**Chapter 6: Proving Strength – Zoro vs. Axe-Hand Morgan**
The moment Luffy's fist stretched back and **smashed** into the Marine base's outer wall, the entire structure **shook**. Dust and debris exploded outward, the impact echoing through Shell's Town like a cannon blast.
Inside the base, Marines scrambled in panic.
**"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"**
**"AN ATTACK?! PIRATES?!"**
**"CAPTAIN MORGAN, SIR—!"**
Morgan, still shaken from his earlier encounter with Ace, stormed out of his office, his axe-hand glinting under the sun. **"WHO DARES—?!"**
Outside, Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles. **"Shishishi! Well That got their attention now prove your worth Zoro!"**
Zoro, now free and holding his three swords, smirked. **"You really don't do things quietly, do you and don't worry this will be easy."**
"Nope!"
The gates of the Marine base burst open as a squad of armed Marines rushed out, rifles aimed. At the front, Morgan's massive frame loomed, his eyes burning with fury.
**"YOU BRATS!!"** he roared. **"YOU THINK YOU CAN CHALLENGE THE MARINES AND ME HEAD ON IN MY TOWN?!"**
Luffy tilted his straw hat up, meeting Morgan's glare without fear. "Yeah can't you see the obvious and we're gonna win pretty easily."
Morgan's face twisted. **"KILL THEM!"**
**BANG! BANG! BANG!**
Gunfire erupted—but before the bullets could reach Luffy or Zoro, a wave of sheer pressure exploded through the air.
**BOOM.**
Every single Marine **collapsed**, their eyes rolling back as they hit the ground unconscious. Only Morgan remained as "He" didn't target Morgan.
Morgan on seeing the Marines fell magically realised it must have been the Bounty Hunter from earlier and his body began to shake.
From the side, a familiar voice called out lazily.
**"Tch. Weaklings all of you are just pathetic."**
Ace stepped forward, his arms crossed, his usual carefree smirk on his face."These are just small fries and i got the bounty Luffy. Definitely the last bounty we claim as after this we will be labelled as Pirates."
Luffy laughed. **"Ace! You got here just in time!"**
Morgan's breath came in ragged gasps as he stared at Ace. **"Y-YOU…! The bounty hunter?!"**
Ace ignored him, glancing at Zoro instead. **"So this is the guy, huh?"**
Zoro's grip tightened on his swords. **"Who the hell are you and what the hell was that just now?"**
**"Portgas D. Ace. Luffy's big brother."** Ace grinned. **"Heard you're joining the crew. Better not slow us down. And for what that was you will know if you defeat Axe Hand"**
Zoro excited with the opportunity to gain more powers and get closer to achieving gus dream prepared himself infront of Axe Hand "Okay then Ace, I will show you that i am worthy of joining the crew and Axe Hand unfortunately for you this is my future Captain's Orders"he smirked"Get ready".
"Don't worry Marine number 2 I won't join in this battle and if you manage to beat Zoro then we will let you go,isn't that right Luffy?said Ace.
"That seems unlikely but let's see him try."replied Luffy.
Morgan agitated by such conversation but realising the situation he was in snapped and rushed towards Zoro**"ENOUGH!!"** His axe-hand swung down in a wild arc, aiming to cleave Zoro in half.
**CLANG.**
A single sword intercepted the strike—Zoro's Wado Ichimonji.
"Heh. I don't have any grudge against you it's jsut that." Zoro's grin was feral. "I've got something to prove."
Morgan snarled. **"YOU DARE—?!"**
"Zoro," Luffy called, stepping back. "Show us what the future World's Strongest Swordsman can do."
Zoro didn't respond. His focus was entirely on Morgan.
The two clashed—steel against steel.
Morgan was strong, his brute force sending shockwaves through the ground with every swing. But Zoro? Zoro was **fast**.
Even in such weakened state Zoro was still much stronger than Axe Hand.
"Three-Sword Style…"** Zoro's blades whirled, a deadly dance of precision. **"Oni Giri!"
**SLASH!**
Morgan staggered back, a deep gash across his chest. His eyes widened in disbelief. "IMPOSSIBLE! A BOUNTY HUNTER LIKE YOU SIMPLY CAN'T—!"
"Bounty Hunter?"Zoro smirked. "Nah. I'm a future King's swordsman."
Morgan roared, charging again—but Zoro was already moving.
**"TatsuMaki!"**
A whirlwind of slashes tore through Morgan's defenses, his axe-hand **shattering** under the force.
**"GAAAH—!"**
Morgan collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
Silence.
Then—
**"SHISHISHI! That was good and one sided like i expected and now you are our first mate!"** Luffy cheered, bouncing in place.
Ace whistled. "Well that was too short but congratulations you are now part of the crew."
Zoro sheathed his swords, breathing heavily but satisfied. "Tch. That was nothing."
From the sidelines, Coby and Rika peeked out, their faces a mix of awe and relief.
**"H-He really did it…!"** Coby stammered.
Rika beamed. **"Zoro's amazing!"**
Luffy stretched his arms, grinning. "Alright! Now that that's done—"
"LUFFY!!"
A group of terrified Marines—those who had been knocked out by Ace's Haki—were now scrambling to their feet, trembling.
"Y-YOU'RE ALL MONSTERS!" one screamed before bolting.
Ace sighed. "Well, so much for keeping a low profile."
Luffy shrugged. "Who cares? We got Zoro and acting weak is boring anyways!"
Ace walked up towards the Marines ad said in a loud voice " Don't worry Marine we maybe Pirates but we have freed you from the rule of the tyrannical Morgan. You are now free. Cheers its time for celebration."
With Axe-Hand Morgan defeated and Shells Town liberated from his tyranny, the villagers slowly emerged from their homes, their faces filled with disbelief and hope. The news spread like wildfire—**Morgan had fallen**.
Luffy, Ace, and Zoro stood in the center of town, surrounded by murmurs of gratitude and awe.
"T-Thank you…!"an old man stammered, bowing deeply.
"You saved us!"a woman cried, clutching her child.
Luffy scratched his nose, grinning. "Shishishi! No problem! We just took out the trash and we will keep on doing so!"
Ace smirked, arms crossed. "Yeah, yeah. More importantly—we need food it's time to eat to one's heart content."
Zoro's stomach growled loudly in agreement.
---
**The Feast of Victory**
The townsfolk, grateful for their freedom, threw together an feast in the central square. Tables were piled high with roasted meat, fresh fish, steaming rice, and barrels of ale.
Luffy, as expected, was already devouring everything in sight.
"Mmmf—so good!" he mumbled through a mouthful of meat.
Ace laughed, taking a swig of ale. "You're gonna choke if you keep eating like that."
Zoro, seated across from them, was methodically working through a mountain of food, his strength returning with every bite. "Hmph. Not bad for a backwater town."
Coby, sitting nervously beside Luffy, poked at his food. "Um… Luffy? What happens now?"
Luffy swallowed a whole chicken leg. "Huh? Oh, right! You wanna be a Marine, don't you?"
Coby nodded vigorously. "Y-Yes! I… I want to be strong enough to stand up for justice!"
Ace smirked. "You've got guts, kid. But you're gonna need more than guts to survive in the Marines."
Luffy grinned. "Then let's get you there!"
---
**The Marine Recruit**
After the feast, Luffy and Ace escorted Coby to the Marine base—now in chaos without Morgan's iron grip. The remaining Marines, though wary, listened as Luffy explained Coby's dream.
"This guy's gonna be a great Marine one day!"Luffy declared, slapping Coby on the back hard enough to make him stumble.
A high-ranking officer—a lieutenant who had secretly despised Morgan—stepped forward. "If you vouch for him… we'll take him in. But he'll have to start from the bottom."
Coby's eyes welled up with tears. "T-Thank you! I won't let you down!"
Luffy grinned. "You better not! Next time we meet, you better be an Admiral or something!"
Coby laughed nervously. **"I-I'll try!"**
With that, Coby was officially inducted into the Marines, his dream finally within reach.
-----------
That night, as the crew (now officially Luffy, Ace, and Zoro) camped near the shore, Ace lit a small fire while Luffy lounged against a tree, belly full.
Zoro, sharpening his swords, glanced at them. "So. Haki. You said you'd explain it."
Luffy perked up. "Oh yeah! Right!"
Ace leaned back, smirking. **"Alright, listen up, rookie. Haki's the key to being strong in the New World."
"New World?" Zoro said perking up his eyebrows.
"The Grand Line is divided into two parts; the first part is called Paradise as it is a Paradise in comparison to the second half New World. But we still have long before reaching that part of the sea for now focus on improving your strength."replied Ace.
Zoro fascinated by the new information about the world that he had no idea about and realising that he was a worm in the Ocean kept quite to listen to Luffy.
"There are three types," Luffy continued, holding up three fingers. **"Observation Haki lets you sense attacks before they happen. Armament Haki makes your hits stronger and lets you hit Logia users. And Conqueror's Haki… well, you saw Ace use it earlier."**
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "That thing that knocked out the Marines?"
Ace nodded. "Only the One with kingly ambition awkaen Conqueror's Haki while Armament and Observation can be learned by anyone even animals."
Zoro clenched his fists. "Teach me."
Luffy grinned. **"Shishishi! That's the spirit!"**
Ace stood, cracking his knuckles. **"First lesson—Armament. Focus your will into your weapon."**
For hours, under the moonlight, Zoro trained—swinging, focusing, failing, and trying again. Luffy and Ace corrected his stance, his breathing, his mindset.
Zoro grinned, panting. "Tch. I'll master it."
---
**Setting Sail**
The next morning, as the sun painted the sky in gold, the crew stood at the docks, their small stolen boat ready.
Luffy, straw hat gleaming, raised a fist. "Alright! Next stop—the Grand Line!"
Ace chuckled."You're gonna regret saying that when we hit the Calm Belt."
Zoro scoffed. "Just row faster."
As the boat drifted away from Shells Town, Coby stood at the shore, waving furiously. "Luffy! Ace! Zoro! Thank you!!"
Luffy waved back. "Don't die, Coby!"
And with that, the future King of the Pirates, his fiery brother ( Not so much in this one lol), and the soon-to-be World's Greatest Swordsman set off—toward the greatest adventure of their lives.
**To Be Continued.**
**(Word Count: 1,686)**