The hatch burst open, revealing Luffy slumped in the center of the cabin.
With his back facing the entrance, his silhouette could only be described as gaunt and skeletal.
Seeing Luffy in such a state, Nami rushed forward without hesitation. As soon as she got close, a faint yet unmistakable stench of decay hit her.
Lindbergh quickly followed. When they got a clear look, they saw Luffy with his eyes half-lidded, deep sunken sockets, and prominent cheekbones. He no longer resembled a young man not even twenty—he looked like someone on the brink of death.
Nami was so terrified that she threw herself onto Luffy, but his body was so weak that he collapsed under her weight, sending both of them tumbling to the floor.
Lindbergh hurriedly stepped in, lifting them both up. Nami, ignoring the pain in her knees, shook Luffy forcefully, calling his name.
When he still didn't respond, she turned to Lindbergh and ordered him to fetch Chopper. Lindbergh immediately burst into full speed, and within moments, he returned with Chopper, who still had bandages wrapped around his head.
Chopper was momentarily confused, but the instant he saw Luffy's condition, he rushed forward to examine him.
Taking out his ever-present stethoscope, Chopper listened intently for a moment, then lifted Luffy's eyelids before speaking gravely.
"Luffy's body is extremely weak. Judging by his mental state, he still hasn't recovered from what happened last time. And it looks like he hasn't been eating or drinking at all!"
"What!?"
Nami's face changed instantly. She whipped around and grabbed Lindbergh by the collar, shouting angrily,
"You were the one who said Luffy needed some time alone! How the hell did you manage things?! No one has been bringing him food or water this whole time?!"
Lindbergh panicked, hurriedly responding,
"No! This cabin has plenty of food and water. Look, see for yourself!"
He pointed toward a large refrigerator in the corner. Nami fell silent when she saw it.
At that moment, Luffy slowly regained consciousness, weakly murmuring,
"Nami..."
Hearing his voice, Nami quickly leaned in, calling his name.
"Luffy! You're finally awake!"
Lindbergh moved in a flash, fetching a small barrel of water. Nami took it and brought it to Luffy's lips, trying to get him to drink, but Luffy barely turned his head away and muttered hoarsely,
"I... killed Grandpa..."
Nami froze, then quickly said,
"No! Luffy, that wasn't your fault! Vice Admiral Garp... Garp passed away from exhaustion! Lindbergh, tell him!"
Lindbergh, called upon, nodded vigorously and added,
"That's right, Luffy! Garp didn't die by your hands. You don't need to blame yourself!"
Tears welled up in Luffy's eyes as he slowly raised his trembling hands, staring at them in despair.
"But these hands... they were the ones that hurt Grandpa..."
Nami started crying too.
"Luffy, this wasn't your fault at all! It was Joy Boy! That moment—it was him controlling your body!"
Luffy suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, under the worried gazes of the three, he struggled to his feet, staggering unsteadily.
He lifted his head, golden light occasionally flickering in his eyes, and started murmuring to himself,
"Have you had enough? Is this really the time to act like a child? All you're destroying is your own body!"
Hearing this, Nami instantly knew the voice didn't belong to Luffy himself. Ignoring his weak condition, she stood up and slapped him across the face, shouting,
"Luffy! Wake up! Don't let that bastard take over your body again!"
Luffy's eyes widened in shock. His pupils flickered before returning to their usual black. He shook his head forcefully, then clutched his head and let out a furious roar.
"Enough! This isn't the life I want!!"
With an explosive surge of willpower, Luffy forcibly suppressed Joy Boy's presence within him.
Joy Boy, now cowering within Luffy's mind, spoke resentfully,
"Don't you want to avenge your fallen comrades? Have you forgotten how Ace died?!"
At that moment, Ace's final moments surfaced in Luffy's mind—him shielding Luffy with his own body, Usopp's lifeless head embedded in his chest, his empty eyes staring back at him.
"AAAHHHHHH!!!"
Luffy clutched his hair and dropped to his knees, screaming in anguish.
Seizing this moment of emotional turmoil, Joy Boy attempted to regain control. White flame-like clouds began to form around Luffy's body.
Sensing the danger, Nami grabbed Luffy's shoulders, shouting desperately,
"Luffy, don't give in! You have to fight back!"
Chopper clung to Luffy's leg, joining in.
They had noticed it—each time Luffy fought, Joy Boy took control for longer periods, even emerging randomly outside of battles. If this continued, there might come a day when Luffy would never wake up again. And that would be no different from death.
Lindbergh stood off to the side, his expression conflicted. His hands twitched between action and hesitation.
On an emotional level, he wanted to stop Joy Boy from possessing Luffy. But logically, he knew how crucial Joy Boy's power was. Ever since their fight with Blackbeard, the search for Emet, and the recent battle involving Garp, Joy Boy's strength had been indispensable. Without him, the Revolutionary Army might have already been wiped out when Blackbeard attacked.
Meanwhile, Joy Boy's voice echoed in Luffy's mind,
"You are the destined successor of the Will of D! Accept my power! Let us become one!"
Luffy gritted his teeth and growled,
"I just want to be myself... I... I am the man who will become the Pirate King!!"
"That doesn't have to change. Can't you see? Without my power, you'll never become Pirate King! Blind passion alone won't defeat the Celestial Dragons! Or the World Government behind them! Accept it! This power was always meant to be yours!"
Joy Boy's voice was dripping with temptation. Luffy's gaze grew dazed, and his body released Conqueror's Haki, sending shockwaves that knocked Nami and Chopper backward.
Lindbergh watched, his face torn with indecision. But at that moment, an image flashed through Luffy's mind—a clenched fist.
"The final... Fist of Love!"
In the next instant, Luffy's body jerked back, his eyes flying wide open. The white flame clouds dissipated in an instant.
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+210 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg