Chapter 9: Luffy’s Ship-Smashing Strike!!

Cannon fire thundered through the town.

The anchored sailing ship unleashed a barrage, hurling cannonballs like a storm. The deafening blasts reached the town's heart, plunging citizens into terror.

On the deck, Garry rallied his crew, his voice wild with glee. "Gahaha! Fire away! Show those cocky brats a pirate's wrath!"

His shouts, drowned by cannon roars, spurred relentless volleys. But a crewman approached, voice cutting through. "Captain, they're getting shot down mid-air."

"What?!" Garry snapped. "Why?!"

"Dunno. Hitting something, looks like."

His high spirits soured. Garry stormed forward, telescope in hand, peering at the town. Cannonballs exploded in mid-air, clashing with tiny fluttering shapes—something was intercepting them. Details unclear, but the attack was failing.

Fury replaced joy as Garry ground his teeth. "What's that?! They're not even landing!"

"Seems so," the crewman said.

"Don't just stand there! Fire more! Blast 'em!"

The barrage continued undeterred. Kiri, wielding the Pera Pera no Mi, countered with a dance of paper. Hardened to iron, his papers collided with cannonballs, sparking explosions that barely shielded the town.

No damage yet, but how long could Kiri hold? That rested on Luffy.

Atop a house's roof, Luffy stood tall, eyeing a tower with a nod. His rubber body could close any distance. Past battles flashed—his plan was set.

"Right. This'll work."

He gauged the distance, stretched both arms to grip the tower's wall, and tensed his fingers. "Gomu Gomu no… Rocket!"

Kicking off, his arms snapped back, launching him skyward. Soaring over the tower, he hurtled toward Garry's ship at breakneck speed.

Cannon fire raged on. Flying through the barrage was risky, but Luffy feared nothing. A cannonball loomed; he grinned. "Shishishi! Gomu Gomu no… Balloon!"

Inhaling deeply, his body swelled, rubber belly ballooning. His bulk seemed a bigger target, but it caught the cannonball softly, repelling it without detonation.

The deflected shot struck Garry's ship, rocking the mainmast. Damage was severe, crew in chaos. "What's happening?! Where's it from?!" Garry roared.

"Dunno! Came outta nowhere!" a crewman stammered.

"Pirates? Navy? Find the culprit! Now!"

Amid the chaos, a thud hit the deck. Garry's eyes snapped to the bow, spotting Luffy, arms crossed, grinning. "Geh?!"

"Not 'Geh.' Name's Luffy."

Luffy hopped down, and Garry stumbled back, recalling the fist that once struck true, dodging his toughest men, pain flaring in his cheek.

Luffy stood bold. "You're Garry, right? You dared trample my treasure."

"Treasure?" Garry scoffed. "That moldy hat ain't no gold or gems!"

"Don't care. I ain't forgiving you."

Luffy's grin seemed harmless, but his words carried weight. "Garry, this ship your treasure? I'll crush it like you crushed mine."

"What nonsense?!" Garry yelled, yet dread crept in. Luffy could do it.

His body trembling, Garry shouted, "Don't be stupid! Try it—"

"I will."

Luffy shifted weight to his left leg, raising his right. With one leg grounded, his right shot skyward, stretching dozens of meters with a sonic snap. "I'll crush it," he'd said, and the sky confirmed it.

Garry and his crew froze, speechless, unable to flee, staring at Luffy's move. With a yell, he swung his leg down. "Crush!"

A roar drowned the cannons. His foot smashed the deck, splitting the ship in two.

In seconds, one strike sank the vessel. Crew, cannons, and debris plunged into the sea, screams unending.

Luffy, at the bow, stretched an arm to grab Garry from falling. Yanking him close, he grinned. "Give up?"

"Monster!" Garry shrieked. "Why?!"

"You touched my treasure and crew. Pirates risk their lives, always."

"Kids! Rookies! What do you know about pirates?!"

"Dunno. Just wanted to smash you for touching my stuff."

Luffy hurled Garry upward. Screaming, Garry flailed mid-air, realizing Luffy's intent too late. Both arms stretched back, prepping. "Gomu Gomu no—"

"Wait!" Garry pleaded. "Join me, Straw Hat! I'll teach you! I'm useful!"

As Garry fell, Luffy's palms shot forward, slamming his gut. "Bazooka!"

"Guh!" Garry flew into the distance.

Luffy smirked, stumbling as his arms snapped back. "Take that, weird beard."

Then it hit him. He'd crushed the ship, but he was a hammer—Devil Fruit users couldn't swim. Falling meant death. The ship was sinking, the bow his only perch, no boats in sight.

Panic gripped him. "Crap! I can't swim! Any boats?!"

No luck—only debris floated, useless. "I'm gonna sink! Kiri can't swim either—"

A crack. The bow snapped, flinging Luffy skyward. No time to scream, the sea loomed.

Teeth clenched, a strange buoyancy hit. His fall stopped, suspended. Looking up, a massive white bird held his shirt in its beak. On its back, Kiri.

"Kiri!" Luffy's face lit up.

"Figured you'd mess up," Kiri said. "Rushing without thinking."

Kiri's paper powers crafted the bird, wings flapping with a mighty gust. Luffy, dangling, beamed. "This is awesome! How'd you do it? Your ability?"

"Don't squirm," Kiri said. "Fall now, and I can't save you."

"Right. Thanks, Kiri!"

"No biggie. Just plan an escape next time."

The bird banked, heading for town. A rubber man smashing ships, a paper man soaring—jaw-dropping sights. Silk, watching, stood stunned.

They were incredible. She'd done nothing. The town stood unscathed, but without them, it'd be ruins. Gripping her sword, she bit her lip, joy tainted by her powerlessness.

Her gaze dropped, but voices called. Townsfolk, armed with brooms and pans, approached, faces resolute. "Silk! You okay?" they shouted, rushing over, fearing injury.

"I'm fine," she said, relief breaking through. "It's over. They did it. The pirates won't return."

They followed her gaze. Paper fluttered down, and Luffy and Kiri landed nimbly. Townsfolk gasped. "They really…?"

"No ship in sight!"

"It's over?"

Luffy tilted his head. "Why're the old guys here?"

"They're armed, kinda," Kiri whispered.

"Oh, got it," Luffy nodded, laughing.

"Mayor, it's done," Luffy said. "I sank 'em."

"Truly?!" The mayor knelt, voice trembling. "Thank you! Without you, our town… I apologize for any rudeness!"

"No biggie," Luffy said. "We were just pissed. Right, Kiri?"

"You were pissed," Kiri said. "But fine."

"Let us repay you!" the mayor urged. "Anything we can do!"

"Really?" Luffy's eyes gleamed.

Kiri sighed, sensing what came next. "Gimme meat," Luffy said. "I'm starving."

"Wait," Kiri cut in. "A ship first. No ship, no island-hopping, no pirating. Meat later."

"Right. Ship and meat!" Luffy said.

"Meat's non-negotiable, huh?" Kiri muttered.

The mayor nodded, unfazed by the bold request, forgetting they were pirates. Townsfolk cheered, swept by Luffy's energy. He dove into the celebration, instantly at home.

Kiri, half-amused, approached Silk, still sitting. Offering a hand, he pulled her up. "Thanks," she said.

"No need. Luffy's thing," Kiri said.

"Right, his hat," Silk said, glancing at Luffy, now mobbed by townsfolk.

His battle ferocity lingered in Silk's mind, clashing with his cheer. Kiri, used to it, smirked. "Banquet!" Luffy yelled, leading the charge.

Silk touched the hat. Two pirate crews today—one plundering, one saving for a ship and meat. Both outlaws, but so different.

Beside Kiri, she murmured, "I remembered something. Grandma's pirate tale."

"Oh?" Kiri said, watching Luffy.

"Long ago, before the Pirate King, before the Great Pirate Era, there were two kinds of pirates. Morganeers, plundering towns, and Peace Mains, hunting them. Both existed until the Pirate King started the era."

"Heard of it," Kiri said. "Not the details."

"You're like Peace Mains," Silk said. "Maybe not on purpose, but it feels that way."

A fairy tale now. Morganeers chased greed; Peace Mains chased them. The Pirate King's rise changed it, turning all pirates into fame-seekers. His legend, good and evil, reshaped the seas.

"Why bring it up?" Kiri asked.

"I love that story," Silk said. "Pirates free of greed or fame. Gold Roger's tales. You two reminded me of it."

"Peace Mains, huh?" Kiri said. "Dunno how many know that now. But if you think so, maybe it's true."

"Sorry if I'm pushing," Silk said.

"Nah," Kiri said. "Good or bad, doesn't matter. People decide what we are."

"Hm," Silk chuckled.

Gold Roger's saga—half-truth, known by few. Would their journey trace his? Kiri smiled, waiting for Luffy's charge.

"Peace Mains, Pirate King, Gold Roger," Kiri said. "This adventure's gonna be fun."

"What's your dream, Kiri?" Silk asked. "Luffy's the Pirate King, right?"

Kiri shrugged, grinning. "Make Luffy the Pirate King. That's mine."

"Wow," Silk said. "You both have big dreams."

"Luffy! Silk!" Luffy barreled over, slinging arms around them, nearly toppling Silk. Kiri steadied him.

"Stop jumping people," Kiri said.

"Shishishi, you're slow!" Luffy said. "Everyone's waiting! Meat's coming!"

"Wait, Luffy," Silk said, placing the hat on his head.

His face lit up. "My treasure! Thanks for guarding it, Silk."

"Guarding? I just…" Silk stammered.

"Meat! Pirates mean banquets!" Luffy yelled, dragging them toward town.

Townsfolk welcomed them, the crisis gone. Silk, puzzled by Luffy, joined the banquet, nudged by Kiri's wry advice: "Don't overthink him. It's easier."

The revelry, sparked at noon, roared past midnight, Luffy at its heart, pulling even the hesitant into the joy.