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## Chapter 4: Shells Town and the Axe
The **Going Merry** dropped anchor just outside Shells Town harbor, its polished wood gleaming under the morning sun. The bustling port town, with its towering Marine base dominating the skyline, was a familiar yet subtly different tableau for the Straw Hats. They weren't sneaking in; they were arriving.
Luffy stretched, a satisfied yawn escaping him. "Alright! Time to find some bad guys!" His excitement was palpable, his focus unwavering, even though he knew the exact layout of the Marine base and the predictable movements of its self-proclaimed ruler.
Nami, ever the pragmatist, spoke up. "Remember the plan, Captain. We go in, deal with Morgan, and ensure Coby can pursue his dream without unnecessary complications. No wanton destruction if we can help it."
"No problem, Nami!" Luffy chirped, though a glint in his eye suggested his definition of "no wanton destruction" might be slightly more flexible than hers.
As they disembarked, the townspeople, accustomed to the heavy-handed rule of **Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan**, seemed strangely subdued. Whispers followed the strangely confident group of young pirates. Their unusual aura, a subtle blend of raw power and relaxed self-assurance, was jarring in a town used to fear.
They made their way directly towards the Marine base, bypassing the town square. It wasn't long before they encountered the distinctive figures guarding the entrance. Marine soldiers, clad in crisp uniforms, stood with their rifles, but their postures seemed stiff, almost hesitant.
"Halt! Who goes there?!" one Marine demanded, his voice trembling slightly as his gaze swept over Zoro's swords and Sanji's dangerous stance.
"We're pirates!" Luffy declared, his usual booming introduction. "And we're here to see Axe-Hand Morgan!"
Before the Marine could respond, a high-pitched, whiny voice cut through the air. "Hey! You lowlife pirates! Don't you know who's in charge here?! It's me, **Helmeppo**! Son of Captain Morgan!" He swaggered forward, his nose in the air, oblivious to the overwhelming presence before him. "You're all under arrest! My dad will have your heads!"
Sanji took a puff from his cigarette, a cloud of smoke obscuring his sneer. "Listen, snot-nosed brat. Go tell your 'dad' that the Straw Hats are here. Tell him his time's up."
Helmeppo bristled, completely underestimating the threat. "You dare insult me?! Marines! Get them!"
The Marine soldiers, though clearly intimidated, slowly raised their rifles. It was a futile gesture.
"Just like old times, huh?" Zoro muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips as he stepped forward. "Except this time, they won't even scratch the paint."
Before the Marines could even think of firing, Zoro moved. It wasn't a dash; it was a blur. His hand went to Wado Ichimonji, but the blade remained sheathed. With a single, fluid motion, he simply walked past the line of soldiers. As he passed each one, the hilt of his sword, imbued with a minute, focused burst of **Armament Haki**, gently tapped their rifles. The sound was barely audible, a series of soft clicks, but the effect was immediate. Rifle barrels bent like rubber, stocks shattered, and mechanisms seized. The Marines stood frozen, their weapons useless, their minds reeling from the impossible speed and subtle power.
"What... what just happened?!" Helmeppo shrieked, eyes wide with disbelief.
Luffy chuckled. "Zoro's strong!"
Just then, a booming voice echoed from within the Marine base. "**What is all this commotion?!**"
A massive, imposing figure emerged, his jaw made of metal and a large, gleaming axe replacing one hand. It was **Captain Morgan**, looking as arrogant and tyrannical as the Straw Hats remembered. His eyes, full of contempt, swept over the pirates.
"So, a bunch of arrogant brats think they can defy me, Captain Morgan?!" he bellowed, his metallic jaw clanking. "You've made a grave mistake! I am absolute justice here! I am the law!" He raised his axe-hand, the polished blade glinting menacingly.
Luffy stepped forward, his eyes devoid of fear. "You're not justice, old man. You're just a bully."
Morgan roared, enraged. "Insolence! I'll cut you down!" He charged, his axe-hand swinging in a wide, powerful arc, a move that had once felled countless opponents.
The crew merely watched, relaxed. They knew what was coming.
Luffy met the charging Captain with a deceptive stillness. His posture was casual, almost dismissive. As Morgan's axe-hand descended, a flash of black, almost invisible to the naked eye, erupted from Luffy's own fist. It wasn't a wild swing; it was a precise, controlled jab, imbued with a potent amount of **Armament Haki**.
"Gomu Gomu no..." Luffy muttered, his voice calm. "... **Hard Punch**!"
The impact was devastating. Luffy's Haki-hardened fist didn't just meet Morgan's axe; it *shattered* it. The metal limb, axe and all, exploded into a shower of twisted shrapnel and sparks. Morgan's eyes widened in shock, his bellow dying in his throat. The force of the punch continued, slamming into his metal jaw, which crumpled inward with a sickening clang. Morgan's entire body was lifted off the ground, a grotesque, broken figure, before he was sent hurtling backward through the Marine base's sturdy wall, leaving a man-shaped hole before he landed in a heap, unconscious.
The silence that followed was absolute. Helmeppo stared, his face pale with terror. The Marines who hadn't fled openly gaped. The townspeople, peeking from windows, whispered in stunned awe.
"Told you he was strong," Zoro commented to no one in particular, sheathing Wado Ichimonji.
"Too easy," Sanji sighed, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Captain didn't even need to warm up."
Just then, a small, pink-haired figure rushed into the shattered courtyard, his eyes wide with disbelief. It was Coby, having arrived just in time to witness the shocking display. He saw his former tormentor, Morgan, lying unconscious amidst the rubble, defeated by the same pirates who had saved him from Alvida.
Luffy walked over to the broken wall, peering through. "Well, that's done. Now, you can become a Marine, Coby!"
Coby, completely awestruck, could only nod, his dream now seeming less like a distant fantasy and more like an attainable reality. He looked at Luffy, then at the rest of the impossibly powerful crew. "You... you truly are amazing!"
Nami stepped forward, a stern but sympathetic expression on her face. "Coby, this base needs an overhaul. True justice can only be achieved if people like Morgan are removed. You understand what needs to be done here, don't you?"
Coby, recovering from his shock, immediately caught her meaning. He looked at the cowering Marines, then at the unconscious Morgan. "Yes! Yes, I do! I'll make sure this base truly serves justice! I'll report everything!"
Robin offered a small, encouraging smile. "A commendable aspiration. We wish you luck on your journey, Coby."
With Morgan swiftly dealt with and Coby given a clear path to his dream, the Straw Hats didn't linger. Their presence had already reshaped the foundations of Shells Town's Marine force. They boarded the Merry, leaving behind a bewildered populace and a Marine base in disarray. Their work here was done.
"Next stop, Orange Town!" Luffy declared, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the adventure ahead. He knew the threats that lay on their path, but with his crew, honed by years of future knowledge and relentless training, he knew there was nothing they couldn't overcome.
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Word Count: 1689