T/N: Please check out my new Translation:- One Piece: Flame-Flame Fruit
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What else could he say? There was only so much comfort he could offer.
After all…
From Rayleigh's perspective, the disappearance of Luffy's fruit was nothing short of shocking. Truly terrifying. The kind of news that would rock anyone to their core. And as for Luffy, he could only comfort him for now. Still… deep down, Luffy knew that the power of his Nika Fruit wasn't entirely gone. It was simply dormant, hidden within him. He was confident that one day he'd awaken it again. No matter what anyone else thought, Luffy had unwavering faith.
Rayleigh, on the other hand, looked noticeably downcast, though he didn't say much. He simply gazed at Luffy for a few silent seconds before finally walking away. As Rayleigh left, Luffy could hear a faint sigh in the distance.
He couldn't help it, Luffy thought. Rayleigh probably felt helpless about this kind of situation, the kind where you put all your hopes on someone, only to see something so catastrophic happen to them. It was simply too hard to accept.
Luffy brushed off those thoughts and dove straight into a feast of grilled fish. His massive appetite made quick work of the meal, and he kept devouring it for a solid hour.
"Hahahahaha!" he laughed, fully satisfied. In his previous life, he had been a big fan of barbecue, but he'd held back knowing how unhealthy it was and that his human stomach had its limits. But now… as Luffy, he could eat to his heart's content. With a seemingly bottomless stomach, there was no issue of holding back. He'd gotten his fill and had never felt more alive.
At first, he'd felt uncertain when he'd crossed into this world, even a bit overwhelmed. But now… Luffy was absolutely loving it, feeling the thrill of life coursing through him.
"Hm?" He suddenly noticed something odd. Checking in on his body, Luffy realized that no matter how much he ate, it didn't seem to be raising his Conqueror's Haki level anymore. That was fine, though. Luffy understood now that the system's power-up mechanism wasn't as straightforward as it had first seemed. What had worked before wouldn't necessarily work again. Or, at the very least, it would be less effective.
But no matter what, Luffy was brimming with confidence. He believed there was nothing that could truly defeat him. This was the self-assuredness that his Conqueror's Haki had instilled in him. Right now, he felt like he could handle anything the world threw at him.
"Huh?" Luffy frowned, bemused. "How did I get so full of confidence all of a sudden?" he muttered to himself. "I used to be a nobody. Just an idiot who couldn't get motivated about anything and felt like nothing ever went right. I was always insecure," he said, shaking his head. "But now… now I feel like I can take on the whole world with ease. How strange."
He pondered this for a while, gradually coming to an understanding. He realized there had been a shift inside him.
On one level… after unlocking more of his Conqueror's Haki, anyone in his position would naturally feel more confident. After all, with power at your side, what could stand in your way? Just like in his past life, people who had wealth were often motivated to achieve more, confident they could tackle any issue that came their way. It was those without resources who saw every problem as a mountain to climb.
On another level… Luffy felt that the influence of his Conqueror's Haki was beginning to shape his very mind. This was, after all, the power of a king. A force that could control the very world around him, bend energy to his will. The nature of Conqueror's Haki had bestowed upon him an almost unshakable belief in his own invincibility. And as his Haki continued to grow, that feeling only intensified.
Luffy nodded, feeling it all made sense. Of course, he wasn't going to get lost in the details. After all, enjoying life was the real priority. One way or another, his attitude had definitely changed from when he'd first crossed over to this world.
In that good mood, he quickly made his way back to the cabin. Aimee and Lori were still sound asleep; they wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. Luffy found the wavy-haired beauty nearby and said, "I'll guide you in your training."
Just one sentence—plain, simple, and direct.
Luna was taken aback, as though she hadn't heard him correctly. She found it hard to believe. She had always thought that getting Luffy's help in training would be nearly impossible without gaining his full approval. Yet now, he was openly offering to guide her.
"Really?" she asked, as if it were all a dream. Luffy nodded. "Yes," he replied. "I've gained some new insights. I'm ready to share them with you."
Without another word, Luffy approached her and instructed her on what to do. Initially, Luna felt something was amiss. But as time passed, she gradually found herself accepting it. There was a certain charisma, almost an enchantment, in Luffy's words. Each sentence seemed to carry a hidden meaning, making her trust him completely.
This was the effect of his Conqueror's Haki at work, and Luffy was learning to appreciate its full potential. Although his Haki level was still capped at seventy, his deeper understanding of it had allowed him to exert his will over others with more finesse.
It was like a craftsman who, while not necessarily stronger, grew more skillful with experience. With each task, their efficiency and speed increased, even if their physical strength remained the same. Luffy's mastery over his Haki had reached that kind of precision.
Satisfied, Luffy issued a new command to the other women around. "Stay in the cabin," he said. "Just watch from the side. If you observe carefully, you'll learn a lot about training."
At first, this request sounded a bit strange, even unreasonable. But somehow, his words made perfect sense.
"Of course!" said the Ava, nodding.
"Luffy-sama is always right!" agreed Lizzy. "We'll stay close by, watch, and absorb all we can."
The woman in the overalls nodded too. "Exactly. Luffy-sama knows best. We'll watch carefully and be ready for our turn."
So, Luna began her training, with Aimee and Lori still asleep nearby and the other women intently observing. Blushing, faces flushed, they couldn't shake off a sense of unease. But if Luffy-sama had said so, it had to be right. There was nothing to doubt.
Minutes and seconds ticked by, and after an hour, Luffy wrapped up the training session, and Luna soon drifted off to sleep.
"Excellent!" Luffy said, nodding in approval. "As expected of my number one beauty—you've truly impressed me with your looks and charisma. If I weren't so worn out from last night, I could go at this for hours." He meant every word.
Luna's stunning face could outshine any top model from his previous life; even the most famous stars back then wouldn't hold a candle to her. Her charm was undeniable, from her flawless face to her graceful silhouette.
"Hahahahaha!" Luffy laughed heartily. "Truly, a life worth celebrating is one lived fully." Those words, he realized, were truer than he had ever admitted.
Back in his previous life, he had dismissed similar sayings as shallow and indulgent. But he had been wrong, he now understood. Maybe back then, his disdain had come from jealousy—a feeling born from a lack of resources and opportunity. But now, with both power and fortune on his side, he felt a profound appreciation for the wisdom of those words.
"Enjoy life as it comes—don't let time slip away," he said, nodding.
Then, he looked over the other women and found them all captivating, each with their own unique charm.
"Ah," he sighed, shaking his head. He might be slightly worn out. In this life, he wasn't quite the same Luffy as the anime hero; he wasn't yet on that level. In terms of pure stamina, he couldn't compare.
As he quickly assessed his abilities, he figured his overall combat strength—excluding his Haki—would probably only be around sixty million Berries in bounty terms. That wasn't too bad, actually. When he first crossed over, his abilities had barely measured in the low millions. Over time, he'd studied the system's Conqueror's Haki attribute, consuming all kinds of energy and improving his physical strength to reach his current level. Objectively, he was doing well.
He had a plan to train harder, eat various types of food to supplement his energy, and keep getting stronger. "You all," he said, "start cooking! I'm starving." Eating was the fastest way to recharge his energy reserves, after all.
Sure, he could have used his Conqueror's Haki to command nearby animals to roast themselves for him. But even with his love for barbecue, he was growing tired of the same flavors. It was time to mix things up a bit.
"Yes, right away!" the women replied, hurrying to the kitchen. Luffy felt completely relaxed as he leaned back, enjoying the sounds and smells wafting through the cabin.
It wasn't long before a delicious feast was ready.
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T/N:
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