Back to the present…
Luffy's arms rested lazily on the wooden railing of the Marine battleship, the wind brushing past his face as the sea stretched endlessly ahead. The scent of salt and steel lingered in the air, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the engine beneath the deck.
The chaos of Impel Down was now behind him, but his mind still wandered through the maze of memories. It was the silent execution, the frozen stillness of Byrnndi World's corpse, and the crimson-stained ice that whispered of secrets no one else would uncover.
That was when a familiar scent rose with a hint of fire, bringing him back to reality.
Click... Click... Click...
The unmistakable sound of high heels echoed over the wooden deck.
"Still lost in your thoughts, Luffy?"
A sultry voice called out from behind him.
He turned his head slowly, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. There stood Rear Admiral Hina, hips swaying in that dangerously hypnotic rhythm, her long pink hair flowing like silk in the breeze. She wore a black Marine coat draped over her shoulders, her tight crimson top clinging to her curves. Her eyes gleamed beneath her sunglasses, lips curled in that teasing smile that always had a way of testing his patience and resolve.
"What's next, Vice Admiral?" She asked, stepping beside him with one hand resting casually on her hip.
Luffy tilted his head toward the sea, silent for a moment. The waves whispered their secrets to him, secrets only a King of the Sea would dare entertain.
"I'm planning to visit Whole Cake Island… and Wano," He said, his voice low but resolute.
"W-What!?" Hina's sunglasses nearly slid off her face as she hissed through her teeth. Her breath caught in her throat.
Those names weren't something you casually tossed around. Whole Cake Island, ruled by the monstrous Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, and Wano, under the iron grip of the Governor of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido.
Those two weren't just locations. They were strongholds of terror, war, and absolute dominance.
"You're planning to visit two Yonkos' territories?" Hina said with a forced laugh, "Are you trying to start a war with the sea itself?"
Luffy didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the horizon. A gust of wind blew his coat behind him, revealing the deep black Marine uniform underneath, trimmed with red lines of command.
The golden emblem of the Rear Admiral shone on his chest.
He finally turned to Hina with a chuckle. "Relax, I'm not going right now. Just planting the seed. We all still need more training before we rattle those cages."
Before Hina could reply, Zoro stepped forward, leaning on Wado Ichimonji. His green hair fluttered in the breeze, and a grin stretched across his face.
"About damn time," He muttered. "I've been itching to cross swords with something more than Vice Admirals."
Beside him, Kuina cracked her knuckles, her toned arms gleaming under the sunlight.
"The stronger the opponent, the sweeter the victory," She said coolly. "Facing a Yonko sounds like fun."
Hina groaned softly, massaging her temples. "You three are maniacs..."
Luffy stretched his arms behind his head, letting out a loud yawn before waving over the nearest sailor.
"Change the course," He commanded. "We're going back to Marineford."
The deck fell silent, even the waves seemed to hesitate.
Everyone turned toward him, expressions filled with disbelief.
One officer murmured, "Marineford? Seriously?"
"Did he hit his head or something?" Another one whispered.
"He hates Marineford. Didn't he once threaten to punch a Celestial Dragon off the Grand Line when he was forced to escort one?"
Luffy rolled his eyes dramatically, flopping back into his reclining chair like a man burdened with too much power and not enough patience.
"Oi, oi, don't act like I'm marrying a World Noble," He muttered. "I've got business there."
Hina raised an eyebrow. "You do realize Sengoku's going to try to keep you in Marineford again?"
"Yeah. If he thinks he can do it, then he is free to try it. I don't mind tearing apart the Marineford itself." Luffy said, waving her off.
The crew chuckled nervously, some still unsure if he was joking. With Luffy, it was always hard to tell.
As the ship's course began to shift, the sound of crashing waves echoed louder against the hull. The sky darkened slightly, as if foreshadowing the storm brewing in the heart of the Grand Line.
Luffy leaned back and let his mind wander once more.
Back on that day…
When he assassinated Byrnndi World in Level 6, the cold silence of Eternal Hell had echoed louder than thunder.
No alarms had been raised. No cameras caught his figure.
Just two bullets, one through the forehead, another through the heart, turned one of the world's most feared criminals into a lifeless statue.
He remembered the exact moment when his Universal GPS had pinged him.
["Moa Moa no Mi located – Devil Fruit Detected."]
It had happened after he left Impel Down and returned to the Grand Line. The signal led him to a small, uninhabited island not far from the prison.
The Moa Moa no Mi, a Devil Fruit capable of massively increasing the size and speed of objects, had appeared here, taking over a fruit, turning it into a Devil Fruit.
Luffy retrieved it quickly, slipping it into his inventory without fanfare. He chuckled at how easy it had been. He then used Goro Goro no Mi to return to his battleship.
And now… now, he had four Devil Fruits in his possession.
Wapu Wapu no Mi for teleportation. Goro Goro no Mi for destruction. Moa Moa no Mi for augmentation.
And one more remained… the last piece of the puzzle.
Once he got it, once it was his… the seas would kneel.
"Soon…" He murmured under his breath, eyes narrowing. "Soon, even the Yonkos will tremble."
Hina glanced at him from the corner of her eye, sensing the shift in his aura. Something dark and powerful slumbered within him, waiting for a reason to awaken.
She leaned closer, brushing her arm against his. "Planning to conquer the world?"
Luffy didn't look at her, just kept watching the waves.
"No," He whispered, voice barely audible. "I'm planning to break it."
Hina felt a chill roll down her spine, but her lips curled into a smirk. "Then make sure I'm standing beside you when you do."
Luffy turned and gave her a cocky grin, his Incubus Physique making her heart skip a beat as he winked.
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
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Spoilers for the next three chapters!
Chapter 141: Admiration
Chapter 142: Tea Time
Chapter 143: Ain's Assistance
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