One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 54 Luffy's Resolve!

Post-war awakening, and a banquet that starts in an instant!

The smoke slowly dissipated.

The entire clearing in the woods has been completely transformed into a devastated meteorite crater.

Cracks spread like a spider web, the broken giant tree emitted blue smoke, and a burnt smell filled the air.

All eyes were fixed on the enormous, human-shaped crater.

Marco's blue flames flickered slightly on his body, and his expression was extremely playful.

Hancock, on the other hand, trembled slightly, and all the color drained from her stunningly beautiful face.

Dead silence.

A stifling, deathly silence.

"Luffy..."

Hancock parted her red lips slightly, her voice trembling slightly.

next second.

"Whoosh!"

A figure moving with incredible speed vanished from the spot in an instant!

Marco only felt a blur before his eyes, and when he came to his senses, the Pirate Empress was already standing at the edge of the deep pit!

She didn't look at the situation in the pit, but turned around abruptly. Her phoenix eyes, which were usually filled with arrogance and contempt, were now burning with raging anger as she stared intently at Chen Ye!

That anger even made her exude a tangible aura of dominance!

"You bastard!!!"

Hancock's voice was icy and chilling, each word sounding as if it were being squeezed out from between her teeth.

"If anything happens to Luffy..."

"I will absolutely not forgive you!!!"

As a Shichibukai and the Empress of Amazon Lily, she had never lost her composure like this before.

It was a complex emotion that mixed heartache, anger, and fear.

Marco was startled by the sight and was about to step forward to offer some advice when Chen Ye stopped him with a calm look.

Chen Ye simply looked at her quietly, his face expressionless.

He offered no explanation.

No explanation is needed.

Just moments before Hancock's rage was about to completely erupt.

"Cough...cough cough..."

A violent cough, accompanied by the sound of rubble rolling down, echoed eerily from the bottom of the pit.

Hancock's body stiffened abruptly.

Her beautiful eyes, burning with anger, instantly turned towards the deep pit.

Marco's spirits lifted, and he immediately looked over.

At the bottom of the deep pit, a figure covered in blood was struggling to climb up, supporting himself with his arms.

It's Luffy!

He hasn't fainted yet!

"Luffy!"

Hancock exclaimed in surprise and was about to jump down to help without thinking.

Don't go over there.

Chen Ye's calm voice rang out, carrying an undeniable power.

Hancock paused, turned around in confusion and glared at him.

"Let him stand up on his own," Chen Ye said calmly.

"you……"

Hancock was about to say something when she saw Luffy actually manage to climb out of the deep pit, albeit unsteadily, using his own strength.

He looked utterly miserable at that moment.

His body was covered in abrasions and bruises, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his clothes were tattered.

The side effects of the second stage caused his skin to turn an abnormal flushed red, making him look like he had just been taken out of a steamer, steaming with heat.

He stood there, swaying precariously, as if he might collapse at any moment.

but.

He did not fall.

He simply raised his head and looked at Chen Ye.

There was no longer any confusion or despair in those dark eyes.

There was no resentment or anger after the defeat.

Yes, but it was a brightness unlike anything I'd ever experienced before!

It is a radiant light that has found its way forward, an unwavering and resolute light!

He looked at Chen Ye, his lips moved, and he spoke in a hoarse voice.

"So strong..."

These two simple words perfectly encapsulated the insurmountable chasm he felt during the battle just now.

That power, that speed, that domineering aura...

It exists in a completely different dimension.

He was silent for a moment, then, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps as announcing to everyone.

"I see."

"I'm...too weak right now!"

He said it with absolute certainty.

There was no hint of frustration, but rather a sense of relief and composure.

Admitting one's own weakness is not a shameful thing.

The most terrifying thing is not being able to see the gap.

The devastating defeat at Sabaody Archipelago made him realize that he could not protect his companions.

Today's battle with Chen Ye made him clearly see just how huge the gap is between himself and a true peak expert!

That's a gap that can't be bridged by willpower and anger!

"I have to..."

Luffy took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the air into his lungs, and then with all his might, he let out a shout from the depths of his soul!

"I have to become stronger!!!"

The sound echoed through the broken forest, filled with the purest and most fervent determination of the young people!

Looking at the young man before him, who was covered in wounds but whose spirit was higher than ever before, Chen Ye finally showed an approving smile.

He nodded.

"Kid, you have unlimited potential."

I believe in you.

Luffy grinned, revealing a blood-stained smile, and nodded heavily.

"Yes! I will try my best!"

The atmosphere instantly became incredibly solemn.

One is a future pirate king who is reborn from the ashes in battle and finds his way forward.

One is a mysterious powerhouse who crushes his opponents with absolute strength and points out the path for them.

Marco, standing nearby, nodded secretly, his eyes full of admiration.

Hancock's beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at Luffy, who was declaring his intention to become stronger; her heart almost melted.

however.

Just as this passionate, inspiring atmosphere, reminiscent of a shonen manga protagonist's awakening, was about to reach its climax.

"Gurgle gurgle~~~~"

An untimely, extremely loud sound suddenly came from Luffy's stomach.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

The admiration on Marco's face froze.

Hancock's vision of love has stalled.

The determination and resolve on Luffy's face crumbled at a visible speed, replaced by a pained expression as if he were being reborn as a starving ghost.

He clutched his rumbling stomach and slumped down completely.

One second he was an awakened king, the next he turned into a salted fish on the roadside.

The change in art style took less than a second.

He raised his head, his expression one of near tears, and delivered a deafening shout to everyone.

"ah----!"

"It's over!"

"I'm hungry!!!"

"The banquet is starting!!!"

"..."

"..."

The air froze at that moment.

Marco's eye was twitching violently.

He swore he had never seen such an outrageous plot in his life.

But thinking about it, it's normal for this kind of thing to happen to Luffy and Ace!

After all, they both have such willful personalities!

The exhilarating feeling I had just experienced was instantly extinguished by a bucket of ice water poured over me from head to toe, leaving not a trace of my excitement.

Only Chen Ye, looking at this lively character who could switch modes in an instant, finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

This kid...

This is really interesting!