Hearing his words, the system couldn't help but groan.
[You really are hopelessly delusional, aren't you?]
"Relax, I was just joking!" Luffy waved his hand casually, grinning in his usual carefree way. He wasn't so naïve as to think he could leap straight into Ultraman-level power overnight.
Still, even if he couldn't become Ultraman, that didn't mean he couldn't imitate a few of his moves.
Crossing his arms into an X in front of his chest, Luffy concentrated. A dazzling beam of light burst forth from his hands, slamming into a tree a short distance away.
With a thunderous crack, the trunk exploded into fragments, scattering across the ground.
[Wait… what was that?!]
"That," Luffy said proudly, puffing out his chest, "was my Spacium Ray!"
Of course, the power wasn't nearly as devastating as the original Ultraman's legendary technique, but the sheer thrill of pulling it off left him grinning ear to ear.
And he wasn't done yet. Gathering particles of light between his palms, he compressed them into a sharp disk that shimmered like a blade. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled it forward.
The luminous wheel sliced cleanly through another tree, splitting it neatly into several pieces.
"Now this is fun!" Luffy laughed, eyes sparkling with childlike excitement. The system could practically feel the boy's giddiness.
Compared to this, even Admiral Kizaru's flashy Yasakani no Magatama attack suddenly seemed less impressive to him.
Still, he hadn't forgotten Kizaru's original techniques. Mimicking them one by one, he practiced until the motions felt almost natural.
When at last his stamina began to wane, he stretched with a long yawn. "That's enough for today. Time to call it a night."
For the first time in his life, he had real superpowers at his fingertips. The thrill was intoxicating, and he lost track of time until he realized the sky outside had long since darkened. His body, however, felt heavy with fatigue.
Returning to the Astral Express car that now served as his makeshift base, Luffy collapsed onto the seat and drifted into sleep.
By the time he awoke, it was already noon the next day. After a good night's rest, his spirits were high and his grin as wide as ever.
[Alright, partner, everything's ready. Isn't it about time we set out on your grand adventure as a cosmic pirate?] The system urged, impatient as ever.
Luffy stretched lazily. "Don't rush me. Look at this train car it's a complete mess. Shouldn't we at least clean it up first? You can't expect me to live in this junk heap forever, can you?"
[Well… I suppose you're not wrong.]
"Exactly. So why don't you tidy up the place a bit? Meanwhile, I'll go grab some supplies for the journey."
[Wait a minute, you expect me to do the cleaning?! No way!]
"Aw, don't be like that," Luffy coaxed, flashing his best puppy-dog smile at thin air. "Think about it: if you clean up quickly, we can leave that much sooner. Otherwise, if you wait for me to finish, who knows how long it'll take? You want me to become the Pirate King of the Stars, right? Then the faster we go, the better!"
[Hmm… when you put it that way…]
The system fell silent, as though deep in thought. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, it gave in.
[Fine, but you'd better be quick about it!]
"Deal!"
With a snap of light, Luffy's body scattered into glowing particles as he zipped across the city toward his shabby little apartment.
Compared to the hours it took him to get here the first time, the return trip lasted less than a minute. Luffy chuckled as he rematerialized in front of the rundown building.
"The Glint-Glint Fruit really is convenient!" he said with genuine admiration.
Inside, he quickly gathered his few possessions. He didn't own much, so the packing was over in no time. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he descended the stairs and stepped outside.
On the front steps, basking in the afternoon sun, sat the landlady an elderly woman everyone simply called Granny Dadan. She had always looked after him in her own brusque, motherly way.
"Granny Dadan, I'm moving out," Luffy announced with a smile.
The old woman looked up, wrinkles deepening as she squinted against the light. "Leaving already, boy?" she asked warmly.
"Yeah. The city's too stifling, too competitive. A friend suggested I… well, head out to sea, so I've decided to move on."
He had been about to blurt out become a pirate, but wisely held his tongue. No sense in giving the poor woman a heart attack or worse, a reason to call the authorities.
"Ah, cities are like that. Heading out to sea sounds wait, what?" Granny Dadan's smile faltered. Had he really just said what she thought he said?
Rubbing her ears, she peered at him more closely. "Luffy, are you serious about this?"
"Yeah. My friend kind of pushed me into it, but the more I think about it, the more excited I get. A life full of danger, adventure, and the unknown it feels like that's what I was born for." His voice trembled slightly with anticipation, his eyes already fixed on horizons far beyond the city.
The old woman blinked, speechless. She had lived many decades, but never encountered a youngster quite like this.
"Who knows, Granny? Maybe someday you'll see me on the news, broadcast by the Interstellar Peace Company!"
In his mind, that meant a lofty bounty and fame across the stars. To Granny, though, it only sounded more bizarre. Since when did the Peace Company broadcast things like that?
With a weary sigh, she shook her head. "Times really have changed. I can't keep up anymore."
"I'll get going then, Granny. Still have some shopping to do before I leave."
She watched him head off, muttering softly, "Such a good boy, and already chasing danger…"
At the city's largest shopping plaza, Luffy spent over half his credits stocking up on preserved foods, water, and basic necessities. Laden with supplies, he returned to the little apartment one last time.
He paused in the doorway, gazing at the room that had been his shelter for so long. A strange heaviness filled his chest.
Just then, the door creaked open. Granny Dadan stepped inside, her expression more serious than usual.
"Granny? Did you need something?" Luffy asked curiously.
She said nothing at first, only walked up and placed a wrinkled hand on his shoulder. Her eyes softened.
"This is just a small token from me," she murmured. "The road you've chosen won't be easy. If you ever find you can't walk it anymore, my door will always be open to you."
With that, she gave him one last, lingering look, sighed deeply, and shuffled away.
Luffy stood there, stunned, clutching the small parcel she had pressed into his hands. Though he didn't fully understand her words, he felt their weight settle into his heart.
After a long moment, he turned, tightened the straps on his pack, and gave the apartment a final glance.
Then, with his grin returning, he stepped out into the world ready to begin the journey of a lifetime.