[Note:
" * " : Indicates abilities that can be upgraded with practice, experience, or unique opportunities.]
> System inner voice ["speaking"] <
> Ash inner speech "speaking" <
{}
Present Time
Helmeppo screamed upward, voice cracking, "F-Father! Save me!"
Instantly, Captain Morgan's voice thundered across the base.
"SEIZE THEM!"
"I'll kill them myself!"
The order exploded into motion.
Marines poured down from the terrace while others rushed out from inside the base, responding to frantic commands relayed through Den Den Mushi. Within moments, armed soldiers flooded the training grounds from every direction.
Ace rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck side to side. She flexed her fingers, grinning.
"Finally," she said. "Some action."
Ash turned briefly. "Anne. Shiruku." He met their eyes calmly. "You two are joining the fight."
They stiffened—but didn't argue.
"Don't worry," Ash added. "Uta and Selina will be with you."
Both girls nodded. Over the last couple of days, Ash had drilled it into them: don't step back unless you absolutely have to. Limits only break when pushed.
Anne pulled the dagger Ash had given her for protection. Shiruku drew her saber, steadying her breath.
Selina and Uta immediately moved to their sides, forming a protective line without a word.
Ash turned back toward Kuina and Zoro, "So," he said casually, "you two sitting this out, or what?"
Kuina snorted. "After what we just did? We're already considered outlaws."
Her eyes narrowed, "Zoro," she asked flatly, "where are your swords?"
Zoro clicked his tongue. "That bastard took them when he tied me up," he said, jerking his chin toward Helmeppo.
Bonk.
Kuina smacked him on the head again.
Zoro snarled, clutching his skull, teeth bared, "Why do you keep hitting me?!"
Kuina shot him a sharp side-eye, "Do you really need me to explain that?"
Zoro grit his teeth—and wisely shut up.
Ash nodded once, "If they're inside the base, we'll get them later." He tilted his head toward the Marines pouring in, many of them armed with swords. "For now—improvise."
Zoro's eyes narrowed as he nodded.
Ash shoved Helmeppo toward Coby, "Watch him. Stay out of the fight."
Coby yelped but nodded rapidly, shaking his head so hard it looked painful. He tied Helmeppo tightly with rope and dragged him aside, keeping his distance.
Ash straightened and looked at the battlefield forming around them, "I don't want this dragged out," he said evenly. "Finish it fast."
Lucy pumped her fist, "Yeah! Let's go!"
The Marines came in waves with their swords swinging and guns aimed at them.
Ash slipped inside a downward slash and dropped the Marine with a single blow. Another came from the side—Ash caught the fist mid-swing, twisted the arm, and kicked the man back.
The Marine crashed into two others behind him. He gave a smirk and jumped into midst of them.
Lucy tilted her head and the bullet tore past her cheek. Sprinting straight at the shooter, punched the rifle apart with a sharp crack, grabbed the Marine by the collar, and hurled him into his own squad.
She laughed as weaved through them—ducking, hopping back, letting blades slice empty air. She shattered a knee of a marine. A palm strike straight to the chest launched another Marine into the wall, unconscious before he slid down.
Ace went straight through them. Punching and kicking without giving them a chance to react. Marines flew back, slamming into crates, posts, each other.
Selina twirled and with her leg she slide the sword of a marine under her leg while the marine tried to wrench it free. With her other leg, she kicked him hard.
Selina ran and twirled again mid-air like canon into the group sending them crashing down. Using her pressure point knowledge, she dropped several Marines in quick succession. At the same time, she stayed close—watching Anne and Shiruku.
A blade came at Selina from behind. She backflipped, landed behind the Marine, wrenched the sword free, smashed the hilt into his face—
Then threw it.
The blade cut through a Marine's collar and pinned him to the wall just as he was about to attack Shiruku from behind.
Uta gave her a thumbs-up and slipped left dodging a bullet.
She stayed light, redirecting strikes, letting Marines overcommit and fall instead of attacking them every turn. Her focus instead stayed on Anne and Shiruku, stepping in whenever the pressure closed in on them.
Anne fought hard, her smaller frame helped her avoid full hits, but not all of them. A slash burned across her arm. A bruise bloomed on her ribs. Her breathing turned ragged fast.
For the first time in her life Anne fought to survive. Burying her pain, she slashed at one of the marine with her dagger and kicking him in the balls next dropping him down.
She forced herself to keep moving, even as exhaustion set in. When a bullet came too fast, Uta yanked her clear. When she missed noticing a Marine coming behind her, Selina was already there to protect her.
Shiruku fared better than Anne.
She cut down the marines with her saber, punched when anyone got too close, even fought dirty even throwing sand into their eyes, kicking low like Anne when needed.
Even so, whenever numbers pressed in. She felt overwhelmed but Selina and Uta are there to step forward helping her to which she was grateful for.
Nami flipped backward over a slash, landed on her hands, spun her legs like a top, and kicked Marines away.
A blade scraped her calf but she hardened it with tekkai just in time.
Even while fighting, her fingers didn't stay still, without even the marines noticing she looted them without mercy noticing their valuables vanished along their defeat.
Across the Yard
Kuina slashed the marines with her Wado Ichimonji. Zoro fought beside her—bare-handed at first.
He ripped a sword from one Marine. Then another. Then a third.
Steel met steel.
Zoro locked one blade between his teeth, two more in his hands.
They fought together, covering each other, taking Marines one at a time. They couldn't dodge bullets like the others—but they held their ground.
A Marine flew past Zoro's head.
He glanced sideways.
Lucy stood there, grinning.
From the sidelines, Coby could only stare because the fight was completely one sided, with marines going down.
Suddenly a shadow covered Anne and Shiruku and they looked up.
But it was too late because Morgan was already airborne, with his axe arm raised, his eyes murderous as he descended on them.
The strike never landed.
Two kicks slammed into Morgan's gut at the same instant from Uta and Selina.
Morgan was launched backward same way he came, crashing through Marines as he slammed into the ground. Bodies scattered with him.
He roared in fury rising again, shaking the yard. Bodies lay everywhere on the ground—either groaning in pain, unconscious.
Ash and Lucy stepped forward side by side.
Behind them stood Ace, Selina, Uta, Nami, Anne, Shiruku, Kuina, Zoro.
Coby watched from the side lines in awe. Helmeppo could only stare in shock as a shiver ran through his spine.
Only Morgan remained with roughly a dozen marine soldiers standing at his back.
Ash crossed his arms and spoke calmly, "Let's not drag this out."
He looked past Morgan at the remaining dozen Marines standing behind him.
"I'll give you a chance. Surrender," Ash said, nodding toward Morgan. "Don't become cannon fodder for your idiot captain's ego—like your comrades already did."
He glanced around at the fallen Marines scattered across the yard, "Besides, someone needs to tend to them. It would be bad if all of you were out of commission."
The remaining Marines looked around, hands shaking. One by one, weapons began to clatter to the ground.
Morgan roared immediately.
"You useless fools!" he shouted. "Pick up your guns and shoot yourselves! I don't need useless soldiers. That's an order!"
Some Marines froze in terror. A few even began lifting their dropped guns with trembling hands.
Kuina muttered sharply, "Are these damn Marines idiots?"
Uta vanished in a blink and reappeared exactly where she had been standing—holding every weapon: guns, swords, everything.
Zoro and Kuina stared wide-eyed. They hadn't even seen her move.
The Marines gasped in shock.
Lucy grinned. "Nice job, Uta."
Even Morgan faltered for a split second—fear flickering across his face before arrogance returned.
"Who… who are you?" he growled.
Ash smirked. Lucy's grin widened.
"We're the Straw Hat Pirates," Ash said evenly. "And we're the ones going to bring you down."
Morgan sneered. "Pirates? Straw Hats?" He scoffed. "Never heard of you. A bunch of no-name pirates dare oppose me—"
"Oh, stop your monologue," Lucy cut in.
She cracked her knuckles. "If you've got guts, try fighting us, you coward."
Lucy launched forward and punched Morgan straight in the jaw.
He flew—unable to even react to her speed.
Before he could hit the ground, Ash vanished and appeared mid-air in front of Morgan, his fists moving faster than most could follow. A barrage of punches rained down, smashing Morgan straight into the wall.
Lucy appeared in front of him not even giving time to get ready she grabbed Morgan by the collar and yanked him forward from the wall.
"You like bullying the weak, huh?" she said coldly and smashed him on the ground. "Then it's only fair we return the favor."
She drove her fist into his gut.
Blood spilled from Morgan's mouth.
"This," Lucy said, punching him again, "is for the people you wronged."
Another punch.
"This is for Rika."
Another blow snapped his head back.
"And this—" Lucy slammed her fist into his face, "—is for destroying Coby's dream."
A trembling scream rang out.
"STOP! S-STOP IT!"
Everyone turned.
Helmeppo stood there, shaking violently, a pistol aimed at Coby's head.
Coby's face was swollen—Helmeppo had escaped his ropes and beaten him when no one was watching.
"I-I'll shoot him!" Helmeppo cried. "Stop or I'll shoot him!"
Coby trembled—but still shouted.
"Lucy-san! Don't worry about me!" Tears streamed down his face. "Take that tyrant down!"
Ash smirked, "Lucy, you heard the guy. Finish him."
Lucy's grin sharpened and lifted him straight up on his two legs. Morgan was still in daze ready to fall down with no strength left in him.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
Her arm stretched far back.
"—Pistol!"
Her fist rocketed forward, slamming into Morgan's chest.
A shockwave exploded outward.
Morgan spat blood, his eyes rolling back as the impact tore through his shirt and burst a fist-sized hole through his Justice coat like a balloon.
He finally collapsed unconscious.
Helmeppo dropped to his knees, the pistol slipping from his fingers.
Around them, the Marines stood frozen.
Kuina and Zoro stared in silence, stunned by what they had just seen.
Coby finally collapsed, foam at his mouth, the courage that had carried him this far leaving his body at last.
The townspeople arrived just in time to see Morgan fall from Lucy's final blow.
"He's down… the tyrant Morgan is beaten," someone whispered.
"We're free…" another said.
Then the voices rose together.
"WE'RE FREE!"
{}
[1]
Name: 'Axe-Hand' Morgan
Title: Marine Captain of Shells Town
Age: 42
Bounty: —
Level: 37
Status Effect: Defeated; Unconscious
Stats
Strength: 491
Agility: 371
Endurance: 460
Intelligence: 245
Charisma: 192
Luck: 145
Skills
- Axe-Hand Combat Style (Uncommon; Advanced)
A crude but devastating combat style centered on overwhelming force and intimidation. Wide, destructive swings capable of crushing defenses, but predictable and slow against skilled or fast opponents.
- Tyrant's Authority (Uncommon; Advanced)
Exercises absolute control through fear and rank. Subordinates act despite panic, injury, or moral hesitation as long as intimidation remains effective. Authority collapses rapidly once fear is openly challenged or defied.
Special Traits
- Absolute Tyrant
As long as the user believes themself untouchable, their presence suppresses dissent. Civilians and subordinates suffer severe morale penalties in their presence.
- Overbearing Presence
Against weaker or untrained opponents, appears overwhelming and invincible—often winning conflicts before true combat begins against weak.
Emotional State
Rage ; Disbelief ; Humiliation ;
Current Thoughts
"How dare they… how dare they defy me… I am great…"
Weaknesses
- False Authority
Power structure relies on fear rather than respect. Once openly challenged, command collapses quickly.
- Poor Combat
Struggles heavily against fast, coordinated, or technique-based fighters. Fails to adjust tactics once brute force proves ineffective.
- Tunnel Vision
Fixates on perceived threats and ignores battlefield changes, creating exploitable openings.
- Ego-Driven Tyranny
Cannot tolerate resistance or mockery. Defiance provokes reckless escalation and critical mistakes.
- No Strategic Adaptability
Relies on intimidation and raw power alone. When those fail, lacks contingency plans or tactical depth.
----------------------------------------------------------------
[2]
Name: Helmeppo
Title: Son of Captain Morgan
Age: 22
Bounty: —
Level: 14
Status Effect: Injured; Mentally Broken
Stats
Strength: 68
Agility: 82
Endurance: 71
Intelligence: 134
Charisma: 39
Luck: 41
Skills
- Borrowed Authority(Common; Beginner)
Gains temporary confidence and intimidation when protected by a superior authority figure (father, Marines, rank). Skill collapses immediately when isolated.
- Firearm Handling(Common; Beginner)
Basic pistol usage. Poor accuracy under pressure.
Special Traits
- Cowardly Bully
Targets only those he perceives as weaker or restrained. Loses all composure when faced with resistance or pain.
- False Confidence
Appears arrogant and dominant while protected. When confronted directly, panic overrides rational thought.
Emotional State
Panic ; Fear ; Humiliation
Current Thoughts
"Father got defeated… How could they defeat him easily…"
Weaknesses
- Extremely Poor Combat Ability
Physically incapable of standing against trained fighters. Collapses quickly once fear is reversed onto him.
- No Independent Authority
Without his father's name, has no presence, influence, or control.
- Breaks Under Pressure
Pain, blood, or resistance causes immediate loss of coordination and judgment.
- Reliance on Threats
Defaults to verbal intimidation. When threats fail, has no fallback.
{}
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To be continued...
Thanks for reading this chapter!
I'd love to hear your thoughts — not just on the plot, but the journey itself. Is the pacing feeling right to you so far? Too fast, too slow, or just, right? Are there any moments, themes, or dynamics you feel are missing or could be explored more — like deeper character bonds, world-building, emotional scenes, or even new twists? Anything.
Also, is there anything you'd love to see added that could make the story even more exciting or satisfying? Whether it's a kind of power, a dramatic reveal, or just a character moment — your feedback really helps shape this story into something better.
Let me know in the comments! I read every one. 💬
And as always, if you're enjoying the ride, feel free to drop a Power Stone — it means a lot. 😊