The scene in the cabin was one of warmth and laughter. Truly, everything was going well in Luffy's life. He couldn't help but think that even if he were to die right now, it might just be worth it. But then, he shook his head, laughing at his own simplicity.
"How could I be so satisfied with so little?" he thought, scoffing at himself. "Just a few laughs and some fun, and I'm calling it a day? No way." Luffy's eyes lit up with ambition. "I want more."
"Boa Hancock, Nami, Nico Robin… And…" he continued, listing names. "Little Bunny, Vivi, Bonney… I want them all! Hahaha!" He threw his head back in a roaring laugh. "And then, of course, Sanji's sister… and whoever else I haven't met yet. Just wait! I'll be back for all of you in two years!"
With that burst of energy, Luffy felt an instant rush of motivation. All those faces, all that beauty waiting in the world, he was determined to seize it all. After all, if he was going to live in this world, he might as well take everything it offered, no questions asked.
...
Hours passed swiftly, and finally, Luffy stepped out of the cabin. He stretched, feeling refreshed after a hearty meal and full recovery. Behind him, the women lay sprawled out, exhausted from the relentless training, each one struggling for breath.
"Hahaha!" Luffy chuckled, looking at them approvingly. "Intense training is the way to go. You've all done well." He let them rest for a moment, but his mind was already wandering. The training couldn't stop here. Now that the ladies had finished, he was beginning to feel the limitations of his Conqueror's Haki, which still lingered stubbornly at eighty points. The growth seemed to have hit a wall—a formidable one at that.
"Eighty points, huh?" he muttered to himself, analyzing the situation. "It's a tough threshold, no doubt… but I'm more than confident. I'll break through it eventually."
With a smile, he set off into the forest, planning to meet his other training partner. After all, training wasn't just about harmony; sometimes, raw, unrestrained combat was the perfect balance. And he was itching to get moving again.
"Hahaha!" Luffy laughed, a sense of excitement bubbling up. "Sometimes, I train with beautiful women, sometimes with wild beasts. My life is perfect!"
Feeling his excitement rising, he thought of how his past self would react to this. If only he could call his old friends from his previous life, he'd love to share his adventure and watch them squirm with jealousy.
"If I ever make it back," he murmured, laughing, "I'll publish my story. Let everyone see!"
His thoughts drifted as he entered the depths of the forest, whistling loudly. Within moments, a towering figure responded, emerging from the shadows—a mighty gorilla. The two shared an unspoken understanding, a bond forged through countless battles. No words were necessary; the fight began immediately.
With a quick whoosh, Luffy darted forward like lightning, his speed impossible for the gorilla to track. In an instant, Luffy closed the distance, delivering a powerful strike to the creature's head with a resounding smack.
"Roar!" The gorilla howled in pain but recovered almost immediately. Its thick skin absorbed most of the impact, brushing off the blow.
Luffy dodged the beast's swift counterattack, moving with an agility that left the gorilla baffled. Previously, his movements would've been predictable, but now, it seemed as if he had surpassed himself.
"Raaah!" The gorilla's eyes flashed with anger as it launched a series of powerful attacks. Its massive fists moved with brutal force, each strike strong enough to kick up a fierce gust of wind. For Luffy, one wrong move would mean serious injury.
But he was ready.
Yet, somehow… it was as if Luffy could anticipate the gorilla's every move. No matter how fierce the attacks, the gorilla couldn't land a single hit.
In truth, at this moment, Luffy's Conqueror's Haki was reading every thought, every intention, and every impulse of the gorilla. The gorilla's brute strength was formidable—worthy of a bounty-hunting pirate level in the hundreds of millions—but in the end, the creature's mind was simple compared to that of an adult human.
Reading the gorilla's intentions was easier than dealing with the women he'd trained with earlier. The gorilla was all muscle and no subtlety—strength alone wasn't enough, especially against someone like Luffy. If it were just a contest of raw power, Luffy admitted he'd be outmatched.
"Boom!" The gorilla pounded the ground, sending shockwaves through the earth, yet Luffy remained unscathed.
Enraged, the gorilla snapped a nearby tree and swung it like a massive club. The force of the swing created a fierce gust, blowing leaves and debris in every direction.
"Oh?" Luffy noticed a shift. The gorilla seemed slightly more composed, or perhaps it was simply trying to be clever with its strategy. This minor adjustment caught Luffy's attention, sparking a brief realization. In such a harsh environment, even a creature with limited intelligence had to adapt to survive. Still, no matter how much it tried, a gorilla couldn't match human complexity in thought.
Seeing an opportunity, Luffy decided to take things up a notch. From his back, he swiftly drew a bow and arrow he'd borrowed from one of the women, prepared for just such an encounter.
With a quick, gleeful chuckle, he pulled back the string. "Hahaha!" The arrow flew with a sharp hiss, heading straight for the gorilla's eyes.
"ROAR!" The gorilla shielded its face with both hands. "Thud!" Blood spurted as the arrow embedded itself in one of its palms.
"Whoa, thick skin!" Luffy was surprised. He'd expected the arrow to pierce right through, but it only went about an inch in. The gorilla's hide was tougher than he had imagined, and it was clear that his sheer strength still had a ways to go.
But the shot had still served its purpose. Luffy had seen through the gorilla's movements and defenses even before releasing the arrow. In fact, he'd aimed for the hand from the start, knowing the gorilla would instinctively protect its eyes over any other part. The moment had been perfectly calculated.
"Hahaha!" Luffy laughed again, savoring his small victory. From an outsider's perspective, the move seemed straightforward, but beneath its simplicity lay a precise understanding of timing and opportunity.
With the gorilla momentarily disoriented, Luffy zigzagged with blinding speed. His quickness was now his only edge. While the gorilla's attack speed might even be faster, it was its reaction time and thinking speed that fell short.
The ability to think and react was often more crucial than raw speed. Even the fastest fighter who failed to make the right moves would waste energy with needless effort. Luffy, however, was precise. Each movement, each strike was perfectly timed and executed, leaving no room for error.
"Whoa…" came a voice from afar. Standing in the shadows, watching the fight, was none other than Rayleigh—the Dark King. For the past few minutes, he had been quietly observing. Luffy's skills and instincts had clearly improved, allowing him to hold his own, even against a stronger opponent.
"Impressive," Rayleigh murmured, nodding in approval as he continued to watch. Luffy's battle awareness had sharpened, allowing him to seize opportunities that left the gorilla constantly off balance.
And just then, Luffy struck.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!" He launched a barrage of rapid punches at the gorilla, like a machine gun without the aid of any Devil Fruit powers. Even at close range, Luffy could mimic the speed and impact of his old techniques. The gorilla staggered back, its face absorbing blow after blow.
"Aaargh!" The gorilla let out a pained howl, backing away, overwhelmed by the relentless assault.
"Hahaha!" Luffy laughed, mocking the beast. "What's wrong? Not so tough now, huh?"
The gorilla, battered and dazed, kept stumbling backward until it was finally pinned against a massive tree, with nowhere left to escape.
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T/N:
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