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## Chapter 3: The East Blue – First dominoes
The **Going Merry**, gleaming under the clear East Blue sky, cut through the gentle waves with effortless grace. A tangible aura of anticipation, rather than nervousness, filled the air. For three years, they had pushed themselves beyond limits, forging their bodies and minds into weapons on their secluded island. Now, they were sailing a sea they knew intimately, not to relive history, but to command it.
Luffy stood at the figurehead, his straw hat tied securely, a wide, genuine grin etched on his face. At seventeen, his physique was a marvel of lean, hardened muscle, a testament to countless Haki-infused drills and Gomu Gomu no stretches. He felt the boundless power coiled within him, a barely contained energy that thrummed beneath his skin. He still loved the sea, loved the adventure, but now, he observed it with the detached yet engaged awareness of a fan who knew every plot twist. He wasn't just sailing; he was navigating a narrative he knew intimately, deciding where and how to intervene.
"The wind's picking up slightly from the west-southwest, Nami," Jinbe called from the helm, his large, capable hands steady on the wheel. His brow was furrowed in quiet concentration, his powerful **Observation Haki** subtly extending outwards, mapping the currents and feeling the nuances of the ocean. "The currents suggest we're on course for the approximate location."
Nami, meticulously plotting on her charts, nodded. "Confirmed, Jinbe! My instruments concur. We're looking at a direct course that should intersect with Alvida's operations within the next few hours." Her voice was sharp, confident, and her movements precise. Her own **Observation Haki**, now a finely tuned instrument, allowed her to perceive minute shifts in weather patterns and even sense the faint presence of other vessels long before they were visible.
Zoro, as always, was in the crow's nest, though no longer napping. His three swords rested at his side, but his gaze was razor-sharp, sweeping the horizon with focused intensity. He wasn't just looking for ships; he was sensing for malicious intent, for the subtle echoes of human presence. His **Observation Haki** had become so acute it felt like an extension of his very will, making him virtually impossible to surprise.
Below, Sanji was already overseeing lunch preparations, the enticing aroma of pan-fried sea-king meat filling the air. He moved with a dancer's grace, his long legs kicking rhythmically as he chopped vegetables. "Make sure Usopp doesn't sneak any of the prime cuts!" he called out, a playful threat. His **Armament Haki** was subtly integrated into his cooking, ensuring the food was not only delicious but also infused with a faint, hardening aura, a minor trick he'd picked up from his post-timeskip memories.
Usopp, rather than shirking duties, was perched on the railing, meticulously cleaning Kuro Kabuto. His confidence was palpable, far removed from his easily frightened past self. He aimed and fired a small, harmless seed at a distant seagull, his **Observation Haki** guiding it to gently brush the bird's wing before it veered off, an intentional display of pinpoint accuracy. "This time, no more Captain Usopp getting knocked around!" he declared, polishing his goggles.
Chopper, his fur glossier than ever, was busily organizing the ship's infirmary, meticulously labeling new, potent medicines he'd concocted from island herbs – remedies that could heal injuries faster than any conventional treatment. He occasionally checked the crew's vitals, ensuring their Haki-infused bodies were functioning optimally.
Franky was in his workshop below deck, the rhythmic clang of metal on metal echoing faintly. He was already modifying parts of the Merry, making subtle structural reinforcements and experimenting with cola-powered gadgets that would have seemed impossible in the East Blue. His "SUPER" exclamations were still frequent, but now they carried the weight of truly formidable engineering.
Robin sat on the deck, a book open in her lap, but her dark eyes were often fixed on her captain, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. Her **Observation Haki** was a nuanced tool, allowing her to perceive the subtle emotional and physical states of her crew, discerning the lingering excitement in Luffy or the intense focus in Zoro. She also used her Devil Fruit to create small, unseen eyes and ears that extended out, sensing the whispers of the wind and the vibrations of the sea, a constant surveillance for any unexpected interference.
Brook, leaning against the mast, gently plucked a soulful melody on his violin, the notes imbued with a subtle, calming quality from his soul powers. He might occasionally glance at Luffy, a silent, knowing appreciation in his empty eye sockets for the incredible journey they were embarking on again.
---
A few hours later, a large, garishly painted pirate ship loomed on the horizon. It was unmistakable: the *Miss Love Duck*.
"Alvida's ship," Nami stated, her eyes narrowed. "Looks like they're just finishing up a raid. Perfect timing."
On board the *Miss Love Duck*, a young boy with pink hair was being roughly shoved around by burly pirates, his cries of terror barely audible over their boisterous laughter.
Luffy's eyes, even from a distance, narrowed. He didn't know the boy's name, but the sight of bullying stirred a familiar, righteous anger. "Hey! You guys!" he roared, his voice carrying clearly across the waves with a subtle, unconscious infusion of **Conqueror's Haki** that made the pirates on Alvida's ship momentarily freeze, a ripple of unease running through them. "Leave him alone!"
He didn't wait for the Merry to get too close. With a single, explosive burst of **Gear Second**, Luffy launched himself from the figurehead, a red blur streaking across the water towards Alvida's ship. He moved with such incredible speed that the pirates on deck barely registered a ripple before he landed amidst them.
He punched the deck near the cowering pink-haired boy. It wasn't a direct hit on him, but the ground around him cratered violently, sending a shockwave that threw the surrounding pirates off their feet. The sheer force, even from an indirect strike, was enough to incapacitate a dozen men instantly.
Just then, the giant, club-wielding figure of **Alvida** emerged from below deck, her signature spiked mace slung over her shoulder. "Who dares disturb my beautiful hunt?! You little brat! I'll smooth you over!" She swung her massive iron mace, aiming to crush Luffy.
Luffy didn't dodge. Instead, he simply extended an **Armament Haki-infused** hand. The mace, instead of crushing him, met a barrier of hardened black rubber. The impact created a powerful shockwave that cracked the ship's mast and splintered the deck around them. Alvida, stunned, felt her hands go numb from the rebound. The mace, far from hurting him, had done more damage to *her* and the ship.
"You're not smooth enough," Luffy stated simply, then, with a casual flick of his wrist, sent the enormous mace spinning into the sky, where it disappeared with a metallic twinkle.
Before Alvida could react, a blur of green flashed past Luffy. Zoro, having leaped across from the Merry with a single powerful jump, landed behind her. His hand moved to one of his swords, but before he even drew it, the sheath of Wado Ichimonji *tapped* her forehead with blinding speed. The impact was light, but the subtle, focused burst of **Conqueror's Haki** that accompanied it was devastating. Alvida's eyes rolled back, and her colossal form crumpled to the deck, unconscious.
Simultaneously, Sanji landed on the opposite side of the deck, his leg a blur of motion. "Diable Jambe: Flanchet Strike!" he murmured. A kick, wreathed in roaring black flame, swept across the remaining crewmen. It wasn't a direct hit designed to kill, but the force, heat, and focused **Armament Haki** of his attack sent them all flying overboard, some unconscious before they even hit the water.
In less than a minute, Alvida's entire pirate crew was defeated. The deck was eerily silent save for the groans of the few who hadn't gone overboard. The pink-haired boy, who had witnessed it all, stared, his jaw hanging open, utterly speechless. This wasn't how he remembered things. This was… impossible.
The Going Merry, now docked alongside the crippled *Miss Love Duck*, had the rest of the crew calmly disembarking.
Luffy walked over to the boy. "Hey, you alright?" he asked, offering a hand.
The boy hesitantly took it, pulling himself up. "I... I'm Coby! And you... you were amazing! But... who are you people?!"
"We're pirates!" Luffy declared, his voice full of infectious enthusiasm. "And I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who's gonna be Pirate King!"
He then tilted his head, looking Coby in the eye. "So, Coby, why were you on this ship? And what do you want to do with your life?"
Coby, perhaps overwhelmed by the sheer power and directness of Luffy, found himself blurting out his story. "I... I was forced! Alvida kidnapped me! And... and I want to be a Marine! I want to capture bad guys!" His voice gained strength as he spoke of his dream.
Luffy's smile widened. "A Marine, huh? That's a good dream!" He paused, then added, "You shouldn't let anyone tell you that you can't follow your dream. If you really want to be a Marine, you have to work hard for it. And you have to be tough." He finished with a playful punch to Coby's shoulder, a punch that would have shattered a normal person's bones, but was tempered with a subtle Haki control to be merely firm. "You should go to Shells Town. They have a Marine base there. Go join them."
Coby looked from the utterly defeated pirate ship to the unbelievably powerful pirates, then back to Luffy's earnest face. His fear had vanished, replaced by a surging tide of inspiration and unwavering determination. "I... I will! Thank you! Thank you, Luffy-san!"
---
Hours later, the Going Merry sailed towards Shells Town, leaving the derelict *Miss Love Duck* and a newly invigorated Coby behind. They watched as Coby, with new resolve, rowed a small dinghy towards the distant Marine base.
"Think he'll make it?" Usopp asked, a rare seriousness in his voice.
"He will," Robin said, her eyes fixed on the tiny speck of Coby's boat. "He has an important future ahead of him. He will eventually be a great Marine."
As evening settled, the distinctive outline of Shells Town and its imposing Marine base came into view. The red roof of Captain Morgan's house was clearly visible.
"Alright, Captain," Zoro said, stretching, his hand on his swords. "Looks like our next 'friendly' encounter awaits. The one-armed wonder."
Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah! Let's go teach some bad Marines what justice really is!"
The Straw Hat Pirates, already leagues beyond any force the East Blue had ever seen, were about to make their second, indelible mark on the world.