Chapter 18: The Swordsman's Freedom and the Marine Base Raid
The crew had been sailing non-stop, training and growing stronger with each passing day. Luffy was on a high from their recent victories, and Lucky had been guiding them through their training, pushing everyone to their limits. But today was different. Luffy had overheard some sailors talking about a legendary swordsman imprisoned by the Marines on a nearby island.
"Hey, Lucky!" Luffy shouted, eyes wide with excitement. "I heard there's this amazing swordsman on this island! They say he's one of the best! We should go recruit him!"
Lucky, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, knew exactly who they were talking about. Roronoa Zoro, the three-sword style swordsman, was one of the greatest fighters in the world, and he had always been a key part of the Straw Hat Pirates' journey. Having read about him as a fan of One Piece, Lucky knew Zoro's strength and resolve. He also knew that the Marines had locked him up, which meant only one thing: they were going to break him out.
"Alright, let's do it," Lucky replied with a confident nod. "But we're not just freeing him. We're taking everything the Marines have—loot the base, weapons, supplies, and information. We'll need it for our journey."
The crew was immediately on board. They all knew that a swordsman like Zoro would be a valuable addition to the crew, and if they were going to get him, they had to do it in style.
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When they reached the island, the Marine base stood high on a cliff, fortified and surrounded by guards. It looked like any normal Marine stronghold, but Lucky recognized the location immediately. This was where Zoro was being held, and he was going to make sure that everything went according to plan.
"Okay, here's the deal," Lucky said as he gathered the crew. "We're going to break in, free Zoro, and take everything that the Marines have—weapons, medicine, anything useful. Oh, and we're going to grab a little extra," he said with a grin, pulling out a small book. "I've heard they have a Devil Fruit encyclopedia here, and we can't let that slip away."
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "And the swordsman?" he asked.
"Don't worry, Luffy. We'll get him," Lucky assured him. "We know exactly what we're doing."
---
The crew moved silently in the dead of night, using Lucky's Devil Fruit abilities to disorient the guards. Lucky created blinding flashes of light, temporarily blinding the Marines and confusing their senses. Zane quickly followed suit, sending shockwaves through the base's power grid, shutting down their communication systems. The Marines scrambled in confusion.
Luffy charged in with his usual reckless energy, smashing through walls with his rubbery limbs. Zane released a barrage of lightning, paralyzing anyone who dared to approach. Lucky moved like a shadow, protecting the crew with barriers of light and striking down Marines who were too close.
As the crew moved deeper into the base, they found the vault where the Marines stored weapons, medical supplies, and important intelligence. Lucky smiled as he looked through the various items in the vault.
"We're in luck," he said, grabbing a stack of documents. "These are the Marines' deployment orders. We'll be able to anticipate their movements from now on."
Zane grabbed a handful of Devil Fruits from a nearby shelf. "These are useful," he muttered, examining the two fruits in his hands—a fiery-red fruit and one with a blue, almost ethereal glow. "We'll figure out what these do later."
Meanwhile, Coby and the others cleared a path, and the crew made sure to grab everything of value. Weapons, food rations, medical supplies, and the Devil Fruit encyclopedia that Lucky had been searching for. The knowledge within that book could help them understand the powers they'd encounter on their journey.
With everything packed, the crew moved toward the holding cells. They found Zoro, bound to a post and surrounded by Marine guards. His eyes locked on Luffy, and despite the situation, there was a glimmer of recognition in them.
"Well, well, looks like the Marines finally messed up," Zoro said, his voice rough but confident. "You here to break me out?"
"Of course!" Luffy grinned, stepping forward. "I'm Luffy, and I'm here to recruit you for my crew!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Really? You want a guy like me on your crew?"
"You bet!" Luffy shouted. "You're a swordsman, and we need a great one on our team!"
Lucky, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. "We've taken down most of the base and looted everything of value. Weapons, medical supplies, and a lot of useful information. If you want to join us, now's the time."
Zoro looked at them for a moment, then smirked. "You know what? I like the sound of that. Alright, let's do this."
---
With Zoro freed and the Marines in disarray, the crew headed back to their ship. But as they arrived, they noticed something strange. Standing on the deck of the ship was a woman—someone who had clearly been watching them. She was busy going through the loot they had just stolen, grinning as she examined the various items.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing with our stuff?" Luffy called out.
The woman turned, a mischievous smile on her face. "What's it to you? I'm just taking what's mine."
Before she could react, Coby moved swiftly, pulling out his sword and tackling her to the ground. "Not so fast," he said, tying her up in an instant.
Zoro stepped forward, eyeing the woman. "Who is she?"
The woman scowled. "Name's Nami. I was just taking what I needed. But I'm not joining your crew, so don't bother asking."
Luffy chuckled. "You're coming with us, whether you like it or not. We could use a good navigator!"
Lucky crossed his arms, his expression serious. "You're locked up for now. We'll decide what to do with you later."
---
With Zoro now part of the crew and Nami locked up, the crew set sail, their ship laden with loot and supplies. They had raided the Marine base, taken everything they needed, and even recruited a new swordsman. As they sailed toward the horizon, Luffy grinned with excitement.
"Look at all this stuff! This is just the beginning!" he cheered.
Lucky watched the horizon, knowing that they were now a step closer to achieving their goals. "One step closer to the Grand Line," he murmured, his mind already planning the next stage of their journey.
For the Marines, it was a major loss—their base had been raided, their supplies stolen, and their morale shattered. The Straw Hat Pirates had made a powerful statement: they were here, and they were ready for anything.