The ship responded smoothly to Luffy's touch, cutting through the waves with a speed and agility that made him grin with satisfaction. The hours of testing, refining, and adjusting the design had paid off. The ship was more than just a vessel—it was an extension of Luffy's will and determination.
As he sailed through the calm waters, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, Luffy noticed something in the distance—a dark shape looming on the edge of the ocean. He narrowed his eyes, focusing his Observation Haki. There it was, the unmistakable presence of another ship. Luffy's heart quickened as he spotted the flag flying from the mast—black, with a skull and crossbones, but the symbol was different. It was the Alvida Pirates.
Luffy adjusted his course, steering toward the pirate ship with focused determination. As he closed the distance, he could make out the details of the ship—large, heavily armed, and clearly built for intimidation. The Alvida Pirates had spotted Luffy's ship as well, their crew scrambling to prepare for what they likely thought would be an easy target.
But they were wrong. Very wrong.
Luffy's ship, with its advanced systems, allowed him to react quickly. He deftly maneuvered it into position, using the ship's speed to outflank the larger, slower pirate vessel. As the Alvida Pirates tried to turn their cannons toward him, Luffy initiated the first strike. His ship's automated cannons, precisely aimed, unleashed a barrage of high-explosive rounds that tore into the side of the Alvida Pirates' ship. The explosions rocked the pirate vessel, sending splinters of wood and shards of metal flying through the air.
The pirates on deck panicked, their bravado quickly dissolving as they realized they were outmatched. Luffy's ship circled them like a predator, its cannons firing with deadly accuracy. The hull of the pirate ship began to buckle under the assault, its once formidable structure now riddled with holes and flames licking up its sides.
Satisfied that the Alvida Pirates were sufficiently weakened, Luffy brought his ship alongside theirs, preparing to board. He launched a grappling hook, securing the two ships together, and with a powerful leap, he landed on the deck of the pirate ship, his fists already coated in Armament Haki.
The pirates, now face-to-face with their attacker, recoiled in fear. They had heard the stories of the young bounty hunter who took down entire crews single-handedly, but they had never imagined they would be the next victims. Luffy's eyes were cold and focused as he looked at the group of pirates scrambling to draw their weapons.
Captain Alvida, a towering woman with a cruel grin and a massive iron mace, stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she sized up Luffy. "So you're the brat causing all this trouble," she sneered, swinging her mace over her shoulder with ease. "You've got some nerve attacking my ship, boy."
Luffy's gaze remained steady, unfazed by the pirate captain's bluster. "I'm not here to talk. I'm here to take you down."
Alvida's grin widened, but there was no humor in it. "You think you can just waltz in here and beat me? I'll crush you like I've crushed every other fool who dared to challenge me!"
With a roar, Alvida charged at Luffy, her mace swinging in a deadly arc aimed at his head. But Luffy was faster. He ducked under the swing, his rubbery body twisting out of reach as he countered with a powerful punch to Alvida's side. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and Alvida stumbled, her eyes widening in shock as she felt the force of the blow reverberate through her body.
The other pirates, seeing their captain falter, rushed to her aid, weapons drawn. But Luffy was a whirlwind of motion, his fists and feet moving with deadly precision. He snapped bones, crushed skulls, and sent pirates flying across the deck with each strike. Blood splattered across the wooden planks, staining them crimson as Luffy fought with ruthless efficiency.
Alvida, regaining her balance, roared in fury and swung her mace again, this time with all her strength. Luffy met the attack head-on, his fist coated in Armament Haki as he punched the mace mid-swing. The force of the collision shattered the iron weapon into pieces, sending shards of metal flying in all directions. Alvida staggered back, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the broken remains of her weapon.
"This is over," Luffy said, his voice cold and final.
With a final, Haki-infused punch, Luffy struck Alvida in the chest, the impact sending her crashing into the ship's mast. The wood splintered under the force, and Alvida slumped to the deck, unconscious and defeated.
The few remaining pirates, seeing their captain's defeat, dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, begging for mercy. Luffy, his breath steady and his gaze unwavering, ignored their pleas. He had no sympathy for those who preyed on the weak.
As Luffy was about to secure the ship, his Observation Haki picked up a faint presence on a small boat not too far from the battle. His eyes darted toward it, spotting a lone figure watching the entire scene unfold. It was a young woman with orange hair, clutching a pair of binoculars. She was too far away for Luffy to make out her expression, but something about her demeanor intrigued him.
Unbeknownst to Luffy, the woman was Nami, a thief who specialized in robbing pirates. She had been tracking the Alvida Pirates, hoping to steal their loot, but what she had just witnessed left her stunned. She had heard of pirates fighting each other before, but this was different. This boy had taken down an entire crew almost single-handedly, with a power and precision she had never seen.
Nami lowered her binoculars, biting her lip in frustration. "Who is this guy? And how could anyone be that strong?" she muttered to herself. "But no one can be stronger than Arlong… no one."
She watched as Luffy finished off the last of the pirates, her mind racing. She had no idea who this boy was or what his intentions were, but she knew one thing—she needed to be careful. She couldn't afford to get involved with someone like him, not when she still had her own mission to complete.
On the deck of the pirate ship, Luffy noticed Koby, the cabin boy who had been forced into servitude by Alvida. His eyes were wide with fear and amazement, having just witnessed the fall of his oppressors. The young boy trembled, unsure of what to do next, but when Luffy approached him, there was a gentleness in his expression that Koby had not expected.
"You're Koby, right?" Luffy asked, his voice softer now.
Koby nodded shakily. "Y-Yes… how did you know?"
"I've heard about you," Luffy replied. "You've got a dream, don't you? Something you've been holding onto, even while you were stuck here."
Koby's eyes widened further, and tears welled up in his eyes as he nodded. "I… I want to be a Marine. I want to protect people, but I never thought I'd be able to… not after being trapped here."
Luffy smiled, a warm, encouraging smile. "Then why don't you come with me? I'm heading to Shells Town. You can join the Marines there and start working toward your dream."
Koby's tears spilled over, but they were tears of relief and gratitude. "You… you'd really help me do that?"
"Of course," Luffy said, extending a hand to Koby. "Everyone deserves a chance to follow their dream."
Koby hesitated for a moment, overwhelmed by the kindness and strength of the man before him. Then, with a determined nod, he took Luffy's hand, his grip firm despite the tears still running down his cheeks.
"Thank you, Luffy," Koby said, his voice filled with a new sense of hope. "I'll do my best to become a great Marine!"
Luffy nodded, already turning back to the ship that awaited them. "Let's get going, then. We've got a long journey ahead."
As Luffy and Koby boarded the ship, leaving the defeated Alvida Pirates behind, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sea in shades of gold and crimson. The ship, with Luffy's Jolly Roger flying proudly, cut through the waves with purpose, heading toward Shells Town and the next chapter of Luffy's adventure.
As the ship sailed away, Nami watched from her small boat, still deep in thought. She couldn't shake the image of the boy who had so effortlessly dismantled the Alvida Pirates. "He's strong," she whispered to herself. "But it doesn't matter. Arlong is stronger… and I have to do whatever it takes to free my village. I can't let anyone distract me."
She turned her boat around, setting her course for her next target. But in the back of her mind, the image of Luffy and his ship lingered, a reminder that the world was full of surprises—and that not everything was as it seemed.
And as the first stars appeared in the night sky, Koby looked up at the flag flying above them—a symbol of freedom, determination, and a dream that was now within reach. He knew that with Luffy's help, he could finally begin to realize his dream, just as Luffy was beginning to fulfill his own.