## One Piece Chapter 421, pages 10-13: Gear Third - Chapter: 421 - Pages: 10-13 - Characters: Monkey D. Luffy, Rob Lucci ### Summary Page 10: Luffy finally says the rule that has been driving him: "IF I CANNOT DEFEAT YOU, I WON'T BE ABLE TO PROTECT ANYBODY!!" He launches himself forward with a spinning arm, calling, "GOMU GOMU" as the rubber coils stretch toward Lucci. The attack becomes "RIFLE!!!" but Lucci hardens his body with "TEKKAI" and takes the blow without falling. The failed impact shows Luffy that normal force is not enough. If he wants to stop Lucci before the flood and Buster Call consume everyone, he needs something beyond the attacks he has already shown. Page 11: Lucci counters immediately with "UTSUGI!!!" and turns Luffy's own force back against him. He explains the technique: "IT'S A COUNTER-ATTACK USING 'TEKKAI.' IF IT WERE AN ORDINARY PERSON'S FIST, IT COULD BREAK INTO PIECES." Then he admits Luffy is tougher than expected: "I THOUGHT I MET SOMEONE WITH GUTS, BUT I GUESS I WAS WRONG... AFTER ALL, THE EFFECTS OF THE EARLIER DOPING ARE NOW GONE." Lucci continues with a ranged strike, "FLYING 'SHIGAN' 'BACHI'!!!" Luffy pants under the damage, and Lucci's words make clear that Gear Second's boost has faded. The fight is entering the moment where Luffy must reveal another answer or lose. Page 12: Lucci keeps driving Luffy backward. A heavy strike sends him flying with "UGH!!" and another shot tears through the space around him. Lucci calls "RANKYAKU," and Luffy barely reacts in time, shouting "SHIT!!" before the slash rips past. He is knocked again with "UWAH!!" and skids through the ruined room. The page is a chain of impacts, but the important story beat is that Lucci now has momentum: Luffy is injured, Gear Second's speed has faded, and the room is still becoming more dangerous by the minute. Page 13: Luffy is hit by a "STAMP!!!" and drops back, panting. Then he stands again and changes the battle. "HAA... HAA... IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A BATTLE OF FORTITUDES," he says, "LET ME SHOW YOU... MY OTHER TECHNIQUE!!!" Lucci pauses, alert. Luffy grips his thumb between his teeth and speaks the word that gives the chapter its title: "GEAR" and then "THIRD." The quiet before the technique is almost heavier than the fight itself, because Luffy is choosing a power Lucci has not seen and one that clearly costs him something to use.