Chapter 14: The Drums of Liberation
The air grew heavy. The villagers watched in silent fear as Luffy, Lucky, and Coby stood defiantly before Brutus and his crew. The silver-haired prisoner, Zane, looked up from his cage, eyes widening at Luffy's words.
"I'm gonna beat your ass."
For a moment, there was silence. Then—
BAM!
Brutus laughed so hard that the ground seemed to shake. His crew joined in, pointing at the trio like they were some kind of joke.
"A bunch of kids think they can fight us?!" one pirate cackled.
Brutus wiped a tear from his eye. "Alright, brat. You got guts. I'll give you that." Then, his face darkened. "But I don't like punks talking big."
Without warning, he swung his massive fist straight at Luffy's face.
CRACK!
Luffy didn't move. He let the punch land.
The villagers gasped as Luffy's body bent and warped like rubber, the force spreading through him. Then—
BOING!
The energy rebounded, sending Brutus stumbling back!
"What the hell?!" Brutus growled, rubbing his fist.
Lucky smirked. "You just made a mistake, big guy."
Luffy lowered his head, shadows covering his face. His body felt hot—his heartbeat was pounding like a drum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
Then—it happened.
The Awakening of Nika
Luffy grinned—but it wasn't his usual smile.
It was wider, more carefree. His hair turned pure white. His eyes glowed red with untamed energy.
And the sky itself seemed to shift. The clouds twisted, turning almost cartoonish. The ground felt lighter, like the entire world had suddenly become more flexible.
Brutus and his men froze. The villagers gasped.
Something ancient had awakened.
Luffy bounced on his feet, his body moving like a living cartoon. He stretched his arm casually, then slung it over his shoulder like a scarf. His entire being radiated freedom.
A pirate pointed. "C-Captain! What the hell is that?!"
Brutus scowled. "I don't know… but I don't like it."
The Battle Begins
Brutus charged, fists glowing with Haki.
Luffy just laughed—a carefree, almost musical sound. He jumped into the air, his legs spinning like a wheel.
"Gomu Gomu no… Dawn Whirlwind!"
WHAM!
He spun-kicked Brutus across the square, sending the massive pirate crashing through buildings. The sheer force of it created a windstorm, shaking the entire village.
Brutus coughs blood and stumbles to his feet. "You little—!!"
But Luffy was already above him.
"Gomu Gomu no… FREEDOM FIST!!"
Luffy's fist expanded to the size of a house, crackling with divine energy. He slammed it down with enough force to shake the entire island.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Brutus didn't just fall. He was buried into the ground, his body completely motionless.
The remaining pirates? They ran for their lives.
The Birth of a New Legend
The village was silent. The people stared at Luffy—not just in awe, but in wonder.
One old man fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "The Warrior of Liberation… he's real…"
Lucky and Coby walked up to Luffy, who was stretching lazily, his white-haired form slowly fading.
Coby gulped. "Luffy… what was that?"
Luffy scratched his head. "I dunno. But it felt fun!"
Lucky grinned. "Well, whatever it is, I say we use it more often."
Zane, still in his cage, chuckled weakly. "That was insane. You guys are insane. I love it."
Luffy smiled. "Then join us."
Zane blinked. "Wait, just like that?"
Lucky nodded. "You can fight, right?"
Zane smirked. "Damn right."
Coby unlocked the cage. Zane stepped forward—bruised, but unbroken.
That day, the Monkey D. Pirates gained a new brother.
And across the sea, the world felt a shift. The echoes of Luffy's heartbeat—the Drums of Liberation—were only just beginning.
To Be Continued…