An Older Brother's Loving Iron Fist

East Blue, Nameless Island, at dusk

A gentle sea breeze blew, and the lingering heat of battle had not yet dissipated.

Just as Sabo and Ace were finishing their handshake, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind them—

"Hey!! You two wait for me! I want to fight too!!"

The next second, Luffy broke free from Roy's grasp, swung his arm, and charged towards Sabo and Ace like a cannonball!

"Bang!"

Luffy jumped between the two, excitedly waving his fist. "You guys are having so much fun fighting! I want to fight too!"

Sabo and Ace exchanged a glance, their eyes practically saying, "This kid... delivered himself right to our doorstep?"

Both of them simultaneously curled into a "brotherly mischievous smile."

"Since you're already here, don't stand on ceremony." Sabo gave a warm smile, and the next moment Flash!

"Whoosh!"

In a flash, Sabo had circled behind Luffy and casually raised his palm—

"Dragon Claw Fist - Head-Smashing Special Edition."

"Bang!" The fist covered in Armament Haki landed precisely on the back of Luffy's head!

"Ouch--!" Luffy cried out in pain. Before he could turn around, Ace's figure was already in front of him, with a "Just accept your fate" smile on his face.

"Fire Fist: Heart Lightweight Edition!"

"Boom!"

A fluffy ball of flame came close to his face and exploded with a "smack" on Luffy's face, spinning him around three times on the spot, turning his entire head into a lump of caramel paste!

"Cough cough--! You two cheated!" Luffy, snot and tears streaming down his face from the explosion, cried out, "How could you both attack me?!"

"Oh dear, what are you saying?" Sabo spread his hands innocently. "You were the one who shouted 'I want to fight too!' first, weren't you?"

"We're just fulfilling your wish," Ace grinned like a ruthless businessman with a conscience.

"Then I'll get serious!" Luffy puffed out his cheeks and suddenly transformed—

"Human-Beast Transformation: Mythical Zoan Form!"

His arms suddenly swelled, muscles bulged, and fine pink dragon scales burst forth.

In the blink of an eye, his hands transformed into ferocious Dragon Claws, with elongated, sharp, hook-like finger bones and layers of overlapping scales that shimmered with an eerie iridescence in the light, as if they were alive and pulsating slightly with each breath.

"Iron Fist Rocket Launcher!"

"Swish!"

The two giant claws stretched out like slingshots, carrying the force of wind and thunder as they hurtled straight at Ace and Sabo!

Pity--

With a "whoosh!" the two of them dodged cleanly and Flash to the side.

"Too slow," Ace, as if giving a lecture.

"He's been building up his strength for too long; his intentions are obvious." Sabo commented as if instructing a newcomer.

"Brother's Combo Skill - Flick on the Forehead - Double Strike!"

Thump! Thump!

The two men's fingers accurately popped two bumps onto Luffy's forehead!

"Whoa!!" Luffy and down, clutching his head. "You guys are going too far!!"

However, what happened next was even more outrageous.

Sabo grabbed Luffy with one hand, while Ace grabbed him by the wrist with the other.

"Are you ready?" Ace asked with a smile.

"One, two—flip!"

"Waaaaah--!"

Luffy swung around like a sack of potatoes, used as a human jump rope by the two, spinning and flying, before finally crashing to the ground with a "thud!" leaving a large scorch mark in the shape of an "X"!

Five minutes later

As the sun sets, the island returns to tranquility.

Luffy collapsed in the crater, his head wrapped up like a small mountain, his eyes vacant, muttering, "You two... you're so despicable..."

Sabo and Ace stood beside him, hands on their hips, their calm expressions revealing a strange sense of satisfaction.

"This isn't bullying, it's special training!" Ace said seriously.

"We've gone all out so you can better master the power of the Mythical Zoan!" Sabo added earnestly.

"... You guys are just using this as an excuse to get revenge for me stealing your meat this afternoon!" Luffy looked utterly dejected.

In the distance, Koala was already laughing so hard she was bent over behind a rock, "Haha! Luffy is so pitiful!"

Roy gently shook his head, silently mourning for Luffy for three seconds while gazing at the distant golden-red sky with a smile.

--The playful banter between brothers is always more genuine and interesting than any form of spiritual practice.

Dawn Island, Rock House, Evening

"Whoosh--!"

Space distorted slightly, and five figures landed steadily in the courtyard of the Rock family. The moment they landed, dusk had already quietly tinged the treetops.

Luffy, sporting a head full of bruises, limped down at the back, muttering incoherently, "Waaah... Brother Roy... couldn't you at least heal me while you're at it...? It hurts so much..."

Roy didn't turn around, and said leisurely, "You're a Mythical Zoan ability user, this minor injury can trigger your recovery mechanism and also increase your resilience."

"Resistant to blows?!" Luffy up and down angrily, which aggravated the large bump on his forehead, making him cry out in pain.

Just then, footsteps came from inside the house, and Rock and Airin came out one after the other.

"Oh, you're back—wait, what?!" Airin was heartbroken when she saw the "chain of bumps" on her grandson's head. "Who did this? Did your brother go too far?"

"No! They ganged up on me!" Luffy burst into tears and snot, burying his face in Airin's arms. "Grandma! They were two against one!"

"They have no martial ethics!"

Ace coughed lightly, put his hands behind his back, and said innocently, "I was just playing along."

Sabo blinked and smiled. "That was combat guidance, tactical instruction."

Koala suppressed a laugh and turned her face away, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Rock laughed and stepped forward, patting Luffy on the shoulder with a hearty laugh, "What man doesn't get beaten up? The best part is coming back for some meat afterward!"

Luffy hearing the words "meat," Luffy's eyes immediately lit up. "Grandma! Is there any more meat? I want ten pounds! No, twenty!"

"It's been warming up in the pot," Airin said affectionately, playfully pinching his nose. "We've been waiting for you to come back and eat."

Everyone laughed at the sight.

The gentle glow of the moonlight spilled over the courtyard, and the aroma of cooking filled the air with happiness.

Evening Courtyard Tea House

After the late-night snack, everyone sat around a small table, brewing tea and admiring the moon.

Roy picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Sabo, Koala, don't rush off. Stay for a couple more days."

"Luffy and Ace are here too, let's spend some time with them."

Koala nodded and smiled. "That's exactly what I was thinking too."

After speaking, he looked at Sabo, a hint of tenderness in his eyes, "The three of them together really do look like brothers."

Just as Sabo was about to speak, his Den Den Den Mushi suddenly beeped.

He took it out, raised an eyebrow, and then answered the call, "Hello? Chief."

The Den Den Mushi instantly conjured a cool and aloof expression, its brows furrowed as it spoke each word deliberately, "Sabo, how's the intelligence gathering on the Goa Kingdom going?"

"Ah, everything's fine here," Sabo reported with a smile. "We'll just be resting at Mr. Roy's parents' house for the next couple of days."

"... Roy?" Upon hearing Den Den Mushi's face suddenly froze, its gaze fixed.

"Hmm." As soon as Sabo finished speaking, a hand suddenly appeared next to the Den Den Mushi and took it away without any hesitation.

"Long time no see, Long-ge~" Roy's leisurely voice rang out through the Den Den Mushi.

"Roy," the Den Den Mushi's expression twisted for a moment, "Don't call me that..."

"Don't be like that. You haven't come to see Luffy in all these years. Do you want me to let you have a video call with him now?"

"If you dare, I'll..." The Den Den Mushi suddenly flashed, "... beep-beep-beep--"

It's over.

Koala burst out laughing so hard she nearly fell over the table, while Sabo covered his face and sighed softly, "The leader is as dishonest as ever... even though he clearly cares a lot."

Ace, trying so hard not to laugh, blushed.

Luffy, however, stared blankly at the Den Den Mushi: "Um... who's Dragon? You guys sound like you know him well?"

Everyone suddenly fell silent and looked at Luffy.

Roy raised an eyebrow. "You didn't know? Didn't Grandpa Garp tell you?"

"Huh? Should I know?" Luffy tilted his head, looking completely innocent.

Sabo blinked, as if considering whether he should speak.

Finally, Koala spoke with a smile, "Um, Luffy... Dragon is your biological father."

"What?!!" Luffy spat out a mouthful of tea.

"That's the one... the world's most wanted criminal, the one the World Government dreads most," Ace added with a laugh.

"It's that guy... who just called to scold me, and then I scared him away." Roy added with a grin.

Luffy was completely petrified, collapsing onto the tea table with his hands covering his head. "Why is my father... so outrageous?!?!"

Laughter once again filled the courtyard.

Under the bright moon that night, the Dawn Island cabin was filled with laughter and warmth, while a storm was brewing not far below the horizon.