the oddity of it all, Zoro found himself adapting to this new reality, thanks to one person in particular. His most significant encounter had been with a shadow. More precisely, the Shadow of Ryuma, who commanded respect even from the savage woman. Ryuma was a true swordsman, one of the few Zoro had encountered who matched his own dedication to the blade. In his life, Zoro had met only two other swordsmen of such caliber: Kuina and her father. Ryuma was the third, and now, his second teacher.

Despite him being unable to speak, Ryuma and Zoro shared a powerful connection. During their training sessions, Ryuma communicated through gestures and movements. He would demonstrate a technique, and Zoro would mimic it, refining his form with each repetition. Ryuma's silent guidance was clear and precise, pushing Zoro to new heights of skill and discipline.

Zoro took a deep breath and stepped into position, mirroring Ryuma's stance and feeling the weight of his sword in his hand. With a sharp exhale, he began to move, his sword slicing through the air in perfect harmony with Ryuma's earlier demonstration. Each swing, parry, and thrust was executed with precision, his body moving as if in a trance. Ryuma nodded, a silent approval of Zoro's progress, their mutual understanding evident in every shared glance.

They continued, the session stretching into hours as the sun began to dip below the horizon.

As night fell, the deck of the Caravelle was bathed in the soft glow of the moon. Zoro and Ryuma stood side by side, their swords sheathed, their breathing steady. Despite the silence, Zoro could feel the camaraderie.

Maybe it would not be so bad.

7th of February 1522
Shells Town

Luffy sat cross-legged on the sandy beach, the salty breeze ruffling his straw hat as he eagerly tore into a massive piece of meat. Beside him, Koby, his new friend, nibbled on his own portion with considerably more restraint.

"We need to find a boat," Luffy said between bites, meat juices dripping down his chin. "I've been stuck on this island for days."

Koby nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon thoughtfully. He was aout to answer, as their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps crunching on the sand. A marine woman with glasses and a sword approached, her expression stern and determined. Her uniform was immaculate, a sharp contrast to the rugged beach setting.

"Hello! Do you have any information about the destruction of the marine base three days ago?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized them.

Luffy grinned widely, showing bits of meat stuck in his teeth. "I don't care about the marines! I'm a pirate!" he declared proudly. "And I'm going to be the Pirate King!"

The marine woman's eyes widened in surprise before hardening with resolve. "In that case, you're under arrest!"

She lunged at Luffy, her sword flashing in the sunlight. Luffy was excited! It was his first fight - Alvida did not count, she had been too weak. He jumped to his feet, easily dodging her strike. He laughed, the excitement of the fight coursing through him.

"You really think you can take me?" Luffy taunted, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

The marine woman was quick and agile, her sword swishing through the air with precision. Luffy moved with fluid grace, evading her attacks and countering with powerful punches. Each blow seemed to just miss her, the fight turning into a dance of strength and agility.

"You're pretty good," Luffy admitted, ducking under a particularly close swipe of her blade. "But I'm better!"

He launched a series of rapid punches, his fists moving so fast they blurred. The marine woman blocked some, but others connected, sending her stumbling back. She hit the ground hard. The other marines who had tried to back her up hesitated before rushing at Luffy. He moved through them like a whirlwind, knocking them out one by one with precise, powerful strikes.

As the last marine fell, Luffy stood over them, breathing heavily but victorious. He didn't notice one of the marines slipping away, escaping into the shadows.

"That was intense," Koby said, his eyes wide with admiration and a hint of fear. They were marines! What was going to happen to them?

Luffy grinned.

"Yeah, but it was fun!"

Just as they began to relax again, another figure appeared. This marine felt different. He walked with a confidence Koby envied, a cigar clenched between his teeth. He surveyed the scene with a critical eye before his gaze settled on Luffy.

"You must be strong to take down Tashigi," Smoker said, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "But you've made a big mistake. You're too strong—the only one on this island capable of destroying an entire Marine base. And it seems you have something against marines. I bet you're the one behind the massacre!"

Before Luffy could respond, Smoker lunged at him. Luffy was caught off guard as Smoker's body transformed into smoke, making his attacks impossible to land. Luffy tried to fight back, his fists swinging through the air, but every punch went straight through Smoker. "What the hell are you?" Luffy shouted, frustration mounting as he failed to land a single hit. Smoker's strikes hit Luffy with brutal force, each blow knocking the wind out of him.

Luffy was left battered and bruised on the sand, unable to fight back against an enemy he couldn't touch. Smoker stood over him, triumphant, the smoke swirling ominously around him as he took another drag from his cigar.

"You shouldn't have done that, pirate," Smoker said, his voice a low growl. "Now you're going to pay for it."

Luffy's vision blurred as he struggled to stay conscious, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore fading into the background.

12th of February 1522
Syrup village

Selena prowled through the quaint town of Syrup on the Gecko Archipelago, her keen eyes darting from one vibrant building to the next. The cobblestone streets were lined with colorful houses. The air was filled with the chatter of villagers and the aroma of freshly baked bread mingling with the salty sea breeze. Why did they came here? Next to Selena, Captain Moria scrutinized a small piece of paper, the name of the city scrawled across it. Selena didn't know its origin, only that Moria had been using it to chart their course. Behind her, Zoro followed silently. Isabella had gone to fetch provisions for their boat.

Suddenly, a sharp, metallic scent caught her attention. Her senses, heightened by her devil fruit powers, were on high alert. She inhaled deeply, taking in the myriad scents of the village—the fresh bread from a nearby bakery, the briny tang of the ocean, the faint scent of fish from the market…and, here it was. Blood.

"Captain, I smell blood about thirteen kilometers away," she said, her voice a low growl as she focused on the distant scent.

Moria looked up from the paper, his eyes glinting with interest. "Let's go," he said, folding the paper and tucking it away.

As Selena, Zoro, and Moria reached the beach, the scent of blood grew stronger, mingling with the salty sea air and the sound of crashing waves. The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the sandy expanse. And…

Over twenty dead pirates lay scattered across the ground, their faces marked by burns and projectile wounds. The sand around them was stained red, and the remnants of a fierce battle were evident. At the center of the carnage knelt a man with a long nose, his body battered and bleeding profusely, yet he remained upright, defiant to the last. His clothes were torn and soaked in blood, but his eyes burned with an unyielding resolve. He would protect his island, his friends, and his love.

"You…Shall not pass!", whispered Usopp, blood falling from his mouth as he did.