Chapter 16: Destination: Grandline!
Execution Platform, Loguetown.
"I though I was going to die just now. Lucky!"
Luffy was still the person who lives in the present and completely ignored direct threats to his life that had happened, even if it was a second before.
"Oi Luffy, Nami said there is big storm coming, so we need to set out right now. "
Sanji was taking a puff of his cigarette while stepping on the head of Cabaji. Zoro on the other hand was looking around the plaza as if he noticed something.
"We are surrounded, huh. Looks like there will be an after party this time too."
Zoro felt like that their group almost always had to deal with two different enemies at any given location. Not that he was complaining as he loved a good battle. The number of Marines around them was way smaller than what they were used to dealing with, but one presence made him confused. It felt like he could take the person on in a fight, but could not be defeated under any circumstance.
"Oi stupid Marimo! Nami-swan said to hurry back quickly... So we don't have any time to fight these guys at all!"
Zoro's dreams of having a little warm up session was destroyed by Sanji, and all three started to run towards the Harbor, too quick for any pirate or Marine to follow.
...
"[Punisher series: Hawk]!"
Two cannon balls that were about to impact the Going Merry imploded midair. Nami, who was trying her best to avoid them grew calm as she knew reinforcements were here. When she looked back at the Harbor, the entire Marine Platoon was out of business and there was a shadow of someone holding a rifle, backpack and a tuna on the crow's nest.
"Usopp, can you deal with the cannons?"
"[Hammer Series: Demolisher]!" X2
The Large explosion of the bunkers at the coast gave Nami her answer. She was also especially confused about the need of a gun while Usopp was using a slingshot as a high velocity cannon.
"The three will be returning soon, so try to keep the ship at port, will you?"
"That is something near impossible, but I'll try to!"
Nami always took navigation challenges against nature as her version of sudoku, and started to furiously...calmly analyse and write down notes while making some changes. Usopp thought that this would be how strategists look like when they went to battle, while erasing his presence and taking out random pirates and Marines in a 500 meter radius- his own personal kill zone.
...
"There won't be any problems with the ship, right?"
"Don't worry about the ship. Usopp is there to cover the ship and Nami's strength is not simple, especially since Usopp gave her that hellish staff as a weapon."
Sanji was hurrying a bit while Zoro sounded relaxed. He had seen Usopp testing the Clima-Tact when he was acting as a lookout the other night, so he was pretty sure Nami had the highest battle adaptability in the crew currently, after Usopp, of course.
"Roronoa Zoro!"
An angry voice came from the person blocking their way. There was a lady holding a katana sporting a cold look on her face while letting out all her anger at Zoro.
"Who is that beautiful lady?!!"
Typical Sanji was an ignored Sanji in all universes.
"You deceived me!"
"You just didn't ask my name, that's all. I never lied to you."
Zoro came forward while pushing away Sanji who looked like he was going to pick a fight with him. Zoro on the other hand was completely focused on the enemy ahead.
"A criminal like you has his hands on a meito! Your sword, [Wadou Ichimonji]...I'll be confiscating it!"
"Just try and take it."
Zoro took out his katana and clashed with Tashigi's shigure.
"YOU! How dare you raise your hand against a woman!"
"Please don't interfere. This is a matter between Zoro and me!"
Sanji was having a field day when it came to being rejected by women, and Tashigi showed her spirit being equal to that of any swordsman.
"You guys go ahead. I'll be right back."
"Damn you! I won't forgive you if you hurt her, shitty Marimo!"
Zoro was not at all serious against Tashigi. In fact, he was scared of using too much strength as that would probably kill her or leave her in a state near death. He did not wish that such a thing happen to her. Thus he used his skillful use of [Ittouryuu] to disarm her in three moves, as the movement speed was more than enough to end the match.
Zoro just walked away after that leaving the shocked Tashigi, who was looking at the sword scars on the road that extended on for a while, and the buildings that were cleanly cut in half. The display of power was more than enough to make Tashigi forget that Zoro left her alive, which was considered as shameful to a swordsman.
...
Luffy, who was a little ahead of Zoro was looking at his opponent, Smoker. He was sure that right now, after his training suit was unlocked, he could take the opponent on.
"Monkey D. Luffy...didn't I say that you can't leave this town without defeating me?!"
"Ah, I forgot about that. Sanji, go ahead. This will be over quickly."
Luffy then stood in a horse-stance and stretched his hands back.
"[Gomu Gomu no Gatling]!!!"
The fists tore through the air continously, atleast a tenth of the output of that of its namesake, the Gatling gun. It took that many number of punches for Luffy to realize that he was not hitting anything and stopped. What he saw was his arm had pierced through Smoker's head, but there was not contact.
"I ate the Moku Moku no Mi and became a smoke-man. Hence I can turn any part of my body to Smoke! If you can't touch me, then there is no way you can defeat me!"
Smoker turned his hands into smoke and tried to capture Luffy, but Luffy had already dodged it. His heightened senses were telling him that getting caught for a second might be problematic. He continued to pummel Smoker while Smoker tried to catch Luffy, and both were equally unsuccessful.
'Wait...what about that attack Usopp taught me a few days ago? It might have some effect!'
"[Impact Pistol]!"
Luffy arrived quickly in front of Smoker and blitzed him with a strike. Smoker felt that his chance had arrived, but the impact came first, flinging him away into a building. Smoker quickly removed himself from the rubble and Looked at Luffy, astonished.
'That technique was similar to that of the legendary Rokuougan technique! Though the damage is not comparable. It only made me slightly injured so a continuous barrage of that will be my end!'
Luffy and Smoker was completely focused on the battle and forgot about the storm that continue to intensify.
*Click*
"Luffy, Nami said to quickly come back to the ship. Officer Lung Cancer over here is an irritating opponent so let's go."
The individual who interfered in the fight was Usopp himself, who was holding on to Smoker's arm.
"You! How did you get Sea Stone Handcuffs?!"
"Well...Marines are useful when you need hard to get materials. Especially those from HQ. Luffy, go ahead. I'll dump this guy somewhere and return quickly."
Usopp then waited for Luffy to go, removed Smoker's shackles and threw him in a particular direction.
"I need these shackles, so I suppose you can hold on to him."
Usopp yelled out and sped away while Smoker was trying to stabilize himself. He immediately got ready to follow, but was stopped by a person holding his shoulder. The arm was touching him and holding him down without any effort. He turned around and looked at this mysterious person.
"The Government wants your head!"
"...And the world waits for our answer!"
Dragon had so much command over his awesomeness factor that it felt like Garp's and Luffy's share was absorbed by Dragon somehow.
That was also when a ridiculously strong gust of wind started to blow, which had hopefully sent Zoro back to the Harbor before he reached the other side of the city. But it also caused Zoro a major problem in that he was with Luffy out in the port, and quiet far from the ship. Also, there were no meals served on Air Luffy except the knuckle sandwich you serve Luffy at the end of the flight.
...
"[Sky Walk]!"
Usopp landed on the deck and saw everyone looking out to sea.
"Look at that light...''The Guiding Light'! The light points towards the direction in which the Grandline is!"
Said Nami.
"So that's the Grandline!"
"Are we going to continue towards the Grandline in this storm?"
"Yeah. We continue."
Usopp's query was answered by a confident answer from Luffy, who looked like he wanted to hold back his excitement but a smile broke on his face anyway.
"To mark this moment, let's have a launching ceremony!"
Sanji said as he moved a barrel over to them.
"Yes!" "Ou!" "Yeah!" "Let's Do it!"
Everyone gave enthusiastic replies as they gathered around the barrel. Sanji then lifted his foot up and started the ceremony.
"To Find All Blue!"
"To become the Pirate King!"
"The Greatest Swordsman!"
"The Map of the Entire World!"
"To become a courageous Warrior of the Seas!"
A moment passed as the crew burned that moment into their memories while they confirmed their ambitions.
"LET'S GO! TOWARDS THE GRANDLINE!"
...
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
battlemonger
battlemonger Sorry for publishing this chapter late. I'll release one more chapter today in about 5 hours. Thanks for reading!
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