"Ouch—"
Luffy's vision spun, and he found himself on the ground, feeling a throb of pain at the back of his head. One second, he'd been about to say something to Uta, maybe even take a bite of those walking roasted lambs, and the next, everything had gone blank.
Rubbing his head, Luffy sat up, noticing a few ants crawling on him. With a shiver, he jumped up, releasing a faint, invisible burst of energy that sent the ants scattering to dust.
As he landed, he saw Uta nearby, breathing heavily. Her once rosy, cheerful face had gone pale, and she was struggling to stay upright.
"Ugh… so tired," Uta muttered, first crouching, then sitting, and finally lying flat on the ground.
"Looks like you're out of energy."
Luffy recognized her condition immediately. Devil Fruit abilities required stamina, and the stronger the ability, the more stamina they consumed. Uta's ability to instantly pull someone into a dreamscape would naturally drain a lot of energy—especially considering she'd also created various creatures within the dream.
He approached her, offering a gentle warning, "Uta, Devil Fruit powers usually rely on physical stamina to activate. Some even drain your lifespan."
"So, don't use your powers too much, or you'll end up exhausted all the time."
Luffy helped her up, only to realize she could barely stand. Sighing, he crouched down, letting her lean on him so he could carry her out of the forest.
"Hmph. I might not be strong, but I can still handle you, Luffy!" Uta said proudly. "Now, you're officially the weakest member of the Red-Haired Pirates!"
She smiled in triumph. As a seven-year-old, Luffy had always excelled over Uta in most areas—except music, of course. But now, with her new powers, she had the upper hand.
"Once I master my Haki, you'll see who's really the weakest!" Luffy countered, though he was already strategizing. To defeat Uta's power, he'd only need to block out her singing. Without her voice, her Devil Fruit abilities would be useless.
With a thoughtful glance at the remnants of the fruit, Luffy picked up his sword, slicing the Devil Fruit into pieces and grinding them with his foot just to be safe. Then he sheathed his sword and continued carrying Uta out of the forest.
"Luffy, Uta—where have you two been?"
A pirate on patrol spotted them. He noticed Uta's weakened state and frowned with concern.
"She accidentally became a Devil Fruit user," Luffy explained.
"I didn't eat it! I just… licked some of the juice," Uta corrected, a bit embarrassed. Shanks had warned her against Devil Fruits, and she'd instinctively felt they weren't good for her.
"I see, so you accidentally triggered your power," the pirate nodded, unbothered. After all, New World pirates were well acquainted with Devil Fruit abilities.
"When young ones first use their powers, it can drain them completely. Your body has to adapt to the new energy source," he explained, sharing his knowledge with them.
He went on to describe the three main types of Devil Fruits: Paramecia, Zoan, and Logia. He noted that Devil Fruits were unique and didn't have duplicates in any "generation" unless the previous user died.
Paramecia Fruits granted special abilities, covering a vast range of powers. Zoans allowed users to transform into animals, including rare subtypes like Ancient and Mythical Zoans. Logias, the rarest of all, allowed users to become and manipulate natural elements.
"So, what type is Uta's power?" the pirate asked.
"It makes people fall asleep and brings them into a strange world," Uta answered, already understanding some of her abilities.
"Ah, that's definitely Paramecia," the pirate said, nodding. "That's the most common type, but also the most diverse."
Uta nodded, letting out a tiny, satisfied "hmph." If Luffy hadn't been carrying her, he might not have heard it.
"Getting sleepy, Uta?" Luffy asked, his mind sparking with excitement. It was time for his daily blast of Conqueror's Haki, but before he could unleash it, the pirate quickly intervened.
"Hold up! Not here, kid. If you knock out the palace guards, we'll be in big trouble."
"Oh, right," Luffy agreed, quickly stifling the urge.
As they passed by the palace guards in their vibrant armor, Luffy couldn't help but wonder if he could beat them in a fight. Kingdom soldiers were rarely known for their strength. And if he did win, maybe he'd earn himself some armor too—those flashy pieces looked kind of cool.
Uta's small arms wrapped around his neck, her head drooping against his shoulder as she finally gave in to sleep. Luffy's senses became hyper-aware, and he found himself noticing her soft warmth and feeling an odd flutter in his chest.
Startled by the sensation, he quickly averted his thoughts, determined to
distract himself. Counting his steps seemed like a good start.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!