Chapter 80 - Plundering the Goa Kingdom 3.

[Chapter Size: 2574 Words.]

Third Person POV

Kingdom of Goa, East Blue.

...

...

In the heart of the Goa palace, the majestic throne room stood imposingly, waiting to house a strong and powerful monarch who would lead his subjects with unwavering authority. However, instead, a frightened young king occupied the throne, shouting orders incessantly.

"What do these pirates think they're doing, invading my kingdom? This is an outrage!"

"Guards, protect my treasure at all costs! No matter what happens, do not let them get close to it!"

"My own well-being is at stake here. These soldiers are expendable. They are here to protect me, after all."

"You soldiers are useless! Why aren't you doing anything to stop these pirates?!"

"These damn pirates! They have no respect for royalty. They're about to destroy my kingdom!"

"GO, END THESE PIRATES! DON'T LET THEM REACH THE PALACE!"

"Your grace, the pirates are already here..." said a soldier, trying to keep calm.

"Useless! You can't let them reach the throne."

"And my life is more important; you must protect it!"

The king was visibly terrified, his pale face reflecting the fear consuming him with every word that escaped his mouth. The soldier's words had caused his courage to crumble, and he trembled on his throne.

"Please, sir, we must find a way out of this situation," pleaded a noble, bowing before the king. "They're about to enter the palace. We must consider surrender."

Another noble, even more distressed, joined in the plea. "King, please, think of our lives and the safety of the kingdom. Don't let your pride lead us to destruction."

He was about to respond to his subjects, but the brief tense moment that had previously dominated the throne room was abruptly shattered, giving way to something much more terrifying. A deafening roar echoed through the chambers, making the chandeliers sway and the tapestries flutter, as if the very room were writhing in fear.

The massive door guarding the entrance to the throne room was being brutally attacked. At the epicenter of this chaos was Monkey D. Luffy, the imposing figure leading the invasion of the Kingdom of Goa. His face, now stern and mature, radiated fierce determination, and the amethyst flames enveloping his left fist intensified with each passing second.

With a powerful strike, Luffy shattered the door in an explosion of wood and iron. Fragments flew through the air, filling the room with a cloud of dust, as if destiny itself were being challenged.

Now, the throne room was vulnerable, and the impending confrontation was about to begin. Luffy was determined to face the King of Goa and claim what he believed was rightfully his.

*BOOOOOOOOOM!!!*

The door exploded with undeniable violence, shattering into pieces that scattered through the air. Smoke and dust filled the air, momentarily obscuring everyone's vision. As the mist of debris settled, Luffy entered the throne room, accompanied by Shirahoshi and the other members of his group.

The impact of the pirates' entrance was immediately felt, leaving King Sterry in panic and horror at what was happening in his own palace.

In the throne room, Luffy saw Sterry, who was seated in the main chair, his expression betraying all the fear consuming him. Beside him, a noble-looking blonde woman seemed equally surprised and concerned. Ministers and high nobles clustered around them, surrounded by what seemed to be royal guards, all of them now facing the pirates' invasion.

"King Sterry!" Luffy spoke amicably, displaying a smile that couldn't hide his defiant intent.

Luffy approached Sterry, his gaze serious and determined. The king, though terrified, still tried to maintain a facade of arrogance.

"What do you think you're doing, pirate?" Sterry tried to keep his voice steady despite the evident fear in his eyes.

Luffy wasted no time on empty words. "I'm here to teach you a lesson. You can't just steal people and sell them as slaves, especially not my own people."

The king nervously chuckled. "You don't understand, pirate. The mermaid is worth a fortune! I was only thinking of the good of my kingdom."

Luffy tightened the fist wrapped in amethyst flames, causing the purple glow to intensify. "Money is not an excuse for what you've done. Shirahoshi is not a commodity, and I won't allow you to hurt her."

Sterry swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on him. "What are you going to do?"

Luffy looked at the king seriously. "I'm going to show you what happens when someone messes with the people I love."

"YOU, PIRATE! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?!" Sterry shouted in panic.

"You know, Sterry," Luffy commented as he walked with the women behind him, "I've always wanted to meet you. You have such a ridiculous face."

"WHO ARE YOU TO SPEAK OF THE KING, SCUM?!" The woman next to him arrogantly shouted.

"What can I say, always wanted to meet Sabo's brother." Luffy said.

"Sabo?! That unworthy? You knew that scum, why should I be surprised?! Good riddance that he died horribly!" He said with arrogance and madness.

BANG! The gunshot echoed through the throne room.

"AHHHHH!"

"Your majesty!"

"King Sterry!"

"How dare you shoot a king, pirate?!"

"IT HUUUUURTS, MY SHOULDER HUUUUURTS! SOMEONE MAKE THE PAIN STOP!" Sterry screamed like a wounded animal, his face contorted in agony.

Luffy quickly drew his weapon and shot the man when he uttered those arrogant words about Sabo. The bullet hit the king in the shoulder, making him scream even louder as he fell to the ground with the bleeding wound.

Luffy felt his anger grow exponentially upon hearing Sterry's disdainful words. *"It was thanks to this little shit and his parents that Sabo had to run away!"* He thought with fury, all the memories and emotions of his past life flooding into him at that moment. His hatred for Sterry intensified even more, and hearing the king speak of Sabo in such a disrespectful manner infuriated him deeply.

"Look, I don't care if you're a king. You should know we're pirates, and we do what we want. You should be aware of that when you sent your dogs after us." Luffy spoke, his usual challenging smile replaced by a serious and relentless look.

"Stop, you don't know who you're dealing with... That mermaid on your back is being sought by someone I can't refuse, and you definitely won't be able to fight!" Sterry retorted, a hint of arrogance in his voice.

Luffy raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then tell me, who could be so dangerous as to want my comrades?" He asked calmly, staring at the king with determination.

Sterry clenched his fists before revealing the dreaded name. "Those whom no one in this world can refuse, a Celestial Dragon!" He shouted, and the mere mention of the name made Shirahoshi and Nami shudder in fear. Memories of the oppression and cruelty of the World Nobles echoed in their minds. Shirahoshi, in particular, knew deeply what it meant to be a mermaid princess in a world where the World Nobles considered humans as mere disposable toys.

Shirahoshi held Luffy's hand firmly, and he noticed it.

"A Celestial Dragon?" Luffy repeated the name with a hint of surprise. "Do you think that scares me, king? No matter who it is, no one touches the people I care about."

Sterry tried to regain some composure. "You're a fool, if you knew what they are capable of..."

Luffy interrupted him with a sardonic laugh. "I don't care what they're capable of. If they want a fight, they'll get a fight, and it won't end well for them!"

Shirahoshi squeezed Luffy's hand. "Please, don't do anything reckless..."

Luffy looked at her with a reassuring look. "I'll protect you, Shirahoshi. No one will hurt you."

Nami, who had been silent until then, added firmly beside the trembling mermaid, "They don't know who they're messing with. They'll regret challenging us, trust Luffy!"

Feeling Shirahoshi tremble, Luffy began to seethe with rage at Sterry's threat.

"Do you understand that, pirate? You can't refuse a World Noble. He wants that mermaid, and you will hand her over!" Sterry screamed like a madman.

"..." Luffy stared at him with indifferent eyes.

"You have no idea of the power of the World Nobles, pirate. They rule the world, and when they find out you dared to interfere in their affairs, they'll come after you with all their might."

"..."

"Do you think you can face the World Nobles and win? They have entire armies at their disposal. If you oppose them, your crew and everyone you love will be in danger."

"..."

"Just hand over the mermaid, Luffy. It's the only way to avoid the wrath of the World Nobles. You don't want to find out what happens when they get angry."

"..."

"You are destined to bow before the Celestial Dragons. Yes, and I will become one of them one day, and everyone in this world will kneel at my feet!" Sterry had always nurtured the dream of becoming a World Noble, maintaining contact with them and doing favors to gain influence. The mermaid in the room represented a great opportunity for him to secure some favors.

"..."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! You can't even touch me anymore because I'm being protected by a World Noble! You, your home, and your family will be condemned for defying a World Noble. You... *BANG!*"

A gunshot echoed in the room, leaving everyone in shock. The dust still hung in the air when Sterry screamed in pain:

"AHHHHHHHHHHH! My shoulder!"

The atmosphere in the throne room became even more tense, and everyone was petrified by the turn of events.

"This can't be happening..." A shaky voice came from the king's lips.

The rest of those present in the throne room were in shock. Some looked at Sterry, while others stared at Luffy with a mix of fear and bewilderment.

Shirahoshi, still trembling and frightened, hugged herself tightly. She couldn't believe what was happening.

"King Sterry!" A voice among the crowd finally broke the silence. It was one of the ministers, one of the few who had kept his composure throughout the entire situation.

"You... You made a terrible mistake!" The minister looked at Sterry disapprovingly. "You shouldn't have provoked one of the Straw Hat Pirates, especially not Captain Luffy."

Luffy remained silent, keeping his gaze fixed on the king. His expression was dark, and everyone in the room could feel the intensity of his anger.

"You'll pay for this," Luffy said finally, his voice laden with seriousness.

Sterry, lying on the ground with his bleeding shoulder, realized he was in a desperate situation. He had completely underestimated the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, and now his fate was in the hands of a man he had angered.

"Yamato, take Shirahoshi," Luffy requested seriously, and the mermaid had to reluctantly get off Luffy's back.

Luffy began to walk toward the fallen king at the feet of the throne, both shoulders bleeding, groaning in pain and being helped by his subjects. As Luffy advanced, everyone made way with evident fear in their eyes. No one wanted to face that fierce gaze of the captain, as it indicated that he would kill anyone there. The air was charged with tension, and the throne room seemed smaller as Luffy approached Sterry, whose face was pale with terror.

As Luffy advanced toward Sterry, he uttered words of determination and challenge with every step he took. His gaze was piercing and fierce as he approached the fallen king.

"You thought I would be afraid of the Celestial Dragons? I'm not afraid of anything, Sterry!" Luffy declared firmly, his voice echoing through the throne room. "Not even the World Nobles can make me back down! And you... You made a mistake, thinking you could harm those I love."

Every word that escaped Luffy's lips was loaded with fierce determination. He left no room for doubt; he was willing to employ all his strength to protect his friends and seek revenge for the injustice they had suffered. Sterry, cornered and wounded, faced the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates with a mix of fear and remorse, realizing he had gravely underestimated his opponent.

"You know, even if the whole world is in flames, I'll protect my people!" Luffy declared with conviction, feeling an uncontrollable power growing within him. He immediately identified the nature of this power and did his best to keep it under control, fearing it would cause a collapse in the room. However, a wave of energy burst from him, affecting everyone present. Fortunately, Luffy managed to prevent most from fainting, but a mysterious shockwave swept through the environment, sending shivers down everyone's spine. Those who were still conscious saw their knees weaken, some of them collapsing on the floor, while others recoiled in fear.

"Haoshoku Haki!" Yamato exclaimed, surprised by what was happening.

"I managed to control it a bit..." Luffy murmured to himself, making a conscious effort to suppress the power emanating from him. He refocused his attention on the king of Goa, relieved to see that he was trembling in fear but still conscious. To Luffy, killing someone unconscious was not something he would do, even when it came to the worst enemy.

Luffy advanced ruthlessly toward Sterry, his hand holding the gun with determination. The nobles, who until then had been on the king's side and hadn't fainted, still able to move, retreated in fear before the imminent threat. Luffy's eyes were fixed on the fallen king, and he aimed the gun directly at Sterry, keeping him in his sights.

Each step of Luffy echoed in the throne room like a sentence of condemnation, a sound that seemed to decide Sterry's fate. The silence that hung in the air was interrupted only by the groans of pain from the wounded king. Luffy advanced, his determined gaze fixed on the fallen king, while he held the gun firmly.

"Wait! Monkey D. Garp was born on this island. If you're not afraid of the Celestial Dragons, know that killing me will make the hero of the Marines hunt you down!" Sterry shouted in despair, trying to play any card that might be at his disposal. He was an arrogant king, confident in his position, but now he was completely vulnerable.

"Funny, my name is Monkey D. Luffy. You know what that means, Sterry?" Luffy smiled with dark humor, leaving everyone in the room intrigued and eager to understand the connection between the two names. The pieces of the puzzle began to fit in the minds of those present.

"Unfortunately for you, not even my grandfather can stop me from putting a bullet in your head." Luffy's voice was calm and cold, contrasting with the emotional turmoil Sterry was feeling.

"Wait... BANG!"

Thus, in an instant, Luffy pulled the trigger, and the sound echoed through the room as the bullet found its target. Sterry, the king of Goa, fell, his arrogance and power now useless in the face of the ruthless justice of the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. The ensuing silence was deafening as everyone absorbed the brutal reality of the situation.

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