Chapter 3: The Fighter’s Instinct

The salty wind whipped against my face as our stolen ship sailed away from Alvida's crew. The sky stretched endlessly above us, clear and bright, with the sun warming the deck beneath my feet.

Luffy stood at the bow, grinning, arms behind his head as he enjoyed the breeze. Koby, on the other hand, was still recovering from everything that had just happened. He stood near the mast, hands shaking slightly as he muttered to himself.

I exhaled slowly, letting myself soak in the moment.

This was real.

I was on a ship with Monkey D. Luffy. We had just fought against Alvida. And now…

Now, the real journey was beginning.

But something still felt off.

It wasn't just the excitement, or the fact that I was literally inside One Piece. It was something deeper, something in my body that felt… different.

I flexed my fingers, rolling my shoulders. There was this strange tension in my muscles, like I was holding something back without even realizing it. My body felt strong, sharper than it had ever been back in my old life.

I clenched my fist.

It was familiar. Too familiar.

And then, it hit me.

I had been a fighter.

---

Memories of Another Life

The realization came like a punch to the gut.

Back in my old world, I had trained in martial arts. Boxing. Kickboxing. A little bit of grappling. I had spent years in gyms, pushing my body, honing my instincts.

How the hell had I forgotten that?

I closed my eyes, letting the memories resurface. The smell of sweat and canvas, the sting of knuckles against my jaw, the rush of dodging an attack at the last second.

This wasn't just some hobby—I had lived for the fight.

And now, in this world, in this body… I still had it.

I exhaled sharply, opening my eyes. My muscles were still tense, but now I understood why. This world had reset me, in a way. My body wasn't the same as before, but my instincts? My training? They were still there, buried just beneath the surface.

I needed to test it.

I glanced at Luffy. He was still staring at the sea, completely at ease.

Perfect.

"Hey, Luffy."

He turned, blinking. "Hm?"

I grinned, shifting into a stance. "Fight me."

Luffy tilted his head. "Huh?"

"I wanna spar. Just a little."

His eyes lit up. "Ohhh! You know how to fight?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Pretty well, actually."

Luffy grinned wide. "Okay!"

Before Koby could protest, I dashed forward.

----------

Instinct vs. Rubber

I swung a quick jab—testing, measuring.

Luffy dodged easily, twisting out of the way with that weird, carefree flexibility of his. I followed up with a low kick, but he jumped over it, laughing.

"Whoa, you're fast!"

I smirked. "You haven't seen anything yet."

I pressed forward, letting my instincts take over. My movements were smooth, natural, sharper than I expected. It was like my body remembered what to do before my mind even processed it.

Jab. Cross. Step to the side.

Luffy dodged each strike with ease, grinning like this was the most fun he'd had all day. His rubber body bent in ways that should've been impossible, twisting and stretching as he avoided my punches.

But I wasn't done.

I adjusted. Feinted a right hook—but instead of following through, I pivoted mid-motion and launched a powerful kick straight for his ribs.

Got him.

Or so I thought.

Luffy's body bounced. My kick landed, but instead of feeling solid impact, it was like hitting a thick rubber band. The force barely fazed him.

He grinned. "I'm made of rubber, remember?"

Damn. Right.

Before I could react, his arm stretched back—

"Gum-Gum Pistol!"

I barely had time to move before his fist slammed into my stomach.

The air left my lungs, and I stumbled back, gasping. My feet slid across the deck, but somehow, I stayed standing.

That hurt.

Luffy cocked his head. "You okay?"

I took a shaky breath, nodding. But as I straightened up, something shifted.

A strange sensation.

It was subtle at first, like a faint pressure in the air around me. My body felt… lighter. Sharper. My senses heightened.

I looked at Luffy, and for a split second—

I saw it.

His movement. His next attack. Before he even made it.

Luffy pulled his fist back, about to throw another punch. But this time, I knew where it was going to land.

I stepped to the side—

And dodged it perfectly.

Luffy blinked. "Huh?"

It happened again. I saw him move before he actually did, my body reacting almost on instinct. I dodged a second punch, then a third, stepping just out of range each time.

What was this?

Then, realization hit me like a tidal wave.

Haki.

I was using Observation Haki.

I stumbled back, heart hammering. My breath came fast and shallow. This shouldn't be possible. I wasn't supposed to have Haki yet.

And yet…

I clenched my fists, feeling that strange sensation pulsing through me. The world around me was sharper, clearer. I could sense Luffy, his energy, his movements.

Luffy scratched his head. "Whoa, that was cool! How'd you dodge like that?"

I hesitated. He didn't know what Haki was yet. Not in this timeline.

"Just… instinct," I said finally.

Luffy grinned. "That's awesome! You're really good, Ace!"

I let out a breathless laugh. "You're not bad yourself."

Koby, who had been watching in shock, finally found his voice. "That was… incredible."

I exhaled slowly, letting my heartbeat steady.

I had Haki.

This world… this body… It wasn't just a copy of my old one. It was something more.

And that meant I had a chance.

A chance to change things. A chance to grow stronger.

A chance to stand beside Luffy—not as just another crewmate, but as his equal.

I wasn't just some outsider watching history unfold.

I was going to be a part of it.