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--xLOVEx--
When they arrived at the Going Merry, they found Usopp on his feet. He was patched up, but his expression was far from cheerful. Clearly he had some unresolved emotions.
"Usopp," Luffy started, his voice uncharacteristically serious as he stepped forward, but Usopp cut him off.
"Luffy," Usopp said, kept his voice firm, despite the tremor of what he was a bout to say. "I know the Merry is yours. You're the captain, and it's your decision what happens to her."
The rest of the crew gathered around, watching the exchange in silence.
"But," Usopp continued, his eyes locking onto Luffy's, "I can't just leave a wounded nakama behind. If you're going to abandon Merry, then I'll fight you for her."
Luffy stared at Usopp, shocked by his friend's words. The usual carefree grin was gone, replaced by a look of hurt. He knew how much Merry meant to all of them, but especially to Usopp.
Coby stepped forward, but Sanji quickly grabbed his arm, shaking his head. This was something Luffy and Usopp had to settle on their own.
Coby kicked Sanji in the face, sending him tumbling into the sea. The crew watched in stunned silence as Coby marched up to Luffy and Usopp, his expression annoyed.
"Who the fuck do you think you are, challenging the captain?" Coby snapped at Usopp, his voice sharp.
Luffy stepped forward, placing a hand on Coby's shoulder. "Coby, let me handle this," he said, trying to keep the situation from escalating further.
But Coby shook off Luffy's hand, his eyes cold. "No. I won't."
Usopp glared at Coby, his anger boiling over. Coby had been the first to suggest leaving the Merry behind, and Usopp's frustration was directed squarely at him.
Coby didn't flinch under Usopp's glare. He met Usopp's anger head-on, his tone unyielding. "I told you, Usopp, this isn't about your wounded pride or low self-esteem. We can't coddle you right now. We need a new ship. Robin is missing, and I've had a bad feeling ever since we left Aokiji behind. I won't risk the crew for your pitiful fears that we'll leave you behind. If you think that's even a possibility after all this time, then you don't know Luffy at all."
Usopp's face twisted in anger and hurt, but Coby continued, unrelenting. "You act like you're the only one who cares about the Merry. But remember, it was me who fought everyone, including Luffy, to make sure the Merry didn't get hurt. You think you're the only one who loves her? We all do. But this isn't just about love—it's about survival."
Usopp clenched his fists, his shoulders trembling. "It's easy for you to say that! You're strong! You've got all these powers! But Merry is all I have left of Kaya and my village. She's not just a ship to me—she's a part of me!"
Coby's tone was cold as he looked down at Usopp. "Then, like all of us, you will bury part of you."
The crew gritted their teeth, fists clenched. How could they not feel the same? Did Usopp think he was special? Coby didn't care about his feelings right now. "If you want to fight the captain, then you need to step over me. Come on, show me if you've gotten any stronger."
Usopp's hands trembled with anger and desperation. He glared at Coby, struggling to contain the whirlwind of emotions inside him. "I'm not backing down," Usopp declared, his voice quivering but resolute.
Coby's eyes narrowed, as he jumped off the ship, "Then step up, Usopp."
Usopp took a deep breath, steeling himself. His eyes flicked to Luffy, who stood silently, his expression somber. Usopp knew he couldn't win against Coby, but he couldn't back down either. "I'll fight you first, Coby," he said, trying to sound confident. "But don't expect me to hold back!"
Without another word, Usopp reached into his bag and pulled out a handful of projectiles. He tossed them into the air, and with a flick of his wrist, they exploded into a cloud of smoke. The thick gray fog enveloped the area, obscuring everyone's vision.
The crew braced themselves, but Coby remained unfazed. He closed his eyes, sensing Usopp's movements through the smoke. "That won't work on me," Coby muttered, stepping forward. "Show me what you've got."
Usopp gritted his teeth, determination and fear battling in his eyes. The crew watched in various states of emotion. Luffy remained stoic, while Nami and Chopper couldn't hold back their tears.
Coby stood still, eyes locked on Usopp through the smoke. Usopp's mind raced as he quickly loaded his slingshot, pulling out a pouch filled with iron pellets. He aimed straight at Coby, his hand trembling slightly. "Take this!" he shouted, launching the pellets at Coby.
The projectiles whizzed through the air, but Coby's body shifted with ease, sidestepping the attack effortlessly. The pellets clattered harmlessly against the ground, failing to find their mark.
Usopp didn't hesitate. He reached into his bag, pulling out a handful of caltrops. "You're not getting past these!" he yelled, scattering them across the ground between them. He hoped to slow Coby down, make it harder for him to approach.
But Coby didn't even glance down. He simply stepped forward, his boots crushing the caltrops without breaking stride. "You'll have to do better than that."
Frustration mounting, Usopp held a flash dial into his palm"Eat this!" He pressed it directly at Coby, the dial exploding in a brilliant flash of light, blinding everyone around.
Coby paused, shielding his eyes for a brief moment. But even with the temporary loss of sight, his senses allowed him to sense Usopp's movements clearly. The instant the flash subsided, Coby moved, closing the distance between them in a few quick steps.
Usopp barely had time to react before Coby was upon him. He fumbled with his bag, trying to pull out another dial, but Coby's hand shot out, grabbing him by the wrist.
Coby looked down at Usopp, his grip unyielding. "This isn't going to work, Usopp," he said coldly. "You're not ready for this fight."
Usopp struggled against Coby's grip, desperation creeping into his voice. "Let go of me!" he shouted, trying to break free. He managed to pull out a small hammer with his free hand and swung it wildly at Coby's head.
Coby caught the hammer mid-swing, his expression unchanged. "You're fighting with desperation, not skill." He twisted Usopp's wrist, forcing him to drop the hammer. It clattered to the ground between them, the sound echoing in the silence.
Usopp grunted in pain, but he refused to give up. He jerked back, trying to create some distance. His hands fumbled through his bag, pulling out a small jar of pepper. With a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed the contents into Coby's face. "Take that!"
The pepper dust filled the air, a cloud of irritation aimed straight at Coby's eyes. But Coby's reflexes were faster. He tilted his head just in time, avoiding the worst of it. He blinked a few times, his eyes watering slightly, but the effect was minimal.
Usopp stared in disbelief. Nothing was working. He couldn't touch Coby, let alone land a solid hit. But he refused to back down. He loaded his slingshot again, this time with a small explosive pellet. "I won't let you win!" he yelled, firing the pellet at point-blank range.
The pellet exploded in front of Coby, a burst of smoke and fire engulfing them both. Usopp was thrown back by the blast, landing hard on the ground several feet away. He coughed, struggling to get up as the smoke cleared.
When the dust settled, Coby stood there, unharmed. He had barely flinched, his clothes slightly singed, but otherwise untouched. He looked at Usopp, his expression unreadable. "You're out of tricks, Usopp."
Usopp's heart sank. He had given everything he had, and it still wasn't enough. He pushed himself to his feet, breathing heavily, his body shaking from exhaustion. "I… I can't… I can't lose…"
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