Semi- Gear Second

Thud!

Luffy dropped Helmeppo on the ground and asked.

Coby was frightened by Luffy's words. He didn't understand why Luffy didn't recognize him.

But, he suddenly remembers something.

Although he wasn't a pirate with a bounty, he did live in Alvida's crew for two years. And, if he makes any connection with Luffy, he wouldn't be able to enter the Marines that easily.

So, Luffy was just helping him get into the Marines.

Coby's legs shivered a bit as he gathered his courage and shouted.

"I am not a marine yet. But, I will become a marine soon."

Hearing his words, Luffy suddenly smirked. Although it lasted only a few seconds, Zoro was quick enough to catch it.

He immediately understood Luffy's intention.

Luffy picked up Helmeppo and threw him toward Coby.

"You pink-haired guy since you are a marine and a righteous marine on top of that. Get his swords from the Marine Base."

Coby looked at Helmeppo and shook him.

"Hey, help me get those swords back! I can't let a person like you tarnish the name of Marines."

Although Helmeppo was quite bigger than Coby, he still didn't have the courage to defy Luffy's words.

So, he nodded his head and both of them walked toward the Marine Base.

"So, how about you? If you join me, I will free you otherwise I will simply take your swords and leave."

Luffy turned his head toward Zoro and asked.

"Bastard, those are my swords." Zoro shouted at him.

"Hehe! Then, you underestimate pirates. Pirates are free to do whatever they want." Luffy giggled and asked.

Hearing his words, Zoro was speechless for a moment. But, his expression turned serious afterward.

"As you said, whether I follow you or not, I will soon have a bounty in my head. I no longer care if my name is clean or not. Since that's the case, I don't mind joining you."

"But, keep one thing in your mind. My dream is to become World's Greatest Swordsman. If you dare to do something that ends my goal, then I will cut your stomach open."

Hearing his words, Luffy brightly smiled.

"Don't worry, I am going to become a Pirate King. My requirements are simply the world's best."

"Hehe! You truly have some great ambition. But, then again, if you don't even have such ambition, how can you become my captain."

"By the way, what's your name?"

Zoro smiled and asked.

For a moment, Luffy didn't know how to answer. Before this, he had been introducing himself to others.

But, right now, for some reason, he felt like this was the moment. He raised his right hand and pressed down his straw hat.

His rubber mouth slowly opened wide as he made a big smile on his face.

He raised his head and said.

"My name is Monkey D Luffy and I am going to be the King of the Pirates."

'Yes, I no longer have any identity besides that. I no longer have to remember who I was before. From now on, I am Monkey D Luffy.'

At this moment, those eyes no longer had any confused looks. They were bright like the sun.

Seeing his genuine smile, Zoro was stunned for a moment.

"You bastard, who the hell are you?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

It belonged to a rough middle-aged man with an ax. He was followed by several marines.

Luffy turned his head and immediately recognized this fellow. But, he wasn't in the mood to play. Since his strength has increased, he knew that he could finish this battle quickly.

"So, you are Marine Ax Hand Morgan. I'm Luffy. Nice to meet you!"

Luffy nodded his head and clenched his right fist.

"Did you come here to free Roronoa Zoro?" Morgan stared at Luffy and asked.

"Yes, he agreed to be my first mate." Luffy nodded his head.

"Then, you should die. Shoot him!"

Morgan raised his ax hand and shouted.

Those marines quickly loaded their guns and took the stance to shoot him.

"Hey, free me quick!"

Seeing those marines raising their guns at him, Zoro shouted at Luffy.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen to you."

Luffy stood in front of Zoro in case some of them shoot him.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Zoro shouted at Luffy.

"Fire!"

Ax Hand Morgan also shouted and the next moment, those marines shot their bullets at Luffy.

Squeak! Squeak!

Those bullets fired at Luffy got reflected back at them with an extreme speed.

Some of those bullets hit marines while some of them fly off toward the ground.

"What happened?"

"Why didn't those bullets work?"

Those marines were in shambles. They looked at Luffy in horror not understanding how he deflected those bullets.

"Are you a devil fruit user?"

Ax Hand Morgan looked at Luffy with a serious expression and asked.

"Yes, I ate Gum-Gum Fruit."

Luffy stretched out his leg and swept it toward those marines.

[Gomu-Gomu No- Leg Sweeper]

Bang!

In an instant, those marines were sent flying. His kick swept all of the marines including Ax Hand Morgan.

[You defeated twenty marines and earned 40 Evolution Points]

Although everyone fell on the ground, there was one person who quickly stood up.

Ax Hand Morgan wasn't going down that easily. He raised his ax hand toward Luffy and shouted.

"Bastard, how dare you defy me?"

He rushed toward Luffy and swung his ax.

If this Ax swings toward him, Luffy could easily dodge it but Zoro will suffer because of it. After all, he was already exhausted.

A serious expression appeared on Luffy's face. Without any hesitation, he decided to do it. He closed his eyes and his heartbeat sounded heavy for a moment.

His body turned slightly red.

Whoosh!

His body suddenly disappeared and appeared in front of Ax Hand Morgan. Before even he could reach there, his hand had already extended back.

[Gomu-Gomu No- Semi Jet Pistol]

Bang!

His fist moved forward at an extreme speed and collided against Morgan before even he could swing his arm.

That collision smashed Morgan toward the Marine Base.

Bang!

He collided against the wall and broke it. He collided against another wall and finally fell to the ground while coughing out blood from his mouth.

His head and back started bleeding as he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

Luffy turned off his semi-gear second and his body stumbled back for a moment. He fell on his butt and started panting.

"Hey, what happened to you?"

Zoro shouted when he saw Luffy falling on the ground.

Although he didn't see it properly, he knew that Luffy was far stronger than he originally thought.

So, it shouldn't be possible for him to fall down so easily.

"Nothing! I just used the power that I haven't mastered yet." Luffy raised his hand and explained. But, he still didn't get up.

The consumption of Gear Second was too much for his current body.

Right now, he was similar to that Luffy who just started his journey even though he had improved his Devil Fruit and body.

Because after starting his journey, Luffy went through quite a lot of tough battles where his potential was finally triggered.

That helped him grow stronger in a short time.

So, even though it was still taxing, Luffy was still able to use Gear Second with rather ease after reaching Enies Lobby.

On the other hand, this Luffy had just started his journey. Despite knowing the trick, he couldn't perform it properly.

"Oh! Your trick was powerful though. I have never seen someone moving so fast." Zoro looked at him with amazement and spoke.

"That's because you haven't gone to Grandline. This kind of speed is slower than snails especially those who live in the second half of the Grandline." Luffy answered.

"Stop kidding me! The gap can't be that big." Zoro ferociously roared at Luffy, unwilling to admit his words.

"I am not kidding. Do you know why most people are hesitant to enter Grandline? That's because they are too weak compared to the people living in Grandline."

"Of course, not all people are strong. It's just that the majority of those people who are pirates or marines in Grandline are strong. So, don't think you are strong right now."

Luffy poured cold water into his dream.

Hearing his words, Zoro was even more unwilling to accept it but he had no reason to doubt Luffy.

After all, Luffy was his captain.

Luffy slowly stood up and walked toward Zoro

"But, don't worry. We are pirates. Either it is another pirate group or marines, we will have a lot of people to fight. So, we will keep growing stronger in those battles."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

At this moment, a young man with pink hair ran toward them. His face had several scratches and blood marks. His fist was also dripping in blood as he tightly held three swords in his arms.

Luffy smiled.

"See! No matter how weak you are, you will always get a chance to get stronger."

.................

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