One Piece: Luffy is My Pokemon

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"Damn it!"

After saying this, Usopp immediately punched the railing in frustration.

Ever since he had discovered the effectiveness of special equipment and high-impact ammunition, he had dedicated himself to researching various specialized projectiles and devices.

Unfortunately, this meant his fundamental sniping skills had been neglected, and he had even forgotten to upgrade and modify his primary shooting tools!

He had thought his current shooting range of 2.5 kilometers was sufficient to handle any long-range threat.

But now, he had the ammunition but no means to deliver it to the target.

In that moment, Usopp, who had just completed his Super Green Vine Launcher, felt overwhelming self-reproach.

"It's all my fault for being too weak!"

...

...

The previously calm sea suddenly began to churn due to the unexpected attack.

Waves surged violently, as if the ocean itself was roaring in anger.

Seeing that Vivi's injury had gradually begun to heal under the effects of Red's medicinal potion, Luffy suddenly turned his head toward the distant sea and called out:

"Red!!!"

"I know!"

Without waiting for Luffy's instructions, Red, who already anticipated what was needed, instantly spread his arms and thrust them forward with force!

In an instant, powerful blue energy erupted from his body, commanding the sea on both sides of the Going Merry to rise like giant palms, propelling the ship forward at tremendous speed!

Witnessing this, little Merry, who was in her spirit form, immediately returned to the ship's essence and assisted Red in optimizing their velocity.

To close the distance was to gain the advantage!

It wasn't the Straw Hat Pirates' style to ignore such a direct provocation!

Meanwhile, Zoro, his expression hardening with anger, gripped his katana tightly. The blade remained sheathed but emanated a terrifying aura.

"Usopp, can you make out who we're facing?!" he asked.

"It's definitely pirates!"

Usopp, who had donned his goggles, didn't allow his self-reproach to hinder his actions and immediately responded.

With his exceptional observational skills, he reported to the entire Straw Hat crew:

"I can see their flag—it has a pattern made up of three skull heads!"

"And their ship is really strange!"

"It looks like nothing more than a massive, crude raft!"

"A raft?!" Zoro frowned at this information. "Are you certain?!"

The Grand Line's climate was notoriously unpredictable, and anyone who would navigate such dangerous waters on a primitive vessel was either a complete fool or someone with extraordinary capabilities.

Since their opponent had a sniper more skilled than Usopp, it was obviously the latter.

"Wait!" Red suddenly interrupted the exchange between Usopp and Zoro, his eyes flashing with realization.

A pirate flag with three skulls... a crew sailing on a large raft...

Wasn't that the signature of the Blackbeard Pirates?!

What was happening?!

Had the butterfly effect created such a significant deviation in the timeline?!

His brow furrowed deeply as he quickly warned the Straw Hat crew:

"Luffy, everyone, be extremely cautious."

"Our enemy might be far more dangerous than we initially thought!"

Red couldn't accurately gauge Blackbeard's current strength.

But considering he would eventually defeat Ace in single combat, even with his Devil Fruit advantage...

Blackbeard's present capabilities must be at least equivalent to the upper echelon of the Shichibukai.

It was difficult to say whether he matched Mihawk, but he definitely surpassed Doflamingo, who had awakened his Devil Fruit powers!

Their first major opponent upon entering the Grand Line had suddenly shifted from Crocodile—a Shichibukai content with his current status—to Blackbeard, whose luck rivalled the protagonist's own?!

This change was far too dramatic!

"In short, this confrontation isn't as straightforward as it might seem!"

With grave seriousness in his expression, Red delivered his final warning to everyone.

The Straw Hat Pirates, seeing Red display such an uncharacteristic demeanour, recognised the severity of the situation.

Only Sanji, who had just rushed out from the cabin after learning of Vivi's injury, maintained his typical attitude.

As he joined Luffy and the others at the bow, his body suddenly erupted in flames, the intense heat distorting the surrounding air.

"You bastards! No matter who you are, if you dare harm Princess Vivi, I'll make sure there's nothing left of you to bury!!!"

"That's right!"

Zoro suddenly grinned fiercely:

"The enemy Red's so concerned about must be worth fighting!"

"I'm eager to see what kind of strength they possess!"

Snap!!!

Luffy's pupils dilated, filled with boundless rage.

"I don't care who they are! If they dare hurt my nakama, I'll beat them to a pulp!!!"

"If that's how it's going to be... let's go all out!!!"

Seeing the fighting spirit burning in his companions, Red's eyes also gleamed with anticipation.

It made perfect sense!

They were at sea, not on land!

So what if Blackbeard currently possessed power comparable to the Yonko?!

Against the forces of nature, surrendering wasn't necessary!

The Straw Hat Pirates now had Red as a trainer who could control the waves, the ship spirit Merry who could manipulate the vessel like an extension of herself, and Laboon the Island Whale hiding beneath the waves with strength comparable to a Shichibukai!

On the open sea, the combined might of the Straw Hat Pirates might not equal a Yonko's, but they were definitely the strongest force below that level!

With over an 80% chance of victory, barring any unexpected complications, they might actually eliminate this future threat before he could rise to prominence in the second half of the Grand Line!

BOOM~

Under Red's control, the cascading waves roared and lifted the Going Merry higher.

Meanwhile...

On the raft-like vessel several kilometers away.

Van Augur lowered his beloved rifle "Senriku," frowning as he adjusted his monocle.

"I missed!"

"What?!"

The faces of the Blackbeard Pirates froze in disbelief.

Although their crew had been formed relatively recently, they had already witnessed Van Augur's exceptional marksmanship many times.

"Interesting!"

Blackbeard grinned: "Could it be Observation Haki?"

"Zehahahaha..."

"I never expected to encounter such individuals in Paradise!"

"It would be wasteful to kill them!"

"I'll give them a chance later to join our crew!"

"Zehahahaha..."

Blackbeard laughed arrogantly.

Coming from the New World, he certainly had grounds to look down on pirates still navigating Paradise.

But soon, the smile on Blackbeard's face stiffened, and the corners of his mouth ceased to rise.

Instead, his expression transformed into one of surprise and disbelief.

He rubbed his eyes vigorously, then looked forward again, his mouth agape in astonishment as he muttered:

"Am I dreaming?!"

Watching the Going Merry advancing rapidly atop massive waves, Blackbeard's heart suddenly tightened.

For a moment, he suspected that Whitebeard himself had ventured into Paradise to hunt him down.

After all, as far as he knew, the Devil Fruit ability to create such waves belonged exclusively to his former captain!

"Is there another fruit with this power in the world?!"

Unrestrained greed flashed across Blackbeard's shadowy eyes.

His earlier desire to recruit these pirates instantly vanished.

It would be a shame if such a powerful Devil Fruit ability wasn't in his possession!

"Zehahahaha... What a delightful surprise!"

Blackbeard chuckled darkly, anticipating the Going Merry's approach.

A few minutes later.

As the two vessels converged from opposite directions, the Straw Hat Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates soon entered each other's visual range.

The distance between them had narrowed to just a few hundred meters.

For fighters of their caliber, this was practically face-to-face!

Thud!

Luffy suddenly stepped onto the Going Merry's railing and, despite the swaying waves, angrily confronted Blackbeard:

"Why did you attack us?!"

"WHY?!"

"Zehahahaha..."

Blackbeard roared with laughter:

"As expected of a Paradise pirate, you're so naive! Asking such a question!"

After his laughter subsided, his face twisted into a sinister, domineering expression:

"There are countless 'whys' in battles between pirates!"

"I simply wanted to do it, so I did!!! Zehahahaha..."

"So that's how it is."

After hearing Blackbeard's response, Luffy slowly adjusted the straw hat on his head, the corners of his mouth curving upward.

"If it's not a misunderstanding, then this becomes much simpler!"

The next moment, his eyes hardened with resolve, and he quickly brought his thumb to his mouth.

"Gear Third...! Bone Balloon!"

"Gomu Gomu no... Thor Elephant Gun!!!!"

Whoosh!

Brilliant lightning suddenly enveloped Luffy's gigantic fist, emitting dazzling golden bolts as it hurtled toward the Blackbeard Pirates' raft along the surging sea!

Wherever it passed, the ocean surface split amazingly to either side, as if making way for this tremendous attack.

The Armament Haki that coated his fist almost instantaneously transformed Luffy's attack into something akin to a collapsing mountain, bearing down upon the Blackbeard Pirates.

"What... what is that?!"

In an instant, the faces of the Blackbeard Pirates contorted with shock.

Sensing the overwhelming aura emanating from the attack, Lafitte and the others momentarily lost their ability to think.

They could only watch as the terrifying blow descended inexorably toward them.

Just when it seemed they would be obliterated, Blackbeard finally broke his habit of tanking the first hit.

He raised his hand toward the massive fist in the sky!

"Black Hole!"

Whoosh~!

Blackbeard, standing on the raft, leaped high into the air, swinging his fist to counter Luffy's attack.

Instantly!

A strange black fog suddenly spread around him, immediately enveloping his fist.

BOOM!!!

A violent explosion echoed across the sea.

At that moment, the sky appeared to split in two.

One half exuded a malevolent aura, while the other blazed with lightning.

"Zehahahaha~"

Blackbeard laughed, amazement evident on his face: "I never expected to encounter someone so powerful in Paradise!"

"Looks like I'll need to demand more from the Marines in exchange!!!"

WHOOSH!!!

The collision's impact resembled a howling hurricane, radiating in all directions and causing the sea to churn violently.

Luffy's expression, as he maintained his position on the Going Merry, suddenly changed.

His initially fierce attack was gradually forced back by Blackbeard's counter.

Finally, another intense clash resonated between their fists.

The two combatants abruptly separated.

Blackbeard landed smoothly back on his raft.

Luffy, meanwhile, stepped onto the grassy deck and retreated, shock evident on his face.

"Red was right..."

"This guy is no ordinary opponent!"

He murmured softly.

"Need help, Luffy?!"

Zoro, observing the exchange, immediately offered.

But Luffy, despite being at a disadvantage after the first clash, firmly shook his head:

"No! Go deal with the others!"

"I'll handle him myself!"

"Got it!"

Zoro acknowledged and immediately leaped off the Going Merry.

Sanji beside him wasn't about to be outdone!

"Don't forget about me, Moss Head!"

To the astonishment of Blackbeard and his crew, both fighters actually ran across the surface of the sea toward their position!

"No! There's something beneath the water!!!"

Van Augur, a sniper with extraordinary observational abilities, suddenly cried out in alarm.

Following his warning, Blackbeard and the others noticed an enormous dark shadow lurking beneath the ocean's surface in front of the opposing pirate ship.

Judging by its shape, it resembled a whale's tail...

Except this tail was impossibly massive!!!