"Bloop... bloop... bloop..."
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Luffy rummaged through the unconscious mafia members and pulled out a Den Den Mushi. The moment he picked up the receiver, the snail's face morphed into an uncanny likeness of Robin.
Robin instantly hung up the call, after all, seeing a snail mimic her expression like that... was just too ugly to bear.
"So, what now?" Robin asked with a faint smirk, trying to hide her amusement.
Luffy rubbed his temples. "Well... that was a waste. All that fighting for nothing."
Actually, it wasn't a complete loss. He'd earned over 50,000 gold coins in the store system and was almost ready to level up again. Not that anyone else would understand what that meant even if he said it aloud.
"You know who they were?" Luffy waved to Godia in the distance and called out.
Godia quickly trotted over. "Sir, they're the losing side of a war between two major gangs, the ones I mentioned before."
At that moment, Godia's eyes sparkled like stars. To think someone this powerful had just shared a meal with him...
A seed called "dream" had been planted in Godia's heart. All it needed now was a little watering to take root and grow.
So that's who they were, Luffy thought, scratching his chin.
"You know where their base is?"
"Yes, sir. They're hiding in the southeastern slums of the city, but..." Godia hesitated.
"But what?"
"There's only about a hundred of them left. Actually, judging by today's turnout... I think they were all here." He gestured toward the scattered bodies.
Luffy frowned. "Only a hundred? That few?"
"I'm not sure, sir. I got all this information from other gangs," Godia said apologetically.
"Forget it," Luffy yawned and stretched, feeling refreshed after the fight.
"Well, the client's dead. Let's just head back, the air here is disgusting." He flashed Robin a sheepish smile.
Robin's brow twitched. This was, without a doubt, the worst employer she had ever worked with.
After a moment, she said, "Lord Trebol mentioned the reward was an unknown Devil Fruit."
She paused mid-sentence and looked at Luffy for confirmation.
"A Devil Fruit, huh? Sounds interesting, let's check it out." Luffy's curiosity was piqued. After all, Devil Fruits were one of the main themes in the One Piece world.
"Godia, you said you know where their base is?" Luffy clapped him on the shoulder.
"Yes, sir! It's easy to find."
"Then lead the way."
"Yes, sir!"
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Luffy examined the Devil Fruit in his hand, shaped like an apple, pitch black, and etched with bizarre swirling patterns.
For some reason, it felt... different. Even more so than when he'd seen the Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit).
"You know what kind this is, Robin?"
"No idea. It's nothing like my Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit)," Robin replied honestly.
After thinking for a bit, Luffy's eyes suddenly lit up. "Let's just have someone eat it and find out."
He turned toward the kids with them. "Any of you wanna try? Usually, Devil Fruits increase the user's strength and potential."
He tossed the fruit lightly in his hand, scanning the group.
The kids murmured among themselves, then all eyes landed on Godia.
Unlike Luffy, for them, a Devil Fruit wasn't a drawback, it was a chance to grow stronger. Ultimately, they all chose to give the opportunity to Godia.
Godia didn't hesitate. Stepping forward, he dropped to his knees before Luffy.
"Sir, I beg you, grant me this fruit!"
He bowed his head to the ground in a gesture of unwavering loyalty.
Luffy casually handed him the fruit. "Get up. No need for all that."
Godia obeyed instantly and stood.
"Go ahead and eat it."
Godia stared at the fruit for a long while, then closed his eyes and took a bite. His face twisted in disgust.
He hadn't expected it to taste this horrible, worse than anything he'd ever pulled from a trash can.
Unfamiliar with Devil Fruits, he forced himself to eat the whole thing.
Luffy, meanwhile, watched him closely, frowning.
He could sense something strange, an aura both dark and cold yet warm and burning, all at once.
"Try using your powers. Let's see what they do," Luffy said, intrigued.
"Yes, sir." Surprisingly, Godia activated the power with ease, as if he'd done it before.
His body shifted, limbs stretching, size doubling, as he transformed into a large, dark-furred dog with a snow-white head. The form was eerie and unnatural.
Luffy circled him, thoughtful.
Most Zoan fruits granted standard animal forms. Only Mythical Zoans and Ancient Zoans had abnormal or rare traits.
This... definitely wasn't normal.
It wasn't an Ancient Zoan, either.
That left only one possibility.
A Mythical Zoan? Luffy thought, astonished. What a surprise.
"You know what you've become, Godia?" he asked.
Godia, still in animal form, had been staring at the sun absentmindedly. Luffy's question snapped him back.
In a gravelly voice, he replied, "Sir, my power tells me I've become a Great Tengu. I can absorb the essence of the sun and moon to strengthen myself. I can store that energy, recover stamina, and heal injuries."
"I can also sense danger. From you, sir... I feel a power far beyond my reach. But since you bear me no malice, I don't feel the urge to flee."
"And one more thing, sir, please don't move."
"Hm?" Luffy stopped in place, curious but compliant.
Godia turned, white canine face locking on him.
A strange energy surged from Godia and shot into the sky.
Clouds rapidly gathered, darkening the sky completely.
"Awoooo!!" Godia howled. His voice pierced the heavens.
Through the clouds, two beams of light broke through, sunlight and moonlight, simultaneously visible.
The twin beams converged on Godia, illuminating his form.
He howled again, drawing the light to his forehead.
Then he lowered his head and whispered, "Sir, please place your hand on my forehead."
Luffy did as instructed.
Instantly, the light flowed into him, like liquid energy.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've received a permanent buff: "Blessing of the Great Tengu." During this effect, all gold earnings are doubled.]
At that moment,
Luffy's eyes lit up. No, he shined.
He looked like he might explode with joy.
Even though he normally kept up a calm, sage-like persona, this was too much.
The happiness flooded every cell in his body.
His eyes squinted shut, his mouth stretched to his ears, and his gleaming teeth burst into a contagious, unrestrained laugh.
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Godia, this gift...
This gift is amazing!!!"
─────────🏴☠️─────────
Godia returned to his human form, breathing heavily, and dropped to one knee before Luffy.
"Sir, that was the third ability of the Great Tengu: to bestow a blessing on another using sun and moon essence. It wards off misfortune and brings luck."
He paused before adding, "It can only be used once in a lifetime."
Luffy looked at him with admiration.
"Stand up. From now on, don't call me 'sir.' Just call me Luffy."
He paused again.
"So, what do you say? Wanna be my crewmate? Let's go see the bigger world out there."
Luffy was still riding the high, but the offer wasn't without thought. Mythical Zoans clearly boosted one's potential more than ordinary fruits.
Godia, however, dropped to both knees.
"Sir, please forgive me... but I must decline your generosity.
My brothers are still too weak. If I leave, they won't survive in this country.
But I swear, I will not forget this kindness. When they've grown strong enough to stand on their own, I will come find you and serve you with all my strength!
Please, let me earn this!"
He lowered his head once more.
Luffy waved dismissively. "Alright, alright. I get it. And really, just call me Luffy."
"But... sir is sir. I wouldn't dare, "
"Fine. Then be like Robin, call me Luffy-san."
Godia hesitated, thought it over, and said, "Yes, Luffy-san."
A seed had begun to sprout.
==========
You can find much more on my Patreon: Patreon.com/Veltoria
There are currently 5 active fanfictions on Patreon, with over 466+ advanced chapters available across them!
From Naruto Onwards, I Control Time — Up to Chapter 288
Haikyuu!!: Rise of Sengoku — Up to Chapter 223
Danmachi: Is It Wrong To Aspire to Be An Adventurer? — Up to Chapter 97
Legend of Hogwarts (Harry Potter x League of Legends) — Up to Chapter 130
I Am Luffy: Partner System Online (One Piece) — Up to Chapter 113