Luffy collapsed onto the ground, his body looking shriveled and hollow — he was completely drained.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Like the beating of a drum, his heart started pounding again, and his body began to swell, ready to reawaken once more.
Bang!
Without hesitation, Kaito slammed his fist into Luffy's left chest. The sound of his heartbeat stopped dead.
He'd held back just enough not to kill him outright — the punch merely stopped his heart for a few seconds. But that was all it took to silence the so-called "Drums of Liberation" of the Nika Fruit.
Looking down at Luffy, Kaito said flatly,
"Sit-ups don't work on me."
As the Drums of Liberation faded away, Luffy's body returned to normal, reverting from his Nika form. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Kaito's cold, expressionless face.
Startled, Luffy shot up from the ground and shouted in panic,
"K-K-Kaito!"
Ace and Sabo froze. Now this was the Luffy they remembered.
Standing awkwardly, Luffy stared at Kaito with wide eyes, looking exactly like a kid who'd just been caught doing something wrong.
Kaito nodded slightly, as if he understood.
There was definitely someone else's will residing in the Gum-Gum Fruit — a will that had been quietly influencing Luffy all along. It was something akin to Kotoamatsukami.
Honestly, Kaito had once suspected that Naruto, too, might have been influenced by Asura's will. After all, being treated like that since childhood and never turning dark? That was downright suspicious.
After Kaito's "lesson," Luffy's body could no longer sustain that mysterious power, and he temporarily reverted back to his usual idiotic self.
Kaito walked up to him. The usually loud and carefree Luffy didn't even dare to breathe too loudly now — the impression Kaito had left on him before ran deep.
Seeing Luffy's dull, nervous eyes, Kaito crossed his arms and asked,
"So, now you remember me? Looked like you were trying to prove something just now."
"G-gulp… , I don't know what happened! I just suddenly started fighting Ace and Sabo for no reason — and even attacked you! I'm sorry..."
Ace and Sabo limped over, both looking Luffy up and down. Seeing their little brother standing there after beating the crap out of them, Luffy suddenly felt like laughing — but he didn't dare. He pressed his lips together, trying his best not to burst out laughing.
Honestly, that made it worse.
Blue veins bulged on Ace and Sabo's foreheads as they clenched their fists. Through gritted teeth, Ace hissed,
"Luffy… are you proud of yourself for beating us up like this?"
"N-no!"
"Idiot! Fist of Love!"
Bang!
Luffy spun through the air like a top. He was even weaker than Ace now — when he hit the ground, he didn't get up for a long while.
Holding his swollen head, he shouted,
"Damn it! That's Grandpa's move! Why did he teach it to you!?"
Ace snorted, retracting his smoking fist.
"I figured it out myself. Works perfectly on you!"
Then, Ace's face shifted instantly, like a quick-change performer. He looked at Kaito with pure admiration and yelled,
"You're finally back!"
Kaito chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
"It's been a while. You've grown."
"Hehe..."
Ace scratched his head with a goofy grin.
Sabo, on the other hand, was seeing Kaito up close for the first time. Compared to Ace, he was much more restrained. Bowing slightly, he said respectfully,
"Your Majesty, I'm Sabo, currently a Rear Admiral in the Marines."
Kaito nodded.
"I know who you are — Dragon's most capable subordinate. You're not bad. Much more level-headed than these two."
Sabo hadn't expected praise. His face flushed bright red from excitement.
Ace, noticing it, immediately felt jealous.
Sabo didn't see Ace's sour expression. Remembering Luffy's strange behavior earlier, he quickly asked,
"Your Majesty, what happened to Luffy? He seemed like a completely different person before!"
Kaito glanced at the boy still lying on the ground and said calmly,
"Nothing major. He was just possessed."
He raised a hand, and Luffy's body floated toward him. Kaito pressed his palm onto Luffy's forehead — and pulled hard.
A white, humanoid spirit was yanked straight out.
Luffy screamed in terror.
"Is that my soul!? Oh no, oh no, I'm gonna die!"
Ace immediately grabbed Luffy by the cheeks, stretching his face long and thin as he yelled,
"Idiot! Do you look like you're dying right now!?"
With his face all distorted, Luffy blinked and muttered dumbly,
"Hey, yeah... I guess I'm fine..."
Kaito shot him a cold, "are you serious?" kind of look.
The spirit, however, suddenly began to struggle. Its white face formed features, glaring at Kaito as it spoke,
"You're one of the ones who helped Imu — it's you people who have shackled this world!"
Luffy's eyes widened.
"I remember that voice! It's the one that's been whispering to me!"
The spirit turned sharply toward him.
"You are my successor. Restoring the Kingdom and liberating the world is your duty! I've only been guiding you!"
"What are you talking about? Who even are you!?"
"I am Joy Boy — the King of this world!"
At those words, Ace's face darkened immediately.
"What kind of nonsense is that!? Kaito is the true King of the World!"
"He and Imu are both despicable thieves!"
"You bastard, I'll—"
Bang!
Kaito's hand pulsed with energy. Joy Boy's spirit shattered into countless white motes of light and vanished completely.
Brushing off his hands, Kaito said coolly,
"One after another… even in death, they just can't stay quiet."
Then he turned his gaze toward Luffy again.
Under that look, Luffy immediately scrambled to his feet and stood at attention.
"Hey, you still planning on being a pirate?"
Luffy froze.
Before, he would've shouted "Of course!" without hesitation — but now, he realized he didn't feel that urge anymore.
When he really thought about it, what he wanted wasn't to be a pirate… he just wanted to go on adventures.
After a moment's hesitation, and to Ace's utter shock, he said,
"I... don't want to anymore."
Hearing that, Kaito nodded in satisfaction.
The arduous mission of curing Luffy's "King addiction" was finally complete.
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