Nappa burst through the deck of the Sunny, Chopper's Monster Point form wrapped around his arm like a chew toy. "GET OFF ME, YOU FURRY FREAK!"
Franky was right behind him, his fists crackling with cola-powered energy. "SUPER FRANKY: IRON ATTACK!"
His punch connected with Nappa's back, driving him forward. Sanji appeared from nowhere, his leg wreathed in flames. "MUTTON SHOT!"
The combined assault sent Nappa stumbling, but he wasn't seriously hurt. He was having fun.
"HAHAHA! These insects actually tickle!" He grabbed Chopper and threw him into Franky, sending both crashing into the mast. "Is this all the freak's crew can do? Pathetic!"
From the shadows, a voice. "Perhaps you should look up."
Nappa did. A dozen arms had sprouted from the rigging, each holding one of Usopp's explosive pellets. Robin smiled calmly from across the deck.
"Tres Mano: Flower Bomb."
The pellets rained down. The explosions weren't enough to hurt Nappa, but they blinded him momentarily. In that moment, Zoro appeared.
Zoro had been watching, analyzing. This Nappa was strong, but he was arrogant. He fought with brute force, no technique. Against a swordsman of Zoro's caliber, that was a weakness.
"Three Thousand Worlds."
The attack wasn't aimed at Nappa's body. It was aimed at his battle armor. Three slashes, perfectly placed, carved through the Saiyan's armor, leaving his chest exposed.
Nappa looked down at his ruined armor, then at the swordsman. For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
"You... you destroyed my armor too?!" He grabbed Zoro by the throat, lifting him effortlessly. "I'm going to enjoy crushing you!"
Before he could squeeze, a voice boomed across the ocean.
"NAPPA! GET THE SHIP!"
It was Vegeta. He'd recovered from Luffy's punch and was flying back, his face a mask of cold fury.
Nappa looked confused. "But Vegeta, I was just—"
"THAT'S AN ORDER!"
Nappa growled, but obeyed. He threw Zoro aside, jumped into the air, and flew back toward the spacecraft.
Vegeta stopped a hundred meters from the Sunny, his gaze fixed on Luffy, who had reverted to his normal form and was floating on the surface using Ki.
"This isn't over, freak. You've proven you're not completely worthless. But next time, I won't underestimate you. I'll train. I'll get stronger. And when I return, I'll destroy everything you care about before I destroy you."
Luffy tilted his head. "Why? You seem nice when you're not trying to blow things up."
Vegeta's eye twitched for what felt like the hundredth time. "I AM NOT NICE! I'M A SAIYAN PRINCE! WE DON'T DO 'NICE'!"
"Shishishi! Whatever you say, pointy-hair! Come back anytime! Bring food next time!"
Vegeta opened his mouth to retort, then closed it. He turned, flying toward the spacecraft without another word. As he entered, Nappa looked at him questioningly.
"We're leaving? Just like that?"
Vegeta's expression was unreadable. "We're going to train. That freak... he has potential. And if I'm going to surpass him, I need to unlock what's沉睡 within me. The legends say there's a transformation beyond our current limits. A Super Saiyan."
Nappa's eyes went wide. "You don't mean—"
"I mean exactly that. We're going to find the Legendary Super Saiyan, or die trying. That freak will be the benchmark for my power. And when I return, he'll kneel before the Prince of all Saiyans."
The spacecraft lifted off, disappearing into the atmosphere.
On the Sunny, the crew gathered around their captain, who was floating on his back, staring at the sky.
"Luffy, are you okay?" Chopper asked, tears in his eyes.
"I'm hungry."
Sanji sighed, lighting a cigarette. "Of course you are. I'll make something."
As the crew worked to repair the damage, Robin approached Luffy. "Those beings, Luffy. They called themselves Saiyans. The way they fought, the energy they used... it's exactly like what you described from the other world."
Luffy nodded, still staring at the sky. "Yeah. Pointy-hair is strong. Really strong. And he's going to get stronger."
"That worries you?"
Luffy sat up, a massive grin on his face. "Nope! It means when he comes back, we'll have an even better fight! And maybe next time, I can show him Gear Fifth!"
Robin smiled. "You're truly something else, captain."
"Shishishi! Thanks!"
But as the Sunny sailed away, Luffy's grin faded slightly. He looked at his hand, at the faint golden glow that still flickered around his fingers. Pointy-hair wasn't the only one who needed to train. If there were more beings like him out there, if that Void creature had been telling the truth about other universes, then Luffy needed to be ready.
He needed to protect his crew. No matter what.