"Olala..."
Luffy kept attacking, but no matter how many punches he threw, he couldn't hit Sandy at all. Finally, he huffed angrily, "I'm not fighting anymore! Sandy, you're cheating!"
Sandy stood calmly with his arms crossed, a teasing smirk on his face. "Keep fighting."
"You're cheating by using Observation Haki!" Luffy protested, puffing out his cheeks.
Sandy chuckled. "Alright then, I won't dodge. Is that okay?"
"Really?" Luffy's eyes lit up immediately.
Sandy raised a brow. "What's with that face? You that happy to punch me?"
Luffy looked toward the horizon and muttered, "When did I say that?"
(Yeah right…)
Sandy rolled his eyes. "Go ahead then. I won't move."
Luffy grinned and launched a flurry of punches. Countless fists slammed into Sandy's body, the rapid impacts echoing across the deck.
Sanji, watching nervously, asked, "Hey, hey, is he really gonna be okay?"
Zoro frowned slightly. "He should be fine. Otherwise, he wouldn't have told Luffy to go all out."
Usopp was drenched in sweat, his imagination going wild at the thought of being on the receiving end of that barrage.
After a while, Luffy stopped, panting heavily.
Sandy yawned and stretched lazily, not even a scratch on him. Then he said with mock pain, "Ah, that hurt sooo much."
Luffy's face twisted in outrage. "Sandy, you bastard! I'm gonna duel you!"
Usopp rushed over, wrapping his arms around Luffy's waist. "You can't beat him! Calm down! Stay calm!"
"I don't care!" Luffy shouted. "Even if I lose, I'll fight anyway!"
Sandy sighed and said, "Everyone, watch carefully. I'll show you what speed really is. — Shave!"
In an instant, multiple afterimages of Sandy appeared all over the deck.
Nami blinked in confusion, suddenly feeling something soft brush her cheek.
"Huh? Where did Sandy go? He was just here!" Usopp yelped.
Zoro's eyes narrowed. "His speed's too fast. The naked eye can't even follow him anymore."
Sanji turned his head in every direction, trying and failing to keep up. "This guy… he's ridiculously fast…"
After a few seconds, Sandy reappeared, lounging back on the deck with a cocky grin. "That's Shave. Whether you can learn it depends on your own fate. And I'll say this now—I'm not teaching you."
Seeing how smug he was, Sanji scowled. "What's so great about being fast? One day, I'll learn that move too!"
Luffy stepped forward, rubbing his chin. "Sandy, just now… you were moving by stomping your feet on the ground really fast, right?"
Usopp thought for a moment. "That footwork… I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."
"Yeah!" Luffy said. "Kuro's Silent Step is kinda similar! But he's nowhere near as fast as Sandy!"
Usopp snapped his fingers. "Right! That's why it looked familiar!"
Zoro folded his arms, muttering, "Are all the opponents we'll meet from now on gonna be this strong…?"
Usopp gulped. "That's terrifying!"
Sandy chuckled. "Don't you all want to get stronger? Isn't it exciting to learn things like this? It's full of romance!"
"Romance?" Luffy laughed. "You're right! It's super romantic! Guys, I think I just figured out this move too!"
"What?!"
"No way!"
"That's impossible!"
Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji all yelled in unison.
Luffy crouched into a low stance, one hand on the ground. Steam began to rise from his body as his skin flushed red.
"Second Gear!"
With a sudden whoosh, Luffy vanished. When he reappeared, his fist collided with Sandy's!
The impact created a shockwave that blasted across the deck.
"Ahhh!" Nami screamed as the gust nearly knocked her chair over.
Zoro and Sanji's eyes widened. They could barely track what just happened. Both Sandy and Luffy's speed had reached a level they couldn't hope to follow.
Usopp's jaw dropped. "Luffy—you really did it! You actually learned it! I'm so jealous!"
Luffy deactivated Second Gear, breathing hard but grinning proudly. "Heh… Sandy, your speed's still way faster, but I finally got it!"
Sandy crossed his arms. "I learned that back in the village. Don't act so smug. If you don't master Haki, you'll just be cannon fodder once we reach the New World."
Luffy clapped him on the shoulder and laughed. "Don't be so serious! Relax! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
Sandy kicked him away, muttering, "You hit too hard, idiot! That hurt!"
Sanji snorted. "What a terrible excuse."
Zoro nodded. "We'll have to train harder too… otherwise, we'll never keep up with you two."
Sandy turned to Luffy. "Listen, your Second Gear speeds up blood flow using your rubber body. It burns stamina fast. If you drag out a fight, your body won't last.
You need to learn Shave without using Second Gear. Otherwise, I'll beat you every time I see you."
Luffy tilted his head. "Really?"
"Of course!" Sandy sighed. "You should build up your body and learn to use Second Gear for a finishing blow, not a whole battle."
Sanji nodded thoughtfully. "So its strength is also its weakness?"
Sandy shrugged. "Depends on how you use it. If Luffy's not physically ready and tries to trade blows in that state, he's just gambling with his life. The strain could destroy his body."
Luffy grinned. "Hehehe… I've got another new move that's even cooler!"
Sandy blinked. Third Gear, huh? "Not interested. Let's go fishing. We still need dinner."
Before he could finish, both Luffy and Usopp had already handed him fishing rods.
Sandy stared. "I only need one. Why are you giving me all of them?"
"Because you're the fishing expert!" they said together.
"Get lost…"
The commotion slowly faded into a calm afternoon.
Under the blue sky, the Going Merry drifted lazily along the sea.
Zoro was snoring under the sun. Nami reclined in her chair, basking in the breeze. Sanji emerged from the kitchen with a tray, his eyes immediately turning into hearts when he saw Nami.
"Miss Nami~ I made you a new drink. Please, have a taste."
Nami smiled. "Thanks, Sanji."
"You're very welcome, Nami-san!"
Glancing toward the railing, Sanji asked curiously, "Are they fishing again?"
Nami sighed. "They're having a fishing competition."
By the rail, three idiots sang loudly in unison,
"Little fish, little fish, bite the hook real quick,
Get in my bucket, lalalala—Demacia!"
"This time," Luffy declared, "I'm definitely catching more than you!"
Sanji blinked. "What kind of song is that? Does it even work for fishing?"
Just then, Sandy shouted, "It's biting! It's biting! Someone help me hold the rod!"
Luffy laughed. "You can't even pull up a fish? That's pathetic!"
Sandy ignored him, gritting his teeth. "This one's huge! The line's about to snap!"
Sanji grabbed the rod, frowning. "What's going on?"
"There's a big one!" Sandy said, stripping off his jacket. "I'll go down and get it myself!"
Before anyone could stop him—
Splash!
Sandy dove straight into the sea.