Chapter 13: Luffy vs. Alvida’s Crew!!

Luffy kept eating, unfazed. The cook had long fled the tense air, but Luffy shoveled food without a care, chewing at breakneck speed, emptying plate after plate. His momentum never slowed.

The atmosphere was grim—hardly a place for a feast. Yet Luffy's expression stayed bright, while the surrounding pirates and Alvida, glaring daggers, grew darker. Pirates encircled him, weapons drawn, ready to pounce.

It was a dire situation, but Luffy's calm was almost serene. Was he just that bold, or clueless to the danger? Alvida, fed up, roared, "You're mocking me! If you're so cocky, let's see it! Shut him up, boys!"

With a spirited shout, saber-wielding pirates charged Luffy.

Even a Devil Fruit user couldn't shrug off a blade—or so they thought, ignorant of his powers. Over thirty pirates strong, two slashed at him. They didn't know his ability, but swords were a rubber man's weakness. A clean hit could end him.

Luffy noticed the descending blades and sprang high, dodging effortlessly. The sabers crashed into the table, splintering it with brute force.

In a flash, he moved. The pirates lost sight of him, glancing up. Luffy spun mid-air, still munching meat, carefree as ever. Landing gracefully, he crunched the bone, grinning. His stomach was content—not full, but enough. Licking grease from his fingers, he smirked. "Alright, belly's settled. Let's do this."

"He's fast!" one pirate gasped.

"Who cares? He's alone!" another barked.

They surrounded him from all sides, confident a lone enemy was no threat. But Luffy stood firm, meeting their charge head-on. His eyes burned with resolve, dodging swings with nimble grace. His counter was swift—a punch, a kick—and pirates flew, knocked out in seconds, crashing to the ground without resistance.

The crew froze, stunned. This kid was stronger than he looked. Hesitation crept in, their attacks faltering. The standoff grew tense, Luffy grinning while the pirates, under Alvida's gaze, hesitated.

"Feelin' good," Luffy said. "Must be the meat."

"Ugh, what're you doing?!" Alvida snapped. "He's just one guy!"

Her scolding jolted a few into action, but the result was the same. Luffy's moves were quick, precise, and devastating. His rubber-powered punches hit like pistons, sending foes flying, unconscious. More fell, the crew's shock deepening. Alvida's rage boiled over, slamming her iron club into the ground. "Pathetic! Step aside!"

Her temper flared, face red as she stepped forward, locking eyes with Luffy.

He was sharp, agile. But no one had ever withstood her club. One hit would end it—she was sure. Turning to her, Luffy's gaze sharpened, lips tight. His defiance impressed her, but she smirked, tapping her club on her shoulder. "Not bad, kid. But you picked the wrong fight. Cry and beg, and I might spare you. Well?"

"Nope," Luffy said.

"Then die!" Alvida roared, lunging with terrifying speed. Her bulk sent tables and chairs flying, her club raised to crush. The sheer menace would've cowed anyone.

But Luffy didn't flinch. Her club aimed for his skull, but he sidestepped, the strike cratering the ground with a deafening thud. The club half-buried itself, showcasing her raw power. Luffy just grinned. "Whoa, that's somethin'."

"Stop dodging!" Alvida yanked the club free, swinging upward. Luffy tilted his head, evading effortlessly. The club's wind screamed past, but he stayed cool, dodging with minimal movement. Her attacks kept missing, no matter how fiercely she swung.

The pirates watched, speechless. No one had ever dodged Alvida's onslaught. She'd always crushed foes in one hit, or they'd stumble in fear. But Luffy danced around her, unscathed. Sweat beaded on her brow. She couldn't admit the gap in their strength, swinging harder, wrecking the surroundings.

Luffy leaped back, creating distance. He stood calm, not a drop of sweat, while Alvida panted. The gap was clear. "Tch, impossible…" she muttered. "Who are you—?"

"Told ya," Luffy said, clacking his fists. "I'm the man who'll be King of the Pirates."

Alvida gritted her teeth, insulted. No man had ever beaten her—she'd risen by brute force. Luffy readied himself. "Alright, my turn. Ready, tough lady?"

"Who're you calling a tough lady?!" she bellowed, charging again.

She swung with all her might, but Luffy didn't dodge. He met her club with a punch. The clash rang out, the impact shaking the air. Pirates stumbled, awestruck. Luffy's fist sent the iron club flying, dented by his blow, spinning powerlessly as it fell.

Alvida's face paled. Outpowered? Impossible. Luffy grinned, raising his fist. Her crew trembled as he aimed not to break her spirit but to finish the fight. "Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" His rubber arm shot forward, the punch slamming her cheek. Her massive frame soared, crashing with a thunderous boom. Silence fell, broken only by stunned gasps. Their invincible captain, defeated.

Luffy picked up his dropped hat, dusting it off, and scanned the pirates. "Oi."

"Eek!" they yelped.

"Wanna keep going?"

They fled, scrambling for their ship. Luffy's eyes fell on Alvida, unconscious. Trotting over, he grabbed her clothes, hurling her toward her crew. "Take her!" he called, tossing her club after. "And this!" Some pirates crumpled under her weight, but they scrambled up, dragging her away in a frenzy.

The clearing was empty, ruined food scattered. Luffy sighed—such a waste. Too dirty to eat, even for him. His gaze shifted to a boy, still out cold despite the chaos, foaming at the mouth. Laughing, Luffy crouched beside him, shaking his shoulder. "Oi, wake up."

Coby stirred, adjusting his glasses, blinking at the wrecked clearing. No Alvida, no crew. Panic hit as he looked to Luffy, who grinned. "Thanks for the help. It's over."

"W-What happened…?" Coby stammered.

"I'm Luffy, the man who'll be King of the Pirates. You?"

"C-Coby," he said, dazed. "Nice to meet you…"

"Yo," Luffy replied.

Coby's confusion deepened, Luffy's vague answers no help.

In the forest, Luffy and Coby sat on a log, talking. Luffy shared his dream of becoming Pirate King, leaving Coby slack-jawed. "Pirate King?!" he squeaked. "That's impossible! It's the one who claims everything! You'd need to cross the Grand Line, the most dangerous sea! No one can just do that!"

"Ain't impossible," Luffy said. "You don't know till you try."

"No, it's impossible!" Coby insisted, shaking his head.

Luffy frowned, tapping Coby's forehead. "Ow!" Coby yelped, rubbing the spot. "Why'd you hit me?"

"Dunno," Luffy shrugged. "Felt like it."

Coby chuckled nervously. "I'm used to it, I guess…"

Luffy tilted his head. Coby's words reminded him of his earlier cry to join the Marines. That fire was gone now, replaced by a timid boy. "Why were you with pirates if you wanna be a Marine?"

Coby hesitated, then spoke. "Two years ago, I boarded a ship to go fishing… but it was a pirate ship. They were furious. To avoid death, I became their navigator and errand boy."

"You mixed up a fishing boat with a pirate ship?" Luffy laughed. "What a clumsy idiot!"

"Ugh, yeah…" Coby slumped. "I hate how dumb I am…"

Luffy grinned, unbothered. "They're gone now. You can join the Marines. Gonna do it?"

"I… don't know," Coby said. "I'm such a failure, a coward. I didn't even want to be a pirate, but I was stuck for two years. Could someone like me protect anyone?"

"You protected me," Luffy said. "Just do it like that, like you're about to die."

Coby froze. Luffy's calm gaze, fixed on his hat, was serene. "I'm fine dying," Luffy said. "I decided to become Pirate King, so if I die fighting, no regrets. I'll never give up."

Coby gaped, stunned. He'd never thought like that—always terrified of death, enduring years of grunt work. But facing Alvida, maybe he had been ready to die. Was that resolve?

He'd always dreamed of being a Marine, never abandoning it despite doubts. Could he change? Biting his lip, Coby whispered, "Can I… do it?"

"Hm?" Luffy said.

"Join the Navy, become a Marine… I always thought it was impossible. But if I try with everything, could I catch bad guys?"

"Dunno," Luffy said. "I'm not you."

"N-No… I'll do it!" Coby stood, fists clenched. "If you can aim that high, so can I! I'll train, fight, and someday… become a Navy officer!"

His bold cry faltered, face paling as he collapsed, trembling. "Ugh, what did I say?! I can't do that! So embarrassing!"

"Shishishi, you're a funny guy," Luffy laughed.

"I got carried away talking to you," Coby mumbled. "I can't—"

"Do it, Coby," Luffy said lightly. "I think you can."

"Really? Why?"

"Dunno," Luffy grinned. "Just do."

Coby laughed, the trembling easing. Luffy's baseless confidence was oddly reassuring. Standing slowly, he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Luffy. If I hadn't met you…"

"I just came to eat," Luffy said.

"I'll try," Coby said. "I don't know if I can, but two years of grunt work made me tough. I'll start over and fight."

"Shishishi, cool," Luffy said.

Their laughter echoed through the quiet forest. Footsteps crunched closer, and Kiri's voice called, "There you are, Luffy!"

"Yo, Kiri!" Luffy waved.

"Finally found you," Kiri said, emerging. "Thought you were lost."

"Nah, stuff happened," Luffy said.

Kiri noticed Coby, who looked uneasy. "Who's this?"

"Coby, my friend," Luffy said.

"Friend, huh?" Kiri said. "You stir up trouble fast. That wrecked camp back there—your doing?"

"Yup. Took down a tough lady," Luffy said.

"Tough lady? Alvida, maybe?" Kiri mused, then shrugged. The island felt empty—no residents, just Coby, who didn't seem local. "So, what now? No reason to stay."

"Hey, Kiri," Luffy said. "Can we drop Coby off? He wants to be a Marine."

"A Marine? Not our crew?" Kiri asked.

"N-No way!" Coby stammered. "I can't be a pirate!"

"Hm, escorting a future enemy?" Kiri said, smirking. "Weird choice."

"You mind?" Luffy asked.

"Nah, just think you're odd," Kiri said. "He's your friend, right?"

"Yup," Luffy grinned.

Kiri shrugged, chuckling. Their dynamic felt oddly comforting. Luffy stood beside Coby, ready to move, but unsure where. Kiri, less carefree, asked, "Where's the Navy base? I'm not familiar with these waters."

"Dunno," Luffy said. "Coby, you know?"

"Uh, yeah," Coby said confidently. "I was Alvida's navigator, so I know the area."

"No way!" Luffy said. "That's awesome!"

"Navigators are key," Kiri said. "Wanna join our crew as one? We're pirates, though."

"N-No!" Coby yelped.

Luffy burst out laughing. Kiri and Coby clicked fast. A navigator was crucial, and Kiri, no expert in East Blue's waters, knew they needed one. But for now, Luffy just grinned, eager for the next island.