The moment Luffy saw the small box in Shanks' hand, he seemed to sense something calling to him.Now he was 100% certain that the box contained the Gum-Gum Fruit, also known as the Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Nikka form.
"Main storyline activation detected.Mission issued: After consuming the Gum-Gum Fruit, prevent Shanks from losing his arm.Upon completion of the mission, the system shop will open, and the host will receive 5000 points.These points can be used to purchase desired items in the system shop," the system announced.
Seeing this, Luffy no longer hesitated, grabbed Uta, and ran towards the port.As for stopping Shanks from losing his arm, it was simple.The key was Higuma, the bandit king who had taken down a Yonko with a bottle, stepped on the future Pirate King, and almost ended the Pirate King era.As long as he dealt with him, the future Shanks would lose his left arm to the Lord of the Coast while saving him.Although he could easily kill the Lord of the Coast now, it was better to avoid trouble and deal with Higuma as soon as possible.As for how to do it, Luffy said he didn't know either, and would just take it one step at a time.
Soon, Luffy and his companion arrived at Machiavelli's tavern.Pushing open the door, they saw the Red-Haired Pirates enjoying themselves, their backs to each other.Upon seeing Luffy and Shanks, they teased them, making Uta blush.Luffy, while warning himself that he needed at least three years of training, casually pulled Uta to sit next to Shanks, offering two glasses of orange juice as payment, again using treasure as collateral.He then pestered Shanks to tell him stories of his sea adventures.Luffy's gaze kept drifting to a box placed nearby, while Shanks, constantly using Observation Haki, subtly smiled.Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, Luffy, though knowing he couldn't hide it from Shanks' Observation Haki, opened the box, took out the Gum-Gum Fruit, and gulped it down in several mouthfuls.An indescribable nauseating taste filled his mouth, but he forced himself to eat it.This scene was witnessed by Luffy.
"Luffy, you ate what's in this box?" Razi exclaimed, rushing over to snatch the box.Looking at the already eaten Gum-Gum Fruit, he was on the verge of tears."Luffy, do you know what this is?"
Luffy feigned ignorance and said, "Isn't this fruit?But this fruit tastes awful!"
"This is a Devil Fruit known as the treasure of the sea.Although eating it will grant you a superpower, you'll be rejected by the sea for the rest of your life and forever be a landlubber.But what you ate was the Paramecia-type Gum-Gum Fruit.Although it's not very useful, it could fetch a billion Berries if sold!" After saying this, Razi felt even more like crying.Shanks pretended to be very anxious and immediately grabbed Luffy's legs and started to roll him around, seemingly trying to dump the Gum-Gum Fruit out of Luffy's stomach.But as Luffy's legs suddenly stretched out, it meant that the Gum-Gum Fruit had been absorbed by Luffy.
Luffy, looking belatedly realizing something, exclaimed, "What?I've become a landlubber?Does that mean I can't be a pirate anymore?What should I do, Shanks?"
Just as chaos erupted in the tavern, the door was kicked open with a bang, and a man carrying a long sword walked in.Luffy immediately recognized him as the infamous bandit king, Higuma.Just like in the original story, Higuma smashed a bottle over Shanks' head and was about to leave when Uta couldn't stand it anymore.He stood up and shouted, "Hey, you bastard, apologize to Shanks!"
Upon hearing this, Higuma turned around to teach this arrogant young girl a lesson, but Luffy swiftly stopped and instantly appeared in front of Higuma.Before Higuma could even recover from his shock, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground outside.Just as his underlings were about to avenge their boss, Luffy calmly said, "Anyone else want to make a move?My grandfather is the Marine hero Garp." Hearing this, the underlings immediately ran away, ignoring their fallen boss.The people in the tavern were also incredibly shocked.
"As expected of that old man's grandson, he can use the shave skillfully at such a young age.It seems I didn't choose the wrong person this time!" Shanks thought to himself.However, when he saw Uta run up to Luffy and look at him here and there, well, his heart shattered again.His immature cabbage had already been eaten by the little piglet who hadn't grown up yet.
Time flies.A week has passed since Higuma caused trouble.As for Higuma, he was naturally tied up by the people of Windmill Village and sent to the Marine branch in exchange for a bounty.Garp was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately insisted on returning from the Grand Line to see his beloved grandson, despite the objections of those around him.Shanks, upon learning of this, could only flee.On the eve of his departure, looking at Luffy, who was reluctant to see him go but still stubborn, Shanks smiled slightly, took off his straw hat, and placed it on Luffy's head, uttering the most important line in One Piece: "Luffy, this hat is my most precious possession.I'm giving it to you, and you must return it to me someday, when you become a great pirate."
After saying that, he turned and left.Luffy could no longer hold back.He and Uta waved goodbye to the departing pirate ship with tears in their eyes.Luffy also secretly vowed in his heart that he would find the best crewmates, go to the New World, find One Piece, become the pinnacle of all pirates, and become a pirate even better than Shanks!