P.O.V. Raikoh
Raikoh lost consciousness almost instantly—a reflexive response from his body to protect both flesh and spirit during the restructuring process. Had someone possessed a type of Observation Haki or some rare device capable of monitoring him, they would've been stunned by what was happening.
Raikoh's brain underwent complete synchronization, eliminating imperfections in synaptic transmission and reorganizing neural networks for maximum efficiency.
There was a drastic increase in synaptic density, supercharging his memory, processing speed, self-awareness, and creativity. His reflexive capacity reached superhuman levels, allowing him to make complex decisions in mere seconds, as if time itself had stretched to let him calculate.
The part of his brain responsible for self-knowledge and emotional regulation was optimized, resulting in a more balanced, resilient, and self-aware personality.
His muscles reorganized, combining the natural power inherited from his hybrid lineage with an ideal ratio of fast-twitch and slow-twitch fibers, boosting his explosive strength, speed, and endurance.
Microscopic muscular imperfections were repaired, creating denser, more elastic, and more uniform muscle tissue capable of producing peak strength with less fatigue. His motor coordination improved dramatically, allowing what once seemed like instinct to now be executed with perfect, deliberate control.
His bones became denser and more flexible; the minerals within were redistributed efficiently, granting greater resistance to impact without sacrificing the lightness needed for agile movement.
His metabolism reached peak efficiency, with reduced toxins, faster physical recovery, and lower energy expenditure proportional to effort. His organs evolved to the limits of his race, improving circulation, respiratory quality, and digestion. His body also "learned" to maintain the perfect balance between strength, emotional control, and mental clarity.
His appearance became almost supernaturally striking, yet still natural. His hair grew to shoulder length and turned snow white, seeming to glow even under the faintest light. His small black horns thickened and strengthened, while the softness of his skin refined the masculine features of his face, adding an air of nobility and revealing the pinnacle of biological evolution. Finally, the magnum opus he'd inherited from his mother: his intense purple eyes, which shone as if lit by the sun itself, able to capture anyone's attention.
The process was surprisingly quick, likely thanks to the literally divine gift he'd received—something for which he was grateful, as Raikoh didn't want anyone to stumble across him mid-transformation. Now, with a mind that was something beyond human, he swiftly analyzed the stupidity of having done this inside his own house.
The pain from muscle growth and mental fatigue vanished at an astonishing rate; by the time he had opened his eyes and stood up, it had already faded almost completely.
"Not bad, huh?" Raikoh muttered, rubbing his forehead as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. His clothes were covered in black slime, which he assumed were impurities expelled from his body—just like in those fanfics and light novels he'd read in his previous life.
The world itself looked different now to Raikoh. He remembered every detail of his past life as well as this new one. The skills he had "farmed" in his previous life resurfaced and evolved to their absolute peak.
Math, geography, physics, and biology—all of it returned to him, reshaping how he viewed the world, as if he now knew exactly what to do and when, with years of experience compressed and enhanced in his mind. But this also brought problems, because the natural laws of this world were entirely different.
Take the Poneglyphs, for example: if he applied modern Earth science, they appeared to be indestructible. There simply wasn't a known explanation for matter being truly indestructible; on the contrary, destructive forces usually required extreme conditions like immense pressure or temperature. And yet there was that scene where Emet undid the "knot of Haki" left by Joy Boy, suggesting that infusing Haki into objects could change their properties. Perhaps the explanation lay there—or maybe in some lost technology from the Void Century, something that couldn't exist in the "real world.
Bang, bang, bang!
Raikoh was jolted from his spiral of thoughts by knocks on the bathroom door.
"Raikoh, I need to use the bathroom! Hurry up!" came Luffy's voice from outside.
"Yeah, yeah, bro—just let me finish my bath!" Raikoh called back.
"Urgh… okay, but be quick!" Luffy replied, stepping away.
I'd better hurry… I don't even want to imagine the headache once people notice I've changed… I grew about ten centimeters, and my hair… Damn, I look good, Raikoh thought, smiling faintly at his reflection.
Water ran over Raikoh's body as he organized his thoughts faster and more clearly than ever, planning what to do next. But with these ideas came new dilemmas.
Raikoh had already changed the original story. Luffy's childhood had become completely different because he'd had an older brother by his side, removing the lonely years that had once haunted the boy destined to become Pirate King.
Luffy still had the same stubborn drive to prove himself and still caused trouble in the village, but the reckless impulse was toned down. Raikoh knew this was because Luffy feared disappointing him—and being abandoned.
Gramps really doesn't know how to handle people… It's awful that a kid can even feel that way, Raikoh thought.
Other dilemmas were even trickier. What to do when Ace and Sabo appear? Help them get stronger? Prepare them for the sea? Try to soften the deep scars left by the anti-Roger rhetoric implanted by years of Marine and government propaganda? Could this trigger a butterfly effect, plunging the world into chaos—or would it be more like "Threads of Fate," where the universe ensures things happen one way or another?
Thinking too much wouldn't help. Every action could, or could not, change the future. The last thing he wanted was to risk the butterfly effect and lose the original members of Luffy's crew; even if he wanted to help them somehow, he wouldn't jeopardize his brother's destiny.
All the crew members were important in their own way. In his opinion, the girls were key to finding the One Piece. Even if he himself now had a good chance of learning to read the Poneglyphs—whether by spending time with Robin or contacting Dragon and his researchers—they only had fragments from Ohara. And to truly reach the One Piece, you needed to read the Road Poneglyphs, as the anime explained.
Road Poneglyphs, huh? Raikoh thought as he stepped out of the bathroom—only to find Luffy staring at him.
The small black-haired boy squinted at Raikoh, his face turning red, veins bulging on his forehead. Raikoh grew concerned, but Luffy finally gave up and relaxed, heading toward the bathroom.
"Hm, it's a mystery," Luffy nodded to himself.
"What?" Raikoh asked, dumbfounded by the exchange.
"You're taller and look different! It's a mystery!" Luffy replied, glaring at him like he was the fool here.
Raikoh blinked slowly and sighed. Better not overthink the ways of a Monkey D.—they're just like that. Deciding not to waste time, he headed to the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat. Morning light streamed through the wooden window.
What is that? The air feels different… oh, it's the sea breeze. Raikoh's senses were operating on a new level: he could even hear seagulls nearby and townsfolk moving around outside, probably heading to work.
His body felt light yet firm, as if his muscles anticipated his every move. His mind had never been clearer, and with lightning speed, he began to act.
Luffy's going to take a while in the bathroom… I've got time to make something better than usual. It was his first time testing the results of the essence. He'd only ever been a passable cook before, and though Luffy always ate what he made, the kid rarely showed much reaction.
His mind instantly mapped where each ingredient was stored. When he touched the pan, culinary instinct took over. Rice, eggs, smoked fish gifted by old man Hanzo after Raikoh helped fix his fence, a bit of soy sauce Masaki had set aside, and some fruit, part of which would become juice.
Lighting the stove with smooth movements, his senses absorbed everything: the smell of oil heating, the feel of rice grains being washed, and the sweet aroma of fruit wafting through the air like perfume.
His body moved like a machine built to cook. His wrist stayed firm whisking the eggs, strength perfectly controlled as he cut the fish into strips, each movement deliberate—even when adding firewood to the old stove.
"The heat from the wood and this kind of pot… Seven more minutes, and the rice will be ready," Raikoh murmured, shifting focus to the other burner. With a wooden spoon, he stirred the eggs, sensing changes in smell and texture, turning off the heat at just the right moment so they'd be creamy inside and golden outside.
While the rice finished cooking, his hands moved like a conductor's, slicing fruit with precision. He wondered if everything he did from now on would feel so cinematic, and his heart swelled with joy.
In his past life, he'd always felt like a failure. The son who never turned out right, the man no woman wanted, the friend people only called when they needed something. Never enough.
Forget it—the past doesn't matter. Now I've got the badass certification signed by the very entity that handles reincarnation. Raikoh couldn't help but smile, feeling genuinely grateful for his new life.
Pushing aside those thoughts—and noting that despite his reflections, his mood stayed steady thanks to the essence—he focused back on cooking.
When the rice was ready, he filled two ceramic bowls, topping them with the fish and eggs, sprinkled chopped green onions from the cupboard, and poured two glasses of orange juice.
Luffy stepped into the kitchen, his nose twitching as he caught the scent, eyes locking onto the bowls.
"Food!" Luffy lunged forward, but Raikoh caught him by the collar just in time.
"Did you wash your hands?" Raikoh narrowed his eyes when Luffy whistled and claimed he had. "Wash them again—I can see dirt under your nails."
Luffy glanced at his hands in alarm, and Raikoh sighed. Kids, he thought. After practically dragging Luffy to the sink and washing his hands, the two finally sat down to eat.
"Amazing! This is so good!" Luffy shouted, spraying crumbs everywhere—though he at least looked a little guilty after the outburst.
Raikoh sighed again, shook his head, and just watched his brother eat with the purest happiness. Moments like these reminded him that his new life wouldn't be just about battles and adventures. These small moments were the extra seasoning that made everything truly worthwhile.