The courtyard returned to a tense stillness after Lin whisked the little girl away. In a quiet ripple of space, Lin appeared once more beside the execution post.
Zoro stood still bound to the crucifix, glaring daggers at Luffy who now stood defiantly in front of him food in hand.
"Food is important, okay?!" Luffy argued, his hands on his hips. "You didn't have to spit it out like that!"
"I said I didn't want it," Zoro snapped. "I don't eat charity. I survive on my own terms."
Lin chuckled, leaning casually against the wooden post. "You say that after nearly choking on rice balls. Very samurai of you."
"Shut it up, space geek," Zoro grunted.
Luffy scratched his head, looking between Lin and Zoro. "He's kinda cool though, Lin. What if he joined our crew?"
"Do you have dementia? We just talked about this," Lin deadpanned.
Still, something about Zoro's glare, that unbending spine even while bound, stirred a quiet respect in Lin. His eyes softened.
The air felt heavier now.
Luffy stared at Zoro again, this time with more than curiosity there was fire in his eyes.
"He's our nakama now," Luffy declared.
Zoro blinked. "What?"
Lin raised a brow. "Just like that?"
"Yep," Luffy grinned, then turned to Lin. "Let's go beat that captain guy up!"
Zoro scoffed. "You two idiots do whatever you want. Doesn't change the fact I'm still tied up."
"Then we'll fix that," Lin said with a smirk.
Zoro raised a brow. "You're not gonna untie me, are you?"
"Nah," Lin said, crouching by the base of the wooden cross. "Too much effort. Easier to just bring the whole thing."
With a grunt and a flex of his enhanced strength, Lin tore the crucifix out of the ground entirely, dirt and stone scattering. Zoro yelped as the cross lurched backward and was slung over Lin's shoulder like cargo.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Crucified samurai delivery," Lin quipped. "Express shipping to shells marine base."
"Put me down, you bastard!"
Luffy laughed. "Shishishi! Zoro you're a swordsman right? Don't worry Lin Will find your swords! I believe in him. I'll go ahead and beating that guy to a pulp! See you later."
"Aye aye captain." Lin sighed as he saw Luffy's dissapearing figure as he went towards the marine base.
"Ugh. Why do you even follow that idiot?"
"Because I believe in him." Lin smiled as he recalled all the fun times he had with Luffy over the year after he came into the world.
"His dream of becoming the pirate king, I'll make sure it comes true."
"..." Zoro said nothing as if he was in Deep contemplation.
"W-wait what are you A-AGHHHH!"
"Time waits for no one moss head, better hurry." Lin grinned as he stared running while shaking Zoro around purposely.
Lin casually carried Zoro behind his back, ignoring the swordsman's loud protests and flailing.
---
At the Marine base Luffy casually broke upon the steel gate with a casual punch, Before boosting forwards with a spring in his step he flew into the air before landing on the roof of the base, fists clenched and eyes focused. Luffy looked around for the marine captain.
'If I were a captain where would I be.' Luffy scratched his head as he looked around.
The Marines below scrambled at the sudden intrusion.
"Sound the alarms! We have an intruder on the north gate!"
'hmmmm if I make enough sound, maybe he'll come out himself shishishi.'
Without hesitation, Luffy launched forward like a bullet, his punch slamming into the face of a poor innocent marine guard. The man flew back like a ragdoll, crashing into the wooden supply crates. Causing debris and dust to flow into the air, Chaos erupted.
Dozens of marines encircled Luffy with their rifles raised, they fired at Luffy.
"Mouuu, why are you guys so rude!"
Luffy twisted in midair, arms stretching to grip a nearby flagpole. With a rubbery swing, he flung himself over the first volley of bullets and landed with a crash into the main yard, taking down five marines with an extended leg sweep.
"You bastard?! You called me your 'Nakama and *cough* do shit like this!"
Seeing the pale face of Zoro on his back Lin smirked.
Meanwhile, As Lin approached the base through the southern gate with Zoro still tied to the cross seeing the giant metal gate infront of him Lin sighed.
"I'm too lazy to do it the Luffy way."
[Spatial Shift]
The figure of Lin dissapeared before reappearing inside the marine base, just then the two marine swordsmen who were on guard duty charged at him.
"Put me down at least I'll help!"
"Make me," Lin replied, smirking.
He snapped his fingers. "Spatial Shift."
In an instant, he teleported behind the first marine, grabbing the man by the collar lifting him into the air before brutally slamming him face-first into the ground, cracks formed on the marble floor originating from the Marine's head,
Before the second could react, Lin spun the crucifix like a club, knocking the marine clean off his feet.
"You're using me as a fucking weapon?!??" Zoro shouted.
"Teamwork does the dreamwork, darling," Lin winked at Zoro.
More marines flooded out of the base, surrounding the two.
Zoro gritted his teeth. "Fine! I'll become your Nakama or whatever just untie me already!"
Lin blinked. "Seriously? Being dragged around on a crucifix is what did it for you?"
"SHUT UP AND UNTIE ME!"
"Later," Lin said. "Let's go help the captain."
Lin closed his eyes before snapping his fingers.
[Spatial Slash]
With Lin as the epicenter a dark blue light flowed out, invisible to the normal eye, upon impact with the marine officers it slashed through the space between their lower half and upper halves of their body leaving them split in two.
A gap in space time formed as the marine officers found themselves bizzarly split into two, yet at the same time they had the they could feel and had the sensation of the lower half of their body and could move it around, but it was clearly severed from their body!
Logically their intestines and internal organs should've flowed out alongside their blood from the sword wound yet at the point of impact where they had been cut had been covered with a dark blue coating stopping any damage.
Seeing the officers on the ground struggling and wiggling around like ants Lin smiled playfully.
"Hmm, do you guys like that? Don't worry I've tweaked the slash so that this is only temporary you'll find yourself back to normal in a day or two give or take." Lin hummed a tune while casually walking past the marine officers on the ground, Zoro in tow.
"...." The officers gulped not daring to make a sound, knowing that their lives where in the pirates hands.
As Lin dissapeared from their view they released a sigh of relief.
"Hmmmm this should be it right? Lin asked while tapping Zoro on the head like he was a watermelon."
"You're fucking with me aren't you?" Zoro felt the veins on his forehead throbbing in anger.
Lin kicked open the gates of the door infront of them that had a sign above clearly stating [Storage room].
"OoooooooO are these the swords you use?" Lin asked while pointing at the three swords kept in the middle of the room kept in a glass box to prevent dust from falling on them.
"Hmpf, you're right." Zoro puffed his chest outwards in pride.
'heh, at least these marine bastards know how to take care of swords.'
"Cool cool, whatever." Lin smashed through the glass before picking one of them up.
Taking it out of it's sheath he admired it's artistry before pointing it at Zoro.
"Mhm, I'm not exactly well versed in sowrdmanship so do forgive me if something happens!" Lin smiled before swinging it down on Zoro.
Meanwhile Zoro who watched Lin's actions said nothing, just closing his eyes and accepting his fate.
Fortunately the sword easily cut through the rope bonding Zoro, narrowly missing his chest.
'Boooooring, it would've been cool if I was the one who gave him the scar he had on his chest in canon though.'
"Mhm take your swords and let's go, that idiot is either dead or killing someone by now."
"You smug bastard.... I'll cut you down one day."
________________________________________
Seeing the face-off occuring in the middle of the marine base between Luffy and Aze-hand morgan Lin was amused.
Over two meters tall, white cape billowing, with a massive axe for an arm and an iron jaw strapped to his face.
Lin narrowed his eyes. "So this is the famous Morgan..."
"Duh, who else would wear a cape that literally signifies that they're a marine captain for god's sake."
"Dunno, maybe some rando took it? Who knows."
Seeing morgan staring at him with murderous intent Lin smirked.
Lin tilted his head. "Wait, is that a door on his face? How does he eat? And that axe-hand... does he wipe his ass with that too?"
[Ding! Congratulations, host has completed a flirtatious roast]
The Marines all went silent. Even Zoro forgot to complain.
Lin kept going, arms crossed as he stared Morgan down. "Tell me, 'Axe-bro', Do you wipe it sideways or vertically? Must be a nightmare on the toilet."
[Ding! Roast successful, Target is in an unstable mental state]
Morgan snarled, his one eye twitching. "Kill them. NOW!"
The numerous rifles that were previously pointed towards Luffy all aimed towards Lin who posed while leaning on the wall, unbothered.
'Ah, the glory of ragebaiting....'
Seeing the Dozens of rifles aimed at Lin. Zoro's eyes twitched. "Why the fuck did you have to do this."
"Relaxxxxx what's the worst that could happen," Lin muttered.
He snapped his fingers.
[Spatial Swap]
The bullets that had fired stopped mid way in their trajectory only to spin mid-air and ricochet, being redirect to the Marines' feet. Screams broke out.
Before anyone could react, Lin vanished. A heartbeat later, he reappeared in front of Morgan, his sandal in hand.
*SLAP!*
Morgan's face twisted sideways from the impact. Under the enhanced strength of Lin every swing felt like he was being punched by a monster. Another slap. And another. The Sandals impact on his metal jaw. Created a sharp metallic sound through the base.
"I Don't like how you look at me," Lin muttered between slaps. "Told you, Axe-bro. Rude, didn't momma teach you manners?"
Lin satisfied with trolling leaped backwards next to Luffy who's arm had extended backwards, his signature move fully charged.
"Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!"
With a deafening boom, Luffy's rubber punch sent Captain Morgan's massive axe arm skyward, the force knocking the tyrant back.
"Time to end this," Lin muttered.
[Spatial Slash]
A giant gash formed at the place where axe hand Morgan once was his body cleaved into two, flesh blood pouring out of his body like a fountain creating a gruesome scene as he struggled to let out words.
As the land below him trembled the gash only grew before it swallowed him whole leading him to fall into the giant crack, the marine base now divided into two barely standing.
Luffy and Zoro stared at Lin's ruthless move but didn't say anything after all the pirate world was one of the survival of the fittest, even if they disagreed with his actions it was Lin who had the final say.
The ruins of Shells Town's marine base stood as a testament to the chaos.Lin, Luffy, and Zoro had just unleashed. With Morgan defeated and his reign of terror shattered, the marines stood in quiet disbelief as civilians cautiously emerged from hiding.
Sunlight pierced through the broken walls of the once-imposing structure, casting light upon a new future.
Lin tossed aside his now-cracked sandal with a sigh. "Damnit, that one was my favorite pair."
"Shishishi the punch was satisfying!," Luffy said with a grin.
"Like a sack of potatoes," Luffy added, grinning ear to ear. "But tastier."
??? Lin
??? Zoro
The defeated marines remained rooted in place until one brave soldier slowly lowered his rifle. "He's gone... The tyrant's been defeated."
Another stepped forward, then another, and then a chorus erupted as the entire marine force let out a cheer.
"Captain Morgan is down!"
"We're free!"
Some dropped their weapons, others hugged each other, while a few wept openly. Shells Town had lived under Morgan's rule for too long.
From among the civilians, a little girl ran up to Lin and hugged his leg. "Thank you, big brother!"
Lin awkwardly patted her head. "Easy there, kid. I'm allergic to uh....wholesomeness?"
---
Later, the trio found themselves at a local restaurant, feasting like kings.
"Damm, who would've guessed you get a 100% discount if you defeat a marine captain ay?" Lin spoke while chugging down beer.
"Shishishi we should do this more often!" Luffy's bloated fat balloon like body spoke, after eating too much food.
Koby sat quietly at the edge of the table, swirling a glass of orange juice. He looked different, more confident, as if something inside him had changed.
"I've decided," he said at last. "I want to become a real marine. One who upholds justice... not fear."
Luffy gave him a thumbs-up. "Do it. Be the best!"
Zoro nodded. "Just don't come chasing us later."
Koby saluted. "I won't forget what you guys did. Especially you, Lin."
Lin raised a brow. "Me? What'd I do?"
"You gave me courage," Koby said, standing up. "And also trauma. But mostly courage."
"...Fair enough," Lin muttered, chewing on a chicken leg.
---
As they stepped outside into the town square, the villagers were gathered. Children laughed, music played, and vendors handed out fruit and drinks in celebration.
Someone even set off fireworks though it was just a guy throwing exploding snails into barrels. It's the thought that counts.
"Never seen a crowd this happy," Zoro remarked.
Lin looked over the crowd. "Freedom tends to do that."
"Oi, Lin," Luffy said suddenly, pointing to a cart of meat. "I'm going to challenge that boar for dominance."
"What?"
Luffy was already halfway to the cart.
---
Before long, it was time to go.
They stood at the docks, a simple rowboat waiting for them.
"So this is it," Koby said. "You guys are heading for the Grand Line, huh?"
"Eventually," Luffy grinned. "We need a bigger boat first."
Lin adjusted his pack, now heavier with new supplies, stolen spices, and one confused chicken. "And a cook, a navigator, a doctor, a musician..."
"A musician?" Zoro asked.
"For dramatic background music, during fight scenes duh" Lin said.
Zoro stared at him blankly.
'what?'
Luffy laughed. "Cool! Let's find a cool one!"
---
As they pushed off from the dock, the villagers waved, tossing flowers into the water. Koby stood straight among the marines, saluting them.
Zoro leaned back. "So, what now?"
"We drift and see where the wind takes us," Lin said.
"And we find more nakamas! " Luffy added.
The boat floated gently into the blue horizon, three misfits with dreams in their hearts—and a world of chaos waiting ahead.
Behind them, Shells Town smiled for the first time in years.