That evening, Luffy awoke to the tantalizing aroma of roasting meat drifting through the ship, leading him straight to the dining hall. Inside, laughter and cheer filled the air as the Red-Haired Pirates gathered around to celebrate Uta.
Uta, whose voice was already clear and melodic, now possessed the power of a music-themed Devil Fruit. Her singing had transformed, sounding as if it came from another realm, an ethereal sweetness that was unmatched. Her voice had a captivating allure, almost like the beauty of Boa Hancock. While people might doubt Hancock's strength, no one questioned her beauty.
Even Luffy, who was typically unfazed, found her voice delightful, an almost royal pleasure to hear. He couldn't help but wonder how her voice would sound if she used it to scold someone.
He picked up a plate, grabbed a large drumstick, and munched on it along with some fresh fruits. Compared to Windmill Village, meals on the Red-Haired Pirates' ship were on another level, with fresh meat, fruits, and plenty of hearty food every day. Life here was undeniably a step up.
As Luffy looked around, his eyes fell on an oddly pig-like figure nearby, gnawing on a piece of meat. Surprised, he took a closer look.
"Hey, mister, who are you?"
Luffy poked the guy's side curiously. He'd grown familiar with most faces on Shanks' crew, even if he didn't know all their names. To him, everyone here was a temporary companion since he planned to disembark soon enough. Nothing could compare to the thrill of sailing as a Navy hero.
With Grandpa's reputation, I'm unstoppable! he thought with a smirk, his mind drifting to future plans.
"Damn it, Luffy, you really don't recognize me?" came a grumpy voice from the "pig." Something about that tone sounded familiar, prompting Luffy to take a closer look. Between the mess of hair and bruised face, he spotted a hint of yellow hair.
"Wait… could it be…"
"Yes, it's me! Yasopp! The guy you keep running into at the shooting range!" Yasopp exclaimed, sounding exasperated.
"What happened to you?" Luffy asked, puzzled.
"It's your fault!" Yasopp groaned, tearing into another piece of meat. He explained how, after Luffy had demonstrated his Armament Haki, the crew had felt a mixture of pride and jealousy, realizing that a kid had outshone them in such an important ability. This led the veterans to put the rookies through intense "pirate training."
For pirates who had no formal training, self-improvement came from pure grit and constant battle. They honed their skills by throwing themselves into fights, relying on survival instinct and adrenaline to push them toward mastery.
"So… did you unlock Haki?" Luffy asked, though he already suspected the answer.
"Nothing! Just bruises for all that effort," Yasopp muttered, full of resentment. "I'm a sniper! Why should I be treated like some rookie foot soldier?"
"Sounds fun! Can I join your training too?" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, you think it's fun, huh?" Yasopp said, grinning slyly as he slung an arm around Luffy's shoulder. "We'll make sure you get your fill of pirate training, then."
"Don't underestimate me!" Luffy declared, excited. "Maybe I'll unlock Observation Haki next!"
In his mind, Luffy was already planning to practice Paper Art, a technique that would help him dodge with precision by relaxing his body. This was a delicate skill since it required him to break the instinct to tense up, especially after training with Iron Body, a technique that emphasized full-body tension.
"Kids these days are full of hot air. Here, drink your milk," Yasopp said, pouring a glass with a smirk.
"Mastering both Haki types isn't easy!" After learning more about Haki from the veteran pirates, Yasopp had come to appreciate the sheer difficulty of mastering both Armament and Observation Haki. Seeing Luffy's talent firsthand, he realized just how remarkable the kid's potential was.
"We're the kind of people who can make anything happen!" Luffy said with a grin, clinking his glass with Yasopp's.
"Too naive, kid," a burly, rugged pirate with a weathered face said as he placed a hefty hand on Luffy's shoulder. The weight of his grip made Luffy wince. The pirates on this ship were rough, especially when they weren't dealing with Uta—they weren't exactly known for their gentleness.
"Look, if we tried our best and still didn't get it, then obviously it's the world's fault," Luffy said, a cheeky smile on his face.
His words struck a chord, and the pirates paused before bursting into laughter.
"You're a real genius, Luffy!" they laughed, clapping him on the back and shouting, "Yeah, blame the world! Cheers!"
The mess hall rang with laughter and cheer as the pirates raised their glasses to the little op
timist who'd reminded them of their unbreakable spirit.
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