Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan!

Raphael: <>

System: []

******

In the Marine base of Shells Town, Captain Morgan, also known as Axe-Hand Morgan, stood in his office, staring out over the town through a large window. His imposing figure, with his iron jaw and the massive axe replacing his right hand, cast a dark shadow across the room. Morgan was a towering man, both in stature and ego, known for ruling the town with an iron fist. He believed that those in positions of power were above the law and could do whatever they wanted without consequences, and his reign over Shells Town was marked by cruelty and tyranny born out of such belief.

As he admired the view, a group of nervous Marines stood at attention, waiting for his next order. Morgan, with his usual arrogance, spoke without turning around, in his usual cold and commanding voice. "The people of this town should be grateful for my presence. Without me, they would be nothing but weak and pathetic worms."

The Marines exchanged uneasy glances, none daring to contradict their captain. Morgan's reputation was built not only on his physical strength but also on his ruthless punishments for even the slightest disrespect. He had crushed any form of rebellion before it could even begin, forcing both the town and the Marines under his command to live in fear. Among the Marines of Shells Town, there is a saying that 'Only truly misfortunate souls get their first recruitment here in this town, under the command of Axe-Hand Morgan, crushing their dream of earning any kind of achievements in the Marine.'

Suddenly, the door to his office flew open, and Helmeppo burst in, clutching his nose, which was still bleeding from Luffy's punch. His face was twisted in anger and humiliation.

"Father!" Helmeppo whined, rushing to Morgan's side. "Some filthy pirates attacked me! They broke my nose and humiliated me in front of everyone!"

Morgan slowly turned to face his son, his gaze cold and indifferent. "Pirates, you say?" he asked, his voice heavy with disdain.

"Yes, pirates!" Helmeppo yelled. At this moment, he didn't care if the two people he had encountered in town were pirates or not. He was sure that calling them pirates would get them the most punishment. "A man and a woman! They insulted me, and when I tried to put them in their place, they... they...!" His voice trailed off as he caught sight of his father's disapproving glare.

Morgan stared at him for a long moment before scoffing. "Helmeppo, you are a disgrace," he said, his words cutting through the air like a blade. "You have my name and position, yet you cannot even handle a few pirates? Pathetic," he said, his hand gliding over the blade of his Axe Hand.

"But Father! They're dangerous!" Helmeppo stammered, fear creeping into his voice. "They crushed my gun like it was nothing! The man even punched me across the tavern!"

Morgan's eyes narrowed. 'A man who can crush a gun with his bare hands?' His interest was piqued, but it was masked behind his ever-present arrogance. "Pirates, huh? I'll deal with these insects personally," he said, narrowing his eyes and glaring at Helmeppo with disgust. "No one disrespects my family or my authority in this town, no matter how pathetic or how much of a disappointment you are as a son."

Turning to his Marines, he barked an order. "Prepare the troops! We're going to hunt these pirates down and make an example of them."

"Yes, sir!" the Marines responded, quickly scurrying out to follow his orders. They were pretty sure that Helmeppo must have invited trouble, but by now they were used to it. Whether it was visitors or locals of this town, they had dragged back many people to the base due to Helmeppo's mess. Although it went against their conscience to punish innocent people, they were too helpless to do anything against Captain Morgan's power and authority.

Morgan's face twisted into a menacing smile as he slammed his axe hand on the table, splitting it in half. "Let's see how tough these pirates really are," he said, walking outside the office.

'There goes another table...' the Marines in the room thought, a bit of sweat dripping down their faces as they followed their captain outside.

Helmeppo also followed close behind, smirking despite his earlier humiliation. He knew his father's power—no one ever crossed Axe-Hand Morgan and lived to tell the tale. He was sure the pirates who humiliated him were about to face the full wrath of the Marine captain.

******

Meanwhile, following Luffy's request, Rika's mother quickly prepared a meal, but instead of staying to eat it in the tavern, Luffy decided to take the food with him. He wandered to the center of town, casually carrying the meal, and once he arrived at the crossroads, he borrowed a chair from a nearby shop. With complete ease, he sat in the middle of the busy intersection, leisurely eating as if he had all the time in the world.

The people passing by shot him confused looks, unsure of what this strange young boy was up to. Gradually, those who had witnessed the earlier scene in the tavern began to gather around, whispering to others about what had transpired. Soon, the story spread, and the townspeople realized that Luffy wasn't just sitting there for no reason. He was waiting for someone and that person being none other than the tyrant of the Shells Town, Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan.

Whispers turned to murmurs, and soon, a crowd had formed at the crossroads, keeping a cautious distance from Luffy. Most of them were looking at him with expressions that ranged from disbelief to horror. Many of them had witnessed Morgan's brutality firsthand and couldn't fathom why this young man would deliberately provoke the tyrant.

"Does he have a death wish?"

"That boy must be insane to sit there like that. Morgan will tear him apart."

"He must be new here, doesn't know what Morgan's capable of..."

The tension in the air was palpable, and just then, the old man who had met Luffy earlier stepped forward from the crowd, his expression a mix of concern and exasperation.

"Young man," the old man began, his voice heavy with a sense of inevitability, "I warned you to keep a low profile. Yet here you are, sitting in the open, waiting for your execution." He shook his head, a tired sigh escaping his lips. "Do you have any idea what you're up against? Morgan doesn't show mercy."

Luffy looked up from his food, chewing leisurely before responding, completely unbothered. "Thanks for the warning, old man, but I'm not worried about it."

The old man's brows furrowed in frustration. "Not worried? You're practically inviting death by sitting here! Captain Morgan is a cruel tyrant, not some run-of-the-mill opponent. He'll kill you for defying him—no questions asked."

Luffy grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Let him try. I'm not worried about Morgan. In fact, I'm waiting for him."

The old man blinked in disbelief, his jaw tightening. "You're not just reckless—you're completely mad," he muttered, turning away. He knew there was no reasoning with someone who seemed so sure of themselves, but still, he couldn't help but feel pity for the young boy. In his mind, Luffy was walking straight into the lion's den.

"You called me mad, old man," Luffy scoffed, taking another bite of his meal without a care. "But the truth is, it's you people who are crazy for enduring someone like Morgan for all these years." He paused, looking around at the crowd that had gathered, his gaze sharp and unapologetic. "You've endured years of pain because none of you had even the ounce the courage in your sorry asses to stand up to him."

The townspeople flinched at his words, some shifting uncomfortably. A few muttered under their breath, while others shot Luffy angry looks. The old man who had spoken to him earlier clenched his fists, his frustration evident.

"You think it's that simple?" the old man retorted, his voice shaky but firm. "You think we didn't try? Morgan crushed anyone who opposed him. His power... it's not something a normal person can stand against! We'd be slaughtered if we tried to fight him!"

Luffy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, not even bothering to look fazed by the argument. "Maybe," he said, still calm, "but that doesn't mean you roll over and accept it. You've all convinced yourselves it's impossible to fight back, and that's why nothing ever changes."

The crowd around him grew restless, with more people whispering and shooting uneasy glances. Luffy's words stung. Many of them had been living under Morgan's tyranny for so long that they had forgotten what it felt like to hope for anything better.

"You don't understand!" another man from the crowd called out, stepping forward. "We have families! We can't risk their lives going against a Marine captain! He'd kill us, and then what? Our children, our wives—what happens to them?"

Luffy finally stood up from the chair, towering over his meal. His eyes locked onto the man who spoke. "You're already risking their lives by doing nothing. How much longer are you going to live in fear, watching your kids grow up under a man who'll bleed this town dry?" he asked. "How much longer before that idiot blond son of that captain or his lackeys put their hands on one of your daughters or sisters? Are you still willing to turn a blind eye when that happens?"

The weight of his words hit the crowd hard. Some looked away, ashamed, while others glared at him with defiance or disbelief. But beneath all the anger, there was an undeniable truth that the Luffy was saying what many of them had refused to admit. They had let Morgan control their lives for far too long and now they were unsafe and scared in their own hometown.

"You talk big for a stranger," the old man said, his voice quieter now. "But what happens when Morgan gets here? What will you do then, huh?"

Luffy's grin widened, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "I'm gonna beat him," he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

The crowd fell into a stunned silence. Some people gasped, others laughed bitterly at his boldness. "You think you can beat Morgan?" someone scoffed. "You're just one guy!"

Luffy looked out at them, undeterred. "I don't care if he's a Marine captain or the king of the world. If he's standing in my way, I'll take him down." He casually picked up another bite of food, as if fighting Morgan was just another item on his to-do list for the day.

The tension hung in the air as the crowd watched Luffy with a mixture of awe, disbelief, and fear. No one had ever spoken about defying Captain Morgan so openly—and certainly not with such confidence.

As Luffy continued eating, completely unfazed by the commotion around him, the townspeople found themselves questioning something they hadn't dared to before, 'What if he really could beat Morgan?'

And then, in the distance, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the streets, followed by the clanking of metal armor. Captain Morgan was here.

******

When Captain Morgan arrived at the town center, his heavy boots thudding against the ground, he immediately noticed the large crowd gathered around a young boy sitting casually in the middle of the road. Morgan's sharp eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, something was clearly off. The atmosphere was tense, but instead of fear, there was a different emotion in people's eyes... emotion he couldn't grasp at the moment.

Beside him, Helmeppo touched his swollen and bruised face from Luffy's punch and pointed angrily at the boy. "Father! It's him!" Helmeppo screeched, his voice thick with fury and humiliation. "He's the one who broke my nose!"

Upon hearing his son's words Captain Morgan scowled at the sight of Luffy. Just the townspeople also noticed his arrival and that alone was enough to silence the whispers of the crowd, and the tension in the air grew heavier. He glared at his son, then shifted his icy gaze toward the boy who dared to defy his authority.

"Is that so?" Morgan's deep, gravelly voice rumbled through the square, causing a shiver to run through the crowd. He began to step forward, his men following close behind, weapons ready, as his eyes locked onto Luffy. "You must have a death wish to strike my son."

Luffy, still seated, calmly took another bite of food, showing no sign of concern. He swallowed before looking up at Morgan with a casual smile. "You must be Axe-Hand Morgan," Luffy said. "I've been waiting for you."

Morgan's brow twitched in anger at the boy's disrespectful tone, his hand flexing around the massive axe that replaced his arm. "You've got guts, I'll give you that," he growled in a low and dangerous voice. "But you made the mistake of touching my son. No one crosses the Me in this town and lives to tell about it."

The crowd held its breath, many of them trembling, unsure whether to flee or stay and witness the inevitable clash. They had seen Morgan's wrath before, and it rarely ended without bloodshed.

Luffy, on the other hand, didn't flinch. He stood up slowly, wiping his hands on his shorts, and then looked Morgan in the eyes with unshaken confidence. "I'm not scared of you," he said simply. "In fact, you are going down today, right here, in front of all these people."

The crowd gasped audibly at Luffy's bold declaration. No one had ever spoken to Morgan like that, and to do so in front of the entire town was unthinkable.

Morgan's face twisted into a snarl. "You are going to bring me down!?" He let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "Boy, I've crushed stronger men than you with one swing of my axe. Do you really think you can defeat me?"

Luffy scoffed, stretching his arms as if the whole situation was a joke. "You really believe in your own hype, don't you?" His voice was casual, but it cut deep. "If you were truly strong, you'd be deployed somewhere on the Grand Line, not stuck in this little town in East Blue."

Upon hearing Luffy's words, Morgan's anger boiled over. He knew that he was no match for people who sailed the Grand Line, whether they were pirates or Marines, but here in East Blue, very few people knew about them, let alone anyone on this island. That's why he could boss over these pathetic, ignorant people. But now here was this boy who was not only challenging his authority but also mocking him. No! That was not acceptable! Not acceptable at all!

"That's enough!" Morgan roared, his anger boiling over. "Boys! Take aim!" he bellowed, pointing his axe hand toward Luffy. "I want all of you to empty your guns on that brat! Fire! All of you!"

The Marines, though hesitant, moved to obey. They raised their rifles and pointed them directly at Luffy.

But just as they were about to fire, a small figure darted into the center of the square, blocking their line of sight.

"I won't let you hurt big brother Luffy!" Rika cried, standing in front of Luffy with her arms spread wide. "Big brother Luffy was protecting his friend! He didn't do anything wrong!"

The Marines froze, their fingers hovering over their triggers, unsure of what to do. The thought of firing at a little girl—even under orders—was something they couldn't stomach. No matter how many immoral acts they had carried out in service of Morgan, this was too much.

Morgan, however, was unmoved. His cold eyes narrowed at his men's hesitation. "What the hell are you doing?!" he bellowed, his voice dripping with malice. "Were my orders not clear enough?!"

One Marine, trembling, dared to speak up. "Sir, there's a civilian child in the way. If we fire, there's a chance we might hit her by accident."

"And?" Morgan sneered, his uncaring eyes locked onto the scene. "That little wretch decided to interfere in the affairs of the Marines. It's only logical that she should be executed alongside that criminal."

"But, sir—"

"Did I stutter?" Morgan growled, lifting his massive axe in front of his face. His voice was dark and menacing. "The next person who questions my orders will die a painful death."

The threat of Morgan's wrath sent a shiver through the Marines. Reluctantly, they turned their rifles back toward Luffy and Rika, their hands trembling as they pointed their weapons at the two.

In the crowd, Rika's mother gasped in horror, her hand flying to her mouth as tears streamed down her face. "Rika!" she cried, her voice filled with fear and despair.

Rika's small body trembled, her courage wavering as she saw the guns aimed at her. Her heart raced, but before she could panic, she felt a gentle hand ruffle her hair. She looked up to see Luffy smiling down at her, calm and reassuring.

"You're a brave girl, Rika," Luffy said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "Braver than most people in this town."

Then, without a hint of fear, Luffy stepped in front of her, placing himself between Rika and the trembling Marines. His face turned serious as he glared at the men pointing their guns at them.

"I dare you to pull the trigger," Luffy challenged, his voice cold and steady. The air around him seemed to darken as he let his killing intent leak out, targeting the Marines in front of him. It was a terrifying pressure, one that made the soldiers flinch, their hands shaking as they gripped their rifles.

Meanwhile, the villagers, watching Luffy stand unwavering in front of little Rika, began to feel their long-suppressed rebellious spirits ignite. For years, they had cowered in fear of Morgan, but now an outsider was risking his life to protect one of their own.

"How can we let an outsider risk his life to protect one of our own!?" a man in the crowd shouted, his voice breaking through the tension.

"He's right!" a woman added, her voice rising above the others. "We will not stand for this tyranny anymore!"

"Yeah! We don't want Morgan here anymore!" another voice cried out.

One by one, voices joined in, and soon the entire town was up in arms, their collective spirit rising in defiance against the tyrant who had held them under his boot for so long.

Morgan's face contorted in fury, his grip on his axe tightening until his knuckles turned white. Seeing the town's people rebelling against him pushed him over the edge. His eyes blazed with madness. "Kill them! Kill them both!" he bellowed, pointing furiously at Luffy and Rika. "After you're done with them, fire indiscriminately at these ungrateful scum! Only then will they understand the consequences of crossing me!"

This was it... this command that broke the camel's back. The fear that had gripped the Marines under Morgan's command vanished as they realized that Captain Morgan was essentially telling them to commit genocide on these innocent people without any cause. To them, that was not what being a Marine was about. They were supposed to be heroes who protected people from pirates, but this... this was truly evil.

The Marines exchanged glances, each nodding in silent agreement. One by one, they lowered their guns and turned toward Morgan.

"Captain, we will not follow your orders anymore," the oldest Marine among them said, his voice filled with conviction.

Morgan's bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief and rage as he saw his own men defying him. "You... you dare disobey me?!" he shrieked, raising his massive axe hand. "I'll make an example out of you! Now die!"

He swung his axe with all his might, aiming to kill the Marine who had spoken out. But before the blade could connect, Luffy moved.

In an instant, using Total Concentration Breathing, Luffy appeared next to the Marine and effortlessly caught Morgan's axe with his hand. However, he didn't stop there. Luffy coated his hand with haki and, in the next moment, the metal of the axe cracked and then shattered into pieces right before everyone's eyes.

"What!?" Morgan exclaimed in shock, seeing his axe shatter into pieces. "How did you—?" Morgan began, but his words were cut off as Luffy's Haki-coated fist drove into his abdomen with brutal force. The impact sent Morgan flying across the square, crashing into a nearby building with a thunderous crash. His bones cracked audibly, and when the dust settled, Morgan lay unconscious in a heap, blood trickling from his mouth and nose.

The entire square fell silent, the townspeople and Marines staring in awe and disbelief. Morgan, the man who had tormented them for years, was defeated with one... one single punch.

"He did it..." one of the villagers whispered, the reality of what had just happened sinking in.

"He really defeated Morgan..." another said in awe.

"We're free!" someone else shouted, and soon the entire town erupted in cheers, the sound of celebration echoing through the streets.

"We're finally free!" the crowd cried, their voices full of joy and relief as they celebrated their long-awaited freedom.

Suddenly, a small blur shot toward Luffy, and before he could react, little Rika crashed into his leg, hugging him tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at him, her voice trembling. "Big brother, you won!" she exclaimed between sniffles.

Luffy looked down at her with a wide grin, ruffling her hair gently. "Of course I did," he said in a warm and reassuring voice.

Just then a notification popped up on his screen.

[Congratulations! 2 new Achievements unlocked!]

To be continued...