Luffy and Uta waved at the shrinking shore as the ship sailed away.
Uta nudged Luffy with her elbow. "Hey, Luffy, you made Kuina cry again!"
"No way! Absolutely impossible. That was you, Uta!"
"Hmph, definitely you!" Uta folded her arms and huffed.
Luffy just grinned, his eyes glued to the beautiful sword in his hands, chuckling in delight.
This is my sword!
"Luffy, Luffy! Show us what that old man gave you!" The pirates crowded around, curious.
"Think it's one of those legendary swords?"
"Man, you've got some serious luck getting a weapon made by a legendary smith!"
With the ship safely underway, the pirates crowded to the stern, arms draped over each other's shoulders, eager to catch a glimpse of Luffy's new weapon.
"Feast your eyes—" Luffy said dramatically, slowly unsheathing the blade.
"Whoa… so shiny, so fancy!" they exclaimed.
"Wait… it's just a good-grade blade?" Some pirates, realizing its level, felt a mix of respect and letdown. They had expected something even rarer, given the famed smith who forged it.
"A double-edged sword, huh? Reminds me of the kind Rayleigh used back in the day," Shanks remarked as he examined it.
"Rayleigh!" At the mention of the name, the pirates perked up, listening closely.
"Rayleigh—the right hand of the Pirate King! Dark King Rayleigh!"
The pirates were abuzz with admiration.
"Did Rayleigh really use a sword like this, boss?" they asked Shanks.
"Yep, I saw him use it myself. A sword like this can be dangerous, Luffy. Are you sure it's the one you want to wield?" Shanks asked.
"Yeah! It's my weapon now!" Luffy replied, twirling the sword in its scabbard with glee.
"I see… Well, Luffy's become a decent swordsman," Shanks observed, scratching his chin. "But if you're using this type of sword, you might want to let go of the traditional sword style. Single-edged techniques won't suit you anymore."
"I'll do my best!" Luffy responded. It felt like he was being asked to unlearn a lot, but if Shanks suggested it, he'd do it.
"Luffy's such a dummy," Uta giggled, covering her mouth. "Learning all that just to forget it!"
"You'll only be forgetting what doesn't fit your style," Shanks said, patting Uta's head. "Alright, everyone, let's celebrate Luffy becoming a swordsman! Time for a feast!"
With a cheer, the pirates began their party, completely unbothered by the fact that it was daytime. A party was a party, as long as there was a reason to celebrate. They drank and danced, while Uta joyfully sang.
Luffy eyed a bottle of alcohol, eager to sneak a taste of this world's drink, only for Uta to catch him in the act.
"No drinking for kids!" she scolded, pulling him away.
"Luffy, come on! I want to show you something!" Uta led him into her dream world.
Inside the dream, they were aboard the Red Force, but the ship was eerily empty. Though it was daylight outside, the dreamscape had become nighttime, the air filled with the scent of grilled meats and fruits, the food floating as if alive.
Uta handed Luffy a bamboo flute. "Play with me!"
Her princess outfit transformed with a flourish. Now, she wore an off-shoulder, pale yellow lace crop top with cute little wings on her arms. The top barely covered her stomach, and a dark red devilish tattoo traced along her waist.
Paired with fitted shorts and black stockings, she looked every bit the rebellious cool girl.
Isn't that a character outfit I designed once?
Luffy watched her in awe, noting her piercing purple eyes. With a few final accessories, she looked like a little devil, needing only horns and a tiny pitchfork to complete the look.
"Ready?" Uta asked, her eyes twinkling.
Luffy nodded and began playing the flute. Other instruments, invisible, joined in harmony.
Uta danced, her movements blending swordplay and grace with a hint of street dance. Her joints flexed fluidly, her pigtails bouncing, and a giant colorful disco ball appeared, casting shifting lights across the scene.
Luffy clapped, delighted by the performance.
"So, how was it?" Uta asked, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Beautiful," he replied.
"It's just us here again, isn't it?" She sat beside him, folding her legs. Her black stockings shimmered faintly, catching the dream's soft glow.
In that moment, Luffy seemed to understand a new kind of beauty and why clothes could matter so much.
"You're the first to see this dance," Uta murmured, a smile tugging at her lips.
"It's my gift to you, Luffy," she thought, though she didn't say it aloud.
The dream dissolved, and Luffy found himself back on the ship, a piece of roasted meat in hand, already halfway through it.
The next morning, Luffy scanned the newspaper, searching for news of any major events, particularly any hints of the Seven Warlords. If he knew when Jinbe would be inducted, it could give him a clue on when Nami's island might be in danger from Arlong.
As he flipped through, he confirmed that Jinbe was still independent, which meant Nami's village was safe… for now.
If Shanks dropped him off in Foosha Village, it would be harder to reach Nami's village quickly. But trying to persuade Shanks to change his course was next to impossible.
Better to leave it to the future him.
"Yo, Luffy," Shanks greeted him with a grin, beer bottle in hand.
Luffy wore his black jacket, leaving it open to show his abs, the new sword sheathed at his side.
"Shanks, you're drinking again!" Luffy teased.
"Hey, Luffy, what do you think? Does the sword look cooler at my side, or should I carry it on my back? It's so hard to decide…"
Shanks laughed, spinning his straw hat on his finger. "Some choices, Luffy, are hard no matter what. They hurt either way."
"True!" Luffy said with a smile. "If all choices hurt, just pick the easiest one."
"An interesting philosophy…" Shanks mused, stopping his hat mid-spin.
"Luffy, will you protect your friends?"
"Of course! I'm going to be king! Protecting my people is part of the job."
"Oh, big words." Shanks chuckled. "With those skinny arms, you'll protect nothing."
"That's not fair, Shanks—I'm only seven!"
"Almost eight!" Uta piped up, poking her head out of a nearby room, holding a piece of cream-topped pancake.
"Yup, May 5th is my birthday!"
"Then I'll get you a gift, Luffy," Shanks said.
"A gift?"
"I'll give you the power to protect your friends. Draw your sword."
Shanks hoisted Luffy onto the ship's railing, where he wobbled, trying to balance as the ship swayed.
Following Shanks' command, Luffy drew his sword, gripping it with excitement.
"Nice sword," Shanks said, studying its pattern.
"Isn't it?" Luffy beamed.
"However… it lacks the weight to protect those you love. Only a truly heavy blade can bring peace of mind."
Shanks placed his hand over Luffy's, gripping the sword together, facing the open sea. A warmth spread through their hands, an intense energy that made Luffy's skin prickle.
A dark red glow sparked along the blade.
What… just happened?
Luffy stared in awe as black lightning crackled around the sword, pulsing with power, as real as anything.
"Watch closely, Luffy. I'll show you only once," Shanks said, his aura surging, intense and unstoppable.
Luffy's body froze, his blood like ice. The sheer force was unlike anything he'd felt.
With a single swing—Divine Departure—Shanks unleashed a power that seemed limitless, cleaving through the sea and sky with unimaginable strength. The sea split, a blue rift stretched across the sky, clouds parted, and the heavens themselves trembled.
In that instant, Luffy glimpsed the true power of a king.
"Shanks… what kind of power was that?"
Shanks withdrew his hand, letting Luffy hold the sword alone, his gaze still fixed on the horizon.
"This power," he murmured, "is barely enough to protect what's dear."
Uta, stunned, finally shook off her awe and clung to Shanks' leg with a grin.
"Oh, Shanks, you really love us, don't you?" she teased, laughing.
Meanwhile, Luffy stood mesmerized, staring at the scarred sky where Shanks' power had left its mark, the thunderous sound
still echoing in his mind.
The pirates cheered in admiration, bowing to Shanks' might, their loyalty only strengthened, knowing they followed such a powerful leader.
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