Screams echoed through the pitch-black dungeon.
Eighty.
Eighty.
Eighty.
"OWWW AHHH!"
It was its own power, yet now it was being used against it. Nika was struck repeatedly by Luffy's giant, Gear Third-sized fists, beaten until dizzy and disoriented.
Ever since Luffy ate the Nika fruit, there had been almost no progress in developing its powers for ten years. Nika had just been sleeping as usual, only to wake up and find Luffy's fruit development had reached an unimaginable level.
But looking at it another way, Luffy was the master here. Before his Devil Fruit awakened, Nika could use pitifully little power. Otherwise, why would it be locked in a cage?
While Nika was suffering, Luffy was thoroughly enjoying himself.
The [Nika Affinity] was still increasing, albeit slowly, making Luffy suspect this guy might have some masochistic tendencies.
BAM!
Another heavy punch landed squarely on Nika's chin, sending its entire body reeling backward in an exaggerated arc, its eyes glazing over.
Luffy stopped his assault, standing in place. After that round of beating, his body was faintly shrouded in white, flame-like clouds that seemed alive—all seemingly plundered from Nika.
Yes, that's right! Those are all mine!
Nika didn't know if Luffy was aware or not, but he could steal power from it, which might even accelerate the Devil Fruit awakening process.
Given the current situation, Nika wasn't absolutely confident it could seize control of this straw-hat-wearing kid's consciousness anymore.
But what Nika didn't expect was for Luffy to step over the cage bars, directly onto its head, staring down at this supposedly Sun God, now utterly embarrassed consciousness.
"Hey. Still have that idea? That I should listen to you and go after Vivi?"
"Of cou—"
Nika shook its dizzy head, trying to muster a shred of ferocity, but upon seeing Luffy's giant fist, wisely suppressed that thought. "No! Absolutely not!"
It spoke loudly, afraid Luffy wouldn't hear.
Each time Luffy hit Nika, some of its fundamental power drained away, while the white flame-clouds around Luffy thickened.
Nika really didn't want to be hit anymore.
A temporary setback wasn't shameful. Being able to bend and stretch—that was the true Nika!
Luffy pursed his lips, a hint of regret on his face.
He dispelled the flame-clouds from his fists, but the faint white aura around his body didn't completely vanish.
He had discovered it too: by beating up Nika, this peculiar white flame-cloud seemed to be stimulated and accumulated. An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire being, as if every rubber cell in his body was dancing with joy.
In a way, Nika was practically a punching bag that gave out energy.
"Talk. What exactly are you? Where did you come from?" Luffy sat down cross-legged.
"What am I?"
I'm not a 'what.'
Nika was about to retort, but seeing Luffy's 'friendly' gaze, it spoke with suppressed frustration, "As I said before, I am the will residing within the Devil Fruit!"
"Will?"
Seeing Luffy's indifferent look, Nika, perhaps feeling this wasn't impressive enough, added, "Not all Devil Fruits have a will. Only special Mythical Zoan types may harbor ancient wills."
"Like you? Doesn't seem very useful. You don't look very smart," Luffy said, waving a hand dismissively.
"You!"
Nika choked back its anger, not daring to speak out. "Devil Fruit awakening is when the will and the eater achieve high compatibility, releasing the fruit's deeper power!"
"You are the one I chose. The destined warrior of liberation. You should shatter this false peace, liberate this world! Starting with the bloodline of the Nefertari clan—"
"—So I should target Vivi?"
Luffy's voice turned cold.
Nika was about to habitually agree, but meeting Luffy's suddenly intensely oppressive gaze, it forcefully swallowed all its words.
It felt that before Luffy now, it was no god, but more like a pet that could be crushed at any moment.
That威慑 emanating from the depths of its very soul made it tremble.
"N-no. That's not it."
Nika's voice carried a tremor.
Luffy now understood.
Why did the so-called Nika Affinity increase when he did those things to Vivi before.
But for Luffy, none of that mattered. The body was his. The will was his.
He acted according to his own will alone.
All other messy things could be ignored.
Luffy looked at Nika. Besides, the benefits from beating it were tangible.
Feeling the surging power within and the active white flame-clouds around him, Luffy's gaze towards Nika increasingly resembled someone looking at a glittering gold mine.
Who cared what "will" it was? In his eyes, it was practically a benefit.
"I know. I'll be back," Luffy stood up.
The flame-clouds on his body swiftly moved, transforming into a massive rope that wound around Nika.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"An experiment. Stay put and you'll be fine."
Maybe because he'd done many experiments lately, Luffy was growing increasingly fond of them.
He now knew this was his own mental space.
Soon, the scene before him receded like a tide. The chaotic sounds of battle and Nika's aggrieved presence vanished instantly.
When his vision cleared again, he saw the room's warm light and Vivi's face, puffed up with anger, right in front of him.
"Luffy!"
The girl's voice was full of dissatisfaction, like a young wife who, in the middle of something important, had suddenly been tossed aside and ignored.
Beside them, Merry showed a big smile.
"Luffy, you're back," Merry said, having sensed it.
Such was the wonder of a ship's spirit.
Seeing Luffy finally snap back to attention, Vivi couldn't understand at all how he could fall asleep in that situation? Was something like that really so tiring? Especially since towards the end, applying the medicine was almost like caressing...
"What's wrong?" Luffy found it hard to connect the "ruler" Nika spoke of with the Vivi before him.
"You still ask what's wrong..."
Vivi's heart was filled with fear and anxiety.
She was a princess who had left a life of comfort to resolutely infiltrate an enemy organization as a spy.
There were things she was willing to endure even humiliation worse than death to survive and accomplish.
But the more she understood the terrifying scale of the enemy she faced, the more fear she felt inside. She was already gritting her teeth and pushing forward by sheer force of will. And then, someone walked up to her, saying in that tough tone that she could rely on her nakama.
So she let down her guard, wanting to use this chance to pour her heart out.
And then, the very person she was confiding in closed his eyes and fell asleep at this critical moment?
Are you playing with me?!
Vivi's heart was in turmoil, anxiety mounting so much that she was nearly in tears.
***
->Support me with power stone
->for 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!