One Piece: Mangaka of Legends

Zoro scoffed, tilting his head slightly. "You're an interesting guy. But like I said, I'm not a pirate."

Luffy didn't falter. His grin remained wide, filled with that unshakable confidence of his. "You will be."

Zoro clicked his tongue, looking away. "I have my own goals. I don't plan on dying here, but I sure as hell don't plan on sailing under some random idiot either."

Luffy just laughed, as if Zoro had already agreed. "We'll see."

Coby, on the other hand, looked ready to faint. "L-Luffy, w-we should leave before someone notices us! If Captain Morgan finds out we were here, he'll—"

"Oh, he'll find out soon enough."

The deep, commanding voice sent a shiver through the air, and we turned to see a group of marines approaching. Leading them was a towering figure clad in a pristine white coat, a massive axe strapped to his right arm. His square jaw jutted forward arrogantly, his expression carved into one of perpetual disdain.

Captain Morgan.

The marines behind him stood stiff, their gazes flickering with something between fear and forced obedience.

Morgan's eyes locked onto Luffy first. "Who the hell are you?"

Luffy tilted his head, unfazed. "Monkey D. Luffy."

Morgan sneered. "Another worthless fool thinking he can disrupt my town."

I rolled my shoulders, taking a small step forward, already preparing for what was about to happen. "You're acting like you own the place."

"I do own this place," Morgan shot back. "Everything here exists under my rule. My word is absolute."

Luffy simply grinned. "Nah. That's not how it works."

Morgan's eyebrow twitched at the casual dismissal. "Execute them."

The marines hesitated. Even as they raised their rifles, it was clear they weren't eager to follow through. But fear ruled them. And fear made men do stupid things.

As the first shot rang out, Luffy moved—no, vanished. In an instant, he reappeared in front of the marine, his rubber arm stretching back before snapping forward with incredible force.

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"

The marine was sent flying, crashing into the courtyard wall. Chaos erupted.

Morgan's face twisted into fury. "You dare defy me?!"

I sighed, stepping forward. "This is getting annoying."

Morgan raised his massive axe-arm, his arrogance blinding him to the battle rapidly slipping out of his control. "No one stands against me and lives!"

Luffy grinned. "Then let's test that!"

Before Morgan could react, Luffy shot forward, twisting midair. "Gomu Gomu no Whip!"

His leg stretched and spun like a rubberized tornado, sweeping through the marines and sending them tumbling like bowling pins.

Zoro watched from his bound position, his eyes narrowing with something close to approval. "Hmph. Not bad."

Coby, meanwhile, was nearly hyperventilating. "W-We're fighting the Marines?!"

I adjusted my stance, watching as Morgan bellowed in rage, swinging his massive axe in a downward arc toward Luffy. The brute strength behind it was obvious—it would cleave straight through stone.

Luffy simply jumped, letting the axe bury itself into the ground, leaving Morgan wide open.

I took my chance.

Dashing forward, I slammed my foot into the back of Morgan's knee. He staggered, roaring in fury, but it was too late. Luffy's fist was already cocked back.

"Gomu Gomu no Bazooka!"

The impact sent Morgan soaring across the courtyard, crashing into his own headquarters with an earth-shaking boom. Dust and debris rained down, silence stretching across the battlefield.

The remaining marines hesitated, their weapons trembling in their hands.

Then, one of them let out a breath. "He… He's down…"

Another dropped his rifle. "We don't have to follow him anymore…"

The tension evaporated. The marines, once rigid with fear, slowly relaxed. Relief spread through their ranks like a ripple.

Luffy, still grinning, turned to Zoro. "So, wanna join my crew now?"

Zoro stared at him for a long moment. Then, he laughed—a low, rough chuckle that gradually turned into full-blown amusement.

"You really don't take no for an answer, do you?"

Luffy shook his head. "Nope."

Zoro sighed, rolling his shoulders as much as his bindings allowed. "Alright, fine. But if you get in the way of my dream, I'll cut you down myself."

Luffy just grinned wider. "Deal."

I exhaled, smirking. "Well, this is gonna be fun."

Zoro turned to me. "And you?"

I shrugged. "I'm in."

Coby, still pale, stammered, "B-But pirates are criminals! If you go down this path, you can never go back!"

Zoro's expression turned serious. "I made my decision."

Luffy placed his hat back onto his head. "Then let's go."

As we walked out of the Marine base, the townspeople cautiously emerged, realization dawning on them. Their nightmare—Captain Morgan—was over.

And so, our journey truly began.