"Buzz!"
A mysterious light flew out from Nami's hand and hovered in front of Luffy.
"This... this power is... Ace's!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes widening in astonishment.
Although it had been several years since he last saw Ace, Luffy immediately recognized the familiar energy emanating from the ball of light. The bond between the three sworn brothers—Luffy, Sabo, and Ace—was deep, but Luffy shared a particularly close connection with Ace. Sabo had disappeared shortly after they became brothers, leaving Luffy and Ace to grow up together. This prolonged companionship had fostered an unbreakable bond between them.
Luffy had never seen his parents and had been left at Dadan's house by Garp. From childhood until Ace set sail, Luffy had been inseparable from Ace. To Luffy, everything about Ace was familiar, down to the very essence of his power.
Nami's voice brought him back to the present. "Take it," she said, her expression serious. "This is the power Ace gave you, called the Enlightenment Light Ball. Ace said he will wait for you in the New World. Don't let Ace down, Monkey D. Luffy."
The Enlightenment Light Ball was not like the ones Ace had given to Katakuri and other allies. While Ace could create those at will by replenishing the power of "Nika," the one given to Luffy was special. It had taken Ace nearly a year to make it.
The Enlightenment Light Ball was a manifestation of Ace's enlightenment field, created using the power of "Nika." Within its range, those affected would experience a significant boost in their understanding and abilities. The effect of the Light Ball depended on the amount of Nika power Ace had infused into it.
Unlike Haki or Devil Fruit abilities, activating the Nika power required immense physical and mental strength. Ace had poured a substantial amount of Nika power into this Light Ball, which necessitated a lengthy recovery period. Even with his Logia powers and the ability to restore physical strength through the Mera-Mera Fruit awakening, the mental energy consumption required time to recuperate.
Ace had also been cautious of the World Government and Imu's potential actions. He had to ensure that he didn't exhaust himself to the point of vulnerability. Throughout the creation process, Ace had to retain more than half of his physical and mental strength, only continuing the manufacturing process after fully recovering each time. This cautious approach stretched the creation period to nearly a year.
Nami had never seen Ace exert his Nika power so intensely, not even against formidable foes like Kaido of the Beasts and Big Mom Charlotte Linlin. This showed how much Ace cherished his younger brother.
Nami looked at Luffy with a stern expression. "Don't let Ace down," she repeated. "He's poured everything into this for you. Make sure you live up to his expectations, Monkey D. Luffy."
"Ace, you've been watching me all along," Luffy murmured, his eyes locked on the light ball before him. His wide grin stretched across his face, a smile both simple and radiant, reflecting the bond he felt with his brother.
"Of course! I'm Ace's younger brother! I want to be his right hand and become the man who finds the One Piece!" Luffy declared with unwavering determination. He reached out, his hand closing around the light ball.
The moment his fingers made contact, a deep, rhythmic thumping echoed from within him—his heartbeat, syncing with the mysterious rhythm of the light ball. It was as if his heart and the ball were one, beating in perfect harmony.
"Something's coming out!" Luffy exclaimed, pounding his chest as the energy within him surged.
"Buzz!"
In an instant, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp stared in disbelief as Luffy's entire body began to change. Nami and Tashigi, their eyes wide with shock, watched as his transformation unfolded.
Luffy's skin, hair, and even his clothes began to turn white, as though they were being dipped in pure light. His once-black hair now shone with a brilliant white hue, and a flowing white ribbon, resembling a flickering flame, appeared behind him. It was the unmistakable sign of the awakened Nika power, the white flame cloud.
"This... this is the form!" Tashigi gasped, her lips parting in astonishment. She recognized it immediately—this was the same state Ace had entered when he defeated Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, the fearsome Nika-Zanka no Tachi, the Sun God form.
But there was one crucial difference: while Ace's form had been a fiery red, symbolizing his power over fire, Luffy's was pure white, representing something entirely unique.
"So that's why you went to such great lengths, Ace," Nami whispered, her crimson lips pressed into a thoughtful line. She understood now, fully grasping the gravity of what Ace had done.
Ace's younger brother, Monkey D. Luffy, had consumed the most powerful Devil Fruit, the same fruit that had granted the legendary liberation warrior his abilities 800 years ago—the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Beast-Nika Form. It was a secret known only to a select few.
Even Ace's Nika power had originally come from Luffy, but Ace had made it his own, completely independent of the fruit's original form. With his unparalleled mastery, Ace had harnessed this power, turning it into a Light Ball of Enlightenment—a beacon of energy capable of awakening the dormant force within Luffy.
Through this miraculous act, Ace had managed to trigger the reawakening of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Beast-Nika Form that had lain dormant within Luffy for centuries. It was a feat so incredible that it had taken Ace nearly a year to perfect the creation of the Enlightenment Light Ball, an effort that had required the full extent of his abilities.
"This... this is incredible..." Luffy muttered, staring in disbelief at the changes in his body. It felt as though a flood of new fighting techniques and instincts had suddenly been unlocked in his mind, as if there were no limits to what he could do.
"Luffy, how do you feel?" A voice, familiar and comforting, resonated through the air.
"Ace?!" Luffy's head shot up, eyes wide with surprise.
"Buzz!"
The atmosphere shimmered, and an ethereal screen materialized before him. There stood Ace, smiling softly at his younger brother, who had now taken on the form of Gear 5.
"Ace! It's really you! What's going on with this form?" Luffy shouted, excitement and confusion battling within him.
Ace chuckled, his eyes warm as he took in the sight of Luffy transformed into the mythical Nika. "You'll understand everything when you get to me," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.
Ace's smile grew as he observed Luffy in this powerful new form, yet beneath that smile lay a deep understanding of the complexities at play. The Devil Fruit, especially one as formidable as the Mythical Zoan, carried its own will—a will that had kept the World Government searching fruitlessly for 800 years. The Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, was particularly unique, with its own inherent will that had influenced Luffy's awakening.
Ace recalled how, in the original timeline, Luffy had only awakened the Nika form after being pushed to the brink of death by Kaido. At that point, Luffy had been so close to death that even Observation Haki couldn't detect his heartbeat. The Nika form had not only resurrected him but had also imposed its own will, manifesting in Luffy's incessant laughter during battle.
But Ace had always been wary of this. He suspected that Luffy's constant laughter wasn't just a quirk of the transformation—it was a sign of the deep influence the Nika fruit's will had over him. Ace couldn't allow Luffy to become a puppet to some ancient power, no matter how legendary. Luffy was his brother, not some vessel for Joy Boy's will.
Determined to protect Luffy from any hidden dangers, Ace had used his Enlightenment Field to strengthen the Nika power within him. This wasn't the same as the power of the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, that Luffy now wielded. Ace's own Nika power was fully his, separate from the ancient fruit's influence. By enhancing the power within the Enlightenment Light Ball, Ace ensured that Luffy's awakening would be under his own control, free from the fruit's potential to overwhelm him.
Now, seeing Luffy in this form, Ace felt a surge of relief. Luffy wasn't laughing uncontrollably, nor was he losing himself to the fruit's will. The Enlightenment Field had worked.
"To you? I'll get there!" Luffy nodded earnestly, determination burning in his eyes.
Ace's expression turned serious as he pointed at Luffy's Nika form. "This power is still too advanced for you right now. You need to focus on strengthening yourself before you can fully harness it."
"Buzz!"
As Ace spoke, the Enlightenment Light Ball flickered and then ceased its rhythmic pulsing. Luffy's form shifted back to normal, the overwhelming power of Nika receding as his body returned to its original state. Without the support of the Enlightenment Light Ball, Luffy couldn't sustain the transformation—it required a strength of body and spirit that he had yet to fully develop.
"I get it," Luffy said, nodding with complete trust in Ace's words.
For Luffy, Ace's guidance was absolute. He had always believed in Ace, and that faith remained unshaken. As Luffy stood there, back in his normal form but with a newfound sense of purpose, he knew that he would one day master this power. Ace had given him the key—now it was up to him to unlock its full potential.
"Also, long time no see, Usopp," Ace said, his gaze shifting from Luffy to the trio standing beside him. His lips curled into a warm, familiar smile as he addressed Usopp.
"Ace! It's really been a long time!" Usopp exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over. But as the reality of Ace's current status—the Flame Emperor, a pirate renowned and feared worldwide—sank in, a nervous energy overtook him, making him slightly more restrained than usual.
Ace chuckled, noting Usopp's subtle shift in demeanor. "You've grown into quite the man of the sea, Usopp."
"Ha, ha ha ha! Of course! I'm Captain Usopp, the legendary pirate with 80,000 loyal followers!" Usopp puffed out his chest, momentarily shedding his nerves. Ace's easygoing manner was still the same as back when they first met back in Syrup Village, allowing Usopp to relax and embrace his true, boastful self.
Ace laughed heartily. "Wasn't it 8,000 the last time? How did it jump to 80,000?"
"Well, they say you've got 100,000 under your command now, Ace. I had to up my game too," Usopp replied, scratching his head sheepishly.
Ace's laughter echoed warmly, filling the space between them. "Ha ha ha!"
Meanwhile, Sanji's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "So, this really is the Flame Emperor, Portgas D. Ace! The super pirate who dares to take on the World Government head-on. And he's Luffy's brother?!"
"Yeah," Zoro added, his tone heavy with realization.
Ace turned to Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp, his expression softening as he spoke. "Hey, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp—my stupid brother must've caused you all sorts of trouble, right? From now on, I'll be counting on you to keep bearing with him."
Zoro and Sanji both waved their hands, stunned by Ace's humility. "No, no, no," they stammered in unison, their actions almost mechanical.
This was the man who stood against the World Government, the same man who was rumored to be a near-unstoppable force. And yet here he was, asking them to look after Luffy with such politeness. Zoro and Sanji exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions serious. How could Luffy be so different from his extraordinary brother?
But Luffy, ever the optimist, just grinned widely. "Hehe! My crew is the strongest!"
Ace laughed, nodding in agreement. "I believe it. Then, it's time for you to set sail, Luffy."
Ace's voice carried a quiet command as he turned to Nami. "Nami, clear the obstacles for my brother."
Nami's red lips curved into a confident smile. "Understood," she replied, her gaze shifting to Luffy. "It's time for you to set off, Luffy."
"Oh! Nami!" Luffy shouted eagerly, ready to jump into action.
Nami's smile turned mischievous, her eyes narrowing playfully. "No, you have to call me sister-in-law!"
Her words hung in the air for a brief moment before she unleashed a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki. The force of it was immediate and overwhelming. "Boom!!!" In an instant, all the Marines in the vicinity, still dazed and confused, rolled their eyes and collapsed, unconscious.
This was the might of the Entei Pirates' second-in-command, Nami's Conqueror's Haki. It was so potent that even a Vice Admiral of the Navy would have struggled to move under its pressure.
Nami turned back to Luffy, her expression softening into a warm smile. "Then, set sail, Luffy."
"Y-yes, sister-in-law," Luffy stammered, shivering slightly at the power she had just displayed. But beneath his nervousness, there was a deep happiness in his eyes, a joy that came from knowing he had such powerful allies—and family—by his side.