The battle raged on as more Marines flooded onto the Going Merry, their swords clashing against Zoro's steel and Usopp's explosive pellets keeping them at bay. The smell of gunpowder and salt filled the air, the chaos of the fight mixing with the unrelenting waves. Luffy's fists, coated in shadow energy, struck with raw force, sending enemies flying. But even as he fought, he could feel it—the resistance in his shadow tendrils.
Each time he summoned them, they felt heavier, slower, as if the shadows themselves were pushing back against his control. His movements lacked the usual fluidity he had come to expect. It was like something inside him was straining, reaching a threshold he didn't understand.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, dodging a Marine's saber swipe. "Something's off."
Nami spun the wheel sharply to avoid another barrage of cannon fire, the ship rocking dangerously. "Luffy, whatever's going on, figure it out fast! We don't have time for hesitation!" she yelled, her voice carrying urgency.
Luffy gritted his teeth, forcing his shadows to move. His Phantom Strike shot forward, tendrils lashing at the enemy. But instead of an overwhelming attack, the shadows flickered, momentarily fading before regaining their form. A Marine sidestepped it, nearly landing a counterattack before Luffy evaded at the last second. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead—this wasn't just fatigue. Something was restricting his power.
Zoro, cutting through another squad of boarders, caught the brief hesitation in Luffy's movements. "Oi! If you're gonna fight, fight! Don't start second-guessing yourself now!" he barked, slicing through two Marines with a single swing.
Luffy clenched his fists. He wasn't second-guessing—his power was fighting against him.
As another group of Marines attempted to board, Luffy took a deep breath. "No time to hold back." He focused, willing his shadows to obey, pushing past the strange weight resisting him.
Suddenly, the shadows solidified, becoming denser than before. The tendrils coiled tighter, sharper. Luffy's eyes widened—this was different. The weight had vanished, but the energy had intensified.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, shadows surging along his arms. "Shadow Crash!" he roared, his enhanced tendrils smashing into the deck, creating a shockwave that sent Marines flying off the ship. The wood splintered beneath his attack, the raw force shaking the Going Merry itself.
A few Marines were thrown overboard, their screams lost in the crashing waves. The others stumbled back, fear flickering in their eyes. They had expected a pirate—but not this.
Luffy staggered slightly, the sudden surge of power leaving him winded. But he smirked. "Alright," he said, panting slightly, "now we're talking."
Usopp's jaw dropped. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Zoro, wiping blood from his blade, narrowed his eyes at Luffy. "Took you long enough to step it up."
Nami barely had time to process Luffy's new ability before she spotted the Marine captain still standing on the enemy ship, watching them. His uniform barely ruffled, his stance unfazed. This wasn't an ordinary officer.
"Luffy, we need to get out of here, NOW!" Nami shouted. "They're regrouping!"
Luffy exhaled, nodding. He had learned something today—his shadow power wasn't limitless, but if he pushed through, he could reach new heights.
"Alright! Let's go!" he shouted, leaping back to the center of the deck.
Nami spun the helm, guiding the Going Merry through a sudden gust of wind as the ship veered away from the Marine fleet. The Straw Hats fought off the last of the boarders, sending them tumbling into the sea. With one final surge forward, the Going Merry slipped out of cannon range, vanishing into the horizon.
The crew panted, catching their breath as the sea stretched wide and open before them. The fight was over, but Luffy's mind was racing.
He had just broken past a limit—and he was only beginning to understand what that meant.
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