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  --xLOVEx--

  When they arrived at the Going Merry, they found Usopp on his feet. He atched up, but his expression was far from cheerful. Clearly he had some unresolved emotions.

  “Usopp,” Luffy started, his voicharacteristically serious as he stepped forward, but Usopp cut him off.

  “Luffy,” Usopp said, kept his voice firm, despite the tremor of what he was a bout to say. “I know the Merry is yours. You’re the captain, and it’s your decision what happens to her.”

  The rest of the crew gathered around, watg the exge in silence.

  “But,” Usopp tinued, his eyes log onto Luffy’s, “I ’t just leave a wounded nakama behind. If yoing to abandon Merry, then I’ll fight you for her.”

  Luffy stared at Usopp, shocked by his friend's words. The usual carefree grin was gone, repced by a look of hurt. He knew how much Merry meant to all of them, but especially to Usopp.

  Coby stepped forward, but Sanji quickly grabbed his arm, shaking his head. This was something Luffy and Usopp had to settle on their own.

  Coby kicked Sanji in the face, sending him tumbling into the sea. The crew watched in stunned silence as arched up to Luffy and Usopp, his expression annoyed.

  "Who the fuck do you think you are, challenging the captain?" Coby s Usopp, his voice sharp.

  Luffy stepped forward, pg a hand on Coby’s shoulder. "Coby, let me hahis," he said, trying to keep the situation from esg further.

  But Coby shook off Luffy’s hand, his eyes cold. "No. I won’t."

  Usopp gred at Coby, his anger boiling over. Coby had been the first to suggest leaving the Merry behind, and Usopp's frustration was directed squarely at him.

  Coby didn't flinder Usopp's gre. He met Usopp's anger head-on, his tone unyielding. "I told you, Usopp, this isn’t about your wounded pride or low self-esteem. We ’t coddle yht now. We need a new ship. Robin is missing, and I’ve had a bad feeling ever since we left Aokiji behind. I won’t risk the crew for your pitiful fears that we’ll leave you behind. If you think that’s even a possibility after all this time, then you don’t know Luffy at all."

  Usopp’s face twisted in anger and hurt, but Coby tinued, uing. "You act like you’re the only one who cares about the Merry. But remember, it was me who fought everyone, including Luffy, to make sure the Merry didn’t get hurt. You think you’re the only one who loves her? We all do. But this isn’t just about love—it’s about survival."

  Usopp ched his fists, his shoulders trembling. "It’s easy for you to say that! You’re strong! You’ve got all these powers! But Merry is all I have left of Kaya and my vilge. She’s not just a ship to me—she’s a part of me!"

  Coby's tone was cold as he looked down at Usopp. "Then, like all of us, you will bury part of you."

  The crew gritted their teeth, fists ched. How could they not feel the same? Did Usopp think he ecial? Coby didn’t care about his feelings right now. "If you want to fight the captain, then you o step over me. e on, show me if you’ve gotten any stronger."

  Usopp’s hands trembled with anger and desperation. He gred at Coby, struggling to tain the whirlwind of emotions inside him. "I’m not bag down," Usopp decred, his voice quivering but resolute.

  Coby’s eyes narrowed, as he jumped off the ship, "Then step up, Usopp."

  Usopp took a deep breath, steeling himself. His eyes flicked to Luffy, who stood silently, his expression somber. Usopp knew he couldn’t win against Coby, but he couldn’t back dowher. "I’ll fight you first, Coby," he said, trying to sound fident. "But don’t expect me to hold back!"

  Without another word, Usopp reached into his bag and pulled out a handful of projectiles. He tossed them into the air, and with a flick of his wrist, they exploded into a cloud of smoke. The thick gray fog enveloped the area, obsg everyone’s vision.

  The crew braced themselves, but Coby remained unfazed. He closed his eyes, sensing Usopp’s movements through the smoke. "That won’t work on me," uttered, stepping forward. "Show me what you’ve got."

  Usopp gritted his teeth, determination and fear battling in his eyes. The crew watched in various states of emotion. Luffy remaioic, while Nami and Chopper couldn't hold back their tears.

  Coby stood still, eyes locked on Usopp through the smoke. Usopp’s mind raced as he quickly loaded his slingshot, pulling out a pouch filled with iros. He aimed straight at Coby, his hand trembling slightly. "Take this!" he shouted, ung the pellets at Coby.

  The projectiles whizzed through the air, but Coby’s body shifted with ease, sidestepping the attack effortlessly. The pellets cttered harmlessly against the ground, failing to find their mark.

  Usopp didn’t hesitate. He reached into his bag, pulling out a handful of caltrops. "You’re not getting past these!" he yelled, scattering them across the grouween them. He hoped to slow Coby down, make it harder for him to approach.

  But Coby didn’t even gnce down. He simply stepped forward, his boots crushing the caltrops without breaking stride. "You’ll have to do better than that."

  Frustration mounting, Usopp held a fsh dial into his palm"Eat this!" He pressed it directly at Coby, the dial exploding in a brilliant fsh of light, blinding everyone around.

  Coby paused, shielding his eyes for a brief moment. But even with the temporary loss of sight, his senses allowed him to sense Usopp’s movements clearly. The instant the fsh subsided, oved, closing the distaween them in a few quick steps.

  Usopp barely had time to react before Coby on him. He fumbled with his bag, trying to pull out another dial, but Coby’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the wrist.

  Coby looked down at Usopp, his grip unyielding. "This isn’t going to work, Usopp," he said coldly. "You’re not ready for this fight."

  Usopp struggled against Coby’s grip, desperation creeping into his voice. "Let go of me!" he shouted, trying to break free. He mao pull out a small hammer with his free hand and swung it wildly at Coby’s head.

  Coby caught the hammer mid-swing, his expression unged. "You’re fighting with desperation, not skill." He twisted Usopp’s wrist, f him to drop the hammer. It cttered to the grouweehe sound eg in the silence.

  Usopp grunted in pain, but he refused to give up. He jerked back, trying to create some distance. His hands fumbled through his bag, pulling out a small jar of pepper. With a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed the tents into Coby’s face. "Take that!"

  The pepper dust filled the air, a cloud of irritation aimed straight at Coby’s eyes. But Coby’s reflexes were faster. He tilted his head just in time, avoiding the worst of it. He blinked a few times, his eyes watering slightly, but the effect was minimal.

  Usopp stared in disbelief. Nothing was w. He couldn’t touch Coby, let alone nd a solid hit. But he refused to back down. He loaded his slingshot again, this time with a small explosive pellet. "I won’t let you win!" he yelled, firing the pellet at point-bnk range.

  The pellet exploded in front of Coby, a burst of smoke and fire engulfing them both. Usopp was thrown back by the bst, nding hard on the ground several feet away. He coughed, struggling to get up as the smoke cleared.

  When the dust settled, Coby stood there, unharmed. He had barely flinched, his clothes slightly singed, but otherwise untouched. He looked at Usopp, his expression unreadable. "You’re out of tricks, Usopp."

  Usopp’s heart sank. He had givehing he had, and it still wasn’t enough. He pushed himself to his feet, breathing heavily, his body shaking from exhaustion. "I… I ’t… I ’t lose…"

  --

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