Chapter 118: "The Old Pirate's Last Stand: Zenny’s Battle for Freedom"
The Going Merry sailed through a barrage of cannonballs, with the Marines' relentless pursuit creating explosions that echoed across the ocean. Raja, standing firm at the edge of the ship, held his wand high, muttering incantations as waves of magical barriers deflected the artillery. Each cannonball struck Raja's shield, exploding in a blaze of fire and smoke that dissipated harmlessly around the crew.
"Keep firing!" a Marine officer yelled, undeterred by their failed attacks. The sea was chaotic with Marine ships closing in from all sides, determined to capture the notorious Straw Hat Pirates.
Luffy grinned as he leaned against the railing. "They just don't give up, do they?"
Suddenly, a thick blanket of fog rolled in, obscuring their view. Nami, quick to seize the opportunity, pointed at the mist. "Let's lose them in there! Head into the fog!"
The Going Merry veered into the dense fog. As they slipped into the gray cover, the Marines' visibility dropped to nearly zero. Their ships started crashing into each other and nearby rocks that were hidden by the fog, turning their assault into chaos.
"Watch out!" a Marine called as two ships collided, wood splintering and crewmen shouting in disarray.
The fog swallowed them up entirely, and the Straw Hats could only hear the distant sounds of Marine ships crashing. Soon, the Going Merry emerged on the other side, and to their surprise, they found themselves approaching a small, uncharted island.
The Straw Hats docked their ship and stepped onto the shore, taking in the sight of an unfamiliar island. To their amusement, a young goat trotted over to greet them.
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Look! Food!"
"No way!" Nami swatted his hand away just as he reached for the goat. "We're not here to make trouble with the locals, even if they're animals."
But before anyone could argue, a herd of full-grown goats appeared from the bushes, surrounding them with threatening bleats. These weren't ordinary goats; their eyes gleamed with a fierce loyalty, and they pawed the ground as if ready to charge.
"Who's in charge here?" Zoro asked, unsheathing his swords with a smirk.
"Wait!" Chopper quickly transformed into his reindeer-human form, standing between the Straw Hats and the goats. "I can talk to them. They're not bad."
With a series of bleats and gestures, Chopper managed to calm the herd. After a few exchanges, he turned back to the crew. "They say someone ordered them to guard this island."
As he spoke, an old man tumbled out of a tree and pointed a trembling finger at Chopper. "Monster!" he shouted, clearly frightened by Chopper's unusual appearance.
The Straw Hats quickly realized this man was the reason for the goats' defensive stance. But before they could respond, he fainted, collapsing in a heap.
"He's out cold," Zoro muttered, his sword still drawn.
They carried the old man to a small shed they spotted nearby, where Chopper tended to his minor wounds. Once the old man regained consciousness, he insisted that the crew repay him for helping him. Luffy, oblivious to the irony, readily agreed.
"I'll help you!" Luffy said cheerfully, not minding that it was really the old man who had needed their help.
Zoro wandered off to find food and returned that evening with news of a strange pirate ship lodged on top of the nearby mountain. As night fell, the crew couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious old man and the secrets he was keeping.
The next morning, Chopper examined the old man, who introduced himself as Zenny. To Chopper's dismay, he discovered that Zenny had a terminal illness and likely only had a few days left to live. In light of this, Sanji prepared a grand meal for Zenny, wanting him to enjoy a feast in his final days. The meal seemed to energize Zenny, and he began sharing tales of his past.
"Once, I was known as Money Lender Zenny," he boasted. "I lent money to pirates, and I collected my dues one way or another!"
The crew listened, fascinated, as he recounted daring tales of confronting pirates who refused to pay him back. But his dreams had taken a fateful turn twenty years ago, when his ship had been destroyed, stranding him on this very island.
The next day, the Marines, led by Sergeant Minchey, returned to the island. They were hellbent on capturing the Straw Hats and seizing what they believed to be Zenny's treasure.
"There's no way out!" Minchey declared as he and his men landed on the shore. A massive fleet remained hidden in the fog, waiting to ambush the pirates.
Zenny watched from the mountain, observing the fleet through a spyglass. As he pondered the situation, a determined look crossed his face.
"If I'm going out, I'm going out as a pirate," he muttered, clutching a small pendant hanging from his neck.
As the Marines began advancing inland, the Straw Hats quickly realized they needed a plan. Usopp and Chopper were caught off guard by a Marine squad but managed to escape thanks to Luffy's intervention.
The rest of the crew fought off waves of Marine soldiers with ease. Zoro's swords flashed in the sunlight, his blades cutting through Marine rifles and armor as if they were paper. Sanji's kicks landed with devastating power, sending Marines flying as he moved through their ranks with ease.
"Is that all you've got?" Zoro taunted as he cut down another wave of Marines. His strength was relentless, and he seemed almost bored with the ease of the fight.
Just then, a loud rumble echoed from the mountain as Zenny's "coffin" ship—a makeshift pirate ship he'd built on top of the mountain—rolled down the slope with alarming speed.
"Prepare to be boarded, Marines!" Zenny roared from atop his ship, gripping a rusted cutlass as his herd of goats charged beside him. The sight was surreal: an old man with his goats on a rolling pirate ship descending from the mountain.
The Marines scrambled to dodge the ship as it barreled toward them, scattering in panic. Zenny's goats, loyal to their master, crashed into the Marine lines, creating chaos among the troops.
As the confusion spread, Sergeant Minchey revealed his true intentions. He wanted Zenny's "treasure" for himself and was prepared to betray even his own crew to obtain it. Minchey confronted Zenny on the beach, his eyes gleaming with greed.
"Tell me where the treasure is, old man," he demanded, grabbing Zenny by his worn shirt.
Zenny laughed, his voice rough but steady. "There is no treasure. These goats are my only treasure."
Furious, Minchey struck Zenny, his blow sending the old man sprawling on the sand. But before Minchey could press further, Robin intervened, flinging an abacus at Minchey's head, throwing him off balance.
The goats, seeing their master in danger, surged forward. Minchey was swarmed by the loyal animals, their hooves pounding as they trampled him into submission.
The Straw Hats rallied together, and with a series of coordinated attacks, they managed to push the remaining Marines back toward the shore. Luffy and Zoro took the lead, cutting down any Marine who dared to draw close, while Sanji and Usopp provided covering fire from the rear.
With the Marines retreating, the Straw Hats made their way back to the Going Merry, with Zenny and his goats following close behind. A lone Marine officer spotted them and attempted to alert Minchey, only for Minchey to shoot him to keep his ambitions secret. Realizing Minchey's greed, Zenny mocked him openly.
"If you want my 'treasure,' you'll have to come and take it!" Zenny taunted, his old but defiant voice echoing across the shore.
As the Straw Hats boarded their ship, Zenny declared himself a pirate, fulfilling his lifelong dream. Though frail, his spirit was alive with a fiery determination. With his goats at his side, he felt invincible.
"Set sail, men!" he shouted, imagining a grand crew behind him as he followed the Straw Hats out to sea.
As they reached open waters, the Marine fleet emerged from the fog, blocking their escape route. But Luffy was undeterred. "Let's show them what we're made of!" he yelled.
With a fierce battle cry, Luffy stretched his arms, gripping the mast of the lead Marine ship and yanking it toward him. The ship careened sideways, colliding with others in the fog and creating a ripple effect of destruction across the fleet. Zenny watched in awe as the chaos unfolded, cheering as he witnessed the true might of the Straw Hat Pirates.
The fleet attempted to regroup, but the hidden reefs and fog made navigation treacherous. Ships crashed into rocks, their hulls splintering as they sank below the waves. The fog became their undoing as the entire fleet found itself caught in a deadly web of rocks and sunken vessels.
As the Going Merry sailed away from the chaos, Zenny's own ship drifted alongside it. Despite his failing health, his spirit remained as strong as ever. Chopper administered medicine, urging him to take care of himself. The Straw Hats prepared supplies for Zenny's ship, ensuring he would have enough provisions to continue his journey.
"You're a pirate now," Luffy said, giving Zenny a confident nod. "Keep going until you reach the end of the sea."
Zenny smiled, his eyes glistening with pride. "Thanks to you, I finally feel alive."
As they parted ways, the Straw Hats waved to Zenny, who stood proudly at the helm of his ship, surrounded by his loyal goats. With a final cheer, Zenny set off, ready to face whatever lay ahead on the open ocean, his lifelong dream finally fulfilled.
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