Whoa, just whoa! Two more top-tier supporters? Orndo and za, you guys are -level awesome! And Qewin, my very first Patron, upgrading to max? I'm blushing so hard right now, it's like I'm in an ah steam ing out of my ears. ?

  Seriously, I 't even begin to express how much your support means to me. You guys are the real MVPs! And as a big thank you, here's ara chapter just for you all! ?

  xLOVEx

  Their versation was cut short as Helemeppo approached, his ente of marines in tow. His stride was arrogant, his smirk smug, clearly enjoying the power he wielded.

  Luffy, standing near Coby, squared his shoulders, his usual carefree demeanor repced by a simmering anger. "That guy's a real jerk," he muttered, his voice low but filled with disdain.

  Walking leisurely, as if he owhe isnd, Helemeppo smirked arrogantly. "We will have a public execution in three days. We will make an example of him. I 't wait to see him beg for mercy," he gloated, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

  Luffy, his fists ched, fronted Helemeppo. "But you promised to let him go," he said, his voice firm yet tinged with anger.

  Helemeppo ughed mogly. "Where did you hear that? That promise was a joke. Only a fool would believe such a thing," he sneered, his pt for Zoro apparent.

  Luffy's patienapped. Without another word, he lu Helemeppo, his fist eg squarely with his jaw. Helemeppo staggered, unprepared for the sudden assault, as Luffy tinued his barrage of punches. Each blow was delivered with a force that spoke of Luffy's growing fury.

  Coby, watg the se unfold, couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfa. He drew his sword, turning his attention to the Marines who rushed forward to defend Helemeppo. "Here es my SP," he thought, his lips curling into a sneer.

  With a swift movement, Coby ehe Marines. He was careful to use nohal force, aware that they were merely following orders, however misguided they might be. His sword danced in his hands, a blur of steel as he parried and struck, each move calcuted and precise.

  Blood spattered the ground as Coby's bde met flesh. It was a violent dance he came to embrace, a symphony of chaos and skill he learo py. He was no lohe meek boy; he was a warrior, a force to be reed with. And it felt really good!

  Luffy, meanwhile, had Helemeppo pio the ground, his fist raised for arike. "You are pissing me off," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. Helemeppo's face was a mess, bloodied and bruised, a stark trast to his earlier smugness.

  Rika, watg from a distance, covered her mouth in shock. The violence was unlike anything she had witnessed before. Yet, there was a sense of justi it, a righting s that had been long overdue. And it was delivered by a pirate, against marines!

  Coby, amidst the melee, was qui his feet, and quicker on his hands. A skill he mastered in his past life. Ahem, which he wouldn't need in this. The Marines, unprepared for such ferocity, fell one by oheir numbers dwindling rapidly.

  The ground was littered with bodies, some groaning in pain, others unscious. Coby stood among them, his chest heaving with exertion, his sword dripping with blood. He looked around, his eyes searg for any further threats. Found none, he rexed.

  As Coby stood amidst the fallen Marihe Skill Weaver interface chimed in his mind, a wele distra from the chaos. [bat success! 150 SP awarded. Current SP bance: 558.] the system announced, its message eg in his thoughts. He o himself, satisfied with the progress. This was exactly what he o grow stronger in this world.

  Luffy, havi with Helemeppo, turned his attention to the Marine base. With a swift motion, he kicked the beaten Helemeppo towards the imposing structure, sending him flying in a wide arc. The thug's body tumbled across the ground, ing to a stop at the entrance of the base. Luffy's as were a clear message to anyone who dared to cross them.

  With a determined look, Luffy adjusted his straw hat, casting a shadow over his eyes. "Let's go!" he said, his voice firm and unwavering. His simple words, dired to the point, carried the weight of his resolve.

  Coby, wiping the blood from his bde with a graceful flick, grinned in response. "Aye, aye, Captain," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. This was the kind of adventure he had always dreamed of, a ake a real differen this world.

  Together, they advaowards the Marine base, their footsteps eg on the cobblestoreets. The base loomed ahead, its walls imposing and unyielding. But to Coby and Luffy, it was just another obstacle to overe.

  As they approached, the Marines guarding the base readied their ons, their faces set in grim determination. They had heard the otion, the sounds of battle, and were prepared to defend their stronghold at all costs.

  Coby, his sword at the ready, took a deep breath. This was going to be a tough fight, but he was ready. He had trained for this, and with Luffy by his side, he felt unstoppable.

  Luffy, ever the straightforward fighter, charged forward, his rubber limbs stretg and snapping with incredible force. His attacks were a blur, a flurry of punches and kicks that sent the Marines flying.

  Coby followed suit, his sword moving with precision and grace. He ducked and weaved through the Marine's attacks, his bde finding its mark with each strike. Blood sprayed across the ground, a grim reminder of the battle's iy.

  The Marines fought bravely, but they were no match for Luffy's raw power and Coby's skill. One by ohey fell, overwhelmed by the duo's relentless assault.

  As they breached the entrance of the base, Coby's heart raced with adrenalihis was it, the heart of the enemy's territory. Ihey would face Captain Man, the tyrannical ruler of Shells Town.

  They made their way to Zoro's side, where Luffy began to fumble with the ropes binding him. Zoro, his expression a mix of irritation and fusion, protested. "What are you doing? Oi, stop it! I told you I o persist for a month, then I am free."

  Luffy, uerred and with his usual straightforwardness, replied, "Hele, or whatever that bowlhead's name is, wants to execute you. He never wao set you free."

  The revetion seemed to shock Zoro, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Are you kidding?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

  Coby, stepping forward with his sword in hand, cut the ropes binding Zoro. "he Captain kicked his ass, so we are the publiemy now. Are you ing or not?"

  Zoro, now free from his binds, stood up, his face serious and ptive. "I have my own path. My own dream. A promise. I don't care eople think of me, but I won't die before I aplish that dream."

  Luffy, always dired to the point, asked, "So I heard you use a sword, where are they?"

  Zoro scoffed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "That idiot took them. My treasure."

  Luffy, toug the rim of his straw hat, a symbol of his own cherished dream, mused aloud, "Treasure, huh?" He then made a proposition, "Fine, let's take them and you join my crew."

  Zoro looked bewildered by Luffy's persistence. "I just said, I wouldn't."

  Luffy, in his characteristiner, stuck his to. "I don't care. I decided you will."

  The trio made their way towards the heart of the Marine base, their steps eg through the empty corridors. The air was thick with tension, the aftermath of their earlier battle still lingering.

  The base was oddly empty. Coby khey were at the roof, raising Man's statue, but Zoro and Luffy found it odd. They soon found Zoro's swords, and Coby told them, "There's a voi the roof, let's check it out." The duo nodded, and they made their way.

  As they arrived, they saw marines b to erect a giant statue of Axe-Hand Man. It was an ugly brass statue of vanity. Coby looked at the se, a little regretful Luffy didn't destroy the statue like in the anime due to his involvement, but he thought it was all the same.

  Man, perched atop a ptform, his eyes seething with anger, surveyed the area. The Mariheir hands occupied with the statue, were uo join the fight. Coby turo Luffy, "Captain, you hahe big guy, I will deal with the rest." He then g Zoro, "Are you ing?"

  Zoro stood at the er, his expression unreadable. "I am not a pirate. I have no iion to bee a wanted man; it's troublesome," he stated ftly.

  Coby spped his forehead. Had he altered the events too much? An idea sparked in his mind. Drawing his sword, he rushed toward the marines holding the ropes. Their hands were full, thus they couldn't fight, but if he let them free, they would surely attack Zoro as well.

  He had no iion to attack the men directly; instead, Coby cut the ropes they were holding, making the ugly statue of Man crash down with a deafening boom. The Marines looked on in horror as the brass monstrosity tumbled, their moment of shock providing Coby the window he needed.

  Man, atop his ptform, turned his wrathful gaze towards Coby, his face torted in rage. Coby, uerred, grinned back defiantly. His pn wasn't about brute force; it was about strategy, and he hese Mario focus their attention on Zoro.

  Utilizing the basic stealth skills he had acquired from one of Alvida's crew members, Coby dodged the chaos, weaving through the panicked Marines with an agility that belied his former meekness. His movements were a blur, leaving only Luffy and Zoro exposed on the rooftop.

  Man's bellowing voice cut through the pandemonium. "Attack! Kill them all!" he ordered, his and sending the Marines into a. Guns were drawn, and in unison, they aimed at Zoro, who now found himself in the line of fire, trying in vain to crify his non-piratical iions.

  But it was too te for words. The air was filled with the sound of gunfire, but before the bullets could find their mark, Luffy stepped forward, his arms spread wide. His rubber body absorbed the impact of the bullets, rendering their attack futile.

  Zoro, initially stunned by Luffy's bold move, quickly regained his posure. His eyes narrowed, a determined glint refleg his resolve. Man, seizing the moment, lu Luffy from behind, his axe-hand raised high, aiming for a lethal blow.

  Zoro, his pride as a swordsman pelling him to act, unched into motion. "Dammit," he muttered, his voice a mix of irritation and resignation. His bdes moved with lethal precision, slig through the air towards Man.

  Blood sprayed, a stark red against the backdrop of the blue sky. Man's face twisted in shod pain as he staggered backward, his body succumbing to the lethal blow.

  Zoro stood tall, his swords dripping with blood, his expression stoic. "In the end, I don't care eople think of me. Pirate, Pirate Huitles are meaningless. I became a pirate huo earn money anyway," he decred, his voice carrying a weight that silehe rooftop.

  Zoro stood firm, his bdes still dripping with the blood of Captain Man. The iy in his eyes was unmistakable as he turo face Luffy. "I am a pirate now. I give you my word. I have fought against the Navy, and I am a criminal now. But I have a dream to fulfill. I will bee the world's greatest Swordsman. All I have left is my destiny. My name may be infamous, but I am going to shake the world. If you make me abandon my dream for any reason, I will kill you."

  Luffy, ued by the gravity of Zoro's decration, grinned widely. "World's greatest Swordsman, huh? Your Captain will bee the King of Pirates. Anything lower than that would be embarrassing." His voice was filled with fidence, a testament to his simple yet unwavering resolve.

  Zoro, despite the situation, couldn't help but crack a small grin. "Your ambitions are big," he aowledged, a hint of respe his tone.

  --

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