"Luffy, are we there yet?"Uta followed behind, panting heavily. After all, she was just a little girl—her physical stamina couldn't compare to Luffy, who had been consciously training since a young age. It wasn't long before she was out of breath.
"Almost." Luffy marched ahead with a spring in his step. His body's potential far exceeded what he had imagined—he was only seven and had already awakened Conqueror's Haki. It wouldn't be long before he awakened Observation and Armament Haki too.
I'll become even stronger than before. Luffy thought about his future journey.
Uta wiped the sweat from her cheek and finally saw Luffy slow his pace. He pushed open a heavy door and entered the dim interior of a windmill-like structure.
"Luffy, are you sure this is the 'super cool' place?"
Uta looked around with disgust at the dusty floor, cobwebs in the air, and dark corridors.
Gross. This place is nasty.
"Hurry up already!" Luffy called confidently from ahead.
She's just a nine-year-old artsy type, right? I got this.
Uta stood by the window of the windmill. From here, she could see the entire island.
The Red-Haired Pirates' ship was docked along the shore, and the sunset was slowly descending. This was the view Luffy brought her to—a natural scene of dusk falling over the sea.
To Luffy, it was just a local sightseeing spot. But to a music-loving songstress like Uta, it was romantic.
It was the kind of nature that touched the heart, awe-inspiring in its beauty, the kind that demanded to be praised in poetry and song.
"So beautiful~" Uta was completely immersed in the sunset. The sea gleamed gold, and she spun in place, closing her violet eyes as she basked in the scenery.
"This… this is my stage! I'm going to change the world from right here!"
Uta started talking like a dreamer.
"I have a dream! I want to travel the world with Shanks, write lots of songs, and bring happiness to the world with amazing music and performances. I want to create a New Era!"
"What about you, Luffy? What do you want to do?"
"I want to protect the 2D world."
Luffy smiled and said something Uta couldn't begin to understand.
"2D… what's that?"
"It's a world. I want to protect a beautiful world."
"Eh?"
Uta tilted her head, staring at the boy.
"Anyway, I'll become a king first."He declared.
"I mean, what else can I do? I am Luffy, after all."
Luffy looked toward the setting sun with determination.
Uta originally wanted to laugh at this little seven-year-old, but for some reason… she couldn't.
There was something oddly captivating about him now.
When did I start feeling this way…? Maybe after I passed out and woke up?
Luffy reached out toward the falling sun and clenched his fist as if grabbing it.
Can I also capture Pokémon, draw a Zanpakutō, refine chakra, and fuse with Digimon using Potara earrings to become a Super Saiyan?
Yes, I can.
Because I'm the hot-blooded shonen protagonist—King Luffy!
The final rays of sunlight bathed him, and he enjoyed it thoroughly.
"Not mad anymore. Come on, time for dinner."
Luffy turned and began walking downstairs.
"Hmph. I'll forgive you this time."Uta followed behind with loud stomping steps.
As they crossed the dark forest, Uta grew a little uneasy."What are you staring at?"
She teased him with a slightly flustered tone, a blush blooming on her face—though it was hidden by the shadows.
"I've been meaning to ask… those headphones you wear on your ears… can they actually play music?"
Luffy tilted his head, looking curiously at the accessory on Uta's ears.
"Huh? Headphones? These are just like a hairband or something."
Uta saw he was curious about her headgear and took it off to show him.
"Ohhh…"
"What are two little brats doing in the forest this late?"
Suddenly, two grown men carrying knives emerged from the mountain trail behind them, coming face-to-face with Luffy and Uta.
They looked nothing like pirates. These were bandits—the kind that roamed the mountain and occasionally came down to Windmill Village to buy wine. Wild beasts in human form.
Uta frowned, her eyes scanning past the bandits toward the well-lit village behind them.
How far would I need to run to call for help? Could Shanks and the others get here in time?
"None of your business, scrubs. Get lost!"Luffy crossed his arms and taunted the two mountain bandits.
"Hey! Luffy! They're adults!"
Uta tugged at his shirt, nervously eyeing the weapons they carried.
It's not smart for a kid to provoke grown men.
"You damn brat! How dare you talk to us like that? You've got a death wish!"
These two mountain bandits were no big shots with names worth remembering. Without a shred of decency, they rolled up their sleeves, clearly intending to beat Luffy up.
But Luffy's body was already in combat mode—his heart pounding, pumping fighting spirit through every part of his body. Even his adrenaline stood at the ready.
Heightened emotions...And the wind that stirred within him…
Just as one of the adult fists was about to land on Luffy's face, the wind burst out from within him, sweeping in all directions.
Conqueror's Haki erupted, rippling outward.
The two grown men—and even Uta, who stood nearby with her mouth agape—rolled their eyes back and collapsed.
Luffy quickly reached out and caught Uta, preventing the girl from hitting the ground with the back of her head. The mountain bandits weren't so lucky—they fell straight to the floor like felled trees.
Once unfamiliar, now familiar.Luffy could feel it—he was starting to grasp the rhythm of Conqueror's Haki.
He turned his eyes toward the two unconscious bodies, then picked up the weapons they had dropped—rusted blades that had seen better days.
Dragging one of the blades behind him, its edge scraping across the grass, Luffy came to a stop before the helpless bandits.
"Hey, kid!"
A voice rang out.
Shanks had appeared at some point in the distance—maybe the moment the Conqueror's Haki burst forth. That kind of reckless power was like a beacon in the dark—small, but dazzling.
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
Gone was Shanks's usual smile and gentle demeanor. He stared seriously at the boy dragging the long blade.
Behind him stood Beckman in his white shirt and a few other pirates—faces Luffy didn't recognize, nor did he know their names.
"I'm doing the right thing."
Driven by strength, the blade cut into the bandit's flesh. Blood sprayed.
Luffy knew then—the world had two fewer worthless scumbags.
With a signal from Beckman, two pirates stepped forward and took the blades and bodies away. Their destination? The vast open sea—or perhaps the belly of a Sea King lurking nearby.
"Tch… never underestimate a child of the sea," Shanks muttered under his breath."Even in the so-called weakest sea—East Blue."
(End of Chapter)