Although Gear 3 was used by Luffy to sabotage the metal tunnel entrance at Enies Lobby, its first visual appearance was in One Piece episode 304, “If I Can’t Win, I Can’t Protect Anyone!” “Gear 3 Activates” in his conflict with Rob Lucci, who was then a CP9 member.
| Episode Number | Episode 304 |
| Episode Name | If I Can’t Win, I Can’t Protect Anyone! Gear 3 Activates |
| Manga Chapter | Chapter 421 |
| Chapter Name | Gear 3 |
An overview of the episode
When Sogeking, also known as Sniper King in the English Dub, fell from the damaged piece of the Tower of Justice, Sanji and Zoro were at the base of the tower.
While still on the Bridge of Hesitation, Franky and Nico Robin are preparing to fight their way past Spandam and the Marines to reach a getaway ship.
In the first column, Rob Lucci and Luffy are still fighting at the same moment. By flooding the underground passage and column with seawater with a Rankyaku, Lucci has just made sure that anyone trying to catch up with them drowns.
In horror, Robin falls to the ground as she sees the Buster Call arrive. Attacking Enies Lobby’s main island is The Buster Call’s first move.
Their major objective is to prevent Luffy and the other Straw Hat Pirates from saving and escaping with Nico Robin, the Demon Child before they can.
Franky is horrified by this brutality. In the meantime, terror had paralyzed Robin. She recalls how equally cruel the Buster Call had been when destroying her home of Ohara, and she is now experiencing its terrifying power once more.
Sanji, Zoro, Sogeking, Kokoro, Nami, Chimney, and Gonbe traverse the tunnel in two groups. Chimney in front explains to Kokoro and Nami how Luffy broke the large steel door earlier using the Gear 3 technique.
Despite being successful, the attack seemed to cause Luffy to momentarily contract into a smaller form. The sound Chimney then hears in the distance is actually the surge of the ocean.
While this is going on, Lucci keeps making fun of Luffy’s crew, pals, and the awful fate they all shared. But Luffy believes in them.
As the two groups battle the approaching ocean, Luffy and Lucci pick up their fight once more, with Lucci’s Rokushiki mastery compelling Luffy to utilize his trump card.
In order to attack Lucci, he activates Gear 3 and fires his Gomu Gomu no Gigant Pistol.
Lucci’s Tekkai, also called Iron Body in the English Dub, was defeated by Gomu Gomu no Gigant Pistol, which also knocked Lucci out of the way and blew a huge hole in the first column.
