Chapter 62: Koby vs. Zoro
Time seemed to freeze.
Robin looked dazed. Zoro's eyes blazed with anger, while Luffy's were filled with sorrow. Nami's face was stricken with fear, and Usopp, Franky, and Brook all stood frozen in shock.
"You jerk! Second Gear!" Luffy was the first to react, transforming into his Second Gear state. His aura shifted dramatically, unleashing an intense pressure that washed over Chiba.
Under this wave of energy, Chiba felt a slight chill. Interesting... Could this be a sign of the Conqueror's Haki awakening?
"Jet Gatling!"
In an instant, countless fists came flying at Chiba with ferocious speed.
Activating his Observation Haki, Chiba easily tracked Luffy's punches, intercepting two of them with lightning-fast reflexes. He twisted, grabbing Luffy by the arm and swinging him like a hammer, using him to swat Zoro away as he charged in.
"Luffy! Zoro! I'm fine, don't be reckless!" Robin shouted. Hearing her, both Luffy and Zoro hesitated, then stopped their attack.
Chiba turned to Luffy and scolded, "You brat! I'm your own brother—are you trying to kill me?"
Realizing Robin was unharmed, Luffy's anger faded, and he returned to normal. Picking his nose, he mumbled, "I thought you hurt Robin… I lost my cool and almost wanted to kill you. But next time, don't mess around like that with my crew!"
Hawkins, observing from the side, was speechless. He turned to Apoo and muttered, "Did you hear that? Straw Hat Luffy threatening to kill the legendary Vice Admiral Chiba… Is he serious?"
Apoo nodded gravely. "It's beyond shameless—it's downright comical."
"If he weren't Chiba's younger brother, he'd be in pieces by now, like the rest of us."
Chiba's eyes narrowed as he listened to Luffy. "So… it's my fault now?"
"Yep!" Luffy nodded. And in the next instant, Chiba was in front of him, delivering a powerful flick to Luffy's forehead that left a massive lump.
"Gah! Damn it, Chiba! That hurts!" Luffy yelped, rubbing his forehead. Chiba just laughed, crossing his arms. "Remember, your big brother is never wrong."
As the brothers continued to bicker, Chiba led Luffy and the others into a nearby tavern, where they began eating and drinking with abandon.
From the corner, Chopper kept making frantic eye contact with Luffy, mentally urging him, Luffy, you promised me! If you saw your brother, you'd ask him for the formula for the body-strengthening energy potion and the Foundation Building Pill! But Luffy was too busy stuffing his face and guzzling drinks to remember.
Noticing Chopper's nervous glances, Chiba smirked. "Chopper, is something wrong with your eyes?"
Chopper jumped, visibly startled, and quickly ducked behind Robin.
Luffy looked over, confused. "Hey, Chopper, what's up with your eyes?"
Chopper felt like strangling Luffy. Finally, Robin intervened with a polite smile, "Mr. Chiba, Chopper greatly admires your medical skills—especially the energy-enhancing potion and Foundation Building Pill you developed…"
"Ah, I see," Chiba interrupted with a chuckle. "But I don't carry that kind of junk with me."
"Junk?" Chopper looked stunned. Stepping out from behind Robin, he protested, "Those potions can heal both visible and hidden injuries, and they increase physical stamina! The Foundation Building Pill is even more potent—it's a miracle in medical history! How can you call it junk? Do you even know anything about medicine?"
Realizing he'd just yelled at a Vice Admiral, Chopper's courage faded, and he quickly retreated behind Robin again.
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami exchanged curious glances. They too had experienced the effects of the body-strengthening potion, and the power it had given them was unforgettable.
Chiba only chuckled, then called over his shoulder, "Koby, why don't you show your idol Luffy what you've got?"
"Yes, Sir Chiba." Koby stepped forward, looking at Luffy with a warm smile. "Luffy-senpai, it's been a long time."
Luffy blinked in confusion. "Who… are you?"
Koby's smile faltered, but he quickly composed himself. "I'm Koby, from East Blue! Remember? I used to be a chore boy on Alvida's ship. You found me hiding in a barrel."
"Koby?" Luffy's eyes widened as recognition dawned. Zoro's jaw nearly dropped. "Are you that little weakling?"
"Heh, I've changed a bit," Koby said, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
"A bit?!" Zoro was in shock. Koby was nearly as tall as he was now, and radiated a focused energy that was hard to ignore. He didn't resemble the timid boy from East Blue at all.
"Have you been training with a sword?" Zoro asked, noticing the blade Koby carried.
Koby nodded. "A little bit, but I'm still not very skilled."
Zoro grinned, feeling a spark of competitiveness. "Well then, how about a little spar?"
Koby looked at Chiba, who nodded. "Go on, but don't rely on Robai's strength. You'll never improve if you do. And don't lose."
"Yes, Sir." Koby set aside his prized sword, Robai, then picked up a wooden stick and turned to Zoro. "Mr. Zoro, I'd be honored if you'd spar with me."
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to fight me… with a stick?"
Koby shrugged. "Master Chiba won't let me use my sword, and there aren't any others here. This will have to do."
Zoro snorted. "You've gotten cocky over the past year, huh? You think you can take me on with just a stick?"
"Let's find out." Koby gripped the stick firmly, meeting Zoro's gaze with unwavering focus.
The two moved outside the tavern, drawing the attention of everyone present.
From the sidelines, Chiba watched the two face off, giving Koby one final nod. "Remember, Koby—don't take this lightly. Use your training well."
Koby nodded, then turned his full attention to Zoro, raising the stick as if it were a sword.
Zoro's grin widened. This was going to be interesting.
[•———•——•———•]
𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
🌟 • 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗿í𝗮 [𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 $𝟭𝟬]
🌟 • 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺 𝗡𝗴𝗼 [𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 $𝟭𝟬]
⭐ • 𝙅𝙘𝟭𝟮𝟬𝟮 [𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 $𝟱]
⭐ • 𝘼𝙝𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙝 [𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 $𝟱]
⭐ • 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗼𝗲𝗲 [𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 $𝟱]
𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸:
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟭𝟴𝟱+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀!
👉 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬: 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧