Chapter 126: A Brotherly Fist of Love
East Blue - Isolated Island - Evening
The sea breeze was gentle, but the heat of battle still lingered in the air.
As Sabo and Ace shook hands, calling an end to their spar, a familiar voice suddenly yelled from behind them.
"HEY!! Wait for me! I wanna fight too!!!"
The next second, Luffy broke free from Roy's grasp and launched himself like a cannonball toward Sabo and Ace!
"BAM!"
Luffy landed right between them, pumping his fists excitedly. "That looked so fun! I want in!"
Sabo and Ace exchanged a look. Their eyes seemed to say: "This kid... just offered himself up on a silver platter?"
Both of their lips curled into identical, mischievous "Big Brother Smirks."
"Since you're here, don't be shy," Sabo said with a warm, deceptive smile. Then—Fwoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Sabo was behind Luffy, raising his hand casually.
"Dragon Claw Fist: Knuckle Sandwich Edition."
BONK!
A Haki-coated fist landed squarely on the back of Luffy's head!
"Owwww—!" Luffy yelped. Before he could turn around, Ace appeared in front of him, wearing a grin that said, "Just accept your fate."
"Fire Fist: Loving Light Tap Edition!"
POOF!
A fluffy burst of flame hit Luffy right in the face, spinning him around three times and turning his head into a charred mess!
"Cough-cough-cough—!! You guys are cheating!" Luffy cried, snot and tears streaming down his face. "Why are you double-teaming me?!"
"My, my, listen to him," Sabo shrugged innocently. "Didn't you say 'I wanna fight too'?"
"We're just fulfilling your wish," Ace grinned like a scam artist with a conscience.
"Then I'm getting serious too!" Luffy puffed out his cheeks and transformed—
"Hybrid Form: Mythical Zoan Mode!"
His arms swelled, muscles bulging, covered in fine pink dragon scales.
In an instant, his hands became ferocious dragon claws, fingers elongating into sharp hooks, scales layering over each other, shimmering with an eerie iridescence in the light, pulsing as if alive.
"Iron Fist: Bazooka!"
FWOOSH-FWOOSH!
Two giant claws stretched back like slingshots, then fired forward with the force of a storm, aiming straight for Ace and Sabo!
Unfortunately—
Zip!
The two older brothers dodged effortlessly, sidestepping cleanly.
"Too slow," Ace commented, like a teacher.
"Too much wind-up, telegraphs your intent," Sabo critiqued, like a mentor.
"Brother Combo: Double Forehead Flick!"
THWACK! THWACK!
Two fingers landed perfectly on Luffy's forehead, raising two massive bumps instantly!
"WAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Luffy clutched his head, hopping around. "You guys are mean!!"
But the "meanness" was just beginning.
Sabo grabbed Luffy's ankle. Ace grabbed his wrist.
"Ready?" Ace grinned.
"One, two—SWING!"
"WAAAAAAHHHH—!!!"
Luffy was spun around like a human jump rope, faster and faster, until—SPLAT!—he was thrown into the ground, leaving a Luffy-shaped crater!
...
Five Minutes Later
The sun had set, and the island was peaceful again.
Luffy lay sprawled in the crater, his head covered in bumps stacked like a small mountain. His eyes were blank, and he mumbled, "You guys... play dirty..."
Sabo and Ace stood over him, hands on their hips, looking calm but strangely satisfied.
"This wasn't bullying, it was special training!" Ace said with a straight face.
"We went all out so you could master your Mythical Zoan powers better!" Sabo added earnestly.
"...You guys just wanted revenge for me stealing the meat earlier!" Luffy wailed.
In the distance, Koala was crouching behind a rock, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up. "Hahahaha! Poor Luffy!"
Roy shook his head gently, offering a three-second silent prayer for Luffy, but a smile played on his lips as he looked at the golden-red horizon.
—A roughhousing session between brothers is always more sincere and fun than any formal training.
Dawn Island - Rook's Home - Evening
"FWOOSH—!"
Space warped slightly, and five figures landed steadily in the courtyard of Rook's home. Twilight had already painted the treetops.
Luffy limped in last, sporting a tower of bumps on his head, muttering incoherently. "Ugh... Big Bro Roy... couldn't you have healed me a little...? It hurts..."
Roy didn't turn around, his voice leisurely. "You're a Mythical Zoan user. Minor injuries like this stimulate your recovery mechanisms and increase your durability."
"What durability?!!" Luffy stomped his foot angrily, which jostled the bumps on his head. "Oww-ow-ow!"
Just then, footsteps came from inside. Rook and Erin walked out.
"Oh, you're back—Eh?!" Erin saw the "Chain-Combo Bumps" on her grandson's head and immediately fussed over him. "Who did this? Did your brother hit you too hard?"
"No! They ganged up on me!" Luffy wailed, diving into Erin's arms, smearing snot and tears on her apron. "Grandma! It was two against one!"
"They have no honor!"
Ace coughed lightly, putting his hands behind his back and looking innocent. "I was just... coordinating."
Sabo blinked, smiling angelically. "I was providing combat guidance. Tactical instruction."
Koala turned away, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
Rook laughed loudly, slapping Luffy on the shoulder. "Be a man! What's a little beating? Eating meat after a fight is the best part!"
Hearing "meat," Luffy's eyes instantly lit up. "Grandma! Is there still meat? I want ten pounds! No, twenty!"
"It's already hot in the pot," Erin said, booping his nose affectionately. "Just waiting for you."
Everyone smiled at the scene.
Moonlight gently bathed the courtyard, and the smell of food and happiness filled the air.
Night - Courtyard Tea Table
After a late-night snack, the group sat around a small table, drinking tea and watching the moon.
Roy took a sip of tea and spoke calmly. "Sabo, Koala. Don't rush off. Stay a couple of days."
"Luffy and Ace are here too. Spend some time with them."
Koala smiled and nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."
She looked at Sabo, her eyes soft. "The three of them together... they really do look like brothers."
Sabo was about to speak when his Den Den Mushi started ringing. Bwu-bwu-bwu—
He picked it up, raised an eyebrow, and answered. "Hello? Leader."
The snail instantly morphed into a serious, high-cheekboned face, speaking sternly. "Sabo. How is the intelligence gathering on the Goa Kingdom?"
"Ah, no problems there," Sabo reported cheerfully. "But we'll be resting for two days at Mr. Roy's parents' house."
"...Roy?" The snail's face froze.
"Yeah." Just as Sabo confirmed, a hand snatched the snail away.
"Long time no see, Brother Dragon~" Roy's lazy voice drifted through the snail.
"Roy," the snail's expression twisted for a second. "Don't call me that in that tone..."
"Don't be like that. You haven't come to see Luffy in years. Want me to put him on video call right now?"
"If you dare, I will—" The snail flickered. "Click—clack—"
He hung up.
Koala collapsed on the table laughing. Sabo facepalmed, sighing. "The Leader is as dishonest as ever... even though he cares so much."
Ace was turning red from holding back laughter.
Only Luffy looked confused, staring at the snail. "Um... who is Dragon? You guys sound like you know him really well."
Everyone went quiet and looked at Luffy.
Roy raised an eyebrow. "You don't know? Old Man Garp never told you?"
"Huh? Should I know?" Luffy tilted his head, innocent as could be.
Sabo blinked, debating whether he should say it.
Finally, Koala smiled and said, "Well, Luffy... Dragon is your biological father."
"WHAT?!!" Luffy sprayed tea everywhere.
"He's the... World's Most Wanted Criminal. The World Government's biggest headache," Ace added helpfully, grinning.
"He's the one... who just called to scold me but got scared off," Roy added, eyes twinkling.
Luffy petrified, clutching his head on the table. "Why is my dad... SO WEIRD?!!!"
Laughter echoed through the courtyard once again.
Under the moonlight, the small house on Dawn Island was filled with joy and warmth, while the storms of the future brewed just below the horizon.
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