1st Attempt....
2nd Attempt....
3rd Attempt....
4th Attempt....
And still, Luffy was unrelenting, experimenting and refining, feeling his control grow sharper with each attempt. Soon, he mastered the intricacies of his power. He could feel it—control came easier, smoother, more intuitive with every moment.
Before long, he accomplished something spectacular: from high above, an entire section of the dark clouds seemed to split, as if torn from the main mass. The severed portion drifted in his direction, carried by his will toward the small island he stood on.
In the distance, Rayleigh froze, dumbfounded. He watched as a substantial section of the dark clouds was forcibly wrenched free and moved purposefully through the sky, heading straight toward him and Luffy.
The sight was nothing short of miraculous, like a fantastical vision come to life, a phenomenon beyond logic. "What on earth…?" Rayleigh muttered to himself, his astonishment growing. "Is this some freak of nature? Or… is something else at work here?" He puzzled over the spectacle, his mind racing to comprehend. But…
Since the dark clouds posed no real threat to him, Rayleigh decided to simply observe the phenomenon with a sense of curious fascination. It was impressive, to be sure, but not enough to warrant concern.
Meanwhile, for Luffy, the thrill of controlling the clouds, guiding the lightning—it was exhilarating, a rush like no other. No matter how he looked at it, Luffy was thoroughly entertained by his newfound power.
"Yep!" He nodded with satisfaction, noticing that as the clouds drew closer, the ease of controlling them increased. He could feel every movement within them, every spark of potential energy, all within reach of his will.
"This is some experience," he said, grinning.
Gradually, the cloud mass arrived directly above him, blanketing the sky. Luffy took a deep breath, then, with a single thought…
CRACK!
ZAP!
The sky exploded with light as a bolt of lightning split the heavens, tearing its way down to the earth.
BOOM!
The thunderous sound followed instantly, shaking the air with its intensity as the lightning struck, slamming into the ground not far from where Luffy stood. Flames erupted, flickering up from the point of impact, as the electricity scorched the earth, leaving smoldering marks.
"Good," Luffy nodded, clearly pleased with the result. But he wasn't done.
Surveying the scene, he extended his Haki again, guiding the surviving animals scattered nearby, urging them to move toward a single gathering point. By bringing them all together, he could make the process much more efficient.
"Oh, wait!" he thought aloud, pausing briefly as he considered the logistics. Then, with another mental nudge, he sent a command to the still-living beasts. As if acting on instinct, they began dragging the bodies of the fallen animals over to the designated area, teeth and claws gripping and pulling the carcasses into a pile.
The sight was surreal: predators and prey, side by side, carrying their fallen comrades as though compelled by some unseen force.
In no time, dozens of animals had gathered at the makeshift feast ground, a mix of the fallen and the still-living, all bound by Luffy's will. Those that were still alive waited on the sidelines, silent and motionless, watching over the scene. None dared leave the vicinity; Luffy's control was absolute, his command clear—they were to remain here until the feast was complete.
The plan was simple: a grand barbecue with every animal included, whether alive moments ago or long dead. Every single one was to be roasted, seasoned, and served.
Luffy directed a few animals to begin gathering wood from the surrounding trees. They clawed, pushed, and bit into the trunks, pulling branches and logs to create a massive pile in the center. Luffy realized that the efficiency of a lightning bolt was a bit lacking when it came to cooking all this food—using wood would be a much faster approach.
After about fifteen minutes of organized chaos, everything was in place. Luffy surveyed the scene, nodding with a look of genuine pride. "Alright, you're all heroes. Thanks for volunteering to become my meal. You should feel honored, you know? It's a privilege, really," he said, his words simple yet oddly respectful.
In response, the animals gave low growls, a quiet chorus of sounds that resonated like an answer. Luffy nodded, understanding their reply without needing words. It was as if they knew, accepted their roles in his grand feast.
At that moment, Luffy felt the true extent of his Conqueror's Haki—a connection that transcended mere command, a glimpse into the consciousness of all living things. He could read the thoughts and emotions of every creature before him, sensing their acceptance and the primal bond they shared with the world.
This was power.
It wasn't hard for Luffy to grasp the thoughts of the animals—of course not. At this moment, he wasn't forcing anything; they were free to act, and he left their minds alone. But their collective roars, which seemed to echo pride and devotion, were unmistakable. This time, the meaning in those sounds was purely their own.
Luffy understood clearly. Right then, the animals willingly accepted their fate, embracing the idea of being consumed. Their loyalty and willingness were born from the impression Luffy had left on their minds. Though he wasn't actively exerting control over them anymore, the mark of his presence, the essence of his Haki, lingered. That lingering impression had completely rewritten their awareness, binding them to him with a fierce loyalty and a sense of purpose.
Animals were naturally simpler to influence than humans—their thoughts were straightforward, their minds unburdened by complexities. If it had been people, the process would have required more time, careful intervention, and gradual conditioning. But that was a challenge for another day.
At this moment, the animals bowed their heads and growled in agreement, humbled by the sense of honor they now shared. It was a feeling difficult to describe—a phenomenon so profound that words fell short. Luffy grinned, watching it all unfold.
"Good! I'll make the most of the nutrients you've got. Every wish, every piece of spirit you have in there—it's all becoming my strength, my fuel." He paused, giving a small nod to the creatures around him. "And from now on, every single thing I do is tied to you, part of you, too."
With that small tribute, Luffy didn't waste any more time. He summoned a storm of lightning bolts from above. CRACK! ZAP! BOOM! BOOM! Blinding flashes and crackling thunder filled the air as lightning struck repeatedly, engulfing the ground in a blaze of flames and electricity.
But… something felt off. Suddenly, Luffy frowned, realizing the issue.
"It's all burnt up," he muttered, sighing with disappointment. "Damn it! I overdid the heat again. Everything's scorched. I totally messed up the flavor." His mood soured, the thrill now tempered by the taste of frustration.
"I need to control the heat better," he decided, closing his eyes to focus intently. This time, he poured all of his concentration into the process, learning to guide the fire with care and precision. At first, his control was limited and rough, but as time passed, his understanding of the nuances of flame deepened.
He could feel it now: the lightning bent to his will, and the heat was under his mastery. Like a chef fine-tuning his grill, he guided each spark, each blaze, until he achieved just the right temperature for cooking. The lightning struck with such precision that the flames became a well-controlled fire, hot enough to sear without scorching, powerful enough to cook without charring. It was as if the lightning itself danced to his rhythm.
"Hahahaha!" Luffy's laugh was loud, a triumphant roar. He had done it; he'd perfected his control. Now, the lightning was his to wield, obedient as a tool in his hands. He could dictate its ferocity with a thought, harnessing it with pinpoint accuracy.
At first glance, the storm of lightning appeared chaotic, wild and intense beyond measure. But if one looked a bit closer, they'd see the method to the madness—the fire danced with precision, the meat cooked to perfection, neither burnt nor underdone. Luffy's excitement was boundless.
"Wait… something's missing!" he realized with a sudden jolt. "I need seasoning! Just grilling the meat without any spices won't cut it."
He paused, mulling over his options. He could go back to the house and grab what he needed, but that would mean leaving the feast he'd prepared. He hesitated, torn between his reluctance to leave and the realization that he had forgotten his Den Den Mushi. Without it, he had no way of calling any of the women to bring the spices over.
"Damn it!" Luffy muttered, shaking his head with a mix of frustration and regret. He should have brought the Den Den Mushi! If he had, he could've easily contacted one of them to bring the necessary spices for the feast. A barbecue without seasoning? Unthinkable!
Then, inspiration struck him as he glanced upward at the flock of birds circling above. "Birds! I can use them!" A spark of excitement lit up his face as a plan formed. With a grin, he focused his Conqueror's Haki, channeling his will to influence the birds in the sky. Within moments, an entire flock responded to his call, now under his sway.
"Bring me the spices," he commanded. And in an instant, he sent a detailed image to their minds, conveying exactly where the spices were located and what they looked like. Energized, the birds took off swiftly, guided by his vision. The ease and efficiency of it all thrilled Luffy.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized how surreal the situation was. In his previous life, the idea of doing something like this would've been beyond imagination, but now, with his newfound powers, he could accomplish such feats as though they were second nature.
"Man, this feels amazing," he said, sighing with satisfaction. "I almost wish I'd had these powers in my past life—how much fun could I have had?" He shook his head, brushing off the thought. It wasn't realistic; after all, there was no going back. Still, this life, right here and now, offered more than enough excitement.
---
Meanwhile, back at the cabin, a group of the women gathered, chatting and exchanging stories. "Luffy-sama is just… amazing!" one of the girls, Lori, gushed, her eyes shining. "The first time I saw him, I thought he was incredible! And now… he's even more captivating than before! Don't you all agree?"
The others nodded, smiling as they remembered their first encounters with him. The swordswoman among them spoke up. "Oh, absolutely! When I first met Luffy-sama, I was foolish enough to think he didn't have the character to back up his strength." She paused, reflecting on her past assumptions. "I was wrong… so wrong. I feel so foolish now!"
Just then, a commotion broke out, and the group of women looked up in surprise. "What in the world…" they murmured, their eyes wide as they watched birds flying toward the cabin. But the birds carried no sign of hostility; instead, they seemed to have something in their beaks.
"It looks like… they're carrying something!" one of the women whispered, tilting her head in confusion. As the birds flew closer, the women's expressions shifted to amusement as they realized what the birds were holding—spices!
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T/N:
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