"He said, in the storm, this little pain means nothing… Wipe away your tears, and don't ask why."
A small boat drifted gently across the vast open sea, swaying with the wind.
From it, a voice sang loudly and freely.
Luffy wrung out his soaking wet shirt and pants with all his strength, laying them out across the deck to dry under the warm sun.
Just the night before, a violent storm had come crashing down upon him.
Alone, he had to manage the sails and steer the rudder, something he was far from experienced at. Amidst a chaotic scramble, he barely managed to keep the boat from capsizing.
When the storm finally passed the next morning, he went below deck only to find Zoro buried under a pile of toppled furniture and supplies.
It took Luffy a good half-hour just to drag Zoro out and toss him aside.
Only then did he begin organizing the mess, closets, beds, and scattered items.
By the time everything was cleaned up, Luffy realized he was still in his rain-drenched clothes, cold and damp.
So, he took them off and gave them a quick wash.
Not like there was anyone out here in the middle of the sea, anyway, and Zoro was still completely unconscious. Who knew when he'd wake up?
"Clothes are overrated," Luffy thought, then stretched out naked on the deck for a full-body sunbath.
Just as Luffy was savoring his peaceful, carefree moment...
Far off in the same stretch of ocean, a large ship was slowly cutting through the waves.
From a bird's-eye view, the two ships, Luffy's small one and the massive vessel, were headed straight toward each other, set to cross paths.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Aboard the pirate ship…
A pirate with a bizarre hairstyle spoke with a hulking brute beside him. By the giant's side rested a massive spiked warhammer taller than a grown man.
"Captain, we lost six men in last night's storm," reported the odd-haired pirate.
The pirate captain stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"No matter. We've still got over a hundred. If they couldn't survive that, they were just useless deadweights."
"Yes, Captain. One more thing, we also lost a lot of food. What's left will only last us about a week."
"Useless trash!" the captain roared, slapping the pirate so hard he was sent flying.
Then, turning to another pirate nearby, he growled,
"How far is the nearest island?"
The trembling pirate stammered,
"Th-the closest one is Cocoyasi Village… but it's really close to a Marine base. Maybe we shouldn't, AAGH!"
Before he could finish, the captain kicked him clear across the deck.
"I don't need your damn advice!" the captain barked.
Then, he shouted toward the crow's nest,
"Keep your eyes peeled! If you spot any ships, we're charging in immediately!"
"Aye, Captain!" The lookout didn't dare hesitate.
No sooner had he answered than another lookout yelled,
"Thirty degrees northeast! A small vessel spotted! If it stays on course, we'll intercept it in forty minutes!"
The captain narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not waiting forty minutes. Full speed ahead, take that ship!"
Over a dozen pirates around him cheered in response and quickly sprang into action, adjusting the sails and picking up speed.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Back on Luffy's ship…
Dizzy and exhausted from the storm, Luffy had given up caring. He half-heartedly adjusted the rudder back to its old angle and let fate steer him.
He lay stark naked on the deck, sound asleep.
Who knew how much time passed before,
BOOM!
A loud crash startled Luffy awake. The sound of shouting followed.
He rubbed his eyes and stood up, only to see a giant pirate ship looming right beside his own. Its railings were packed with pirates glaring down at him.
"Captain! Looks like no one's on this boat!" one short pirate said to a tall one.
Of course, short for a pirate still meant three times Luffy's height.
"I'm right here, idiot!" Luffy yelled, then realized, he was still naked.
Flustered, he grabbed his now sun-dried clothes and, in full view of over a hundred pirates, casually dressed himself without shame.
In the meantime, a boarding plank was lowered between the ships.
The pirate captain and about twenty of his crew stepped onto Luffy's boat, nearly overcrowding it.
A pirate next to the captain glanced around and said,
"Looks like a shipwreck survivor… just a kid left. Odd that such a tiny boat made it this far into the open sea."
The captain slung his spiked warhammer over his shoulder.
"Who cares why? Search the boat. Bring back anything useful. As for this piece of junk, I wouldn't take it even if you gave it to me."
The twenty pirates began ransacking the ship, grabbing food, supplies, anything they could find.
Luffy stood by silently, a faint amused smile playing at his lips.
A few minutes later, one pirate returned carrying Zoro and dumped him next to Luffy.
"Captain! We found a stash of food and supplies below deck. Also, two kids who might be shipwreck survivors. Do we bring them with us?"
The captain glanced over at Luffy and Zoro.
"Forget it. Too young. Can't fight, can't even scrub the deck, just more mouths to feed. I'll put 'em out of their misery. Better than starving to death on an empty boat. Hahahaha!"
With that, he hefted his massive warhammer and walked toward Luffy.
None of the pirates nearby batted an eye. They smiled, casually watching their captain prepare to execute two kids.
To them, this was one of his nicer decisions.
A few pirates back on the main ship, however, covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight.
The captain reached Luffy, laughing nastily.
If Luffy hadn't been so short, the man's foul breath alone would've knocked him unconscious.
"Kid, I'm the captain of the Raging Hammer Pirates. And today, I'm sending you to hell! Got any last words, hahahaha!"
Luffy thought to himself, anyone who laughs like that before killing someone is either an idiot or a lunatic.
Today, clearly, it was the former.
"Not talking? Fine. Saves me the trouble." The captain raised his massive warhammer and swung it down toward Luffy's skull.
PANG!
A thunderous clang rang out.
The captain froze in disbelief.
Luffy had stopped the blow, with one hand.
"You said something wrong just now," Luffy said calmly.
"W-what…?" the captain stammered, suddenly realizing he'd picked the wrong target.
"I'm actually great at chores." Luffy smiled brightly.
Then vanished.
─────────🏴☠️─────────
"AAAGHHH!"
"HELP!"
"NOOO!"
Screams erupted from all around.
The captain could only watch in horror as every one of the pirates on Luffy's boat was struck down, each with a hole punched through their chest or gut.
Some died instantly. Others writhed in pain. But none would survive.
Sweat soaked through the captain's clothes. His throat tightened.
[Ding! The host has killed a regular pirate. EXP +25]
[Ding! The host has killed a regular pirate. EXP +28]
[Ding! The host has killed a regular pirate. EXP +36]
Luffy's grin widened with every notification.
He turned to the trembling captain.
"So, Captain… how'd you like my little 'chore work'?"
"W-who the hell are you!?" the man shouted, eyes wild with fear.
Luffy smirked.
"Someone you could never be."
He dropped a reference from his past life, then dashed forward.
With one graceful leap, he landed right in front of the pirate captain.
He reached out, and with fingers like steel, pierced the man's chest and crushed his heart.
As the captain collapsed, all he could think about was,
"What did that even mean…?"
And then he died, confused and completely defeated.
[Ding! The host has killed a regular pirate. EXP +625]
==========
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