Reborn as Luffy The Pirate King's Return

The battle between Zoro, Sanji, and Smoker raged on as Luffy stood back, observing his crew. He crossed his arms, his expression both serious and expectant. "I know you both can't use Armament Haki yet, but at least try grasping Observation Haki, you numbskulls! Don't fight like children!"

Sanji and Zoro both grit their teeth in frustration at their captain's words, but deep down, they knew he was right. Smoker was unlike any opponent they had faced before. His Logia Devil Fruit abilities made it nearly impossible to land a solid hit, and his combat experience far surpassed what they had encountered in the East Blue.

Zoro adjusted his stance, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Smoker's movements. "Tch. Easier said than done, Luffy!" he muttered under his breath before charging forward.

Sanji, ever the strategist, decided to circle around, hoping to land a kick from an angle Smoker wouldn't expect. However, as his foot swung toward the Marine captain, Smoker's body dispersed into a billow of white smoke, reappearing behind him in an instant.

"Damn it!" Sanji cursed as he barely dodged Smoker's counterattack.

Smoker exhaled, letting out a sigh filled with disappointment. "You brats have no chance against me. You should run while you can." His tone was calm, almost indifferent, as if he wasn't taking them seriously.

Luffy, however, saw something different. He could tell that both Zoro and Sanji were improving, even if it was slow. "Come on, dumbasses! You're fighting too recklessly! You can't just react to his attacks—you have to sense them before they come!"

Zoro clenched his jaw, frustration boiling within him. He knew Luffy was right, but learning something like Observation Haki in the middle of a fight was far from easy. Still, he had no choice. He needed to push past his limits.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for just a moment, tuning out the chaos around him. The sounds of the battle, the clashing of metal, the wind shifting—he focused on everything. When he reopened his eyes, something felt different. Smoker lunged at him, his jitte aimed at Zoro's chest, but just before impact, Zoro twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the attack.

His eyes widened. Did I just predict that…?

It wasn't perfect, but it was something.

Sanji noticed Zoro's movement and clicked his tongue. "Oh great, now this moss-head is ahead of me? No way in hell am I letting that happen!"

Despite his determination, Smoker was still too much for them. Zoro, exhausted and still unfamiliar with the sensation of Observation Haki, was caught off guard by a powerful strike from Smoker's jitte. The blow sent him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

Luffy watched silently. He had let them struggle long enough. They had fought well, but this was as far as they could go today.

With a sigh, he stepped forward. "Alright, that's enough for today."

Before Smoker could react, Luffy vanished from sight, using Soru, one of the Marine Six Styles. In an instant, he reappeared behind Smoker, his fist coated in Armament Haki. With a single, well-placed punch to the gut, Smoker's eyes widened in shock as pain shot through his body.

Luffy didn't stop there. He used Rankyaku, a powerful air blade, forcing Smoker onto the defensive. The Marine captain barely managed to block with his jitte, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward. Luffy then followed up with Tekkai, hardening his body to withstand any counterattack.

"You… You're not an ordinary pirate," Smoker grunted, coughing from the impact of Luffy's attacks.

Luffy smirked. "Nope. And this is just the beginning."

Before Smoker could recover, Luffy unleashed a finishing blow, knocking him unconscious. The once-dominant Marine captain lay motionless on the ground.

Luffy cracked his knuckles and turned to Sanji. "Take Zoro's swords. I'll carry this idiot back to the Going Merry."

Sanji let out a sigh, but nodded. "Fine, but you owe me for this."

As they made their way back to their ship, Luffy glanced at the sky. He knew that their battles would only get harder from here. The Grand Line awaited, and they had a long journey ahead.

But one thing was clear—his crew would only continue to grow stronger.